ANIMAL-RESISTANT RESILIENT TRASH CONTAINER AND LID MECHANISM

Abstract

An animal-resistant system for a profiled plastic container has a lid hinged to the container and a latch mechanism having a plurality of radially extending latching pins supported by the lid. A rotary handle actuates the latching pins radially to engage pin receiving holes at the top edge of the container. The cam actuates the latching pins radially outward against biasing to engage the top edge and when the handle is rotated, the cam releases the latching pins to be biased inwardly to release the lid for opening to an open position. Collection equipment can engage lifting bars and remotely actuate the latch mechanism through a release linkage to the cam. An internal safety release can be incorporated into the cam to disable the cam and permit the latching pins to bias to the unlatched position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to animal resistant trash containers or bins and lids and latching mechanisms for such bins which are operable by humans but resistant to operation by non-human animals. More particularly, a plastic lid is fit with a pin-latch arrangement for coupling with the periphery of the top of a plastic bin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many containers or bins are now available for the receipt of consumer waste and trash. Of particular concern is food waste which can unfavorably attract pests and potentially dangerous animals such as bears. Typically metal bins are used which combine rugged structures with openings and rigid lids fit with, or otherwise having, concealed latches.

To date, plastic bins have been avoided due to the ease with which a bear can crush the main receiving structure of the bin and, as a result, dislodge or otherwise bypass the lid entirely.

Further, while providing animal resistant access, automated collection and emptying of the bins is frustrating, often requiring manual intervention to release and enable the lid to be opened before emptying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An animal resistant container or bin with a lid can be fit with a latching mechanism which securely maintains the lid to a top edge of the bin in a closed position in spite of forcible loading such as that imposed by an animal. The bin itself is resistant to permanent deformation which aids in maintaining the lid in the latched closed position. In one embodiment, the bin is a multi-tiered container of stepped tubular sections to enhance structural rigidity.

The lid is hinged securely along a quadrant of the open lid for pivoting between a closed and an open position. The latching mechanism is supported by the lid and can be actuated to engage the bin when the lid is in the closed position. The lid has a stiffening structure, such as radial ribs. The ribs can support the latch mechanism. Once the latch mechanism is released, the lid can be operated to the open position.

The latch mechanism comprises a plurality of radially extending pins supported by the ribs of the lid and which are batch-actuated to latch radially outwardly to engage the bin and which are distributed circumferentially about the lid for distributed engagement with the top edge of the bin. When the lid is in the closed position, the radially extending pins engage the top edge of the bin, such as in pin receiving holes placed at corresponding and circumferentially distributed locations about the top edge.

In some embodiments, the top edge of the bin is reinforced with a structure such as an increased edge section or addition of a flange. The pin receiving holes can be formed in the edge section or flange. Forces applied to the bin or lid would not normally dislodge the pins from the pin receiving holes. The lid can have a peripheral lip which surrounds the top edge to further stabilize the lid and bin.

In another embodiment of the invention, the nominal diameter or extent of the periphery of the lid is slightly smaller than the nominal diameter of the top edge of the bin. Further, the periphery of the top edge can have an upstanding lip. In the closed position, the lid nests within the lip of the top edge of the bin for avoiding opportunity for an animal for gain purchase to the periphery of the lid and prying the lip off of the bin.

In one broad aspect, a latching mechanism is fit to a container having a lid to render the container animal resistant comprising a rotatable handle fit to the lid and accessible from outside the lid, and two or more latching pins supported inside the lid, the latching pins extending radially and spaced circumferentially about the lid, receiving holes positioned about the top edge of the container, and wherein the latching pins are operatively connected to the handle for rotatable actuation between a radially extended position to engage the receiving holes in a latched position and a radially retracted position to disengage from the receiving holes in an unlatched position.

In another broad aspect, an animal-resistant container system comprises: a container having a top edge and a lid hinged to the container, the lid being operable between a closed position to close the top edge of the container and an open position; a latching mechanism comprising a rotatable handle fit to the lid and accessible from outside the lid, and two or more latching pins supported inside the lid, the latching pins extending radially and spaced circumferentially about the lid, receiving holes positioned about the top edge of the container, and wherein the latching pins are operatively connected to the handle for rotatable actuation between a radially extended position to engage the receiving holes in a latched position and a radially retracted position to disengage from the receiving holes in an unlatched position.

