GB2205730A - Pedal-operated waste container - Google Patents

Abstract

A pedal operated waste container 10 comprises a body 12 having a lid 14 mounted thereon adapted to move between a closed position and an open position on operation of a foot-operated pedal 22. The pedal 22 is connected to a first pivotally mounted member 24 within a channel 26 and whose distal end contacts the proximal end of a second member 34 also pivotally mounted within the channel 26. The distal end of the second member 34 is connected to a pull rod 20 which in turn is connected to the lid. Preferably two such sets of members and channels are provided one at each end of the elongate pedal 22. The mechanical advantage of the arrangement is such that a relatively light pressure of the foot on any part of the pedal 22 is sufficient fully to open the lid 14 and allow clear access to be obtained to the interior of the container, even when the lid 14 is heavy, e.g. when it and the container 10 are made of metal. <IMAGE>

Description

WASTE CONTAINER This invention relates to waste containers and in particular to pedal operated waste containers or bins.

Footpedal operated waste-tins are common and generally comprise a container within which the waste is held which may or may not be lined with a plastics material sack, and a pivotted lid which is moved from its normally closed to an open position by means of a foot operated pedal. One problem with this type of waste container, hereinafter referred to as a 'pedal bin', is in designing a mechanism which will open the lid sufficiently widely yet which can be operated without excessive pressure on the foot pedal since the latter can often cause the bin to tip especially when the latter is lightly loaded. With pedal bins made of plastics material, or at least in which the lid is made of plastics material, this may be less of a problem but in the case of pedal bins which, for reasons of fire resistance, are made of metal the problem is exacerbated.In many places, such as hospitals, institutions and the like, it is often necessary that pedal bins be manufactured from metal so that if, for example, a smouldering cigarette causes the rubbish contained within the bin to ignite, the fire would be contained by the bin and its lid. With such pedal bins the lid is relatively heavy and often the pedal mechanism fails to open it fully with ordinary application of foot pressure.

The invention seeks to provide a pedal bin improved in the above respects.

According to the present invention there is provided a pedal operated container which comprises a container body having a lid mounted thereon adapted to move between a closed position and an open position on operation of a foot operated pedal characterised in that the pedal is connected to a first pivotally mounted member mounted within a channel and whose distal end contacts the proximal end of the second member pivotally mounted within the channel, the distal end of the second member being connected to an extension of the lid whereby a pulling force on the said extension causes the lid to pivot from a closed to the open position.

Preferably, the 'pedal' comprises a tube or bar spanning the entire front elevation of the container. Preferably also, the lifting arrangement is duplicated, one set being attached at each end of the elongated pedal tube or bar.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to figure 1; Figure 3 (a) and (b) are diagrammatic side views of the pivotted members and channel; Figure 4 is an end view of the channel; Figure 5 is a partial view of the top of the container illustrating a sack retainer arrangement; and Figure 6 is an enlarged view on line A-A in figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, a waste container or pedal bin generally designated 10 comprises a generally rectangular container body 12 made of a suitable metallic material having a lid 14 pivotally attached thereto at 16. The lid 14 has a rearward extension 18 to which is attached a pull rod 20. At the base of the container a 'pedal' in the form of a bar or tube 22 extends across the full width of the front elevation of the pedal bin 10. At each end the tube 22 is connected to a respective first member 24 mounted within a channel 26 on a pivot 28. In contact with the distal end 30 of the first member 24 is the proximal end 32 of a second member 34 pivotally mounted at 36 also within the channel 26. The distal end of the second members 34 are each connected to a respective pull rod 20 in turn connected to the lid extension 18.It will be observed from figure 4 that the members 24 and 34 are a relatively snug fit within the channel 26 thereby reducing or eliminating sideways movement of the members.

Operation of the device is best illustrated in figure 3 where figure 3(a) shows the normal or rest position in which the lid is closed. The pedal bar 22 is therefore at its highest point.

Downward pressure on the bar 22 from an operator's foot causes the respective members to pivot to the position shown in figure 3 (b) thereby exerting a pulling force on the pull rods 20. The latter is connected to the extension 18 and causes the lid 14 to pivot about the hinge 16 to the open position. The mechanical advantage of the arrangement shown is such that relatively light and easy pressure of the foot on any part of the foot tube 22 is sufficient fully to open the lid 14 to allow clear access to be obtained to the interior of the container.

Referring now to figures 5 and 6, there is illustrated an arrangement for retaining a plastics material bag or sack within the container body 12 for receiving the waste. A plastics material bag or sack is placed within the container body 12 in the normal manner and the top of the sack is folded over the top edges of the side walls of the container. A retainer member 40 which is generally U-shaped in section and preferably slightly sprung is then placed along the upper edge of at least one side wall of the container 12 thereby trapping the upper edge of the bag or sack between the retainer 40 and the side wall 12. When it is desired to remove the bag or sack for disposal the retainer 40 is simply removed and the bag removed in the normal manner.

A further advantage of the mechanism of the invention in addition to the simple mechanical operation is the fact that the channels 26 restrict sideways movement of the members 24 and 34 eliminating skewing of such members which was common with previous pedal bin mechanisms. Such skewing limits lid opening and leads to excess wear on the mechanism. The lever members of the mechanism of the invention being retained within the channel 26 give the device of the invention a very controlled positive operation. The use of square section tubing in the preferred embodiment of the invention enhances this element of control, by preventing sideways movement or twisting, and also broadens the area of contact of the foot on the 'pedal' portion.

Claims (1)

1. The pedal operated container which comprises a container body having the lid mounted thereon adapted to move between a closed position and an open position on operation of a foot-operated pedal characterised in that the pedal is connected to a first pivetally mounted member connected within a channel and whose distal end contacts the proximal end of a second member pivetally mounted within the channel, the distal end of the second member being connected to an extension of the lid whereby a pulling force on the said extension causes the lid to pivet from the closed to the open position.

   Claim 2, a container as claimed in claim 1 in which the pedal comprises a tube or bar spanning the entire front elevation of the container.

   Claim 3, a container as claimed in claim 2 in which two sets of members and channels are provided, one set being attached at each end of the elongated pedal tube or bar.

   Claim 4, a container as claimed in claim 3 in which the pedal is a square section tube.

   Claim 5, a container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which the channel restricts sideways movement of the members and thereby prevents skewing in operation.

   Claim 6, a pedal operated container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.