EP1033334A1 - Safety device for a wheeled, lidded container - Google Patents

Abstract

The child lock for a waste hopper (2) with a tilting lid has a pair of levers which must be manipulated in a specific way to allow full opening of he lid. The lock holds the lid (4) in a partially open position until released. Both levers have to be operated simultaneously to open the lid fully.

Description

The present invention relates to wheeled bins for collecting waste, of the type comprising a tank mounted on casters and an assisted closing cover, pivotally mounted relative to the tank by lateral arms integral with the cover and articulated on the side walls of the tank.

There is a need to improve the security of this type of bin in the event of use by children, in particular to avoid accidents when closing the lid.

It has thus been proposed to provide the front of the cover with a flap as represented in the international model DM / 044 354. Such a solution is satisfactory from a security point of view but the flap, made up of a plurality of strips of rubber juxtaposed, does not allow to obtain all the desired tightness in position closed cover.

The applicant company has already described in FR-A-2 602 216 and GB-A- 2 044 836 rolling bins for waste collection, including a tank mounted on casters and an assisted closing lid, pivotally mounted relative to the tank by means of arms side integral with the cover and articulated on the side walls of the tank and comprising a device for locking the cover in a front intermediate position that it does not reach its fully closed position, intermediate position in which the tank and the cover provide a space of a predetermined width.

This space is generally sufficient to allow the passage of the head of a child of ten years and if the blocking device is faulty, the cover may close on the child's head.

According to the invention, the device for locking the cover is a device security arranged so as to require for its unlocking a specific action to exercise simultaneously in two locations of the cover, sufficiently distant one on the other so that a child cannot normally do this.

The safety device can be arranged in such a way that the action of specific unlocking must take place inside recesses in the cover, preferably provided on the front thereof.

For example, it may involve operating levers accessible inside the recesses in the cover, these levers having to be actuated simultaneously to allow the cover to close completely.

Preferably, however, the security device is arranged in such a way that the specific unlocking action must be exerted on two levers, provided with preferably on the front of the cover.

These levers can advantageously be arranged so as to allow to a user to operate them by pressing on them with their thumbs while taking support with the other fingers on the handles of the cover, preferably housed in the recesses of it.

In a particular embodiment, the security device comprises two levers mounted for rotation each on the cover and capable of abutting by a end on a bearing surface integral with a side wall of the tank to maintain the cover in said intermediate position.

In a particular embodiment, each lever is pivotally mounted on the cover around a geometric axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the axis geometric rotation of the cover.

Alternatively, each lever is rotatably mounted about a geometric axis of rotation substantially parallel to the geometric axis of rotation of the cover.

Each lever can then be controlled in rotation by a lever such as mentioned above, being connected to this lever by means of an arm provided at the end of a fork or an equivalent light, this arm being arranged so that a rotation the lever causes a rotation of the lever.

Advantageously, each lever is returned to its initial position by elastic return means, preferably constituted by a helical spring of same axis as the geometric axis of rotation of the joystick.

The bearing surface on which a pivoting cover lever abuts to maintain the latter in said intermediate position can be defined by a notch, preferably made on a cheek extending above the tank, or variant by a stop member coming from molding with said cheek or attached to it.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un bac équipé d'un dispositif de sécurité selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, le couvercle étant représenté en position de fermeture complète,
• la figure 2 est une vue de face schématique du bac de la figure 1, avec arrachement partiel du couvercle,
• la figure 3 est une vue de côté schématique du bac de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle et schématique du couvercle selon un plan de coupe perpendiculaire à la figure 2, le couvercle étant représenté dans sa position intermédiaire,
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique, en coupe, selon le trait de coupe V-V de la figure 4,
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un bac selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique de dessous de la partie supérieure du bac, le couvercle étant dans sa position intermédiaire, et
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 7, illustrant une variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, and on examining the appended drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container fitted with a safety device according to a first embodiment of the invention, the cover being shown in the fully closed position,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the container of FIG. 1, with partial cutaway of the cover,
• FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the container of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a partial and schematic view of the cover along a section plane perpendicular to FIG. 2, the cover being shown in its intermediate position,
• FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view, in section, along the section line VV in FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a container according to a second embodiment of the invention,
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view from below of the upper part of the tank, the cover being in its intermediate position, and
• Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention.

