US20030160057A1

US20030160057A1 - Blocking device for a waste container lid

Info

Publication number: US20030160057A1
Application number: US10/311,845
Authority: US
Inventors: Wiggo-Arne Johansen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-12
Filing date: 2001-06-22
Publication date: 2003-08-28

Abstract

Blocking device for a lid (4) on a waste container, the device (6) comprising a hook (1) the underside of which being arranged above the hinge part (7) of the lid when the lid (4) is closed, the hook (1) being arranged on an elastic bar (2) being adapted to be bent when the hinge part (7) is pressed towards the underside of the hook (1), and the upper side of the hook (1) is inclined to receive and hold the weight of the hinge part (7), however allow the hinge part (7) to pass by the hook (1) as the bar (2) is bent when the hinge part (7) is pressed against the hook (1).

Description

The present invention is related to a blocking device for a waste container lid.

Most waste containers are provided with lids being hinged to the container body. Such the lids may be turned freely up to 270°. As smaller containers are high and narrow and therefore relatively unstable, this causes a well known problem, namely that the containers overturn in wind or of other reasons resulting the content being scattered around and tuned into a meeting place for insects and carrion birds.

This problem is causes serious pollution problems as well as decreasing the aesthetic value of the surroundings of the container. A practical solution to avoid this has been to place a stone or some other heavy subject on the container lid. This, however, means that persons have to lift the stone away before placing something in the container and in such cases the stones not always are placed on the lid after closing it.

With increasing use of source separation and thereby the number of containers as such, the problem is naturally increasing.

There exists a need for a mechanism ensuring that the lid is not blown up by the wind, however on the other hand that the lid very easily can be opened by the users. Such a mechanism also must ensure that the requirements of the public cleansing authority completely are fulfilled in such a way that the lid is opened automatically when the waste containers are turned around to be emptied into the refuse collection vehicles.

The above objects are achieved with the blocking device according to the present invention as defined with the features stated in the claims.

The drawing discloses in FIG. 1 a side view from behind of one embodiment of the blocking device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 discloses a side view of the embodiment in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 discloses a front view of the blocking device, FIG. 4 discloses a ground view of the device, FIG. 5 discloses part of a waste container including the device and with the lid closed, FIG. 6 discloses schematically how the blocking device prevents the lid to open when exposed to wind, FIG. 7 discloses that the lid in open position abuts the blocking device and FIG. 8 discloses an upper part of a waste container with the lid in closed position.[0007]
The [0008] blocking device 6 according to the present invention comprises a hook I on a bar 2 which age is connected with the securing part 3 for securing the device to the waste container, preferably to the hinge part 8 of the waste container 5. Preferably the hook 1, the bar 2 and the secureing part 3 are integrated in one part. Furthermore the locking device 6 according to the invention principally also may be formed as an integrated part of the waste container.
It is however substantial for the use that the [0009] blocking device 6 is formed of a material which is elastic on one hand and on the other hand is able to withstand cold weather with may degrees below zero as well as varm weather with many degrees above zero, as well as the tough handling such containers are exposed to.
When the [0010] lid 4 is closed as shown in FIG. 5, the blocking device will not influence the lid as such. However, when the lid 4 is opened just a little, the hinging part 7 of the lid will be pressed against the underside of the hook 1 and prevent the lid to be opened. This blocking is sufficient to prevent that the wind is opening the lid 4 and also prevents the lid 4 to be opened in case the waste container 5 is tipped over.
If, however, a press force in the range of 2 or 3 kg or more, is exerted against the [0011] lid 4, the bar 2 of the blocking device 6 is bent outwardly and thereby assuring that the hinge part 7 of the lid is slipping past the hook 1, whereby the lid 4 can be opened by a user without problems. This also ensures on the other side that the lid 4 is opened when the waste container 5 is turned bottom up to be emptied to be emptied in a refuse collection vehicle, as the content of the container will press against the lid, causing the lid to be opened.
When the [0012] lid 4 is lifted past the blocking device 6 and thereafter is dropped, the hinging part 7 of the lid 4 will as disclosed in FIG. 7, abut against the upper side of the hook 1 of the blocking device 6 and be maintained in this position in such a way that a user can drop waste down into the container,
It is further a known problem that the lid is falling 270° backwards in case the [0013] container 5 as such is not placed in front of a wall. This problem is solved by the device according to the present invention as the lid may rest in an open position against the blocking device 6. The user, however, very easily can press the lid 4 downwardly by a relatively small force.
As specially disclosed in FIG. 4, the [0014] hook 1 is bevelled in such a way that a lid approaching the blocking device 6 will a certain speed, will bend the device and be pressed past the device until abutment on the container 5. This also will be the case when the container is put down after having been emptied into a refuse collection vehivle.
In case the lid is pressed downward against the [0015] hook 1 from the position in FIG. 7, the bar 2 will be bent and let the hinge part 7 of the lid 4 pass, the lid 4 thereby taking the position disclosed in FIG. 5.
The [0016] blocking device 6 preferably is symmetrically shaped as disclosed especially in FIG. 4, thereby enabling the device to be placed on one or the other side or possibly on both sides of the waste container 5. For larger waste containers it will be natural to use two blocking devices 6.
The blocking device according to the invention easily can be secured to existing waste containers from different manufactures, by the use of screws, double-sided tape, glue or such. The blocking device also can be formed as part of the waste container as such or as put of the lid. As such separate blocking devices can be secured to the lid depending on the specific type of waste container. [0017]
With a [0018] blocking device 6 secured at each side of the waste container, it is to a very large extent secured that the plug holding the hinge part 7 of the lid to the hinge part of the waste container, not easily is pressed out by side forces caused by users or by the wind as the devices 6 provide a locking function.

Claims

1. Blocking device for a lid (4) on a waste container, characterized in the device (6) comprising a hook (1) the underside of which being arranged above the hinge part (7) of the lid when the lid (4) is closed, the hook (1) being arranged on an elastic bar (2) being adapted to be bent when the hinge part (7) is pressed towards the underside of the hook (1), and that the upper side of the hook (1) is inclined to receive and hold the weight of the hinge part (7), however allow the hinge part (7) to pass by the hook (1) as the bar (2) is bent when the hinge part (7) is pressed against the hook (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in the blocking device (6) being adapted to be secured to a waste container (5) for example by screws, glue, rivets etc.