Abstract:
A roll-out cart includes a lid and a cart body supported on wheels. The cart body is comprised of a base wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls that cooperate with each other to define a cart interior. The lid is attached to the cart body with a hinge connection and is moveable between an open position to provide access to the cart interior and a closed position to prevent access to the cart interior. A latch is pivotally mounted to the lid to lock the lid in the closed position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/105,019, filed Oct. 13, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/167,953, filed Apr. 9, 2009. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to roll-out carts, such as are used for trash or recycling. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Known roll-out carts generally include front, rear and side walls extending upward from a perimeter of a bottom wall to define an interior. Wheels are rotatably mounted at a lower end of the rear wall. A handle extends from an upper end of the rear wall, such that the roll-out cart can be tipped back onto the wheels and pulled by the handle. A lid is hingeably connected to an upper edge of the rear wall. 
     Rodents or other animals often try to gain access to the contents of the carts. There have been various attempts to provide rodent-resistant lids, but the known lids have been inconvenient for the human users. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cart includes a cart body and a lid that is pivotally connected to the cart body. A latch is pivotally mounted to the lid to lock the lid in the closed position. 
     In one example, the cart body is comprised of a base wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls that cooperate with each other to define a cart interior. The lid is attached to the cart body with a hinge connection and is moveable between an open position to provide access to the cart interior and a closed position to prevent access to the cart interior. The latch is selectively pivotable between a latched position where the lid is securely locked to the cart body and an unlatched position where the latch disengages from the cart body to allow the lid to be moved to an open position. 
     In one example, the latch includes mount portions that are mounted within a flange formed within the lid. 
     In one example, the latch includes retaining portions that snap-fit under a flange on the front wall of the cart when in the latched position. 
     In one example, the latch includes a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion. The first retaining portion cooperates with the cart to hold the lid in the closed position until an unlatching force is exerted on the latch. The second retaining portion cooperates with the lid to hold the latch in an unlatched position until a re-latching force is exerted on the latch. 
     These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a roll-out cart according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the cart of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cart with a latch in a latched position on the cart. 
         FIG. 4  is a corresponding section view of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cart of  FIG. 1  with the latch in an unlatched position. 
         FIG. 6  is a corresponding section view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the cart of  FIG. 5  as the lid is moved toward an open position. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the cart of  FIG. 5  with the lid in a fully open position. 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of another example of a latch where the latch is in a latched position. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the cart of  FIG. 9  showing the latch in the latched position. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of the cart of  FIG. 9  showing the latch in the latched position. 
         FIG. 12  shows an isometric view of the cart of  FIG. 9  with the latch in an unlatched position. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the cart of  FIG. 9  with the latch in the unlatched position. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the cart of  FIG. 9  showing the latch moving along an unlocking path. 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged sectioned view of the latch of  FIG. 14  during movement along the unlocking path. 
         FIG. 16  is an isometric view of another example of a latch where the latch is in a latched position. 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the cart of  FIG. 16  showing the latch in the latched position. 
         FIG. 18  is a side view of the cart of  FIG. 16  showing the latch in the latched position. 
         FIG. 19  shows a bottom isometric view of a lid of the cart of  FIG. 16  with the latch in a locked position. 
         FIG. 20  is an isometric view of the cart of  FIG. 16  with the latch in the unlatched position. 
         FIG. 21  is a side view of the cart of  FIG. 16  showing the latch in the unlatched position. 
         FIG. 22  shows a bottom isometric view of the lid of the cart of  FIG. 16  with the latch in an unlatched position. 
         FIG. 23  is a side view of the cart of  FIG. 16  showing the latch moving along an unlocking path. 
         FIG. 24  is an enlarged sectioned view of the latch of  FIG. 23  during movement along the unlocking path. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a roll-out cart  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The roll-out cart  10  includes a base wall  12 , a front wall  16 , opposed side walls  18  and a rear wall (not visible) extending upwardly therefrom to define a cart interior. A lip  20  protrudes outwardly and then downwardly from upper edges of the front wall  16  and side walls  18 . A front flange  24  extends downwardly and outwardly from a front of the lip  20  and is reinforced by upper gussets  26  connected to the lip  20  and lower gussets  28  connected to the front wall  16 . The lip  20  is continuous with a pair of supports  32  extending upwardly and rearwardly of a rear of the cart  10 . A handle  34 , which is used to pull the cart  10 , is secured to the supports  32 . 
