Waste containers

A lid for an industrial waste container comprises a first lid section which is of relatively rigid, heavy construction and which is hinged to one side of the container. The first lid section defines an access opening to the container, which access opening is closed by a second lid section of relatively light weight. The second lid portion is hinged to the first lid section and a releasable catch is provided to releasably secure the first lid section in a closed position. Biasing means are provided to bias open the second lid section when the catch is released.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to improvements in waste containers, and relates 
particularly to improvements in industrial waste containers. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Large capacity industrial waste containers are commonly used around 
factories, warehouses, public buildings and other areas requiring waste 
disposal facilities. The commonly used containers are of substantially 
rectangular configuration having means on either end to enable a specially 
constructed vehicle to lift the container and dump is contents into the 
vehicle. 
BACKGROUND ART 
A common size of container provided for general use holds between two and 
four cubic yards of waste material. Such containers were originally 
designed with a hinged single closure lid, but because of the weight of 
the lid and inherent difficulties in opening a lid of such a size, a 
number of industrial waste containers are now provided with two, 
separately openable lids adjacent each other. 
However, such container lids are also relatively heavy and difficult to 
open and, further, such lids can be extremely dangerous if not adequately 
supported in the open position. Because of the manner by which the 
containers are emptied into a refuse vehicle, the lid or lids must be of a 
rigid construction which facilitates emptying of the container without 
damaging or buckling the lid. 
Industrial waste, food wastes and numerous other waste materials which are 
placed in waste containers can attract vermin and insects if the waste 
material is left exposed. Most constructions of waste containers at 
present used are provided with lids which do not completely seal the 
container and some lids are formed with openings at the corners thereof 
which allow access to the waste within the container thereby also allowing 
vermin and insects into the container. Such containers are therefore a 
health risk, particularly when used with food wastes and the like. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved 
construction of waste container which has a lid which is relatively easy 
to open and which, when closed, seals the container against flys and other 
insects and vermin. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved lid 
for a waste container which will withstand the rigours of mechanical 
handling and emptying of the containers and yet permits easy access to the 
container for disposal of waste into the container. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved 
construction of waste container lid which is relatively economical to 
produce. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container lid 
for a waste container comprising a first lid part having a peripheral edge 
portion to engage side edges of the container defining the container 
opening, the first lid part having means cooperating with hinge means on 
the container to pivotally attach the first lid part to the container, and 
a second lid part pivotally attached to the first lid part and adapted to 
close an access opening in the first lid part, the second lid part being 
formed of relatively light weight material permitting relatively easy 
opening of the second lid part, and means to maintain the second lid part 
in a closed position. 
In a preferred construction, the second lid part comprises a metal or 
fibreglass lid arranged to close over the access opening in the first lid 
part. A handle is provided on the second lid part, the handle being 
movable to release a catch which holds the second lid part in the closed 
position. Alternatively, a separate latch or locking means may be 
provided. 
It is also preferred that means are provided to assist the opening movement 
of the second lid part relatively to the first lid part. Such means may 
comprise a torsion bar engaged at its ends with the first and second lid 
parts. Alternatively a pneumatic, spring loaded arm which biases the 
second lid part to the open position may be provided. In another 
arrangement, a double acting pneumatic arm may operate as a shock absorber 
for both opening and closing movements. 
In order that the invention will be more clearly understood two embodiments 
thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a four cubic yard metal waste 
container 12 having a main metal lid 13 comprising a heavy metal frame 14 
carrying a metal sheet 16 forming the container lid. The frame 14 has at 
least two pivot brackets 17 which engage over a hinge pin 18 extending 
along a rear edge of the top of the container 12 to enable the metal lid 
13 to pivot about the hinge pin. 
A sealing strip 19 formed of rubber, synthetic plastic or similar material, 
is secured either to the lid frame 14 or to the upper edges of the 
container walls so as to seal the opening of the container 12 when the 
main lid 13 is in the closed position as illustrated. Suitable locking 
means 15, are provided on the main lid and the container to securely lock 
the lid 13 in the closed position. 
Access to the interior of the container 12 is provided through an access 
opening 20 closed by a second lid part 21 which is pivoted to the main lid 
13. The second lid part 21 is preferably formed of a fibreglass material 
with a peripheral metal frame 22 extending around the bottom edge thereof. 
The second lid part 21 is of rectangular plan and has substantially 
vertical front, rear and side walls 23, 24 and 26, respectively with a top 
wall extending from the front wall 23 downwardly to the rear wall 24. If 
desired the front wall 23 may have an upper section which slopes 
rearwardly to display a name, trade mark or the like on the sloping 
portion of the front wall. 
The second lid portion 21 is hinged to the main lid 13 by means of brackets 
27 extending upwardly from the main lid 13 and engaged by pins or lugs 28 
extending from the rear of the frame 22 of the second lid part 21. A 
sealing strip of rubber, synthetic plastic or the like may be provided 
around the edge of the frame 22 of the second lid part 21 to ensure a seal 
between the lid parts. A suitable latch 29 operated by a lever 31 on the 
front wall 23 of the second lid enables that lid to be secured in the 
closed position on the main lid 13. If desired, a handle 35 may have a 
releasable catch operated by a lifting movement of the handle 35 to enable 
the lid to be raised relatively easily without the necessity for the lever 
31 to be grasped and moved. 