The roll-out bin 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a tank 2 mounted on rollers 3 and a cover 4 pivotally mounted relative to the tank 2 by means of arms 5 side articulated each about an axis X on a side wall 6 of the tank 2.

The capacity of the tank 2 is approximately 1000 1 in the example described.

Springs not shown are interposed in a manner known per se between the side arms 5 and the side walls 6 of the tank 2 to assist the movement of closing the cover 4.

The latter further comprises, on the front, two recesses 10 as we can be seen in FIG. 1 in particular, each crossed by a handle 21.

The recesses 10 are delimited, inside the cover 4, by a wall 24, as shown in FIG. 4.

The tank 2 and the cover 4 are produced in the example each described by plastic molding but could alternatively be made of metal.

Each of the side walls 6 of the tank is extended above, under the cover 4, by a cheek 11 produced integrally with the tank 2, as shown in figure 2.

The tank 2 also includes, at the front, a flange 12, as can be seen. see in figure 3.

The cover 4 is provided on its front edge, as shown in FIG. 4, a sealing lip 13 which is applied to this flange 12 in the position of complete closure.

The cheeks 11 are each provided on their upper edge with a notch 16, whose role will be explained later.

In accordance with the invention, the bin 1 is equipped with a safety device for locking the cover 4 in an intermediate position, before it does not reach its fully closed position.

The cover 4 cleans with the tank 2 in this intermediate position a space 18 of predetermined width, sufficient for the passage of the head of a child.

The security device comprises in the embodiment described two levers 19 having one free end 23 and each articulated at the other end 20 on the front part of the cover, near the median plane of symmetry P of the container, around a Y axis oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of Figures 2 and 5 and parallel to the plane of Figure 4.

The levers 19 each have a substantially straight body 30 and pass through the walls 24 of the recesses 10 thanks to oblong holes 26.

The levers 19 extend inside the recesses 10 behind the handles 21.

The body 30 of each lever 19 is connected to the free end 23 by a portion 31 bent downward, as can be seen in Figure 5.

Before mounting the cover on the tank, the holes 26 serve as a stop bass to levers 19.

In FIG. 4, for the sake of clarity of the drawing, only the cross section of the body 30 of the lever 19 at the cutting plane, as well as the end 23 in abutment in the notch 16.

During the closing movement of the cover 4, the free ends 23 of the levers 19 engage themselves in the notches 16 under the effect of their weight.

The notches 16 are shaped to define bearing surfaces allowing maintain the cover in its intermediate position, against the return action of springs assisting the closing movement of the cover.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, springs urging the levers 19 in downward rotation are added, to ensure better maintenance of the ends 23 in the notches 16.

To unlock the safety device, the user must exercise simultaneously on the body 30 of each lever 19 a pull up in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. 4, in order to release the ends 23 of the notches 16.

To exercise this traction, the user advantageously takes support on the above the handles 21.

There is shown in broken lines in Figure 5 the lever 19 having pivoted up enough to release cover 4 and allow it to gain its fully closed position.

The levers 19 come to bear in high abutment against the handles 21.

The spacing between the recesses 10 is chosen so that a child cannot normally, even when stretching out the arms, exert the action of unlocking on the two levers 19 simultaneously.

In particular, the levers 19 can be replaced by pull tabs mounted at sliding on the cover.

In the second embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, there is provided two levers 40 to rotate to unlock the cover.

Each lever 40 comprises a body 49 pivotally mounted about an axis geometric rotation Z near a recess 10 of the cover.

Each lever 40 is associated with a lever 42 rotatably mounted on the cover around a geometric axis of rotation K, substantially perpendicular to the axis Z and parallel to the geometric axis of rotation of the cover.

