Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to locking devices for waste containers, particularly residential or commercial waste containers. The present invention also relates to a waste container having a locking device which keeps the container closed when a sudden jerking or jarring, such as ground impact, is applied on the container, but allows the container to be opened during the dumping or tipping process. The locking device contains an impact detecting paddle or rolling member to provide a mechanical impact sensor that can detect whether the container has been unintendedly tipped over in the forward direction or whether it is being tipped over, such as for dumping.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/332,762, filed May 6, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to locking devices for waste containers, particularly residential or commercial waste containers. The present invention also relates to a waste container having a locking device which keeps the container closed when a sudden jerking or jarring, such as ground impact, is applied on the container, but allows the container to be opened during the dumping or tipping process. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Household refuse such as trash, recycling items, and/or yard waste can typically be deposited in a container. Such containers can include a lid for concealing the household refuse collected therein, as well as to prevent wild animals or people from accessing the household refuse and also protecting the trash from the elements. Typically, the lid is removably coupled to the container in a friction-fit manner to allow the lid to be easily removed from the container. However, when the lid is not secured, the contents can be undesirably expelled from the container, such as if the container is toppled over such as by wind or animals. 
         [0004]    Various lid locking devices have been implemented for refuse containers. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0020436 to Matuschek discloses a lock that opens automatically by tipping of a refuse container as the result of gravity. In addition, the lock may also be opened by rotating a locking cylinder, the locking cylinder disposed in the lock housing. This lock, however, may also be opened when the refuse container falls forward accidentally, e.g. by wind or animals. Such accidental knock-over of the refuse container also expels its contents, which is undesirable. 
         [0005]    Therefore a need exists for a locking device that improves upon prior locking devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is the object of the present invention to further develop a refuse container lock in a manner advantageous to the user. 
         [0007]    The object is fulfilled by means of the invention set forth in the claims. 
         [0008]    As a result of the inventive solution, the locking cylinder is no longer incorporated in the counterlocking part. The counterlocking part can thus be of simpler configuration. It becomes possible to dispense with an independent housing, in which a locking cylinder is incorporated in the counterlocking part, because the locking cylinder is situated inside the lock housing. 
         [0009]    As a result of the inventive solution, intervention in the mechanism that has proven itself in the lock can be kept to a minimum. The latch head receives an additional arm, on which the locking cam acts. The latch tail can therefore be rotated by a gravity-powered opening slide upon tipping of the lock housing. With the lock housing in the upright position, the latch tail is kept in a position that holds the latch in the closed position. When the locking cylinder is actuated, the latch head is pivoted with respect to the latch tail. It thereby reaches a release position in which the lid of the upright-standing refuse container can be opened. The elastic return force can be generated by a pressure spring connected with the latch body. The return force holds a stop of the latch head against a counterstop of the latch tail. When opening is actuated by tipping of the refuse container lock, the latch behaves like a rigid body. The pre-compressed spring, however, is compromised if the refuse container lock is intended to be opened by actuation of the locking cylinder. Then the latch head pivots with respect to the latch tail, which is held stationary. In a preferred embodiment, the refuse container lock has an actuation slide. The slide is moved upon actuation of the locking cylinder by the locking cam. The locking cam thus acts directly on the actuation arm. The actuation arm moves at an angle to a locking arm on whose end a bolt stud can be situated that, in closed position, catches behind the hook of the counterlocking part. In a preferred embodiment, the two arms of the latch head run essentially diagonally to one another. The pivot axis about which the latch rotates upon tipping of the lock housing is preferably connected immovably with the lock housing. The two bearing shells, which configure the lock housing, can comprise bearing openings for this purpose. The pivot axis about which the latch head can pivot with respect to the latch tail, is preferably in the immediate vicinity of the rotary axis. The actuation slide and opening slide can be movable in parallel with one another. Both slides are fed through the lock housing. For this purpose, the two housing shells can comprise guide ribs or guide grooves. The actuation slide can be directly impacted by the eccentric cam. The actuation slide is preferably displaced against the force of a return spring. The actuation slide can comprise a pocket into which the free end of the actuation arm engages. 
