CA2038595C - Waste container lid system - Google Patents
Waste container lid systemInfo
- Publication number
- CA2038595C CA2038595C CA 2038595 CA2038595A CA2038595C CA 2038595 C CA2038595 C CA 2038595C CA 2038595 CA2038595 CA 2038595 CA 2038595 A CA2038595 A CA 2038595A CA 2038595 C CA2038595 C CA 2038595C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lid
- pivot
- container
- waste container
- pivot arm
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 19
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 claims 2
- 239000010813 municipal solid waste Substances 0.000 abstract description 8
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 abstract description 6
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 3
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000002440 industrial waste Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007257 malfunction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009877 rendering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
- B65F1/00—Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor
- B65F1/14—Other constructional features; Accessories
- B65F1/16—Lids or covers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
- B65F1/00—Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor
- B65F1/14—Other constructional features; Accessories
- B65F1/16—Lids or covers
- B65F1/1615—Lids or covers with means for locking, fastening or permanently closing thereof
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
- B65F1/00—Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor
- B65F1/14—Other constructional features; Accessories
- B65F1/16—Lids or covers
- B65F1/1646—Lids or covers provided with means for mounting on receptacles, e.g. hinges
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Refuse Receptacles (AREA)
Abstract
Existing dumpster lids are difficult for a user to lift and also leak some water into the container. The lids also tend to become bent when dumping into a full garbage truck, as the lid presses against the mound of trash. The present invention provides a waste container and lid assembly comprising a lid having a pivot arm which operates on a pivoting surface attached to the side of the container and having a fulcrum. The pivot arm has first, second and third pivot points on its lower surface in order to move the pivot point as the centre of gravity of the lid shifts during opening to keep the centre of gravity ap-proximately over the pivot point. The lid is connected to the container by a two-piece hinge which swings the pivot arm clear of the supporting plates when the container is inverted. This alows the lid to swing freely on the two-part hinge which also permits the lid to move up or down while hanging in order to avoid damage to the lid if a solid mass is struck. The lid when closed is also able to slide forward to permit automatic unlocking.
Description
WASTE CON~TN~R LID ~YSTEM
Field of the Invention The invention relates to commercial and indust-rial waste containers or "dumpsters" designed for emptying into a waste removal truck by mechanical means. More particularly it relates to improvements in the lids for dumpsters.
Background of the Invention Waste from businesses and industries is gene-rally stored in large, wheeled metal bins referred to as "dumpsters" which are designed to be emptied mechanically by specially equipped garbage trucks having hydraulically-operated lifting arms or forks which engage, lift and tip the dumpster. It is important that water be kept out of such containers, since users pay for removal by weight. To avoid becoming filled with rainwater, a lid must be pro-vided for the dumpster which is hinged to permit filling and emptying of the dumpster. Such lids are metal and are generally formed in two parts due to the large weight of such lids. Even so, such lids are difficult for a user to lift and also leak some water into the container. The lids also tend to become bent when dumping into a full garbage truck, as the lid presses against the mound of trash. Such bending adds to the leakage problem in the container.
It is also useful to be able to lock the dumps-ter lid, to avoid unauthorized persons placing waste in thedumpster. It is preferable that the driver of the garbage truck need not have a key for the lock, nor have to descend from the truck in order to unlock the lid.
Various systems have been proposed for rendering dumpster lids easier to open. For example Hodge United States patents 3,989,162; 4,014,457; 4,098,429; 4,148,411 and Re. 30,890 disclose a lid system in which rollers or sliders assist the initial partial opening of the lid, while a pivot arm allows the lid to hang freely when ~ S ~
Field of the Invention The invention relates to commercial and indust-rial waste containers or "dumpsters" designed for emptying into a waste removal truck by mechanical means. More particularly it relates to improvements in the lids for dumpsters.
Background of the Invention Waste from businesses and industries is gene-rally stored in large, wheeled metal bins referred to as "dumpsters" which are designed to be emptied mechanically by specially equipped garbage trucks having hydraulically-operated lifting arms or forks which engage, lift and tip the dumpster. It is important that water be kept out of such containers, since users pay for removal by weight. To avoid becoming filled with rainwater, a lid must be pro-vided for the dumpster which is hinged to permit filling and emptying of the dumpster. Such lids are metal and are generally formed in two parts due to the large weight of such lids. Even so, such lids are difficult for a user to lift and also leak some water into the container. The lids also tend to become bent when dumping into a full garbage truck, as the lid presses against the mound of trash. Such bending adds to the leakage problem in the container.
