Receptacles – Closures – Pivotable
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-29
2003-09-09
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Pivotable,
C220S908000, C220S831000, C220S844000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06616008
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved refuse container lid and hinge assembly for use in conjunction with commercial refuse containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refuse container lid and hinge assembly, which container lid comprises improved rib support structure and which hinge assembly is adapted to provide improved, simplified mechanical stop structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The waste management industry has come under intense scrutiny in contemporary society in response to ever-growing concerns about environmental issues, particularly the importance of building toward a sustainable future. Accordingly, peripheral industries reliant on waste management must continually seek to improve methods and means for managing waste in response to greater societal demands for responsible and efficient waste management practices. One of the most efficient means for the transfer of waste materials is with the use of front-loading, overhead-emptying waste disposal vehicles. These so-called front-loading, overhead-emptying waste disposal vehicles are capable of lifting large capacity refuse containers from the front of the vehicle to an overturned position above the vehicle for emptying the contents of the refuse containers into integral, large capacity, trash compacting transfer compartments. As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,799, the utilization of front-loading, overhead emptying waste disposal vehicles significantly reduces the capital expenditure requirements to service a given population. For example, the use of front-loading, overhead emptying waste disposal vehicles cuts down on the number of manual labor positions required to service the containers, thus reducing capital expenditures.
It will thus be seen that the refuse containers employed in these scenarios comprise means to enable front-loading, overhead emptying waste disposal vehicles to lift the refuse containers overhead from an upright refuse containing position to an overturned, refuse emptying position, thus allowing refuse to fall under gravitational force into the trash compacting transfer compartments. The refuse containers employed in these scenarios often further comprise pivotable lids, which freely pivot about a hinge point under gravitational force as well as from reactive contact with accelerating refuse when the refuse containers are transitioned from an upright to an overturned position.
Not surprisingly, the waste transfer process in these scenarios requires heavy equipment since massive amounts of refuse material are thus transferred from disposal sites to treatment sites, the heavy equipment often comprising heavy metal refuse containers and transfer compartments. Furthermore, as noted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,345, there is constant concern that refuse container lids will pivot beyond a desired stop point and be damaged or destroyed from contact with the waste disposal vehicle or with compacted refuse within the transfer compartments. Lid systems have thus become an area of special interest to a number of peripheral industries reliant on waste management. Accordingly, refuse container lids and lid systems for enabling more responsible and efficient waste management practices have been developed and are known in the prior art. Known refuse container lids and lid systems, however, suffer from a number of deficiencies, several of which are described hereinafter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,940 ('940 Patent), which issued to Taylor, discloses a Refuse Container Cover. The Taylor Refuse Container Cover discloses a double-walled substantially planar container lid wherein the first wall comprises a plurality of longitudinally-aligned support ribs and wherein the second wall comprises a plurality of laterally-aligned support ribs. Support brace receiving bosses are further provided to secure the cover in a fixed open position for refuse loading. Further, the upper surface of the first wall is arcuately configured both longitudinally and laterally and the underside of the second wall is arcuately configured longitudinally to provide additional stiffness and durability into the Refuse Container Cover. The '940 Patent further discloses an integral hinge means for securing the Refuse Container Cover to the refuse container. The '940 Patent does not disclose a container lid having integral, laterally-aligned support rib elements and longitudinally-aligned support rib elements in a single walled container lid. Further, the '940 Patent does not disclose a container lid in combination with a side-mounted hinge assembly for preventing the container lid from pivoting beyond a predetermined number of rotational degrees.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,866 ('866 Patent), which issued to Sanders, also discloses a Refuse Container Cover. The Sanders Refuse Container Cover discloses an integrally-joined, two-piece, coplanar cover comprising an upper member having a plurality of unidirectional parallel ribs and a lower member having a plurality of unidirectional parallel ribs, which lower member ribs are generally perpendicular to the upper member ribs. The '866 Patent further discloses means for movably attaching the Refuse Container Cover to a refuse container and a generally arcuate upper surface to facilitate rainwater runoff. The '866 Patent also does not disclose a container lid having integral, laterally-aligned support rib elements and longitudinally-aligned support rib elements in a single walled container lid. Further, the '866 Patent does not disclose a container lid in combination with a side-mounted hinge assembly for preventing the container lid from pivoting beyond a predetermined number of rotational degrees.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,448 ('448 Patent), which issued to Pedigo, discloses a Dumpster-type Cylindrical Trash Container. The Dumpster-type Cylindrical Trash Container comprises half lid sections having first and second surfaces. Portions of the first surfaces further comprise a plurality of spaced, parallel rib elements thus forming intermittent first surface gaps. Further, portions of the second surfaces comprise a plurality of spaced, parallel rib elements also forming intermittent second surface gaps such that the second surface rib elements are opposing the first surface gaps and the first surface rib elements are opposing the second surface gaps. The lid sections further comprise means for hingedly affixing each lid section to the Dumpster-type Cylindrical Trash Container. The '448 Patent does not disclose a container lid having integral, laterally-aligned support rib elements and longitudinally-aligned support rib elements in a single walled container lid. Further, the '448 Patent does not disclose a container lid in combination with a side-mounted hinge assembly for preventing the container lid from pivoting beyond a predetermined number of rotational degrees.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,267 ('267 Patent), which issued to Taylor, discloses a Refuse Container Lid. The Refuse Container Lid comprises a plurality of lid members, a pivotal attaching mechanism, and a cam-shaped lobe integrally formed on each lid member. The lid members each include a pivoting edge, a curved edge, and a surface complementary to at least a portion of an upper surface of a refuse container. Each lid member includes a curved inner surface bound on opposing ends thereof by the pivoting edge and the curved edge. The pivotal attaching mechanism is adapted to attach the pivoting edges to the upper surface at a predetermined distance therefrom. The cam-shaped lobes are formed on the pivoting edge of each lid member and adapted to allow a pivotal motion of each lid member relative to the container and to contact the upper surface at a predetermined angle between the complementary surfaces and the upper surface, with the predetermined angle depending upon the predetermined distance and the shape of the lobes. Further, the '267 Patent discloses lid members having unidirectional rib structure.
It will thus be s
Cronin Stephen K.
Meroni, Jr. Charles F.
Smalley James
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