         [0010]    In certain embodiments, an impact detecting paddle or rolling member may be detachably mounted in a recess of the shell. The paddle or rolling member provides a mechanical impact sensor that can detect whether the container has been unintendedly tipped over in the forward direction or whether it is being tipped over, such as for dumping. When the container is unintentionally knocked over, the jerking or jarring action, such as ground impact, on the container actuates the paddle or rolling member such that it is detached or partially detached from the recess. In that detached or partially detached position, the paddle or rolling member blocks the opening slide from sliding upwardly into the release position. The paddle or rolling member prevents opening of the container, when the waste container falls over and impacts the ground in any direction. 
         [0011]    Further aspects of the invention are disclosed in the Figures and are described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The accompanying drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification. The drawings, together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments and methods given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are given the same or analogous reference numerals and wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows an assembled refuse container lock with associated counterlocking part, in a perspective view; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows the refuse container lock in opened state in the closed position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a section along the line in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows a view as in  FIG. 2  but with locking cylinder pivoted into an opening position, so that the latch assumes a release position; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows a section along the line V-V in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a view according to  FIG. 2  but with the latch in a gravity-powered release position in which an opening slide has shifted within the lock; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  shows a first exploded view of the refuse container lock; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a second exploded view of the refuse container lock; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  shows an exploded view of the components of the locking cylinder; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of the opening slide containing a ledge and the shell containing a paddle; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  shows a view of the inside of the shell containing a paddle; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  shows a cross-section of the opening slide and shell where the paddle is inside the recess; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  shows a cross-section of the opening slide and shell where the paddle is rotated away from the recess and lodges on the ledge; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  shows an exploded view of the opening slide containing a cavity and the shell containing a rolling member; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  shows a view of the inside of the shell containing a rolling member; 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  shows a cross-section of the opening slide and shell where the rolling member is inside the recess; 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  shows a cross-section of the opening slide and shell where the rolling member is rolls away from the recess and wedges in the cavity; 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  shows a fragmentary perspective view of a container with a locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention attached to the outside thereof; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  shows a fragmentary perspective view of a container with a locking device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention attached to the inside thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    For purposes of the following description, certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The characterizations of various components and orientations described herein as being “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upright”, “right”, “left”, “side”, “top”, or “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made and are relative characterizations only based upon the particular position or orientation of a given component as illustrated. These terms shall not be regarded as limiting the invention. The words “downward” and “upward” refer to position in a vertical direction relative to a geometric center of the apparatus of the present invention and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 18 , a container  400  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The container  400  may be a refuse container such as a household refuse container for various items including trash, recycling, and/or yard waste. However, the container  400  may be used to accommodate any type of article and may have any shape. For example, the container  400  may be cylindrical or polygonal. In addition, the container  400  may be made of various materials, such as plastic, metal, or a combination thereof. The container  400  includes a lid  402  and a containment body  404 . The containment body  404  defines an interior volume for holding, e.g., waste. The lid  402  may be pivotally mounted to the containment body though one or more couplings, such as a hinge. The containment body  404  may include a plurality of side walls  406 . The lid  402  and the containment body  404  of container  400  may be made of the same or different materials. In an exemplary embodiment, wheels (not shown) may be coupled to the containment body  404  to aid in transport of the container  400 . 
