The present disclosure relates to a container and, more particularly, to a lock assembly for a lid on the container.
Containers, such as roll-out carts, are commonly used by municipalities for collecting debris from households or businesses. The containers are movable by tipping and balancing the container on a pair of wheels adjacent a rear side of the base of the container. It is common for these containers to contain food waste that may attract animals in the area that would open the container and spread the waste. The lid on the container can prevent many animals from accessing the food waste. However, in the case of larger animals, such as with bears, additional steps, such as the use of a lock, may need to be taken to prevent the bear from accessing the contents in the container.
In one exemplary embodiment, a cart includes a body portion forming a receptacle. A lid is pivotable relative to the body portion. A lock assembly includes a hasp fixed relative to one of the lid or the body portion. A lock is fixed relative to the other of the lid or the body portion and includes a catch for engaging the hasp and an actuator in electrical communication with a controller. The actuator is configured to actuate the catch to selectively secure the hasp relative to the lock.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the lock includes an exterior portion located on an outer side of the body portion. An interior portion is located on an inner side of the body portion.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the exterior portion includes at least one release button configured to selectively secure the hasp relative to the lock.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the at least one release button includes a first release button located in a first recess and a second release button located in a second recess.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the first and second release buttons are movable between a first position located in a respective one of the first and second recesses and a second position at least partially recessed into a central wall dividing the first recess from the second recess.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the catch is attached to the interior portion.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the catch is pivotably about a pivot axis.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, a radio frequency receiver is in electrical communication with the controller.
In another exemplary embodiment, a cart includes a body portion forming a receptacle. A lid is pivotable relative to the body portion. A lock assembly is attached to the cart and includes a hasp attached to the lid. A lock is fixed relative to the body portion and includes a catch for engaging the hasp with a first release button located in a first recess and a second release button located in a second recess.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the first release button and the second release button are separated by a central wall and are depressible in a direction of the central wall.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the lock includes an exterior portion located on an outer side of the body portion. An interior portion is located on an inner side of the body portion.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the first release button and the second release button are located on the exterior portion.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the catch is attached to the interior portion.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the first and second release buttons are movable between a first position located in a respective one of a first and second recesses and a second position at least partially recessed into a central wall dividing the first recess from the second recess.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the lock includes an actuator configured to selectively actuate a catch to secure the hasp relative to the lock.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, an RF transmitter in electrical communication with a controller configured to actuate the catch.
In another exemplary embodiment, a method of operating a lock assembly includes engaging one of a hasp or a catch attached to a lid of a cart with the other of the hasp or the catch attached to a body portion of the cart to fix the lid relative to the body portion. The catch is released relative to the hasp in response to at least one of a mechanical input to the lock assembly or the lock assembly receiving a signal from a remote location.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the signal is a radio frequency signal. The remote location includes a trash collecting vehicle. The lock assembly includes a radio frequency receiver in communication with a controller for directing an actuator to release the catch relative to the hasp.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the lock assembly includes an exterior portion located on an outer side of the body portion and an interior portion located on an inner side of the body portion. A first release button is located in a first recess in the exterior portion and a second release button located in a second recess in the exterior portion. Depressing at least one of the first or second release buttons releases the catch relative to the hasp.
In another embodiment according to any of the previous embodiments, the lock assembly includes an exterior portion located on an outer side of the body portion. An inner portion is located on an interior of the body portion. The catch is located on the interior portion.
The various features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.
As shown in
The exterior lock portion 34E includes a pair of latch release buttons 36 that are depressible inward toward a central divider 38 that extends vertically and generally perpendicular to a direction of motion of the buttons 36. The buttons 36 are also located in troughs 40 that are recessed into the exterior lock portion 34E and at least partially defined by the central divider 38 on an inner lateral side and outer walls 42 on outer lateral sides. A pair of upper walls 44 and lower walls 46 define the upper and lower sides of the troughs 40, respectively’. Alternatively, the central divider 38 would not separate the upper walls 44 and lower walls 46 into separate walls such that each of the upper and lower sides of the troughs 40 would be defined by a single upper or lower wall. The directional references in this disclosure are in relation to the placement of the lock 34 on the cart 20 with the cart 20 in an upright standing position unless stated otherwise.
The buttons 36 can release the hasp 32 from the lock 34 in multiple configurations of engagement. In one example, both of the buttons 36 are required to be depressed simultaneously to release the hasp 32. In another example, both of the buttons 36 are required to be depressed but not simultaneously. In yet another example, only a single button 36 is required to be depressed to release the hasp 32. Additionally, the lock 34 includes a release button 50 (
One feature of locating the buttons 36 in the troughs 40 is protection of the buttons 36 from animal tampering, such as from bears or raccoons, while allowing easy access of operation by human users. The placement of the buttons 36 is also sufficiently wide enough to prevent most animals from being able to span the distance between outer edges of the buttons 36. Additionally, the recessed position of the buttons 36 in the troughs 40 protects the buttons 36 from being engaged by a biting force from a bear or other large animal as the mouth is unable to enter the troughs 40.
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In the illustrated example, the actuator 54 is in electrical communication with a controller 56 located in the interior lock portion 341 or the exterior lock portion 34E. The controller 56 includes a processor and memory for performing the operations described herein. Additionally, the controller 56 is in electrical communication with a receiver/transmitter 60 for receiving and/or transmitting radio frequency (“RF”) signals 62. However, the receiver/transmitter 60 may only be able to receive radio frequency signals. A reception of radio frequency (“RF”) signals of sufficient magnitude within a predetermined frequency range by the receiver/transmitter 60 can cause the actuator 54 to release the catch 52 holding the hasp 32 to allow the lid 24 to pivot about the hinge 26 for emptying the cart 20. The RF signals do not need to include any information or encoding but can be any sufficiently-large RF signals within a predetermined band of RF signals to release the hasp 32 from the lock 34. Alternatively, an electronic code or information is required to be received by the receiver/transmitter 60 for the actuator 54 to allow the catch 52 to pivot and release the hasp 32.
In an example method of operating the lock 34, when a trash collecting vehicle 100 is engaging the cart 20 (
In addition to receiving the RF signal 106 from the vehicle 100, the lock 34 can transmit information regarding the cart 20 through RF signals 62 (
Although the different non-limiting examples are illustrated as having specific components, the examples of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting examples in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting examples.
It should be understood that like reference numerals identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several drawings. It should also be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed and illustrated in these exemplary embodiments, other arrangements could also benefit from the teachings of this disclosure.
The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure. For these reasons, the following claim should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/219,126 which was filed on Jul. 7, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63219126 | Jul 2021 | US |