GB2434738A

GB2434738A - Controlling the descent of the lid of a garbage bin

Info

Publication number: GB2434738A
Application number: GB0702292A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chi-Liang Chang; Terng-An Kuo
Original assignee: Yuan Min Aluminum Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yuan Min Aluminum Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-07
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2007-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2027-02-07
Also published as: GB0702292D0; GB2434738B; US20070181579A1; TWM303913U

Abstract

Operating means (eg pedal actuated) of a pivotable lid of a garbage bin is provided with a rack 4 and pinion 3 mechanism to damp descent of the lid and thus minimize the noise of lid closure. The height of the teeth on the rack decreases from a first end 4A toward a second end 4B of the rack. Either the whole lid (2, Figure 1) may pivot or the lid (6, Figure 8) may include one or more pivotable panels (61).

Description

GARBAGE BIN DESCENDING CONTROL SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a garbage bin descending control system, and more particularly to one that operates on decreasing the height of teeth on a rack from a first end to a second end of the rack so to delay the descending speed of a lid when a gear engages with the rack to turn around to close the lid upon the bin.

A garbage bin adapted with a pedal generally available in the market is in a construct ion as disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. M265363 titled "Garbage Bin with a Pedal". Wherein, a pedal connection rod is externally pivoted to a bottom of the bin; and another end of the pedal connection rod is provided with a linkage connected further at its top to a lid. Accordingly, by stepping upon the pedal, the connection rod controls the linkage to push up the lid for one to litter in the bin or its inner bucket. As illustrated in Figure 13 of the is accompanying drawings of the present invention, in another type of garbage bin adapted with two lid panels disclosed in Taiwanese Patent No. M240433 titled "Lid of a Garbage Bin Adapted with a Pedal", two arc lid panels (B) are respectively pivoted to both sides of a lid (A); and both lid panels (B) are commonly subject to driving by an active rod (C).

Accordingly, when a linkage (not illustrated) is stepped on to control the active rod (C) to push up and open up both lid panels (B) for one to litter in the bin or its inner bucket.

However, in either form of the prior art, the lid or its lid panels is pushed up by the connection rod or the active rod when the pedal is stepped upon; once the stepping force is released, the lid or both lid panels will rapidly descend to cause comparatively higher level of noise when the lid or both lid panels hits the top edge of the bin to interfere with public tranquility. Furthermore, the bin could be damaged after having being repeatedly hit by the lid or lid panels for a long time.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a descending control system for a garbage bin to correct those flaws found with the prior art. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a lid is pivotally connected with a bin; the bin is provided with a gear and a rack; multiple teeth are disposed on the gear and on the rack for both the gear and the rack to engage with each other; the rack has a first end and a second end in opposition to each other; and the height of each tooth of the rack decreases from the first end towards the second end of the rack. The rack is a straight rack. Both the gear and the rack are secured to a locating base; and the locating base is fixed to a bottom of the bin. An oval slot at a proper inclination is disposed on the locating base to receive insertion of an axle of the gear; and spacing is kept between the inner wall of the locating base and the rear wall edge of the rack. The height of a first tooth at the first end is greater than that of a last tooth at the second end of the rack.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a lid is pivotally connected with a bin; a pivoting portion is disposed at the lid; a gear annually provided with multiple teeth is located in the pivoting portion of the lid; a rack fixed in the lid is arranged with multiple teeth to engage with the teeth of the gear; the rack has a first end and a second end in opposition to each other; and the height of each tooth of the rack decreases from the first end towards the second end of the rack. The rack is a straight rack. Two lid panels facing each other are pivoted to the lid; an active rod is provided to push up to open the lid panels; two pull boards are pivoted to respective ends of the lid panels. The rack is fixed to one pull board, and the other pull board is connected to the active rod disposed in the bin. A spring is provided on one side of each of the lid panels. The height of a first tooth at the first end is greater than that of a last tooth at the second end of the rack.

The present invention provides the following advantages: 1. The descending speed of the lid to close upon the bin is slowed down to prevent drastic dropping to hit the bin to cause noise while extending the service life of the bin.

2. The present invention is applicable to and interchangeable between a garbage bin with a single lid and two lid panels.

There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view showing that a gear is engaged with a rack of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a magnified cut-away of the rack of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic view showing the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open status; Figure 5 is a schematic view showing an operation of engagement between the rack and the gear of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic view showing that both the rack and the gear are secured to a locating base of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a schematic view showing one side of a lid of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a schematic view showing the other side of the lid of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 is a schematic view showing that a rack and a gear are engaged to each other of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; io Figure 11 is a schematic view showing that two lid panels of the lid are opened up in the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 is a schematic view showing an operation status of the engagement between the rack and the gear of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 13 is a schematic view showing an opening structure of a garbage bin with dual-lid panel of the prior art.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first preferred embodiment of the present invention related to a garbage bin with a single lid comprises of a bin (1), a lid (2), a gear (3) and a rack (4).

