Patent US3850336A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3850336A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Counterbalance apparatus for a refuse container lid
Assignee: HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENT SYST AND FAB
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Filing: 1973-02-26
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A counterbalance apparatus particularly adapted for use in controlling the closing of metal lids on large refuse containers having a lift arm means pivotally mounted on an upper portion of the container, and a resilient means connected to the container at one end and having its opposite end connected to a first end of the lift arm means. The resilient means acts to move the lift arm means angularly about its point of mounting on the container to urge a second end of the lift arm means into sliding engagement with the lid with a sufficient upward force to balance the downward effect of gravity on the mass of the lid and thereby permit controlled opening and closing of the lid.
Inventors
- 👤 E Acosta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:49
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65F; B65F1/00; B65F1/14; B65F1/16; B65F1/1623
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
401 words
In an apparatus for storing and/or compacting refuse or the like and including container means for receiving such refuse, said container means having an access opening for receiving such refuse at its top, and closure means hingedly mounted on said container means and movable with respect to said container means to cover said access opening, the improvement comprising, closure balance means to control the closing movement of said closure means relative to said container means to prevent said closure means from abruptly slamming or falling freely to a closed position means and/or said container means and injury to operating personnel, said closure balance means including lift arm means pivotally mounted on said container means and resilient means, said resilient means having one end connected to said container means and the opposite end connected to said lift arm means, said resilient means thereby urging said lift arm means to move pivotally relative to said container means such that a portion of said lift arm means engages a portion of said closure means with sufficient force balancing the gravitational pull on said closure means that the closing movement of said closure means is thereby controlled, said closure balance means further including mounting plate means mounted on said container means and extending along and adjacent an upper edge thereof, said mounting plate means having outwardly extending flange means formed at its opposite ends, a rearward end of said mounting plate means being disposed adjacent the hinged junction of said closure means and said container means, the outward flange of said mounting plate means disposed at the opposite, forward end of said mounting plate means having an opening formed therein to receive adjustable bolt means therethrough, said bolt means being mounted on said flange means through said opening by fastening means at one end, the opposite end of said bolt means being attached to one end of said resilient means, said lift arm means being pivotally mounted on said mounting plate near said rearward end of said mounting plate means, one end of said lift arm means being connected to the end of said resilient means opposite said bolt means, said resilient means thereby urging said lift arm means to move pivotally relative to said mounting plate means, said flange disposed at said rearward end of said mounting plate means functioning as a stop means to prevent pivoting movement of said lift arm means therebeyond.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
401 words
In an apparatus for storing and/or compacting refuse or the like and including container means for receiving such refuse, said container means having an access opening for receiving such refuse at its top, and closure means hingedly mounted on said container means and movable with respect to said container means to cover said access opening, the improvement comprising, closure balance means to control the closing movement of said closure means relative to said container means to prevent said closure means from abruptly slamming or falling freely to a closed position means and/or said container means and injury to operating personnel, said closure balance means including lift arm means pivotally mounted on said container means and resilient means, said resilient means having one end connected to said container means and the opposite end connected to said lift arm means, said resilient means thereby urging said lift arm means to move pivotally relative to said container means such that a portion of said lift arm means engages a portion of said closure means with sufficient force balancing the gravitational pull on said closure means that the closing movement of said closure means is thereby controlled, said closure balance means further including mounting plate means mounted on said container means and extending along and adjacent an upper edge thereof, said mounting plate means having outwardly extending flange means formed at its opposite ends, a rearward end of said mounting plate means being disposed adjacent the hinged junction of said closure means and said container means, the outward flange of said mounting plate means disposed at the opposite, forward end of said mounting plate means having an opening formed therein to receive adjustable bolt means therethrough, said bolt means being mounted on said flange means through said opening by fastening means at one end, the opposite end of said bolt means being attached to one end of said resilient means, said lift arm means being pivotally mounted on said mounting plate near said rearward end of said mounting plate means, one end of said lift arm means being connected to the end of said resilient means opposite said bolt means, said resilient means thereby urging said lift arm means to move pivotally relative to said mounting plate means, said flange disposed at said rearward end of said mounting plate means functioning as a stop means to prevent pivoting movement of said lift arm means therebeyond.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
221 words
In an apparatus for storing and/or compacting refuse or the like and including a container for receiving such refuse, the container having an access opening for receiving such refuse at its top, and a lid hingedly mounted on the container and movable with respect to the container to cover the access opening, the improvement of a counterbalance apparatus for a container lid comprising: a rigid lift arm pivotably mounted at a pivot point intermediate the ends thereof, said lift arm being mounted on a side of the container adjacent the hinged mounting of the lid on the container; energizing means to force a first end of said lift arm positioned below said pivot point away from the hinged mounting of the lid on the container; a sLide track located on the underside of the container lid, a second end of said lift arm formed to slidably engage said slide track for sliding movement therealong during opening and closing of the lid, said second end of said lift arm being forced against said slide track by said energizing means; whereby the downward force of the container lid as a result of gravity is in opposition to the force exerted by said energizing means to permit the lid to be easily opened and closed with the operator having full control at all times.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
