WO2023012547A1

WO2023012547A1 - Improved lid for waste bins or laundry baskets and waste bin or laundry basket provided with said lid

Info

Publication number: WO2023012547A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/056464
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sergio Tontarelli
Original assignee: Sergio Tontarelli
Priority date: 2021-08-02
Filing date: 2022-07-13
Publication date: 2023-02-09
Also published as: EP4380876A1

Abstract

A lid (100) suitable for closing a waste bin (1 ) comprises: - a frame (2) comprising a central aperture (20); - a panel (3) connected to the frame (2) and disposed at the aperture (20); - revolving connection means (4) between the frame (2) and the panel (3); the connection means (4) comprising an axis of rotation (X); the connection means (4) allowing the panel (3) to be disposed in a first position, wherein the panel (3) covers the aperture (20), and a in second position, wherein the panel (3) does not cover the aperture (20); - a hinge assembly (5) between the frame (2) and the waste bin (1), comprising first hinge means (M1) disposed on the frame (2) and configured in such a way as to rotate the frame (2) relative to the waste bin (1) around an axis (Y) orthogonal to the axis (X).

Description

IMPROVED LID FOR WASTE BINS OR LAUNDRY BASKETS AND WASTE BIN OR LAUNDRY BASKET PROVIDED WITH SAID LID

DESCRIPTION

The present patent application for utility model relates to an improved lid for waste bins or laundry baskets and to a waste bin or a laundry basket provided with such a lid.

Although the present patent application refers to a lid for a waste bin or a laundry basket, nothing would change if said lid was to be used for containers designed to hold other objects.

Waste bins or laundry baskets, which are preferably molded in plastic, composed of a large receptacle for the waste or the laundry, essentially consisting in a parallelepiped bucket that is provided with a lid at the top, have been known on the market for long.

Two types of lids are known: in a first type the lid is removable, and in a second type the lid is equipped with hinge means that hinge the lid to the waste bin.

In the first type, the lid includes a frame suitable for cooperating with an upper opening that provides access to a compartment of the bucket, in such a way that said lid can be forcedly attached/detached to/from said waste bin or laundry basket.

Should the user wish to retrieve or throw something into the waste bin or the laundry basket, he or she will have to exert enough force to detach the lid from the upper opening of the waste bin.

Although the operation of uncoupling the lid from the waste bin requires a minimum space, in such a way that the user can place the waste bin or the laundry basket in any space, said operation is impractical and not very quick and does not guarantee a stable closure of the waste bin or laundry basket.

In the second type, the lid includes a frame attached to an upper opening that provides access to a compartment of the bucket by means of hinge means in such a way that said lid can be opened or closed, rotating with respect to the frame.

Should the user wish to retrieve or throw something into the waste bin or the laundry basket, he or she will have to grasp the lid at one end and rotate it with respect to the upper opening of the waste bin or laundry basket, so as to cause the lid to go from its opening position to its closing position and vice versa.

Although such an operation of opening or closing the lid is quick, practical and ensures a stable closure, there is a drawback associated with the fact that, when opening, the lid rotates according to an axis of rotation, being always disposed on one side of the frame; such a configuration forces the user to purchase/position such a lid only in the presence of a sufficient space that allows the lid to rotate.

It is precisely from the careful observation of the aforementioned problems that the present invention has been devised in order to solve said problems.

Specifically, the purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by devising an improved practical lid that combines the advantages and eliminates the disadvantages of the two previously described solutions, in such a way as to ensure versatility during opening, so that the lid can be positioned in various spaces or compartments.

A further purpose of the present invention is to devise a waste bin or a laundry basket provided with such an improved practical lid.

These purposes are achieved in accordance with the invention with the features listed in the attached independent claim 1 .

Advantageous achievements appear from the dependent claims.

The improved lid for waste bins or laundry baskets according to the invention is defined by claim 1 .

