AU705331B2 - Lifting means - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 .4 4. 4 4 4 44* S .4.4 44 4 4*4*4* 4&4*41 *44 S t

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT INVENTION TITLE, LIFTING MEANS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- >1 r

/O

r 2 TITLE OF THE INVENTION: Lifting Means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to a lifting means for the lid of a wheeled container such as a garbage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: Containers with sizeable lids present a problem in that the lids need to be swung completely open to allow material to be placed in or removed from the container and allow the container to be cleaned or aired.

Examples of such containers are the large wheelable bins used increasingly for garbage collection. A number of solutions have been proposed to the problem of opening and closing sizeable swingable lids on such bins. Many of these solutions involve the use of a pedal-acdvated mechanism to raise and lower the lid.

In Figure 6 of AU-B-89763/91 R M Harrison a lifting mechanism for a bin lid is disclosed. This mechanism involves a foot operable pedal, pivotally attached to a connector means which is in turn pivotally connected to a swingable bin lid. The S connector means in this case is in the form of a cable. There are several problems with S this mechanism. Firstly, holes need to be drilled into the bin lid, in particular into the hinge. Secondly, the cable can become tangled when the bin lid is opened to its maximum, ie 2700, and the pedal can drag along the ground if the bin is transported with the bin lid opened to that extent.

Australian patent specification number AU A 52156/93 M Lomax also relates to a pedal-operated bin lid opening mechanism. However, the bin lid cannot flip over through 2700 to allow for easy emptying, cleaning and airing. There may also be a tendency for the bin lid opening mechanism to jam. More seriously it appears that about six holes have to be drilled in the bin, two being in the bin base, which could cause a problem of leakage.

AU A 33820/84 B Hodgson seems to disclose a simple detachable bin lid opening mechanism. However, it seems that the bin could not be transported without removal of the mechanism. The mechanism allows for raising but not rotation of the bin lid to provide convenient emptying, cleaning and airing.

Referring to EP 456141 A W Dorr, this unit has the same limitations as Hodgson discussed above. It seems to require a prop between the bin lid and the ground which adds to the complexity of the mechanism.

i 3 C The invention proposes a lifting means for the lid of a wheeled container such as a garbage container which opens the lid substantially 2700 from a rest position, which is easily detachable from the container, which does not require interference with the integrity of the container and which does not interfere with movement of the container if it is left in position on the container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: This invention provides a lifting means for the lid of a wheeled container such as a garbage container, which comprises: a) an elongated foot operable pedal adapted to be pivotally, detachably connected to an exterior portion of an axle joining wheels mounted to the base of the container; and b) a rigid connector means adapted to be pivotally connected to a first end of the pedal and also to be pivotally, detachably connected to a region of a lid pivotally attached to the container, 9 wherein depression of or raising of the pedal raises or lowers the lid and wherein the lid may be rotated from a rest position to a variety of positions up to approximately 2700 from the rest position.

*44

A

o" BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: The accompany drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention, in which: 94 9 94 Figure 1 is a perspective view from one corner of a bin and lifting means according to the invention; Figures 2, 3 and 4 are side views of the same embodiment showing successively the lid in the rest position, in the partially open positions and in the completely open position; Figure 5 is a perspective view from one comer of another embodiment of a bin and lifting means according to the invention; Figure 6, 8A, 8B and 8C are detailed views of a clip used in the embodiment of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a detailed view of a lifting means used in one embodiment of Figure

-E

i r. jq ~isb I Cl I r "i 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: The pedal is conveniently detachably connected to the axle by means of a first bracket such as a Ubracket.

The connector means is preferably a bar or rod which is conveniently provided with connecting points such as turned-over portions at first and second ends.

Further, the connector means is detachably connected to the lid, for example, by way of a second bracket such as a U-bracket attached to a hinge arm on the lid or a bracket attached to a portion of the handle at the rear of the lid. The connector means may also be provided with adjustment means to extend its length.

Where turned-over portions are used, they are inserted into the extreme region of the pedal and the second bracket respectively.

The connector means is preferably arranged so that it extends upwardly and to the rear of the container towards the lid to avoid contact with container-emptying devices.

Turning to the accompanying drawings, numeral 10 refers to a wheeled garbage bin as a whole. This bin comprises a container portion 11 provided with a lid 12. Numeral 13 indicates a (cutaway portion of a) wheel and numeral 14 an axle.

Lid 12 is provided with two neighbouring hinge arms 15 on its top (one arm only is shown). Each arm extends outwards to a pivot point 16 (again one pivot point only is shown).

k i Numeral 20 refers to a lifting means according to the invention as a whole. The lifting means comprises a pedal 21 in the form of an elongated bar ending in a stopper 22. The pedal is attached to axle 14 by means of first U-bracket 23.

