WO2008130239A1

WO2008130239A1 - A pedal operating assembly and pedal bin with such an operating assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2008130239A1
Application number: PCT/NL2008/050240
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Marie Gerard Renard
Original assignee: Brabantia Nederland BV
Current assignee: Brabantia Nederland BV
Priority date: 2007-04-24
Filing date: 2008-04-24
Publication date: 2008-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2009-10-24
Also published as: NL2000608C2; EP2137086A1

Abstract

A pedal operating assembly, such as for operation of the cover of a pedal bin, comprises a base element (1), a forward pointing pedal (3) on the front side of the base element (1), which pedal (3) is provided with an engagement part (4) for the foot and also supporting means (19) for supporting the engagement part (4) so that it is movable relative to the base element (1) between an idle position and a working position. The supporting means (19) are designed in such a way that in the idle position the engagement part (4) lies further forward than it does in the working position.

Description

A pedal operating assembly and pedal bin with such an operating assembly

The invention relates to a pedal operating assembly, such as for foot operation of the cover of a pedal bin, comprising a base element to be set up on the ground, a freely 5 forwardly directed pedal on the front side of the base element, which pedal is provided with an engagement part for the foot, and also supporting means for supporting the engagement part so that it is movable relative to the base element between an idle position and working positions situated at a level lower than that of the idle position. Such a pedal operating assembly is generally known, for example is disclosed in 0 US2003/0230576 and US2003/0233949, and can be used in pedal bins in particular, although other applications are also conceivable. In the case of the known pedal operating assembly, this engagement part for the foot is fixed on a tilting element that is pivotally fixed on the base element at some distance behind the engagement part. What is important here is that the engagement part for the foot must be situated at some S height above the set-up surface of the base element.

As a result of these conditions, the engagement part of the pedal in the idle position lies at a fairly high level relative to the pivoted fixing on the base element. This leads to the following phenomenon when the pedal is operated. The user places his foot with the heel on the floor, so that the front part of the foot is pointing upwards.0 The pedal is then pressed downwards with that front part of the foot. In the process, the front part of the foot forms an arc, which has a movement component in the direction towards the base element and the pedal. Conversely, the pedal when depressed by the foot likewise forms an arc, but this arc has a movement component in the direction away from the base element. 5 The distance between the place where the heel of the foot rests on the ground, and the pivoted fixing of the pedal on the base element therefore increases when the pedal is depressed. Depending on the geometry of the pedal operating assembly, this distance can be greatest at the end of the operating stroke, but it is also possible for the greatest distance to occur already during the operating stroke. Since the heel is usually0 placed firmly on the ground, this phenomenon leads to the base element, and the pedal bin along with it, being slid backwards. This is generally found to be a great nuisance, inter alia on account of the fact that with repeated operation of the pedal bin it slides increasingly further away. The object of the invention is therefore to provide a pedal operating assembly of the abovementioned type, in which the sliding described above under the influence of foot operation can be avoided or limited. That object is achieved in that the supporting means are designed in such a way that in the idle position the engagement part lies further forward than in any working position.

In the case of the pedal operating assembly according to the invention, the movement path of at least the engagement part for the foot can be such that the distance between the place where the heel is on the ground and the place where the hinged fixing of the pedal is situated on the base element remains virtually or completely unchanged. This is caused by the fact that at least the engagement part is moved directly from the idle position backwards when the pedal is depressed. This cuts out the phenomenon that the distance between the place where the heel of the foot is resting on the ground and the fixing of the pedal on the base element increases when the pedal is depressed. The result is that the base element is no longer slid when the pedal is operated. In particular, this means that the engagement part is movable along a path extending obliquely and/or in a curved manner relative to the base element.

Furthermore, it can be said that the engagement part is at a distance from the position at which the supporting means are fixed on the base element which is variable. This enables the engagement part to follow the arcuate movement made by the foot when it is depressing the pedal. The accompanying horizontal movement component that is directed towards the base element, and in the case of the known pedal operating assembly leads to sliding of the base element, is now compensated for by the fact that the distance between the engagement part and the fixing position of the pedal on the base element decreases. The pedal operating assembly with such an advantageous effect can be designed in various ways. The only vitally important factor is that the engagement part for the foot should follow the desired movement path backwards relative to the base element when the pedal is depressed. According to a first possible embodiment, this can be achieved if the supporting means comprise a four-bar mechanism of which the pedal and the base element form part. A four-bar mechanism is a general name for a movement system consisting of four sides, which sides are hingedly fixed to each other two by two. The shape of such a four-bar mechanism depends greatly on the lengths of the sides, and can be selected in such a way that a certain desired movement course can be obtained.

In the present case, one side of the four-bar mechanism is formed by the base element. This side should always be regarded as the fixed side. The other sides, one of which is formed by the pedal, can be selected in such a way that the pedal makes the desired movements when it is depressed. In the present case, provision is made for the four-bar mechanism to define a plane extending backwards from the pedal over the base element and directed transversely to said base element.

