Granted Patent B1

US 6,929,146 · App. 10/155,773 · Granted Aug 16, 2005

Abstract

Claims (37)

1. A waste container comprising:

a container body defining at least one opening;

a door sized and configured to close off said at least one opening;

a seal connected with one of said container body and said door;

a hinge assembly connected between said container body and said door to permit said door to swing between a closed position covering said opening and an open position uncovering said opening, said hinge assembly including at least one hinge unit and at least one control mechanism, said at least one hinge unit having at least first and second door rotation axes and said at least one control mechanism being mechanically connected to and between said container body and said door to control the degree of rotation of said door about said at least first and second door rotation axes;

wherein said seal is juxtaposed relative to said container body and said door to provide a fluid tight seal between said container body and said door when said door is in a closed and sealed position;

a latching assembly mechanically connected between said container body and said door to hold said door in the closed and sealed position;

wherein said at least one hinge unit includes a first bushing mounted to said door and a second bushing mounted to said container body and a hinge plate pivotally mounted to both said first and second bushings, at least one replaceable spacer interposed between said container body and said door to provide for adjusting the distance between said door and said container body in the closed and sealed position, and means for replaceably holding the at least one replaceable spacer; and;

wherein said hinge plate is pivotally mounted to both said first and second bushings to pivot about both said first and second door rotation axes, and wherein said at least one hinge unit includes at least one holding member extending from one of the hinge plate and the second bushing for holding the spacer in position relative to said hinge plate and second bushing.

2. The waste container of claim 1 wherein said at least one hinge unit includes at least one separating member extending from one of the hinge plate and the second bushing for forcibly separating the hinge plate and the second bushing to allow for replacement of the spacer.

3. A waste container, comprising:

a container body defining at least one opening;

a door sized and configured to close off said at least one opening;

a seal connected with one of said container body and said door;

a hinge assembly connected between said container body and said door to permit said door to swing between a closed position covering said opening and an open position uncovering said opening, said hinge assembly including at least one hinge unit and at least one control mechanism, said at least one hinge unit having at least first and second door rotation axes and said at least one control mechanism being mechanically connected to and between said container body and said door to control the degree of rotation of said door about said at least first and second door rotation axes;

wherein said seal is juxtaposed relative to said container body and said door to provide a fluid tight seal between said container body and said door when said door is in a closed and sealed position;

a latching assembly mechanically connected between said container body and said door to hold said door in the closed and sealed position;

wherein said at least one hinge unit includes a first bushing mounted to said door and a second bushing mounted to said container body and a hinge plate pivotally mounted to both said first and second bushings, at least one replaceable spacer interposed between said container body and said door to provide for adjusting the distance between said door and said container body in the closed and sealed position, and means for replaceable holding the at least one replaceable spacer; and;

wherein said at least one hinge unit includes a first mounting block connected to one end of the hinge plate, includes a second mounting block connected to the second bushing, and includes at least one holding member extending from one of the first and second mounting blocks for holding the spacer in position relative to the first and second mounting blocks.

4. The waste container of claim 3 wherein said at least one hinge unit includes at least one separating member for forcibly separating the first and second blocks to allow for replacement of the spacer.

5. The waste container of claim 4 wherein the at least one separating member includes a bolt extending from one of the first and second blocks and is sized and configured to bear against the other of the first and second blocks.

6. A waste container, comprising:

a container body defining at least one opening;

a door sized and configured to close off said at least one opening;

a seal connected with one of said container body and said door;

a hinge assembly connected between said container body and said door to permit said door to swing between a closed position covering said opening and an open position uncovering said opening, said hinge assembly including at least one hinge unit and at least one control mechanism, said at least one hinge unit having at least first and second door rotation axes and said at least one control mechanism being mechanically connected to and between said container body and said door to control the degree of rotation of said door about said at least first and second door rotation axes;

wherein said seal is juxtaposed relative to said container body and said door to provide a fluid tight seal between said container body and said door when said door is in a closed and sealed position;

a latching assembly mechanically connected between said container body and said door to hold said door in the closed and sealed position;

wherein said at least one hinge unit includes a first bushing mounted to said door and a second bushing mounted to said container body and a hinge plate pivotally mounted to both said first and second bushings; and;

wherein said at least one hinge unit includes first and second hinges, the first and second door rotation axes of the first hinge coinciding with the first and second door rotation axes of the second hinge, and wherein said at least one hinge unit further includes a torsion bar rigidly connected between the hinge plates of the first and second hinges.

7. The waste container of claim 6 wherein the control mechanism includes a link pivotally connected at a first end to said door to rotate about a third control axis and pivotally connected at a second end to said container body to rotate about a fourth control axis.

8. The waste container of claim 7 wherein the third and fourth axes are offset from the first and second axes.

9. The waste container of claim 8 wherein in the closed position, the fourth axis is juxtaposed forwardly a distance A of and outwardly a distance B of the second axis relative to said container body, and the third axis is juxtaposed forwardly a distance C and outwardly a distance D of the first axis relative to said container body, and the first axis is juxtaposed outwardly a distance E of the second axis relative to said container body.

10. The waste container of claim 9 wherein A>C.

11. The waste container of claim 9 wherein B>D.

12. The waste container of claim 9 wherein E>B.

13. The waste container of claim 8 wherein the link has a length that is adjustable to adjust the distance between the third and fourth axes.

Assignments (6)