Abstract:
Disclosed is a lid commonly used for attachment atop dumpsters, trash bins, or waste containers of the type having a circular cross-sectioned lid rod. The lid comprises a three-dimensional rectangular structure reinforced by contoured ribs running lengthwise and further having the capability of being hingedly operated at either the front end or the rear end of the lid. Co-axial, horizontally-oriented circular apertures are provided proximate the front end and rear end of each of the ribs. The apertures permit the hinged attachment of the lid to the waste containers. In this manner, an advantage accrues to a commercial user in that, after a certain amount of wear and tear, the lid may be removed from the waste container and the opposite aperture end may then be attached to the lid rod and used for another extended period of time.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present inventive concept relates to a specially designed reversibly-hinged mechanism for use in conjunction with a lid commonly attached atop a dumpster, garbage bin, or similar trash container having a horizontally-oriented circular cross-sectioned lid rod. More particularly, one end of the disclosed lid is capable of being detached and the opposite end thereupon attached to atop the container, utilizing the opposite hinged-enabled end of the lid for purposes of increased durability or recycling. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art, Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. 
     U.S. Published Patent Application #3011/0049149; (3 Mar. 3011). An automatic opening-and-closing lid for a garbage bin, the automatic opening-and-closing lid comprises a base member including an opening for user throwing trash into the bin therefrom and first and second annular flanges; a lid installed to the opening of the base member and able to pivot with respect to the base member; a control means installed to the base member and including a power source for power supply, a control panel, a driving member electrically connected to the control panel, a driven member and first and second sensor wires electrically connected to the power source, with the first and second sensor wires respectively disposed in the first and second annular flanges; and a sensing region formed proximal to the first and second sensor wires. 
     U.S. Published Patent Application #2013/0306637; (21 Nov. 2013). Certain types of garbage bins that allow for automated garbage collection are becoming increasingly prevalent. These bins come with a hinged lid that will open when the garbage bin is lifted by mechanical arms. This invention discloses a lock that can be attached to the lid of the garbage bin that will keep the lid closed when the bin is standing upright but will automatically release when the bin is tilted at an angle. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed inventive concept presents a lid that is commonly hingedly-attached atop one edge of rubbish containers such as dumpsters, trash bins, or garbage cans. The invention disclosed features an essentially three-dimensional rectangular structure reinforced by contoured ribs running lengthwise. The hinge portion is made functional at either the front end or rear end of the lid by co-axial circular apertures drilled through the ribs at the front end of the lid or through the rear end of the ribs at the rear end of the lid. Alternatively, the same basic lid structure may be made reversibly functional by a plurality of integral, co-axial barrel hinges attached at both ends of the lid. 
     By either of the two disclosed embodiments, an advantage accrues to a commercial user in that, after a certain amount of wear and tear, or strictly for recycling of the lid, it may be removed from the trash container and the opposite hinged end may then be attached and used for another extended period of time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the outer surface of the inner-hinged lid. 
         FIG. 2  presents a direct view of the first end of the inner-hinged lid, further showing each of the five ribs and alleys comprising the inner-hinged lid. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a direct view of the top, or plan view of the inner-hinged lid, including a cutaway view of the fifth rib of the inner-hinged lid, as seen from the perspective created by section line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the inner-hinged lid, as seen looking directly at the fifth rib of the inner-hinged lid and the right-side rim. 
         FIG. 5  shows a cutaway view of the inner-hinged lid, as seen from the perspective created by section line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a direct view of the top, or plan view of an outer-hinged lid. 
         FIG. 7  depicts a side view of the outer-hinged lid, as seen looking directly at the fifth rib. 
         FIG. 8  shows a cutaway view of the outer-hinged lid, as seen from the perspective created by section line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  presents a cutaway view of the outer-hinged lid, as seen from the perspective created by section line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The objects, features, and advantages of the inventive concept presented in this application are more readily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, totaling nine figures, show the basic components and functions of the preferred embodiment and at least one alternate embodiment. In the several figures, like reference numbers are used in each figure to correspond to the same component as may be depicted in other figures. 
     The discussion of the present inventive concept will be initiated with  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a perspective view of the outer surface of the preferred embodiment of an inner-hinged lid  1 . The inner-hinged lid  1  is shown being separated from a dumpster or trash bin for which it is designed to be attached. In this embodiment there are shown five ribs: a first rib  10 , a second rib  12 , a third rib  14 , a fourth rib  16 , and a fifth rib  18 . Each of the ribs  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  runs lengthwise (the longer dimension) of the inner-hinged lid  1 . The leftmost portion of the inner-hinged lid  1  is the designated front end of the inner-hinged lid  1 . The rightmost portion of the inner-hinged lid  1  is designated as the rear end. 