         [0034]    The lock housing  1 , as best shown in  FIG. 1 , contains two housing shells  28 ,  29  made of plastic or other suitable material. The housing  1  can be attached to the outside a side wall  406 , preferably a front side wall, of a refuse container  400 , e.g. by fasteners or an adhesive attaching the shell  29  to the refuse container. Although  FIG. 18  shows the lock housing  1  attached to the outside of the container  400 , it is also possible to attach the lock housing  1  inside the container  400 , as shown in  FIG. 19 , with just the cylinder core  41  accessible through a hole  408  in the side wall  406  of the container  400 . The hole  408  allows a key  43  to be inserted into the key slot of the cylinder core  41  to open the container  400 . When mounted on the inside of the container, as illustration in  FIG. 19 , the shell  28  may be attached to the inside of the side wall  406 . Alternatively, a cover  27  (as best shown in  FIG. 5 ) may be attached, as an intermediate layer, to the inside of the side wall  406  and the shell  28  is then attached to the cover  27 . 
         [0035]    The shell  28  has a locking cylinder bearing opening  33 , into which a cylinder housing  42  may be inserted. The cylinder bearing opening  33  is preferably not round in shape, so that the cylinder housing  42  may be non-rotatably held in the opening  33 . Situated in a housing cavity of the cylinder housing  42  is a cylinder  10  containing a cylinder core  41  which cannot be rotated with respect to the cylinder housing  42  when the key  43  is not inserted therein. The cylinder core  41  does not allow itself to rotate with respect to the cylinder housing  42  until the key  43  has been inserted into the key slot of the cylinder core  41 . 
         [0036]    A locking cam  11  is situated on an end portion of the cylinder core  41  opposite the key slot. The locking cam  11  forms a lobe  302  that non-rotatably connects to the cylinder core  41 . The cylinder housing  42  has grooves  44  into which a retaining clamp  34  can be inserted, the clamp holding the cylinder housing  42  on the bearing shell  28 . 
         [0037]    The two shells  28 ,  29  have guide ribs  37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40  in their bearing cavities. Between the guide ribs  37  and  38  there is an opening slide  18 , which is slidable inside the lock housing  1  in a direction parallel to the guide ribs  37  and  38  (up and down in the figures). Parallel to the motion direction of the opening slide  18 , an actuation slide  14  is mounted between the guide ribs  39  and  40 , and is slidable in a direction parallel to the motion direction of the opening slide  18 . 
         [0038]    The opening slide  18  is freely slidable within the lock housing  1 , which means that it may slide from an upright position to a tipped position by gravity acting on it during tipping of the lock housing  1 . The opening slide  18  is in the upright position when the lock housing  1  is upright, and in the tipped position when the lock housing  1  is inverted, e.g. when the refuse container in tipped for dumping. The actuation slide  14  is held in a defined operating position by a spring  15  supported on the lock housing  1 . The spring biasing the actuation slide  14  toward the locking cam. A bottom side  14 ′ of the actuation slide  14  is supported on the locking cam  11 . The spring  15  situated opposite the bottom side  14 ′ pushes the actuation slide  14  against the locking cam  11 . 
         [0039]    A latch  2  is located inside the lock housing  1 , and contains a latch tail  4  and a latch head  3 . The latch tail  4  contains a rotary axis  32  a top portion of the latch tail  4 . The rotary axis  32  includes two bearing stumps that protrude in opposite directions, one toward the shell  28  and one toward the other shell  29 . The bearing stumps engage in bearing openings  30 ,  31  of the two housing shells  28 ,  29 , so that the latch  2  is rotatably mounted in the lock housing  1 . 
         [0040]    The latch tail  4  and the latch head  3  are pivotably joined together by a pivot axis  5 . Contained in a bearing pocket of the latch tail  4  is a pressure spring  8 , which exerts a torque on the latch head  3 . As a result, a stop  19  of the latch head  3  is spring-impacted adjacent to a counterstop  20  of the latch tail  4 . In a non-impacted state the latch  2  thus behaves as a rigid body in which the latch head  3  is rigidly connected with the latch tail  4 . However, if torque is exerted on the latch head  3  exceeding the spring tension of the spring  8 , then the latch head  3  can pivot with respect to the latch tail  4 . 
