Dumpster lid opening system

A container has a base plate and front and rear and side walls. A lid with a hinge is located above the front and rear and side walls. A pivot bar is attached to the lid. The pivot bar has a long extent and a short extent attached to the lid. An actuation assembly is coupled to the container and includes a lower component and a pedal secured to the lower component. The pedal is adapted to be depressed to move the lower component. An upper component is secured to the lower component for reciprocating movement in a plane parallel with the rear wall. A line has a lower end coupled to the upper component and an upper end coupled to the pivot bar.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dumpster lid opening system and more particularly pertains to raising and lowering dumpster lids hands free, solely through foot pedals, the raising and lowering being done in a safe, sanitary, convenient and economic manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of lid opening systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved dumpster lid opening system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved dumpster lid opening system which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a dumpster lid opening system. A container has a base plate and front and rear and side walls. A lid with a hinge is located above the front and rear and side walls. A pivot bar is attached to a lid. The pivot bar has a long extent and a short extent attached to the lid. An actuation assembly is coupled to the container and includes a horizontal bar and a pedal secured to the horizontal bar. The pedal is adapted to be depressed to rotate the horizontal bar. An upper bar is secured to the horizontal bar for oscillating movement in a plane parallel with the rear wall. The upper bar is movable in an arcuate path toward and away from the side walls. A line has a lower end coupled to the upper bar and an upper end coupled to the pivot bar.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dumpster lid opening system which has all of the advantages of the prior art lid opening systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dumpster lid opening system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved dumpster lid opening system which is of durable and reliable constructions.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dumpster lid opening system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale, thereby making such dumpster lid opening system economically available.

Lastly, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a dumpster lid opening system for raising and lowering dumpster lids hands free, solely through foot pedals, the raising and lowering being done in a safe, sanitary, convenient and economic manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIG. 1thereof, a preferred embodiment of the new and improved dumpster lid opening system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

The present invention, the dumpster lid opening system10is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a container, a lid, a pivot bar, an actuator, a pedal and a connector. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

First provided is a container14. The container has a rectangular horizontal base plate16. The container has a rectangular vertical front wall18. The container has a rectangular vertical rear wall20. The container has parallel, generally rectangular, vertical first and second side walls22. The container has a top wall24. The top wall extends forwardly and upwardly from the top edge of the rear wall. The side walls and the front wall and the top wall each have an upper edge. The front and top walls have a height. The top wall height is greater than the front wall height. The upper edges of the side walls are angled downwardly from the upper edge of the top wall to the upper edge of the front wall. In this manner a chamber is defined between the walls. The chamber has an open top26.

A lid30is provided. A hinge32is also provided. The lid is located above the top wall intermediate the side walls. The lid is pivotably coupled to the hinge and the top wall. The lid is adapted to be pivoted between a lowered closed orientation and a raised vertical orientation. In the closed orientation, the lid covers the opening of the container. In the open orientation, the lid is provided above the rear wall.

A pivot bar36is provided. The pivot bar is attached to the lid. The pivot bar is located parallel with and spaced from the side walls. The pivot bar has a short extent38. The short extent is attached to the lid. The pivot bar has a long extent40. The long extent extends upwardly and rearwardly from the short extent at an angle of about 30 degrees, plus or minus 10 percent.

An actuator housing44is provided. The actuator housing is separable from the container. The actuator housing is provided beneath the container adjacent the front wall. A trolley46is provided. The trolley is provided in the actuator housing. The trolley is movable between a top rest position and a bottom operational position. Side brackets48are provided. The side brackets are adapted to constrain and guide the movement of the trolley. A pedal50is provided. The pedal is coupled to the trolley. The pedal is adapted to be depressed by a user to the bottom operational position. The pedal is adapted to be slid to a bottom operative position by a foot of the user. An upper sprocket52is provided. A lower sprocket54is also provided. The sprockets are rotatable in the housing. The upper sprocket is located above the top rest position of the pedal. The lower sprocket is located below the bottom operational position of the pedal. The actuator housing has a horizontal extension.

A flexible connector58is provided next. The flexible connector has an interior end. The interior end is attached to the trolley. The flexible connector has an exterior end. The exterior end is attached to the long extent of the pivot bar. The flexible connector is formed as a cable60and a chain62. The cable extends from the pivot bar then extending generally vertically adjacent to the rear wall then horizontally beneath the base plate. A counterweight64is provided. The counterweight is provided between the cable and the pivot bar. A tube66is provided. The tube extends vertically adjacent to the rear wall then horizontally beneath the base plate. The tube is adapted to guide the movement of the cable. The chain is coupled from the cable around the lower sprocket and then around the upper sprocket and then to the trolley. In this manner the depression of the pedal will move the connector. Also in this manner the lid will be raised. Release of the pedal will cause the lid to lower under the force of gravity and the trolley and pedal. In this manner the lid will rise to the upper position.

Further provided is a coil spring70. The coil spring couples the tube and the cable. In this manner the movement of the lid and connector upon depressing and releasing the pedal is cushioned.

Provided last is a separation assembly. The separation assembly includes a horizontal receptor74. The horizontal receptor is provided below the container. The separation assembly includes a horizontal extension76. The horizontal extension is provided on the actuator housing. The horizontal extension is removably received in the horizontal receptor. The separation assembly also includes a connector78. The connector is provided in a central extent of the cable. In this manner the housing and chain and a portion of the cable are allowed to be separated from the container.

Reference in now had to the primary embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 6 through 9. In such embodiment there is illustrated a dumpster lid opening system100for raising and lowering dumpster lids hands free, solely through a foot pedal. The raising and lowering is done in a safe, sanitary, convenient and economic manner. First provided is a container14having a rectangular horizontal base plate16and a rectangular vertical front wall18and a rectangular vertical rear wall20and parallel, generally rectangular, vertical first and second side walls22. A top wall24extends forwardly and upwardly from the rear wall. The side walls and the front wall and the top wall each having an upper edge with the front and top walls having a height. The top wall height is greater than the front wall height. The upper edges of the side walls are angled downwardly from the upper edge of the top wall to the upper edge of the front wall. The walls define a chamber there between with an open top26.

Provided next is a lid30with a hinge32located above the top wall intermediate the side walls. The lid is pivotably coupled to the hinge and the top wall. The lid is adapted to be pivoted between a lowered closed orientation covering the opening of the container and a raised vertical open orientation above the rear wall.

A pivot bar36is attached to the lid and is located parallel with and spaced from the side walls. The pivot bar has a short extent38attached to the lid and a long extent40extending upwardly and rearwardly from the short extent at an angle of about 30 degrees, plus or minus 10 percent.

An actuation assembly104is operatively coupled to the container. The actuation assembly includes a lower bar106. The lower bar has a square cross sectional configuration. The lower bar has fixed support brackets108rotatably securing the lower bar to the container beneath the base plate intermediate the side walls. The lower bar has a forward end110extending forwardly of the container. The lower bar a has rearward end112extending rearwardly of the container. A foot pedal114is secured to the horizontal bar adjacent to the forward end. The foot pedal is adapted to be depressed by a user to rotate the horizontal bar about the axis of rotation parallel with the side walls.

The actuation assembly also includes an upper bar118in an inverted L-shaped configuration. The upper bar has a long leg120having a lower end122secured to the horizontal bar adjacent to the rearward end for oscillating movement in a plane adjacent to and parallel with the rear wall. The upper bar has a short leg124with a securement aperture126. The upper bar and the securement aperture being movable in an arcuate path of travel toward and away from the side walls.

The actuation assembly also includes a flexible line130. The flexible line has a lower end operatively coupled to the securement aperture of the upper bar. The flexible line has an upper end operatively coupled to the long extent of the pivot bar. A fixedly positioned guide eyelet132is secured to the back plate above the upper bar. The guide eyelet is adapted to slidably receive the flexible line for allowing oscillating movement of the flexible line below the guide eyelet and axial movement of the flexible line above the guide eyelet.

Lastly provided are control components. The control components including a counterweight136operatively coupled to the flexible line between the guide eyelet and the pivot bar. The counterweight is adapted to counter balance the lid. The control components also include a turnbuckle138operatively coupled to the flexible line between the guide eyelet and the pivot bar. The turnbuckle is adapted to vary the effective length of the flexible line.

Reference is now has to the primary and preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 10 through 16. In such embodiment there is illustrated a dumpster lid opening system200for raising and lowering dumpster lids30hands free, and for retaining the lids in the raised orientation also hands free, solely through the pedal204. The raising and the lowering and the retaining being done in a safe, sanitary, convenient, and economical manner.