       FIG. 2  is a front-end view of the inner-hinged lid  1 , showing the front ends of each of the five ribs  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . Each rib  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , is essentially horizontally oriented, as is shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . There exists a slight peak of each rib  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  outer surface at the mid-length of each rib  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , as is exemplified at point  10   c  of the first rib  10 . 
     Each rib  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  is given a three-dimensional structure by virtue of left and right vertical walls  10   a  &amp;  10   b ,  12   a  &amp;  12   b ,  14   a  &amp;  14   b ,  16   a  &amp;  16   b ,  18   a  &amp;  18   b  (all the vertical walls are not labeled, due to limited space in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ).  FIG. 2  does show, for purposes of illustration, the respective left and right vertical walls of the second rib  12 , designated as  12   a , and  12   b ; and the respective left and right vertical walls of the fourth rib  16 , designated as  16   a ,  16   b . Further, between the left and right vertical walls of neighboring ribs, there exist four lengthwise floors:  11 ,  13 ,  15 , and  17 , as is illustrated in both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 1  also depicts a right flange  9  running orthogonally and parallel to the right wall  18   b  of the fifth rib  18 . The right flange  9  further bends downward to form a vertical rim  3 , said rim  3  being formed along the entire bottom perimeter of the inner-hinged lid  1 . Also, in viewing  FIG. 2 , there is shown a profile view of a left flange  8  which, similarly to the right flange  9 , runs orthogonally and parallel to the left wall of the first rib  10 . The left flange  8  bends downward to form the left portion of the perimetral rim  3 . 
     Shown in  FIG. 1  are the front ends of each of said ribs  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 , (generally depicted by sub-letter d in  FIG. 3 , and further, as exemplified by item  10   d  of  FIG. 1 ). The vertical walls  10   a  &amp;  10   b ,  12   a  &amp;  12   b ,  14   a  &amp;  14   b ,  16   a  &amp;  16   b ,  18   a  &amp;  18   b , and floors  11 ,  13 ,  15 , and  17 , transition to a downwardly arcuate shape culminating in a juncture with the perimetral rim  3  of the inner-hinged lid  1 . In viewing  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated the front ends of each of said vertical walls  10   a  &amp;  10   b ,  12   a  &amp;  12   b ,  14   a  &amp;  14   b ,  16   a  &amp;  16   b ,  18   a  &amp;  18   b  constructed with co-axial circular apertures  20  proximate the front end of each of said vertical walls  10   a  &amp;  10   b ,  12   a  &amp;  12   b ,  14   a  &amp;  14   b ,  16   a  &amp;  16   b ,  18   a  &amp;  18   b . Further, in  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated co-axial circular apertures  20  constructed proximate the rear end of each of said vertical walls  10   a  &amp;  10   b ,  12   a  &amp;  12   b ,  14   a  &amp;  14   b ,  16   a  &amp;  16   b ,  18   a  &amp;  18   b  (the rear ends generally depicted by sub-letter e, as exemplified by items  14   e  and  18   e  of  FIG. 3 ). 
       FIG. 3  depicts a top view of the inner-hinged lid  1 , again showing the five parallel ribs  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  and the corresponding floors  11 ,  13 ,  15 , and  17 . A sectional view of the fifth rib  18  is depicted, as indicated by section line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4  there is shown the configuration and profile of the left wall  18   b . The lengthwise flanges  8 ,  9  are further shown in  FIG. 3 . It is also noted that  FIG. 4  illustrates the mid-length peak  18   c  of the fifth rib  18 , the perimetral rim  3  of the inner-hinged lid  1 , the front end aperture  20 , and the rear end aperture  20  of the fifth rib  18 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts a cross-sectional view of the profile of the rear end of the ribs  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  of the inner-hinged lid  1  as seen from section line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . The essentially hollow interior of the ribs  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  and the positioning and alignment of the circular apertures  20  are both shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The structure of the inner-hinged lid  1  permits the front ends  10   d ,  12   d ,  14   d ,  16   d , and  18   d , of each of said ribs to accommodate a circular cross-sectioned lid rod of the type typically attached to an upper surface of a dumpster, garbage receptacle, or trash bin. The circular cross-sectioned lid rod is installed through the circular apertures  20  of said front ends  10   d ,  12   d ,  14   d ,  16   d , and  18   d . Once the lid rod is re-secured to the container, the lid rod, in alignment with the circular apertures  20  then provides a hinge axis for opening and closure of the inner-hinged lid  1 . 
