GB2089646A

GB2089646A - Variable attitude pedal assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2089646A
Application number: GB8041170A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MORTEO SOPREFIN SpA
Current assignee: MORTEO SOPREFIN SpA
Priority date: 1980-12-23
Filing date: 1980-12-23
Publication date: 1982-06-30

Abstract

A pedal assembly is described for solid waste vessels, comprising a pedal member including two shaped bars 2 pivoted to lifting arms effective to lift the cover rods of the vessel, the bars being provided with two stop or detent plates 3 the perimeter contour whereof defines an upper abutment 3' and a lower abutment 3'', to enable the pedal member to be set at upper and lower positions for convenience of operation in the street. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Variable attitude pedal assembly The present invention relates to a variable attitude pedal assembly, effective to be applied to solid waste movable vessels or containers, for turnover opening or tiling the cover of said vessels.

As it is known, presently, for collecting the solid waste, wheeled vessels are used comprising a tiltable cover effective to be opened by means of a pair of lever arms, which are driven by a pedal.

It is also known that these cover tilting devices are presently of two types which are substantially characterized by different arrangements and structural features of the lever arms and said pedal.

More specifically, a device of this type comprises two outside lifting arms, as rigidly coupled to an outside cross-member thereon a pressing action is imposed by the foot.

A device of the second type, on the other hand, comprising two outside rising or lifting arms, a coupling cross-member passing under the vessel bottom and a pedal assembly coupled to said cross-member and projecting at the central zone to be actuated by the foot.

However, in both devices the position of the foot assembly, with respect to the vessel base or bottom, is fixed, independently from the fact that the vessel is to be used on the side-walk or on the road.

In this latter case, in particular, even if the waste vessel is located near to the side-walk, the pedal assembly has to be necessarily directed towards the road center, since the side-walk would hinder a suitable downwardly movement of said pedal assembly.

This fact compels the user to use in a potentially dangerous manner the waste vessel and furthermore the pedal assembly of said vessel obstructs the road.

On the other hand, if the pedal assembly would be designed for using the waste vessel in front of the side-walk, then its use on a road, or on a side walk, would be of great difficult, due to the excessive height of the pedal assembly.

Accordingly the present invention sets out to eliminate the drawbacks thereinabove cited by providing a variable attitude pedal assembly the pedal assembly whereof can be located, depending on the needs, at an upper position or at a lower position with respect to the base or bottom of the waste vessels or containers.

Within that aim, it is further possible to arrange that the position of the pedal assembly can be surely assured by holding and/or biassing mechanical means.

It is further possible to arrange that the change of the pedal assembly can be obtained by means of very simple operations.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a variable attitude pedal assembly, effective to be applied to solid waste movable vessels or containers, for turn over opening the cover thereof, characterized in that it comprises a pedal member including two shaped bars at the ends whereof two holes are formed for hinging said bars to the rising arms effective to rise or lift rods pivoted to said cover, said bars being provided with two stop or detent plates the perimeter contour whereof defines an upper abutment and a lower abutment.

The invention will be now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: fig. 1 illustrates the pedal assembly acting on rising or lifting arms effective to lift rods pivoted to the cover of a waste vessel or container; fig. 2 illustrates a plate applied on the two shaped bars ofthe pedal assembly; fig. 3 illustrates the two positions the pedal assembly can assume with respect to said rod lifting arms; fig. 4 is a side view illustrating that same pedal assembly, with the pedal member located for opening on a side walk, being mounted on a solid waste movable vessel; fig. 5 is a front view of that same pedal assembly; and fig. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating that same pedal assembly, with the pedal member located for opening on a road.

Referring more specifically to the number references of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the variable attitude pedal assembly according to the present invention, comprises a pedal member, formed by a pipe or tube length (1), rigid with two bent bars (2), being substantially converging.

On the inner surfaces or faces of said bars there are welded, at suitable positions, two shaped plates (3), the perimeter contour, directed towards the free end of said bar, provides a stop upper abutment (3') and a lower stop abutment (3").

Said plate, in the practice, by cooperating with the end (4) of the rod (6) outside side lifting arms (5), allowing for the pedal assembly to assume either a low or a high position (fig. 3).

In the first case, the locking, by means of screws or nuts, of the pivoting connection of the bars and arms, is carried out in such a way that the end (4) of said arms, biasses the upper stop abutment (3') of the plate (3).

In the second case the locking is carried out in such a way that the lower stop abutment (3") of said plate rests against the edge (7) of the end portions of said arms.

Thus it is possible to select, depending on the waste vessel use, eitherthe high or upper position of the pedal assembly (in the front of the side walk) or the lower position whereof, or road position.

It should furthermore be pointed out that the two aforesaid positions, which the pedal assembly may assume, do not modify the lever arm of the system and accordingly the force to be exercised by the foot in order to lift the cover (8) of the vessel maintains unchanged.

