AU2016219605B2 - Retrofitable apparatus for hands-free bin lid lifting - Google Patents

Abstract

Retrofitable apparatus for hands-free bin lid lifting There is provided retrofitable apparatus for hands-free bin lid lifting, the apparatus adapted for retrofitting to an existing bin comprising a hinge mounted lid. The apparatus comprises a foot operated lever; and a lid attachment for operably coupling the foot operated lever to the lid and wherein, in use, operation of the lever causes the lid to open. 3/6 11 2 FIG.3

Description

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FIG.3

Retrofitable apparatus for hands-free bin lid lifting Field of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to bin the lifters and in particular, but not necessarily entirely, to retrofitable apparatus for hands-free bin lid lifting.

[2] The invention has been developed primarily for use with "wheely" bins and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

Background of the Invention

[3] "Wheely" bins are in common usage in countries such as Australia. These bins comprise a hingedly mounted lid, the hinge simultaneously defining a grip and a horizontally coincident lower wheel and axle arrangement so as to allow the bin to be gripped by the hinge and wheeled about.

[4] Such lids are manually actuated and comprising a handle or the like for the opening thereof.

[5] However, disadvantages of these existing bins is the requirement to touch the lid to open and close the lid, being unhygienic. Furthermore, in may not always be possible for a user to open and close the lid on account of the user's hand otherwise being occupied carrying rubbish for disposal, for example.

[6] Now, existing bin lid lifters are known in the art. However, such lifters are integrated into the bin during manufacture and therefore, so as to achieve hands-free bin the lifting, the user would generally be required to purchase a specifically designed bin which may or may not meet the requirements for Council, for example.

[7] Furthermore, existing bid lift lifting apparatus may be incompatible with conventional automated garbage truck disposal systems. Specifically, such systems generally comprise a remotely actuated arm terminating in a bin grip which is adapted to pick up the bins for lifting and tipping into the garbage truck container. However, existing bin lid lifting arrangements are incompatible with such garbage truck systems.

[8] As such, the present invention seeks to provide a retrofittable apparatus for hands-free bin lid lifting, which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[9] 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 part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[10] According to one aspect, there is provided retrofitable apparatus for hands-free bin lid lifting, the adapted for retrofitting to an existing bin comprising a hinge mounted lid and the apparatus comprising a foot operated lever; and a lid attachment for mechanically coupling to the foot operated lever to the lid and wherein, in use, operation of the lever causes the lid to open.

[11] The apparatus may further comprise a rod mechanically coupling the lever and the lid attachment.

[12] The length of the rod may be configured in accordance with the distance between an axle and the lid of the bin.

[13] The apparatus may be arranged such that the lever may be adapted for installation at an opposite lateral edges of the bin to that of the lid attachment such that the rot extends diagonally between the lid and the lid attachment.

[14] The rod may comprise distantly located apertures adapted for receiving respective rod engagements of the lid engagement and lever therethrough.

[15] The distal ends of the rod are flattened so as to accommodate the apertures therein.

[16] The distal flattened ends of the rods are angled with respect to the elongate axis of the rod.

[17] The lid attachment may be adapted to engage a hinge flange of the lid in use.

[18] The lid attachment may comprise a bracket adapted to engage the hinge flange.

[19] The bracket may comprise oppositely located fish plates adapted to locate against opposite surfaces of the hinge flange.

[20] The lid engagement further may comprise a rod engagement adapted to engage the rod in use.

[21] The rod engagement may be an inwardly orientated rod engagement.

[22] The rod engagement may comprise an elongate fastener adapted to be received within an aperture of an upper distal end of the rod in use.

[23] The fastener may comprise a threaded screw.

[24] The elongate fastener further may comprise a spacer.

[25] The lever may comprise an axle engagement adapted to engage an axle of the bin in use so as to allow the lever to pivot about the axle.

[26] The axle engagement may comprise a recess adapted to receive the axle therein.

