Abstract:
The present invention provides an automatic tethering device and assembly method for two wheeled container lids. Container lids are held snugly under a housing enclosure lid as it opens from a closed position then back to a closed position. Two wheeled containers with hinged lids are rolled into a housing enclosure underneath a housing enclosure lid automatically tethering to the housing enclosure lid. Two wheeled containers with hinged lids are then rolled away from the housing enclosure lid automatically detaching from the tether. The elevated rolling tethering assembly for the two wheeled container lid is press fit below the outer surface of the container lid  19.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation-In-Part of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/923,694 filed on Oct. 5, 2010 by Neal Warren Flewelling for: “Advanced household waste and recycling device and method” claiming the priority date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/278,149 filed on Oct. 5, 2009 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Wheeled containers having hinged lids are commonly used in many cities for waste separation and collection. Various sizes of containers allow for the waste to be quantified in terms of type and volume. They also allow the owner or user to utilize the wheel barrow type qualities when physically moving the filled containers to a pick up location. These containers then allow professional services to utilize lifting devices to empty the containers into the collection truck. 
         [0003]    Many homes and business store their own bins in housing enclosures that range from custom types to production horizontal sheds that are purpose built for this application of storing the wheeled containers described. These types of housing structures are mostly used for their organization and screening benefits. These types of housing enclosures also offer an element of protection from the environment, animals, and unwanted use. 
         [0004]    In addition to the storage and protection there is also technology available to be used within the storage housing that can enhance the operation of the described container lids and housing enclosure lid. This technology allows a user to simultaneously open container lids using a single foot pedal. This technology provides hands free access for depositing waste and recycling items. This described technology also provides a means of effectively attaching and detaching the container lids to the foot pedal operated storage housing. The tethering configuration maximizes the open angle of the two wheeled container lid when being lifted under the housing enclosure lid. However this technology requires manual attaching and detaching of the tethered connection between the housing enclosure lid and the container lid. 
         [0005]    It would be even more beneficial to simplify the procedure of attaching and dethatching the container lids to this type of housing enclosure technology. 
         [0006]    Any device or elements used to enhance this procedure would still have to be as good as or better than current tethering devices. A container lid tethering device for use within a two wheeled container housing enclosure is ideally: able to tether the container lids without having to lift the housing enclosure lid open when loading and tethering the container lids to the housing enclosure lid. A secure attachment between the container lid and housing enclosure lid when tethered for operation is required. The maximum amount of container lid open angle relevant to the housing enclosure lid is important for access to accommodate garbage bags passing through the opening created into the two wheeled container. Durability, functionality, cost effective parts and cost effective assembly method are also important for any practical application and cost justification. Ideally a production two wheeled container lid according to the present invention could be used as a conventional lid or be easily modified during production or by an end user. The desired tethering assembly would also ideally conform to the current American National Standard for waste containers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present invention allows the user to automatically attach and detach wheeled containers with hinged lids to a foot pedal operated housing enclosure lid. The containers are attached or detached by simply inserting the containers or removing them from the housing enclosure. The procedure according to the present invention essentially allows for the plugging in of containers or unplugging them from an outer storage housing. This procedure no longer requires a user to manually attach or detach the containers after rolling the containers into or out of place within the storage housing. The elements of the present invention also maximize the open angle of the container lid transitioning below the upwardly disposed single outer storage housing lid. A production molded two wheeled container lid that is modified according to the present invention can be used as a conventional lid or be easily modified during production or by an end user to operate according to the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  Is an enlarged left side sectional view of the auto tether lid lifting device in a closed position 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  Is an enlarged left side sectional view of the auto tether lid lifting device in an open position 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  Is a upper right front enlarged perspective partial sectional view of the auto lid tether assembly attached and detached from the housing enclosure lid 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  Is a upper left front perspective partial sectional view of working models reduced to practice according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1  an enlarged side sectional view of the auto tether lid lifting device in a closed position. The embodiment in this drawing shows the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  that is bow shaped mounted directly to the underside of the single outer lid  38  with fasteners  120 . The tip of the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  upper most surfaces is shown slightly higher than the bottom surface of roller  93  indicating the resilient flexibility. The semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  tip is also formed so as not to have a sharp or pointed end for safety. 
