Refuse container lid

Abstract

A lid ( 10 ) for covering at least a portion of a top opening ( 90 ) of a refuse bin ( 81 ) generally comprises a rectangular panel ( 20 ) including an upper side ( 30 ); a lower side ( 40 ); a mid-section ( 77 ); a hinge end ( 50 ) including hinge bearings ( 54 ); and an opening end ( 60 ). Panel ( 20 ) is defined by a plurality of upwardly arched longitudinal corrugations ( 21 ), sinusoidal in lateral section, spanning substantially between opening end ( 60 ) and hinge end ( 50 ). An exemplary embodiment includes a bend section ( 13 ) at a predetermined lateral cross-section such that a longitudinal compressive force on opening end ( 60 ) at failure buckles panel ( 20 ) convex upward at bend section ( 13 ). The mid-section of panel ( 20 ) is upwardly laterally arched. Lid ( 10 ) includes a plurality of protrusions ( 45 ) such that a plurality of lids ( 10 ) may be stacked in a parallel relationship. The area of bearings ( 54 ) is large and preferably exceeds 10% of the area of hinge rod ( 94 ).

We claim:  
     
         1 . A lid for covering at least a portion of a top opening of a refuse bin; the refuse bin having a top opening and lid mounting means for mounting said lid; said lid comprising: 
 a rectangular panel including: 
 an upper side,  
 a lower side;  
 a mid-section;  
 a hinge end including: 
 connection means for connecting to the lid mounting means such that said panel is rotatable about a hinge axis; and  
 an opening end opposite said hinge end; said panel defined by a plurality of longitudinal corrugations spanning X substantially between said opening end and said hinge end including a bend section at a predetermined lateral cross-section wherein the lower portions of said corrugations have a reduced cross-sectional area such that a longitudinal compressive force on said opening end at failure buckles said panel upward at said bend section.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said longitudinal corrugations are longitudinally upwardly-arched.  
 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein: 
 a compression line between said front end and said hinge axis is below the neutral bending axis of said lid substantially over the entire length of said lid.  
 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1  further including: 
 one or more additional bend sections.  
 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said mid-section of said panel is upwardly laterally arched.  
 
     
     
         6 . A lid for covering at least a portion of a top opening of a refuse bin; the refuse bin having a top opening and lid mounting means for mounting said lid; said lid comprising: 
 a rectangular panel including: 
 an upper side,  
 a lower side;  
 a mid-section;  
 a hinge end including: 
 connection means for connecting to the lid mounting means such that said panel is rotatable about a hinge axis; and  
 an opening end opposite said hinge end; said panel defined by a plurality of longitudinal corrugations spanning substantially between said opening end and said hinge end such that a longitudinal compressive force on said opening end at failure buckles said panel upward and including a bend section at a predetermined lateral cross-section wherein said corrugations have a reduced resistance to bending such that a longitudinal compressive force on said opening end at failure buckles said panel upward at said bend section.  
 
   
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said longitudinal corrugations are longitudinally upwardly-arched.  
 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 6  wherein: 
 a compression line between said front end and said hinge axis is below the neutral bending axis of said lid substantially over the entire length of said lid.  
 
     
     
         9 . The lid of  claim 6  further including: 
 one or more additional bend sections.  
 
     
     
         10 . The lid of  claim 6  wherein: 
 said mid-section of said panel is upwardly laterally arched.  
 
     
     
         11 . A lid for covering at least a portion of a top opening of a refuse bin; the refuse bin having a top opening and lid mounting means for mounting said lid; said lid comprising: 
 a rectangular panel including: 
 an upper side,  
 a lower side;  
 a hinge end including: 
 connection means for connecting to the lid mounting means such that said panel is rotatable about a hinge axis; and  
 an opening end opposite said hinge end defining a compression line between said opening end and said hinge axis; said panel defined by a plurality of longitudinal corrugations approximating a sine wave in lateral cross-section and spanning substantially between said opening end and said hinge end; said opening end and said hinge end disposed such that a compression line therebetween is below the neutral bending axis of said lid over the substantial length of said lid such that a longitudinal compressive force on said opening end, at failure, buckles said panel upward.  
 
   
     
     
         12 . The lid of  claim 11  wherein: 
 said longitudinal corrugations are longitudinally upwardly-arched.  
 
     
     
         13 . The lid of  claim 11  wherein: 
 said mid-section of said panel is upwardly laterally arched.  
 
     
     
         14 . A lid for covering at least a portion of a top opening of a refuse bin; the refuse bin having a top opening and lid mounting means for mounting said lid; said lid comprising: 
 a rectangular panel including: 
 an upper side,  
 a lower side;  
 a mid-section;  
 a hinge end including: 
 connection means for connecting to the lid mounting means such that said panel is rotatable about a hinge axis; and  
 an opening end opposite said hinge end; said panel defined by a plurality of longitudinal, upwardly-arched corrugations spanning substantially between said opening end and said hinge end such that a longitudinal compressive force on said opening end at failure buckles said panel upward.  
 
   
     
     
         15 . The lid of  claim 14  wherein: 
 said mid-section of said panel is upwardly laterally arched.  
 
     
     
         16 . A lid for covering at least a portion of a top opening of a refuse bin; the refuse bin having a top opening and lid mounting means for mounting said lid; said lid comprising: 
 a rectangular panel including: 
 an upper side,  
 a lower side;  
 a mid-section;  
 a hinge end including: 
 connection means for connecting to the lid mounting means such that said panel is rotatable about a hinge axis; and  
 an opening end opposite said hinge end; wherein said lids are adapted to be nestably stackable and said panel includes: 
 a plurality of protrusions for maintaining nested, stacked panels in a parallel relationship.  
 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The lid of  claim 16  wherein: 
 said panel is defined by a plurality of longitudinal, upwardly-arched corrugations spanning substantially between said opening end and said hinge end.  
 
     
     
         18 . A lid for covering at least a portion of a top opening of a refuse bin; the refuse bin having a top opening and lid mounting means for mounting said lid including a hinge rod having an outer bearing surface and having a longitudinal axis; said lid comprising: 
 a rectangular panel formed from a resilient thermoplastic including: 
 an upper side,  
 a lower side;  
 an opening end: and  
 a hinge end including: 
 integral bearings for mounting said panel to the hinge rod for bearing against the hinge rod outer bearing surface such that said panel is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the hinge rod; wherein the bearing area exceeds 10% of the outer bearing surface of the hinge rod.  
 
   
     
     
         19 . The lid of  claim 18  wherein: 
 the bearing area exceeds 20% of the outer bearing surface of the hinge rod.  
 
     
     
         20 . The lid of  claim 18  wherein: 
 said panel is designed to yield to an end compressive force by buckling said panel upwardly before the hinge rod fails.