[27] The axle engagement may further comprise an axle securement so as to secure the axle within the axle engagement recess.

[28] The lever may further comprise a rod engagement for engaging a lower distal end of the rod in use.

[29] The rod engagement may be distantly located.

[30] The rod engagement may be an inwardly orientated rod engagement.

[31] The rod engagement may comprise an elongate fastener adapted to be received within an

aperture of an upper distal end of the rod in use.

[32] The fastener may comprise a threaded screw.

[33] The elongate fastener further may comprise a spacer.

[34] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention,

preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with

reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[36] Figure 1 shows a side view of a bin comprising retrofittable apparatus for hands-free bin lid

lifting in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[37] Figure 2 shows the side view of the bin wherein the apparatus is operational so as to lift the

lid of the bin in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[38] Figure 3 shows a rear view of the bin comprising apparatus in accordance with the

embodiment of the present disclosure;

[39] Figure 4 shows a lid engagement of the apparatus in further detail in accordance with an

embodiment of the present disclosure;

[40] Figure 5 shows a foot operated lever of the apparatus in further detail in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[41] Figure 6 shows installation of an actuating rod between the foot operated lever and the lid

attachment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Description of Embodiments

[42] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the

disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific

language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of

the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the

inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the disclosure

as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

[43] Before the structures, systems and associated methods relating to the retrofitable apparatus

for hands-free bin lid lifting are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular configurations, process steps, and materials disclosed herein as such may vary somewhat. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the disclosure will be limited only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

[44] In describing and claiming the subject matter of the disclosure, the following terminology will

be used in accordance with the definitions set out below.

[45] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms ''a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[46] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," "characterised by," and

grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.

[47] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in

different embodiments denote the same or similar features.

[48] In the accompanying figures, there will be described retrofittable apparatus for hands-free bin

lid lifting. As will become apparent from the ensuing description, the apparatus 1 is adapted for

allowing a user to open the lid of a bin without using hands.

[49] As such, in this manner, the bin may be operated in a hands-free hygienic manner.

[50] Furthermore, as will be appreciated from the below, the apparatus is compatible with the

above-mentioned automated garbage disposal systems in allowing the bins to be gripped laterally by

the garbage disposal system arm grip.

[51] In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 1 is adapted for utilisation with conventional "wheelie bins" as commonly used in Australia and other countries, these bins comprise a lid hidgedly

closing off a substantially cubic bin container. Such bins further comprise a wheel axle at one edge of

the bin container substantially vertically coincident with the lid hinge so as to allow the bin to be

grabbed by the lid hinge so as to will the button about.

[52] Specifically, turning now to figure 1, there is shown the apparatus 1 which is been retrofitted

to a conventional wheelie bin. As can be seen, the apparatus 1 comprises a foot operated lever 3. As

can be seen, in the embodiment shown, the distal end of the lever 3 comprises a foot engagement,

the foot engagement being widened for greater surface area contact and comprising a rubberised

upper surface for enhancement of the fictional engagement of the foot.

[53] The apparatus 1 further comprises a lid attachment for mechanically coupling the lever 3 to

the lid 4 such that, in use, the operation of the lever 3 causes the lid to open. Specifically, turning to

figure 2, there is shown the operation of the lever 3 wherein, as can be seen, the lid 4 is opened.

[54] Turning now to figure 3, there is shown a rear view of the apparatus 1 in further detail

wherein, as can be seen, the apparatus 1 has opened the lid 4 upon actuation of the lever 3. Figure 3

shows the lid attachment 11 in further detail.

[55] Now, in a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 1 comprises a rod 2 mechanically coupling

the lever 3 and the lid attachment 11. As such, as can be seen, as the lever 3 pivots, the distal end

opposite the foot engaging end moves upwards causing the rod to push upwards against the lid

attachment 11 so as to cause the lid 4 to open.

[56] As can be appreciated, the length of the rod 3 is configured in accordance with the particular

type of bin configurations so as to allow the apparatus 1 to appropriately open lids 3 of various bin

types.

