A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
(1) Field of the Invention
Relating to improvements in receptacles or containers having a plurality of items therein.
(2) Description of the Related Art
US Patent Citations
U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,134 discloses a hanging sign provided for displaying messages. The sign may include a pair of walls that face in generally opposite directions so that messages can be displayed in two general 5 directions, and a hook for hanging the walls from a support, such as a handrail assembly or other stanchion. The sign also may be configured to hang from a door handle and include a single display panel angled to face a pedestrian approaching the door. The sign may have a cavity to provide for nesting of a plurality of similar signs. A method is disclosed for hanging a 10 sign to provide information to pedestrians.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,759 discloses a signal device, secured to the door of a rural mailbox, shows that mail has been received. The device operates by opening a shutter to display the message, “MAIL,” when the mail carrier opens the mailbox door. It 15 operates by gravity and latches magnetically. The shutter opens as a Venetian blind when the weighted screen falls forward. The signal device is reset by pushing the reset tab. The device returns to the closed position by gravity. In the closed position the message, “NO MAIL,” printed on the shutter, is displayed. Moving parts are contained in a weather-proof box with a transparent window. The messages, “MAIL,” or “NO MAIL” are visible through the transparent window.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,542 discloses a signal flap (22) mounted on the exterior face of a mailbox door using a pair of hinges (24 and 26). The signal flap (22) rotates between first and second positions, and in the second position, indicia (42) is exposed to view indicating the presence of mail. A latch (28) secures the signal flap in the first position, and releases the signal flap to rotate to the second position in response to the opening of the mailbox door.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,216,598 discloses a wind proof door knob tag especially for use with exterior doors includes integral flexible detent tabs between the opening through which the door knob passes and the opening which conforms to the outside diameter of door knob shaft. The tabs are cammed outwardly upon downward pull over the knob shaft and snap back into position to hold the tag firmly in place on the door knob despite wind conditions, thereby to prevent being blown away. The tab is made of a polyolefin sheet but could be made of a vinyl sheet which at the thickness utilized, prevents unauthorized opening of locks by insertion of this tag between a door and its associated jamb.
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U.S. Pat. No. 508,957 discloses an ornamental design for an identification tag for containers.
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A container indicator system discussed herein has a container having an internal surface and internal empty volume for storage of materials and an external surface; and an indicator (swiveling arm, reflector, flexible material, rubber, plastic, metal flag, sign, textile material) attached to the container. The container is of a square or oblong rectangular shape having four walls and a bottom integrated as one container along with a hinged cover; alternatively, the container may have one (circular container) or more walls (containers having curves and linear wall portions, or solely curved or solely linear walls) and a bottom integrated as one item and having a cover attached by a hinge. The walls of the container are made of a solid material and have internal and external surfaces; optionally the walls are hollow. The types of containers described herein include but are not limited to: a waste container, a freight container, a clothing container, a storage container, a food container, and a mail container. The container optionally has a device to cover the main opening of the container that is permanently attached or optionally not permanently attached. The indicator described is made up of one or more of: a textile material, a swiveling arm integrated with an axis, a swiveling arm without an axis, a reflector or combinations of the foregoing and even multiple combinations of the foregoing to indicate various states of the container. The indicator is attached to the external surface of the container or to the internal surface of the container or in the case of the swiveling arm, it likewise is attached to the internal or external surface but it optionally has a reflector, or flag attached near its extreme external end. A unique aspect of the teachings herein is that the indicator is moveable from the internal area of the container to an external area outside of the container and back again. Thus, a clear signal is to give to a user as to a new state of the container.
Further taught herein is a swiveling arm that is mounted on a surface of the container through the use of a mounting plate attached to the surface of the container through the use of one or more fasteners. In a preferred embodiment this arm does not have an axis integral with it, rather, it simply uses the mounting plate and simple swiveling action on a bearing member (that is threaded through curved portions of the mounting plate and stopped by two end stops) to be stowed away internal to the container to indicate one state of the container and returned to its original external location to indicate another state of the contents of the container.
