Patent Application
20210253314
The present invention relates to latches for containers, and more particularly, to a latch for locking a lid to a body of a container subject to being tampering by wildlife.
It is known for latches that lock containers to lock the container when the container is in an upright orientation and unlock the container when the container is in a tilted position while being emptied during collection. However, in the event that the container falls or is knocked over onto one of its sides for reasons other than collection, such latches may prematurely unlock the container. Consequently, there remains room in the art for improvement.
A more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the embodiments of the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
In describing particular features of different embodiments of the present invention, number references will be utilized in relation to the figures accompanying the specification. Similar or identical number references in different figures may be utilized to indicate similar or identical components among different embodiments of the present invention.
In
A staple (not shown) is secured to the lid, and the hasp assembly 200 is configured to engage the staple, thereby holding the lid closed.
The hasp assembly 200 will only release the staple (and the lid) if the manual release mechanism 100 is manually activated or if the container 108 is rotated from the upright orientation 208 in the forward direction 210 and under limited circumstances. The limited circumstances are intended to include circumstances that reflect a collection of the refuse and to exclude most other circumstances. This enables the release of the lid for collection and no release of the lid when wildlife knocks the container 108 over in pursuit of its contents. Once locked, the hasp assembly 200 must be “reset” by returning the container 108 (and attached hasp assembly 200) to the upright orientation 208 before the hasp assembly 200 will release the staple.
An actuator 320 is shown in an actuated position 322 which disengages an actuator catch 324 from the hasp tab 314. This, in turn, permits the hasp 302 to move to the disengaged hasp position 304 as is shown. Movement of the actuator 320 into the actuated position 322 is against a bias of and actuator spring 350. The actuator 320 includes an actuator catch 324, an internal release tab 326 (not visible), and a release element 328. As the hasp 302 rotates in the clockwise direction 312 the hasp tab 314 contacts the actuator catch 324, and continued rotation of the hasp 302 causes the actuator 320 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction 330 about an actuator stud 332. Upon sufficient rotation of the hasp 302 and the actuator 320, the hasp tap 314 and the actuator catch 324 interlock each into respective engaged positions. The cover 300 include an internal side opening 340 through which the internal release tab 326 projects into a flexible cap 342 when the cover 300 is assembled. Also visible is an actuator housing 352 of an actuator mechanism 354.
Although this embodiment includes the hasp 302 and the actuator 320 and their associated features and springs, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other arrangements may be used to releasably engage the staple. For example, coil springs may be used instead of linear springs, recesses and catches may be reversed, and the hasp may operate in the opposite direction etc.
In
Each second passage 412 includes a terminal position 712 in which the second element 418 is stopped by a stop 714. In the terminal position, the second element 418 protrudes into the first passage 410 enough to block the first element from passing the second element 418. Each second passage 412 is helical in shape and converges into the first passage 410 in a direction from the second element home position 704 to the terminal position 712. This creates a blending region 716 of the second passage 412 that starts at an upstream end 718 and extends toward the terminal position 712. In the blending region 716 the second passage 412 progressively increasingly converges into the first passage 410 toward the terminal position 712.
This movement is caused by an externally applied force. The externally applied force may be at least one of gravity and force imparted by the act of collecting the contents from the container 108. For example, the actuator mechanism 354 in
A choke is an arrangement of the first passage 410 and the second passage 412 that causes certain convergences of the first element 802 and the second element 418 to interlock with each other such that neither element can proceed along its respective passage. A choked arrangement is any arrangement where the first element 802 and the second element 418 have interlocked in this manner. There may be one choked arrangement or a range of choked arrangements for a given choke and given first and second elements, depending on shapes of the first element 802 and the second element 418 that may contact each other.
For any given choked arrangement, the second element 418 will be at an associated location within the second passage 412. Since there may more than one choked arrangement, the second element 418 may be in a range of associated positions within the second passage 412. A second passage throat 1000 includes the one or more positions of the second element 418 in the second passage 412 when the second element can be part of a choked arrangement. The second passage throat 1000 will be located somewhere in the blending region 716 simply because the second element 418 only protrudes into the first passage 410 in the blending region, and a locked arrangement can only occur when the second element 418 protrudes into the first passage 410. In the embodiment disclosed in
Since there is only one choked arrangement in this example embodiment, a first passage throat 1010 has a length that is the same as a length of the first element 802. A choked first element 1012 is shown in dashed lines and aligned with the first passage throat 1010 as if part of the choked arrangement.
