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US 12,344,467 B2Granted
Locking device and method
AssigneeSerio-Us Industries, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Reeb, James L. Martin, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention generally relates to waste containers and, more particularly, relates to a locking device for waste containers. The locking device is gravity actuated to an opened position on tilting of the container for dumping. The locking device allows the lid of the container, when the container is in an upright position, to be locked to prevent unauthorized access to the container. When the container is tilted from the upright position, e.g. to empty the contents of the container, the locking device is gravity actuated to allow the lid to open.
Claims20
A locking device, comprising:
- a) a housing having an opening;
- b) a flat and unitary sliding member slidably mounted in the housing, the sliding member having a main body and a neck portion extending from the main body, the main body and neck portion non-movable relative to each other, the main body having a first slot angularly disposed therein, the sliding member protruding through the opening in the housing so that the neck portion is disposed outside the housing;
- c) a rolling member disposed in the first slot, wherein the rolling member is carried by the sliding member as the sliding member slides in a fore/aft direction relative to the housing;
- and
- d) a biasing member disposed within the housing and biasing the sliding member in a first direction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.