Electricity: motive power systems – Automatic and/or with time-delay means – Movement – position – or limit-of-travel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-04-03
Masih, Karen (Department: 2837)
Electricity: motive power systems
Automatic and/or with time-delay means
Movement, position, or limit-of-travel
C318S016000, C318S480000, C318S280000, C318S286000, C318S466000, C318S283000, C318S285000, C318S264000, C318S267000, C318S468000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211637
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim
1
and to the preferred use thereof.
A container for kitchen waste is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,467 and is provided on its front surface with infrared sensors which detect a potential user and actuate an electric stepping motor which opens a lid on top of the container via a cable pull. The stepping motor is designed for clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation. It opens the lid during a predetermined period, for example 30 s, and closes it by electrical reversal of the direction of rotation. The cable pull engages a lever-type extension of the lid so that, during the entire process, the electric motor has to overcome the turning moment generated by the lid and has a correspondingly high energy requirement.
The necessary, relatively high output of the stepping motor and its high energy requirement, which excludes battery operation and necessitates a mains power supply, are consequently disadvantageous.
It is generally known that, in public toilets, in hotels and also at home, objects are thrown into the toilets, blocking them and often even preventing drainage into the sewers.
The reason for this behaviour, which has serious consequences, is usually because suitable containers are not provided at the desired site of disposal and/or they are unpleasant to use.
Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a device, by means of which soiled and/or contaminated objects and materials can be collected without it being necessary to touch the outside of the containers provided, in particular their openings and closures.
The device must function with minimal auxiliary power so that battery-operated versions are also feasible. In addition, it must be manually operable, for example if there is insufficient or no supply voltage.
This object is achieved by the features of claim
1
.
The invention prevents soiled and/or contaminated objects from coming into contact with the opening region of the container and eliminates the need to touch the container, either with one's hands or by means of implements.
The defined opening angle of the lid, ensured by the drive mechanism, also prevents objects from missing the container and polluting the environment.
The resulting, gravitationally induced replacement of the lid is especially energy-saving. The cable-operated drive mechanism causes only slight friction losses and therefore also requires only a small amount of electrical energy.
If necessary, the lid can be opened by hand without damaging the drive.
The formation of the cable pull by means of a pivoted lever is kinematically advantageous and very economical.
Further developments of the subject of the invention are described in dependent claims.
The use of gearwheels according to claim
2
provides non-slip force transmission.
The device according to claim
3
causes deflection of the pivoting movement, preferably through 90°, so that the resulting rotation movement is directly or indirectly transmittable to the lid.
The arrangement according to claim
4
, which is preferably formed integrally with the pivoted lever and separately from the rocker arm, is particularly space-saving and can advantageously be manufactured by plastics die casting.
The arrangement according to claim
5
is particularly advantageous; it enables the device to be wall-mounted.
The embodiment according to claim
6
ensures very easy replacement of the containers.
According to claim
7
, the power supply is not switched on until a container has been mounted ready for use.
A self-contained power supply—by means of batteries and/or solar cells (photovoltaic)—ensures universal use of the device, also in locations at which there is no mains voltage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5351381 (1994-10-01), Case
patent: 5369810 (1994-12-01), Warren
patent: 5810201 (1998-09-01), Besse et al.
patent: 5878444 (1999-03-01), Convoy
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