221 words
In an apparatus for storing and/or compacting refuse or the like and including a container for receiving such refuse, the container having an access opening for receiving such refuse at its top, and a lid hingedly mounted on the container and movable with respect to the container to cover the access opening, the improvement of a counterbalance apparatus for a container lid comprising: a rigid lift arm pivotably mounted at a pivot point intermediate the ends thereof, said lift arm being mounted on a side of the container adjacent the hinged mounting of the lid on the container; energizing means to force a first end of said lift arm positioned below said pivot point away from the hinged mounting of the lid on the container; a sLide track located on the underside of the container lid, a second end of said lift arm formed to slidably engage said slide track for sliding movement therealong during opening and closing of the lid, said second end of said lift arm being forced against said slide track by said energizing means; whereby the downward force of the container lid as a result of gravity is in opposition to the force exerted by said energizing means to permit the lid to be easily opened and closed with the operator having full control at all times.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said energizing means is a resilient source of static energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said resilient source of static energy is an expansion spring extending substantially parallel to the plane of the container lid, with one end of said spring rigidly mounted to the container and the other end thereof fixedly connected to said first end of said lift arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising a second lift arm, a second energizing means and a second slide track on the other side of the container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said slide track comprises an angle member connected to the lid, with said second end of said lift arm slidably engaging a first portion of said angle member that is parallel to the plane of the lid and a second portion of said angle member transverse to the plane of the lid to maintain said second end of said lift arm in engagement with said first portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lift arm and said energizing means are mounted on a mounting plate fixedly attached to the side of the container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
332 words
In an apparatus for storing and/or compacting refuse or the like and including container means for receiving such refuse, said container means having an access opening for receiving such refuse at its top, and lid means hingedly mounted on said container means and movable with respect to said container means to cover said access opening, the improvement comprising lid balance means to control the closing movement of said lid means relative to said container means to prevent said lid means from abruptly slamming or falling freely to a closed position from an open position and thereby prevent damage to said lid means and/or said container means and injury to operating personnel, said lid balance means including mounting means mounted on said container means adjacent and extending along an upper edge thereof, a rearward end of said mounting means being disposed adjacent the hinged junction of said lid means and said container means, lift arm means having a first end and a second end, said lift arm means being pivotally mounted on said mounting means at a point between its first end and its second end for angular movement relative to said container, resilient means having one end connected to said mounting means and the opposite end connected to said first end of said lift arm means positioned below said pivot point for movement therewith, and slide track means mounted on said lid means and receiving said second end of said lift arm means for sliding movement therewith relative to said lid means as said lid means is pivoted with respect to said container means, said resilient means urging said lift arm means to move pivotally relative to said container means such that said second end of said lift arm means will be maintained within said slide track means engaging said lid means thereby with an upward force acting on said lid means sufficient to balance the downward pull of gravity on said lid means and permit controlled closing of said lid means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
332 words
In an apparatus for storing and/or compacting refuse or the like and including container means for receiving such refuse, said container means having an access opening for receiving such refuse at its top, and lid means hingedly mounted on said container means and movable with respect to said container means to cover said access opening, the improvement comprising lid balance means to control the closing movement of said lid means relative to said container means to prevent said lid means from abruptly slamming or falling freely to a closed position from an open position and thereby prevent damage to said lid means and/or said container means and injury to operating personnel, said lid balance means including mounting means mounted on said container means adjacent and extending along an upper edge thereof, a rearward end of said mounting means being disposed adjacent the hinged junction of said lid means and said container means, lift arm means having a first end and a second end, said lift arm means being pivotally mounted on said mounting means at a point between its first end and its second end for angular movement relative to said container, resilient means having one end connected to said mounting means and the opposite end connected to said first end of said lift arm means positioned below said pivot point for movement therewith, and slide track means mounted on said lid means and receiving said second end of said lift arm means for sliding movement therewith relative to said lid means as said lid means is pivoted with respect to said container means, said resilient means urging said lift arm means to move pivotally relative to said container means such that said second end of said lift arm means will be maintained within said slide track means engaging said lid means thereby with an upward force acting on said lid means sufficient to balance the downward pull of gravity on said lid means and permit controlled closing of said lid means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |