WO2001060719A1

WO2001060719A1 - Bin lid lifting assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2001060719A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000155
Authority: WO
Inventors: Saville David
Original assignee: Onshot Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-02-16
Filing date: 2001-02-16
Publication date: 2001-08-23
Also published as: AUPQ567300A0

Abstract

A bin (1) for holding rubbish for collection that includes a lid (7) and wheels, where there is included a step (16), a lever arm (17) and a push rod (26) so that with depression of the step by a user the push rod can be pushed through an aperture in a rim (6) of the bin and effect an opening of the bin. The invention also extends to a kit of parts for this purpose.

Description

BIN LED LIFTING ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to a plastic bin.

The bin of specific interest for this invention is a plastic container with an uppermost open top with a lip extending around at least three sides of the top with the lip outwardly extending from each of the three sides. A lid which also forms a part of the bin is arranged to cover the otherwise open top and having an outermost perimeter that provides a lowermost edge that engages when in a closed position an uppermost surface of the lip.

The lid has at least one handle and in all cases of currently designed bins there are two handles one to each side at a forward part of the lid and in the form of a loop extending generally above the portion of the lid in the vicinity of the handle. (In a further example of this type of bin the handles are a turned up corner providing thereby a lip which can be used as a surface to engage to lift the lid.) The lid is pivotally secured to the container by having rearwardly extending lid struts which are aligned with rearwardly extending container struts and a rod passes through respective lid and container struts to provide a pivot axis for the lid and a handle for tipping and wheeling the container where the wheels are positioned to be brought into a ground engaging position at a lowermost rearward location of the container by a rearward tipping of the container. The ground engageable wheels are supported by a shaft to engage with the shaft at both ends of the shaft which passes through reawardly extending struts at the lowermost rear of the container and such that these are generally within a close alignment to the walls of the bin. These bins are currently provided in a range of capacities ranging from 80 litres up to 240 litres.

The bins of most common design have an approximately rectangular shape in cross section.

Such bins are known and are often referred to as "Wheelie Bins" but have the problem that people are reluctant to use these where they are required to grip the handle in the lid to open access to the bin, not being sure who has held that handle previously or whether this has otherwise been fouled. Further, it is often awkward for a person to try to grip the lid handle when that persons hands are full with rubbish to be deposited in the bin. Further, it is often beyond the height of smaller children to reach to grip the handle to open the lid. In order then to attempt to answer these problems further account has to be taken that these bins are now generally collected by an automated lifting and emptying apparatus. Such apparatus that exists at the present time uses arms that engage around the body of the container and immediately below the lip and lift and tip the bin so that the lid is caused to open under its own weight. Automatic opening devices that grip the lid or form a fixed attachment to the lid are liable to interfere with this system of automatic loading.

A solution has been discovered.

In one form of the invention this can be said to reside in a bin where there is an arrangement whereby there are means to effect engagement of the lid with a lifting member by passing through this through the lip of the bin and having the lifting member act only as a lift member which then allows for the lid to open fully otherwise without constraint.

In a further preferred form of this invention then this can be said to reside in, although this need not necessarily be the only or the broadest form of this, a bin for holding rubbish of a type including a container, a lid pivotally supported relative to the container and arranged to close over an otherwise open top of the container, and ground engageable wheels rotationally secured to the container, characterised in that there is a step member supported by the container to be in a position to be accessible and depressible by a foot of a user of the bin, and means coupled to said step member to effect an extension of a further member through an aperture in the lip to engage and effect a lifting of the lid by such extension in response to a depression of the step member.

In preference the step member is secured to a lever located externally of and secured to a side of the container in a way to allow for pivotal freedom of the lever about an approximately horizontal axis, and an elongate member extending from the lever through a lip around an upper end of the container to engage against a portion of the lid.

In preference the elongate member is pivotally secured to an outer end of the lever.

In preference the bin the container and the lid are both formed of an injection moulded plastic. This invention relates to bins of a type formed generally from plastic, being generally of square or rectangular cross-sectional shape, having wheels rotatably secured to provide for easier transport of the bin, and having a lid pivotably secured to one side of a top of the bin and extending when in a closed position over an outwardly extending rim around a top of the bin.

Such bins are now widely distributed and are colloquially referred to as "wheelie bins".

Automatic collection of rubbish is achieved using these bins so that an individual worker does not have to individually lift such bin especially when full of rubbish and there are, therefore, automatic devices for such a bin, lifting it and emptying it and then replacing it in its original location for further use.

A problem currently exists with such wheelie bins insofar that they have a lid which must be pivotally lifted when further rubbish is to be inserted within the bin.

Many people find that they dislike having to hold the lid when required to open this to place further rubbish in the bin.

Further, if a person had both hands full when approaching the bin, it becomes generally impossible to open the lid unless one hand is free.