     A lid  40  is hingeably secured to the handle  34  by arms  42 . The lid  40  includes a peripheral flange  50  that rests on upper edges of the front wall  16  and side walls  18  when closed. An upper flange  52  protrudes forwardly from a forward end of the lid  40  and is spaced upwardly from the peripheral flange  50 . The upper flange  52  acts as a handle to assist in opening the lid  40 . 
     A latch  56  is pivotally secured to the lid  40 . The latch  56  includes a pair of spaced apart retaining portions  58  that snap-fit under the front flange  24  of the cart  10 . A handle portion  60  connects the two retaining portions  58 . 
     The cart  10  may include a pair of wheels  64  at a rearward portion of the cart  10 , below the handle  34 . When the cart  10  is tilted, the handle  34  can be pushed or pulled to roll the cart  10  on the wheels  64 . 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded view of the cart  10  of  FIG. 1 . The latch  56  includes a pair of hinge member portions  66  protruding inwardly toward each other. Side arm portions  68  of the latch  56  extend from the hinge member portions  66  and curve inward toward one another and extend toward the front of the cart  10  (relative to the latched position). Front arm portions  70  extend forward and downward from the side arm portions  68  to the retaining portions  58 , which curve inward and upward under the front flange  24  to retain the lid  40  in a closed and latched position. Forward arm portions  72  extend forward from the retaining portions  58  to the handle portion  60 , which connects the two forward arm portions  72 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cart  10  with the latch  56  in a latched position on the cart  10 .  FIG. 4  is a corresponding section view. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the latch  56  is pivotally secured to the lid  40  by inserting the hinge member portions  66  of the latch  56  into hinge openings  74  in the lid  40 . The side arm portions  68  extend over the peripheral flange  50  of the lid  40 . The front arm portions  70  extend outward and then downward over the front flange  24 . The retaining portions  58  protrude under the front flange  24  to retain the lid  40  in a latched, closed position. The forward arm portions  72  extend forward from the retaining portions  58  to the handle portion  60 , which connects the two forward arm portions  72 . The latch  56  may be made from steel, aluminum, plastic (extruded, injection molded, etc) and could be a solid rod or hollow rod to provide a resilient, deformable shape. An optional handle (not shown) could be provided over the handle portion  60  to provide a larger handle. The optional handle could also provide the retaining portions. 
     To release the latch  56 , the user can pull downward and outward on the handle portion  60 . The user can release the latch  56  with one hand, such as by leverage off the thumb on the front flange  24 . This pulls the retaining portions  58  out from under the front flange  24 . As the latch  56  is pivoted upwardly, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the latch  56  flexes outwardly over the upper flange  52  of the lid  40 , but the hinge member portions  66  stay in the openings  74 . As the user continues to lift handle portion  60 , the lid  40  opens to expose the interior of the cart  10 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The lid  40  can be opened further (using handle portion  60  or otherwise) until it hangs down from the handle  34  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Thus, the latch  56  can be operated with one hand and the lid  40  can be opened all with one motion and without changing grips or moving the hand. 
     To re-latch the lid  40 , the lid  40  is closed (optionally, by using handle portion  60 ). The latch  56  is then pivoted downwardly over the front flange  24  until the retaining portions  58  snap-fit under the front flange  24 , thereby retaining the lid  40  in a closed position. 
     Several benefits are achieved. First, as discussed above, the latch  56  and lid  40  can be fully operated with one hand in a single motion without changing grips. Further, because the latch  56  is pivotally attached to the lid  40 , rather than the body of the cart  10 , there are no holes through the side walls  18 . 
     Optionally, in areas where the carts  10  must be unlatched by the home owners before pickup, the position of the latch  56  is visible to route drivers, who can tell if the latch  56  is latched or not based upon whether it is in the up position ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ). The latch  56  could be painted red to enhance visibility. 
       FIGS. 9-15  show another example of a latch  156 . Latch  156  is similar to latch  56 ; however, the hinge member portions comprise a connection portion  180  that allows the latch  156  and associated handle portion  160  to be firmly held in an unlocked/unlatched position. This achieves an additional benefit of preventing the latch  156  from interfering with dumping of refuse into a garbage truck, which may occur with a more loosely hinged configuration such as that described above. 
