AU2013205595A1 - An improved lid retainer for rubbish bins - Google Patents

Abstract

There is a lid retainer for a wheelie bin. The retainer includes a latch 7 and flexible strap 6 adapted to releasably secure the lid 2 from opening when the retainer is in a position of use with the latch 7 being mounted to the front of the bin, one end of the strap 6 being attached to the lid 2 and the other end of the strap 6 being engaged with the latch 7. The strap 6 is releasable from the latch 7 to enable opening of the lid 2 by magnetic interaction with a lifting arm assembly of a bin emptying collection vehicle. $ / ~e 6<WS~yW."~6~ ~ I> \\ .,'" ~K$ \ / 'ZQ~0:t2 ?.'K+$K~#'§*4; yN~~~: \t\ ? ~ I> ~ K~ j 2/ ~"r' N~~ff44 ~ ~ N ~ ssi\ / / .. ~. /1 \"%N '~\Ky~ 4NN $ 5 / 1~ "4\"~>"~' I I I 6 j I $ /5' 5" 6~ 5' /1 -41/ -4' / -4' - ~' \ / p / $5'

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: AN IMPROVED LID RETAINER FOR RUBBISH BINS The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing known to me. 1 This invention relates to waste bins. More particularly, although not exclusively, it discloses a lid latching device for wheelie bins or the like. As is well known wheelie bins are upright mobile containers for the temporary storage of refuge. A pair of wheels fitted to the bottom of the bin provide mobility and a hinged lid reduces emission of odours and provides a barrier to animals. As the bin is gripped at the sides by automated arms of a collection vehicle and lifted toward an inverted or upended position the lid falls open under gravity and the contents are dumped into said vehicle. Such bins are commonly used for domestic and commercial waste collection. Between collections however they may be left unattended for extended periods. During this time the freely hinged lid can be opened by scavengers or animals or even blown open by strong winds. Also, if the bin is knocked over the lid can open to allow spillage of rubbish onto the street. It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantage and accordingly a lid retainer is disclosed for a refuse bin of the type described, said retainer including a latch and a flexible strap adapted to releasably secure said lid from opening when the retainer is in a position of use with said latch being mounted to the front of the bin, one end of said strap being attached to said lid and the other end of the strap engaged with said latch wherein said strap is releasable from said latch to enable opening of the lid by magnetic interaction with a lifting arm assembly of a bin emptying collection vehicle. 2 Preferably said other end of the strap is fitted with a pin which is insertable into the latch housing. It is further preferred that said latch includes a slidable bolt which is spring biased to engage a notch in said pin. It is further preferred that said slidable bolt is fitted with a steel disk or plate for interaction with a magnet on the lifting arm assembly of said collection vehicle. The currently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the upper portion of a wheelie bin when fitted with a lid retainer according to this invention, figure 2 is a front elevation view of the lid retainer latch shown in figure 1, figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the lines A-A of figure 2. Referring first to figure 1 there is a wheelie bin 1 of conventional design with a hinged lid 2 and lip 3 formed across the front. The lid has side handles 4 to manually open the bin from the front for filling and hinges 5 at the rear which serve as additional handles for rolling the bin on wheels at the base (not shown). In accordance with the invention there is a flexible strap 6 which extends from an anchor point 6A on the lid 2 over the front lip 3 and down to a latch housing 7 mounted on the front panel of the bin a short distance below said lip. 3 The preferred mechanism for the latch is shown in figures 2 and 3. The strap terminates through an aperture or elongated eye 8 formed at the upper end of a pin 9 which is insertable into a slot 10 in the top of the latch housing. As best shown in figure 3 the other lower end of the pin is preferably tapered inwardly to a leading edge 11 to facilitate insertion into the slot 10. It is also formed with a notch 12 just above said leading edge. There is a bolt 13 slidable in the housing from the front face 14. This bolt 13 is disposed at a right angle to the pin 9. The bolt is biased inwardly by a surrounding sleeve 15 and coil compression spring 15A to the locking position shown whereby the inner end 16 seats into the notch 12 to prevent removal of the pin. More particularly a tooth 16A on the bolt engages against the inner end 16B of the sleeve whereby the spring 15A acts between the housing and the opposite end of the sleeve to bias the bolt and sleeve assembly inward. To facilitate insertion of the pin the inner downwardly bevelled end 16 of the bolt engages with a tapered edge of the pin in a wedging action which forces the bolt outwardly against the spring 15A. This allows the pin to insert fully into the slot 10 to the locking position shown where the bolt seats into the notch 12 as described above. The outer end of the bolt 13 extends outside the latch housing and is formed into a holder 17 for a steel plate 18. There are also flanges 19 on each side of the housing to enable it to be screwed or riveted to the front panel of the bin as shown in figure 1. In use after the bin is filled the pin 9 is fitted into the latch housing to secure the bin lid 2 at the closed position. This deters scavengers and animals and also prevents spillage if the bin is knocked over while awaiting the collection vehicle. During collection when the lifting arms 4 grip the sides of the bin the attraction of the steel disk or plate 18 to a magnet located between said arms pulls the bolt 13 outward to the disengaged position whereby the pin can be pulled freely from the housing. This allows the lid to automatically open under gravity as the bin is upended. Alternatively the bolt 13 can be manually pulled out to release the pin 9 and open the lid 2. Although not shown in the drawings a suitable locking assembly (such as a padlock) may be fitted to the latch housing to secure the bolt 13 in the engaged position to prevent unauthorised access to the bin until collection. Preferably for child safety reasons the end of the strap 6 which remains attached to the lid at 6A is secured through the lid wall by a pin/circlip or other arrangement which allows disconnection of the strap and opening of the lid from the inside. It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment disclosed provides a novel and improved form of lid retainer for wheelie bins or the like. Clearly however the example described is only the currently preferred form of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the shape and configuration of the latch mechanism and pin may be changed according to design preference. Also, while the magnet is shown as part of the latch it may alternatively be located on the lifting arm. Further, the invention is not limited to any specific materials for constructing the latch although the use of weatherproof plastics is preferred for the strap and latch housing. 5 The terms "upper", "lower", "inner", " outer", "front" and "back" etc. as used in this specification refer to the lid retainer in one position of use as illustrated and are not to be construed as necessarily limiting. 6

