EP2623436B1

EP2623436B1 - Garbage container

Info

Publication number: EP2623436B1
Application number: EP13150190.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Shek
Original assignee: Shek Michael
Current assignee: Shek Michael
Priority date: 2012-02-03
Filing date: 2013-01-03
Publication date: 2016-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2033-01-03
Also published as: JP3182316U; TWM428939U; KR20130004866U; KR200476408Y1; EP2623436A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a garbage container according to the preamble of claim 1, more specifically to a garbage container which is able to be opened easily by pressing or stepping on.

Description of the Prior Art

A conventional garbage container usually has a lid on a opening of the container to prevent odors diffusing or mosquitoes breeding due to the garbage therein. However, when the lid is independent from the container; a user should remove the lid from the container and keep holding the lid before disposal of garbage, and it is troublesome to a user who has had garbage in his hand.
A garbage container with a liftable lid is thereby disclosed, wherein the garbage container can be triggered by pluralities of means. The most common way to trigger the lid to lift is by stepping on a pedal, as disclosed in TW M265363 , TW M312517 , US 6,010,024 , and US 6,883,676 . The pedal is disposed on the container near ground, and the pedal connects to the lid via two linking rods or other similar structure. When the pedal is stepped on, the lid is lifted due to the lever principle. On the contrary, when the pedal is released, the lid falls and covers the opening of the container. However, this kind of structure brings about pluralities of problems. For example, if the lid is bulky and heavy, a user who doesn't have sufficient strength such as a female or a disable is difficult to step on entirely. Besides, due to the limitation of the operation of linking rods, the pedal has to be disposed on a fixed and specific position, so the pedal can not be placed at a preferable position to accommodate to different situations.
A garbage container with an automatically liftable lid is disclosed in TW I352054 , TW M316879 , TW 201103842 , US 6,774,586 , US 6,812,655 , US 7,714,527 , US 7,750,591 , and US 7,911,169 . The container has an IR induction sensor or an electrostatic induction sensor. When an object approaches the sensor, the lid is triggered to lift by the sensor. Although the automatically opening container is convenient, it also has some problems. For instance, the sensor and operation structure have to be disposed near the opening to facilitate the lid lifting, so the opening is not quite large enough to receive disposals. Moreover, the sensor detects anytime, so the sensor consumes electricity anytime too. On the other hand, the lid opens when an object approaches the sensor, so the lid may open even if a person just passes by. Also, when malfunctioning, the sensor may open automatically even if no object approaches.
US 2012/0000911 A1 relates to a touch control arrangement for a garbage container according to the preamble of claim 1, the garbage container having a foldable cover being folded between an opened position and a closed position via an actuation unit. The touch control arrangement includes a power source and a touch actuator electrically linked to the power source, wherein the touch actuator is located outside the storage cavity of the container body and is arranged in such a manner that when the touch actuator is activated by a presence of a touch, the actuation unit is actuated to move the foldable cover from the closed position to the opened position.
EP 1 700 799 A1 is directed to a trash can assembly. The trash can assembly has an outer shell, a lid pivotally coupled to the top end of the outer shell, a sensor positioned inside a covered region defined by the outer shell, and a lid control system coupling the sensor and the lid. The lid control system opens and closes the lid when the sensor is actuated.
US 5,461,355 A relates to a foot switch. The foot switch includes a base member having an upwardly facing surface, a force sensing resistor disposed on the surface and coupled electrically to a sensing circuit, and an actuating layer disposed on the force sensing resistor and the base member surface. The actuating layer has an elevated portion which is substantially centered over the force sensing resistor, the elevated portion having a convex upper surface which is a portion of a spherical surface. The sensing circuit includes a constant current source connected in series with the force sensing resistor between ground and a predetermined voltage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a garbage container which can be opened easily without applying high pressure. Also, the garbage container shall save electricity while being easy to manufacture and providing a large opening to receive disposals.
These objects are solved by the garbage container according to claim 1. Advantageous improvements of the invention are described by dependent claims.
To achieve the above and other objects, a garbage container of the present invention includes a main body, a controller, a sensor, a pedal, a connecting member, a driving mechanism, a power supply, and a lid.