A pedal (11) is externally disposed at a lower end of the bin (1). The pedal (11) controls ascending and descending of an active rod (12) (related to the prior art and will not be illustrated and elaborated herein). A pivoting portion (13) is disposed at an upper end of the bin (1). A locating base (14) is provided on the bottom in the bin (1).

The lid (2) pivoted to the pivoting portion (13) of the bin (1) opens up or closes up when pushed up by the active rod (12). The lid (2) is provided with a pivoting end (21) to be pivoted to the pivoting portion (13) of the bin (1).

The gear (3) secured in the locating base (14) of the bin (1) is annularly disposed with multiple teeth (31).

The rack (4) secured in the locating base (14) of the bin (1) is a straight rack to engage with the gear (3), and is connected to one end of the active rod (12). Multiple teeth (41) are provided on the rack (4) to 0 engage with the teeth (31) of the gear (3). The rack (4) has a first end (4A) and a second end (4B) in opposition to each other. The height of each of the teeth (41) on the rack (4) decreases from the first end (4A) towards the second end (4B) of the rack (4). The first end (4A) is an upper end of the rack (4), and the second end (4B) is a lower end of the rack (4). As illustrated in Figure 2, the height (H) of a first tooth (41 A) of the first end (4A) is greater than the height (h) of a last tooth (41B) of the second end (4B) so as to create different moving speed when engaged with the teeth (31) of the gear (3).

In use, as illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the pedal (11) is stepped upon to control the active rod (12) to push up the lid (2).

When the lid (2) is pushed up to open, the active rod (12) pushes up the rack (4) to produce relative motion with the gear (3) in the locating base (14) for the gear (3) to start moving up. Because the height of each of the teeth (41) on the rack (4) decreases from the first end (4A) towards the second end (4B) (i.e., from top to bottom) of the rack (4), the spacing between the teeth (41) of the rack (4) and the teeth (31) of the gear (3) is getting wider when the lid (2) opens up to accelerate the relative moving speed so to rapidly open up the lid (2). On the contrary, upon closing the lid (2), the pedal (11) is released from being stepped on and the lid (2) automatically descends by its own weight.

The descending lid (2) drives the active rod (12) to draw the rack (4) to move downward, and the rack (4) engages relative motion in opposite direction with the gear (3) in the locating base (14) to move downward.

Meanwhile the spacing between the teeth (41) of the rack (4) and the teeth (31) of the gear (3) is getting smaller to slow down the relative moving speed, thus to reduce the closing speed of the lid (2) to prevent the descending lid (2) from hitting the top edge of the bin (1) to create 0 noise while extending the service life of the bin (1).

An oval slot (141) as illustrated in Figure 6 with a proper inclination is disposed on the locating base (14) to receive an axle (32) of the gear (3). A proper spacing is kept between a rear wall edge (42) of the rack (4) and an inner wall (142) of the locating base (14).

Accordingly, when the pedal (11) is stepped upon as illustrated in Figure 4, the active rod (12) is controlled to push up the lid (2).

Meanwhile, the rack (4) moves up to push the axle (32) of the gear (3) in the slot (141) of the locating base (14) to move up at a certain inclination to increase the spacing between the center of the gear (3) and the rack (4) to reduce friction between the rear wall edge (42) of the rack (4) against the inner wall (142) of the locating base (14), to further slow down the resistance created from treading on the pedal (11) to push up to open the lid (2). Once a foot of a user clears away from the pedal (11), the lid (2) descends by its own weight to drive the active rod (12) to draw the rack (4) to move down. Meanwhile, the axle (32) of the gear (3) also moves down at an inclination to narrow down the spacing between the center of the gear (3) and the rack (4). Accordingly, the friction between the rear wall edge (42) of the rack (4) and the inner wall (142) of the locating base (14) gets stronger to increase the resistance to shut off the lid (2) thus to slow down the descending of the lid (2).

Now referring to Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, a second preferred embodiment of the present invention related to a dual-lid garbage bin lids comprises a bin (5), a lid (6), a gear (7), and a rack (8).

A pedal (51) to control ascending and descending of an active rod (52) is externally disposed at a lower end of the bin (5) (related to the prior art, thus not illustrated and elaborated herein).

The lid (6) closes upon the top of the bin (5) and includes two io lid panels (61) pivoted to each other. Both ends (611) at where the operating force is applied on both sides of each lid panel (61) are commonly pivoted to pull boards (62, 62A) on both sides of the lid (6).