One or more Z-shaped torsion bars 32 are attached between the first and 
second lid parts and are adapted to assist the opening and/or closing 
movement of the second lid part. Preferably, two torsion bars are provided 
and engage under brackets 34, 36 on the main and second lid parts, 
respectively to locate them in operative position. 
The lid construction of the present invention enables waste containers to 
be insect-proof and, at the same time, allows relatively easy access to 
the container for disposal of waste thereinto. The operation of the 
torsion bar, together with the releasable catch enables the second lid 
part to be opened with very little effort and without necessarily 
requiring actuation of a latch or the like by a users hands. 
In use of the container, and during emptying of the waste container 12, the 
locking means 15 securing the main lid 13 is released and a mechanized 
waste dumping vehicle engages with lifting sockets 38 at each side of the 
container and lifts the container to dump the waste into the vehicle 
through the main container opening in a manner which is known in the art. 
The second lid part 21, being held securely to the main lid part 13 by the 
latch 29 is protected from damage which may otherwise be caused by 
mishandling of the container, by the rigid construction of the main lid 
part. 
If desired, the locking means 15 securing the main lid part to the 
container may be automatically operated on insertion of the waste vehicle 
lifting mechanism into the lifting sockets 38 on the container. Thus, a 
suitable lever or cam 39 mounted on the wall of the containers 12 may be 
pivoted by the waste vehicle lifting arms to automatically release the 
locking means 15 securing the main lid part through a series of levers 40. 
A strong spring bias may be provided to ensure that the locking means 15 
is only released by exertion of a force on the lever or cam 39 equivalent 
to that provided by the use of the lifting arms. The spring biased lever 
or cam 39 may operate the locking means located internally of the 
container, as illustrated, or alternatively, a catch mechanism can be 
secured to the outside of the container. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modified 
construction of container lid for an industrial waste container 12. The 
lid of this embodiment comprises a peripheral rigid frame 42 formed of 
welded rectangular sectioned tubular frame members 43. The rigid frame 42 
is pivoted to the container body 44 by a pair of hinge brackets 46 
extending rearwardly of the frame 42 and cooperating with complementary 
brackets 47 on the container body 44 (most clearly shown in FIG. 4). 
The upper peripheral edge of the container body 44 is provided with a frame 
receiving ledge 48 onto which the rigid frame 42 sits when in the closed 
position. 
A secondary lid portion 49 is hinged to the rigid frame 42 to permit easy 
access to the interior of the container body 44. The secondary lid portion 
49 is formed with a substantially rectangular frame 51, of square 
cross-section tubular steel members. The frame 51 has a sheet metal lower 
panel 52 secured thereto, the lower panel 52 preferably being of 
galvanized sheet steel. A peripheral rubber seal 52 is engaged with the 
lower panel 52 and an upper panel 54 engages therewith and with the frame 
51, the edges of the upper panel 54 being inwardly turned to hold the seal 
53 in position. The rubber seal 53 is adapted to engage with the upper 
surface of the rigid frame 42 when the secondary lid portion 49 is in the 
closed position relative to the frame 42. The secondary lid portion 49 is 
hinged to the rigid frame 42 by means of three spaced hinges 56. The 
secondary lid portion 49 is urged into the open position by a pair of 
torsion bars 57 extending along the rear frame member of the rigid frame 
42, and supported in position by saddles 58. One end of each torsion bar 
57 extends a short distance along one of the side members of the rigid 
frame 42 while the other end of each torsion bar engages with a wear plate 
59 on the lower panel 52 of the secondary lid portion 49. The wear plate 
59 is provided with an angularly disposed flange portion 61 having a pair 
of slotted holes 62 therein through which the torsion bars 57 pass. The 
dimensions of the slotted holes 62 is such that, when the secondary lid 
portion 49 extends at 90.degree. to the rigid frame 42, the torsion bars 
57 engage the edges of the slotted holes 62 thus preventing further 
opening movement of the secondary lid portion 49. 
A catch 63 is fixed to the rigid frame 42 on the front frame member thereof 
and is adapted to be engaged by a locking bar 64 fixed to the secondary 
lid portion 49. The catch 63 comprises a simple, to position, over-centre 
catch which, when engaged by the locking bar 64, operates to secure the 
bar 64 to the catch to prevent opening of the secondary lid portion 49. 
The catch 63 may be released by a handle 66 pivotally mounted on the front 
of the rigid frame 42. If desired, a key lock may be provided to prevent 
unauthorized opening of the secondary lid portion 49. 
In use, when the catch 63 is released, the torsion bars 57 automatically 
open the secondary lid portion 49 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. 
However, there is sufficient tension in the torsion bars 57 so that, if 
the lid is opened to a 90.degree. position the torsion bars will maintain 
the lid in that open position. When the lid is closed so that the locking 
bar 64 engages with the catch 63, the lid is secured to the rigid frame 
42. 
The container 44 is emptied in the manner known in the art by means of a 
mechanical waste dumping vehicle engaging with lifting sockets 38 at each 
side of the container body 44. As the container is lifted and inverted the 
rigid frame 42 pivots about the hinge brackets 47 so that the combined 
frame and secondary lid portion opened to permit the contents of the 
container to be dumped into the waste collection vehicle. In normal 
operation, however, the rigid frame 42 is of such a weight that manual 
opening thereof is relatively difficult.