Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a wheelie bin that has a foot pedal to open the lid thereby allowing a person to place their waste within the bin without touching the lid. The position of the foot pedal and pivotal linkages are mounted to the bin in a non-obstuctive manner.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a waste bin that has wheels. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for collecting household waste. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Household waste bins, also called wheelie bins, are supplied by local councils for household residents to store waste for disposal. These wheelie bins are often large with high sides to provide sufficient space to store waste between collection days. The bin has wheels to enable it to be easily moved to a place where the garbage trucks can collect the stored waste. The height of the bins can provide difficulties for some people when they need to open them by manually lifting the lid of the bin. Small children, aged and handicapped persons experience difficulties in opening lids of tall bins. As well, a person who has both their hands full are frustrated in opening the lid and need to free at least one hand to open the lid. The opening of a wheelie bin lid is a constant problem faced by many people. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a wheelie bin that can be opened without the need to manually lift the lid of the bin. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a waste bin including
       a container portion having a plurality of upright elongate side walls and a floor;   a lid pivotally mounted on a rearward side of the container portion;   a pair of wheels fixed to an axle, said axle is mounted on a rearward side of the container portion; and   a lid opener mounted to the container portion and the lid, said lid opener has a first elongate member that is pivotally mounted to a base portion of the container portion and extends rearwardly from adjacent a front wall of the container portion and is positioned below the floor of the container portion, said first elongate portion is pivotally connected to a second elongate member at or adjacent the rearward side of the container portion, said second elongate member extends upwardly and is pivotally mounted to the lid between the pivotal mounting of the lid to the container and the lid, wherein the downward movement of a front section of the first elongate member causes the second elongate member to move upwardly and open the lid.       
 
         [0009]    In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a waste bin including
       a container portion having a plurality of upright elongate side walls and a floor;   a lid pivotally mounted on a rearward side of the container portion;   a pair of wheels fixed to an axle, said axle is mounted on a rearward side of the container portion; and   a lid opener mountable to the container portion, wherein in use said lid opener has a first elongate member pivotally connected to a second elongate member, the first elongate member is pivotally mounted to a base portion of the container portion and extends rearwardly from adjacent a container portion front wall below the floor, said second elongate member extends upwardly and is pivotally mounted to the lid thereby enabling the lid to open when a front section of the first elongate member is moved downwardly causing the second elongate member to pivot upwards and open the lid.       
 
         [0014]    Preferably the first elongate member is substantially surrounded by a skirt. Said skirt preferably surrounds at least the front and sides of the container portion and below the floor of the container portion. Preferably the skirt surrounds the front and side walls and is integral with the walls of the container portion. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the first elongate member does not protrude from a front portion of the skirt that is aligned with the bin front wall. 
         [0016]    The skirt preferably has an aperture to provide access to the front section of the first elongate member. 
         [0017]    Preferably the first elongate member has a foot support on the front section of the first elongate member. 
         [0018]    The front section of the first elongate member preferably has a foot support for depressing the front section and to actuate opening of the lid. 
         [0019]    Preferably the foot support is maintained above the ground by a stop member. More preferably, the stop member is positioned below the foot support to stop downward movement of the foot support. 
         [0020]    The first elongate member is preferably pivotally mounted to the floor of the container portion and the pivot mounting is located between the foot support and a rear section of the first elongate member. 
         [0021]    Preferably, the rear section of the first elongate member is pivotally connected to a lower end of the second elongate member. The lid is preferably pivotally connected to a rearwardly disposed bin lid axle member about which the lid opens. The bin lid axle member preferably also serves as a bin handle for a person to grip and move the bin to another location. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the second elongate member is positioned against an outer face of a bin back wall. Preferably, the second elongate member is positioned adjacent a back wall of the container portion or within a recess in the back wall of the container portion. 
         [0023]    Preferably the lid opener is positioned substantially in the middle of the bin. 
         [0024]    The position of the lid opener preferably does not interfere with the emptying of the bin by a garbage collection vehicle. 
         [0025]    The bin is preferably shaped to receive the lid opener in an arrangement that protects the lid opener from damage by a lifting arm of a garbage collection vehicle. Preferably, the second elongate member is disposed centrally against the bin back wall. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment the outer surface of the back wall may be recessed and able to accommodate the second elongate member. 
