Abstract:
The invention pertains to a foot operated latch and linkage means permitting hands-free access to a waste or recycling container. The latch includes a kick plate which is interlocked with a foot pedal whereby displacement of the kick plate permits release of the foot pedal to move from a latched position to an unlatched position, which pedal movement engages a linkage which opens a user access door in the container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Canadian Application No. 2,804,082 filed Jan. 29, 2013 and entitled CONTAINER FOR HANDS-FREE LATCH AND LINKAGE ACTIVATION FOR ACCESS. The entire contents of said application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to containers, and particularly refuse or recycling containers, which are resistant to animal access. The containers include a foot-activated latch and linkage which permits hands-free activation of a user access door and related chute opening into the container. Such containers have particular application in recreational areas where large animals, such as bears, endeavour to access any refuse within the container. Consequently, the basic structure is rugged, and able to withstand animal abuse while substantially eliminating access to the contents of the container. 
     Refuse or recycling containers often attract attention of animals, and consequently containers used in areas where wildlife is present must be able to withstand attempts by animals to gain access to refuse or other materials contained within the container. Various attempts to limit or prevent animal access have been employed, including weights, locks and concealed latches. However, such devices have also posed additional difficulties for users of the containers, inevitably requiring exact handling and manipulation by users. 
     One successful animal resistant container, manufactured by the Applicant herein under the trade-mark HID-A-BAG includes a latched hinged lid. The latch is recessed under a covering on the lid, and must be raised beneath the covering in order to release the lid. This requires a user to rotate his/her hand, palm upwards, to raise the latch within the enclosure. Many animals, particularly including bears, do not have a rotatable wrist and cannot operate such a latch. Nonetheless, such device requires manual manipulation by a user. 
     Many other latches, either hand or foot operated, involve a simple release movement such as depressing a lever pedal or push rod. The present invention is an interlocked foot-operated latch and linkage which opens a user access door, thereby leaving a user&#39;s hands free for access to the container. While foot-operated pedals and linkages are known to open container lids, such as a common kitchen waste basket, such devices are also operable by any downward pressure as may be exerted by an animal. The present invention provides a latch with an interlocked foot pedal, which inhibits simple downward pressure as may be exerted by an animal, thereby substantially preventing operation by an animal such as a bear. 
     The present invention provides a hands-free, foot-operable latch and linkage to open a container access door for a user, which is self-latching upon release of the foot pedal. 
     Further, the hands-free access for deposit of material into the container avoids manual contact with the container or user access door, thereby avoiding potential contamination of a user&#39;s hands from surfaces which may harbour bacteria or germs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container, embodying the latching system of the present invention, in a closed condition; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a container, embodying the latching system of the present invention, in a user access door in an open position, and the main service door open to illustrate the interior linkage; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the linkage with the user access door closed; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the linkage with the user access door open; 
         FIG. 5  is a detail of the lower latch linkage; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the upper linkage; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the foot pedal in latched position; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view of the foot pedal in operated position; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a latch spring; 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the latch and linkage in a closed position of the access door; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view of the latch and linkage in an open position of the access door; 
         FIG. 12  is an overlay of the latch and linkage in the closed and open positions of  FIGS. 10 and 11 ; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevation view of  FIG. 11  with the intermediate linkage replaced by a Bowden cable. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As may be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a refuse or recyclables container  1  is illustrated. The container has a user access door  2 , which rotates outwardly under operation of the latch and linkage of the present invention. A service door  3  may be opened to gain access to the enclosed storage compartment to permit placing and removal of a refuse/recyclables storage bag contained on a frame (not shown) or similar bin within the container. A separate latch (not shown) retains service door  3  in a closed position. 
