Refuse can bottle crusher

Claim 1

In a refuse can bottle crusher, the combination of a refuse can, a lid upon said can, a bottle crusher on said lid, said bottle crusher incorporating a bottle receptacle and a bottle crushing mechanism, said bottle receptacle comprising a vertically extending cylinder mounted through a top wall of said lid, an upper end of said cylinder having a hingedly secured lid there upon for closing the upper end of said cylinder, said cylinder lid being spring Loaded to normally remain in a closed position over the upper end of said cylinder, and a bottle holder secured within said receptacle, said holder comprising a spring steel member having the lower end thereof extended into a center of said receptacle for grasping a bottle placed into said receptacle, said bottle mechanism comprising a tube affixed to an outer side of said receptacle, a slidable ram within said tube, said ram being slidable into said receptacle, a pivotable lever located above a top wall of said refuse can lid, said lever driving a crank for moving a plunger mechanism so as to draw said ram rearwardly against the action of a compression coil spring which normally releases said ram into said bottle receptacle to crush said bottle when said lever is released, and said spring steel member within said receptacle being secured to a side of said cylindrical wall of said receptacle and which is on a same side through which said ram is slidable into said receptacle so that said bottle in crushing position is seated between said spring and a stationary opposite side of said receptacle so that said bottle is rigidly stationary when struck by said ram for a full impact shot so to break said bottle.