US20040016854A1 - Storage bin - Google Patents

Abstract

A bin includes a wall structure, a first lid, a second lid, and a frame that supports the wall structure. The first lid and the second lid removably secure to the wall structure. The frame permits movement of the wall structure between a first storage position whereby the second lid forms a bottom of the bin and a second storage position whereby the first lid forms a bottom of the bin.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention[0001]
• The present invention relates to storage bins and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a storage bin that simplifies cleaning as well as product redistribution.[0002]
• 2. Description of the Related Art[0003]
• Establishments that serve drinks to the public often store drinks in a bin located in a place where a customer may easily reach into the bin and retrieve a drink. The bin is typically filled with ice to maintain the drinks at a suitably reduced temperature. While such a bin offers convenience to customers, it does suffer certain disadvantages. Customers rarely retrieve drinks from the bottom the bin, resulting in the necessity of an establishment employee manually redistributing drinks within the bin to prevent a drink from remaining in the bin beyond its useful shelf life.[0004]
• Further, an ice filled bin is subject to bacteria growth on its bottom. This growth is in the form of an unappealing slime that coats the bin as well as any drinks within the bin. The bin must be cleaned regularly to prevent this slime build-up; unfortunately, bin cleaning is tedious, as it first requires the draining of the bin and the removing of any drinks within the bin. As a result, bin cleaning is infrequent, and customers are expected to ignore the slime.[0005]
• Accordingly, there is a long felt need for a bin that simplifies cleaning as well as drink redistribution.[0006]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In accordance with the present invention, a bin includes a wall structure, a first lid, a second lid, and a frame that supports the wall structure. The first lid and the second lid removably secure to the wall structure via a plurality of latch assemblies. The frame permits movement of the wall structure between a first storage position whereby the second lid forms a bottom of the bin and a second storage position whereby the first lid forms a bottom of the bin.[0007]
• The bin further includes a bracket assembly mounted to the wall structure and to the frame. The bracket assembly in an unlocked position permits movement of the wall structure between the first storage position and the second storage position. The bracket assembly in a locked position secures the wall structure to the frame.[0008]
• The bin still further includes a bearing assembly mounted to the wall structure and to the frame. The bearing assembly facilitates rotational motion of the wall structure between the first storage position and the second storage position.[0009]
• A bin is moved from the first storage position to the second storage position by first securing the first lid to the wall structure. The bracket assembly is released, and the wall structure is rotated about the bearing assembly until the first lid rotates to a location where the first lid forms a bottom of the bin. The bracket assembly is returned to a position securing the wall structure to the frame, and the second lid is removed from the wall structure of the bin.[0010]
• A bin is moved from the second storage position to the first storage position by first securing the second lid to the wall structure. The bracket assembly is released, and the wall structure is rotated about the bearing assembly until the second lid rotates to a location where the second lid forms a bottom of the bin. The bracket assembly is returned to a position securing the wall structure to the frame, and the first lid is removed from the wall structure of the bin.[0011]
• It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bin that simplifies cleaning as well as product redistribution[0012]
• It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bin movable between a first storage position and a second storage position.[0013]
• Still other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the following.[0014]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a bin according to the preferred embodiment.[0015]
• FIG. 2 is a front elevation view illustrating the bin according to the preferred embodiment.[0016]
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a bracket assembly of the bin according to the preferred embodiment.[0017]
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a latch assembly of the bin according to the preferred embodiment.[0018]
• FIG. 5 is a side elevation view illustrating the bin according to the preferred embodiment.[0019]
• FIG. 6 is a side elevation view illustrating movement of the bin according to the preferred embodiment between a first storage position and a second storage position.[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and[0021]5, abin10 includes awall structure17, afirst lid15, and asecond lid16. Thewall structure17 defines an enclosedarea18 adapted to receive drink containers and ice therein. Although in this preferred embodiment thewall structure17 defines a single enclosedarea18, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that thewall structure17 may include interior walls to divide the enclosedarea18 into compartments.
• The[0022]wall structure17 may be constructed from any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, or aluminum, and, in this preferred embodiment, includes sides11-14. Each side11-14 includes an interior surface and an exterior surface that define a space therebetween adapted to receive therein an insulating material, such as foam. The sides11-14 may be formed integrally or may be secured together using any suitable means, such as welding or an adhesive. Although this preferred embodiment discloses thewall structure17 as a box including sides11-14, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that thewall structure17 may be any shape, such as circular.
• The[0023]bin10 includes aframe19 that supports thewall structure17 and permits movement of thebin10 between a first storage position and a second storage position. Theframe19 includes afirst leg20 secured to thewall structure17 via abearing assembly22 and asecond leg21 secured to thewall structure17 via abearing assembly23. Thebearing assembly22 includes a coupling24 attached to thewall structure17 using any suitable means, such as bolts and a bearing26 press fit into an aperture through thefirst leg20. Ashaft25 rigidly secures to the coupling24 and rotatably fits within thebearing26 to connect the first leg to thewall structure17. Similarly, thebearing assembly23 includes acoupling27 attached to thewall structure17 using any suitable means, such as bolts and a bearing29 press fit into an aperture through thesecond leg21. A shaft28 rigidly secures to thecoupling27 and rotatably fits within thebearing29 to connect thesecond leg21 to thewall structure17. Although not required, theframe19 may include wheels to permit easier movement of thebin10.