[57] It should be noted that, in other embodiment, other mechanical arrangements may be

employed to mechanically connect the lever 3 and the lid attachment 11.

[58] Specifically, in other embodiment, as opposed to utilising fixed rods, a tensioned cord or the

like may be utilised. For example, the tensioned cord could connect to the lever 3 on the same side of

the pivot point of the lever 3 as the foot engagement so that, when the foot engaging and of the lever

3 is pushed downwards, the cord is pulled so as to pull against the lid engagement 11, the lid

engagement being located across the pivot point of the lid such that the lid engagement 11 moves

downwards so as to open the lid. In this embodiment also, a rod may equally be used so as to, for

example, pull against the lid engagement 11 as opposed to pushing against the lid engagement is

shown in the accompanying embodiments.

[59] Now, as can be especially seen from figure 3, in a preferred embodiment, the bar 2 reaches

diagonally across the rear of the bin such that the lid attachment 11 is located opposite the lever 3.

Such an arrangement advantageously strengthens the integrity of the apparatus 1. However, as can

be appreciated, the rod 2 may be substantially vertical also, so as to engage the lid engagement 11on

same side as the pivot 3.

[60] Turning now to figure 4, there is shown the lid engagement 11 in further detail. As can be

seen, the bin lid 4 comprises a rearwardly extending, planar and vertically orientated hinge flange

comprising an aperture adapted to receive the horizontal hinge 7 therethrough.

[61] As such, as can be seen, the lid attachment 11 comprises a bracket 6 which is adapted to fit

about the hinge flange. As can be appreciated, not insignificant force is applied to the hinge flange by

the rod 2 and therefore the bracket 6 advantageously strengthens the hinge flange, which may be

made of plastic, for example.

[62] As can be seen, in a preferred embodiment, the bracket 7 comprises two fish plates adapted

to lie against either side of the hinge flange.

[63] As such, during installation, the user would remove the hinge pin 7 so as to expose the hinge

flange so as to allow the bracket 7 to be placed so as to surround the hinge flange. Once the bracket

6 has been placed the hinge flange is moved back into position wherein the hinge 7 is reinserted into

the hinge so as to re-engage the hinge flange.

[64] As can be further seen, the lid attachment 11 further comprises a rod engagement 5 adapted

to engage the rod 2. As can be seen, the rod engagement 5 comprises an inwardly facing screw and a

spacer. In this manner, the rod 2 comprises an aperture at the upper distal end of the rod 2 so as to

receive the screw therein so as to engage the rod engagement in a position spaced apart from the

bracket 6.

[65] Turning now to figure 5, there is shown the installation of the lever 3 in further detail. As can be seen, the lever 3 comprises a substantially elongate rod, bar or the like. As alluded to above, the

lever 3 may comprise a distantly located foot engagement so as to assist engagement of the foot in

use.

[66] At an appropriate point at an intermediate location of the lever 3, the lever 3 may comprise

an axle engagement 9 so as to engage the axle of the bin. As can be appreciated, the axle engagement

9, by engaging the axle creates a pivot point about which the lever 3 pivots.

[67] Furthermore, as can be seen, the other distal end of the lever 3, opposite the foot engagement

portion distal end, similarly comprises a rod engagement 10 adapted to engage the rod 2. As can be

seen, the rod engagement 10 is not dissimilar from the rod engagement 2 of the lid engagement 11.

Specifically, as can be seen, the rod engagement 10 of the lever 3 similarly comprises an inwardly

facing screw and a spacer. In this manner, the rod 2 similarly comprises an aperture at the lower distal

end of the rod 2 so as to engage the rod engagement 10.

[68] Turning now to figure 6, there is shown the final installation of the apparatus 1. As can be

seen, the rod 2 has been connected to the rod engagement 10 of the lever 3. As can be appreciated,

the rod is connected with appropriate washers, lock nuts and the like so as to allow the rod

engagement 10 to pivotally engage the rod 2.

