AU2016102416A4 - Limiting device for containers with hinged lids - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a limiting device 10 for a container 50 having a container body 54 and a lid 52 hingedly connected to the container body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the hinge axis is defined by an axle 56 that is spaced apart from the container body. The limiting device 10 comprises an elongate member 12 having a first end 14 adapted to engage the container body 54 and a second end 16 adapted to engage the lid 52 to limit the extent of opening of the lid. A connecting formation, comprising an opening 18, is located between the first 14 and second 16 ends of the elongate member, the connecting formation being adapted to secure the elongate member 12 relative to the axle 56, such that, in use, both the first end 14 engages the body 54 and the second end 16 engages the lid 52 when the lid is opened to a predetermined angle A of at least 90 degrees from the closed configuration to limit the extent of opening of the lid.

Description

Limiting device for containers with hinged lids

Cross-Reference to Related Applications [0001] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2015900714 filed on 2 March 2015, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field [0002] The present disclosure relates to a limiting device for containers with hinged lids. The limiting device has been developed primarily for use in limiting the extent of opening of household and garden waste bin lids and will be described hereinafter with reference to that application. However, it will be appreciated that the limiting device may also be used on other containers, especially those that may be stored outside, such as animal fodder bins and silos, or on other items with hinged lids.

Background [0003] Known large-capacity domestic waste bins, commonly referred to as wheelie bins, include a body having a base and sidewalls extending from the base to define a receptacle having an open top for receiving domestic waste, such as rubbish or recyclables. A lid is hingedly connected to mounting points, which extend from opposite ends of the top of one of the sidewalls, to close the open top of the body. The configuration of the hinge between the lid and the body is such that the lid is movable through approximately 270 degrees, between a closed configuration, in which the lid rests on the open top of the body, and an open configuration, in which the top of the lid faces the sidewall to which it is hinged.

[0004] When such bins are collected by a waste removal truck, an articulated arm on the truck grips the bin, elevates the bin and inverts the bin to empty its contents into the truck. After the bin has been emptied, the arm places the bin back on the ground. However, when the bin is placed back on the ground by the arm, it is common for the bin lid to remain open. As a result, in wet weather, the bin collects rain water, which mixes with residual refuse, other contaminants, and/or microbes in the bin, and often causes unpleasant odours and can represent a health hazard. Moreover, if significant rainfall occurs, a large volume of water can collect in the bin, which can be difficult to empty due to the weight of the collected water.

2016102416 02 Mar 2016 [0005] To ameliorate the above problems, it is known to install provide lid limiting device that only allows the bin lid to open to an angle of less than 90 degrees from the closed configuration, such that the lid must always close due to gravity. Commonly, such known devices additionally mechanically bias the bin lid toward the closed configuration to keep the bin lid closed even if the bin falls over and/or to make it more difficult for vermin to open the bin lid. A problem with such known devices, however, is that they restrict the opening area of the bin, which can impede emptying of the bin. Moreover, a user must either hold the bin lid open with one hand or prop the bin lid open to prevent it from self-closing in order to place rubbish into the bin.

[0006] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

Summary [0007] Throughout this specification the word comprise, or variations such as comprises or comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

[0008] In a first aspect, there is provided a limiting device for a container having a container body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the hinge axis is defined by an axle that is spaced apart from the body, the limiting device comprising:

an elongate member having a first end and a second end; and a connecting formation located between the first and second ends of the elongate member, the connecting formation being adapted to secure the elongate member relative to the axle against at least translation in a plane perpendicular to the hinge axis, wherein the limiting device is configured such that, in use, both the first end engages the body and the second end engages the lid when the lid is opened to a predetermined angle of between 90 and 180 degrees from the closed configuration to limit the extent of opening of the lid.

2016102416 02 Mar 2016 [0009] The connecting formation may comprise an opening that is adapted to engage the axle. The opening may be offset from a line extending between the first and second ends of the elongate member. The opening may be adapted to snap-lockingly engage the axle.

[0010] The connecting formation may be adapted to hingedly connect the elongate member relative to the axle, such that, in use, the elongate member is hingedly movable about the hinge axis of the lid.

