Patent ID: 8043442
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: A47L,E05F,E05Y

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a container including an opening; a closure configured to selectively close the opening of the container; a stationary friction member including a mounting portion and a friction channel with a bottom portion and opposed sides, wherein the friction channel includes a friction surface located within a depth of the friction channel, the friction surface being defined by at least the bottom portion of the friction channel, and the mounting portion is configured to fixedly attach the stationary friction member with respect to the container such that the entire friction member, including the friction channel, is nonrotatable with respect to the container; an elongated flexible member including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be attached with respect to the closure and the second end is configured to be attached with respect to the container; and a biasing member configured to place the elongated flexible member under tension, wherein an intermediate portion of the elongated flexible member is configured to slidingly engage the bottom portion of the friction channel defining the friction surface while the friction channel remains stationary with respect to the container and the mounting portion of the stationary friction member, wherein a transverse cross section of the intermediate portion has a height that is less than the depth of the friction channel such that the intermediate portion is located entirely within the depth of the friction channel while engaging the bottom portion of the friction channel, wherein the intermediate portion is configured to slide relative to the bottom portion of the friction channel to create a frictional resistance force that acts as a counterbalance for the closure pivoting between an open orientation and a closed orientation with respect to the opening of the container, a frame supporting the container, wherein a bracket pivotally attaches the closure to the frame and wherein the second end of the elongated flexible member is configured to be attached with respect to the frame, and wherein the stationary friction member includes a locating device configured to engage the frame to provide a proper alignment between the stationary friction member and the frame, and wherein the locating device comprises a channel and the frame includes a flange configured to be received in the channel such that at least one aperture defined in the friction member aligns with at least one aperture defined in the frame.