This arm in another embodiment has an axis integral with it and extending perpendicular from the plane of the swiveling arm and parallel to a container face. It is held to the mounting plate by an axis holder to hold the axis threaded from the swiveling arm and attached to the mounting plate through the use of one or more fasteners and topped off by an axis cover covering the axis holder by using physical compression and snugness of fitting. Also, a disk lock is integrated with the swiveling arm and in between the axis and a main body of the swiveling arm.
The following discussion of
Illustration 100 is followed by the start of the container 150 being opened in 110. Next, view 120 shows a further motion by a user of the door into an open state so that the arm 160 can be stowed away into the container 150. Additionally, a user places the several strips 140 within the body of the storage container 150 and the door is closed over the arm 160 and strips 140 such that they are substantially enclosed inside the body of container 150. Thus, are shown the three main modes of operation of container 150. The first shown in view 100 describes a state by which the indicator strips 140 and arm 160 are completely deployed with maximum exposure to the outside of the container 150 for an indication of the internal state of container 150. The second mode of operation is generally described in views 110-120 where a user will open the container 150 door and stow away the indicator strips 140 and arm 160. The final mode of operation is shown in view 130 wherein the strips 140 and arm 160 are shown with least Exposure to the outside of the container for an indication of the internal state of the container 150.
The first and last modes of operation are referred to as the flag or indicator modes of operation. These two modes signal to a user, in a waste receptacle example, a trash collector, that the container 150 is empty or full. It should be appreciated that the devices employed to distinguish this, namely, the strips 140, arm 160 and reflector are useable in any combination deleting or adding one or the other depending upon the 15 implementation so desired. Also, the meaning of the indication itself is dependent upon user preferences. For example, the extension of the arm 160, strips 140 and reflector outside the container 150 in one implementation mean that it is empty; whilst the stowing away of the arm 160, the strips 140 and the reflector mean that the container is full. Of course the opposite system is useable in that the stowing away of the various 20 flags indicates that the container 150 is empty; whilst the deployment of the indicators strips 140, reflector and arm 160 outside in full view shows to a user that there are materials to be picked up inside the container. Also, the deployment outside of or retracting of inside of the container 150 of individual or combinations of the two strips 140 and arm/strip/reflector 160 indicate different things depending upon user desires such as paper only, metal only, plastic only, newspaper only, biological only, recyclables only, or combinations of the foregoing are indicated by the display or lack of display of the aforementioned strips 140 and arm 160 and further indicate the state such as empty, full or partially full. All of these would be chosen at the localities where the system is used and may even include color-coded strips and arm so as to facilitate the collection of materials.
In these figures, the particular container shown is a waste receptacle; however, the teachings herein are applicable to any number of containers including but not limited to: waste, mail, food, crates, freight, box, clothing containers and more generally a device designed to contain a plurality of items through the use of a door that opens and closes. The particular layout of the door on the top of the device is also only shown for this particular implementation; however, the features taught herein are applicable for other containers that have their door on the front face, side faces, back face or arranged in some other fashion applicable to the unique characteristics of its utility. Further, whilst the diagrams and descriptions herein have assumed a hinge item being attached to the door and body of container 150 so as to facilitate easy motion of the door, it should be appreciated that a hinge is an optional device added to the system. In other words, the teachings herein are easily applicable to containers that do not use hinges such that the door can be easily and completely removed (by a user), the indicator materials 140 and swiveling arm 160 stowed away and the return of the door or cover (by a user) unto the container body; non-door containers are also contemplated.
This cover 230 is an oblong device that generally corresponds to the dimensions of the axis holder 220 but is a somewhat bigger so as to enclose the holder in a snug fit. One end of the cover 230 is closed whilst the other end has a circular opening to permit the threading of the axis 250 into it. The axis 250 is also locked into place through the use of a disk lock 260. This disk lock 260 is of a diameter larger than the axis 250, larger than the circular openings found in holder 220 and the one found in cover 230. So that once the axis 250 has been threaded through the two circular openings in the holder 220, the forward motion of threading the axis 250 stops and the cover 230 is placed by a user into a snug fitting over holder 220, axis 250 and locked into place by locking disk 260.