         [0041]    A control cam  21 , protruding from the latch tail  4  in the direction of shell  28 , engages in a control recess  22  of the broad side of the opening slide  18 . The control recess  22  has two control curves  23 ,  24  situated opposite one another, which are configured in such a way that they hold the latch tail  4  therebetween in the closed position illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The position shown in  FIG. 2  is an upright position of the lock. If the lock is brought into the tipped position, then the opening slide  18  slides upwardly, by gravity, into the release position indicated in  FIG. 6 . At the same time, the control cam  21  slides along the control curve  23 , which is configured so that the latch  2 , particularly the latch tail  4  and the latch head  3 , thereby pivots on the pivot axis  5 . The sliding of the opening slide  18  allows the lock to be opened by gravity when the lock housing  1  is tipped into an inverted (tipped) position. 
         [0042]    The latch head  3  has a locking arm  6 , which extends at an angle of approximately 180 degrees to the latch tail  4 . A locking stud  9  is situated at the end of the locking arm  6 , which protrudes out of the lock housing  1 . 
         [0043]    A counterlocking part  12  may be affixed on the lid  402  of the container  400 . As illustrated in  FIG. 18 , when the lock housing  1  is mounted on the outside of the container  400 , counterlocking part  12  may also be mounted on the outside of the lid; and as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , when the lock housing  1  is mounted on the inside of the container  400 , counterlocking part  12  is also mounted on the inside of the lid. The counterlocking part  12  may be a bent, stamped piece, e.g., a steel sheet, which can be affixed on the refuse container lid  402  with the aid of bolts or rivets protruding through the fastening openings. The counterlocking part  12  forms a hook  13 , which when in the closed position engages the locking stud  9 . The hook  13  is preferably configured as a catch-hook, which include a section that, on locking of the refuse container lid  402 , interacts with the locking stud  9  in such a way to allow the latch head  3  to move with respect to the stationary latch tail  4 . When the spring  8  is compressed, the latch head  3  moves away from the hook  13  to allow the locking stud  9  to disengage the hook  13 . When the spring  8  is released, the latch head  3  moves toward the hood  13  to allow the locking stud  9  to be situated inside the hook  13  to lock the counterlocking part  12  to the lock housing  1 . 
         [0044]    The latch head  3  has a laterally downward-protruding actuation arm  7 , which is configured to include an actuation  7 ′. A shoulder  17  of the actuation slide  14 , which is situated opposite a bottom side  14 ′, also cooperates with the actuation  7 ′. The length of the actuation slide  14  or the angle formed by the actuation arm  7  with respect to the locking arm  6 , is configured in such a way that rotation of the locking cylinder  10 , by rotation of the key  43 , from the closed position shown in  FIG. 2  to the release position shown in  FIG. 4  leads to pivoting of the latch head  3  with respect to the latch tail  4 , such that the pivot angle is sufficient to bring the locking stud  9  out of engagement with the hook  13 . To accomplish this, the locking cylinder  10  is rotated, preferably approximately 180 degrees, to allow the lobe  302  of the locking cam  11  to locate below the bottom side  14 ′ of the actuation slide and pushed it in an upward position. In the process, the spring  15  is compressed, the shoulder  17  pushes on the actuation  7 ′ upwardly causing the latch head  3  to pivot relative to the latch tail  4 . To revert to the closed position shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking cylinder  10  may be rotated to move the lobe  302  of the locking cam  11  away from the bottom side  14 ′ of the actuation slide  14  to bring the latch head  3  back into its locked position. The operation of the actuation arm  7  and the actuation slide allows the lock to be opened with a key. 
         [0045]    The actuation slide  14  configures a pocket  16  on its top side opposite the bottom side  14 ′. The floor of the pocket  16  forms the shoulder  17 , which interacts with the actuation  7 ′ of the actuation arm  7 . The end of the actuation arm  7 , which configures the actuation  7 ′, is here contiguous with a side wall of the pocket  16 . The angle-shaped edge of the pocket  16  has a centering pin  300  on which the spring  15  is placed. The guide rib  39  has an angle-shaped recess through which the actuation arm  7  protrudes. 
         [0046]    The opening slide  18  includes a recess  46 , which is flanked by a protrusion  45  and into which the bearing portion of the latch  2  can dip when the opening slide  18  is switched into the release position shown in  FIG. 6 . The protrusion  45  here follows may be located proximate to the pivoting actuation arm  7 , so that protrusion  45 , in theory, may acting on the actuation arm  7  for purpose of switching the latch head  3  into its release position. 
         [0047]    With the refuse container lock, the blocking elements  25 ,  26  in patent DE 10 2007 039 351 A1 were already described, and therefore reference is made here to those comments. These blocking elements for operating errors  25 ,  26  have the task of ensuring that the opening slide  18  is switched by gravitational power into the release position only when the lock housing is tipped about a particular tipping axis. If the lock housing is rotated about another axis, then the blocking elements for operating errors  25 ,  26  are switched into a blocked position by gravitational force, so that the opening slide  18  cannot move into the release position. The opening slide  18  is switched by gravitational force within the lock housing  1  only when the lock housing  1  is moved about the tipping axis from the upright position shown in  FIG. 2  to the tipped position seen in  FIG. 6 . The resulting pivoting of the latch  2  has the effect that the latch head  3  assumes the release position shown in  FIG. 6 . If the lock is moved back into the upright position, then gravity slides the opening slide  18  back into the position shown in  FIG. 2 . In this position the latch head  3  can pivot with respect to the latch tail  4  either by locking of the refuse container lid  402  or by key actuation. 
         [0048]    The cam  21 ′, extending from a bottom tip of the latch tail  4  in the direction of the shell  28  forms a blocking cam, which is in contact with a portion of the control curve  24  of the opening slide  18  in the operating positions illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . When the opening slide is slid into the operating position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the blocking cam  21 ′ detaches from the control curve  24 , so that the latch  2  can rotate about the axis  32 . On switching the opening slide  18  back into the position shown in  FIG. 2 or 4 , the blocking cam  21 ′ impacts the opening slide  18  when the opening slide  18  is pivoted back into its position illustrated I  FIG. 2 or 4 . 
         [0049]    Reference number  47  or  47 ′ refers to recessed rings on the housing or on the latch head  3 . A gasket ring may be clipped into these recessed rings  47  or  47 ′ to protect the inside of the housing  1  from dust. The pleated hose then surrounds the portion of the locking arm  6  extending out of the housing opening. 
         [0050]    The portion of the counterlocking part  12  that configures the hook  13  forms two border portions  48 ′ that run parallel to one another. These two border portions  48 ′ end in continuations  48 , which dip into a reception shaft  49  of the housing  1  when the refuse container lid  402  closes. The two lateral walls  49 ′ of the reception shaft run parallel to one another. With the refuse container in closed position, the borders portions  48 ′ are adjacent to the lateral walls  49 ′. The corners of the continuations  48  or of the reception shaft  49  are preferably rounded. On locking the refuse container lid  402 , the rounded corners can meet one another when the continuations  48  enter the reception shaft  49 . 
         [0051]    In certain embodiments, the lock may include an impact detection paddle  100  mounted on the shell  29  of the housing  1 . The paddle  100  provides a mechanical impact sensor that can detect whether the lock has been unintendedly tipped over in a forward direction (a direction away from the shell  29  and toward the shell  27 ) or whether it is being tipped over, such as for dumping. In an exemplary embodiment, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 10-13 , the paddle  100  is preferably a rectangular bar mounted in a recess  110  on an inner surface  112  of the shell  29 . The recess  110  is preferably formed as an indentation in the inner surface  112  of the shell  29 . The indentation may protrude outwardly on the outer surface  114  of the shell  29 . The paddle  100  is preferably mounted within the recess  110 , such that an inner facing surface of the paddle  100  is substantially flush with the inner surface  112  of the shell  29  when in the non-impact position. The paddle contains a first end  102  that is pivotally mounted, such as by pins received in associated detents as best shown in  FIG. 10 , at a top  116  of the recess  110  (when the lock is in its upright position), and a second end  104  that is detachably mounted to a bottom  118  of the recess  110 . The paddle  100  preferably fits loosely within the recess  110  so that, when the second end  104  of the paddle  100  is detached from the recess  110  it can freely swing without friction against the sides of the recess  110 . 
