Automatic locking apparatus

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, wherein the lock side provides a first padlock flange;
• a pivot bar journaled through 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 terminating near a provided lower tab;
• a 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 an upper tab, and the pivot rod protrudes through the lock side terminating in a second padlock flange operatively associated with the first padlock flange;
• 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 torque is transmitted to and from the biasing mechanism from and to the pivot bar.

A method for manually bypassing a biasing mechanism an apparatus for automatically restraining a lid of a trash bin comprising:

• providing a frame comprising a biasing side and a lock side, wherein the frame is coupled to a wall of the trash bin, wherein the lock side provides a first padlock flange;
• a pivot bar journaled through 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 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 terminating near a provided lower tab;
• a 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 an upper tab, and the pivot rod protrudes through the lock side terminating in a second padlock flange operatively associated with the first padlock flange;
• 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 so as to transmit torque to and from the biasing mechanism, wherein the first padlock flange and the second padlock flange each define a lock hole disposed to be aligned when the pivot rod is in the locked position.;
• and
• removing a shackle of a padlock through the aligned holes of the first and second padlock flange;
• rotating the pivot rod from the locked position to the unlocked position;
• and
• rotating the pivot bar from the unreleased position to the released position.