US20080264945A1

US20080264945A1 - Induction activated cover asembly

Info

Publication number: US20080264945A1
Application number: US11/790,932
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Tin-Kim Shek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-30
Filing date: 2007-04-30
Publication date: 2008-10-30

Abstract

A cover assembly of a container includes a first part and a second part which is adapted to mount on an open top of the container. The first part is mounted on the second part and has an opening which is located corresponding to a through hole in the second part. A cover is pivotably connected to an inner periphery of the opening and driven by an upward movement rod which is driven by a driving unit received in the first part. An induction unit is connected to a front end of the first part and includes and a control unit is received in the first part and electrically connected to the induction unit. When the induction unit inducts the user's hand, the driving unit is activated to move the upward movement rod to open the cover.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an induction activated cover assembly for a container such as a trashcan and the cover assembly is connected to a top of the container and the driving mechanism is received in the cover assembly.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
A conventional induction activated cover of a container is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,655 and the cover is pivotably connected to the container body. A driving mechanism including a motor, a gear set and a battery is received in the space in the bottom of the container body, and a driving shaft is connected to the gear set and is connected to the cover. The cover is pivoted upward to open the container body when the motor is activated. However, the speed of opening of the cover is too slow because the motor and the gear set are located at a distance from the cover, the transmission force has to transfer to the cover through the driving shaft which is as long as the height of the container body. Besides, a certain part of the space of the container is occupied by the driving mechanism so that only half of the space in the container can be used for receiving trash.
The present invention intends to provide an induction activated cover assembly for a container such as a trashcan and the driving unit and the cover are located at the top of the trashcan, and the cover is pivoted upward by an upward movement driving rod.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cover assembly of a container and comprises a first part and a second part which is mounted on an open top of the container. The first part is mounted on the second part has an opening which is located corresponding to a through hole of the second part. A cover is pivotably connected to an inner periphery of the opening and driven by an upward movement rod which is driven by a driving unit received in the first part. An induction unit is connected to a front end of the first part and includes two induction members. A control unit is received in the first part and electrically connected to the induction unit and is able to activate the driving unit.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the cover assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the cover assembly on a container and the cover is opened;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view to show the cover assembly on a container and the cover is closed, and

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the second part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the cover assembly 3 of a container 2 such as a trashcan of the present invention comprises a first part 31 and a second part 32 which is mounted on an open top of the container 2. The first part 31 is mounted on the second part 32 and has an opening 312 which is located corresponding to a through hole 321 defined in the second part 32. The first part 31 includes a front recess defined in an underside thereof and the induction unit 8 is received in the front recess, the induction unit 8 can be an infra-red induction unit. The first part 31 further includes a rear recess defined in the underside thereof and a driving unit is received in the rear recess of the first part 31. A control unit 9 is received in the first part 31 and electrically connected to the induction unit 8 and activating the driving unit. The induction unit 8 includes two induction members 4, a manual “ON” switch 5, a manual “OFF” switch 6 and a power indication light 7.
The driving unit includes a motor 91 and an upward movement rod 92 is driven by the motor 91. The first part 31 and a cover 315 are pivotably connected to each other by a pivot unit 314 which includes two pairs of lugs extending from the first part 31 and the cover 315 is pivotably connected to the lugs by two respective shafts. A second lug 316 is connected to an underside of the cover 315 and the upward movement rod 92 is pivotably connected to the second lug 316. Therefore, the cover 315 pivotably connected to an inner periphery of the opening 312 so as to open or close the opening 312.
The second part 32 includes a power supply unit 322 connected thereto which is electrically connected with driving unit. A cap 323 is located at the underside of the second part 32 so as to close the recess for receiving the power supply unit 322. The power supply unit 322 can be a rechargeable battery which is not shown.
The upward movement rod 92 travels a short distance directly pivot the cover 315 so that the response time required for opening the cover 315 is short and effective.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cover assembly of a container, comprising:

a first part and a second part which is adapted to mount on an open top of the container, the first part mounted on the second part and having an opening, the second part having a through hole which is located corresponding to the opening, a cover pivotably connected to an inner periphery of the opening and driven by an upward movement rod which is driven by a driving unit received in the first part;

an induction unit connected to a front end of the first part and including two induction members, and

a control unit received in the first part and electrically connected to the induction unit and activating the driving unit.

2. The cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving unit includes a motor and the upward movement rod is driven by the motor, the first part and the cover are pivotably connected to each other by a pivot unit, a lug is connected to an underside of the cover and the upward movement rod is pivotably connected to the second lug.

3. The cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction unit includes a manual “ON” switch and a manual “OFF” switch.

4. The cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction unit includes a power indication light.

5. The cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second part includes a power supply unit connected thereto which is electrically connected with driving unit.

6. The cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part includes a front recess defined in an underside thereof and the induction unit is received in the front recess.

7. The cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part includes a rear recess defined in an underside thereof and the driving unit is received in the rear recess of the first part.

8. The cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the induction unit is an infra-red induction unit.