Arm 270 has two elbows that correspond generally to the axis that runs parallel to the lip of the container door/face to the twist (1-first elbow) in to an up to down portion and another that blocks further downward motion of the arm such that it proceeds from an up to down portion of the arm 270 to the twist (2-second elbow) to the extended portion of the arm that extends out into space and ends in a reflector 280 and indicator strip. Depending upon the configuration of the angle of the second elbow the arm 270 is extendible at any angle from straight down and parallel (zero degree orientation) to the face of the container containing the mounting plate 210 to completely perpendicularly to the surface containing mounting plate 210 until parallel and straight up orientation (180 degree orientation) and all angles there between.
It should be noted that due to the intrinsic angles and distances that are created by the mounting and locations of the plate 210, holder 220, axis 250, and arm 270 a certain amount of built in backward overhang is created as shown in the drawings such that the arm 270 rests somewhat setback against the container 200 face. Thus, care should be taken to understand the teachings herein that the angle discussed above as the zero to ninety to 180 degree orientation of the arm 270 should be viewed as the resulting angle of the hanging of the arm 270 against the container face and not the angle of the elbow itself with respect to the up and down portion of the swiveling arm. Of course, this angle is the external angle for signaling the state of the container and does not relate to the other mode of operation relating to the internal stowing away of the swiveling arm. In fact the arm may be even further extended as far as 270 degrees from the original face.
The following discussion of
Items 300 represent fasteners in several views in this case screws that are used to attach various items to a container. The fasteners 300 whilst represented as screws are replaceable with a variety of fasteners including but not limited to screws, nails, glues, adhesives, nuts, washers and combinations of the foregoing. In
The following is a detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
In
In these figures, the particular container shown is a waste receptacle; however, the teachings herein are applicable to any number of containers including but not limited to: waste, mail, food, crates, freight, box, clothing containers and more generally a device designed to contain a plurality of items through the use of a door that opens and closes. The particular layout of the door on the top of the device is also only shown for this particular implementation; however, the features taught herein are applicable for other containers that have their door on the front face, side faces, back face or arranged in some other fashion applicable to the unique characteristics of its utility. Further, whilst the diagrams and descriptions herein have assumed a hinge item being attached to the door and body of container so as to facilitate easy motion of the door, it should be appreciated that a hinge door combination is an optional device added to the system. In other words, the teachings herein are easily applicable to containers that do not use a door with a hinge such that the door can be easily and completely removed (by a user), the indicator materials and swiveling hinge arm stowed away and the return of the door or cover (by a user) unto the container body; optionally, no cover or door is used. The container shown in
The fasteners taught herein, namely, screws, fasteners, glues, adhesives, nuts, bolts, nails, washer, clips are to be thought of as creating a permanent attachment to the various attachment areas and are comprised from various types of materials including metals, metallic alloys, and more. The bearing member, mounting plates, and swiveling arm are comprised of metals, metallic alloys, alnico, stainless steel, plastics, pvc cellulose based plastic, bakelite, polystyrene, nylon, rubbers and combinations of the foregoing. The indicator strips comprise the typical materials produced from animal (Wool, Silk), plant (Cotton, Flax, Jute), mineral (Asbestos), and synthetic (Nylon, Polyester, Acrylic) sources. The containers themselves may be similarly made of metals, metallic alloys, plastics, pvc, cellulose based plastic, bakelite, polystyrene, nylon, rubbers or combinations of the foregoing.
This is a continuation of pending patent application Ser. No. 12/755,507 filed Apr. 7, 2010, which claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/302,125 filed Feb. 6, 2010, now abandoned.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61302125 | Feb 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12755507 | Apr 2010 | US |
Child | 13562082 | US |