Dog proof pull out trash lock

thingiverse

My dogs are incredibly intelligent, but their cleverness often gets them into trouble. They've managed to figure out how to open our under-counter pull-out trash container every time we have chicken wings for dinner. The chaos that ensues is always a mess, with garbage spilling all over the house. I tried a baby lock on the trash can, thinking it would be foolproof - you could open it and then push down to release it, but they quickly figured out how to bypass the security feature. Next, I placed a chair in front of the trash container, hoping that would deter them, but those clever dogs found a way around that obstacle as well. Determined to outsmart my canine companions, I designed this specialized latch with two key features: it allows the dog to push the latch down easily but makes it difficult for them to lift it back up again. I also wanted to minimize the number of holes in the cupboard door, so I created a design that fits snugly onto the screw holding the knob in place. The stop serves a dual purpose - it prevents the latch from opening too far and provides a convenient spot to attach the spazzy band, which adds tension to the mechanism. This solution should work with most under-counter set-ups, as long as you're mindful of ensuring that the latch hooks securely underneath the door opening.