A receiving opening is formed on a top of the main body. An opening is formed on a wall of the main body near ground. The controller can be an IC board and is disposed on a bottom of the main body. A resistance of the sensor changes when pressure the sensor received changes, and then the sensor sends a signal to the controller. The pedal is partially inserted into the opening and contacts with the sensor. When the pedal is stepped on or pressed, pressure the sensor received changes. The connecting member is able to move between a first position near ground and a second position away from ground. The driving mechanism includes a motor, a decelerating mechanism, and an arm. An end of the arm connects to the decelerating mechanism, and the other opposite end of the arm connects to the connecting member. The arm is triggered to pivot by the motor and the decelerating mechanism to enable the connecting member to move between the first and the second positions. The power supply provides energy to the controller and the driving mechanism. The lid is disposed outside of the receiving opening and is able to pivot relatively to the receiving opening. When the connecting member is at the first position, the lid covers on the receiving opening to segregate the receiving opening from an external space. When the connecting member is at the second position, the lid is lifted to enable the receiving opening to communicate with the external space.
Thereby, the garbage container of the present invention is more energy-saving and easier to use. Also, a larger receiving opening is provided to facilitate disposal.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a stereogram drawing showing a garbage container of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a breakdown drawing showing a garbage container of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a cross-section drawing showing a garbage container of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is an operation illustration showing a garbage container of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is an illustration showing an inside of a main body of a garbage container of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to Fig. 1 to Fig. 5 for a major embodiment of the present invention. The garbage container of the present embodiment includes a main body 1, a controller 2, at least a sensor 3, at least a pedal 4, a connecting member 5, a driving mechanism 6, a power supply 7, and a lid 8.
A receiving opening 11 is formed on a top of the main body 1, and at least an opening 12 is formed on a wall of the main body 1 near a bottom of the main body 1. The main body 1 has first room 13 and a second room 14 which are segregated from each other. The first room 13 communicates with the receiving opening 11. The controller 2, the connecting member 5, the driving mechanism 6, and the power supply 7 are located in the second room 14.
The controller 2 can be an IC board and is disposed on the bottom of the main body 1. A resistance of the sensor 3 changes when pressure the sensor 3 received changes. And then the sensor 3 sends a signal to the controller 2. In the major embodiment of the present invention, the sensor 3 is fixed in the main body 1. The pedal 4 is detachably inserted into the opening 12 and the sensor 3 to enable a user to step on. In other possible embodiment of the present invention, pluralities of the sensors 3 and pluralities of the pedals 4 corresponding to the sensors 3 are provided. The main body 1 also has pluralities of openings 12 to enable the sensors 3 and the pedals 4 to be disposed on at least one side of the main body 1.
The connecting member 5 is able to move between a first position near ground and a second position away-from ground. More specifically, the connecting member 5 is a rod and is able to move longitudinally.
The driving mechanism 6 includes a motor 61, a decelerating mechanism 62, and an arm 63. The motor 61 is controlled by signals sent by the controller 2. An end of the arm 63 connects with the decelerating mechanism 62, and the other opposite end of the arm 63 connects with the connecting member 5. The arm 63 is able to pivot when being driven by the motor 61 and the decelerating mechanism 62 to enable the connecting member 5 to move between the first and the second positions. The power supply 7 provides energy to the controller 2 and the driving mechanism 6. For the few requirement of energy, the power supply 7 can be just a battery assembly.
The lid 8 is disposed on the outside of the receiving opening 11 and is capable of pivoting relatively to the receiving opening 11. A fringe of the lid 8 connects to an end away from the arm 63 of the connecting member 5. When the connecting member 5 is at the first position, the lid 8 covers the receiving opening 11 to segregate the receiving opening 11 from an external space. When the connecting member 5 is at the second position, the lid 8 pivots away from the receiving opening 11 to enable the receiving opening 11 to communicate with the external space.
Please refer to Fig. 3. When the pedal 4 is not pressed or stepped on, pressure the sensor 3 received doesn't change, so the resistance of the sensor 3 doesn't change too. Thus, the sensor 3 doesn't send signals to the controller 2, and the connecting member 5 is at the first position to keep the lid 8 closed. Referring to Fig. 4, a contrary condition is illustrated. When the pedal 4 is pressed or stepped on, pressure the sensor 3 received changes, so the resistance of the sensor 3 is changed too. Thus, the sensor 3 sends a signal to the controller 2 to trigger the driving mechanism 6. The motor 61 and the decelerating mechanism 62 drive the arm 63 to elevate, and then the connecting member 5 is elevated to the second position. Thus, the lid 8 is lifted and opened. More particularly, the controller 2 is able to control persisting time of the lid 8 opening. A user just has to step on the pedal 4 lightly but not to keep stepping on the pedal 4, and the lid 8 can be kept opening for seconds or tens of seconds. After the opening period of the lid 8, the controller 2 stops sending signals, so the arm 63 descends. Thus, the connecting member 5 is descended to the first position to close the lid 8.
To sum up, the garbage container of the present invention has a plurality of advantages listed below.

