Patent Publication Number: US-9409708-B1

Title: Dumpster lid opening system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/894,336 filed May 14, 2013, which is, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of abandoned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/454,214 filed Apr. 24, 2012, which is, in turn a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/803,795 filed Jul. 8, 2010 and issued May 14, 2013 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,439,218, the subject matter of which applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     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. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     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. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated various embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a dumpster lid opening system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the system taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of a portion of the system taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a portion of the system taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of dumpster lid opening system constructed in accordance with the primary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged front elevational view of a portion of the system taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of the system taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the system illustrated in  FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of the final embodiment of a dumpster lid opening system constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a rear elevational view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged elevational view of the guide assembly taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 10  but with the cover removed. 
         FIG. 13  is a front elevational view taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 10  but with the pedal raised. 
         FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of the pedal taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a front elevational view of the pedal with the pedal depressed. 
         FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of the pedal taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a front elevational view of the pedal and related components similar to  FIG. 15  but constructed in accordance with a final alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective illustration of the pedal and related components shown in  FIG. 17 . 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1  thereof, 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 numeral  10  will be described. 
     The present invention, the dumpster lid opening system  10  is 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 container  14 . The container has a rectangular horizontal base plate  16 . The container has a rectangular vertical front wall  18 . The container has a rectangular vertical rear wall  20 . The container has parallel, generally rectangular, vertical first and second side walls  22 . The container has a top wall  24 . 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 top  26 . 
     A lid  30  is provided. A hinge  32  is 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 bar  36  is 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 extent  38 . The short extent is attached to the lid. The pivot bar has a long extent  40 . 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 housing  44  is provided. The actuator housing is separable from the container. The actuator housing is provided beneath the container adjacent the front wall. A trolley  46  is provided. The trolley is provided in the actuator housing. The trolley is movable between a top rest position and a bottom operational position. Side brackets  48  are provided. The side brackets are adapted to constrain and guide the movement of the trolley. A pedal  50  is 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 sprocket  52  is provided. A lower sprocket  54  is 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 connector  58  is 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 cable  60  and a chain  62 . The cable extends from the pivot bar then extending generally vertically adjacent to the rear wall then horizontally beneath the base plate. A counterweight  64  is provided. The counterweight is provided between the cable and the pivot bar. A tube  66  is 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 spring  70 . 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 receptor  74 . The horizontal receptor is provided below the container. The separation assembly includes a horizontal extension  76 . 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 connector  78 . 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 in  FIGS. 6 through 9 . In such embodiment there is illustrated a dumpster lid opening system  100  for 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 container  14  having a rectangular horizontal base plate  16  and a rectangular vertical front wall  18  and a rectangular vertical rear wall  20  and parallel, generally rectangular, vertical first and second side walls  22 . A top wall  24  extends 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 top  26 . 
     Provided next is a lid  30  with a hinge  32  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 covering the opening of the container and a raised vertical open orientation above the rear wall. 
     A pivot bar  36  is attached to the lid and is located parallel with and spaced from the side walls. The pivot bar has a short extent  38  attached to the lid and a long extent  40  extending upwardly and rearwardly from the short extent at an angle of about 30 degrees, plus or minus 10 percent. 
     An actuation assembly  104  is operatively coupled to the container. The actuation assembly includes a lower bar  106 . The lower bar has a square cross sectional configuration. The lower bar has fixed support brackets  108  rotatably securing the lower bar to the container beneath the base plate intermediate the side walls. The lower bar has a forward end  110  extending forwardly of the container. The lower bar a has rearward end  112  extending rearwardly of the container. A foot pedal  114  is 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 bar  118  in an inverted L-shaped configuration. The upper bar has a long leg  120  having a lower end  122  secured 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 leg  124  with a securement aperture  126 . 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 line  130 . 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 eyelet  132  is 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 counterweight  136  operatively 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 turnbuckle  138  operatively 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 in  FIGS. 10 through 16 . In such embodiment there is illustrated a dumpster lid opening system  200  for raising and lowering dumpster lids  30  hands free, and for retaining the lids in the raised orientation also hands free, solely through the pedal  204 . The raising and the lowering and the retaining being done in a safe, sanitary, convenient, and economical manner. 
     First provided is a container  14  having a rectangular horizontal base plate  16 , and a rectangular vertical front wall  18 , and a rectangular vertical rear wall  20 , and parallel, generally rectangular, and vertical first and second side walls  22 ). A top wall  24  extends 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 top  26 . 
     Provided next are two laterally spaced lids  30 . Each lid has an associated hinge  32  located 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 bar  36  is attached to each lid and is located parallel with and spaced inwardly from the side walls. The pivot bars each having a short extent  38  attached to the lids and a long extent  40  extending rearwardly from the short extents. 
     Next provided is an actuation assembly operatively coupled to the container. The actuation assembly includes a lower bar  206 . The lower bar has a square cross sectional configuration. The lower bar has a central axis with fixed support brackets  208  coupling the lower bar to the container beneath the base plate intermediate the side walls. The lower bar has a forward end  210  extending forwardly of the container. The lower bar has a rearward end  212  extending rearwardly of the container. A foot pedal  204  includes a pivot leg  205  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 central axis parallel with the side walls. 
     The actuation assembly also includes an upper connector  218  in an inverted L-shaped configuration. The upper connector has a long leg  220  with a lower end  222  secured 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 leg  224  with a securement aperture  226 . 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 lines  230 ). 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 assembly  232  is secured to the back plate  36  above the upper connector. The guide assembly has two rollers  236  and a third guide  238  adapted 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 turnbuckle  138  operatively 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 assembly  244  to 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 block  246  centrally coupled to the base plate. The fixed block has an outwardly facing recess  248 . A bolt  250  couples the peal to the pivot bar. The bolt has a free end  252  axially 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 system  300  as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . In such embodiment, the foot pedal  304  is operatively coupled to the lid or lids to be raised and lowered through a lower bar  302  as in the prior embodiments. Further, the foot pedal  304  includes the pivot leg  306  which 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 bristle  306 . 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. 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.