According to this invention then, there is provided in connection with bins of this type, an arrangement such that there is a foot operable member adapted to effect an opening of the lid.

There are a number of problems in generally trying to provide such an adaptation of these bins and a first of these is as there are both a very large number of such bins already in existence, and the method of manufacture has become highly automated, any mechanism for effecting the remote opening of a lid is preferably effected by members which are able to be secured to an existing bin subsequent to its manufacture.

According to a preferred arrangement, there is then provided a pedal secured to or forming part of an elongate member that is attachable to the side of such a bin so as to allow for rotation of the elongate member about an approximately horizontal axis, and a push rod pivotally secured at a distal end of the elongate member and adapted to extend upwardly through an aperture in the rim of the bin to effect pushing engagement against an inner side of the lid upon operation of the pedal.

In preference, the rod has a bulbous portion at its upper end which will intercept sides of an aperture through the rim of the bin if the push rod is attempted to be withdrawn from through the hole.

One of the problems that has to be overcome with such an arrangement is that the bin itself should be able to be used in a conventional way and especially be emptied by existing automatic emptying equipment which requires that the lid itself be freed to open or close separately from any engagement of the push rod.

A further difficulty relates to engaging the elongate member so that it is firstly secured relative to the side of the bin and secondly allows the elongate member to pivot.

In preference then, there is provided a bracket which is securable by self-tapping screws which, of itself, has a spigot around which the elongate member is secured so as to be supported and to be pivotally rotatable with respect to such spigot.

In a further form then, the invention can be said to reside in the combination of a bin of the type described characterised in that there is secured to a side of the bin, an elongate member which has at one end, a pedal shape either integral or as an additionally secured part, and at a further end, there is secured a push rod which is secured so as to extend from the elongate member upwardly through an aperture in the rim of the bin so as to be able to project against an underneath side of the lid to effect an opening pushing of this upon operation of the pedal from time to time.

In preference, with such a combination, the push rod at its top has a bulbous end which in preference comprises a rounded nut engaging with respective screw threads the top of the push rod or a plastic cap.

For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with relation to preferred embodiments which shall be described with the assistance of drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bin according to this invention having the modification according to a first embodiment incorporated with this, the view being a perspective view from slightly above and to a side of the first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation as in FIG. 2 of the same embodiment with, however, the opening mechanism being in an opening position with respect to the lid of a bin; FIG. 4 is a perspective view from slightly to the side and in front, showing the push rod partially through a lip of the top of the container of the bin;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the lip with the lid down and a push rod in a lowered position;

FIG. 6 is across-sectional view through a portion of the bin at where there is a pivot support for a lever arm;

FIG. 7 is a second embodiment shown in perspective with the push rod in a lowered position, in this case there being a push rod for each side of the lid;

FIG. 8 is a view from the opposite side of the same second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment and;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and in particular to the first embodiment as described in FIGS. 1 through 6, there is therefore shown a bin 1 which has a container 2 which is manufactured by injection moulding and is formed as an elongate container with a slightly tapered shape and approximately rectangular cross-sectional shape providing thereby four walls two of which are generally shown at 3 and 4 and which are symmetrically positioned with respect to remaining walls on opposite sides.

The container 2 has an outwardly extending lip 5 which extends outwardly from an otherwise open top of the container 2, the shape of the lip being such that there is a first portion which provides an uppermost generally planar surface and then as an outermost part, a downwardly depending skirt portion shown at 6.

A lid 7 is formed so as to be freely openable with respect to the otherwise open top of the container 2 and the shape is formed from injection moulded plastics and such that its outer perimeter as shown at 8 is within the alignment of the skirt 6 and such that a lowermost outer edge of the lid then engages an uppermost surface of the lip shown at 9 so as to effect a relative sealing between the two.

The shape of the lid is such as to include two handles shown at 10 in the one case, and 11 in the other and each of these is formed by a loop which is located at a forward and outer side of the lid 7 and is arranged so that these are convenient to be held and thereby lift the lid with respect to a pivot support at 12.

The pivot support 12 is achieved by having rearwardly extending struts 13 formed as a part of the container 2 and reawardly extending struts 14 formed as a part of the lid 7.

These respective struts 13 and 14 are joined together by a rod 15 which extends fully across the width of the back of the lid 7 and the container 2 and provides, at the same time, an appropriate handle shape by which the container is a whole together with, of course, its attached lid 7 can be tipped rearwardly and by this means bring wheels 16 which are located at the rear and bottom end of the container 2 into a ground engaging position to enable the bin to be wheeled.

The problem to which the invention generally has been directed is that people are not inclined to use the handles 10 and 11 either because they have other materials in their hands, such as bags or rubbish or they are most uninclined to handle the material of the handles where these may have been touched by others who are unclean or rubbish may have fouled these.