         [0052]    The first end  102  may be mounted in the recess with a rotatable coupling, such as a hinge, to allow the paddle  100  to pivot on its first end  102 . The second end  104  of the paddle  100  is detachably retained in the recess by a bias force to prevent the paddle  100  from rotating away and detaching from the recess unless a force greater than the bias force is introduced. In an exemplary embodiment, the bias force to keep the paddle from rotating away and detach from the lever is magnetic. In that case, a magnet  106  may be placed at or about the bottom  118  of the recess and a ferromagnetic material is used for the paddle  100  to magnetically hold the paddle  100  and prevent paddle  100  from rotating away from the recess  110 . Alternatively, the magnet  106  may be placed in the recess  110  and a ferromagnetic material placed on the second end  104  of the paddle  100  (if the paddle  100  is not made of a ferromagnetic material). A person skilled in the art would understand that various ways are available to magnetically attach the second end  104  of the paddle  110  to the recess  110 . For example, although the magnet is shown in the drawings as being located in the recess  110 , the magnet  106  may be on the paddle  100 , as long as the magnet  106  is capable of holding the second end  104  in the recess  110 . When a force greater than the magnetic force is introduced, such as a sudden jerk or jarring, e.g., by ground impact, the second end  104  the paddle  100  will pull away from the recess  110  by pivoting on the rotatable coupling at the first end  102 . Preferably, the magnetic force is not sufficient to prevent the paddle  100  from rotating away from the recess  110  when the lock is knocked over on its side and impacts the ground in the forward direction. 
         [0053]    To cooperate with the paddle  100 , the opening slide  18  contains a ledge  120  adjacent to the control recess  22 , as best shown in  FIG. 12 . The ledge  120  faces the paddle  100  and is positioned such that when the paddle  100  detaches from and swings away from the recess  110 , the second end  104  of the paddle  100  makes contact with the upper side of the ledge  120 . In that position, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the paddle  100  prevents the opening slide  18  from sliding upwardly into the release position. Thus, when the paddle  100  is detached from the recess  110  and makes contact with the ledge  120 , the lock cannot be released to open the refuse container. 
         [0054]    With the paddle  100  and the ledge  120 , the lock contains a mechanical impact sensor that can detect whether the container  10  has been unintendedly tipped over in the forward direction or whether it is being tipped over, such as for dumping. For example, as best illustrated in  FIG. 13 , when the refuse container (and thus the lock) is knocked over in the forward direction, e.g. by strong wind or animals, it remains locked. The jerking or jarring action, such as by ground impact, on the refuse container, actuates the paddle  100  such that the second end  104  is detached from the recess  110 , and the paddle  100  pivots away from the recess  110  by gravity and abuts against the ledge  120  on the opening slide  18 . As best shown in  FIG. 13 , the abutment between the paddle  100  and the ledge  120  prevents the opening slide  18  from being pushed into the release position. 
         [0055]    On the other hand, when the refuse container is turned over for dumping without a jerking or jarring motion, the second end  104  of the paddle  100  remains attached inside the recess  110 . That allows the opening slide  18  to freely slide into the release position to allow the container to be opened. 