If the first element 802 reaches the first passage throat 1010 at the same time the second element 418 reaches the second passage throat 1000, the first element 802 and the second element 418 may interlock in the choked arrangement and neither will be free to continue down its respective passage. In this scenario, the second element 418 blocks the first element 802 from reaching the release element 328. If the first element 802 passes the first passage throat 1010 before the second element 418 reaches the second passage throat 1000, then the second element 418 cannot proceed until the first element 802 passes. In this scenario, the first element is free to reach the release element 328. If the second element 418 passes the second passage throat 1000 before the first element 802 reaches the first passage throat 1010, the first element 802 must follow the second element 418. In this scenario, the second element 418 stops upon reaching the terminal position 712, thereby blocking the first element 802 from reaching the release element 328.
As noted above, the throats in this embodiment reflects one locked arrangement for sake of discussion. This is because the second element 418 is a sphere and the first element 802 has a chamfer 1020 such that a corner 1022 alone will contact the sphere. Due to these shapes, the range of relative positions that would permit an interlocked arrangement is very narrow. As a result, the likelihood of the first element 802 and the second element 418 actually forming a choked arrangement is very low. The overwhelming majority of times will result in either a blocked arrangement or an unblocked arrangement. Which of the two arrangements occurs depends on at which “side” of the choked configuration the elements arrive. This, in turn, depends on the tilt conditions that motivated the elements to move.
However, even in embodiments like that of
The hasp assembly 200 is configured to reach the unblocked configuration and open the lid when the container 108 is tilted under circumstances associated with refuse collection. The hasp assembly 200 is configured to reach the blocked configuration and keep the lid closed when the container 108 is tilted under circumstances not associated with refuse collection, such as wildlife attempting to access the contents of the container by knocking the container over.
Circumstances associated with refuse collection include a tilt in the forward direction 210 with an abrupt stop at the end of the tilt. This abrupt stop causes the first element 802 to move toward the opening 804 at the distal end 806 and ultimately, to impact with the release element 328 of the actuator. Simultaneously, the abrupt stop causes the second elements 418 to begin moving toward the terminal positions 712.
The travel length, e.g. a linear length L1 of the first passage 410 is shorter than the travel length, e.g. a linear length L2 of the second passage 412. Since both passages have similar starting and end points along the longitudinal axis 902, it takes the second elements 418 longer to reach the second passage throat 1000 than it takes the first element to pass the first passage throat 1010. This results in an unblocked configuration and an associated release of the lid. The same principles apply in other configurations where there is no blending region 716 and the terminal position 712 is the second passage throat 1000. This could occur where the distal end of a second passage leading to the terminal position 712 is oriented nearly completely radially inward leading to the terminal position 712.
Circumstances not associated with refuse collection include a tilt to a lesser degree than during collection and/or with a less abrupt stop. In such an instance, less energy is imparted to the first element 802. The first element 802 may or may have enough energy to reach the distal end 806 of the first passage 410. In contrast, the second elements 418 will roll freely and thereby move faster than the first element 802 until reaching the terminal position 712. Since the second elements 418 are moving faster than the first element 802, the second elements 418 will pass the second passage throat 1000 before the first element 802 reaches the first passage throat 1010. This results in a blocked configuration and the lid remains locked. The same principles apply in other configurations where there is no blending region 716 and the terminal position 712 is the second passage throat 1000. This could occur where the distal end of a second passage leading to the terminal position 712 is oriented nearly completely radially inward leading to the terminal position 712.
The parameters associated with relative travel speeds include a shape of the first element 802, a shape of the second element 418, a cross-sectional shape of the first passage 410, a cross-sectional shape of the second passage 412, clearance between the element and the respective travel passage, surface finishes and associated frictions, relative lengths of the passages, relative lengths from passage start to a respective throat, an amount of taper of the helical shape, a magnitude of a helix angle of the helical shape from start to the respective throat and/or the terminal position 712, and a pitch of the helix angle. Other parameters may also be considered.
In the example embodiment above, the first element 802 is cylindrical and slides in the first passage 410. This provides increased drag relative to the spherical second elements 418. The first element 8022 includes a chamfer 1020. This provides a corner 1022 to interact with the second element 418. This is chosen because it is difficult to produce circumstances where a corner interacting with a sphere will interlock in a choke. However, other configurations are also considered within the scope of the disclosure. The angle of the chamfer 1020 can be selected to increase or reduce the corner's grip on the wall of the first passage 410. Increased grip can slow the movement of the first element 802 in the first passage 410 during vibration and bounce conditions more associated with wildlife tilting.
Additionally, a ratio of a length to diameter (or width) of the first element 802 may be controlled to control an amount of misalignment that can occur between the first element 802 and the first passage 410 during the vibration/bouncing associated with wildlife tilting. For example, a relatively long first element 802 will remain more aligned within the first passage 410 than will a relatively short first element 802. More misalignment of the relatively shorter first element 802 may cause the corner 1022 to bite more, thereby inhibiting movement of the first element 802 when compared to a relatively longer first element 802 during wildlife tilting.