A method for animal-proofing a container having a top edge and a lid hinged to the container comprises: providing a latching mechanism having a rotatable handle fit to the lid which is accessible from outside the lid, and two or more latching pins supported inside the lid, the latching pins spaced circumferentially about the handle; operating the latching mechanism by operating the handle to a normally closed position for displacing the latching pins to a radially extended position to engage the container in a latched position with the lid in the closed position; and actuating the handle for radially retracting the latch pins to disengage from the container in an unlatched position and enabling operation of the lid to an open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawings are provided herein which are intended to illustrate embodiments of the invention and which are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a bin according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the bin of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the bin of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the bin of FIG. 1 with the lid in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the bin of FIG. 1 with the lid in an open position;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the bin of FIG. 1 with the lid in an open position;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are perspective views of an embodiment of a lid and an enlarged view of a handle for the lid respectively;

FIG. 8 is a perspective underside view of the lid of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 9 is a partial underside view of the lid of FIG. 7A, detailing a latch pin;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a bin having an embodiment of a handle with downward release and rotational actuating forces illustrated thereon;

FIG. 11 is an underside perspective view of the lid of FIG. 10 illustrating rotation of the handle for actuating the latching pins;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the bin with an open lid and illustrating the latching relationship of the latching pins and the flange at the top of the bin;

FIG. 13 is a back side elevation of the bin of FIG. 1 with the lid in an open position;

FIG. 14 is a perspective back view illustrating an embodiment incorporating lid actuating in a back-mounted lifting bar;

FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view of the lid actuator of FIG. 14 illustrating a cable release;

FIG. 16 is a partial perspective view of the cable release of FIG. 15 within the bin;

FIG. 17 is a perspective underside exploded view of the lid of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 18A is an assembled view of the lid of FIG. 17;

FIG. 18B is a view of the lid of FIG. 17 illustrating upward actuation of an inside-the-bin release mechanism;

FIG. 18C is a view of the lid illustrating biased release of the latching pins after actuation according to FIG. 18B; and

FIG. 19 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating a guard formed over at least a portion of the handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, an animal-resistant trash container or bin 10 is a generally cylindrical vessel having a closed bottom 11 and an open top edge 12 fit with a lid 13 which can be manipulated between an open position (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) to access the bin and a closed position (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) to close the top edge 12 and restrict access to the bin 10. The lid 13 and top edge 12 are constructed to resist deformation under normal deformation forces. The bin 10 need not be generally cylindrical however the shape may be dictated by methods of manufacture, economics or aesthetics.

With reference to FIG. 1, the bin 10 is preferably formed of resilient materials such as plastic including high density polyethylene (HDPE) and has a stepped structure for providing rigidity, such as three cylindrical and stacked sections 14a, 14b, 14c as shown connected continuously though annular portions 15a, 15b. With reference also to FIG. 2, typically the bin 10 is also fit with wheels 16 for ease of repositioning. Similarly the lid 13 is manufactured of resilient material such as plastic and comprises a domed structure with radially extending stiffening ribs 9 formed in an inside concave surface.

The lid 13 is hinged to the top edge 12 of the bin 10, preferably using a conventional robust hinge 20 including cooperating and alternating cylindrical hinge blocks 6 pivotally retained using a metal pin (not shown). The hinge 20 can extend along a chord of the top edge 12 or about a quadrant of a nominal diameter of the bin 10.

To facilitate mechanized emptying of the bin 10, lifting means such as lifting connectors, hooks or bars 17 are fit to the front or back of the bin 10. Laterally extending bars 17 can be fit to a recess 18 between integrated shoulders 24, such as that shown in FIG. 1 formed in the front of the bin 10, or brackets 19 such as that shown in FIG. 13 extending from the back of the bin 10.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the lid 13 is pivotally connected to the bin 10 at the hinge 20. The top edge 12 of the bin 10 has a generally linear portion 21 along the periphery for accommodating the hinge 20. With reference to FIG. 6, the top edge 12 is fit with a flange 23. The flange 23 assists in maintaining the top edge 12 in a shape corresponding to the lid 13. The flange 23 can be fit with an upstanding lip 25 about an outer periphery of the flange 23, the lid 13 fitting within the upstanding lip 25 in the closed position. In this embodiment, the lid 13 is less likely to be engaged and pried open by an animal.