It is also useful to be able to lock the dumps-ter lid, to avoid unauthorized persons placing waste in thedumpster. It is preferable that the driver of the garbage truck need not have a key for the lock, nor have to descend from the truck in order to unlock the lid.
Various systems have been proposed for rendering dumpster lids easier to open. For example Hodge United States patents 3,989,162; 4,014,457; 4,098,429; 4,148,411 and Re. 30,890 disclose a lid system in which rollers or sliders assist the initial partial opening of the lid, while a pivot arm allows the lid to hang freely when ~ S ~
dumping. In other variants of the Hodge design, stops on the inner surface of the lid hold the lid in a partially opened position. Such designs require counter-weights on the lid, and rollers tend to malfunction under the rigor-ous conditions under which dumpsters are used. UnitedStates patent no. 4,609,117 also discloses a lid assembly in which a curved lid is assisted in partially opening by counterweight springs, and which swings freely when in-verted.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a waste contain-er and lid assembly comprising a lid having a pivot arm which operates on a pivoting surface attached to the side of the container and having a fulcrum. The pivot arm has first, second and third pivot points on its lower surface in order to move the pivot point as the centre of gravity of the lid shifts during opening to keep the centre of gravity approximately over the pivot point. The lid is connected to the container by a two piece hinge which swings free when the container is inverted. The lid is able to slide forward to permit automatic unlocking.
Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings which illustrate a preferred em-bodiment of the invention:
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the inven-tion in a closed position;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the invention in a closed position;
Fig. 3 is a rear view of the invention in a closed position;
Fig. 4A through 4D are partial side elevational views of the pivot arm of the invention in successive opening positions;
Fig. 5A through 5D are partial side views of thelid hinge of the invention in the successive lid positions illustrated in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 illustrates the invention in the inverted position for dumping.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Fig ! 1, a waste container 10 has wheels 11 (which are optional), an upper edge 12 and a lid 14. Side 15 of the container 10 is shown, although both sides are identical. Hollow rectangular pocket 16 is welded to side 15 and receives the forks of a fork lift garbage truck for lifting, inverting and emptying the container.
Lid 14 has two handles 18 attached to its front edge. Lid 14 is attached along its rear edge to the container 10 by a two part hinge 20 consisting of a central hinge 28, upper hinge 26, and lower hinge 30. Upper hinge 26 is fixed to the container by welding at bands 27. Plates 22 pivot on hinge 26 and are fixed to the central hinge 28. An elon-gated plate 24 pivots on hinge 28 at its upper edge and on hinge 30 at its lower edge. Hinge 30 is secured also to the container 10.
Extending perpendicularly about 3 inches from each side 15 of the container 10 are three metal plates 40, 42, 44. Plate 42 is substantially horizontal and has welded across the midpoint of its upper surface, in a direction perpendicular to the side 15 of the container, a cylindri-cal metal dowel which acts as a fulcrum in a manner de-scribed below. A substantially rectangular pivot arm 32,also about three inches deep is welded to each side of lid 14. A metal bar 48 is welded to its side to guide the pivot arm on plates 40, 42, 44.
The bottom surface of pivot arm 32 consists of a first pivot point 34, first flat surface 36, second pivot point 37, second surface 38 and third pivot point 39. In operation, as shown in Figure 4, when the lid is closed the weight of the lid rests on point 34. As the front of the lid is raised, surface 36 rotates on fulcrum 46 until point 37 makes contact with plate 42. At that point the arm pivots on point 37 and surface 36 is lifted off fulcrum 46.
As the lid opens further, surface 38 comes to rest on surface 42, and the lid rests in that position with some stability. Finally, as the lid continues to be opened, the pivot arm pivots on point 39 until surface 49 of the pivot arm rests against plate 40. In this way, as the centre of gravity of the lid is shifted to the right in Figure 4, the pivot point is also shifted to the right, so that the centre of gravity is always approximately over the pivot point, making the lid relatively easy to open while provid-ing a series of stable resting places as the lid is opened.
The present invention thus permits the lid to be con-structed of very heavy material, yet the lid remains relatively easy to open and close.
With reference to Figure 5, the hinge of the invention is formed of two plates which jack-knife to-gether as the lid is opened completely. However, when thecontainer is inverted for dumping, as shown in Figure 6, the lid will hang freely between the two ends 26 and 30 of the hinge. This also permits the lid to move up or down or laterally away from the container if it should encounter an obstacle, such as a mound of garbage, in the process of being dumped. When the container 10 is brought back to its upright position, point 34 strikes plate 44 which, along with bar 48, guides point 34 back into the position shown in Figure 1.