[0011] The predetermined angle may be between 90 and 130 degrees or between 90 and 120 degrees or between 90 and 110 degrees or between 90 and 100 degrees. The predetermined angle may be between 95 and 180 degrees or between 95 and 130 degrees or between 95 and 120 degrees or between 95 and 110 degrees or between 95 and 100 degrees.

[0012] Also disclosed herein is a system for limiting the extent of opening of a container with a hinged lid, the system comprising:

a container having a body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the hinge axis is defined by an axle that is spaced apart from the body; and at least one limiting device according to any one of the preceding claims secured to the axle via the connecting formation, such that, in use, both the first end of the elongate member engages the body and the second end of the elongate member engages the lid when the lid is opened to the predetermined angle.

[0013] The or each elongate member may be positioned between the axle and the body of the container.

[0014] The at least one limiting device may comprise at least two of the limiting devices.

[0015] Also disclosed herein is a system for limiting the extent of opening of a container with a hinged lid, the system comprising:

a container having a body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and a limiting member mounted to one of the body and the lid of the container, the limiting member having an abutment surface adapted to engage the other of the body and the lid when the

2016102416 02 Mar 2016 lid is opened to a predetermined angle of between 90 and 180 degrees from the closed configuration to limit the extent of opening of the lid.

[0016] The predetermined angle may be between 90 and 130 degrees or between 90 and 120 degrees or between 90 and 110 degrees or between 90 and 100 degrees. The predetermined angle may be between 95 and 180 degrees or between 95 and 130 degrees or between 95 and 120 degrees or between 95 and 110 degrees or between 95 and 100 degrees.

[0017] Also disclosed herein is a limiting device for a container having a container body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the hinge axis is defined by an axle that is spaced apart from the body, the limiting device comprising:

an elongate member having a first end adapted to engage the body of the container and a second end adapted to engage the lid of the container to limit the extent of opening of the lid; and a connecting formation located between the first and second ends of the elongate member, the connecting formation being adapted to hingedly connect the elongate member relative to the axle, such that, in use, the elongate member is hingedly movable about the hinge axis of the lid.

[0018] The connecting formation may be an opening that is adapted to snap-lockingly engage the axle. Alternatively, the connecting formation may comprise a bracket that is adapted to extend around the axle.

[0019] The elongate member may be formed from a variety of materials, such as plastics, metal or timber.

[0020] In use, the hinge axis of the elongate member may be offset from a line extending between the first and second ends of the elongate member.

[0021] In different embodiments, the elongate member may be configured so as to limit the extent of opening of the lid to less than 180 degrees from the closed configuration, to less than 130 degrees from the closed configuration, to less than 120 degrees from the closed configuration, or to less than 95 to 100 degrees from the closed configuration.

2016102416 02 Mar 2016 [0022] Also disclosed herein is a system for limiting the extent of opening of a container with a hinged lid, the system comprising:

a container having a body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the hinge axis is defined by an axle that is spaced apart from the body;

an elongate member having a first end adapted to engage the body of the container and a second end adapted to engage the lid of the container to limit the extent of opening of the lid; and a connecting formation located between the first and second ends of the elongate member, the connecting formation being adapted to hingedly connect the elongate member relative to the axle, such that, in use, the elongate member is hingedly movable about the hinge axis of the lid.

[0023] The connecting formation may be an opening that is adapted to snap-lockingly engage the axle. Alternatively, the connecting formation may comprise a bracket that is adapted to extend around the axle.

[0024] The elongate member may be formed from a variety of materials, such as plastics, metal or timber.

[0025] In use, the hinge axis of the elongate member may be offset from a line extending between the first and second ends of the elongate member.

[0026] In different embodiments, the elongate member may be configured so as to limit the extent of opening of the lid to less than 180 degrees from the closed configuration, to less than 130 degrees from the closed configuration, to less than 120 degrees from the closed configuration, or to less than 95 to 100 degrees from the closed configuration.

[0027] In use, the elongate member may be positioned between the axle and the body of the container, such that engagement of the lid with the second end of the elongate member urges the elongate member to rotate about its hinge axis and biases the first end of the elongate member into engagement with the container body.