• The[0024]bin10 includes abracket assembly30 and abracket assembly31 that lock thewall structure17 respectively to thefirst leg20 and thesecond leg21 to prevent undesired movement of thebin10. Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, thebracket assembly30 includes abracket arm33 pivotally secured to thefirst leg20 via apin34 and afirst bracket32 that includes aslot35 adapted to receive therein thebracket arm33 thereby locking thewall structure17 to thefirst leg20 when thebin10 is positioned in its first storage position. Thepin34 permits rotation of thebracket arm33 from a locked position within theslot35 of thebracket32 to an unlocked position removed from theslot35. Thebracket assembly30 further includes asecond bracket36 with aslot37 that receives thebracket arm33 therein thereby locking thewall structure17 to thefirst leg20 when thebin10 is positioned in its second storage position. Thebracket assembly31 is identical in structure and operation to thebracket assembly30. Thebracket assembly31 accordingly will not be described more specifically herein.
• The[0025]bin10 includes thefirst lid15 and thesecond lid16 to alternately provide a bottom for thebin10. In the first storage position, thefirst lid15 is removed from thewall structure17, while thesecond lid16 is attached to thewall structure17 to furnish the bottom of thebin10. Alternatively, in the second storage position, thesecond lid16 is removed from thewall structure17, while thefirst lid15 is attached to thewall structure17 to furnish the bottom of thebin10. Thesecond lid16 is identical in structure and operation to thefirst lid15. Thesecond lid16 accordingly will not be described more specifically herein.
• The[0026]first lid15 may be constructed from any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, or aluminum, and, in this preferred embodiment, includes a top, bottom, and four sides that define a space therebetween adapted to receive therein an insulating material, such as foam. The top, bottom, and four sides may be formed integrally or may be secured together using any suitable means, such as welding or an adhesive. Although this preferred embodiment discloses thefirst lid15 as four sided, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that thefirst lid15 may be any shape, such as circular.
• The[0027]first lid15 may include a gasket that provides a watertight seal between thefirst lid15 and thewall structure17. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, thefirst lid15 may include agroove41 that fits within atongue42 of thewall structure17 to aid in the securing of thefirst lid15 to thewall structure17. Thefirst lid15 further includes adrain hole38 that connects to a drain to permit water drainage from thebin10.
• The[0028]bin10 includeslatch assemblies39 that permit the securing of thefirst lid15 to thewall structure17. Similarly, thebin10 includeslatch assemblies40 that permit the securing of thesecond lid16 to thewall structure17. Thelatch assemblies40 are identical in structure and operation to thelatch assemblies39. Thelatch assemblies40 accordingly will not be described more specifically herein. As illustrated in FIG. 4, alatch assembly39 includes alever43 pivotally mounted to thefirst lid15 and a catch44 mounted to thewall structure17. Thelever43 engages the catch44 to secure thefirst lid15 to thewall structure17.
• In a first use of the[0029]bin10 in its first storage position, thefirst lid15 is removed from thewall structure17, while thesecond lid16 forms the bottom of thebin10 via its attachment to thewall structure17 by thelatch assemblies40. The drain hole of thesecond lid16 connects to a drain to permit water drainage from thebin10. Thebin10 is filled with ice and drink containers and is thus ready to supply customers with chilled drinks.
• When it is time to clean and restock the[0030]bin10, thebin10 may simply be rotated from its first storage position to its second storage position. Particularly, thebin10 is first filled with ice and drink containers. Second, thefirst lid15 is placed over thewall structure17 and secured thereto vialatch assemblies39. Third, the drain hole of thesecond lid16 is disconnected from the drain. Fourth, thebracket arm33 of thebracket assembly30 is pivoted away from thefirst bracket32 of thebracket assembly30 thereby placing thebracket assembly30 in its unlocked position. Similarly, the bracket arm of thebracket assembly31 is pivoted away from the first bracket of thebracket assembly31 thereby placing thebracket assembly31 in its unlocked position. Fifth, thebin10 is rotated via the bearingassembly22 and the bearingassembly23 as illustrated in FIG. 6 until thefirst lid15 forms the bottom of thebin10 thereby placing thebin10 in its second storage position. Sixth, thebracket arm33 of thebracket assembly30 is pivoted to engage thesecond bracket36 of thebracket assembly30 thereby placing thebracket assembly30 in its locked position. Similarly, the bracket arm of thebracket assembly31 is pivoted to engage the second bracket of thebracket assembly31 thereby placing thebracket assembly31 in its locked position. Seventh, thedrain hole38 of thefirst lid15 connects to the drain to permit water drainage from thebin10. Finally, thesecond lid16 is removed from thewall structure17 thereby exposing the drinks in thebin10 to customers. When it is again time to clean and restock thebin10, thebin10 may simply be rotated from its second storage position to its first storage position, which is accomplished in a manner similarly to that previously described.
• In allowing movement between a first storage position and a second storage position, the[0031]bin10 permits simplified redistribution of drink containers to ensure the oldest drinks are near the surface for customer consumption. Essentially, drink containers on the bottom of thebin10 are transferred to the top of thebin10 upon movement of thebin10 to either its first or second storage position. Furthermore, the cleaning of thebin10 is simplified because movement of thebin10 to either its first storage position or its second storage position places the bottom portion of thebin10 at the top portion. Thus, upon the removal of either thefirst lid15 or thesecond lid16 from thewall structure17, the previous bottom of thebin10 may be cleaned without the necessity of removing all the ice and drink containers from thebin10. In addition, the top portion of thewall structure17 may be cleaned as well.
• Although the present invention has been described in terms of the foregoing preferred embodiment, such description has been for exemplary purposes only and, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, many alternatives, equivalents, and variations of varying degrees will fall within the scope of the present invention. That scope, accordingly, is not to be limited in any respect by the foregoing detailed description; rather, it is defined only by the claims that follow.[0032]

