Anti-animal container lock

#The present invention relates in general to locking mechanisms, and, in particular, to a new and useful locking mechanism for containers having bodies and lids with overlapping portions, or cabinets or drawers with overlapping parts, and especially for outside receptacles such as trash cans and recycled bins.

#The present invention solves the problem of keeping animals out of household trash containers thus preventing the mess that often is the result of an animal getting into the garbage can and rummaging through the contents of the container. The present invention can also keep young children out of drawers or cabinets.

#Others have attempted to incorporate locking mechanisms in the design of a trash receptacle, such as hinged handles that engage grooves or ridges in the cover to inhibit the removal of the lid, or straps that attempt to hold the lid in place, or even levers that clamp the cover onto the container while in the upright position. See, for example: U.S. Pat. No. 2,717,167 for a Container Cover fastener; U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,924 for a Releasable Tension holder for Removeable Receptacle Covers; U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,964 for Trash Can Protector; U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,656 for Trash Receptacle Having Lid Fastening Means; U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,851 for Container Cover Lock; U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,488 for Locking Device for Garbage Can Lid; U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,054 for Animal Proof Storage Container Apparatus; U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,144 for Garbage Can Lid Latch; U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,161 for Container Having Twist-Locking Cover; U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,598 for Lock for Trash Bins; U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,341 for Gravity Actuated Container Lock; U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,050 for Lid-Locking Device for Trash Containers; U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,093 for Device for Locking the Cover of a Container, and Container So Equipped; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,339,944 for Locking Mechanism for Trash Can Receptacle and Other Doors.

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention in a position for insertion into the aligned holes in a receptacle and cover with overlapping parts;

#FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of the locking arrangement in a locked condition;

#Referring to the drawings in particular wherein the same reference numerals are utilized to designate the same or functionally similar parts, the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is a locking arrangement generally designated 10 for a receptacle 12 having a cover 14. The receptacle and cover 12 and 14, have overlapping parts 12a and 14a with aligned holes 12b and 14b therethrough. The holes may be any shape but circular holes are preferred since they can easily be made by a household drill passing through the overlapping parts.

#The locking arrangement of the invention comprises a bolt 16 for extending through the aligned holes 12b, 14b in the overlapping parts 12a, 14a of the receptacle and cover. Bolt 16 has a handle 18 at one end of the bolt for engagement for pulling the bolt out of the aligned holes in a withdrawing direction W in FIG. 3. The handle and the first end of the bolt to which the handle is connected, are outside the receptacle when the bolt extends through the aligned holes as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

#Expansion means 20 are provided at an opposite, inside end of bolt 16 for expanding into an expanded geometry shown in FIG. 2, having at least one dimension, in this case diameter, which is greater than a dimension of the aligned holes, again the diameter of the holes, to prevent withdrawing the bolt from the aligned holes 12b, 14b.