     The latch  156  includes a pair of spaced apart retaining portions  158  that snap-fit under the front flange  24  of the cart  10 . The handle portion  160  connects the two retaining portions  158 . The latch  156  also includes side arm portions  168  that extend from the connection portion  180  toward the front of the cart  10 . Front arm portions  170  curve and extend forward and downward from the side arm portions  168  to the retaining portions  158 , which curve inward and upward under the front flange  24  to retain the lid  40  in a closed position. Forward arm portions  172  extend forward from the retaining portions  158  to the handle portion  160 , which connects the two forward arm portions  172 . 
     The connection portion  180  secures the latch  156  to the lid  40  adjacent the upper flange  52  near a front edge of the cart  10 . The connection portion  180  includes inward arm portions  182  that extend from respective side arm portions  168  inward toward each other. Transition portions  184  curve inwardly and rearwardly from the inward arm portions  182 . Base portions  186  extend inwardly toward each other from the transition portions  184 . The base portions  186  and the inward arm portions  182  are generally linear portions that extend in a direction across a width of the cart  10 . In one example, the inward arm portions  182  extend in a direction that is generally parallel to the base portion  186 , and which is generally parallel to the handle portion  160 . Due to the curved transition portions  184 , the inward arm portions  182  are offset from the base portions  186  in a direction toward the front of the cart  10  when in the locked position as shown in  FIG. 9 . When the latch  156  is in the unlocked position ( FIG. 12 ) the base portions  186  are offset from the inward arm portions  182  in a direction toward the front of the cart  10 . 
     The lid  40  includes upwardly extending mounting bosses  188  with openings  190  that receive the inward arm portions  182 . In the example shown, two (2) mounting bosses  188  (axially spaced part from each other) are associated with each inward arm portion  182 ; however, additional mounting bosses could also be used, or only one mounting boss  188  may be required. 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view showing the latch  156  in a latched position with the retaining portions  158  fitting in gripping engagement underneath the front flange  24 . In this example, the handle portion  160  includes an enlargement feature  194  that further facilitates unlatching and opening the lip  40 . The enlargement feature  194  could be an integrally formed or molded portion of the handle portion itself, or could comprises a separate handle component that is attached to the handle portion  160 . 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the cart  10  showing the latch  156  in the latched position.  FIG. 11  is a front view of the cart  10  showing the latch  156  in the latched position. 
       FIG. 12  shows an isometric view of the latch  156  in an unlocked position.  FIG. 13  is a side view of the cart  10  with the latch  156  in the unlocked position. As the latch  156  is unlatched, the latch  156  moves along an unlocking path  192  as indicated in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 15  provides an enlarged sectioned view of the latch  156  during movement along the unlocking path  192 . 
     Due to the offset between the base portions  186  and the inward arm portions  182 , as the latch  156  moves along the unlocking path  192 , the base portions  186  react against an upper surface  196  of the lid  40  in a resilient manner such that the a biasing force holds the latch  156  in the unlocked position once moved to the final unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 12 . The latch  156  and associated handle portion  160  remain in this position until a force is exerted on the handle portion  160  to return the latch  156  to the latched position as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIGS. 14-15  appear to show that the base portions  186  are going through, i.e. passing into and out of, the lid itself; however, the base portions  186  are merely bending or deflecting against the upper surface  196  of the lid  40 . As discussed above, the latch  156  (including the base portions  186 ) is made from a material that provides a resilient, deformable shape. Thus, this resilient material deflects and bends during movement of latch  156  along the unlocking path  192  which generates the biasing force that holds the handle portion  160  of the latch in the unlatched position. 
       FIGS. 16-24  show another example of a latch  256 . Latch  256  is similar to latch  156 ; however, latch  256  includes modified connection portion  280  that allows the latch  256  and associated handle portion  260  to be firmly held in an unlocked/unlatched position. This achieves the additional benefit of preventing the latch  256  from potential contact interference with garbage during cart dumping operations as that described above. 
     The latch  256  includes a pair of spaced apart retaining portions  258  that snap-fit under the front flange  24  of the cart  10 . The handle portion  260  connects the two retaining portions  258 . The latch  256  also includes side arm portions  268  that extend from the connection portion  280  toward the front of the cart  10 . Front arm portions  270  curve and extend forward and downward from the side arm portions  268  to the retaining portions  258 , which curve inward and upward under the front flange  24  to retain the lid  40  in a closed, latched, and locked position. Forward arm portions  272  extend forward from the retaining portions  258  to the handle portion  260 , which connects the two forward arm portions  272 . 