For the sake of explanatory clarity, the description of the improved lid for waste bins or laundry baskets and of a waste bin or a laundry basket provided with a lid according to the invention continues with reference to the appended drawings, which are for illustrative and nonlimiting purposes only, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a lid according to the invention and of a waste bin according to the invention;

- Fig. 2 is an axonometric view of the lid according to the invention including a panel and frame attached to the waste bin according to the invention; wherein said panel is rotated with respect to the frame and the frame is attached to the waste bin;

- Fig. 2A is an axonometric view of the lid according to the invention comprising the panel and the frame attached to the waste bin; wherein said frame is rotated with respect to the waste bin;

- Fig. 2B is an axonometric bottom view of an enlarged detail of the lid showing the first hinge means disposed on the frame of the lid;

- Fig. 3 is a side view of the lid according to the invention sectioned according to a vertical plane;

- Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the lid according to the invention, in a different embodiment, and of an ordinary waste bin on which the lid is suitable for being attached.

With reference to the appended figures, the improved lid for waste bins or laundry baskets according to the invention is described, which is indicated with reference number (100).

Referring to Fig. 1 , the lid (100), which is suitable for closing a waste bin (1 ), includes a frame (2) and a panel (3) connected to the frame (2); the frame includes a central aperture (20) and the panel (3) is disposed at the aperture (20) of the frame (2).

Referring to Fig. 2, the cover (100) includes revolving connection means (4) between the frame (2) and the panel (3); the connection means (4) include an axis of rotation (X) around which the panel (3) rotates with respect to the frame (2); thus, the connection means (4) allow the panel (3) to be disposed in a first position, wherein the panel (3) covers the aperture (20), and in a second position, wherein the panel (3) does not cover the aperture (20). Furthermore, the connection means (4) are configured in such a way to let the panel (3) slide along a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation (X).

Referring to Fig. 3, the connection means (4) comprise two pegs (40) and two holes (41 ), the former being machined on the frame (2) and the latter being machined on the panel (3); each hole (41 ) is a slotted hole into which the peg (40) can slide.

Specifically, each slotted hole (41 ) includes a central narrowing (42) so as to form two enlarged portions (43) suitable for selectively housing the peg (40).

Again with reference to Fig. 3, the lid (100) also includes retention means (6) between the panel (3) and the frame (2); the retention means (6) are configured in such a way as to retain the panel (3) when it is in its first position, that is to say when it covers the aperture (20) of the frame (2).

Specifically, the retention means (6) comprise a counter-surface (60) obtained on the frame (2), and a stop surface (61 ) obtained on the panel (3).

The counter-surface (60) and the stop surface (61 ) are configured in such a way that:

- when the retention means (6) are enabled, the stop surface (61 ) intercepts the counter-surface (60);

- when the retention means (6) are disabled, the stop surface (61 ) does not intercept the counter-surface (60).

Referring to Figs. 2A and 2B, in a first embodiment, the lid (100) includes a hinge assembly (5) between the frame (2) and the waste bin (1 ); the hinge assembly (5) includes first hinge means (M1 ) disposed on the frame (2) and configured in such a way as to rotate the frame (2) relative to the waste bin (1 ) about an axis (Y) orthogonal to the axis (X) of the connection means (4).

In particular, again with reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, the first hinge means (M1 ) comprise two hinge seats obtained on the frame (2) which cooperate with two pegs obtained on the waste bin (1 ), which are not visible in the above figures.

With reference to Fig. 4, in a second embodiment of the invention, the hinge assembly (5) includes a frame (50), which is shaped in such a way to be attached to the opening of the waste bin (1 ), and second hinge means (51 ), which cooperate with the first hinge means (M1 ) and are disposed on the frame (50).

Specifically, the second hinge means (51 ) comprise two pegs obtained on the frame (50) of the hinge assembly (5); each peg cooperates with one of the two hinge seats obtained on the frame (2).

A further object of the present invention consists of a lid-waste bin assembly (G) comprising a waste bin (1 ) and a lid (100) according to the invention in its first embodiment.