         [0027]    Preferably, the position of the first and second elongate members and foot support does not obstruct or interfere with the use of the bin. In another embodiment the first and second elongate members and foot support are partially or substantially enclosed or hidden to prevent causing obstruction. The position the first and second elongate members and foot support is preferably discretely mounted to the bin. 
         [0028]    The bin preferably has two wheels joined together by an axle that extends transversely across a rear end of the underside of the floor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0029]    In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective side view of a wheelie bin according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the wheelie bin of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the wheelie bin in a closed lid position; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is cross sectional view of the wheelie bin showing the lid in the opened position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0034]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , there is shown a wheelie bin  10 . The wheelie bin  10  has a container portion  20 , wheels  14  and a lid opener  16 . The lid opener  16  allows the lid  18  of the bin  10  to be opened without the need to manually lift the lid  18 . 
         [0035]    The two wheels  14  are joined together by an axle  22  which is mounted at the lower rear end of the container portion  20 . The container portion  20  has a front wall  24 , a back wall  26 , side walls  28  and a floor  30 . The lid  18  is mounted to the container portion  20  in an arrangement whereby the lid  18  opens by pivoting about a hinge formed on the bin handle  32 . 
         [0036]    The lid opener  16  is attached to the wheelie bin  10  at the time of manufacture. The lid opener  16  has a first shaft  34  pivotally connected at mounting  42  to a second shaft  36 . The first shaft  34  is pivotally mounted by pivot  40  to the underside of the floor  30  of the container portion  20 . The first shaft  34  extends from adjacent the front wall  24  towards the back wall  26 . The second shaft  36  of the lid opener  16  extends in an upward direction towards the lid  18  and is pivotally mounted by pivot  46  to the lid  18 . 
         [0037]    The first shaft  34  has a foot support  38  positioned near the front wall of the container portion  20 . The foot support  38  and the first shaft  34  do not protrude from the container portion  20 . There is a skirt  48  that surrounds the front and two side walls of the container portion  20 . The skirt  48  extends below the container portion  20  and hides shaft  34  from view. A front portion  50  of skirt  48  has an aperture  52  through which the foot support  38  can be accessed to actuate the opening of the bin lid  18 . The foot support  38  is recessed beneath the container portion  20  so as not to trip or injure a person. 
         [0038]    There is also a stopper  54  located below the foot rest and connected to the skirt. The stopper  54  serves to stop the downward movement of the footrest when it is depressed thereby limiting the opening of the lid  18  and preventing the foot support  38  from hitting the ground and the first shaft  34  contacting the side of the container portion  20 . With preventing the foot support  38  from hitting the ground and by being stopped by the stopper  54 , positioning the wheelie bin  10  by pulling, pushing or dragging will not cause the foot support  38  or first shaft  34  to be damaged. 
         [0039]    The positioning and shape of the lid opener  16  relative to the container portion  20  is designed to protect the lid opener  16  from damage caused by the lifting arm of a garbage collection vehicle. Protection of the lid opener  16  is achieved because the first shaft  34  is substantially housed within the skirt  48  and the second shaft  36  is positioned close to the rear wall of the bin so that the handle  32  extends outermost. In another embodiment, the rear wall  26  has a recess within which the second shaft  36  is located. 
         [0040]    In use, a person can open the lid  18  of the wheelie bin  10  by placing their foot on the foot support  38  and depress downward which consequently through pivot connections raises the second shaft  36  which in turn opens the lid  18 . The height in which the lid  18  is raised is limited because the first shaft  34  and foot support  38  contact the stopper  54 . The height in which the lid  18  is raised allows a person to place rubbish and waste within the bin  10  but is prevented from allowing the lid  18  to open fully. The lid  18  can be opened up to approximately 70 to 90 degrees from the closed position. To close the lid  18 , the user lifts and withdraws their foot from the foot support  38 . 
       ADVANTAGES 
       [0041]    An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes providing a person with a way of opening the lid of a wheelie bin without the need to manually lift the lid of the bin. 
         [0042]    Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the wheelie bin is that the use of foot actuating opening of the lid avoids the need for a person to touch the bin and therefore lessens the chance of contaminating their hands. 
       VARIATIONS 
       [0043]    It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth. 
         [0044]    Throughout the description and claims this specification the word “comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising”, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.