Claims (11)

1. A lid retainer for a refuse bin of the type described, said retainer including a latch and a flexible strap adapted to releasably secure said lid from opening when the retainer is in a position of use with said latch being mounted to the front of the bin, one end of said strap being attached to said lid and the other end of the strap engaged with said latch wherein said strap is releasable from said latch to enable opening of the lid by magnetic interaction with a lifting arm assembly of a bin emptying collection vehicle.

2. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said other end of the strap is fitted with a pin which is insertable into a housing of said latch.

3. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said latch housing includes a slidable bolt which is spring biased to seat in a notch in said pin.

4. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 3 wherein said slidable bolt is adapted for magnetic interaction with said lifting arm assembly.

5. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is an elongated eye formed at an upper end of the pin for attachment to said other end of the strap.

6. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 5 wherein an opposite lower end of the pin is tapered inwardly to a leading edge to facilitate insertion into a slot in said housing. 8

7. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 6 wherein a notch is formed in said pin above said leading edge to receive an inner end of a slidable locking bolt.

8. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 7 wherein said locking bolt is slidable inwardly from a front face of the housing under spring bias.

9. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 8 wherein an opposite outer end of the slidable locking bolt extends outside the housing and is formed into a magnet holder.

10. The lid retainer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said one end of the strap which is attached to the lid is secured through the lid wall by a pin, circlip or other arrangement which allows disconnection of said strap and opening of the lid from the inside.

11. A refuse bin having a lid hinged for front opening which is fitted with a lid retainer as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. Dated this 1st day of May, 2013 Christopher John McPherson By His Patent Attorney MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR 9