Automatic locking apparatus

摘要

An automatic locking apparatus mounted to a trash bin is provided. The automatic locking apparatus may also include a pair of lock bar arms and a lock bar that pivots from an unreleased position to a released position. The automatic locking apparatus may include a pivot bar, a biasing mechanism and a pivot rod. The pivot rod may rotate from a locked position to an unlocked position. The pair of lock bar arms may be perpendicularly joined to the pivot bar. The biasing mechanism may be disposed about the pivot bar so as to engage an upper tab provided by the bar pivot rod, when the bar pivot rod is in the locked position. When the pair of lock bar arms rotate to the released position, torque may be transmitted through the pivot bar to the biasing mechanism so as to urge the lock bar arms back to the unreleased position. When the pivot rod may be in the unlocked position the upper tab may be disengaged from the biasing mechanism so as to bypass biasing mechanism, when moving the pivot bar to the released position.

主权项

1. An apparatus for automatically restraining at least one lid of a trash bin comprising:
a frame comprising a biasing side and a lock side, wherein the frame is coupled to a wall of the trash bin; a pivot bar supported by the frame for rotating between an unreleased position and a released position, wherein the pivot bar is cantilevered to at least one lock bar assembly for restraining the at least one lid of the trash bin from moving from a closed position to an open position, wherein the pivot bar protrudes through the biasing side; a lower tab joined to the pivot bar near the biasing side; an upper tab joined to a pivot rod; the pivot rod journaled through the frame for rotating between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the pivot rod protrudes through the biasing side terminating in the upper tab, and the pivot rod protrudes through the lock side terminating in a locking means; and a biasing mechanism disposed about the pivot bar between the lower tab and the biasing side, wherein the biasing mechanism terminates in a first moment arm and an opposing second moment arm, wherein the first moment arm is engaged by the lower tab, and wherein the second moment arm engages the upper tab, whereby transmitting torque to and from the biasing mechanism from and to the pivot bar.