When the lid is in the closed position shown in Fig. 5A, there is the possibility of the lid moving for-ward about 1.5 inches due to the position of extension 50 on which hinge 30 is mounted. Due to the weight of the lid, however, an individual could not move it while in the closed position. Thus a locking system can be provided in which a clasp, for example, can be locked over a protru-sion on the front edge of the container, preventing lif-~ ~3~595 ting of the lid, but which comes free when the dumpster is lifted and tilted forward by the emptying truck. As shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2, a hooked clasp 60 can be provided which is hinged at 62 and has an opening for ring 64 which can accept a lock (not shown) to secure it in the lower position. The clasp 60 thus can be removed only by removing the lock or allowing the lid 14 to slide forward enough that clasp 60 clears edge 12.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a waste contain-er and lid assembly comprising a lid having a pivot arm which operates on a pivoting surface attached to the side of the container and having a fulcrum. The pivot arm has first, second and third pivot points on its lower surface in order to move the pivot point as the centre of gravity of the lid shifts during opening to keep the centre of gravity approximately over the pivot point. The lid is connected to the container by a two piece hinge which swings free when the container is inverted. The lid is able to slide forward to permit automatic unlocking.
Brief Description of the Drawings In drawings which illustrate a preferred em-bodiment of the invention:
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the inven-tion in a closed position;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the invention in a closed position;
Fig. 3 is a rear view of the invention in a closed position;
Fig. 4A through 4D are partial side elevational views of the pivot arm of the invention in successive opening positions;
Fig. 5A through 5D are partial side views of thelid hinge of the invention in the successive lid positions illustrated in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 illustrates the invention in the inverted position for dumping.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Fig ! 1, a waste container 10 has wheels 11 (which are optional), an upper edge 12 and a lid 14. Side 15 of the container 10 is shown, although both sides are identical. Hollow rectangular pocket 16 is welded to side 15 and receives the forks of a fork lift garbage truck for lifting, inverting and emptying the container.
Lid 14 has two handles 18 attached to its front edge. Lid 14 is attached along its rear edge to the container 10 by a two part hinge 20 consisting of a central hinge 28, upper hinge 26, and lower hinge 30. Upper hinge 26 is fixed to the container by welding at bands 27. Plates 22 pivot on hinge 26 and are fixed to the central hinge 28. An elon-gated plate 24 pivots on hinge 28 at its upper edge and on hinge 30 at its lower edge. Hinge 30 is secured also to the container 10.
Extending perpendicularly about 3 inches from each side 15 of the container 10 are three metal plates 40, 42, 44. Plate 42 is substantially horizontal and has welded across the midpoint of its upper surface, in a direction perpendicular to the side 15 of the container, a cylindri-cal metal dowel which acts as a fulcrum in a manner de-scribed below. A substantially rectangular pivot arm 32,also about three inches deep is welded to each side of lid 14. A metal bar 48 is welded to its side to guide the pivot arm on plates 40, 42, 44.
The bottom surface of pivot arm 32 consists of a first pivot point 34, first flat surface 36, second pivot point 37, second surface 38 and third pivot point 39. In operation, as shown in Figure 4, when the lid is closed the weight of the lid rests on point 34. As the front of the lid is raised, surface 36 rotates on fulcrum 46 until point 37 makes contact with plate 42. At that point the arm pivots on point 37 and surface 36 is lifted off fulcrum 46.
As the lid opens further, surface 38 comes to rest on surface 42, and the lid rests in that position with some stability. Finally, as the lid continues to be opened, the pivot arm pivots on point 39 until surface 49 of the pivot arm rests against plate 40. In this way, as the centre of gravity of the lid is shifted to the right in Figure 4, the pivot point is also shifted to the right, so that the centre of gravity is always approximately over the pivot point, making the lid relatively easy to open while provid-ing a series of stable resting places as the lid is opened.
The present invention thus permits the lid to be con-structed of very heavy material, yet the lid remains relatively easy to open and close.
With reference to Figure 5, the hinge of the invention is formed of two plates which jack-knife to-gether as the lid is opened completely. However, when thecontainer is inverted for dumping, as shown in Figure 6, the lid will hang freely between the two ends 26 and 30 of the hinge. This also permits the lid to move up or down or laterally away from the container if it should encounter an obstacle, such as a mound of garbage, in the process of being dumped. When the container 10 is brought back to its upright position, point 34 strikes plate 44 which, along with bar 48, guides point 34 back into the position shown in Figure 1.