Claims (17)

I claim:

1. A bin, comprising:

a wall structure;

a first lid removably securable to the wall structure;

a second lid removably securable to the wall structure; and

a frame supporting the wall structure, wherein the frame permits movement of the wall structure between a first storage position whereby the second lid forms a bottom of the bin and a second storage position whereby the first lid forms a bottom of the bin.

2. The bin according toclaim 1, further comprising a bracket assembly mounted to the wall structure and to the frame, whereby the bracket assembly in an unlocked position permits movement of the wall structure between the first storage position and the second storage position and the bracket assembly in a locked position secures the wall structure to the frame.

3. The bin according toclaim 2, the bracket assembly, comprising:

a first bracket mounted at a first end of the wall structure;

a second bracket mounted at a second end of the wall structure; and

a bracket arm pivotably mounted to the frame and engageable with one of the first bracket and the second bracket.

4. The bin according toclaim 1, further comprising a bearing assembly mounted to the wall structure and to the frame, whereby the bearing assembly facilitates rotational motion of the wall structure between the first storage position and the second storage position.

5. The bin according toclaim 4, the bracket assembly, comprising:

a coupling mounted to the wall structure;

a bearing mounted to the frame; and

a shaft rigidly mounted to the coupling and rotatably mounted to the bearing.

6. The bin according toclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of latch assemblies mounted to the wall structure and to the first lid, whereby the plurality of latch assemblies secure the first lid to the wall structure.

7. The bin according toclaim 6, the plurality of latch assemblies, comprising:

a lever pivotally mounted to the first lid; and

a catch mounted to the wall structure, whereby the lever engages the catch to secure the first lid to the wall structure.

8. The bin according toclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of latch assemblies mounted to the wall structure and to the second lid, whereby the plurality of latch assemblies secure the second lid to the wall structure.

9. The bin according toclaim 8, the plurality of latch assemblies, comprising:

a lever pivotally mounted to the second lid; and

a catch mounted to the wall structure, whereby the lever engages the catch to secure the second lid to the wall structure.

10. The bin according toclaim 1, the frame comprising a first leg and a second leg.

11. The bin according toclaim 1, the frame including wheels.

12. The bin according toclaim 1, the first lid including a drain hole.

13. The bin according toclaim 1, the second lid including a drain hole.

14. A method of moving a bin between a first storage position and a second storage position, comprising:

securing a first lid to a wall structure of the bin;

releasing a bracket assembly securing the wall structure to a frame supporting the wall structure;

rotating the wall structure about a bearing assembly coupling the frame to the wall structure until the first lid rotates to a location where the first lid forms a bottom of the bin;

returning the bracket assembly to a position securing the wall structure to the frame; and

removing a second lid from the wall structure of the bin.

15. The method of moving a bin between a first storage position and a second storage position according toclaim 14, further comprising coupling a drain hole of the first lid to a drain.

16. The method of moving a bin between a first storage position and a second storage position according toclaim 14, further comprising:

securing the second lid to the wall structure of the bin;

releasing the bracket assembly securing the wall structure to the frame supporting the wall structure;

rotating the wall structure about the bearing assembly coupling the frame to the wall structure until the second lid rotates to a location where the second lid forms a bottom of the bin;

returning the bracket assembly to a position securing the wall structure to the frame; and

removing the first lid from the wall structure of the bin.

17. The method of moving a bin between a first storage position and a second storage position according toclaim 16, further comprising coupling a drain hole of the second lid to a drain.

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