First provided is a container14having a rectangular horizontal base plate16, and a rectangular vertical front wall18, and a rectangular vertical rear wall20, and parallel, generally rectangular, and vertical first and second side walls22). A top wall24extends forwardly and upwardly from the rear wall. The side walls and the front wall and the top wall each have an upper edge with the front and top walls each having a height. The top wall height is greater than the front wall height. The upper edges of the side walls are angled downwardly from the upper edge of the top wall to the upper edge of the front wall. The walls define a chamber there between with an open top26.

Provided next are two laterally spaced lids30. Each lid has an associated hinge32located above the top wall intermediate the side walls. Each of the lids is pivotably coupled to the hinges and the top wall. Each of the lids is adapted to be pivoted between a lowered closed orientation covering the opening of the container and a raised vertical open orientation above the rear wall.

A pivot bar36is attached to each lid and is located parallel with and spaced inwardly from the side walls. The pivot bars each having a short extent38attached to the lids and a long extent40extending rearwardly from the short extents.

Next provided is an actuation assembly operatively coupled to the container. The actuation assembly includes a lower bar206. The lower bar has a square cross sectional configuration. The lower bar has a central axis with fixed support brackets208coupling the lower bar to the container beneath the base plate intermediate the side walls. The lower bar has a forward end210extending forwardly of the container. The lower bar has a rearward end212extending rearwardly of the container. A foot pedal204includes a pivot leg205secured to the horizontal bar adjacent to the forward end. The foot pedal is adapted to be depressed by a user to rotate the horizontal bar about the central axis parallel with the side walls.

The actuation assembly also includes an upper connector218in an inverted L-shaped configuration. The upper connector has a long leg220with a lower end222secured to the horizontal bar adjacent to the rearward end for oscillating movement in a plane adjacent to and parallel with the rear wall. The upper connector has a short leg224with a securement aperture226. The upper connector is movable in an arcuate path of travel toward and away from the side walls. The actuation assembly also includes two flexible lines230). Each of the flexible lines has a lower end operatively coupled to the securement apertures of the upper connector. Each of the flexible lines has an upper end operatively coupled to the long extent of an associated pivot bar.

A fixedly positioned guide assembly232is secured to the back plate36above the upper connector. The guide assembly has two rollers236and a third guide238adapted to slidably receive the flexible lines for allowing oscillating movement of the flexible line below the guide assembly and axial movement of the flexible line above the guide assembly.

Control components are next provided and include a turnbuckle138operatively coupled to the flexible line between the guide assembly and the pivot bar. The turnbuckle is adapted to vary the effective length of the flexible line.

Lastly provided is a retention assembly244to hold the pedal in a lowered depressed orientation after initial depression by a user from a raised elevated orientation. The pedal is adapted to be released from the lower depressed orientation upon a subsequent movement by a user while in the lowered depressed orientation. The retention assembly includes a fixed block246centrally coupled to the base plate. The fixed block has an outwardly facing recess248. A bolt250couples the peal to the pivot bar. The bolt has a free end252axially shiftable inwardly to an orientation in the recess to retain the lids up. The bolt is axially shiftable outwardly to an orientation out of the recess to allow movement of the lid downwardly under the weight of the lids.

The final alternate embodiment of the invention is a system300as illustrated inFIG. 17. In such embodiment, the foot pedal304is operatively coupled to the lid or lids to be raised and lowered through a lower bar302as in the prior embodiments. Further, the foot pedal304includes the pivot leg306which rotatably couples the foot pedal and the lower bar. The foot pedal is adapted to be depressed by a user to rotate the horizontal bar about the central axis parallel with the side walls. The lower bar at the forward end includes a plug with forwardly extending flexible bristle306. Such flexible bristles are of a length from 3 inches to 5 inches. Such flexible bristles function act as a detector during operation of the system. More specifically, during operation, a truck will couple to the system for lifting and tipping the container form refuse removal. Forward portions of the system including the foot pedal will approach the windshield of the truck and, in some instances, the windshield will be inadvertently contacted and cracked. The bristles when contacting the windshield will constitute a warning to an operator to reverse the lifting and tipping movement of the container and thus preclude cracking the windshield of the truck.