EP0872432A1 - Locking device for a lid of a container and container equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The locking mechanism, e.g. for a wheeled waste bin which is emptied by tipping, comprises a pivoted component (10) inside the lid (2) in the form of a two-armed lever with a weight (17). The non-weighted arm of the lever has a hole (15) in it engaging with a projection (16) on the inside of the bin so that the lid is held closed while the bin is tilted and remains closed until a certain angle is reached. The weight then turns the lever, disengaging it from the projection, allowing the lid to swing open on its hinge and the contents to drop out. The lower, non-weighted arm of the lever is in three linked sections describing one side of a hexagon with its concave side facing towards the inside of the bin. The lock can also incorporate a mechanism which allows the bin owner to open it with a key.

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device the lid of a container intended to be emptied by tilting more than 90 °, such as a bin for collecting waste.

We know that the bins intended for waste collection are brought to stay periodically on the public highway to be emptied by tilting in a collection vehicle.

The bins are then left unattended and it is not excluded that they could thus be the object of searches, which can be dangerous depending on the nature of the waste contained in the bins.

In addition, free access to the interior of the tanks can allow others to fill them with inappropriate waste, which can distort their content in the event of selective collection or generate an additional cost for the user in the event of billing for the collection.

Locking devices to lock the cover of the container when the container is standing waiting for emptying and unlocking it during emptying, have already been proposed to solve these problems.

For example, French patent 2,721,912 in the name of applicant company describes a locking device comprising a pivoting part pivotally mounted on the tank of the inside a protective case.

When the bin is upright, this pivoting part takes a locking position in which it maintains the cover in the closed position.

When the container is tilted to be emptied, the pivoting part goes under the effect of gravity from its locked position to an unlocked position.

We also know by the German utility model DE-U-295 11098 a device for locking the cover of a container comprising a pivoting part engaging directly on the material plastic constituting the upper edge of the tank, which can cause its wear.

In addition, this prior device includes means for unlocking subject to the cover so that they lie subjected to significant shocks during opening and closing of the last.

In addition, the pivoting part has an upper arm and a lower arm and the unlocking means comprise a key mechanism exerting traction on the upper arm, either a support on the lower arm near the geometric axis of rotation of the pivoting part; in both cases, the force at exercise on the swivel piece is quite large and the mechanism to key can be quite difficult to handle.

The present invention aims to further improve the devices for locking the cover of a container, of the type comprising a part swivel pivotally mounted on the cover between a position of lock in which it keeps the cover in position closed when the bin is upright and an unlocked position in which it releases the cover, this pivoting part moving from its locked position to its position unlocking under the effect of gravity when tilting the bac.

It achieves this by the fact that the pivoting part comprises a lower arm capable of engaging on a hooking member such as a nipple for example, when the cover is closed and that it is in the lid locking position.

Thanks to the mounting according to the invention of the pivoting part on the lid of the tank, it is less exposed to waste when filling the tank.

Thus, it is not necessary to place it in a case of protection, as is the case of the device described in the patent French 2,721,912 cited above.

This results in a saving of space in the tank of the tank and a lower manufacturing cost of the locking device.

In addition, in the invention, the pivoting part does not come directly engaged on the plastic of the tank but on the fastening member, so that it does not cause its wear.

The hooking member can be actuated by a mechanism with key and retracted upon actuation of this key to disengage drilling of the pivoting part.

Thus, the pivoting part is unlocked without having to exert a significant effort on the fastening member and the key mechanism can be operated relatively easily.

Alternatively, the locking device comprises a mechanism comprising a member pushing the lower arm of the pivoting part when the user actuates a key.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the part swivel is pivotally mounted around a geometric axis of rotation parallel to the geometric tilt axis around which the tank is emptied.

This arrangement allows you to benefit from the movement of the pan during emptying, which helps the swivel part to gain its unlocking position of the cover.

For comparison, in the device described in the French patent 2,721,912, the pivoting part is mounted at pivot around a geometric axis of rotation perpendicular to the tilting geometric axis and to ensure operation reliable during emptying, provision is made, for example, with clearance a ballast in a cavity of the pivoting part to create, during the tilting of the tank, a sudden helping him to gain the position of unlocking.