     Conversely, the structure of the inner-hinged lid  1  also permits the rear ends  10   e    12   e ,  14   e ,  16   e , and  18   e  of each of said ribs to accommodate the circular cross-sectioned lid rod of the type typically integral to an upper surface of a dumpster, garbage receptacle, or trash bin to be inserted through the circular apertures  20  of said rear ends  10   e ,  12   e ,  14   e ,  16   e , and  18   e . The overall dimensions of the inner-hinged lid  1 , along with the number of ribs and circular apertures  20  may be increased, as necessary to correspond to larger sizes of waste containers. 
     In summary, after a certain amount of wear and tear, or strictly for recycling of the inner-hinged lid  1 , it may be removed and the opposite arrangement of circular apertures  20  may then be used, in conjunction with the circular cross-sectioned lid rod, to provide an essentially new hinge axis to function by virtue of the securement of the circular cross-sectioned lid rod to the opposite end of the inner-hinged lid  1 , at the option of a user of said dumpster, garbage receptacle, or trash bin. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the outer surface of an alternate embodiment of the inventive concept, referred to as an outer-hinged lid  41 . The outer-hinged lid  41  is shown separate from a dumpster, trash bin, or similar container for which it is designed to be attached. In this alternate embodiment, there are shown five ribs: a first rib  50 , a second rib  52 , a third rib  54 , a fourth rib  56 , and a fifth rib  58 . Each of the ribs  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  runs lengthwise (the longer dimension) of the outer-hinged lid  41  and further, comprise vertical walls and lengthwise floors  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54 ,  57 , similar to the inner-hinged lid  1 . In  FIG. 6 , the leftmost portion of the outer-hinged lid  41  is designated as the front end  44 . The rightmost portion (not visible) of the outer-hinged lid  41  is designated as the rear end  45 . 
     The outer-hinged lid  41  comprises by four symmetrically-spaced front barrel hinges  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d  at the front end  44  of each of said ribs  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 . The front barrel hinges  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d  are constructed with co-axial circular apertures  20  so as to allow the front barrel hinges  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d  to accommodate a circular cross-sectioned lid rod of the type typically attached to an upper surface of a dumpster, garbage receptacle, or similar container. The circular cross-sectioned lid rod may be fitted through the front barrel hinges  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d , and once the lid rod is re-secured to the container, the lid rod, in alignment with the front barrel hinges  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d  then provides a hinge axis for opening and closure of the outer-hinged lid  41 . The overall dimensions of the outer-hinged lid  41 , along with the number of front barrel hinges  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d  may be increased, as necessary to correspond to larger sizes of waste containers. 
     The outer-hinged lid  41  further comprises four symmetrically-spaced rear barrel hinges  62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c ,  62   d  at the rear ends  45  of each of said ribs  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 . The rear barrel hinges  62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c ,  62   d  are constructed with co-axial circular apertures  20  so as to allow the rear barrel hinges  62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c ,  62   d  to accommodate a circular cross-sectioned lid rod of the type typically attached to an upper surface of a dumpster, garbage receptacle, or similar container. 
     The circular cross-sectioned lid rod may alternatively be fitted through the rear barrel hinges  62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c ,  62   d , and once the lid rod is re-secured to the waste container, the lid rod, in alignment with the rear barrel hinges  62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c ,  62   d  then provides a hinge axis for opening and closure of the outer-hinged lid  41 . The overall dimensions of the outer-hinged lid  41 , along with the number of rear barrel hinges  62   a ,  62   b ,  62   c ,  62   d  may be increased, as necessary to correspond to larger sizes of waste containers. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the mid-length point of the outer-hinged lid  41 , as seen from section line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 6 . The essentially hollow interior of the ribs  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  exposes the inner surfaces  46  of the ribs, as is noted in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional front-end  44  view of the outer-hinged lid  41 , as seen from section line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 9  shows the front ends  44  of each of the five ribs  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 , in addition to showing a cross-section of the circular apertures  20  of each of the front barrel hinges  60   a ,  60   b ,  60   c ,  60   d . Each rib  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  is essentially horizontally oriented, as is shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . 
     While preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept have been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that such embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not as a limitation to the scope of the inventive concept. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions may occur or be suggested to those skilled in the art without departing from the intent, scope, and totality of this inventive concept. Such variations, changes, and substitutions may involve other features which are already known per se and which may be used instead of in combination with, or in addition to features already disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is intended that this inventive concept be inclusive of such variations, changes, and substitutions, and by no means limited by the scope of the claims presented herein.