There is accordingly provided a step 16 which is attached at an outer end of a lever arm 17 which is pivotally supported at 18 by attachment of an axle 19 to the side wall 3 of the container 2.

The attachment in this case is by reason of a plate 20 which is secured to the side wall by a plurality of self-tapping screws at 21 and elsewhere and it is this plate then that adequately supports the stability of the axle 19 which is provided as is specifically shown in FIG. 6 by a bolt 22, the head of which at 23 is inside the container and which passes through the plate 20 and which is closed off by nut 24.

At an inner end of the lever arm 17, there is pivotally attached at 25, a push rod 26.

The push rod 26 extends from the pivotal connection at 25 which is achieved by the rod itself being bifurcate and having a split pin passing jointly through the lever arm and the bifurcate legs, and terminates at an uppermost end at 27 having passed through an aperture at 28 in the lip 6.

The top of the push rod 26 includes a threaded end where there is a washer 30 and a dome topped nut 31 or a plastic cap.

This arrangement then simply means that the uppermost end of the push rod 26 will, when it is lifted, pass freely through the aperture in the lip 5 and as appropriate, engage with sliding contact an underneath surface of the lid 7 so as to progressively lift this as the push rod is lifted further.

As will now be seen, by depressing the step 16, this will effect a rocking of the lever arm 17 so as to lift then the outermost other end and effectively therefore cause the lid 7 to be lifted about its hinge support.

One advantage of the arrangement described is that the elements themselves are relatively simple and can therefore form a kit which can be sold independently for individuals to then modify their own existing wheelie bin.

Such a kit then will include the lever arm 17, the plate 20 with the attached axle and bolt and the push rod 26, which is coupled to an inner end 25 of the lever arm.

Two modifications need to be effected in relation to the bin itself which is to say, there needs to be an aperture cut in the lip 5 or more specifically, in the side of the uppermost surface of this lip at 9 and, in preference, this is slightly elongate as especially as shown in FIG. 4.

Installation is effected relatively straightforwardly by measuring the location needed for the plate 20 and then effecting screwing with the self tapping screws at each of the corners of this plate and either before or afterwards, effecting an aperture cut through the lip 5, passing the head of the push rod 26 through this without the screw nut on it, placing the washer over the head of the push rod 26 after it has passed through the aperture and then tightening the domed nut on top of the push rod so that this is then positioned between an upper surface of the lip 5 and an underneath surface of the lid 7.

Now referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 showing a second embodiment, the variation here is simply that there is a step 40 which extends fully across a front 41 of a wheelie bin of the type previously described and shown, in this case, as 42.

Both sides of the modification in this case are substantially the same as the single instance in the first embodiment and include a lever arm such as at 43 in the one case and 44 in the other, a plate providing an axial pivot support at 47 in the one case and 48 in the other to have at its back a connection with the bifurcate end of a push rod, the end being shown at 49 in the one case and 50 in the other and the push rod being 51 in the first case and 52 in the other.

The push rod in each case is the same arrangement as is shown in the first embodiment and includes an uppermost domed nut or a plastic cap which is shown at 53 in the one case and 54 in the other which is screwed onto the top of the respective push rod after a hole has been cut through the respective lip 55 and a washer and a nut is appropriately screwed thereon so that by lifting this rod, there will be effected a sliding reaction point on the lower end of the 56 in the one case and 57 in the other.

Otherwise, the features of the bin are the same as described in the first embodiment.

The advantage of having the step 40 extending fully across the front, is that firstly, there is more ready access for a person who might approach the bin from one side as compared to the other and this, in many cases, can be of advantage.

Further, the lifting on the lid is balanced and will therefore be slightly smoother in result.

Again, however, the elements modifying the existing bins can be provided as a kit comprising the parts of a step, the lever arms, supporting axial plates, and push rods with threaded heads and screw nuts.

The invention can also reside in the method of modifying a bin of the type described which includes the steps of attaching to a side of the bin, a pivot support, which also includes a lever arm providing at one end a step, and at another, a push point for a rod which can pass through an aperture which is cut through a lip of the open top of the bin.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown a further alternative which includes in this case, a bin 60 generally of the type previously described and which has attached to it on one side, a nut and bolt which is secured to the side of the bin 60 and which supports an axial 62 about which lever arm 63 is supported to pivot. At one end of this, there is a downwardly extending rod 64 at the lower end of which there is a step 65 which is outwardly extending and thereby available for a person to operate with their foot.

At a further end of the lever arm 63, there is attached in pivotal manner, at 66, a push rod 67 which extends upwardly so as to pass through the lip 68 and this is held in this position by a dome nut or plastic cap 69 which is screwed onto the top of the push rod 67 after having passed through a cut aperture through a lip 68.

In this case, the leg 64 is held in position 70 and an upper end of this is secured to the lever arm by a pivotal connection 71.

Again then, it will be seen that there can be provided a kit of parts, and also a method of manufacture resulting in a foot operable lifting arrangement for a bin of this type.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A bin where there is an arrangement whereby there are means to effect engagement of the lid with a lifting member by passing through this through the lip of the bin and having the lifting member act only as a lift member which then allows for the lid to open fully otherwise without constraint.

2. A bin for holding rubbish of a type including a container, a lid pivotally supported relative to the container and arranged to close over an otherwise open top of the container, and ground engageable wheels rotationally secured to the container, characterised in that there is a step member supported by the container to be in a position to be accessible and depressible by a foot of a user of the bin, and means coupled to said step member to effect an extension of a further member through an aperture in a lip extending around the open top to engage and effect a lifting of the lid by such extension in response to a depression of the step member.

3. A bin as in either of the preceding claims further characterised in that the step member is secured to a lever located externally of and secured to a side of the container in a way to allow for pivotal freedom of the lever about an approximately horizontal axis, and an elongate member extending from the lever through a lip around an upper end of the container to engage against a portion of the lid.

4. A bin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the elongate member is pivotally secured to an outer end of the lever.

5. A bin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the bin, and the lid are both formed by injection moulding of plastics materials..

6. A bin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the bin is of a type formed generally from plastic, being generally of square or rectangular cross-sectional shape, having wheels rotatably secured to provide for easier transport of the bin, and having a lid pivotably secured to one side of a top of the bin and extending when in a closed position over an outwardly extending rim around a top of the bin.

7. A bin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised by including an arrangement such that there is a foot operable member adapted to effect an opening of the lid.

8. A bin as in any one of the preceding claims 5 or 6 further characterised in that there is included a pedal secured to or forming part of an elongate member that is attachable to the side of such a bin so as to allow for rotation of the elongate member about an approximately horizontal axis, and a push rod pivotally secured at a distal end of the elongate member and adapted to extend upwardly through an aperture in the rim of the bin to effect pushing engagement against an inner side of the lid upon operation of the pedal.

9. A bin as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the rod has a bulbous portion at its upper end which will intercept sides of an aperture through the rim of the bin if the push rod is attempted to be withdrawn from through the hole.

10. A bin as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised there is provided a bracket which is securable by self-tapping screws which, of itself, has a spigot around which the elongate member is secured so as to be supported to be pivotally rotatable with respect to such spigot.

11. The combination of a bin of the type described characterised in that there is secured to a side of the bin, an elongate member which has at one end, a pedal shape either integral or as an additionally secured part, and at a further end, a push rod which is secured so as to extend from the elongate member upwardly through an aperture in the rim of the bin so as to be able to project against an underneath side of the lid to effect an opening pushing of this upon operation of the pedal from time to time.

12. A bin as in the immediately preceding claim further characterised in that the push rod at its top has a bulbous end which comprises a rounded nut engaging with respective screw threads the top of the push rod.

13. A bin which includes a container which is injection moulded and is formed as an elongate container with a slightly tapered shape and approximately rectangular cross-sectional shape providing thereby four walls two of which are symmetrically positioned with respect to remaining walls on opposite sides, the container having an outwardly extending lip which extends outwardly from an otherwise open top of the container, the shape of the lip being such that there is a first portion which provides an uppermost generally planar surface and then as an outermost part, a downwardly depending skirt portion,, a lid openable with respect to the otherwise open top of the container and such that its outer perimeters within the alignment of the skirt and such that a lowermost outer edge of the shape of the lid is such as to include one handle being formed by a loop which is located at a forward and outer side of the lid and is arranged so that this or they are convenient to be held by users of the system and thereby lift the lid with respect to a pivot support

, a step which is attached at an outer end of a lever arm which is pivotally supported by attachment of an axle to a side wall of the container the attachment being a plate which is secured to the side wall by at least one screw and it is this plate then that adequately supports the stability of the axle which is provided by a bolt the head of which is inside the container and which passes through the plate and which is closed off by a nut, at an inner end of the lever arm, there is pivotally attached a push rod,, the push rod extends from the pivotal connection which is achieved by the rod itself being bifurcate and having a split pin passing jointly through the lever arm and the bifurcate legs, and terminates at an uppermost end having passed through an aperture in the lipA bin substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompany drawings.

14. A kit of parts where the parts are for the purpose of modifying a bin and including a step, a push rod, a lever arm, and support bracket all of which are adapted to effect a securement of the lever are to a side pf the wheelie bin and where the push rod is secured to an end opposite to the step and such as to pass through a rim of the bin.

15. A kit of parts substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompany drawings.