WO2011073642A1

WO2011073642A1 - A locking assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2011073642A1
Application number: PCT/GB2010/052073
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Reed
Original assignee: Straight Plc
Priority date: 2009-12-14
Filing date: 2010-12-13
Publication date: 2011-06-23
Also published as: GB2512534A; GB201412088D0; GB2512534B; GB2476114A; GB2476114B; GB0921799D0

Abstract

A locking assembly comprising a locking body (6) having a pivot edge (20); and, a locking means (12) attached to the locking body (6); the locking means (12) comprising a first arm (13) connected to the locking body (6) by a first pivot (14) and being adapted to pivot (14) about the first pivot between open and closed positions; a second arm (16) connected to the first arm (13) by a second pivot (15), the second pivot (15) being spaced along the first arm (13) remote from the first pivot (14); the second arm (16) comprising a connecting arm (17) extending from the second pivot (15) and a restraining tab (18) inclined to the connecting arm (17), the restraining tab (17) being connected to the connecting arm (17) by a fulcrum portion (19); the fulcrum portion (19) being arranged such that on pivoting the first arm (13) from the open to the closed position the fulcrum portion (19) engages the pivot edge (20) fixing the restraining tab (18) in a closed position relative to the locking body (6).

Description

A LOCKING ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a locking assembly. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a locking assembly having first and second arms, the second arm having a fulcrum portion which engages a pivot edge of a locking body as the arms are pivoted to a closed position. This fixes a restraining tab in a closed position relative to the locking body.

Containers having lids which lock are known. Typically the container lid includes a locking member which can be displaced between locked and unlocked positions. In the locked position the locking member engages with a recess or the like in the container so preventing opening of the lid.

Both the lid and the container have to be manufactured with a high degree of precision so that when the lid is closed the locking member of the lid and recess in the container correctly align. This increases the cost of manufacture. In addition, if the lid does close perfectly flat on the container then it may not be possible to lock the lid on the container. A further problem with such known containers and lids is that the lid is particular to one particular type of container. It may not be possible to use the lid with a different type of container unless the recess in the container is in the correct position.

The locking assembly according to the invention seeks to overcome the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, the present invention provides, a locking assembly comprising a locking body having a pivot edge; and, a locking means attached to the locking body; the locking means comprising a first arm connected to the locking body by a first pivot and being adapted to pivot about the first pivot between open and closed positions; a second arm connected to the first arm by a second pivot, the second pivot being spaced along the first arm remote from the first pivot; the second arm comprising a connecting arm extending from the second pivot and a restraining tab inclined to the connecting arm, the restraining tab being connected to the connecting arm by a fulcrum portion; the fulcrum portion being arranged such that on pivoting the first arm from the open to the closed position the fulcrum portion engages the pivot edge fixing the restraining tab in a closed position relative to the locking body.

The locking assembly according to the invention has the advantage that the second arm locks to the locking body rather than to the container to lock a lid in place. It is only the locking assembly which needs to be manufactured with any degree of precision. This reduces manufacturing costs. In addition a lid including such a locking assembly can be used with a number of different containers and can lock to each provided the container has a lip to abut against the restraining tab. It can also lock to containers even if the lid is not fully closed on the container.

Preferably, the fulcrum portion is a groove adapted to receive the pivot edge. The groove can be V shaped or U shaped.

The locking body can be a portion of a lid, the pivot edge being an edge of the lid. Alternatively the locking assembly can further comprise a lid to which the locking body is connected.

The locking assembly can further comprise a container body attached to the lid, the container body having a mouth, at least a portion of which is defined by a container lip, the restraining tab and container lip being arranged such that when the restraining tab is in the closed position abutment with the container lip prevents opening of the lid.

The restraining tab can be orthogonal to the connecting arm.

The container can be a refuse bin.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a known combination of lid and container in cross section;

Figure 2 shows a locking assembly according to the invention in cross section with the first arm in an open configuration;

Figure 3 shows the locking assembly of figure 2 with the first arm in an intermediate configuration; and,

Figure 4 shows the locking assembly of figures 2 and 3 with the first arm in a closed configuration.

Shown in figure 1 is a known combination of lid 1 and container 2 in cross section. When the lid 1 is closed on the container 2 apertures 3 in the lid 1 and container 2 align as shown. A locking mechanism 4 passes through the apertures 3 locking the two together. Such an arrangement has a number of drawbacks. The lid 1 and container 2 can only be locked together if the apertures 3 are correctly aligned. Therefore, each of the container 2 and lid 1 have to be manufactured with a high degree of precision. The lid 1 can only be locked to the container 2 when the lid 1 is positioned flat on the container 2. If the contents of the container 2 prevent this from happening then the apertures 3 will not align and the lid 1 cannot be locked closed on the container 2. Further, because of the requirement that the apertures 3 line up, the lid 1 can only be used with this container 2. In addition, if the mouth of the container 2 is damaged then again the apertures 3 may not correctly align.

A number of variants of this arrangement are known but in each case the lid 1 locks to a receiving member of the container 2.

Shown in figure 2 is a locking assembly 5 according to the invention in cross section. The locking assembly 5 comprises a locking body 6 which in this embodiment is a portion of a lid 7. The assembly 5 further comprises a container 8 attached to the lid 7. The container 8 has a mouth 9 a portion of which is defined by a container lip 10. The lid 7 can be pivoted about a hinge 11 with respect to the container 8 between a closed position in which the lid 7 covers the mouth and an open position in which the lid 7 does not cover the mouth. The lid 7 is shown in a closed position.

