Self-closing lid
AssigneeQvin, LLC
InventorNathanael Fowler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-closing lid that can be applied to a container and which provides a screen to prevent oversized debris from entering an inlet. The self-closing lid preferably includes a pair of flaps that rotate into an open position when material is being applied to the inlet and which rotate closed—preferably via a counterbalance, when material is no longer being applied to the inlet. The autonomous self-closing lid is preferably configured to not open in response to rainwater falling into the inlet and has shapes and/or features which direct the rainwater away from the inlet and outside of the lid.
Claims20
A self-closing lid comprising:
- a lid frame having an opening;
- a pair of counterbalanced flaps, each of said pair of counterbalanced flaps hingedly coupled to said lid frame and positioned such that said pair of counterbalanced flaps are disposed on opposing sides of said opening such that said pair of counterbalanced flaps rotate between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said pair of counterbalanced flaps are counterbalanced such that said pair of counterbalanced flaps are biased into a closed configuration due to counterbalancing;
- and
- a screen positioned to screen material that passes through said opening.
A method for automatically opening and closing a lid in response to a material being applied thereto, the method comprising:
- forming an opening in a lid;
- forming a frame around the opening;
- counterbalancing a pair of flaps and positioning them such that the pair of flaps is biased into a closed position with respect to the formed opening when weight of material is not applied to them;
- and
- positioning a screen above the pair of flaps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.