Field of Search:
220/31S,31R,30,55E,55G,1T
Claims:
1. A self-hinging cover for an open-topped container with a peripheral rim defining the open top and which cover comprises:
2. A self-hinging cover according to claim 1 wherein said first flange is of a depth to extend under the container rim when the cover is pivoted to an upright position.
3. A self-hinging cover according to claim 2 wherein said first flange has the terminal ends thereof spaced apart a distance to permit passage of said flange by the sidewall of the container into engagement with the container rim.
4. A self-hinging cover according to claim 1 wherein the cover is of a configuration having the center of gravity thereof disposed relatively laterally to the point of contact of said hinge notches with the container rim when the cover is pivoted to an upright position whereby the cover is maintained in an upright position.
5. A self-hinging cover according to claim 1 of circular configuration in plan.
6. A self-hinging cover according to claim 1 of rectangular configuration in plan.
7. A self-hinging cover according to claim 6 wherein said first flange has both terminal ends formed along one side of the cover in inwardly spaced relationship to each respective adjacent side of the cover, and each said first flange has a notch formed therein extending from the respective terminal end to a point where the remainder of said flange can pass by the wall of the container.
8. A self-hinging cover according to claim 1 in combination with a container having a peripheral rim defining an open top formed with a container wall, said rim having a downwardly extending lip disposed outwardly of said container wall and terminating in an edge, said first flange of the cover engageable with said rim edge when the cover is disposed in upstanding relationship to the container.
Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with prior art practice, containers designed for refuse or trash collection, as in home kitchens, are preferably provided with a cover. The cover not only enhances sanitation practices but greatly improves appearance through concealment of refuse. Containers and covers of the prior art are usually fixedly interconnected by hinge mechanisms or utilize a two-part cover having one part fixedly hinged on a supporting ring that is readily removable from the container.
These prior art structures have not proven fully satisfactory in that fixed hinge mechanisms are relatively costly to fabricate. This is particularly true in the case of plastic material containers generally formed by molding operations. A disadvantage of the fixed hinge mechanisms with respect to the plastic material containers is that the hinge members of molded plastic are very susceptible to breakage and, when broken, are generally non-repairable thereby substantially reducing the usefulness of the container provided with a cover of this type.
A self-hinging cover is provided by this invention which is particularly advantageous to plastic container and cover constructions. As suggested by its title, this cover does not require a hinge mechanism that fixedly interconnects the cover in hinged relationship to the container. The cover of this invention is formed with a hinging structure that detachably engages the upper peripheral rim of a container but maintains the cover in association with the container throughout hinged movement of the cover between closed and open positions. This self-hinging structure is readily molded into the cover thereby substantially reducing the manufacturing or fabricating costs. Also, the self-hinging aspect eliminates the disadvantage of prior art devices that are susceptible to breakage since the structure of this invention does not have a hinge mechanism that can be broken.
These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof and the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container provided with a cover embodying this invention with the cover in closed relationship to the container.
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but on a smaller scale with the cover in open relationship to the container.
FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the cover disposed in open relationship to the container.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified cover.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the modified cover, pivoted to an open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
Having reference to the drawings, a cover 10 embodying this invention is shown positioned on a container 11. In FIG. 1, the cover is disposed in closing relationship to the open top of the container while FIGS. 2 and 3 show the cover pivoted to an open position. The illustrated container 11 is of a cylindrical configuration having an upper peripheral rim defining the open top. As illustrated, this rim 12 is integrally formed with the container sidewall and comprises an outwardly and downwardly turned lip terminating in a circumferential edge 13. The illustrated embodiment, both container and cover, is fabricated from a thermosetting synthetic resin material by a suitable molding operation although it is to be understood that other materials may be utilized in appropriate fabricating operations in producing embodiments of this invention.
The cover 10 of the illustrative embodiment of this invention comprises a cover plate 14, first and second flanges, 15 and 16, and a pair of hinge flanges 17. A central section of the cover plate 14 is of generally circular, planar configuration with an outwardly divergent, depending sidewall 18 extending around a portion of the central planar section. The cover plate 14 inclusive of the sidewall 18 is substantially coextensive with the container's open top and overlies a substantial portion of the rim 12.
Formed with the cover plate 14 is the first flange 15 which is appended to the lower edge of the sidewall 18. Thus appended, the flange 15 projects vertically downward around the peripheral rim 12 adjacent the exterior vertical surface thereof. When the cover plate 14 is disposed in closing relationship to the container 11 as shown in FIG. 1, flange 15 not only prevents lateral displacement of the cover relative to the container but more completely effects a sealing of the container top. The flange 15 is discontinuous in that it does not extend entirely around the periphery of the cover plate 14 and has terminal ends 19 spaced a distance apart thereby defining an opening. The sidewall 18 is also discontinuous in the same region and terminates at the terminal ends 19 of the flange 15. A horizontal, outwardly projecting lip 20 is formed at the front portions of the lower edge 21 of flange 15 thereby providing a finger lift facilitating lifting and pivoting of the cover.