1. The operation is similar with conventional garbage containers, but a user doesn't have to keep stepping on the pedal anymore.
2. The resistance-type sensor is sensitive, so a user doesn't have to step on the pedal hard to open a heavy lid.
3. Comparing to the automatic garbage containers by induction, the garbage container of the present invention don't have larger sensor and control mechanism, so a larger receiving opening is provided.
4. Comparing to the automatically garbage containers by induction which detects anytime and consumes electricity anytime, the garbage container of the present invention operates only when the pedal is pressed or stepped on to save energy.

Claims

A garbage container, including:
a main body (1), a receiving opening (11) being formed on a top of the main body (1);

a controller (2) being disposed on a bottom of the main body (1),

at least one sensor (3) disposed in the main body (1),

a connecting member (5) being able to move longitudinally between a first position near the bottom of the main body (1) and a second position away from the bottom of the main body (1), a driving mechanism (6) connecting to an end of the connecting member (5) and, being able to elevate or descend the connecting member (5) when receiving a signal from the controller (2),

a power supply (7) providing power to the controller (2) and the driving mechanism (6), and

a lid (8) disposed outside of the receiving opening (11) and being able to pivot relatively to the receiving opening (11), a fringe of the lid (8) connecting to the other end of the connecting member (5), the lid (8) covering the receiving opening (11) to segregate the receiving opening (11) from an external space when the connecting member (5) is at the first position, the lid (8) pivoting away from the receiving opening (11) to enable the receiving opening (11) to communicate with the external space when the connecting member (5) is at the second position,

characterized by

at least one pedal (4), the at least one pedal (4) contacting with the sensor (3), pressure the sensor (3) receives being changed when the at least one pedal (4) is pressed, the sensor (3) being able to change resistance when the sensor (3) is under a change of pressure, the sensor (3) being able to send signals to the controller (2) when the sensor (3) is changed in resistance, and by an opening (12) formed on a wall of the main body (1) near the bottom of the main body (1) whereby an end of the at least one pedal (4) is arranged through the opening (12) to contact with the sensor (3).
The garbage container of claim 1, wherein the main body (1) has a first room (13) and a second room (14) which are segregate from each other, the first room (13) communicating with the receiving opening (11), the controller (2), the connecting member (5), the driving mechanism (6), and the power supply (7) are located in the second room (14).
The garbage container of claim 1, wherein the at least one pedal (4) is detachably inserted into the opening (12) and the sensor (3).
The garbage container of claim 1, having pluralities of sensors (3) and pluralities of pedals (4) corresponding to the sensors (3), the main body (1) forming pluralities of openings (12) to enable the sensors (3) and the pedals (4) to be disposed on at least one side of the main body (1).
The garbage container of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism (6) includes a motor (61), a decelerating mechanism (62), and an arm (63), an end of the arm (63) rotatably connects to the decelerating mechanism (62), another end of the arm (63) connects to the connecting member (5), the arm (63) is able to pivot when being driven by the motor (61) and the decelerating mechanism (62) to enable the connecting member (5) to move between the first and the second positions.
The garbage container of claim 1, wherein the power supply (7) is a battery assembly.