US20020092853A1 - Oil hydraulic device for a dustbin lid - Google Patents

Abstract

An oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can includes a pressure valve, a pushing valve, a hydraulic pipe, a reducing valve and a pedal. The pressure valve is connected to a container of the garbage can, and has a piston capable of moving forwards on the pedal's downward movement. The hydraulic pipe is connected to the pressure valve from a lower end, and the pushing valve from an upper end. The pushing valve is secured to an upper part of the container, and has a piston rod movable upwards to pivot a movable member on said garbage can to open said lid connected to said movable member. The reducing valve is connected to an intermediate portion of said pipe for absorbing a part of pressure of oil in said pipe on said pedal's downward movement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to an oil hydraulic device for opening a dustbin lid, and particularly to one which can open and close the lid slowly, preventing the lid from getting damaged or making noise in the opening or closing movement.[0001]
• It is convenient for people to open a lid of a garbage can by means of a pedal. They don't have to bend over to open the lid with their hands. Therefore, such garbage cans with lids able to be opened with pedals are very popular.[0002]
• Referring to FIG. 5, a conventional garbage can[0003]3 with a lid able to be opened with a pedal includes anouter container31, apedal32, a connecting rod33, a pushingrod34, alid35 and aninner container36.
• The[0004]inner container36 is received in theouter container31. Thepedal32 is pivoted to a lower part of theouter container31, and connected to the connecting rod33 and the pushing red34; the connecting rod33 is pivoted to the pushingrod34. Thelid35 is pivoted to an upper part of theouter container31. The upper end of the pushingrod34 is connected to thelid35. When thepedal32 is depressed, the pushingrod34 will force thelid35 to open for permitting garbage to be thrown into theinner container36.
• When the[0005]pedal32 is released, thelid35 will close automatically due to its weight.
• However, the garbage can still has disadvantages as follows:[0006]
• 1. The depressing force applied on the pedal has to be relatively big to open the lid, i.e. the user has to use much effort to open the lid.[0007]
• 2. Because the[0008]lid35 is opened by the pushingrod34 moving upwards, when opened, the lid is limited to above the opening of the container, making it difficult to clean the inner side of the garbage can.
• 3. The lid would be moved to the open position too quickly when the user depresses the pedal too hard, liable to get damaged on the parts which are connected to the outer container and the pushing[0009]rod34.
• 4. The lid would close on the container too quickly due to its weight, and make noise when the pedal is released too fast.[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Therefore, it is a main object of the present invention to provide an oil hydraulic device for opening a lid of a garbage can such that the lid can bee opened and closed slowly and effortlessly.[0011]
• The oil hydraulic device for opening a garbage can lid of the present invention includes a pressure valve, a pushing valve, a hydraulic pipe, a reducing valve and a pedal.[0012]
• The pressure valve is fitted to a container of the garbage can, and has a cylinder part holding a piston capable of moving forwards on the pedal's downward movement to force oil received in the hydraulic pipe which is connected to the pressure valve.[0013]
• The hydraulic pipe is connected to the pushing valve from an upper end. The pushing valve is fitted to an upper part of the container, and has a cylinder part holding a piston. The cylinder part of the pushing valve is secured to the container by means of a fixing member with a pushing valve piston rod connected to a movable member pivoted to the fixing member.[0014]
• The movable member is fixedly connected to the lid for permitting the lid to be pivoted on the fixing member to open on the pedal's downward movement.[0015]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• This invention will be better understood by referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:[0016]
• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a garbage can with the oil hydraulic device for a lid according to the present invention.[0017]
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can in FIG. 1.[0018]
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the garbage can in FIG. 1, with the lid closed.[0019]
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the garbage can in FIG. 1, with the lid opened on the container.[0020]
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional garbage can with a lid able to be opened with a pedal in the Background.[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and[0022]3, a garbage can with oil hydraulic device for opening a lid according to the present invention includes anouter container11, aninner container19, alid12, abottom13, apedal14, and the oil hydraulic device, which consists of aforce member2, amovable member17 and afixing member15.
• The[0023]inner container19 is disposed in theouter container11. Thebottom13 is connected to a lower end of theouter container11. The outer container has afixing hole111 and twopivotal slots112 on a lower part of one side, and has a throughhole113, andseveral screw holes114 on an upper part of the other side.
• The[0024]pedal14 has two connecting projections (not numbered) movably passed into thepivotal slot112 of theouter container11 for thepedal14 to be pivoted on theouter container11. Thepedal14 further has a pushingpart141 projecting from a bottom side.
• The[0025]force member2 includes ahydraulic pipe21, apressure valve22, a pushingvalve23 and a reducingvalve24. Thehydraulic pipe21 contains oil or gas in it. Thepressure valve22 is connected to a lower end of thehydraulic pipe21, and has a threadedend portion221, abutton223, apiston224, and anelastic member225. Thebutton223 is movably disposed on a rear end of thepressure valve22, and connected to thepiston224 fitting closely inside the cylinder part (not numbered) of thevalve22. Theelastic member225 is connected to thepiston224 to bias same rearwards. Thevalve22 is connected to theouter container11 with the threadedend portion221 passed through thefixing hole111, and thebutton223 contact the pushingpart141 of thepedal14; anut222 is connected to the threadedend portion221 to secure thevalve22. Thus, thepiston224 can move forwards to push the oil in thepipe21 when the pedal is depressed.
• The reducing[0026]valve24 is connected to a reducing pipe (not numbered) in open communication with thehydraulic pipe21. The reducingvalve24 includes apiston241, anelastic member242, and a regulatingscrew243. Theelastic member242 is connected to thepiston241, which fits closely in the front end portion of the cylinder part of thevalve24, to bias the piston forwards. The regulatingscrew243 is connected to theelastic member242 to adjust a position of same.
• The[0027]fixing member15 has locatinggaps151, a locating part152 (FIG. 2), and a pair ofpivotal holes153 on two sides. Thefixing member15 is fixed to theouter container11 by means ofscrews115 screwed into thescrew holes114 of thecontainer11 and same. Themovable member17 has a pair ofpivotal holes171 on two sides, a connectinghole173, and a locating hole172 (FIG. 2). Themovable member17 is pivoted to the fixingmember15 by means of apivotal rod16 passed through thepivotal holes153 and171; anelastic member18 is connected to the locatinghole172 of themovable member17 from an upper end, and to the locatingpart152 of thefixing member15 from a lower end to bias themovable member17 downwards.
• The[0028]lid12 is fixedly connected to themovable member17 such that same can be opened by means of pivoting themovable member17 on thepivotal rod16.
• The[0029]hydraulic pipe21 is passed through the throughhole113 of theouter container11, and connected to the pushingvalve23 from an upper end; referring specifically to FIG. 3, thepipe21 is secured by a lower one of the locatinggaps151, and the pushingvalve23 is secured in thefixing member15 with apiston rod232 movably passed through an upper one of the locatinggaps151. Thepiston rod232 has a bent upper portion passed through the connectinghole173 of themovable member17. The pushingvalve23 further has apiston231 fitting closely in the cylinder part (not numbered), and connect thepiston rod232. Thus, thepiston rod232 can move upwards to push themovable member17 in order to open thelid12. Moreover, the elastic force of theelastic member242 is smaller than the force of thelid12 applied on thepiston rod232.
• In using the oil hydraulic device for opening the[0030]lid12, thepedal14 is depressed, making the pushingpart141 of thepedal14 push thebutton223 forwards; thus, thepiston224, and in turn the oil in thepipe21 are pushed forwards. Thepiston231 and thepiston rod232 of the pushingvalve23 are pushed upwards to open thelid12.
• The diameter of the hydraulic valve cylinder part is preferably bigger than that of the cylinder part of the pushing[0031]valve23 such that thelid12 can be opened with less effort.
• When the[0032]pedal14 is depressed too quickly and too hard, part of the pressure will be absorbed by the reducingvalve24, the oil pushing thepiston241 of the reducingvalve24 rearwards against theelastic member242. Thus, thelid12 would not be opened too abruptly. The diameter of the cylinder part of the reducingvalve24 is smaller than that of the cylinder part of the pushingvalve23, and of course smaller than that of the cylinder part of thepressure valve22.
• When the[0033]pedal14 is released, thelid12 will close on theouter container11 due to its weight and theelastic member18 move thepiston rod232 downwards. So, thepiston224 of thepressure valve22 is pushed rearwards by the oil in thepipe21; theelastic member225 also pushes thepiston224 rearwards. Thus, thepedal14 is moved to the original position.
• From the above description, the oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can of the present invention can be known to have desirable features as follows:[0034]
• 1. In manufacturing, the diameters of the cylinder parts of the valves can be decided according to needs in order for the hydraulic device for the lid of a garbage can to function under an optimal condition.[0035]
• 2. The lid is pushed up to open by means of the piston rod of the pushing valve, so the lid can be opened to a position not interfering with cleaning the inside of the garbage can.[0036]
• 3. Having the reducing valve, the lid would not open too abruptly and get damaged when the pedal is depressed too hard.[0037]
• 4. Having the[0038]elastic member18 connecting the movable member to the fixing member, the lid can close on the outer container easily even when same is opened to a position over the outer container. And, theelastic member18 also helps the lid to close on the container relatively tight, preventing insects from entering the garbage can.