A latching mechanism 30 supported by the lid 13 cooperates with two or more corresponding paired latching locations 31, 31 positioned about the lid 12 and flange 23 when the lid 13 is closed. The latching mechanism 30 is inside the lid 13. The lid 13 is operable between a latched position and an unlatched position. The multiple paired latching locations 31, 31 retain the lid 13 to the top 12 in the latched position when closed despite force or other means of deformation imposed on the bin 10 itself.

With reference to the embodiment of the lid 13 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the latch 30 is actuated to the unlatched position by a rotatable handle 32 fit to the lid 13 and accessible from outside the lid 13.

A requirement for a turning action is an impediment to animal access. The handle 32 is operatively connected to the latching mechanism 30 to release or unlatch the lid 13 when rotated. Two or more latching pins 34 extend radially outward from the handle 32. The latching pins 34 are distributed circumferentially about the handle 32 and operatively thereto for actuating between a radially extended position to engage the bin 10 adjacent the bin's top edge 12 in the latched position and a radially retracted position free from the bin 10 to disengage therefrom in the unlatched position. The hinge 20 secures the lid about a quadrant of the top edge 12 and five latching pins 34 are shown for securing the lid 13 about the remaining periphery of the top edge 12

In one embodiment, the handle 32 cannot be rotated unless the handle 32 is first released from the lid 13 through a downward or inward pushing force to release a lock.

The handle 32 has a profile which enables the application of torque, such as by a user's thumb and fingers, once released by being pushed into the lid 13. Increased animal resistance is achieved through the requirement of a simultaneous push and turn action, known by those of skill in the art to be virtually impossible to be effected by animals, such as bears. Other approaches include use of a shield or guard described below.

Returning to FIG. 6, and also in more detail in the underside perspective view of the lid 13 in FIGS. 8 and 9, the latch mechanism 30 further comprises a cam 33 which is rotatably actuated by the handle 32 when the handle 32 is both pushed (pushed downward to release, recessing into the lid 13) and turned. The cam 33 may be rotationally disconnected from the handle 32 until such time as the handle 32 is pushed, or in another embodiment, the handle 32 is rotationally locked until pushed, after which rotation turns the cam 33 in concert with the handle 32. Various different approaches are possible as known by those of skill in the art including biasing to resist pushing, biasing to resist rotation and to return the handle 32 and cam 33 to a resting and normally locked or latched position.

The cam 33 actuates the two or more latching pins 34 (five are shown) which extend radially outward from the cam 33. The cam 33 forms a radially variable surface or cam profile comprising peaks 33p and valleys 33v corresponding to the number of latching pins 34. Each peak 33p directs a latch pin 34 outwardly for engaging the bin's flange 23. Each valley 33v receives a latch pin 34 for releasing a latch pin 34 to bias free from the flange 23. The latch pins 34 are slidably supported in intermediate guides 37m, conveniently supported from the radially extending ribs 9, and distal end guides 37d adjacent the periphery of the lid 13.

In more detail, the latching mechanism 30 further comprises the distal guides 37 supported from the lid 13 adjacent a periphery of the lid 13 which guide the distal end 35 of each pin 34. At paired latching locations 31, 31, the pins 34 are guided through the distal guides 37 into and out of engagement with cooperating latching holes or pin receiving holes 39 at the top edge of the bin 10, and in this case in the flange 23. Proximal ends 41 of the pins 34 are biased by springs 38 to maintain radially inward contact to follow the cam 33. The pin receiving holes 39 can be formed in brackets 39b secured to the top edge 12, brackets 39b secured to the flange 23 or pin receiving holes 39 formed in the flange 23 itself.

Further the lid 13, or the guides 37 of the lid 13, can act to laterally support the flange 23 for increased resistance to deformation and to avoid forcible release of the pins 34 from the flange 23 without first intentionally actuating the handle 32.

In FIG. 9, the lid 13 is shown to be further reinforced with structural members 36, such as ribs formed integral with the lid 13, for minimizing deflection under load, particularly downward loads imposed on the lid 13 when in the closed position.

As shown in FIG. 10, a form of handle 32 is illustrated being rotated to unlatch the lid 13. A finger recess 40 assists a user in the lifting of the lid 13, once unlatched. With reference to FIG. 11, the rotating action of the cam 33 and the corresponding radial action of the latching pins 34 is illustrated, with the five latching pins 34 driven outward by five peaks 33p respectively.

