Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Hoistable receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-18
2001-10-16
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Hoistable receptacle
C177S139000, C264S272150, C264S272170
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302461
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transport and/or collection device of molded plastics material that includes an electronic identity device such as a transponder, and it relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to a container for collecting waste or garbage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the context of collecting waste, for example, the identity device makes it possible to identify the container and to bill the user as a function of the weight of waste collected.
European patent 0 495 947 proposes integrating the identity device in the collar of the container in the form of an insert around which the plastics material constituting said wall is injected molded.
Nevertheless, that solution can be envisaged only when the identity device does not run any risk of being damaged by the temperature and/or pressure of the plastics material in the mold.
Otherwise, patent 0 495 947 proposes making a recess in the collar of the container and then inserting the identity device in the recess and holding it in place by means of a cover which is fixed by heat sealing, adhesive, screws, or rivets.
So far as the Applicant company is aware, no identity device exists that includes ordinary electronic circuits that is capable of withstanding the temperature and pressure of the plastics material in the mold without any risk of being damaged.
That is why, in practice, it is the solution using a cover that has been implemented whenever the identity device is somewhat complex.
Nevertheless, that technique does not give complete satisfaction, particularly concerning the reliability with which the cover is fixed.
German patent application DE-A-44 37 808 discloses a method of installing an identity device constituted by an antenna and a microcircuit on an object that is injection molded.
Initially, the plastics material is molded over a shell filled with a gel and housing the antenna.
Thereafter the microcircuit is fitted to the object, e.g. being held by a fixing piece or being embedded in a drop of adhesive.
In such a method, the identity device is not integrated in the object while it is being molded since installing the identity device requires an additional operation of fixing the microcircuit after the material has been molded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a novel transport and/or collection device of molded plastics material such as a container for collecting waste, for example, the device being of the type including an electronic identity device integrated during molding in a wall thereof, the reliability with which the identity device is mounted being improved over prior art transport and/or collection devices without the cost of installing the identity device becoming excessive.
According to the invention, the transport and/or collection device is characterized by the fact that the identity device is housed at least in part in a protective shell, with a wall of the transport and/or collection device being molded in contact with the shell.
By means of the invention, the identity device is completely integrated in the transport and/or collection device during molding, thus without any need to provide an additional assembly step for fitting an element of the identity device after molding, and without any risk of the temperature- and/or pressure-sensitive circuits of the identity device being destroyed.
Preferably, the identity device is completely encapsulated in said protective shell.
In a particular embodiment, the protective shell is in the form of a box made of plastics material.
The box can be made, for example, by assembling together a bottom and a lid, or in a variant it can be made as a single piece, the identity device then being placed inside the box either through an opening thereof, which opening is then closed, or else by closing two half-boxes onto the identity device, which half-boxes are held together by a film hinge.
In a particular embodiment, the protective shell is completely embedded in said wall.
In a variant, the protective shell has a face that opens out to the surface of said wall, preferably in the outside surface thereof.
In another variant, the protective shell has two opposite faces opening out into surfaces of said wall.
In a particular embodiment, the protective shell is contained in a swelling on said wall.
In the particular case of a container for collecting waste, the protective shell can be integrated, e.g. in the front wall of the bin of the container or in its collar, whereby the container is engaged by the hoist of the collection vehicle.
The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a transport and/or collection device, the method being characterized by the fact that it comprises the steps consisting in:
encapsulating the identity device at least in part in a material suitable for protecting it during the step of molding the transport and/or collection device; and
molding a wall of the transport and/or collection device in contact with the identity device encapsulated in this way.
The identity device is preferably fully encapsulated in said material suitable for protecting it during molding of said wall.
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Debras Jean-Jacques
Plissonnier Bernard
Chin Paul T.
Compagnie & Plastic Omnium
Lillis Eileen D.
Schweitzer Cornman Gross & Bondell LLP
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