ES2771348T3 - Container lid comprising a damping tongue - Google Patents

Abstract

Container (1) comprising a tank and (2) a lid (3) movable between an open position and a closed position, said lid comprising a lower edge (33) substantially inscribed in a plane (P) and intended to come into contact with an upper collar (20) of the tub (2) when said lid (3) is in the closed position characterized in that the lid (3) comprises at least one flexible tab (30) extending from the wall (32, 34 ) of the cover (3) between two notches (31) formed from the lower edge (33) of the cover (3), and comprising a contact line (301) parallel to the lower edge (33) of the cover ( 3), intended to rest on the collar (20), and arranged at a given distance (d) below the plane (P) in which the lower edge (33) of the cover (3) is inscribed.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Container lid comprising a damping tab

The invention relates to the field of waste treatment and relates more particularly to containers in which household waste is collected.

These collection containers comprise a tub and a lid movable between an opening position in which it allows the introduction of waste into the tub and a closing position in which it rests on its periphery on the upper flange of the tub.

The closing of the lid, under the effect of its own weight, can be accompanied by a noise likely to disturb the neighborhood.

Furthermore, to reduce these acoustic nuisances, numerous proposals have been made. A first solution consists in providing the tank and / or the lid with rubber stops that make it possible to cushion the impact of the lid on the tank.

It is also proposed to brake at the level of the lid hinge on the tub in order to slow down the movement of the latter as it approaches the closed and open position. A brake of this type is relatively difficult to make and, furthermore, its effectiveness decreases throughout the life of the container, due to the wear of the parts in contact.

Publication US-A 4 917 257 proposes to brake the lid by providing protruding ribs on the flanks of the container tub to form, in conjunction with the edge of the lid, a labyrinth air path during the closure of the container. However, due to the complexity of the surfaces that make up the labyrinth, this device is complex to manufacture by large-scale molding.

Publication EP 1127811 proposes a simplified solution of the previous device, in which the lid and the tub are arranged in such a way that the air leaving the tub is forced, during the closure of the lid and when the latter is close to its closed position, make at least two turns, passing between substantially vertical surfaces that belong respectively to the lid and the tank. This particular arrangement, easy to make by molding, makes it possible to reduce manufacturing complexity.

However, these pneumatic devices are still insufficient when the lid is closed with more force. Alternatively, the publication EP 1584576 proposes to protrude at the lower edge of the lid a band in an arc of a circle with a small section, suitable to deform under the effect of the impact of the lid on the collar of the tub. However, this elastic band with a small section exhibits a certain fragility and is still expensive to manufacture due to the need to use a box mold, comprising moving parts, and therefore more complex to implement.

The invention aims to propose an alternative solution to the devices described above in summary manner.

The waste container according to the invention comprises a tub and a lid movable between an open position and a closed position, said lid comprising a lower edge inscribed substantially in a plane and intended to come into contact with an upper flange of the tub when said lid it is in the closed position.

This container is characterized in that the lid comprises at least one flexible tab that extends from the wall of the lid between two notches formed from the lower edge of the lid. The elastic tongue comprises a line of contact parallel to the lower edge of the lid, intended to rest on the collar, and arranged at a given distance below the plane in which the lower edge of the lid is inscribed.

During the closure of the lid, the elastic tongue rests on the collar before the lower edge of the lid in turn comes into contact with the collar, and undergoes an elastic deformation that allows limiting the impact speed of the lid and cushioning the blow of the lid on the vat. The result is a reduction in noise and the acoustic nuisance it generates.

It is possible to adjust the elasticity of the tongue by changing the length of the notches, modifying their inclination, adjusting their thickness or width, or even adjusting the distance of the contact line from the plane in which the lower edge of the lid is inscribed.

In addition, the shape of the elastic tab allows the manufacture of the cap by injection molding without the need to resort to a complex mold. The absence of corners, hollow parts or recesses also prevents the accumulation of residues.

The device according to the invention can also comprise the following characteristics in isolation, or in combination:

- The line of contact is arranged below the plane in which the lower edge of the lid is inscribed at a distance of between 3 mm and 15 mm.

The flexible tongue comprises a first concavity facing upwards and arranged so that a plane tangent to the surface of the flexible tongue and passing through the contact line is parallel to the plane in which the lower edge of the lid is inscribed.

