IE20010409A1 - Latch for container lid - Google Patents

Abstract

A latch for the hinged lid of a waste container comprises an elongate member (14) pivotable in the lid about a generally horizontal axis. The elongate member has an engagement portion (17) at one end and a biasing mass (19) at the other end which also comprises and operating handle. The latch releases automatically when the container is upended for emptying. <Figures 1 & 4>

Description

This invention relates to a latch for a container lid, and particularly a gravity actuated latch for the lid of a waste container.

Waste containers, particularly waste containers for refuse, comprise a box-like enclosure having a hinged lid. A lid is desirable in order to prevent rain from filling the waste container, and to contain smells and the like. The lid is opened to enable waste material to be placed in the container, and typically the waste container is upended over a refuse vehicle for emptying. The lid is generally arranged to swing open as the container is upended so that the contents may fall freely into a receptacle on the refuse truck.

It is desirable for the lid of a waste container to include a latch, and preferably the latch should be gravity actuated so that the lid is automatically latched as the lid is closed, and is maintained in the latched condition until such time as it is required to be opened, or the container is emptied. Such a latch should be preferably simple and reliable.

According to the present invention there is provided a latch for the lid of a waste 20 container, the latch comprising an elongate member adapted for pivoting in said lid about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and between the ends thereof, one end of the elongate member having mass biasing said elongate member for rotation about said pivot axis in a latching direction, and the other end of said elongate member having an engagement portion extending generally in said direction of rotation.

The present invention thus provides a latch which is openable either by hand or as a result of the tilting of the container to which it is fitted to enable a lid of the container to be opened, and which latch reverts to a latching position when said lid is closed.

The engagement portion may include a projection or recess provided on the elongate member, which projection or recess is adapted to latch with a corresponding latch member of the waste container, in use. In a preferred embodiment, the engagement portion includes an angled lower face adapted to enable the engagement portion of the elongate member to run smoothly over a protruding container latch member, and into a latching position when the lid is closed. . „ INT CL Sb5 O.ift f'F, LG 7/0IE010409 In a preferred embodiment the elongate member is angled in the vicinity of the mass in a direction away from the engagement portion. This configuration results in the mass overhanging the pivot axis of the elongate member and biasing the engagement portion into engagement with the latch member of the waste container, in use. Typically, the latch is sited in the lid of the waste container at or near the edge opposite the lid hinges. Advantageously the elongate member is configured such that the mass is angled away from, and hence does not overhang, the edge of the lid. This reduces the possibility of the latch being accidentally disengaged by contact therewith or suffering damage in a collision.

The mass may be a separate component from the elongate member and may be attachable thereto by any appropriate means. For example, the mass may be provided with a blind recess into which a tang of the elongate member may be received and secured. By providing a separate mass, a common elongate member may be used for a number of different latch applications. Thus differently sized and shaped masses may be used with the common elongate member to provide a range of latches having different opening characteristics depending upon service requirements.

In one embodiment the mass has a generally cylindrical form. However in a preferred embodiment, the mass has a more ergonomic shape so as to conform closely to a user’s hand, when grasped.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment, shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a waste container lid including a latch according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lid of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lid of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an enlargement of part of Fig. 3.

The drawings depict the outer side of a hinged lid 11 of a waste container. The rear edge as viewed defines two hinge receiving recesses 12 about which the lid can be hinged upwardly. The front edge of the lid includes a gravity actuated latch 13 which is shown in greater detail in Fig. 4. The lid is approximately rectangular and moulded of a plastics material.

IE010409 The gravity latch illustrated in Fig. 4 consists of an upright elongate member 14 pivoted about its midpoint in a generally cylindrical housing 15, which itself is inserted through the wall of the lid. The front wall 16 of the waste container is shown schematically.

The inner (lower) portion of the elongate member 14 has an upwardly facing tooth 17 which engages under a lip 18 of the front wall 16. In this position opening of the lid is prevented. In an alternative embodiment, the elongate member may be provided with a recess adapted to receive the lip 18.

The outer (upper) end of the elongate member 14 carries a relatively large mass 19 which as illustrated has a generally cylindrical form with a blind recess into which is received a tang 20. The elongate member 14 lies at an acute angle to the vertical so that the tooth 17 is biased towards the front wall 16 by gravity. In this condition the lid remains latched when in the passive condition. The size of the cylindrical member 19, the angle of the elongate member 14 and the length thereof can be selected to suit design parameters of the container and lid, as will be apparent to the skilled man.

In order to release the latch, the cylindrical mass 19 is grasped and pulled to the front. This releases the tooth 17 and permits the lid to be opened upwardly. The latch is automatically re-latched on release of the lid, the angled lower face of tooth 17 permitting free movement of the lid past the flange 18.

As will be apparent, if the container lid is latched, and the container is upended over a refuse container, gravity will act on the mass 19 to cause the elongate member 14 to pivot anti-clockwise (as illustrated) so releasing the lid, and allowing the contents of the waste container to fall into a refuse vehicle.

Accordingly, the latch according to the invention provides a simple gravity actuated latch to maintain the lid closed, a latch which can be released by grasping the mass 19, a latch which automatically latches when the lid is dropped into the closed position, and a latch which automatically releases when the container is upended for emptying.

A particular feature of the invention is that the necessarily large mass 19 also comprises a convenient operating handle for the latch, thus avoiding separate components and reducing overall cost. Since the mass 19 is outside the lid it is not fouled by waste when the container is emptied.

As will be apparent from the drawing, the latch is of simple construction, robust, and IE010409 likely to be reliable in service. The use of a separate cylindrical mass 19 permits the biasing force to be varied according to the size and design of a particular container, the remainder of the latch capable of being of common design for all containers.

Claims (10)

Claims

1. A latch (13) for the lid (11) of a waste container, the latch (13) comprising an elongate member (14) adapted for pivoting in a lid about a substantially horizontal pivot axis and between the ends thereof, one end of the elongate member having a mass (19) biasing said elongate member for rotation about said pivot axis in a latching direction, and the other end of said elongate member having an engagement portion (17) extending generally in said direction of rotation.

2. A latch according to claim 1 wherein said mass (19) comprises a handle adapted to be grasped to pivot said latch to a released condition.

3. A latch according to claim 2 wherein said mass (19) is cylindrical.

4. A latch according to any preceding claim wherein said elongate member (14) is pivoted in an annular housing (15), said housing being adapted for fixing to a container lid.

5. A latch according to any preceding claim wherein said engagement portion comprises a protruding tongue.

6. A latch according to any preceding claim wherein said mass (19) is attached to said elongate member.

7. A latch according to any preceding claim wherein said pivot axis is substantially at the mid-point of said elongate member.

8. A container lid having a latch according to any preceding claim, said lid having a hinge axis at one side, and said latch being provided at the opposite side, and said hinge axis and pivot axis being substantially parallel. IE010409

9. A latch for a container lid substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A waste container having a hinged lid and a latch substantially as described 5 herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.