     A latch recess  4  contains the activating mechanism for the linkage. As may be seen in  FIG. 5 , the latch activating mechanism includes a kick plate or bumper  6 , which is connected to a pair of support arms  8  affixed to pivot rod  10 . A spring retainer  12  mounted across support arms  8  rests against a torsion spring  14 , which biases the arms  8  and kick plate  6  towards the front of the container. From the aforesaid arrangement, as may be seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , kick plate  6  may be rotated rearwardly in the direction of arrows ‘A’ against the action of torsion spring  14 . Support arms  8  include a step lock  16 , which extends forwardly to support a pedal locking pin  18 , mounted on the underside of foot pedal  20 . A foot pedal  20  extends rearwardly into recess  4  and is attached to a pedal pivot  22 . A linkage actuating lever  24  extends vertically from the rear portion of foot pedal  20  at the pedal pivot  22 . As may be seen from  FIG. 8 , when kick plate  6  is pushed rearwardly by the toe of a user, pedal step lock  16  is disengaged from under pedal locking pin  18 , permitting foot pedal  20  to be depressed. As may again be seen in  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8 , depression of foot pedal  20  allows it to rotate about pedal pivot  22 , causing the upper end of actuating lever  24  to move accurately forward within the confines of the container. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the upper portion of the access door activation linkage is illustrated. Actuating lever  24  is rotationally connected at its distal end  25  to a generally horizontal lower link  26 , which in turn is rotationally connected at  27  to one end of a generally vertical pivoting lever  28 , which is pivotable about pivot  30 . Pivot  30  is fixed to the adjacent interior side wall of container  1 . The other, upper end of pivoting lever  28  is rotationally connected at  31  to a generally horizontal upper link  32 . Upper link  32  is pivotally connected at  33  to a bell crank type activating bracket  34 , which in turn is rigidly fastened to a rearward flap  36  of access door  2 . Front flap  38  of access door  2 , in conjunction with rear flap  36  forms a chute permitting refuse to be discharged into the interior of container  1 . Door  2 , comprising flaps  36  and  38 , pivots about a door hinge  40  which joins the door  2  to the container structure. Flaps  36  and  38  are oriented at an angle of approximately 120 degrees in one embodiment of the invention but the angle may vary depending on the usage. 
     A spring  42  connects above pivot  30  to pivoting lever  28  at one end, and at the other end  43  is connected to a forward portion of the adjacent side wall of container  1  to bias the upper end of pivoting lever  28  forwardly to normally maintain the access door  2  in a closed position. Alternatively a biasing spring may be connected below pivot  30 , operating in the opposite direction. Still further, both an upper spring  42  and a lower spring could be utilized for greater biasing force. 
     As may be seen from  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8 , in operation of the latch and linkage for hands-free access to the container, a user first manipulates the kick plate  6 , and rotating arms  8  rearwardly about pivot rod  10  in the direction of arrow A against the bias of torsion spring  14 , thereby disengaging pedal step lock  16  and permitting foot pedal  20  to be depressed. As previously noted, depression of foot pedal  20  allows it to rotate in the direction of arrow B about pedal pivot  22 , causing the upper end of actuating lever  24  to be moved forwardly. Referring now to  FIGS. 6 ,  10  to  12 , when the upper end of actuating lever  24  is moved forwardly, lower link  26 , connected to the lower end of pivoting lever  28 , moves that end of the lever  28  forwardly. Forward motion of the lower end of lever  28  pivots the lever about pivot  30  and moves the upper end of lever  28  rearwardly against the bias of spring  42 . The upper end of pivoting lever  28  is connected at  31  to upper link  32 , which is connected to and draws the activating bracket  34  rearwardly causing access door  2  to pivot into an open position about door hinge  40 . A user may then insert refuse into the chute area, defined by flaps  36  and  38 . 
     Release of the user&#39;s foot from pedal  20  allows biasing return spring  42  to draw the upper end of pivoting lever  28  forwardly, thereby closing access door  2 . The linkage moves to draw actuating lever  24  rearwardly, pivoting foot pedal  20  into the starting latched position. At the same time, torsion spring  14  returns support arms  8  and kick plate  6  to the start position, with pedal step lock  16  re-engaging pedal locking pin  18  to prevent opening of user door  2 . 
     The novel combination of interlocked kick plate  6  and foot pedal  20  establishes a lock or latch which prevents operation of the linkage and activation of the user access door until properly sequentially activated. Such interlock inhibits operation by animals, particularly bears. Furthermore, the constraining size or aperture of latch recess  4  prevents access by a wide foot, such as that of a bear, further inhibiting animal activation of the latch and linkage. 
     While the basic latch and linkage mechanism of embodiments of the invention have been set out above, it will be appreciated that the precise form of latching elements may be varied, while still maintaining the principle of interlocked kick plate and foot pedal before the linkage may be actuated to propel the user access door into an open position for hands-free access. For example, the kick plate may be positioned on a biased slider, rather than pivot. The linkage above the actuating lever may be replaced by a direct connection to the actuating bracket or the linkage may be provided by a Bowden cable  45  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The ends of the Bowden cable are fixed at anchors  46  and  47 . 
     A container embodying such a linkage may include a shield plate inside the container to prevent interference between bagged refuse and the access door linkage. As well, the front service door may be latched in any preferred form, or may employ a full hasp and lock. 
     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated, variations as would be understood by a person skilled in the art may be employed and are included within the scope of the invention as the appended claims are purposively construed.