Patent ID: 6295946
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: B65F,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising a container and a device for signaling that the container has been accessed, wherein the container includes a body for receiving contents through an opening formed in the container, a cover for enclosing the opening in the body of the container, and a hinged connection for joining the body and the cover so that the cover can rotate relative to the body, and structure for engagement by means for lifting the container to a collection area, and wherein the signaling device comprises:an attachment assembly which is slidingly coupled with the hinged connection of the container, for engaging portions of the hinged connection so that the attachment assembly can rotate relative to the hinged connection and so that the signaling device can rotate relative to the body and the cover;a flag extending from the attachment assembly and having a configuration capable of extending over the cover; anda stop extending from the attachment assembly and having a configuration capable of engaging the body of the container;wherein the flag and the stop are rotatable relative to the cover and the hinged connection, between a lowered position in which the flag is positioned over the cover and the stop is spaced from the body of the container, and a raised position in which the flag is placed in a generally vertical orientation and the stop is in contact with the body of the container, wherein when the container is inverted and subsequently returned to an upright position by the lifting means, gravity will move the flag and the stop from the raised position to the lowered position.