- A plane that passes through the contact line and through a bending line that intersects the bottom of each of the notches is inclined with respect to a direction (V), perpendicular to the plane (P) in which it is inscribed the lower edge (33) of the cover, with an angle between 15 ° and 80 °.

- The flexible tongue is extended by forming a second concavity facing downwards and in such a way as to form a handle that allows the lid to be raised.

- The notches extend from the lower edge of the lid in a direction perpendicular to the latter.

- The notches have a depth between 10 mm and 50 mm.

- The flexible tongue has a thickness between 1.5 mm and 3 mm.

- The lid is made of high-density polyethylene.

- The flexible tongue forms a single piece with the lid.

The invention will be better understood after reading the attached figures, which are provided by way of examples and which are not limiting, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic freehand representation of a container comprising a lid provided with an elastic tab according to the invention.

- Figure 2 is a sectional view of the elastic tongue before resting on the surface of the upper collar of the tub.

- Figure 3 is a front view of the elastic tongue.

- Figure 4 is a sectional view of the elastic tongue resting on the upper collar of the tub at the moment of impact of the lid on the upper collar of the tub.

Figure 1 represents a waste container 1 comprising a tank 2 and a cover 3. The cover is connected to the tank by means of a joint 21 with axis XX '.

Usually, this container is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) whose structural properties are sufficient to undergo elastic deformations without risk of degradation over time.

The lid 3 in turn comprises a substantially horizontal platform 32 bordered on its circumference by a lateral belt 34 that descends more or less vertically according to the types and models of waste containers. This lateral tape makes it possible to cover the protection against rain (not visible) that extends the wall of the flanks of the tank above the collar 20.

The lower edge 33 of the belt 32 rests on the upper surface of the upper collar 20 of the tub 2. Therefore, the lower edge 33 is inscribed in a plane so that a uniform contact is established over the entire surface of the collar allowing to reduce the penetration of external agents. The width and shape of the collar 20 are the subject of numerous technical standards and specifications to allow handling of the container by waste collection trucks.

A flexible tab 30 extends from the wall of the lid between two notches 31. These notches 31 in turn extend from the lower edge 33 of the lid in a direction substantially perpendicular to said lower edge 33.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, in which the details of the flexible tongue are better observed, a contact line 301 represents the set of points of the tongue 30 that come into contact with the collar of the tub 2. This line of contact is substantially parallel, locally, to the lower edge 33.

When the cover is free and is not resting on the collar 21 of the tank 2, the contact line 301 is located, at a distance d, below a plane P in which the lower edge 33 of the cover 3 is inscribed. This distance can be adjusted to increase or decrease the elastic travel of the flexible tongue 30. In practice, the distance d is usefully between 3 mm and 15 mm.

The tab has a first concavity 303 facing upward from the waste container. Is obtained as a result, a plane P 'tangent to the flexible tongue 30 and passing through the contact line 301 is parallel to the plane P in which the lower edge 33 is inscribed.

The notches 31 have a depth p which can be adjusted to make the tongue more or less flexible. It will be noted in this case that the notches start from the lower edge 33 and can be directed over the entire height of the belt 34 and extend, if necessary, over the platform 32 of the lid. In practice, the notches have a depth p of between 10 mm and 50 mm.

An imaginary bending line 302, parallel to the lower edge 33, and passing through the bottom of each of the notches 31, defines the boundary between the cover and the flexible tab from which the tab is free to deform in flexion . Although the elastic deformation of the tongue is carried out along the entire length that separates the flex line 303 from the contact line 301, the flexion line can be considered to be equivalent to the axis of an elastic joint around which the tongue is placed. flexible in rotation.

The plane R passing through the flexion line 302 and the contact line 301 defines the inclination of the angle a of the flexible tongue with respect to a direction perpendicular to the plane P. This direction V is assimilated to the vertical direction, when the lid is in the closed position. This inclination a can be adjusted to regulate the intensity of the torque that is exerted on the contact line during the closure of the lid. It will be noted in this case that when this angle of inclination decreases, the radial force transmitted to the cover increases and the noise attenuation is lower. Therefore, an angle a between 15 ° and 80 ° will be chosen.

Usefully, the flexible tab may be extended and form a second concavity 304 facing downward from the waste container so as to form a handle 305 which allows the user to lift the lid more easily.

For convenience's sake, it then seems useful to arrange a flexible tab on each side of the lid so as to offer a simple and intuitive opening solution. In this arrangement, the shock absorption during closing of the lid is also better distributed.

