AU2001282691B2 - Blocking device for a waste container lid - Google Patents

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

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Applicant: WIGGO-ARNE JOHANSEN Invention Title: BLOCKING DEVICE FOR A WASTE CONTAINER LID The invention is described in the following.statement: S BLOCKING DEVICE FOR A WASTE CONTAINER LID Technical Field The present invention generally relates to a blocking device for a waste container lid.

Background Most waste containers are provided with lids being hinged to the container body. Such lids may be turned OO 10 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 (1 wind or for other reasons resulting the content being scattered around and turned into a meeting place for insects and carrion birds.

This problem causes serious pollution problems, as well as decreasing the aesthetic value of the surrounding of the container. A practical solution to avoid these problems 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 which can prevent the lid of from blowing up by the wind, whilst allowing the lid to be opened easily by users. Such a mechanism can also permit the lid to be opened automatically when the waste containers are turned around to be emptied into the refuse collection vehicles.

Summary A blocking device for a lid on a waste container is provided, the blocking device comprising an elongate body having a hook with an upper and under surface; the body being formed from a resilient material so as to be able to be resiliently deformed to facilitate the moving of the body from a first position to a second position thereby allowing a hinge part of the lid to pass by the hook when the hinge part is pressed against the upper or under surface of the hook; wherein the under surface of the hook is arranged above the hinge part when the lid is in a closed position; and the upper surface of the hook is inclined to receive and support the hinge part of the lid and to cause the body to be biased to resiliently deform when the hinge part is pressed against the upper surface of the hook.

In accordance with the blocking device of the above, the blocking device is adapted to be secured to a waste container for example by screws, glue, rivets etc.

Brief Description of the Drawings It is convenient to herein describe some embodiments of the blocking device for a waste container lid with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of the drawings and the related description is to be understood as not superseding the generality of the preceding broad description.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a rear view of one embodiment of the blocking device in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of the embodiment shown in Fig 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig 1; Fig. 5 shows the embodiment of the blocking device of Fig. 1 when positioned on a waste container with a closed lid; Fig. 6 shows a diagrammatic view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 when positioned on a waste container and preventing the opening of the lid of the waste container when exposed to wind; VFig. 7 shows a view of the embodiment of Fig 1 when C abutted with the lid in the open position; Fig. 8 shows a partial side perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 and a waste container with the lid of the waste container in a closed position.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention The blocking device 6 comprises an elongate body 2 having a hook 1 and a securing part 3 for securing the OO 10 device to the waste container, preferably to the hinge part 8 of the waste container 5. Preferably the body 2 with the hook 1 and the securing part 3 are integrated in CI one part. Furthermore the locking device 6 may be formed as an integrated part of the waste container In one embodiment the blocking device 6 is formed of a material that can be resiliently deformed to facilitate the moving of the body from a first position to a second position. Suitable material can withstand cold weather with many degrees below zero, warm weather with many degrees above zero, in addition to the tough handling such containers are exposed to.

When the lid 4 is closed as shown in Fig. 5, the blocking device 6 will not influence the lid 4 as such.

However, when the lid 4 is opened just a little, the hinging part 7 of the lid 4 will be pressed against the under surface of the hook 1 and prevent the lid 4 opening. This blocking is sufficient to prevent the wind opening the lid 4 and also prevents the opening of the lid 4 in the event of the waste container 5 tipping over.

If, however, a press force in the range of 2 or 3 kg or more, is exerted against the lid 4, the body of the blocking device 6 can be moved outwardly from a first position to a second position, thereby assuring that the hinge part 7 of the lid 4 slips past the hook 1. The lid 4 can then be opened by a user without problems. In addition this ensures that the lid 4 opens when the waste container 5 is turned bottom up to be emptied in a refuse collection vehicle. When the waste container 5 is being Vemptied the content of the container will press against C the lid, causing the lid 4 to open.

When the lid 4-is lifted past the blocking device 6 and thereafter is dropped, the hinging part 7 of the lid 4 can, as disclosed in Fig. 7, abut against the upper Ssurface 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.

D It is further a known problem that the lid 4 is OO 10 falling 2700 backwards in case the container 5 as such is not placed in front of a wall. The lid 4 may rest in an Copen position against the blocking device 6. The user, C1 however, very easily can press the lid 4 downwardly by a relatively small force, as the hinging part 7 of the lid 4 causes the body 2 of the blocking device 6 to be biased to resiliently deform.

As disclosed in Fig. 4, the hook 1 is inclined, by virtue of it being bevelled, in such a way that a lid 4 approaching the blocking device 6 with a certain speed, will resiliently deform the device 6 and be pressed past the device 6 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 vehicle.

In case the lid 4 is pressed downwardly against the hook 1 from the position in Fig. 7, the body 2 will be resiliently deformed and let the hinge part 7 of the lid 4 pass, the lid 4 thereby taking the position disclosed in Fig. The blocking device 6 preferably is symmetrically shaped as disclosed in Fig. 4, thereby enabling the device 6 to be placed on one or the other side or possibly on both sides of the waste container 5. For larger waste containers two blocking devices 6 can be used.

The blocking device 6 can be secured to existing waste containers by any means, for example, by the use of screws, double-sided tape, glue or such. The blocking device 6 also can be formed as part of the waste container as such or as part of the lid 4. As such separate blocking Vdevices 6 can be secured to the lid 4 depending on the 0 specific type of waste container With a blocking device 6 secured at each side of the ;waste container 5, it is to a very large extent secured that the plug holding the hinge part 7 of the lid 4 to the Mhinge part 7 of the waste container 5, may not be easily pressed out by side forces caused by users or by the wind as the devices 6 provide a locking function.

C

While the blocking device for a waste container lid 0 has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the blocking Sdevice can be embodied in many other forms.

(1 It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the blocking device for a waste container lid.

Claims (2)

1. 2. Device according to claim i, wherein the blocking device being adapted to be secured to a waste container for example by screws, glue, rivets etc.
2. 3. A blocking device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2 6 th day of August 2005 JOHANSEN WIGGO-ARNE by his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK