Pedal assembly

Abstract

A storage device includes a bin, a cover mounted on the bin, a pedal assembly mounted on the bin and a linkage connected between the cover and the pedal assembly. The pedal assembly can be trod so as to pivot the cover via the linkage. The pedal assembly includes a frame mounted on the bin and a pedal pivotally mounted on the frame. The frame includes two side plates each defining a cutout. The pedal includes two shafts formed thereon and inserted in the cutouts. Each of the shafts includes a head formed thereon for avoiding axial escape thereof from one of the side plates. The frame includes a flange formed thereon. In an aspect, a portion of the bin is restrained between the flange and the heads. In another aspect, a latch may be used to lock the frame to the bin and the pedal to the frame. The latch includes two fins formed thereon. Each of the side plates defines a slot for receiving one of the fins or alternatively the frame includes an upper plate defining a slot for receiving the latch. Thus, the latch is retained on the frame in order to avoid disengagement of the frame from the bin. The portion of the bin is restrained between the flange and the latch. The frame includes a lower plate defining a slot through which the latch is inserted. The latch includes a hook formed on a lower edge thereof for hooking the lower plate.

1 . A storage device including a bin ( 11 ), a cover ( 12 ) mounted on the bin ( 11 ), a pedal assembly mounted on the bin ( 11 ) and a linkage ( 13 ) connected between the cover ( 12 ) and the pedal assembly so that the pedal assembly can be trod so as to pivot the cover ( 12 ) via the linkage ( 13 ), wherein the pedal assembly includes a frame ( 20 ;  20 ′) mounted on the bin ( 11 ) and a pedal ( 30 ) pivotally mounted on the frame ( 20 ).  
     
     
         2 . The storage device according to  claim 1  wherein the frame ( 20 ;  20 ′) includes two side plates each defining a cutout ( 21 ;  21 ′), and the pedal ( 30 ) includes two shafts ( 33 ) formed thereon and inserted in the cutouts ( 21 ;  21 ′).  
     
     
         3 . The storage device according to  claim 2  wherein each of the shafts ( 33 ) is formed with a head ( 32 ) for avoiding axial escaping from one of the side plates.  
     
     
         4 . The storage device according to  claim 2  including a latch ( 40 ) for locking the frame ( 20 ) to the bin ( 11 ) and the pedal ( 30 ) to the frame ( 20 ).  
     
     
         5 . The storage device according to  claim 4  wherein the latch ( 40 ) includes two fins ( 41 ) formed thereon, and each of the side plates defines a slot ( 23 ) for receiving one of the fins ( 41 ), thus keeping the latch ( 40 ) on the frame ( 20 ) in order to avoid disengagement of the frame ( 20 ) from the bin ( 11 ).  
     
     
         6 . The storage device according to  claim 5  wherein the latch ( 40 ) defines a slot ( 43 ) through which a portion of the linkage ( 13 ) is inserted.  
     
     
         7 . The storage device according to  claim 5  wherein the frame ( 20 ) includes a flange ( 22 ) formed thereon so that a portion of the bin ( 11 ) is restrained between the flange ( 22 ) and the latch  40 .  
     
     
         8 . The storage device according to  claim 5  wherein the frame ( 20 ) includes a lower plate defining a slot ( 24 ) through which the latch ( 40 ) is inserted.  
     
     
         9 . The storage device according to  claim 8  wherein the latch ( 40 ) includes a hook ( 42 ) formed on a lower edge thereof for hooking the lower plate.  
     
     
         10 . The storage device according to  claim 4  wherein the latch ( 40 ) includes two fins ( 41 ) formed thereon, and the frame ( 20 ) includes an upper plate defining a slot ( 23 ) for receiving the latch ( 40 ) so that the fins ( 41 ) rest on the upper plate, thus retaining the latch ( 40 ) on the frame ( 20 ) in order to avoid disengagement of the frame ( 20 ) from the bin ( 11 ).  
     
     
         11 . The storage device according to  claim 10  wherein the latch ( 40 ) defines a slot ( 43 ) through which a portion of the linkage ( 13 ) is inserted.  
     
     
         12 . The storage device according to  claim 10  wherein the frame ( 20 ) includes a flange ( 22 ) formed thereon so that a portion of the bin ( 11 ) is restrained between the flange ( 22 ) and the latch ( 40 ).  
     
     
         13 . The storage device according to  claim 10  wherein the frame ( 20 ) includes a lower plate defining a slot ( 24 ) through which the latch ( 40 ) is inserted.  
     
     
         14 . The storage device according to  claim 13  wherein the latch ( 40 ) includes a hook ( 42 ) formed on a lower edge thereof for hooking the lower plate.  
     
     
         15 . The storage device according to  claim 3  wherein the cutout ( 21 ′) defined in each of the side plates extends vertically.  
     
     
         16 . The storage device according to  claim 15  wherein the frame ( 20 ) includes a flange ( 22 ) formed thereon so that a portion of the bin ( 11 ) is restrained between the flange ( 22 ) and the shafts ( 33 ).  
     
     
         17 . The storage device according to  claim 16  wherein each of the shafts ( 33 ) includes a head ( 32 ) for avoiding axial escaping from one of the side plates, and the portion of the bin ( 11 ) is restrained between the flange ( 22 ) and the heads ( 32 ).