Similarly, the wall of the first passage 410 may be designed to exhibit a certain amount of resilience that cooperates with the first element 802 to promote or reduce (e.g. to control) the vibration/bounce. Additionally, the wall of the first passage 410 may be designed to exhibit a certain amount of softness to control an amount of bite the corner 1022 of the first element 802 may take when vibrating/bouncing during wildlife tilting.
The first element 802 could also be spherical and its relative speed controlled using other parameters. For example, a spherical first element could be used in conjunction with a longer first passage, or a first passage that is not straight etc.
In the example embodiment above, in the upright orientation 700 the first element 802 and the second element 418 rest on a surface at a common elevation. Hence, the start location of the first passage 410 is the same as a start location of the second passage 412. However, the first passage 410 can start anywhere relative to each other, depending on the conditions warranted.
In the example embodiment above, there are eight evenly circumferentially spaces second passages 412 in the annular array 414. Each second passage 412 rotates through a helix angle from the home position to the terminal position 712. By way of example, a second passage helical angle might be 180 degrees. When there is a helix angle of 180 degrees, when the start of the second passage is at the twelve o-clock position the distal end is at the six o-clock position. If the helix angle extended beyond 180 degrees, the second element would need to travel past the six o-clock position to reach the terminal position. Any travel past the six o-clock position would be uphill. Gravity would fight against a second element from continuing uphill past the 6 six o-clock position, in which case the second element may not reach its terminal position unless it is traveling with significant momentum. Without significant momentum, the second element would stop at the lowest point in the second passage. The chances the home position of a passage landing exactly in the twelve o-clock position are low, so helix angles of less than 180 degrees may be used. From the home position to the terminal position 712, each second passage rotates through a helix angle of approximately ninety (90) degrees to one hundred eighty (180) degrees. In an example embodiment, each second passage 412 rotates through a helix angle of one hundred thirty five (135) degrees, plus or minus fifteen (15) degrees. In an example embodiment, each second passage 412 rotates through a helix angle of about ninety degrees)(90°) between the passage start (home position) and the upstream end 718 of the blending region 716.
In this example embodiment, under most tilting scenarios at least three second elements 418 will travel toward the terminal position 712. Others, such as those on a far side in
As can be seen in
Manual release is also enabled by the internal release tab 326 (
The pockets 1802 interact with their respective second elements 1810 in one way during a forward tilt associated with a collection and in a different way during a forward tilt not associated with refuse collection, such as wildlife efforts to open the container 108.
During a collection tilt there is a relatively smooth forward tilting motion from the vertical orientation until reaching a fully-tilted position. During a conventional collection, the fully-tilted position may be e.g. approximately 170 degrees from the vertical orientation. During this relatively smooth forward tilt, the pockets 1802 hold the second elements 1810 therein until a threshold angle is reached. In an example embodiment, the threshold angle is approximately 100 to 110 degrees. In contrast, there is nothing to hold the first element 1824 in its home position, so it is free to begin moving down the first passage 1826 during a collection tilt before the second elements 1810 leave their respective pockets 1802. This delay of the second elements 1810 helps ensure the unblocked arrangement such as that shown in
During a forward tilt not associated with refuse collection, such as wildlife efforts to open the container 108, if the container 108 is pushed over in the forward direction, the container 180 will rotate about ninety (90) degrees from the vertical orientation and then come to an abrupt stop upon hitting the ground. This abrupt stop has been proven during tests to often cause the second elements 1810 to bounce about in their respective pockets 1802 with the result that at least one of the three second elements 1810 enters its second passage 1806 and gravity urges the second element 1810 to travel down that second passage 1806. In contrast, since the first element 1824 is oriented horizontally that the same time, gravity does not urge the first element 1824 toward the release element 328. Further, the first element 1824 typically does not have enough momentum in this scenario to move appreciably toward the release element 328. This results in the blocked arrangement as shown in
The pockets 1802 thereby increase the likelihood of releasing the staple 404 during forward tilt conditions associated with collection, while decreasing the likelihood of releasing the staple 404 during forward tilt conditions not associated with collection, such as wildlife efforts to open the container 108.
Also shown in this example embodiment are optional fingers 1830 (raised ridges). These fingers 1830 are intended to reduce friction with the first element 1824 and thereby facilitate movement of the first element 1824 along the first passage 1826. In addition, in this example embodiment a side 1832 the first element 1824 is shown with an optional concave profile 1834. This is also intended to reduce friction with the first element 1824 and thereby facilitate movement of the first element 1824 along the first passage 1826.
The innovative mechanism disclosed herein secures a container is a unique and innovative manner to ensure that the container remains secured until such time as a human manually releases it, or the container undergoes a rotation consistent with that experienced during a collection process. Further, the container must be reset by returning to the upright orientation before the container can be opened if other rotation occurs. These characteristics are novel and unique and therefore represent an improvement in the art.
This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments of the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments of the invention. The patentable scope of the embodiments of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62977561 | Feb 2020 | US |