[0028] Also disclosed herein is a system for limiting the extent of opening of a container with a hinged lid, the system comprising:

2016102416 02 Mar 2016 a container having a body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and a limiting member mounted to one of the body and the lid of the container, the limiting member having an abutment surface adapted to engage the other of the body and the lid to limit the extent of opening of the lid to less than 180 degrees from the closed configuration.

[0029] Engagement of the abutment surface with the other of the body and the lid may limit the extent of opening of the lid to less than 130 degrees from the closed configuration, to less than 120 degrees, or to less than 95 to 100 degrees.

Brief Description of Drawings [0030] An embodiment of the presently disclosed limiting device and system will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the limiting device;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a household waste bin on which the limiting device of Fig. 1 has been installed, with the lid of the bin in a partially open configuration;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the area around the hinge of the lid of the bin of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the bin of Fig. 2, with the lid of the bin in an open configuration; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the area around the hinge of the lid of the bin of Fig. 4.

Description of Embodiments [0031] Referring to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1, there is shown a limiting device 10 for a household waste bin having a hinged lid. The limiting device 10 comprises an elongate member 12 having a first end 14 and a second end 16. A connecting formation, comprising an opening 18, is located between the first 14 and second 16 ends of the elongate member.

[0032] Referring to Figs. 2-5, there is shown a container, in the form or a garbage bin 50, incorporating the limiting device 10 of Fig. 1. Together, the limiting device 10 and the bin 50 define a system 100 for limiting the extent of opening of the bin lid 52. The bin 50 comprises a body 54, with the lid 52 being hingedly connected to the body 54 about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The hinge axis is defined

2016102416 02 Mar 2016 by an axle 56 that is spaced apart from the body 54. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 5, in use, the elongate member 12 is positioned between the axle 56 and the bin body 54. The opening 18 of the limiting member 10 is adapted to snap-lockingly engage the axle 56 of the bin lid to hingedly connect the elongate member 12 relative to the axle 56, such that, in use, the elongate member 12 is hingedly movable about the hinge axis of the lid 52 (i.e. about the axle 56). Accordingly, when the bin lid 52 is opened, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the top side of the lid 52 engages the second end 16 of the elongate member, which urges the elongate member 12 to rotate about its hinge axis 56 and biases the first end 14 of the elongate member 12 into engagement with the container body 54. Depending on the magnitude of the bending force applied to limiting device 10 by its engagement between the lid 52 and the bin body 54, the limiting device 10 and/or the lid 52 may flex in response to this engagement and thereafter elastically return to its/their natural shape after flexure to bias the lid 52 toward its closed configuration.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the limiting device 12 is formed from nylon.

[0034] In use, the hinge axis 56 of the elongate member 12, and the opening 18, is offset from a line extending between the first 14 and second 16 ends of the elongate member 12. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, this configuration, along with the shape of the bin lid 52 and the spacing of the axle 56 from the bin body 54, limits the extent of opening of the lid 52 to an angle A of between 95 and 100 degrees from a closed configuration of the bin lid. Accordingly, when the bin 50 is upright with the lid 52 open, but close to vertical due to its engagement with the limiting device 10, very little effort is required to close the lid. Moreover, should the lid 52 swing open during the bin’s return to the ground after being emptied into a garbage collection truck, the lid 52 tends to automatically close due to the lid engaging the limiting device 10 and being biased thereby back toward the closed configuration. Even if the lid 52 does not engage the limiting device 10 with sufficient force to bias it closed, vibration generated when the bin 50 is placed back on the ground by a garbage collection truck tends to cause the lid 52 to topple closed from its near vertical open configuration. Likewise, if the lid 52 is accidentally left open after waste is placed in the bin 50, wind will tend to automatically close the lid 52. However, due to angle A being greater than 90 degrees, when putting rubbish into the bin 50 a user can rest the lid 52 against the second end 16 of the elongate member 12 in the near vertical open configuration, and the user can then let go of the lid and use both hands to put rubbish into the bin 50.

[0035] It will be appreciated that the above described limiting device 10 and system 100 provide numerous advantages over the prior art. For example, the limiting device 10 and system

2016102416 02 Mar 2016

100 reduce the incidence of bin lids being accidentally left open, which reduces unpleasant odours and prevents rain collecting in the bin. Moreover, as the limiting device 10 limits the extent of opening of the bin lid 52 to an angle of greater than 90 degrees from the closed configuration, the problem of a user having to hold the lid open with one hand whilst putting rubbish into the bin 50 with the other hand is ameliorated, as the user can rest the lid 52 against the second end 16 of the elongate member 12.