From the above description and from the observation of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the great functionality and use facility characterizing the variable attitude pedal assembly effective to be applied to solid waste movable vessels, according to the present invention, are self evident.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Variable attitude pedal assembly The present invention relates to a variable attitude pedal assembly, effective to be applied to solid waste movable vessels or containers, for turnover opening or tiling the cover of said vessels. As it is known, presently, for collecting the solid waste, wheeled vessels are used comprising a tiltable cover effective to be opened by means of a pair of lever arms, which are driven by a pedal. It is also known that these cover tilting devices are presently of two types which are substantially characterized by different arrangements and structural features of the lever arms and said pedal. More specifically, a device of this type comprises two outside lifting arms, as rigidly coupled to an outside cross-member thereon a pressing action is imposed by the foot. A device of the second type, on the other hand, comprising two outside rising or lifting arms, a coupling cross-member passing under the vessel bottom and a pedal assembly coupled to said cross-member and projecting at the central zone to be actuated by the foot. However, in both devices the position of the foot assembly, with respect to the vessel base or bottom, is fixed, independently from the fact that the vessel is to be used on the side-walk or on the road. In this latter case, in particular, even if the waste vessel is located near to the side-walk, the pedal assembly has to be necessarily directed towards the road center, since the side-walk would hinder a suitable downwardly movement of said pedal assembly. This fact compels the user to use in a potentially dangerous manner the waste vessel and furthermore the pedal assembly of said vessel obstructs the road. On the other hand, if the pedal assembly would be designed for using the waste vessel in front of the side-walk, then its use on a road, or on a side walk, would be of great difficult, due to the excessive height of the pedal assembly. Accordingly the present invention sets out to eliminate the drawbacks thereinabove cited by providing a variable attitude pedal assembly the pedal assembly whereof can be located, depending on the needs, at an upper position or at a lower position with respect to the base or bottom of the waste vessels or containers. Within that aim, it is further possible to arrange that the position of the pedal assembly can be surely assured by holding and/or biassing mechanical means. It is further possible to arrange that the change of the pedal assembly can be obtained by means of very simple operations. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a variable attitude pedal assembly, effective to be applied to solid waste movable vessels or containers, for turn over opening the cover thereof, characterized in that it comprises a pedal member including two shaped bars at the ends whereof two holes are formed for hinging said bars to the rising arms effective to rise or lift rods pivoted to said cover, said bars being provided with two stop or detent plates the perimeter contour whereof defines an upper abutment and a lower abutment. The invention will be now be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: fig. 1 illustrates the pedal assembly acting on rising or lifting arms effective to lift rods pivoted to the cover of a waste vessel or container; fig. 2 illustrates a plate applied on the two shaped bars ofthe pedal assembly; fig. 3 illustrates the two positions the pedal assembly can assume with respect to said rod lifting arms; fig. 4 is a side view illustrating that same pedal assembly, with the pedal member located for opening on a side walk, being mounted on a solid waste movable vessel; fig. 5 is a front view of that same pedal assembly; and fig. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating that same pedal assembly, with the pedal member located for opening on a road. Referring more specifically to the number references of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the variable attitude pedal assembly according to the present invention, comprises a pedal member, formed by a pipe or tube length (1), rigid with two bent bars (2), being substantially converging. On the inner surfaces or faces of said bars there are welded, at suitable positions, two shaped plates (3), the perimeter contour, directed towards the free end of said bar, provides a stop upper abutment (3') and a lower stop abutment (3"). Said plate, in the practice, by cooperating with the end (4) of the rod (6) outside side lifting arms (5), allowing for the pedal assembly to assume either a low or a high position (fig. 3). In the first case, the locking, by means of screws or nuts, of the pivoting connection of the bars and arms, is carried out in such a way that the end (4) of said arms, biasses the upper stop abutment (3') of the plate (3). In the second case the locking is carried out in such a way that the lower stop abutment (3") of said plate rests against the edge (7) of the end portions of said arms. Thus it is possible to select, depending on the waste vessel use, eitherthe high or upper position of the pedal assembly (in the front of the side walk) or the lower position whereof, or road position. It should furthermore be pointed out that the two aforesaid positions, which the pedal assembly may assume, do not modify the lever arm of the system and accordingly the force to be exercised by the foot in order to lift the cover (8) of the vessel maintains unchanged. From the above description and from the observation of the figures of the accompanying drawings, the great functionality and use facility characterizing the variable attitude pedal assembly effective to be applied to solid waste movable vessels, according to the present invention, are self evident. CLAIMS

1. A variable attitude pedal assembly, effective to be applied to solid waste movable vessels or containers, for turn over opening the cover thereof, characterized in that it comprises a pedal member including two shaped bars at the ends whereof two holes are formed for hinging said bars to the rising arms of rods pivoted to said cover, said bars being provided with two stop or detent plates the perimeter contour whereof defines an upper abutment and a lower abutment.

2. Avariable attitude pedal assembly, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pedal member comprises a pipe length rigid with two curved substantially converging bars, on the inner faces whereof there are welded, or fixed in any suitable way, two shaped plates the perimeter contour whereof, directed to the free ends of said bars provides an upper abutment and a lower abutment.

3. Avariable attitude pedal assembly, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate, by cooperating with the ends of the cover pivoted rod rising or lifting arms permits the pedal memberto assume an upper position and a lower position.

4. A variable attitude pedal assembly, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.