A connecting means 24 in the shape of a rod terminates ia a first turned-over portion which is inserted into a corresponding hole (not shown) in one extreme region of pedal 21 remove from stopper 22. A second turned-over portion 25B connects with second Ubracket 26 arranged around rib Thus depression of pedal 21 forces connecting means 24 upwards. The lid 12 rotates around pivot points 16 and, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, drops into the approximately 2700 open position.

<7 2 t The lifting means 20 is always substantially in balance so that there is little or no change C in effort when opening or closing the lid by hand.

With reference to Figures 5 and 7, numeral 40 refers to a wheeled garbage bin as a whole. This bin comprises a container portion 41 provided with a lid 42. Numerals 43A and 43B indicate wheels and numeral 44 an axle.

Lid 42 is provided with a shaft 45 about which the lid rotates, the shaft being rotatably connected to container portion 41 and lid 42.

Numeral 50 refers to a lifting means according to the invention as a whole, The lifting means comprises a pedal 51 in the form of an elongated bar. The pedal is attached to axle 44 by an enclosing bracket 52.

A lower connecting rod 54 is connected to an upper connecting rod 55 via a threaded c(,:ioector 56, Upper connecting rod 55 terminates in a hooked portion 57. This hooked pction co-operates with cover clip 60 which is located on one edge of cover 42 and also on shaft 45 in such a manner that the clip may rotate up and down as lid 42 is rotated.

Turning to Figures 6 and 8A, SB and 8C, cover clip 60 comprises a bridging portion 61 fitted over shaft 45. This bridging portion is joined to an intermediate sutiker portion 62 arranged between shaft 45 and lid 42. This striker portion is in turn joined to securing portion 63. The striker portion 62 is provided with two lateral slots 64 in the region of the bridging portion 62, the slots being used to locate the cover clip 60 as a whole. A securing screw 65 penetrates hole 66 in clip bottom plate 66, the screw being held by captured nut

I

II

9 1 4

Claims (10)

1. A lifting means for the lid of a wheeled container such as a garbage container, which comprises: an elongated foot operable pedal adapted to be pivotally detachable connected to an exterior portion of an axle joining wheels mounted to the base of the container; and a rigid con-ctor means adapted to be pivotally connected to a first end of the pedal and also be pivotally, detachably connected to a region of a lid pivotally attached to the container, wherein depression of or raising of the pedal raises or lowers the lid and wherein the lid may be rotated from the rest position to a variety of positions up to approximately 2700 from the rest position.

2. A lifting means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pedal is conveniently detachably connected to the axle 20 by means of a first bracket such as a U-bracket. 0

3. A lifting means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connector means is a bar or rod. 25

4. A lifting means as claimed in claim 3, wherein i the bar or rod is conveniently provided with connecting Spoints at first and second ends.

A lifting means as claimed in claim 4, wherein said connecting points comprise turned-over portions. j

6. A lifting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 Sto 5, wherein the connecter means is detachably connected to the lid. t

7. A lifting means as claimed in clallm 6, wherein, S z *the connector means is detachably connected to the lid by f jlsl*9la~dXc iDtt';kl 1i<'9S~da Mim ,9 1 1 1 g i if 7 way of a U-bracket attached to a hinge arm on the lid.

8. A lifting means as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connector means is detachably connected to the lid by way of a U-bracket attached to a hinge arm on the lid and the turned-over portions are inserted into the extreme region of the pedal and the second bracket respectively.

9. A lifting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connector means is preferably arranged so that it extends upwardly and to the rear of the container towards the lid to avoid contact with container-emptying devices.

10. A lifting means substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to figures 1 to 4 or to figures to 8 of the accompanying drawings. Dated this 5th day of March 1999 RINO BOCCALATTE and MILAN CUCKOVIC By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia C. 0* CC 0* C Cq C C I C?~ 'Ai N, rtr'~,~irdll~ac~Ftl~rlJ914f-95.&L 5;lbf19S S i__~PI g Ir il ABSTRACT A lifting means for the lid of a wheeled container (10) such as a garbage container, which comprises: a) an elongated foot operable pedal adapted (21) to be pivotally, detachably connected to an exterior portion of an axle (14) joining wheels (13) mounted to the base of the container; and b) a rigid connector means (20) adapted to be pivotally connected to a first end of the pedal and also to be pivotally, detachably connected to a region of a lid (12) pivotally attached to the container, wherein depression of or raising of the pedal raises or lowers the lid and wherein the lid may be rotated from a rest position to a variety of positions up to approximately 2700 from the rest position. en. *r i 9 i 4 *1 S *r 9 9.4 9 9 P