Generally, the thickness of the tab 30 is substantially equal to the thickness of the cover 3 and is between 1.5 mm and 3 mm. However, to adjust the stiffness of the flexible tongue, it is possible to regulate this thickness locally.

Finally, the width of the flexible tongue 30 also makes it possible to modify the elasticity of the tongue 30. It will then be tried that the width of the tongue is compatible with the width necessary for a user's hand grip.

Figure 4 illustrates the position of the tongue at the moment of impact of the lid on the upper collar of the tub.

The impact force I comprises a radial component Ir that passes through the bending line 302 and a circumferential component Ic that generates the bending torque of the tongue around the axis 302. It can be considered that the radial component Ir is transmitted directly to the cap no damping effect, and the more important the value of this Ir component, the less the acoustic effect produced at the moment of the blow is attenuated. As indicated above, increasing the inclination a of the flexible tongue 30 makes it possible to reduce this phenomenon.

In the example of implementation of the invention that serves as the basis for the present description, the flexible tab 30 forms a single piece with the lid 3 of the waste container. This solution has many manufacturing advantages. However, it will be entirely possible to envisage arranging a sheet of metal, fixed on the flex line between the two cutouts 31, for example by rivets, to obtain identical effects.

When the flexible tongue is integral with the cap, it can be molded at the same time as the cap. It will be appreciated that it is not necessary to implement moving parts due to the absence of undercut parts. In addition, injection molding technology allows all variations of shapes and thickness, allowing a part to be made according to the demands of flexibility and resistance, as mentioned above.

Nomenclature

1 Waste container.

2 Cuba.

20 Upper collar.

21 Articulation of the lid on the tank.

3 Lid.

30 Flexible tongue.

301 Flexible reed contact line.

302 Bending line that intersects the bottom of the notches.

303 First concavity facing upwards.

304 Second concavity facing downwards.

305 Handle.

31 notches.

32 Lid platform.

33 Bottom edge of lid.

34 Side cover tape.

P Plane in which the lower edge of the lid is inscribed.

P 'Plane tangent to the flexible tongue that passes through the contact line. R Plane that passes through lines 301 and 302.

V Direction perpendicular to plane P.

a Angle formed by plane Q with direction V.

p Notch depth 31.

I Impact force of the lid on the flange of the tank.

I ^r Radial component of the impact force.

I ^c Circumferential component of the impact force.

XX 'Axis of rotation of the cover in joint 21.

Claims (10)

i. Container (1) comprising a tank and (2) a lid (3) movable between an open position and a closed position, said lid comprising a lower edge (33) substantially inscribed in a plane (P) and intended to come into contact with an upper collar (20) of the tub (2) when said lid (3) is in the closed position characterized in that the lid (3) comprises at least one flexible tab (30) extending from the wall (32, 34 ) of the cover (3) between two notches (31) formed from the lower edge (33) of the cover (3), and comprising a contact line (301) parallel to the lower edge (33) of the cover ( 3), intended to rest on the collar (20), and arranged at a given distance (d) below the plane (P) in which the lower edge (33) of the cover (3) is inscribed. Container (1) according to claim 1, in which the contact line (301) is arranged below the plane (P) in which the lower edge (33) of the lid is inscribed at a distance (d) between 3 mm and 15 mm. Container (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the flexible tab (30) comprises a first concavity (303) oriented upwards and arranged so that a tangent plane (P ') to the surface of the flexible tongue (30) and passing through the contact line (301) is parallel to the plane (P) in which the lower edge (33) of the cover (3) is inscribed. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a plane (R) that passes through the contact line (301) and through a flexion line (302) that intersects the bottom of each of the notches (31), it is inclined with respect to a direction (V) perpendicular to the plane (P) in which the lower edge (33) of the lid is inscribed with an angle (a) between 15 ° and 80 ° . Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible tab (30) is extended to form a second concavity (304) oriented downwards so as to form a handle (305) that allows lifting the lid (30). Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the notches (31) extend from the lower edge (33) of the lid (30) in a direction perpendicular to the latter. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the notches (31) have a depth of between 10 mm and 50 mm. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible tab (30) has a thickness between 1.5 mm and 3 mm. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid (3) is made of high-density polyethylene. Container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible tab (30) forms a single piece with the lid (3).