         [0013]    The semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  flexes slightly when the roller  93  automatically attached as the container  20  is pushed into position. When the two wheeled container  20  is rolled backwardly into position the roller  93  roles backwardly once contact is made with the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95 . The material for the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  must also be non-corrosive, light weight, and economically feasible. An example of the type of material that can be used with great success is aluminium ⅛″ flat bar of  6061  variety. This particular material retains its shape lifting roller  93  and the attached container lid  19 . Once attached the container lid  19  is held shut with the container lid  19  only lifting a minimal distance before the bottom of the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  touches the container lid  19  outer surfaces under the single outer lid  38  until activated. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 2  the same enlarged left side sectional view of the auto tether lid lifting device is shown in an open position. This drawing demonstrates how the roller  93  rolls backwardly further on the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  as the single outer lid and container lid  19  transitions together. This active movement of the roller  93  accommodates the differential in placement of the container lid  19  hinge and the housing enclosure lid  38  as they transition from a closed to open position. This interaction allows the container lid  19  to stay in close proximity to the underside of the housing enclosure lid  38  as it opens. 
         [0015]    The roller  93  pivots on projections  94  that extend centrally from each side of the roller  93 . Projections  94  are formed from having material removed from each side of the roller  93  when being turned on a lathe. A material used for the roller  93  can be oil impregnated nylon often used as bearing stock. The height of the projections from each side of the roller  93  is equal. The roller  93  length fits between the container lid  19  side wall  90  and side wall  91  formed into container lid  19 . The projections  94  then extend from the ends of roller  93  to penetrate the thickness of the container lid  19 . The first side wall  90  and second side wall  91  have inline location holes or knock outs formed that fit the projections  94  extending from each side of the roller  93 . The side wall  90  and side wall  91  are resilient enough to outwardly expand as the roller  93  is pressed into place until the projections  94  slip into the location hole. When both projections  94  are fit into side wall  90  and side wall  91  the side walls return to an equilibrium position. When the side walls are in equilibrium the width of the roller  93  provides space so that it can rotate freely between side wall  90  and sidewall  91 . The height of the roller  93  placed above the inner outer surface of the container lid  19  provides clearance for the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95 . The roller  93  also provides a centrally located handle on top of the container lid  19  when the two wheeled container is not tethered to the housing enclosure lid  38 . Without roller  93  installed the container lid functions as a conventional container lid  19 . The shape of the formed container lid provides water run off surface and a symmetrical structural configuration that adds rigidity to the generally square shaped container lid  19 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3  an embodiment is shown with a container  20  having a production molded container lid  19  that has provisions for mounting roller  93 . The provisions consisting of side wall  90  and side wall  91  formed into container lid  19 . Inline hole knock outs are also formed into the container lid  19  for holding projections  94  so that roller  93  is pivotally coupled. The placement of the roller  93  is below the outer surface of the container lid  19  conforming to the American National Standard for two wheeled waste containers. The placement of roller  93  is also above the central container lid  19  outer surface providing clearance for the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  for attaching and detaching. 
         [0017]    The ghosted line shows the container lid  19  in a closed position attached to the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  after being pushed into position. The container  20  shown in solid line is then shown pulled away from the single outer lid  38  automatically releasing or detaching from the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  rolling on wheels  52 . 
         [0018]    The space between the formed container lid  19  side wall  90  and side wall  91  provides the necessary clearance for the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  during operation from a closed to open position. This space below the outermost surface of the container lid  19  between side wall  90  and side wall  91  also provides clearance for the semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  when attaching and detaching the roller  93  for operation. The rearward width of this space allows for an off center approaches of the container  20  as it is rolled backwardly or pushed under the housing enclosure lid  38 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4  A user is shown accessing several containers  20  using foot pedal  27  while holding trash, recycling, and compost collection bags in both hands. The left side wall  12  is shown with a partial section removed in order to show wheel  52  on one of the containers  20 . Also shown foot pedal  27  is used to operate a housing enclosure lid  38  outfitted with three sets of the present invention tethering each of the container lids  19 . 
         [0020]    Housing enclosure lid  38  is shown in an open position with each semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  suspending each respective roller  93  that have rolled backwardly. A base  45  is also shown as part of the housing structure providing structural support for the housing enclosure. There are many variations of housing enclosures that are constructed for the purpose of storing these types of wheeled containers  20 . Some housing enclosures are available without bases or partial bases, still others provide cross pieces spanning between left side wall  12  and right side wall  13 . 
         [0021]    The height of the roller  93  allows for the lowest point of semi flexible and resilient safety hook  95  to clear the top of container lid  19 . This then allows for the container  20  to be rolled towards or away from this position on wheels  52 . 
         [0022]    Although the disclosure describes and illustrates various embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these particular embodiments. Many variations and modifications will now occur to those skilled in the art of two wheeled hinge lidded container manufacturing . For full definition of the scope of the invention, reference is to be made to the appended claims.