Receptacles – Closures – Pivotable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-17
2001-09-18
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Pivotable,
C220S324000, C220S908000, C292S230000, C292S236000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290093
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for locking the cover of a container intended to be emptied by tilting more than 90°, such as a garbage can or dumpster for waste collection.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is known, dumpsters for waste collection tend to remain periodically on the public right-of-way, to be emptied by tilting into a collecting vehicle. The dumpsters are then left unattended, and it may happen that they will be picked over. This may be dangerous, depending on the kind of waste contained in them.
Moreover, free access to the interior of the dumpsters may enable third parties to fill them with unsuitable waste, thereby possibly denaturing the contents in the case of selective collection, or adding to the user's expense if the collection is charged for.
Locking devices for locking the cover of the dumpster when it is upright and waiting to be emptied, and unlocking it when it is being emptied, have already been proposed to solve these problems. For example, French Patent No. 2 721 912 to the assignee describes a locking device comprising a pivoting part pivotably mounted on the dumpster body inside a protective casing. When the container is upright, this pivoting part assumes a locked position in which it keeps the cover in closed position. When the container is tilted for emptying, the pivoting part, by force of gravity, moves from its locked position to an unlocked position.
Also, German Utility Model No. 295 11 098 U discloses a device for locking the cover of a container, comprising a pivoting part directly engaging the plastic of the upper rim of the container, which may cause wear. In addition, this prior art device comprises unlocking means attached to the cover, so that it is exposed to major impacts when the cover is opened or closed. Furthermore, the pivoting part comprises an upper arm and a lower arm, and the unlocking means comprises a key mechanism either pulling on the upper arm or resting on the lower arm near the geometrical axis of rotation of the pivoting part. In either case, the force exerted on the pivoting part is rather great, making the key mechanism rather difficult to operate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to further improve the means of locking the cover of a container, of the type comprising a pivoting part pivotably mounted on the cover between a locked position, in which the cover is kept in closed position when the container is erect, and an unlocked position, in which the cover is released, the pivoting part moving from its locked position to its unlocked position by the force of gravity when the container is tilted.
This object is accomplished because the pivoting part comprises a lower arm capable of engaging a catch member, such as a lug, for example, when the cover is closed and when the pivoting part is in a position to lock the cover. According to the invention, because the pivoting part is mounted on the cover of the container, the pivoting part is less exposed to the waste while the dumpster is being filled. Thus, it is not necessary to house it in a protective casing, as was done with the device described in French Patent 2 721 912, supra. The result is an increase of space in the dumpster container and a lower cost of producing the locking device.
Furthermore, according to the invention, the pivoting part does not come into direct contact with the plastic of the container body, but contacts the catch member so that it does not cause wear. The catch member may be operated by a key mechanism and retracted by actuating the key mechanism to disengage from a hole in the pivoting part. Thus, the pivoting part may be unlocked without exerting much force on the catch member, and the key mechanism can be operated with relative ease. As a variant, the locking means comprises a mechanism consisting of a member pushing back the lower arm of the pivoting part when the user actuates a key.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivoting part is pivotably mounted about a geometrical axis of rotation parallel to the geometrical axis of tilt on which the container is emptied. This arrangement uses the movement of the container as a whole when it is being emptied, which helps the pivoting part to reach its position unlocking the cover.
As a comparison, in the device described in French Patent 2 721 912, the pivoting part is pivotably mounted about a geometrical axis of rotation perpendicular to the geometrical axis of tilt. In order to ensure dependable operation when emptying, a weight with some play is provided, for example, in a cavity of the pivoting part, to create a boost when the container is tilted and help it reach the unlocked position.
Continuing with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivoting part is connected to the cover substantially in the middle of the side of the cover opposing the articulating hinges.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivoting part comprises, in addition to the lower arm, an upper arm that extends into the interior volume of the cover.
The locking device according to the invention can readily be installed on an existing container.
Preferably, the device further comprises, on the interior side of the container, a protective wall or frame generally U-shaped in cross-section, whose arms are fixed to the inside wall of the container on either side of the catch member, the protective frame defining a housing open to the top and to the bottom. Because of this protective frame, the waste does not interfere with the unlocking of the lower arm.
The invention further relates to a dumpster for collecting waste, comprising locking means as aforesaid.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5085341 (1992-02-01), Hodge
patent: 5149153 (1992-09-01), Drewry et al.
patent: 5224744 (1993-07-01), Michelutti
patent: 5329865 (1994-07-01), McWard
patent: 5772264 (1998-06-01), Bettenhausen
patent: 5860302 (1999-01-01), James
patent: 296 04 340 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 295 11 098 (1996-12-01), None
patent: 2721912 (1996-01-01), None
Brazier Emmanuel
Obriot Denis
Baker & Botts
Compagnie & Plastic Omnium
Newhouse Nathan J.
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