         [0056]    In in other embodiments, instead of the paddle  100 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 14-17 , the recess  110 ′ in the shell  29  may contain a rolling member  200 . In this case, the recess  110 ′ is shaped slightly (preferably no more than 5%) larger than the rolling member  200 , so that the rolling member  200  may roll away from the recess  110 ′ toward the opening slide  18 . The rolling member  200  may be in the form of a spherical ball. Alternatively, the rolling member  200  may be in the form of a cylindrical disc, capable of rolling within the recess  110 ′. It will be appreciated that a diameter of the rolling member  200  is such that it can roll away from the recess  110 ′. The rolling member is detachably retained in the recess  110 ′, e.g. by a magnet  106 ′, in a similar manner as the second end  104  of the paddle being attached in the recess  110 . The magnet  106 ′ may be in the recess  110 ′ and a ferromagnetic material is used for the rolling member  200  to magnetically hold the rolling member  200  in the recess  110 ′. Alternatively, the magnet  106 ′ may be on the rolling member  200  and a ferromagnetic material placed in the recess  110 ′. A person skilled in the art would understand that various ways are available to magnetically couple the rolling member  200  to the recess  110 ′. When a force greater than the magnetic force is introduced, such as a sudden jerk or jarring, e.g., by ground impact, the rolling member  200  may pull away from the recess  110 ′ and roll toward the opening slide  18 . Preferably, the magnetic force is not sufficient to prevent the rolling member  200  from rolling away from the recess  110 ′ when the lock is knocked over on its side and impacts the ground in the forward direction. 
         [0057]    With the rolling member  200 , the opening slide  18 , instead of the ledge  120 , contains a cavity  202  that can partially accommodate a portion of the rolling member  200 . When the rolling member  200  rolls away from the recess  110 ′, e.g., due to gravity and ground impact, it contacts and partially wedges in the cavity  202 . It will be appreciated that the rolling member  200  should be sufficiently large, such that when it is wedged in the cavity  202 , part of the rolling member remains in the recess  110 ′, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 . 
         [0058]    With the rolling member  200  and the cavity  202  on the opening slide, the lock contains a mechanical impact sensor that can detect whether the container  10  has been unintendedly tipped over in the forward direction or whether it is being tipped over, such as for dumping. For example, as best illustrated in  FIG. 17 , when the refuse container  10  (and thus the lock) is knocked over in the forward direction, e.g. by strong wind or animals, it remains locked. The jerking or jarring action, such as by ground impact, on the refuse container, knocks the rolling member  200  loose such that gravity pulls it away from the recess  110 ′ toward the opening slide  18 . On contact with the opening slide  18 , the rolling member  200  is wedged in the cavity  202  while it is still partially inside the recess  110 ′. As best shown in  FIG. 17 , that position of the rolling member prevents the opening slide  18  from being pushed into the release position. 
         [0059]    On the other hand, when the refuse container is turned over for dumping without a jerking or jarring motion, the rolling member  200  remains attached inside the recess  110 ′. That allows the opening slide  18  to freely slide into the release position to allow the container to be opened. 
         [0060]    In the same manner as the paddle  100  and/or the rolling member  200 , the blocking elements for operating errors  25 ,  26  may also be detachably retained, e.g. by a magnet. That way, the lock is able to keep the lid  402  closed, when the container  10  falls over and impacts the ground in any direction. Here, the magnet allows the lock to open, for example for dumping in any direction, unless when a force greater than the magnetic force, such as a sudden jerk or jarring, e.g., by ground impact, is experienced. The blocking elements for operating errors  25 ,  26  may also be designed to operate similarly to the paddle  100  or rolling element  200  described above, albeit in different directions. For example, the paddle  100  or rolling element  200  may operate to block opening of the container when it falls forward, while the blocking elements block opening when the container falls backward or to either side. 
         [0061]    The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Other modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments disclosed hereinabove were chosen in order to best illustrate the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated, as long as the principles described herein are followed. Thus, changes may be made in the above-described invention without departing from the intent and scope thereof. It is also intended that the scope of the present invention be defined by the claims appended thereto.