Trash container lid system

Abstract

A trash container lid system for placement on top of large industrial trash bins of the type utilized in hotels, apartment houses, etc., in which a lid section having a raised back portion is axially and rotatably coupled to the trash bin via an elongated aperture allowing a rear bottom curved surface of the lid assuming a stabilized partially open position, the extreme back portion of the lid carrying a counterweight throughout a predetermined arch for ease in opening, and the contacting surfaces between the trash bin and the lid having a vapor seal, the lid assembly consisting of a metal frame carrying a removable plastic liner therein.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A trash container lid system comprising: a lid section having a raised back portion;   a trash bin having first and second mounting members extending upwardly therefrom;   first and second pivot slots in one of said lid section and said mounting members; and   first and second axle members extending from another of said lid section and mounting members through said first and second pivot slots for rotatably and slidably coupling said lid section to said mounting members, said lid section having arcuate lower back portions on each side thereof and said pivot slots being geometrically disposed for causing said arcuate sections to frictionally engage top surfaces of said trash bin upon rotation of said lid to a partially open position.   
     
     
       2. The trash container lid system of claim 1 wherein said first and second axle members are pivot bolts. 
     
     
       3. The trash container lid system of claim 1 and further including: first and second mounting plates extending upwardly from rear portions of inner side walls of said trash container, said rear mounting plates carrying sealing wipers in contact with inner surfaces of said lid section;   a sealing strip on the bottom surface of said lid section; and   a rear liner coupled between said first and second inner plates and a rear upper section of said trash bin whereby a vapor seal is effected between said lid section and said trash bin.   
     
     
       4. The trash container lid system of claim 1 and further including a counterweight rotatably coupled to said axle member. 
     
     
       5. A trash container lid system comprising: a lid section having a raised back portion;   a trash bin having first and second mounting members extending upwardly therefrom, said lid section being rotatably coupled to said first and second mounting members.   
     
     
       6. The trash container lid system of claim 5 wherein: said lid section includes holding means operable for holding said lid in a partially open position.   
     
     
       7. The trash container lid system of claim 6 wherein: said holding means includes a counterweight coupled to said lid section. .Iadd. 8. A trash container lid system as defined in claim 5 further comprising:   means for mounting said lid section near the center of gravity of said lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. A trash container lid system as defined in claim 5 further comprising:   means for limiting the movement of said lid section as it is opened when said trash bin is in the upright orientation; and   means for disabling said limiting means and permitting said lid section to swing further open when said trash bin is in the upside down orientation. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. A trash container lid system as defined in claim 8 wherein means are provided for mounting said lid section just below its center of gravity, whereby said lid has gravity biased forward and rear stable positions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. A trash container lid system as defined in claim 5 wherein said lid section is generally wedge shaped with said wedge leading toward said raised back portion, whereby the center of gravity of said lid section is displaced to the rear from the center of said lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. A trash container and lid system as defined in claim 8 wherein the portion of said lid section lying to the rear of said mounting means is greater in extent than the adjacent fixed portions of said trash container, whereby, as the lid is rotated to the rear, the rear portion of said lid section encompasses the upper rear portion of said trash container. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A trash container lid system as defined in claim 5 wherein said lid section has a non-flat geometry and is provided with side members to give rigidity to said lid section and provide additional strength to said lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein the front edge of said lid section overlies the upper edge of said trash container to make firm engagement with the front edge of said trash container when said lid section is in the closed position. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A system as defined in claim 5 further comprising:   first means for limiting rearward opening motion of said lid section in a partially open condition of said lid section in a partially open condition of said lid section;   second means for limiting rearward opening motion of said lid section in a more fully opened condition of said lid section; and   means for enabling said first limiting means when opening said lid with the trash container in its upright orientation and means for enabling said second limiting means when said trash bin is in the upside down orientation. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein sealing means are provided between the inner rear edge of said lid section and the outer rear edge of said trash container as said lid section is closed. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 17. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein the rear of said lid section is wider than the front of said lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein means are provided for sealing said lid against the escape of vapors from said trash container around the entire periphery of said lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. A system as defined in claim 5 further including means for permitting limited translational movement of said lid section relative to said mounting members. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said trash bin is a large commercial rectangular trash bin. .Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A system as defined in claim 9 further comprising:   pocket tube means secured to said trash bin for permitting the easy lifting and inverting of the trash bin and its associated lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A system as defined in claim 9 further comprising external means secured to said trash bin for permitting the easy lifting and inverting of the trash bin and its associated lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. A trash container lid system comprising:   a lid section having a raised back portion;   a trash bin having first and second mounting members extending upwardly therefrom, said lid portion being rotatably coupled to said first and second mounting members;   means for mounting said lid section near the center of gravity of said lid section,   means for limiting the movement of said lid section as it is opened when said trash bin is in the upright orientation;   means for disabling said limiting means and permitting said lid section to swing further open when said trash bin is in the upside down orientation; and   pocket tube means secured to said trash bin for permitting the easy lifting and inverting of the trash bin and its associated lid section.   
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd. 24.  A trash container lid system comprising: a lid section having a raised back portion;   a trash bin having first and second mounting members extending upwardly therefrom, said lid portion being rotatably coupled to said first and second mounting members;   means for mounting said lid section near the center of gravity of said lid section;   means for limiting the movement of said lid section as it is opened when said trash bin is in the upright orientation;   means for disabling said limiting means and permitting said lid section to swing further open when said trash bin is in the upside down orientation; and   external means secured to said trash bin for permitting the easy lifting and inverting of the trash bin and its associated lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. A trash container and lid system as defined in claim 24 wherein the portion of said lid section lying to the rear of said mounting means is greater in extent than the adjacent fixed portions of said trash container, whereby, as the lid is rotated to the rear, the rear portion of said lid section encompasses the upper rear portion of said trash container. .Iaddend..Iadd. 26. A system as defined in claim 25 wherein sealing means are provided between the inner rear edge of said lid section and the outer rear edge of said trash container as said lid section is closed, and additional means are provided for sealing the remainder of said lid against the escape of vapors from said trash container around the entire periphery of said lid section. .Iaddend..Iadd. 27. A trash container lid system as defined in claim 5 further comprising:   means for mounting said lid section for raising with minor energy relative to the energy needed to lift said lid section pivotally about its rear edge;   means for providing a stabilized partially open position for said lid section when said trash container is in the upright orientation; and   means for facilitating opening of said lid section beyond said partially open position when said trash bin is in the upside down orientation, to empty said trash bin.