In such a case, the waste bin (1 ) according to the invention includes an upper opening (14) that provides access to a compartment (13) and second hinge means (51 ) cooperating with the first hinge means (M1 ) of the hinge assembly (5) of the lid (100).

A final object of the present invention consists of a lid-waste bin assembly (G) comprising a lid (100) according to the invention in its second embodiment, and a traditional waste bin (1 ).

In such a case, the waste bin (1 ) includes an upper opening (14) that provides access to a compartment (13) whereas the frame (50) of the hinge assembly (5) of the lid (100) is preferably attached to the upper opening of the waste bin (1 ).

The advantages of the improved lid for waste bins or laundry baskets according to the invention appear obvious, said improved lid providing for opening the waste bin or the laundry basket in two ways, either by rotating the frame in one direction or by opening the panel and rotating it in another direction perpendicular to the first direction, according to the user's preference and to the space available in the place where the waste bin or the laundry basket is placed. Numerous variations and changes may be made to the present embodiment of the invention, within the scope of an expert of the field, still falling within the scope of the invention as expressed by the appended claims.

Claims

7

1 ) A lid (100) suitable for closing a waste bin (1 ) which comprises an upper opening (14) that provides access to a compartment (13); said lid (100) comprising:

- a frame (2) comprising a central aperture (20);

- a panel (3) connected to said frame (2) and disposed at said aperture (20);

- revolving connection means (4) between said frame (2) and said panel (3); said connection means (4) comprising an axis of rotation (X), about which said panel (3) rotates with respect to said frame (2); said connection means (4) allowing said panel (3) to be disposed in a first position, wherein said panel (3) covers said aperture (20), and in a second position, wherein said panel (3) does not cover said aperture (20);

- a hinge assembly (5) between said frame (2) and said waste bin (1 ); said hinge assembly (5) comprising first hinge means (M1 ) disposed on the frame (2) and configured in such a manner as to make said frame (2) rotate, with respect to said waste bin (1 ), about an axis (Y) orthogonal to said axis (X) of said connection means (4).

2) The lid (100) according to claim 1 , wherein said lid (100) comprises retention means (6) between said panel (3) and said frame (2) configured as to retain said panel (3) when said panel (3) is in its first position.

3) The lid (100) according to claim 2, wherein said retention means (6) comprise a counter-surface (60) obtained on said frame (2) and a stop surface (61 ) obtained on said panel (3); said counter-surface (60) and said stop surface (61 ) being configured in such a manner that when said retention means (6) are enabled, said stop surface (61 ) intercepts said counter-surface (60), and when said retention means (6) are disabled, the stop surface (61 ) does not intercept the counter-surface 8

4) The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims; wherein said retention means (4) comprise at least one peg (40) and at least one hole (41 ), the former obtained on said frame (2) and the latter obtained on said panel (3).

5) The lid (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said connection means (4) are configured so as to make said panel (3) slide along a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation (X).

6) The lid (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein said connection means (4) comprise at least one peg (40) and at least one hole (41 ), the former being obtained on said frame (2) and the latter being obtained on said panel (3); wherein said hole (41 ) is a slotted hole into which said peg (40) can slide.

7) The lid (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein said slotted hole (41 ) comprises a central narrowing (42) so as to form two enlarged portions (43) suitable for selectively housing said peg (40).

8) The lid (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said hinge assembly (5) comprises:

- a frame (50) configured so as to be disposed at the upper opening (14) of the waste bin (1 );

- second hinge means (51 ) which cooperate with the first hinge means (M1 ) and are disposed on said frame (50).

9) Lid-waste bin assembly (G) comprising:

- a lid (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7;

- a waste bin (1 ) comprising an upper opening (14) that provides access to a compartment (13) and second hinge means (51 ) cooperating with said first hinge means (M1 ).

10) The lid-waste bin assembly (G) comprising:

- a waste bin (1 ) comprising an upper opening (14) that provides access to a compartment (13);

- a lid (100) according to claim 8, wherein said frame (50) is disposed on the upper opening (14) of the waste bin (1 ).