FIG. 12 illustrates the interconnection of the latching locations 31 between the distal ends 35 of the pins 34 and the recesses or pin receiving holes 39 of flange 23. The latching pins 34 are illustrated in the locked position with the distal ends 35 protruding radially outwardly. To close the lid, the handle 32 is rotated to an unlocked position before returning the handle 32 to the locked position to re-latch the lid 13. Optionally (not shown) the latching pins 34 might be biased and the distal ends 35 fit with a bevel to deflect radially inwardly momentarily upon contact with the flange 23 for automatic re-latching on closing without a need for actuation of the handle 32. A variety of lid/door strike and pin latching interfaces are known to those of skill to effect a re-latching for closing of the lid 13.

In another embodiment, a further advantage is provided wherein the opening of the lid 13 is operable by the mechanized trash collection equipment. The bin 10 may be supported on a platform or grappler-supported. In a grappler-supported implementation, shown in FIG. 13, the bin 10 can be supported at a back of the bin 10 upon a lifting connection such as upper bar 17u extending between brackets 19, 19. The latching mechanism 30 can be actuated via a remote actuator 45, accessible from outside the bin 10, and actuated by the collection equipment such as when the bin 10 is being lifted and inverted for emptying the bin 10.

The remote actuator 45 comprises an actuator such as a protuberance or button 50 which can be accessed from outside the bin 10, such as in a sidewall 46 thereof, and be actuated by the collection equipment. The button 50 can be fit within an inward recess 47 in the sidewall 46 to avoid actuation by efforts other than the collection equipment.

While supporting the bin 10 at the lateral and upper bar 17u, the collection equipment (not shown) engages the button 50 and displaces the button 50 inwardly, thereby actuating a release linkage 51 extending between the button 50 and the cam 33. The release linkage 51 rotates the cam 33 and releases the latch mechanism 30 for the lid 13. The release linkage 51, such as a sleeved cable, can engage the cam 33 on a tangent and act to rotate the cam 33 relative to the structure of the lid 13. Subsequent lifting and inverting of the bin 10 will permit the unlatched lid 13 to pivot to the open position for releasing any contents or trash contained therein. Alternatively, embodiments of the remote actuator 45 can also urge the lid 13 to pivot upwardly.

With reference to FIG. 14, an alternative embodiment of a remote actuator 45 is a front-actuated arrangement wherein the bin 10 is supported for lifting on both an upper rotary actuating bar 17a and a bottom bar 17b. The upper actuating bar 17a is pivotable about its own axis supported in formed brackets 19. The release linkage 51 is actuably connected to the bar 17a.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the release linkage 51 is preferably a cable release extending between the button 50 or other actuator 17a, and the cam 33. In FIG. 15, the latching pins 34 are shown in the retracted position, retracted by the linkage 51.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 17-18C, a safety release 70 can be provided to enable emergency release of the latching mechanism 30 from the inside of the bin 10 should anyone be accidentally closed within. The safety release 70 overrides the latching pins 34 from the handle 32.

As described, normally when the lid 13 is closed, the handle's cam 33 maintains the pins 34 in engagement with the pin receiving holes 39 at the top 12 of the bin 10. As shown in FIG. 18A, the cam 33 is normally biased into planer alignment with the pins 34 in a latch-operable position. Shown in an exploded view in FIG. 17, a spring 60 between the handle 32 and the cam 33 biases the cam 33 away (into the bin 10) from the handle 32 to the latch-operable position. The pins 34 are normally guided by the cam 33.

As shown in FIG. 18B, from within the bin 10, the cam 33 can be disabled to a latch-inoperable position. The cam 33 is pressed upwardly relative to the bin 10 and into the lid 13, deflecting the spring 60 until the cam 33 is out of planer alignment with the pins 34 and the pins 34 are no longer guided. The latch mechanism 30 is now inoperable. As shown in FIG. 18C, the proximal ends 41 of unguided pins 34 are urged radially inwardly by biasing springs 38 and the distal ends 35 unlatch from the pin receiving holes 39 in the top 12. The cam 33 and latch pins 34 are reset for return to the normal latch-operable position.