Still in a preferred embodiment of the invention, said pivoting part is articulated on the cover substantially at middle of the side of the latter which is opposite the hinges of articulation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said part swivel comprises in addition to the lower arm, an upper arm which extends into the interior volume of the cover.

The locking device according to the invention can easily be installed on an existing tank.

Preferably, the device further comprises on the face inside of the tank a protective wall having in section the general shape of a U, whose branches are fixed on the wall of the tank on either side of the attachment member, this wall defining a housing open up and down.

Thanks to this protective wall, waste is avoided interfere with the unlocking of the lower arm.

The invention also relates to a bin for the collection of waste, comprising a locking device as mentioned above.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique, de côté, d'un bac de collecte équipé d'un dispositif de verrouillage conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une coupe schématique montrant un dispositif de verrouillage conforme à un premier exemple de réalisation de l'invention,
• les figures 3 et 4 illustrent le fonctionnement du dispositif représenté sur la figure 1, lors du vidage du bac, et
• la figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 2, représentant un dispositif de verrouillage conforme à un deuxième exemple de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, of two non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a collection bin fitted with a locking device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic section showing a locking device according to a first embodiment of the invention,
• FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the operation of the device shown in FIG. 1, during the emptying of the tank, and
• Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a locking device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

The roll-out bin 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a tank 3 made of plastic and a cover 2, also made of plastic, articulated on the tank 3 by means of hinges 5 so known per se.

Lid 2 has an opening for collecting selective glass or paper for example.

In the nonlimiting example illustrated, the tray 1 comprises at its base on the same side of the tank 3 as the hinges 5, a pair of 4 wheels rotating around a geometric axis of rotation parallel to the geometric axis of articulation of the cover 2.

It is understood that other types of wheeled bins, in particular large capacity bins comprising for example four wheels, do not depart from the scope of the present invention.

The wall of the tank 3 which is located opposite the hinges 5 and wheels 4 carries the reference 9 for the rest.

The tank 3 has a rim at its upper part exterior 6 defining on the side opposite the hinges 5 a groove open downwards for the engagement of suitable lifting means a collection vehicle.

These lifting means, known in themselves, are designed to lift the container and empty it after tipping it towards the right in Figure 1, around a geometric tilt axis substantially horizontal and parallel to the geometric axis hinge cover 2.

The cover 2 has an upper wall 23 slightly curved, extended below its periphery by a skirt seal 8 coming to bear by its lower edge on the rim 6 of the tank 3 when the tank is closed.

A locking device 7, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention and shown in the Figure 2, is mounted inside the tank 1.

This locking device 7 comprises a pivoting part 10 which is articulated on a bent tab 11 forming a bearing, fixed by its base substantially in the middle of the side of the skirt 8 which is located at opposite the hinges 5.

The tab 11 is oriented relative to the skirt 8 of the cover 2 in such a way that the geometric axis of articulation of the pivoting part 10 is parallel to the geometric axis hinge cover 2.

The pivoting part 10 comprises an upper arm 12 and a lower arm 13 joined together at a right angle around a pin 14.

The upper arm 12 is straight and extends under the wall 23 in the interior volume at the cover 2.

The lower arm 13 is formed of four successive rectilinear segments, the segment 12 a closest to the upper arm 12 being perpendicular to the latter.

The next three segments 12 b , 12 c , and 12 d describe substantially by going downwards half of a hexagon whose concavity is directed towards the interior of the tank 3.

The second segment 12 c , starting from the bottom, is crossed by a bore 15 into which is inserted, when the cover is closed, a hooking member constituted in the example described by a stud 16 fixed on the inner face of the wall 9, substantially at the same height as the rim 6.

As will be seen on examining FIG. 2, this nipple 16 is slightly inclined towards the bottom of the tank 3, for better retention the lower arm 13.

In the example shown in the figures, the stud 16 is cylindrical of revolution.

In a variant not shown, the stud 16 is flat and produced by cutting and folding an electro-galvanized sheet.

The upper arm 12 is integral with a counterweight 17 which can be done in one piece with the rest of the room swivel 10 in the form of a loop for example or be alternatively constituted by an insert.