[69] Furthermore, as can be seen, the upper distal end of the rod 2 has been configured to engage

the rod engagement 5 of the lid engagement 11. As can be seen, the upper distal end of the rod 2

comprises an aperture through which the rod engagement 5 has been inserted such that the upper

distal end of the rod 2 abutts against the spacer of the rod engagement 5. On the image shown, the

user is in the process of installing a retention nut.

[70] As can be further seen from the image, the distal ends of the rod 2 may be flattened so as to

provide an appropriate flat surface for accommodating the respect of apertures therein. Furthermore, these flattened ends may be angled with respect to the elongate axis of the rod 2 so as to be able to engage the respective rod engagements 5, 10 in a flash manner.

[71] As can be appreciated, the apparatus 1 provides advantages in being retrofittable to different

types of existing bins, including the commonly used wheelie bins utilised in Australia and other

countries. In this manner, the apparatus 1 may be sold in kit form comprising constituent parts and

appropriate instructions for the installation thereof.

[72] As can be further appreciated, the apparatus 1 occupies only the rear aspect of the bin so as

to allow the bin to be gripped by conventional automated dump trucks which grip the lateral edges of

the bin during the emptying process.

Interpretation Embodiments:

[73] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

[74] Similarly it should be appreciated that in the above description of example embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

[75] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

Different Instances of Objects

[76] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

Specific Details

[77] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

Terminology

[78] In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "forward", "rearward", "radially", "peripherally", "upwardly", "downwardly", and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

Comprising and Including

[79] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are 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 invention.

[80] Any one of the terms: including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Scope of Invention

[81] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

[82] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (20)

1. Claims 1. Retrofitable apparatus for hands-free bin lid lifting, the apparatus adapted for retrofitting to an existing bin comprising a hinge mounted lid and the apparatus comprising: a footoperated lever;and a lid attachment for operably coupling the foot operated lever to the lid and wherein, in use, operation of the lever causes the lid to open, wherein: the lid attachment is adapted to engage a hinge flange of the lid in use; the lid attachment comprises a bracket adapted to engage the hinge flange and the bracket comprises oppositely located fish plates adapted to locate against opposite surfaces of the hinge flange, the fish plates comprising respective apertures collocating with a hinge aperture of the hinge flange of the lid so as to receive a hinge therethrough.
2. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rod mechanically coupling the lever and the lid attachment.
3. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the length of the rod is configured in accordance with the distance between an axle and the lid of the bin.
4. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the lever is adapted for installation at an opposite lateral edges of the bin to that of the lid attachment such that the rot extends diagonally between the lid and the lid attachment.
5. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rod comprises distantly located apertures adapted for receiving respective rod engagements of the lid engagement and lever therethrough.
6. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the distal ends of the rod are flattened so as to accommodate the apertures therein.
7. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the distal flattened ends of the rods are angled with respect to the elongate axis of the rod.
8. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid engagement further comprises a rod engagement adapted to engage the rod in use.
9. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rod engagement is an inwardly orientated rod engagement.
10. 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rod engagement comprises an elongate fastener adapted to be received within an aperture of an upper distal end of the rod in use.
11. 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded screw.
12. 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elongate fastener further comprises a spacer.
13. 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lever comprises an axle engagement adapted

    to engage an axle of the bin in use so as to allow the lever to pivot about the axle.
14. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the axle engagement comprises a recess adapted

    to receive the axle therein.
15. 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein axle engagement further comprises an axle

    securement so as to secure the axle within the axle engagement recess.
16. 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lever further comprises a rod engagement for

    engaging a lower distal end of the rod in use.
17. 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the rod engagement is distantly located.
18. 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the rod engagement is an inwardly orientated rod

    engagement.
19. 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the rod engagement comprises an elongate

    fastener adapted to be received within an aperture of an upper distal end of the rod in use.
20. 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded screw and a

    spacer.