When the lid is in the closed position shown in Fig. 5A, there is the possibility of the lid moving for-ward about 1.5 inches due to the position of extension 50 on which hinge 30 is mounted. Due to the weight of the lid, however, an individual could not move it while in the closed position. Thus a locking system can be provided in which a clasp, for example, can be locked over a protru-sion on the front edge of the container, preventing lif-~ ~3~595 ting of the lid, but which comes free when the dumpster is lifted and tilted forward by the emptying truck. As shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2, a hooked clasp 60 can be provided which is hinged at 62 and has an opening for ring 64 which can accept a lock (not shown) to secure it in the lower position. The clasp 60 thus can be removed only by removing the lock or allowing the lid 14 to slide forward enough that clasp 60 clears edge 12.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
Claims (11)
1. A waste container and lid assembly comprising:
a) a hollow container having a closed bottom, an open top and vertically extending front, back and side walls forming an upper edge around said open top;
b) upwardly facing pivot surfaces attached to each side of said container, each said pivot surface having a transverse centrally located fulcrum means;
c) a lid having front and back edges, said lid being hingedly connected to said back upper edge of said container along said back edge of said lid and comprising pivot arms on each side thereof, said pivot arms having a lower surface and a plurality of pivot points arranged con-secutively from front to back on said lower surface wher-eby lifting of said lid causes said pivot arm to pivot con-secutively on said pivot points.
a) a hollow container having a closed bottom, an open top and vertically extending front, back and side walls forming an upper edge around said open top;
b) upwardly facing pivot surfaces attached to each side of said container, each said pivot surface having a transverse centrally located fulcrum means;
c) a lid having front and back edges, said lid being hingedly connected to said back upper edge of said container along said back edge of said lid and comprising pivot arms on each side thereof, said pivot arms having a lower surface and a plurality of pivot points arranged con-secutively from front to back on said lower surface wher-eby lifting of said lid causes said pivot arm to pivot con-secutively on said pivot points.
2. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 1 where-in each said pivot surface comprises a transversely or-iented fulcrum adapted to bear against said lower surface of said pivot arm.
3. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 1 where-in said lower surface comprises first, second and third pivot points.
4. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 3 where-in said lower surface of said pivot arm comprises a first surface between said first and second pivot points for bearing against said fulcrum.
5. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 4 where-in said lower surface of said pivot arm comprises a seco-nd surface between said second and third pivot points for resting on said pivot surfaces.
6. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 1 where-in said pivot arm comprises a rearwardly facing edge, and further comprising a rearwardly extending surface joining said pivot surface at an acute angle against which said rearward edge of said pivot arm bears when said lid is opened to its maximum extent.
7. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 6 further comprising a frontwardly extending surface joining said pivot surface at an acute angle which surface contacts said lower surface of said pivot arm when said lid is returned from an inverted dumping position.
8. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 1 where-in said pivot arm further comprises guide bar means secu-red to the side of said pivot arm and extending below the edge of said pivot surface when said lid is in a closed position.
9. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 1 where-in said hinged connection of said lid comprises a two-part hinge having a first hinge pivotally connected to the rear edge of said lid, a second hinge pivotally connected to said rear edge of said container, and a third central hinge pivotally connected to said first and second hinges.
10. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 1 where-in said lid is adapted to move forward on said upper edge of said container when said lid is in a closed position.
11. The waste container and lid assembly of claim 10 furt-her comprising locking means attached to said lid for engaging said upper edge of said container and which thereby enables locking of said lid in a closed position when said lid is in its normal position but which dis-engages said lid from said upper edge when said lid is moved forward to permit the emptying of said container.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2038595 CA2038595C (en) | 1991-03-19 | 1991-03-19 | Waste container lid system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2038595 CA2038595C (en) | 1991-03-19 | 1991-03-19 | Waste container lid system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2038595C true CA2038595C (en) | 1995-05-09 |
Family
ID=4147217
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2038595 Expired - Fee Related CA2038595C (en) | 1991-03-19 | 1991-03-19 | Waste container lid system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2038595C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8998031B2 (en) | 2011-08-26 | 2015-04-07 | Stericycle, Inc. | Waste container assembly |
-
1991
- 1991-03-19 CA CA 2038595 patent/CA2038595C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8998031B2 (en) | 2011-08-26 | 2015-04-07 | Stericycle, Inc. | Waste container assembly |
| US9585719B2 (en) | 2011-08-26 | 2017-03-07 | Stericycle, Inc. | Waste container assembly |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |