Locking container

The locking container is a selectively lockable container for the storage of used cooking oil and the like. The locking container includes a reservoir and both front and side locking mechanisms. The front and side locking mechanisms selectively retain a screen within the reservoir. The container is adapted for the disposal of oils, solvents, acids and various other liquid wastes. The pair of locking mechanisms allow access for storing the liquid waste in the container, but prevent unauthorized removal of the liquid waste. The container includes a lid to cover the screen, with the lid being secured by the front locking mechanism. The side locking mechanism locks the screen to the reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to locking storage receptacles. Particularly, the present invention relates to a locking container having a screen, the container being adapted for holding contaminated oils or other such liquids.

2. Description of the Related Art

Over the past two decades, there has been growing concern with regard to the disposal of waste materials of various types. There has been particular concern raised with respect to the disposal of oils, solvents, acids and various other liquid wastes. Recent federal and state legislation has mandated the recycling of both solid and liquid wastes, and further imposing restrictions upon the types of wastes, which may be stored in landfills.

In the recent past, containers or drums of used French fry and other fast food-type grease were only of interest to a small network of bio-fuel brewers, who would use the oil to power diesel-fueled automobiles. However, the price of the cooking oil, which can be converted into bio-fuel and used to power the engines, has skyrocketed almost 400 percent since 2000. Restaurants that once paid to have the used grease disposed of are now being paid almost $200 for one tank of used grease. “Green” business owners, who are interested in the recycling of their used grease, however, are now experiencing the problem of theft of their grease, presumably for usage in the production of biodiesel fuel by outside parties.

Restaurants have begun reporting thefts of used cooking oil worth thousands of dollars. Losses at one site alone have cost a company $3,700 in lost oil revenues in the last year. The containers for storing the waste liquid typically have screens, allowing the restaurant owners or others disposing of the liquid to lift the container lid and pour the grease through the filtering screens to be stored in the containers. However, without additional deterrents, thieves often arrive with a pumping truck and hose and pump the oil out of the special dumpsters and containers. The lid of the container is lifted and the screen is simply moved aside. Although, conventional padlocks and the like are well known in the art of securing dumpster lids, such locks are typically not tamper-resistant and can be easily cut from the container. Thus, a locking container solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The locking container is a selectively lockable container for the storage of used cooking oil and the like. The locking container includes a reservoir having a lower wall and at least one sidewall having an upper edge. The reservoir defines an open interior region for receiving used cooking oil or the like. A raised, substantially C-shaped sidewall is mounted on the upper edge of the at least one sidewall of the reservoir. The raised, substantially C-shaped sidewall defines an open front aligned with a front, upper edge of the at least one sidewall of the reservoir.

A lid is pivotally attached to the C-shaped sidewall by hinges or the like in order to selectively cover an open upper end and the open front thereof. A screen is removably received within the reservoir, and a side locking mechanism is provided for locking the screen within the reservoir.

The side locking mechanism is attached to the C-shaped sidewall. The side locking mechanism includes a cover attached to an exterior face of the C-shaped sidewall. The cover defines an open interior region for receiving a side locking member. The cover preferably has an open front end. The side locking member has a side passage formed therethrough for slidably receiving a side hitch-pin. The side locking member further includes a side lock for selectively and releasably engaging the side hitch-pin when the side hitch-pin is received within the side passage.

A hasp is secured to the screen at one end thereof, and a free end of the hasp is selectively and releasably locked to the side locking mechanism. The side hitch-pin engages the side locking member and the free end of the hasp. A front locking mechanism is further provided. The front locking mechanism includes a cover portion attached to a front edge of the lid. The cover portion defines an open interior region for receiving a front hitch-pin.

The front locking mechanism has a front locking member attached to the at least one sidewall adjacent the front, upper edge of the sidewall. The front locking member has a front passage formed therethrough for slidably receiving the front hitch-pin. The front locking member has a front lock for selectively and releasably engaging the front hitch-pin when the front hitch-pin is received within the front passage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the locking container includes a pair of locking mechanisms10,12for use with a reservoir or main container body14. A front locking mechanism10is used to lock the front of the reservoir14, and a side locking mechanism12is used for locking the side of the reservoir14. The locking mechanisms10,12are adapted for locking a reservoir14having a covering screen16and a hinged lid18.

It should be understood that the size, shape and relative dimensions of reservoir14(and the screen16and lid18thereof) shown in the drawings are for exemplary purposes only. The overall locking container includes a reservoir14, which defines an open interior region for receiving used cooking oil or the like. Reservoir14includes a lower wall and at least one sidewall having an upper edge, as shown.

The hinged lid18has a portion of the front lock mechanism10attached thereto in the form of a cover24. The base of the reservoir14, in front of the screen16, receives the front lock mechanism10. The side lock mechanism12is used to secure the screen16. In conventional storage containers, such as reservoir14, screens, such as screen16, sit upon an internal shelf that allows truck drivers or other operators to push the screen16back and out of the way to retrieve the waste oil within using a hose and a pump.

The side lock mechanism12includes a box cover26, which is attached to an exterior face of a raised sidewall28of the reservoir14, through welding or the like. The raised sidewall28extends around the reservoir14, forming a three-sided, substantially C-shaped enclosure30around the screen16. The lid18includes a front portion32, a top portion34, and a rear portion. The laterally opposed sides of the lid18are open so that when the lid18is closed, lid18and the enclosure30completely cover the screen16. The C-shaped, raised sidewall28and lid18may only cover the front portion of the container. As will be described in detail below, the purpose of the C-shaped, raised sidewall28and lid18is to-prevent access to an internal locking mechanism for the screen16. The raised, substantially C-shaped sidewall28is mounted on the upper edge of the at least one sidewall of the reservoir14, or is formed laterally by extensions of the reservoir sidewall, which are joined by a rear wall that rises upward from a top wall of the container. The raised, substantially C-shaped sidewall28defines an open front aligned with a front, upper edge of the at least one sidewall of the reservoir14. The lid18is pivotally attached to the raised, substantially C-shaped sidewall28by hinges or the like in order to selectively cover the open top and front of the C-shaped sidewall.

A slot or opening36is formed through the raised sidewall28. A hasp38is welded to the screen16. The hasp38extends through the opening36to position an eye of the hasp38in the center area of the box cover26. When the hasp38extends through the slot36, the screen16cannot be raised far enough to quickly suction or siphon the contents of the reservoir through a large diameter hose. The bar of a lock may be selectively inserted through the eye of the hasp38, and the box cover26of side locking mechanism12prevents tampering with the hasp38.

FIG. 3illustrates the front locking mechanism10. The front locking mechanism10includes both a front cover24and a locking member40. The front cover24releasably covers the locking member40. The front cover24includes a front face42, a pair of sidewalls44,46, and an upper portion48. The front cover24has an open rear that extends from the upper portion48to the bottom edges of the sidewalls44,46, and an open bottom for receiving the locking member40. The two sidewalls44,46preferably have matching angled or sloping edges50,52. The sloping edges50,52extend the length of the front face42.

A locking pin holder54is disposed inside the front cover24. The locking pin holder54has two exposed faces56,58. Face56is orthogonal to front face42, and face58is orthogonal to upper portion48. Face56has a hitch-pin hole60formed therethrough for receiving a hitch pin62. The hitch-pin62preferably has a substantially conically shaped head64which may either take the form of a full cone, or of the frustum of a cone, and a cylindrical body66. A rod67extends between the body66and the head64. The rod67is smaller in diameter than the body66and the base of the conically shaped head64, thus forming an annular groove or depression between the body66and the head64.

The body66has a pin locking hole68formed transversely through the body66adjacent the end opposite the head64. The hitch pin62is inserted in the hitch pin hole60in the locking pin holder54, and the pin locking hole68of body66is aligned with a locking hole70formed through face58of the locking pin holder54. A lock pin71is fed through the two holes70,68to secure the hitch pin62in the locking pin holder54.

The locking member40fits inside lock cover24when the lid18is closed on the reservoir14. The locking member40has a pair of sidewalls72,74having sloping edges76,78corresponding to the edges50,52of cover24. The locking member40has a bore82defined therein that opens at the bottom face80of the locking member40. A cylindrical tumbler lock84extends into the bore82. The tumbler lock84has a key end86that is exposed for inserting a key to unlock the tumbler lock84. It should be understood that the cylindrical tumbler lock84shown inFIG. 3is shown for exemplary purposes only. Further, it should be understood that the orientation of locking member40and cover24may be reversed; i.e., that the locking member40may be mounted on wall32(as shown inFIG. 1), and cover24may be mounted on wall14.

The tumbler lock84has a tumbler locking hole88extending transversely into its shell opposite the key end86. The tumbler locking hole88of the tumbler lock84aligns with a locking hole90formed through the inside face of the locking member40. A pin92is inserted through the two aligned holes90,88to secure the tumbler lock84in the locking member40. The locking member40has a second bore94defined therein parallel to the bore82that opens at the upper face of the locking member40. The two bores82and84are connected by a hole or slot. The tumbler lock84has a spring-biased latch pin extending therefrom through the hole of slot extending between the two bores82,94. When the locking member40is inserted into the cover24, the head64of hitch pin62depresses the latch pin until the groove67is aligned with the latch pin, which extends into the groove67because of the spring bias, locking the locking member40to the cover24, and hence the lid18to the reservoir. The key may be used to retract the latch pin from the groove67, thereby permitting the lid18to be raised.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the front box cover edges50,52and the locking member edges76,78are preferably formed with an angle so that the front locking mechanism10can be used on the reservoir14. The container lid18has hinges above and behind the front of the reservoir14. The angle of the front box cover edges50,52and the locking member edges76,78abut the reservoir14and the lid18, allowing the locking member40and the hitch pin62to connect correctly and properly align. Without the slope of the front box cover edges50,52and the locking member edges76,78of the front lock mechanism10, the cover24and the locking member40would not align properly.