Claims (7)

What is claimed is:

1. An oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can, comprising

a force member having a pressure valve fixed to a lower part of an outer container part of said garbage can; said pressure valve having a cylinder part holding a piston capable of moving forwards on a pedal's downward movement to force oil contained in a hydraulic pipe connected to said pressure valve;

said hydraulic pipe being connected to a pushing valve coupled to an upper part of said outer container; said pushing valve having a cylinder part containing a piston having a piston rod on a top side of said piston; said cylinder part of said pushing valve being secured to said outer container by means of a fixing member with said piston rod of said pushing valve connected to a movable member pivoted to said fixing member;

said movable member being fixedly connected to said lid for permitting same to be pivoted on said fixing member to open on said pedal's downward movement to lift said piston rod connected to said movable member.

said hydraulic pipe being connected to a reducing valve on an intermediate portion thereof for permitting a part of pressure of said oil to be absorbed on said pedal's downward movement; said reducing valve having a piston fitted closely in a cylinder part.

2. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said fixing member has a pair of gaps on an inner side; a lower one of said gaps securing a top end of said hydraulic pipe therein; said piston rod of said pushing valve being movably passed through an tipper one of said gaps.

3. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed inclaim 1, wherein an elastic member being connected to said movable member, and said fixing member from two ends for biasing said lid associated with said movable member downwards.

4. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a diameter of said cylinder part of said pressure valve is at least bigger than that of said cylinder part of said pushing valve, and a diameter of said cylinder part of said reducing valve is at least smaller than that of said pushing valve cylinder part.

5. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said piston of said reducing valve is biased by a spring against said oil on said pedal's downward movement; a regulating screw being fitted to said reducing valve for adjusting a position of said elastic member.

6. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said oil in said hydraulic pipe is able to be replaced with gas.

7. The oil hydraulic device for a lid of a garbage can as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said pedal is pivoted to said outer container with a pushing part on a bottom contacting a button of said pressure valve; said button projecting from said cylinder part of said pressure valve, and connecting said piston of said pressure valve.

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