Refuse container
First Claim
1. In a refuse container having walls, a bottom frame, and an end closure, an improved latching apparatus comprising:
- complementary connector means on the end closure and the container;
one of said complementary connector means operable between an engaged position and a released position; and
actuating means operatively connected to the one connector means, having an over-center mechanical lock and operable to operate the one connector means between the engaged and released positions thereof.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A refuse container is disclosed for use in both storage and transportation of accumulated refuse. The container body is an elongated cylindrical member having a rectangular cross section. The container includes a horizontally hinged tailgate having a vertically slidable portion which opens to admit refuse into the container interior. The tailgate lower edge is provided with a latching means which cooperates with cooperating connector means carried by the container frame. An over-center latching mechanism maintains engagement between the latching means and the connector means and includes a latching yoke which prevents inadvertent unlatching of the tailgate. The second end of the container is generally open and has a transverse bulkhead which is slidable between the container ends. As the container is filled, the transverse bulkhead recedes from the tailgate end and provides a controlled resistance against material being compressed in the container. The sliding bulkhead cooperates with longitudinally extending guides in the container interior and has releasable friction pads which provide a controlled frictional resistance force. The friction pads are released during movement of the bulkhead towards the tailgate during container emptying.
16 Citations
8 Claims
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1. In a refuse container having walls, a bottom frame, and an end closure, an improved latching apparatus comprising:
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complementary connector means on the end closure and the container; one of said complementary connector means operable between an engaged position and a released position; and actuating means operatively connected to the one connector means, having an over-center mechanical lock and operable to operate the one connector means between the engaged and released positions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A refuse container comprising:
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a side wall; a generally horizontal bottom frame means having an end portion and a longitudinally extending centerline; end closure means hingedly connected to the side wall means about a generally horizontal axis, having an edge portion remote from the horizontal axis and a plurality of L-shaped hook members projecting from the edge portion toward the bottom frame means, each L-shaped hook member including a lateral projection extending toward the centerline; a plurality of complementary hook members slidably mounted on the end portion of the frame means for movement generally perpendicular to the centerline and having a projection directed away from the centerline and operable for engagement with the lateral projection of the L-shaped hook members; a pair of link rods slidably and coaxially mounted on the end portion generally perpendicular to the centerline and axially spaced from one another; a plurality of adjustable tie bars, each tie bar pivotally connected to one of the link rods and to a corresponding one of the plurality of complementary hook members; an actutor rod slidably mounted to the frame means along the centerline thereof and between the pair of link rods and having an end; and
a pair of tie rods, each tie rod pivotally connected to the end of the actuator rod and to a corresponding one of the pair of link rods and having a length selected such that during movement of the actuator rod between a second position remote from the end portion to a first position closer to the end portion the tie rods pass through a perpendicular orientation relative to the actuator rod.
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8. A transportable refuse container comprising:
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walls defining a container body having a pair of ends and corners at each end; slideable bulkhead means within the body and displaceable between the pair of ends; end closure means hingedly connected to one end of the body, openable for container unloading, and having an opening for filling the container; the other end of the body having an opening operable to receive means for operating the bulkhead means; block means positioned at each corner of the body operable to position and secure the body relative to a support; latching means between the end closure means and the body operable to releasably secure the end closure means against the body; and detent means cooperating with the latching means to inhibit inadvertent release of the latching means.
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Specification