The pull board (62) is connected to the active rod (52) in the bin (5) and subject to push up by the active rod (52). Two springs (63) are .s provided on the ends (611) of the other sides of the lid panels (61).

When the active rod (52) drives the pull board (62) to push up, the springs (63) extend to push the lid panels (61) to open up in relation to the lid (6). A pivoting portion (64) is downward provided on one side of the lid (6).

The gear (7) secured in the pivoting portion (64) of the lid (6) is annularly disposed with multiple teeth (71).

The rack (8) secured on the pull board (62A) on one side of the lid (6) is a straight rack to engage with the gear (7). Multiple teeth (81) are provided on the rack (8), and the height of each of the teeth (81) decreases from a first end (8A) to a second end (8B) of the rack (8).

The first end (8A) is an upper end of the rack (8), and the second end (8B) is a lower end of the rack (8). As illustrated in Figure 10, the height (H) of a first tooth (8 1A) of the first end (8A) is greater than the height of a last tooth (81B) of the second end (8B) to create different moving speed when engaged with the teeth (71) of the gear (7).

In use as illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 11, and 12 when a user steps on the pedal (51), the active rod (52) controlled by the pedal (51) pushes up the pull board (62) on one side of the lid (6). The pull board (62) in turn pushes up the ends (611) of the lid panels (61) at where the operating force is applied thus to push the lid panels (61) to pivot and open up in relation to the lid (6) while pulling the springs (63) to extend.

The pull board (62A) fixed to the other side of the lid (6) is driven to move up when the lid plates (61) open up. Meanwhile, the rack (8) fixed on the pull board (62A) produces relative motion against the gear (7) in the pivoting portion (64) of the lid (6) thus to start moving up.

Because the height of each of the teeth (81) of the rack (8) decreases from the first end (8A) to the second end (8B) of the rack (8) (i.e., from top to bottom), the spacing between the teeth (81) of the rack (8) and the teeth (71) of the gear (7) gets wider when the lid panels (61) open up; and the relative moving speed gets faster so to rapidly open up the lid plates (61). On the contrary, when the lid panels (61) close up and the foot of the user clears away from the pedal (51), the pull board (62A) on one side of the lid (6) is pulled down due to the return force exercised by the springs (63), so that the rack (8) on the pull board (62A) engages once again relative motion against the gear (7) in the pivoting portion (64) of the lid (6) to start move down. Meanwhile, the spacing between the teeth (81) of the rack (8) and the teeth (71) of the gear (7) gets smaller to slow down the speed of the relative motion between the rack (8) and the gear (7) thus to reduce the closing speed of the lid panels (61) to prevent from hitting the top edge of the lid (6) to cause noise due to drastic fall while extending the service life of the garbage

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A descending control system for a garbage bin

comprising a bin pivotally connected with a lid; a gear and a rack being provided in the bin; the gear being annularly disposed with a plurality of teeth; the rack being disposed with a plurality of teeth to engage with the teeth of the gear; the rack having a first end and a second end; and the height of each of the teeth of the rack decreasing from the first end toward the second end of the rack.

2. The descending control system for a garbage bin as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rack is a straight rack.

3. The descending control system for a garbage bin as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the gear and the rack are secured to a locating base, and the locating base is secured to a bottom of thebin.

4. The descending control system for a garbage bin as claimed in Claim 3, wherein an oval slot at a proper inclination is disposed on the locating base; an axle of the gear is inserted into the oval slot; and spacing is kept between a rear wall edge of the rack and an inner wall of the locating base.

5. The descenthng control system for a garbage bin as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the height of a first tooth of the first end is greater than the height of a last tooth of the second end of the rack.

6. A descending control system for a garbage bin comprising a bin pivotally connected with a lid; the lid having a pivoting portion; a gear secured in the pivoting portion of the lid; the gear being annularly provided with a plurality of teeth; a rack being secured in the lid; the rack being disposed with a plurality of teeth to engage with the teeth of the gear; the rack having a first end and a second end; and the height of each of the teeth of the rack decreasing from the first end toward the second end of the rack.

7. The descending control system for a garbage bin as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the rack is a straight rack.

8. The descending control system for a garbage bin as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the lid is pivotally connected with two lid panels; an active rod is provided in the bin to open the lid panels; two pull boards are pivotally connected with respective ends of the two lid panels; the rack is secured to one of the pull boards; the active rod in the bin is connected to the other pull board; a spring is provided on one side of each of the lid panels.

9. The descending control system for a garbage bin as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the height of a first tooth of the first end is greater than the height of a last tooth of the second end of the rack.