The locking assembly 5 comprises a locking means 12. The locking means 12 comprises a first arm 13 connected to the locking body 6 by a first pivot 14. The first arm 13 can be pivoted between open and closed positions and is shown in the open position in figure 2. Connected to the first arm 13 by a second pivot 15 is a second arm 16. The second pivot 15 is arranged along the length of the first arm 13 remote from the first pivot 14.

The second arm 16 comprises a connecting arm 17 extending from the second pivot 15. The second arm 16 further comprises a restraining tab 18 inclined to the connecting arm 17. In this embodiment the restraining tab 18 is substantially orthogonal to the connecting arm 17 as shown. Connecting the connecting arm 17 and restraining tab 18 together is a fulcrum portion 19 which in this embodiment is a U shaped groove. In figure 2 the first arm 13 is in an open position remote from the lid 17. In this position the fulcrum portion 19 hangs free from the lid 7. When the first arm 13 is in the open position the lid 7 can be lifted from the container 8.

In order to lock the lid 7 to the container 8 the first arm 13 is pivoted about the first pivot 14 from the open position partially towards the closed position. This brings the fulcrum portion 19 closer to the pivot edge 20 of the locking body portion 6 of the lid 7. The fulcrum portion 19 is arranged such that when the first arm 13 is in the correct orientation relative to the lid 7 the second arm 16 can be pivoted about the second pivot 15 until the pivot edge 20 is received in the fulcrum portion 19 as shown in figure 3.

The first arm 13 is then further pivoted to the closed position as shown in figure 4. As the first arm 13 pivots to the closed position the second arm 16 is pulled substantially along its length, urging the pivot edge 20 firmly into engagement with the fulcrum portion 19. This fixes the restraining tab 18 firmly in a closed position relative to the lid 7.

As shown in figure 4, when the restraining tab 18 is in the closed position it is arranged proximate to the container lip 10. As one attempts to open the lid 7, the lid 7 will lift until the restraining tab 18 abuts against the container lip 10. This abutment prevents further lifting of the lid 7. The lid 7 is therefore locked closed.

In order to unlock the lid 7 one pivots the first arm 13 about the first pivot 14 from closed to open positions. As the first arm 13 pivots towards the open position the fulcrum portion 19 disengages from the pivot edge 20 of the locking body portion 6 of the lid 7 returning the locking assembly 5 to the configuration shown in figure 2. The container lid 7 can now be raised without the restraining tab 18 abutting the container lip 10.

In the above embodiment of the invention the locking body 6 is an integral portion of the lid 7. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the locking body 6 is a separate component which is attached to the lid 7.

In a further embodiment of the invention (not shown) the pivot edge 20 comprises a groove, preferably a V shaped or U shaped groove. The fulcrum portion 19 includes a protuberance which in use is received in the groove.

The locking assembly 5 according to the invention can be used with a number of different containers 8. The container 8 can for example be a refuse container 8.

In a further embodiment of the invention (not shown) the locking assembly 5 includes a lock. Once the first arm 13 is in the closed position the lock is used to lock it in place. The lock can be a vertically mounted. Alternatively, the lock can be horizontally mounted. With the horizontally mounted embodiment it may be necessary to remove the key from the lock before the first arm 13 can be pivoted between open and closed configurations. With the vertically mounted lock it is not necessary to remove the key.

The lid 7 may pivot with respect to the container 8. In an alternative embodiment the lid 7 can slide with respect to the container 8. In alternative embodiments more complex motions of the lid 7 with respect to the container 8 may be possible, for example being both a combination of sliding and pivoting motions. The locking assembly 5 could be manufactured from a plastics material. Alternatively it could be metal. In a further embodiment it could be a combination of the two.

Claims

1. A locking assembly comprising a locking body having a pivot edge; and, a locking means attached to the locking body; the locking means comprising a first arm connected to the locking body by a first pivot and being adapted to pivot about the first pivot between open and closed positions; a second arm connected to the first arm by a second pivot, the second pivot being spaced along the first arm remote from the first pivot; the second arm comprising a connecting arm extending from the second pivot and a restraining tab inclined to the connecting arm, the restraining tab being connected to the connecting arm by a fulcrum portion; the fulcrum portion being arranged such that on pivoting the first arm from the open to the closed position the fulcrum portion engages the pivot edge fixing the restraining tab in a closed position relative to the locking body.

2. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fulcrum portion is a groove adapted to receive the pivot edge.

3. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the groove is V or U shaped.

4. A locking assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locking body is a portion of a lid, the pivot edge being an edge of the lid.

5. A locking assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a lid to which the locking body is connected.

6. A locking assembly as claimed in either of claims 4 or 5, further comprising a container body attached to the lid, the container body having a mouth, at least a portion of which is defined by a container lip, the restraining tab and container lip being arranged such that when the restraining tab is in the closed position abutment with the container lip prevents opening of the lid.

7. A locking assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the restraining tab is orthogonal to the connecting arm.

8. A locking assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the container is a refuse bin.

9. A locking assembly substantially as hereinbefore described.

10. A locking assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.