# US 10,370,188 B2 · Waste container with improved latch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,370,188 B2 - Document ID: US10370188B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/162,149 - Filed: 2016-05-23 - Published: 2017-01-26 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-07 - Assignees: Rehrig Pacific Company - Applicants: Rehrig Pacific Company - Inventors: Derick Foster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370188B2 ## CPC - B65F 1/1615: {with means for locking, fastening or permanently closing thereof} - B65F 1/122: {Features allowing the receptacle to be lifted and subsequently tipped by associated means on a vehicle} - B65F 1/1473: {Receptacles having wheels} - B65F 1/1646: {provided with means for mounting on receptacles, e.g. hinges} - B65F: GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE (disinfecting refuse A61L; refuse disintegrators B02C; sorting refuse B03B; B07B; handcarts for transporting refuse receptacles B62B; sack holders B65B67/00; converting refuse into fertilisers C05F; converting refuse into solid fuels C10L; sewers, cesspools E03F; arrangements in buildings for the disposal of refuse E04F17/10; refuse-consuming furnaces F23G; {for surgical articles A61B50/36}) ## Abstract A waste container includes a body having a base and a side wall extending upward from the base to define a container interior. A lid is hingeably secured to an upper portion of the side wall. A latch assembly selectively secures the lid to the side wall, the latch assembly including a rotatable latch portion having a latch member selectively interlocking with a hook portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A waste container including: a body having a base and a side wall extending upward from the base to define a container interior, the side wall having a rearward portion opposite a front portion; a lid hingeably secured to the body proximate the rearward portion of the side wall; and a latch assembly selectively securing the lid only to the front portion of the side wall, the latch assembly including a rotatable handle portion rotatably mounted to the lid, wherein the handle portion is rotatable about an axis generally transverse to the lid to selective release the latch assembly, wherein the latch assembly includes a plurality of latch members, any of which can selectively interlock with the front portion of the side wall by rotation of the rotatable handle portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The waste container of claim 1 wherein the rotatable handle portion is connected to a lower latch portion including a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, a latch member formed on the large diameter portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The waste container of claim 1 wherein the body includes a horizontal lip projecting outward from an upper portion of the side wall, an outer rib protruding upward from the lip outward of the lid when the lid is closed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The waste container of claim 1 wherein the latch assembly further includes a lower latch portion below the lid, the latch assembly further including an upper latch portion above the lid, the upper latch portion secured to the lower latch portion, the upper latch portion including a handle portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The waste container of claim 4 wherein the upper latch portion includes an indicator indicating whether the latch assembly is latched or unlatched. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The waste container of claim 1 wherein a latch member is rotatable with the rotatable handle portion, the latch member rotating about the axis into and out of a latched position in which the latch member interlocks with a hook portion, the axis generally transverse to the lid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The waste container of claim 6 wherein the latch assembly includes a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion, the latch member formed at an outer periphery of the large diameter portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The waste container of claim 6 wherein the latch member is arcuate about the axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The waste container of claim 1 wherein the lid is hingeably connected to a handle spaced rearwardly of a rearward portion of the upper portion of the side wall. ### Claim 10 A waste container including: a body having a base and a side wall extending upward from the base to define a container interior, the side wall having a rearward portion opposite a front portion; a lid hingeably secured to the body proximate the rearward portion of the side wall; and a latch assembly selectively securing the lid only to the front portion of the side wall, the latch assembly including an upper latch portion above the lid, the upper latch portion including a handle portion rotatably mounted to the lid, wherein the handle portion is rotatable about an axis generally transverse to the lid to selective release the latch assembly, the latch assembly further including a lower latch portion below the lid, wherein the upper latch portion is snap-fit connected to the lower latch portion. ### Claim 11 A waste container including: a body having a base and a side wall extending upward from the base to define a container interior, the side wall having a rearward portion opposite a front portion; a lid hingeably secured to the body proximate the rearward portion of the side wall; and a latch assembly selectively securing the lid only to the front portion of the side wall, the latch assembly including a rotatable handle portion rotatably mounted to the lid, wherein the handle portion is rotatable about an axis generally transverse to the lid to selective release the latch assembly, wherein the rotatable handle portion includes a plurality of ribs extending radially outward relative to the axis. ### Claim 12 A waste container including: a body having a base and a side wall extending upward from the base to define a container interior, wherein the base is integrally molded with the side wall, and wherein the side wall is integrally molded with a lip projecting horizontally outward from an upper portion of the side wall and then downward from the upper portion of the side wall, an outer rib molded integrally with the lip and protruding upward from the lip; a lid hingeably secured to the upper portion of the side wall and movable to a closed position on the lip, the lid including an outer lip integrally molded with the lid and extending downward, the outer lip contacting the lip of the side wall inward of the outer rib when the lid is in the closed position, wherein a lower edge of the outer lip is below an upper edge of the outer rib when the lid is in the closed position, the outer rib protruding upward from the lip outward of the lid when the lid is in the closed position on the lip; and a latch assembly selectively securing the lid to the side wall, wherein the latch assembly includes a plurality of latch members, any of which can selectively interlock with the front portion of the side wall by rotation of the rotatable handle portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The waste container of claim 12 wherein the lid is hingeably secured to a rearward portion of the body, the latch assembly secures the lid to a forward portion of the side wall and wherein the outer rib is formed along side portions of the side wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The waste container of claim 12 wherein the body further includes an inner rib molded integrally with the lip and projecting upward from the lip, the inner rib spaced inward of the outer rib, wherein the lid includes an inner lip spaced inwardly from the inner rib when the lid is in the closed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The waste container of claim 14 wherein the lip projects horizontally outward along side portions of the side wall from a rearward portion of the side wall to the latch assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The waste container of claim 12 wherein the lid is hingeably connected to a handle spaced rearwardly of a rearward portion of the upper portion of the side wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The waste container of claim 12 wherein the latch assembly further includes a lower latch portion below the lid, the latch assembly further including an upper latch portion above the lid, the upper latch portion snap-fit connected to the lower latch portion, the upper latch portion including a handle portion. ### Claim 18 A waste container including: a body having a base and a side wall extending upward from the base to define a container interior, the side wall having a rearward portion opposite a front portion; a lid hingeably secured to the body proximate the rearward portion of the side wall; and a latch assembly selectively securing the lid only to the front portion of the side wall, the latch assembly including a rotatable handle portion rotatably mounted above the lid, wherein the handle portion is rotatable about an axis generally transverse to the lid to selective release the latch assembly, the latch assembly further including a lower portion below the lid and secured to the handle portion, wherein the rotatable handle portion includes a plurality of ribs extending radially outward relative to the axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The waste container of claim 18 wherein the lid is hingeably connected to a handle spaced rearwardly of the rearward portion of the side wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The waste container of claim 19 further including a pair of wheels mounted to the body proximate a rearward portion of the side wall.