The second flange 16 is formed with the central planar section of the cover plate 14 and is disposed in relatively inwardly spaced relationship to the first flange 15. Being formed with this planar section, flange 16 extends through the opening defined by the first flange 15 and the sidewall 18. Flange 16 also extends downwardly terminating in a lower edge 22 that is at about the same elevation as the lower edge 21 of flange 15 but is spaced relatively inward and projects into the interior of the container 11. Preferably, flange 16 is outwardly inclined at substantially the same angle as the cover plate sidewall 18 which places its lower edge 22 conterminous with the interior surface of the container 11 thereby cooperating with the cover plate 14 in effectively completely closing the open top of the container.
Each hinge flange 17 is integrally formed with the flanges 15 and 16 at respective ends of the opening defined by the terminal ends 19 of flange 15. In addition, each flange is integrally formed with respective portions of the cover plate sidewall 18 and cooperates therewith in forming a complete cover surface with respect to the container. A downwardly opening, hinge notch 23 is formed in the lower marginal edge portion of each hinge flange 17 and is configured to receive the container's peripheral rim 12 with the upper edge portion of the notch being arcuately curved to facilitate relative pivotal movement of the cover on the container.
The hinge notches 23 engage the container rim 12 at relatively spaced points and support the cover 10 on the container at the hinge side. Vertical support of the cover at the front at the desired elevation is effected by a pair of ribs formed on the interior of the cover in spaced relationship at either side of the front center. One of these ribs 24 is shown in FIG. 3 and is seen to have a bottom edge which is engageable with the uppermost surface of the container rim 12.
A cover 10 embodying this invention is readily assembled with a container 11 as the cover is simply placed vertically downward onto the container rim 12. The hinge notches 23 receive the rim 12 with the upper arcuate edge in engagement therewith while the support ribs 24 engage the rim at the front of the container.
Displacement of the cover 10 to an open position relative to the container 11 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 merely requires lifting of the cover at the front. Lifting of the cover in this manner results in pivoting of the hinge notches 23 on the rim 12. As the cover reaches an upstanding position as shown in FIG. 2, the terminal ends 19 of the first flange 15 extend under the rim edge 13 while the inclined surface of the second flange 16 engages the rim 12 intermediate the hinge plates 17. Interengagement of the flange 15 with the rim 12 limits further pivotal movement of the cover and the structure is designed to result in such interengagement when the cover is disposed with its center of gravity rearwardly of the support points to maintain the cover upright. The vertical support points for the cover in the open position are the hinge notches 23. Lateral displacement is prevented by engagement of the flange 16 with the container rim 12. When the cover is pivoted into closing relationship to the container, the first flange 15 prevents lateral displacement of the cover thereby maintaining the cover in its proper position. The spacing of the terminal ends 19 of the first flange 15 is of a length that the end portions of flange 15 will clear the exterior side wall of the container 11 until engaged with the container rim.
A modification of this invention is disclosed in FIGS. 4 and 5 which illustrate a rectangular cover 30. This rectangular cover is self-hinging, as is the previously described and illustrated circular cover, and operates in the same manner although adapted to a container 31 of rectangular configuration. As such, this cover comprises a cover plate 32, first and second flanges 33, 34 and hinge plates 35. The first flange 33 is discontinuous along one side providing an open space through which the second flange 34 extends but in relatively inwardly spaced relationship.
The hinge plates 35 are integrally formed with the flanges 33 and 34 and are formed at the lower end with hinge notches 36. These hinge notches 36 open downwardly and engage an upper peripheral rim 37 of the container with this rim also having an outwardly and downwardly turned lip.
Each of the marginal end portions of the first flange 33 are cut out to form notches 38. These notches 38 extend to substantially the adjacent side wall of the container 31 to permit the flange to pass by the container wall during pivotal movement of the cover to an open position.
Operation of the modified cover 30 is substantially the same as the circular cover. Lifting the cover upwardly at the front pivots the cover on the hinge notches 38 until the cover reaches a substantially upright position as shown in FIG. 5. In this upright position, the flange 15 will have engaged the container rim 37 at the side of the container with the center of gravity rearwardly of the hinge notches 38 which provide vertical support. The inclined surface of the second flange 34 also engages the container rim 37 to prevent lateral displacement of the cover rearwardly of the container while the first flange 33 prevents lateral displacement of the cover to either side of the container.
It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description of two embodiments of this invention that a novel self-hinging cover has been provided for a container. The covers embodying this invention include a self-hinging structure that is readily engageable with a container rim by merely positioning the cover on the container in closing relationship to the open top thereof. The hinge structure engages the container rim permitting pivoting of the cover to an upright open position on the container where the center of gravity of the cover maintains the cover in this upright position. This hinge structure is economically molded into a cover and is not susceptible to breakage such as would destroy its usefulness. Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is: