Trash container lid system

Abstract

A trash container lid system for placement on top of large industrial trash bins of the type utilized in hotels, apartment houses, etc., in which a lid section is rotatably coupled to a trash bin. The lid is slidably coupled to the top surfaces of the side sections of the trash bins via slide members on the lid and a slide track, preferably nylon bearing strips, on the top edge of the side sections, and rotatably coupled to the trash bin via lever arms rotatably coupled at one end to the trash bin and at another end to a lower back portion of the lid section.RELATED APPLICATIONSAn application for United States Letters Patent was filed by Allan M. Hodge and Calvin P. Owen on Aug. 5, 1974, Ser. No. 494,622, now abandoned, for a Trash Container Lid System. A continuation of that application was filed on Dec. 24, 1975, Ser. No. 644,188, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,162.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe continuation application for United States Letters Patent referred to above for a trash container lid system by Allan M. Hodge, instant inventor, and Calvin P. Owen, Ser. No. 644,188, Filed Dec. 24, 1975 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,162, utilizes the same basic rotatable coupling as the instant invention. It has been found emperically, however, that considerable savings in construction costs and improvement in durability is effected by utilizing the slide members and slide tracks of the instant invention as opposed to rollers and roller tracks previously utilized.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a trash container lid system and, more particularly, to a trash container lid system having a stabilized slidably achieved partially open position.According to the invention, trash container lid system is provided which is coupled to a trash bin via lever arms rotatably coupled to the lid assembly at one end and rotatably coupled to the trash container at another end. The lever arms are mounted on the back areas of both the lid assembly and the trash bins so that as the lid is raised, the back portion of the lid drops, describing an arc about the point of coupling of the lever arms. In one embodiment, the lever arms are attached at the sides of the trash container and the lid section and, in another embodiment, the lever arms are attached at the backs of the trash container and the lid section.The lid assembly is preferably counterbalanced in the back portion thereof for reducing the amount of force necessary to raise and lower the lid and for holding the lid in a partially opened position in a stabilized condition. In both embodiments, an arcuate slide member is carried in the center section of the lid assembly on each side thereof, slidably engaging the top side surfaces of the trash container, preferably constructed of a low-friction bearing material such as glass-filled nylon. Raised portions of the slide tracks result in stops for holding the lid in a partially opened position. Upon dumping the container, whereby the entire assembly is inverted over the cab of a dump truck, the lid will fall in a vertical position with the pivot arms resting against upward stop extensions at the top of the back surface of the container.An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved trash container lid assembly.Another object of the invention is the provision of a trash container lid assembly having a stabilized partially opened position.A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved trash container lid assembly which is sealed against the container in a closed position.Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a trash container lid system which is extremely convenient in use and simple in construction.

Description

Claims

1. A trash container lid system for use with large industrial trash bins in which the lid is rotatably coupled to the trash bin by means of a lever arm and is slidably coupled to the trash bin by means of a roller on the lid, comprising:

a trash bin having an upper edge;

a lid section having a lower edge dimensioned for cooperation with said trash bin upper edge;

first and second lever arms, said first and second lever arms each being rotatably coupled at one end to first and second pivot points on said trash bin and rotatably coupled at their other end to third and fourth pivot points on said lid section;

first and second slide members carried by said lid section;

first and second slide tracks on the top of opposite edges of said trash bin, said first and second slide tracks slidably carrying said first and second slide members; and

a raised portion at the back termination of said first and second slide tracks, to stop the rearward movement of said lid section when it is raised rearwardly for the purpose of opening said bin to receive trash; whereby said lid can remain in a stabilized partially opened position.

2. The trash container lid system of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second slide members have arcuate sections contacting said first and second slide members, respectively.

3. The trash container lid system of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second slide tracks comprise first and second strips of low-friction bearing material.

4. The trash container lid system of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second pivot arms are coupled to opposite side portions of said trash bin and said lid section.

5. The trash container lid system of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second lever arms comprise first and second linkages, each rotatably coupled to first and second hinge brackets on the back surfaces of said trash bin and lid section, respectively.