     The connection portion  280  secures the latch  256  to the lid  40  adjacent the upper flange  52  near a front edge of the cart  10 . The connection portion  280  includes inward arm portions  282  that extend from respective side arm portions  268  inward toward each other. Transition portions  284  curve inwardly and forwardly from the inward arm portions  282  when in the latched position ( FIG. 19 ) and curve inwardly and rearwardly from the inward arm portion  282  when in the unlatched position ( FIG. 22 ). Base portions  286  ( FIGS. 19 and 22 ) extend inwardly toward each other from the transition portions  284 . The base portions  286  and the inward arm portions  282  are generally linear portions that extend in a direction across a width of the cart  10 . In one example, the inward arm portions  282  extend in a direction that is generally parallel to the base portions  286 , and which is generally parallel to the handle portion  160 . Due to the curved transition portions  284 , the base portions  286  are offset from the inward arm portions  282  in a direction toward the front of the cart  10  when in the locked position ( FIG. 19 ). When in the unlocked position, the inward arm portions  282  are offset from the base portions  286  in a direction toward the front of the cart  10  ( FIG. 22 ). 
     The lid  40  includes a housing portion  300  ( FIG. 16 ) that extends upwardly from an upper surface  302  of the lid  40 , and which forms a corresponding recess  304  ( FIGS. 19 and 22 ) in a bottom surface  326  of the lid  40 . The housing portion  300  includes reduced portions  306  at opposing ends that including openings  308  that receive the inward arm portions  282 . The reduced portions  306  transition into a larger central area that houses the base portions  286  as shown in  FIGS. 19 and 22 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 19 and 22 , located within the recess  304  are gussets  310  that abut against distal ends of the base portions  286 . These gussets  310  are axially spaced apart from each other and serve to prevent the base portions  286  from moving too far inwardly, which due to the inward arm portions  282  could prevent the latch from rotating. 
       FIG. 16  is an isometric view showing the latch  256  in a latched position with the retaining portions  258  fitting in gripping engagement underneath the front flange  24 . In this example, the handle portion  260  includes an enlargement feature  294  as described above. 
       FIG. 17  is a front view of the cart  10  showing the latch  256  in the locked position and  FIG. 18  is a side view of the cart  10  showing the latch  256  in the locked position.  FIG. 19  is an isometric bottom view of the lid  40  showing the latch  256  in the locked position. The base portions  286  are in abutting contact with a front wall  312  of the recess  304 . 
       FIG. 20  is an isometric view of the latch  256  in the unlocked position and  FIG. 21  is a side view of the cart  10  with the latch  256  in the unlocked position.  FIG. 22  is an isometric bottom view of the lid  40  with the latch  256  in the unlocked position. The base portions  286  are in abutting contact with a rear wall  314  of the recess  304 . 
     As the latch  256  is unlatched, the latch  256  moves along an unlocking path  292  as indicated in  FIG. 23 .  FIG. 24  provides an enlarged sectioned view of the latch  256  during movement along the unlocking path  292 . 
     Due to the offset between the base portions  286  and the inward arm portions  282 , and due to the contact of the base portions  286  with walls of the recess  304 , as the latch  256  moves along the unlocking path  292  ( FIG. 23 ), the base portions  286  react and slide along the front wall  312  of the recess  304 , along a bottom wall  316  of the recess, and finally rest against the rear wall  314  of the recess in a resilient manner such that a biasing force holds the latch  256  in the unlocked position once moved to the final unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 21 . The latch  256  and associated handle portion  260  remain in this position until a force is exerted on the handle portion  260  to return the latch  256  to the latched position as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
       FIGS. 23-24  appear to show that the base portions  286  are going through, i.e. passing into and out of, a wall of the lid itself; however, the base portions  286  are merely bending or deflecting against the recess walls in a manner similar to that described above with regard to  FIGS. 9-15 . The resilient material of the latch  256  allows the latch  256  to deflect and bend during movement along the unlocking path  292  which generates the biasing force that holds the handle portion  260  of the latch in the unlatched position. 
     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. 
     Further, although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.