This lever 42 comprises a rectilinear part 42a of axis K, engaged at its ends in two guide parts 43 and 44 fixed on the cover, and two parts end 42b and 42c each forming an elbow with the straight portion 42a.

The handle 40 is integral with an arm 45 provided at the end with a light 46 in which is engaged the end portion 42b of the lever 42.

The end part 42b is bent outwards at its free end to cooperate with the notch 16, as seen in Figure 7, and lock the cover in an intermediate position before it reaches its closed position complete.

A helical spring 48, of axis Z, is engaged around the body 49 of each lever 40.

One end of this spring is secured to the arm 45 while the other end is secured to the cover, so as to create a return torque for the handle 40 in its original position.

In this latter position, the end portion 42c can come to bear in the bottom of the notch 16.

To unlock the cover, and allow it to take its position complete closure, the user must simultaneously move the levers 40 in the direction arrows D in FIG. 6, this action being facilitated by pressing on the handles 21.

The rotation of a lever causes that of the corresponding lever 42 thanks to the engagement of the end part 42b of the lever 42 in the opening 46 of the arm 45.

The rotation of the lever 42 causes the end portion 42c to be disengaged of the notch 16 and releases the cover.

In the embodiment described, the arm 45 is in the form a plate provided with a light 46 in which the end portion 42b is engaged lever 42.

Of course, the invention is not limited to this embodiment particular of the arm 45 and one can in particular realize at the end of the arm 45 a fork, between the branches of which the end portion 42b would be engaged.

In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, each notch 16 is replaced by a stop member 50 protruding upwards on the cheek 11, this member stop can be made in one piece by plastic molding with the cheek 11 or be constituted by an added part.

The coming into abutment of the levers 42 on the stop members 50 is ensured by the action return spring 48 above.

Claims (12)

Rolling bin (1) for collecting waste, comprising a tank (2) mounted on casters and a cover (4) with assisted closing, mounted pivoting with respect to the tank thanks to lateral arms (5) integral with the cover and articulated on the walls sides (6) of the tank, and comprising a device for locking the cover in a intermediate position before it reaches its fully closed position, intermediate position in which the cover and the tank provide a space (18) of a predetermined width, characterized in that the device for blocking the cover is a safety device (16,19; 40,45,42) arranged so as to require for its unlocking a specific action to be exercised simultaneously in two locations (10, 40) of the cover sufficiently distant from each other that a normally cannot achieve this. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for security is arranged in such a way that the specific unlocking action must exercise inside recesses (10) of the cover, preferably provided on the front of it. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for security is arranged in such a way that the specific unlocking action must exercise on two levers (40), preferably provided on the front of the cover (4). Tray according to claim 3, characterized in that the levers (40) are arranged to allow a user to operate them by pressing top with thumbs while resting with other fingers on handles (21) of the cover. Tray according to Claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the said handles (21) are housed in said recesses (10) of the cover. Tray according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the safety device comprises two levers (19; 42) mounted for rotation each on the cover (4) and able to come into abutment by one end (23; 42c) on a bearing surface (16; 50) integral with a side wall of the tank to maintain the cover in said intermediate position. Tray according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the levers (19) are each pivotally mounted on the cover around an axis geometric rotation substantially perpendicular to the geometric axis of rotation of the lid. Tray according to claim 6, characterized in that each lever (42) is mounted for rotation about a geometric axis of rotation (K) substantially parallel to the geometric axis of rotation of the cover. Tray according to claims 3 and 8, characterized in that each lever (42) is connected to the corresponding lever (40) by means of an arm provided with end of a fork or an equivalent light (46), this arm being arranged in such a way so that a rotation of the lever (40) causes a rotation of the lever (42) Tray according to claim 3, characterized in that each lever (40) is returned to its initial position by elastic return means, constituted preferably by a helical spring (48) of the same axis as the geometric axis of rotation (Z) of the handle (40). Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the bearing surface is defined by a notch (16) formed on a cheek (11) extending the tank (2). Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the bearing surface is defined by a stop member (50) molded or attached to a cheek (11) extending the tank above.

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