[0036] Instead of a limiting device 10, an alternative form of limiting member may be mounted to one of the body 54 and the lid 52 of the bin 50, the limiting member having an abutment surface adapted to engage the other of the body 54 and the lid 52 to limit the extent of opening of the lid to predetermined angle A.

[0037] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Examples of possible variations and/or modifications include, but are not limited to:

• the angle A being another angle greater than 90 degrees from the closed configuration;

• securing two or more limiting devices 10 to the axle 56;

• omitting the opening 18 and connecting the limiting device(s) 10 to the axle by another form of connecting formation, such as a bracket;

• the opening 18 may not snap-lockingly engage the axle 56, but may instead cooperate with a bracket that extends around the axle 56 to retain the elongate member 12 to the axle 56; and/or • the limiting device 10, or at least the elongate member 12, being formed from other materials, such as polypropylene, metal or timber.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A limiting device for a container having a container body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the hinge axis is defined by an axle that is spaced apart from the body, the limiting device comprising:

   an elongate member having a first end and a second end; and a connecting formation located between the first and second ends of the elongate member, the connecting formation being adapted to secure the elongate member relative to the axle against at least translation in a plane perpendicular to the hinge axis, wherein the limiting device is configured such that, in use, both the first end engages the body and the second end engages the lid when the lid is opened to a predetermined angle of between 90 and 180 degrees from the closed configuration to limit the extent of opening of the lid.
2. 2. A limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting formation comprises an opening that is adapted to engage the axle.
3. 3. A limiting device according to claim 2, wherein the opening is offset from a line extending between the first and second ends of the elongate member.
4. 4. A limiting device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the opening is adapted to snap-lockingly engage the axle.
5. 5. A limiting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting formation is adapted to hingedly connect the elongate member relative to the axle, such that, in use, the elongate member is hingedly movable about the hinge axis of the lid.
6. 6. A limiting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined angle is between 90 and 130 degrees.
7. 7. A limiting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined angle is between 90 and 120 degrees.

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   2016102416 02 Mar 2016
8. 8. A limiting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined angle is between 90 and 110 degrees.
9. 9. A limiting device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined angle is between 90 and 100 degrees.
10. 10. A limiting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the predetermined angle is between 95 and 180 degrees.
11. 11. A limiting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the predetermined angle is between 95 and 130 degrees.
12. 12. A limiting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the predetermined angle is between 95 and 120 degrees.
13. 13. A limiting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the predetermined angle is between 95 and 110 degrees or between 95 and 100 degrees.
14. 14. A system for limiting the extent of opening of a container with a hinged lid, the system comprising:

    a container having a body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the hinge axis is defined by an axle that is spaced apart from the body; and at least one limiting device according to any one of the preceding claims secured to the axle via the connecting formation, such that, in use, both the first end of the elongate member engages the body and the second end of the elongate member engages the lid when the lid is opened to the predetermined angle.
15. 15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the or each elongate member is positioned between the axle and the body of the container.
16. 16. A system according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the at least one limiting device comprises at least two of the limiting devices.
17. 17. A system for limiting the extent of opening of a container with a hinged lid, the system comprising:

    2016102416 02 Mar 2016 a container having a body and a lid hingedly connected to the body about a hinge axis for movement between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and a limiting member mounted to one of the body and the lid of the container, the limiting member having an abutment surface adapted to engage the other of the body and the lid when the lid is opened to a predetermined angle of between 90 and 180 degrees from the closed configuration to limit the extent of opening of the lid.
18. 18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined angle is between 90 and 130 degrees.
19. 19. A system according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined angle is between 90 and 120 degrees, or between 90 and 110 degrees or between 90 and 100 degrees.
20. 20. A system according to claim 17, wherein the predetermined angle is between 95 and 180 degrees, or between 95 and 130 degrees, or between 95 and 120 degrees, or between 95 and 110 degrees or between 95 and 100 degrees.