FIG. 4illustrates the side lock mechanism12. The side lock mechanism12includes a substantially rectangular, box-shaped body96having a first bore98formed therethrough for receiving a side hitch-pin100. The side hitch-pin100has a substantially conically shaped head102and a cylindrical body104, with a side rod106mounted therebetween, similar to that described above with regard to hitch-pin62. Formed opposite the head102, the cylindrical body104curves or slightly bends to form an elbow bend108. A chain110is preferably attached to the opposite end of elbow bend108. The elbow bend108allows the side hitch-pin100to extend outwardly from the reservoir14, for ease in handling and use. The chain110is secured to the reservoir14through welding or the like.

Chain110acts as a tether for the side hitch-pin100. When the hitch-pin100is not engaged with body96, the chain110prevents hitch-pin100from being lost or misplaced. As shown, body96of the side lock mechanism12has a rectangular front face112that extends outward from the body96, allowing body96to be mounted or welded to the raised sidewall28of reservoir14to cover the front opening in the side lock box26. The front face112and body96have a second bore114defined therein that extends parallel to first bore98and communicates therewith through a slot, the second bore114receiving a side tubular tumbler lock116. The lock116includes a key end118that is exposed for receiving a key, similar to that described above with reference to tumbler lock84.

The opposed end120of side tumbler lock116has a side tumbler locking hole122formed transversely therein. The side tumbler lock116is received in the tubular aperture114formed in the body96. The side tumbler locking hole122aligns with a body locking hole formed through a wall126of the body96. Once the side tumbler lock116mates with tumbler aperture114, and the tumbler locking hole122is aligned with the body locking hole, a body securing pin128is fed through the aligned holes to secure the side tumbler lock116in the body96.

Similar to that described above with regard toFIG. 3, lock116has a spring-biased latch pin that extends through the slot from second bore114into first bore98. When hitch pin100is inserted through hasp38, which extends through slit36in raised sidewall28, and into first bore98, the conical head102depresses the latch pin of lock116back into the body of the lock116until the latch pin is aligned with the groove defined by rod106behind head102, when the spring bias pushes the latch pin into the groove to prevent forward or rearward movement of hitch pin100. The lock116is released using the key, which retracts the latch pin so that hitch pin100may be withdrawn. Side lock box26prevents tampering with the side lock mechanism12, thus locking the screen16.

It should be noted that the front lock mechanism10can be alternatively formed so that the angled edges50,52,76,78have ears or tabs extending therefrom, with respective bolt holes formed therethrough. The angled edges50,52,76,78can then be attached with stove bolts or other types of fasteners. Once, the front lock mechanism10is attached to the reservoir14and the lid18is closed, the front lock mechanism10will lock automatically. The two lock mechanisms10,12remain under the protective covers and are tamper-resistant. The hitch-pins62,100are not externally accessible once the lock mechanisms10,12are engaged. Thus, the hitch-pins62,100cannot be sawed off, and they lock automatically upon closing of the lid.

Additionally, it should be understood that the front and side lock mechanisms10,12can be used with any swinging or pivoting doors or lids of tanks, containers, or boxes, and that those shown in the Figures are shown for exemplary purposes only. The front and side lock mechanisms10,12may be cast from pig iron or similar materials and used in any type of swinging door system that must have considerable tamperproof capability. Further, the front lock mechanism10can be manufactured and cast with any angle built into the base of the unit. This allows the locks to be used on containers that have hinge points that are of different distances from the lock mechanism. Additionally, the key lock tumblers84,116can be keyed alike or differently with a master key, dependent upon the needs of the user.

In use, the customer may have access to the front lock mechanism10, but is not able to access what is in the tank after the oil is stored therein, because only the personnel from the company will have access to both locks to remove the oil. Access to the reservoir14is performed by unlocking the front lock mechanism10with a master key and then unlocking the side lock mechanism12with a master key. The screen16is then pushed back or lifted, which allows the company personnel to remove the oil with the vacuum truck.

The front lock mechanism10will automatically lock when the lid18is closed in order to prevent tampering. The locking mechanisms10,12can be welded into a box, pre-welded onto the side of a tank to prevent removal of the oil if the restaurant leaves the lid18open. The side lock mechanism12securing the screen16is unlocked with a master key and the hitch-pin100is removed manually through a hole in the rear of the security box.