Patent Application
20080094224
A waste or recycling cart is illustrated in
The container 140 includes an integrally molded handle 110 (
The surface 114 defining the cavity 112 includes longitudinal ribs or splines 116. The ribs 116 are located opposite one another and are displaced horizontally off the center of the cavity 112. The ribs 116 define a sub-cavity within the cavity 112 in which only the hinge pin 120 fits. The ribs 116 support the RFID tag 150 in a generally vertical position and maintain the RFID tag 150 at a specific angular orientation within the handle 110. The surface 114 also defines a pair of annular grooves or rings 160.
The hinge pin 120 is an integrally molded article fabricated by injection molding or any other suitable manufacturing method. The pin includes one longitudinal support rib 156 and one or more lateral support ribs 158. The position of the longitudinal support rib 156 and the placement of the lateral support ribs 158 allow the hinge pin to be inserted into the cavity 112 adjacent the RFID tag 150 and between the ribs 116.
The lid 114 is hingedly attached to the handle 110 by the hinge pins 120. Each hinge pin 120 is locked in its secured position by first inserting the hinge pin 120 through a hole in the lid 113 and into the cavity 112. The hinge pin is locked in position by the male mating annular rings 162 seating in the annular grooves 160 of the surface 114. The hinge pin 120 is removable from its installed position only using a special tool (not shown but know to those skilled in the waste cart art). When locked in its secured position, the hinge pin 120 secures the RFID tag 150 within the cavity 112 of the handle 110.
The RFID tag 150 interfits with the grooves 316 to retain the RFID tag in a desired angular orientation, such as the generally vertical orientation illustrated. The grooves 116 and the RFID tag 150 together define a sub-cavity within the cavity 312 to receive the hinge pin 120.
The hinge pin 120 of handle 310 includes a longitudinal support rib 156, a lateral support rib 158, and a male annular ring 162. The hinge pin 120 is locked in its secured position in the same manner as in the first embodiment.
The wall 416 supports the RFID tag 150 in a desired angular oritentation, such as the generally vertical position illustrated. The wall 416 defines two sub-cavities within the cavity 412—one for receiving the RFID tag 150 and another for receiving the hinge pin 120.
The hinge pin 120 is locked in its secured position in the same manner as discussed with regard to
The RFID tag 950 is attached or coupled to the hinge pin 920. Preferably, the RFID tag 950 is insert molded into the hinge pin 920 (“in-molded”). In-molding is commonly understood in the industry as the inclusion of additional components to a part during the plastic injection molding process that creates the part. Optionally, the RFID tag 950 can include a protective case to enhance survivability of the tag in the in-molding process. The protective case in the current embodiment is a laminate coating covering the RFID tag 950. Other options for protecting the RFID tag 950 include encapsulation in a plastic case, compression molding, injection molding, and/or hot plate welding. The protective case preferably defines two winged portions 970 that each extend beyond the width of the hinge pin 952 in opposite lateral directions. When the RFID tag 950 is placed in a mold that defines the hinge pin 920, the winged portions 970 overlap that portion of the mold that defines the parting lines 922. Other options for the placing the protective case inside the mold include legs, stand-offs, holes and/or special shapes.
In operation, the winged portion 970 allows a user to clamp up and hold in place the RFID tag 950 during the in-molding process. Alternatively, the pin hole 972, allows a user to employ a mold that includes pins adapted to fit through the pin hole 972. The placement of the pins through the pin hole 972 retains the RFID tag 950 in place during the in-molding process.
A first long-edge of an RFID tag 1050 is in-molded into the center of the hinge pin 920. In this embodiment, the remainder of the RFID tag and a second long-edge of the RFID 1050 extend outward from the hinge pin 1020. Preferably the RFID chip 1052 is located off the first long-edge of the RFID tag 1050, which is in-molded into the center of the hinge pin 1020.
In alternative (but not illustrated) embodiments, the RFID tag could snap-fit onto the hinge pin. Other methods of attaching the RFID tag to the hinge pin include heat-staking the RFID tag to the hinge pin, welding the RFID tag to the hinge pin, or any other suitable technique known to those skilled in the art.
The above descriptions are those of the current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