The angular movement of the upper arm 12 under the cover 2, closer to wall 23, is sufficient to authorize the rotation of the pivoting part 10 which is necessary for the clearance of the bore 15 of the lower arm 13 from the stud 16.

The location of the center of gravity of the pivoting part 10 and materialized by an arrow la resulting force exerted on it by gravity.

We understand that this force creates, when the tank rests standing on its base with the cover 2 closed, a couple tending to keep the pivoting part 10 in the locking position of the cover 2, that is to say with the stud 16 engaged in the bore 15.

The lower segment 12d of the lower arm 13 extends obliquely towards the inside of the tank so as to slide on the end of the nipple 16 when the cover is folded over the tank, to allow engagement of the stud 16 in the bore 15.

FIG. 3 shows the locking device 7, after tilting the tank and after the vertical passing through the center of gravity G of the pivoting part 10 has crossed the plane vertical containing the geometric axis of articulation of the part pivoting 10 on the cover 2 and thus caused the appearance of a torque tending to cause the pivoting part 10 to rotate towards its cover unlocking position 2.

In this figure, the lower arm 13 is already shown disengaged from the stud 16, the upper arm 12 then resting against the inner face of the wall 23 of the cover 2.

The cover 2 being unlocked, it is free to open under the effect of gravity as illustrated in Figure 4.

A second example of realization of the device according to the invention, which differs from the precedent by the fact that means are provided to allow the user to unlock the cover while the tank 3 is resting standing on its base.

In this exemplary embodiment, the cover 2 is not provided no opening for separate collection.

The aforementioned unlocking means consist of example by a mechanism 20 comprising a member 21 coming to push back the lower arm 13 near its free end when the user activates a key, not shown, introduced in the mechanism 20.

The position is shown in phantom in Figure 5 taken by the member 21 and by the lower arm 13 when the cover is unlocked.

Of course we can, without departing from the scope of this invention, provide other means for the user to unlock the cover 2.

It is thus possible to achieve through the wall 9 of the tank 3 a opening with a particular profile, allowing the user to introduce a complementary section member to push the lower arm 13 until the cover 2 is released.

We can still replace the nipple 16 with an organ hook activated by a key mechanism and which would be retracted upon actuation of this key to disengage from the bore 15 and release the lower arm 13.

We can still bring on the inside of the tank a protective casing 30 having in cross section the general shape of a U, whose branches are fixed on the wall of the tank on the side and other of the nipple 16.

The casing 30 prevents waste from blocking the arm lower in locking position.

The casing 30 is dimensioned and positioned on the tank so as to be widely open up and down, which avoids do not allow small waste to get stuck inside.

Claims (9)

Locking device for the lid of a container for waste collection, intended to be emptied by tilting, comprising a pivoting part pivotally mounted on the cover (2) of the tank (1) between a locking position in which it maintains the cover in the closed position when the container is upright and a unlocking position in which it releases the cover, this pivoting part passing from its locking position to its unlocking position under the effect of gravity during tilting of the tank, characterized in that said part pivoting (10) has a lower arm capable of engaging on a fastening member such as a stud (16), when the cover is closed and in the lid locking position. Device according to claim 1, characterized by causes said pivoting part (10) to pivot about an axis geometric rotation parallel to the geometric tilt axis around which the emptying takes place. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said pivoting part (10) is articulated on the cover (2) substantially in the middle of the side of the latter which is opposite the hinges (5) for hinging the cover (2). Device according to any one of the claims above, characterized in that said pivoting part (10) comprises in addition to the lower arm, an upper arm which extends in said interior volume of the cover. Device according to claim 4, characterized by fact that the lower arm has three segments describing substantially going down half a hexagon whose concavity is directed towards the inside of the tank. Device according to any one of the claims above, characterized in that it further comprises means (20, 21) allowing the user to unlock the cover (2) by means of a specific organ such as a key. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking device comprises a mechanism (20) comprising a member (21) coming push back the lower arm of the pivoting part when the user operates a key. Device according to any one of the claims previous, characterized in that it has on the face inside of the tank a protective wall (30) having in section the general shape of a U, whose branches are fixed on the wall of the tank on either side of the attachment member (16), this wall defining a housing open upwards and downwards. Bin for waste collection, characterized by the fact that it includes a locking device (7) as defined in any of the preceding claims.

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