As shown in FIG. 19, and in an embodiment of the invention, an at least partially hemispherical handle shield or guard 100 is spaced above and positioned over at least a portion of the handle 32 so as to make it more difficult for an animal to accidentally engage the handle 32 and effect a turn or rotation action thereon. The guard 100 minimizes the amount of the handle 32 that can be contacted without a deliberate action, such through the use of human fingers, to engage the rotatable handle 32 in the space between the guard 100 and the lid 13. The hinge 20 is shown with a hinge pin 20p.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in some detail herein above, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An animal-resistant container system comprising:

a container having a top edge and a lid hinged to the container, the lid being operable between a closed position to close the top edge of the container and an open position;

a latching mechanism comprising a rotatable handle fit to the lid and accessible from outside the lid, and two or more latching pins supported inside the lid, the latching pins extending radially and spaced circumferentially about the lid, receiving holes positioned about the top edge of the container, and wherein the latching pins are operatively connected to the handle for rotatable actuation between a radially extended position to engage the receiving holes in a latched position and a radially retracted position to disengage from the receiving holes in an unlatched position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism further comprises:

a cam co-rotatable with the handle and having a cam profile, and

wherein the latching pins have a proximal end biased radially inwardly to follow the cam profile between the unlatched and latched positions.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a handle shield positioned at least partially over the handle for restricting access to the handle.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the handle shield comprises at least a portion of a substantially hemispherical cap.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a flange about the top edge of the container so as to provide structural rigidity for preventing deformation thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a flange about the top edge of the container, the pin receiving holes being formed in the flange:

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a flange about the top edge of the container, the flange having an upstanding lip about an outer periphery, the lid fitting within the upstanding lip in the closed position.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the latching mechanism further comprises a handle lock to prevent rotation until the handle is pushed into the lid.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the container is a trash bin, further comprising:

a remote release for operating the latch mechanism with trash collection equipment, the remote release further comprising:

a lifting connection supported by the bin;

an actuator fit to the bin and accessible from outside the bin; and

a release linkage extending between the actuator and the latching mechanism wherein

the trash collection equipment engages the lifting connection and actuates the actuator to actuate the release linkage and operate the latching mechanism to the unlatched position.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the actuator is a rotatable bar fit to a sidewall of the bin.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the actuator is a button in a sidewall of the bin.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the button is fit to an inward recess in the sidewall.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a safety release actuable from within the container, the safety release comprising an override for operating the latching pins to the unlatched position.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a safety release actuable from within the container for actuating the latch mechanism between an operable and an inoperable position, wherein

in the operable position, the handle is operable to maintain the latching pins in the radially extended position to engage the bin in the latched position, and

in the inoperable position, the latching pins are operable independent of the handle and biased to the unlatched position.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a cam co-rotatable with the handle and having a cam profile, wherein

in the operable position, the latching pins have a proximal end biased radially inwardly to follow the cam profile between the unlatched and latched positions, and

in the inoperable position the cam is displaced substantially perpendicularly out of planar alignment from the latching pins so that the latching pins can be biased radially inwardly to the unlatched position.

16. A method for animal-proofing a container, the container having an top edge and a lid hinged to the container, the lid being operable between a closed position and an open position, the method comprising:

providing a latching mechanism having a rotatable handle fit to the lid which is accessible from outside the lid, and two or more latching pins supported inside the lid, the latching pins spaced circumferentially about the handle;

operating the latching mechanism by

operating the handle to the normally closed position for displacing the latching pins to a radially extended position to engage the container in a latched position with the lid in the closed position; and

actuating the handle for radially retracting the latch pins to disengage from the container in an unlatched position and enabling operation of the lid to the open position.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

biasing the latching pins radially inwardly and wherein

operating the latching mechanism further comprises

displacing the latching pins radially outwardly against the biasing to the latched position; and

actuating the handle to enable the biasing to radially retract the latch pins to the unlatched position.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein actuating of the handle further comprises:

biasing the latching pins against a cam wherein in the latched position, the latching pins are displaced against the biasing to the radially extended position; and

rotating the handle to rotate the cam to bias the latching pins to the radially retracted position to disengage from the container in the unlatched position.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein actuating of the handle further comprises:

locking the handle against rotation so that the latching pins are normally in the latched position; and

pressing the handle into the lid for unlocking the handle and enabling rotation of the handle.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the container is a trash bin handled with collection equipment, further comprising:

providing a remote release between an actuator and the latching mechanism;

lifting the bin with the collection equipment;

actuating the remote release for unlatching the latching mechanism; and

inverting the bin with the collection equipment to enable operation of the lid to the open position.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the remote release is actuated by the collection equipment.

22. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

biasing the cam to an operable position for engaging the latching pins;

displacing the latching pins with the cam to the radially extended position; and

disabling the cam from inside the bin to an inoperable position for biasing the latching pins to the radially retracted position to disengage from the bin.