Patent ID: 7607552
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: B65F

Abstract:
1. Waste container for mechanical waste collection comprising a generally rectangular body ( 1 ) with a closed bottom end and an open upper end, a lid ( 2 ) correspondingly shaped to fit onto therein of said open upper end of the waste container for a tight closure thereof whilst in a closed condition, a foot operated lever ( 3 ) being provided at the bottom of the container with pivotal connections ( 4 ) at the rear of either one of the lateral sides of the waste container and an upwardly linearly projecting pedal ( 5 ) at the frontal side thereof, said foot operated lever ( 3 ) being pivotally connected at an intermediate location ( 6 ) thereof to upwardly extending connecting rods ( 7 ) at each one of the lateral sides of the waste container, said upwardly extending connecting rods ( 7 ) thereby transmitting movement of said foot operated lever ( 3 ) to a lid control device, characterised by that said lid control device enabling a 90° swinging movement of said lid ( 2 ) during opening or closing operation thereof, said lid control device having located in each one of the lateral sides of the waste container a first frontal rod ( 10 ) extending from a frontal point of pivotal connection ( 12 ) at a frontal protrusion ( 2 a ) of said lid ( 2 ) to a rear point of pivotal connection ( 8 ) to said upwardly extending connecting rod ( 7 ), said first frontal rod ( 10 ) being further rotatably mounted onto the body of the waste container ( 1 ) at a fixed junction ( 9 ) in proximity to said rear point of pivotal connection ( 8 ) to said upwardly extending connecting rod ( 7 ) and a second rear rod ( 11 ), said rear rod ( 11 ) having an L section configuration extending from an upper point of pivotal connection ( 13 ) at a rear protrusion ( 2 b ) of said lid ( 2 ) to a lower point of pivotal connection ( 14 ) to a rear protrusion ( 1 a ) of said waste container ( 1 ), said fixed junction ( 9 ) of the frontal rod ( 10 ) to the body of the waste container ( 1 ) acting as a fulcrum for the rotation of said frontal rod ( 10 ), wherein a downward movement of connecting rod ( 7 ) in response to a single instantaneous pressing of said pedal ( 5 ) of the foot operated lever ( 3 ) exerts a pulling action on said frontal rod ( 10 ) and causes a clockwise rotation thereof and a swinging movement of said lid ( 2 ) simultaneously around said fixed junction ( 9 ) of said frontal rod ( 10 ) to the body of the waste container ( 1 ) and around said upper point of pivotal connection ( 13 ) and said lower point of pivotal connection ( 14 ) of said rear rod ( 11 ), a compression spring ( 18 ) being provided for a decelerated return of said lid ( 2 ) during a predetermined final arc of the anticlockwise rotation thereof prior to arriving at the closed position, one end of said compression spring ( 18 ) being mounted onto said rear rod ( 11 ) of the lid control device and another end of said compression spring ( 18 ) being free to come in contact with the rear surface of the body of the waste container ( 1 ) during said predetermined final arc of the anticlockwise rotation of the lid prior to arriving at the closed position, said final arc of angular displacement of the lid being equivalent to approximately two tenths of the overall angular displacement thereof, said compression spring ( 18 ) thereby decelerating and averting possible accidents due to interposing of a hand or head in the course of closing of the lid, said waste container further including means of securing said lid ( 2 ) at the fully opened condition to facilitate mechanical waste collection operations.