In a practical embodiment, the pedal is designed with an engagement part and also an arm which extends backwards relative to said engagement part and forms part of the four-bar mechanism. It is this arm which forms one of the sides of the four-bar mechanism. Furthermore, the four-bar mechanism comprises two control bars hingedly connected to the base element and hingedly connected to the pedal. The position of these control bars is also decisive for the movement course of the pedal. According to a preferred embodiment, the control bars are situated in a position directed transversely to the base element, at least in the idle position of the pedal.

Provision can also be made for the control bars, viewed in the plane defined by the four-bar mechanism, to lie one behind the other, and for the front control bar, at least in the idle position, to extend upright from a hinged suspension on the base element. In that case the rear control bar, at least in the idle position, can extend downwards from a hinged suspension on the base element.

The position of the hinges between the sides of the four-bar mechanism is furthermore important for the course of the pedal movement. As already stated above, factors such as the length of the sides play a role, and related to this is the fact that the hinged connection between the front control bar and the arm can be situated at a greater height above the base element than the hinged connection between the rear control bar and the arm.

In connection with the stability of the pedal operating assembly, the supporting means can comprise two parallel four-bar mechanisms. Here, the parallel control bars of the parallel four-bar mechanisms can be interconnected in pairs by torsion bars. As already mentioned above, the desired functioning of the pedal operating assembly according to the invention can, however, be obtained in ways other than by means of a four-bar mechanism. Such a different variant is one in which the engagement part can be slid relative to the supporting means in the direction towards the base element and away from the base element.

In this variant the support can be in the form of the conventional tilting element or the conventional arm, in other words with a hinged suspension situated relatively low down. Whilst the front of the tilting element itself then makes a disadvantageous movement with a forwardly directed movement component, this forwardly directed movement component is then compensated for by a slide backwards of the engagement part over the tilting element.

According to a further alternative embodiment, the supporting means can comprise an arm extending from the engagement part to the base element, which arm on the end facing away from the engagement part is hingedly suspended relative to the base element at a level that lies higher up relative to the base element than the level of the engagement part when in the idle position. In this variant the hinge pin lying relatively high up ensures that the front side of the pedal, and in particular the engagement part, has a backwardly directed movement component when it moves downwards.

The pressing element of the pedal operating assembly can likewise be designed in many ways, and can comprise, for example, a return spring, which constantly holds the pedal or the engagement part under spring-loaded pretension in the idle position. According to another possibility, the pressing element can comprise an operating bar pivotally connected to the base element and provided with a crank which interacts with the pedal, in such a way that operation of the pedal causes the operating bar to be turned by the crank.

In the above, reference is made to the idle position and the working positions of the pedal below it. Said idle position is obtained when no operating forces are exerted upon the pedal. For example, the idle position can establish itself under the influence of a spring-loaded pretension, or under the influence of gravity acting upon the cover of a pedal bin. In the latter case a pull bar or a push bar can be connected in a known manner to the hinged cover of a pedal bin, which bar interacts with the pedal by means of a torsion bar in the base element. The invention furthermore relates to a pedal bin, comprising a container which is open at the top side, a cover which closes the open top side of the container, and also a pedal operating assembly of the type described above with an operating bar, which operating bar is connected to the cover. The invention also relates to a method of driving the pedal operating assembly, comprising the steps of:

-moving the engagement part downwards from the idle position, and also -moving the engagement part directly from the idle position backwards relative to the base element.

As already explained above, the special suspension of the pedal in the base element makes such a movement course of the engagement part possible. In the process, the engagement part follows, as it were, the arc made by the foot or shoe of the user when it tilts about the heel. The distance between the position of the heel on ground and the base element remains the same here, so that no sliding of the base element occurs.

Therefore the method according to the invention can also comprise the steps of: -placing the foot of a person with the front of the foot on the engagement part of the pedal and with the heel on the ground on which the base element is situated, -moving the front of the foot downwards in such a way that the engagement part, directly from the start of the movement downwards of the engagement part, moves backwards relative to the base element.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. Figure 1 shows a part of a pedal operating assembly according to the invention in perspective.

Figure 2 shows the pedal operating assembly in side view and in the idle position. Figure 3 shows the pedal operating assembly in side view and in the working position. Figures 4 - 6 show a second embodiment of the pedal operating assembly.

Figures 7 - 9 show a third embodiment of the pedal operating assembly. The pedal operating assembly shown in Figure 1 consists of a base element 1, which is cut approximately through the middle for the sake of clarity, so that only one half of it is shown. The pedal operating assembly furthermore comprises a pedal 3 which points forward relative to the base element 1 and consists of the actual engagement part 4 for the foot, and the arm S. The pedal 3 is suspended in the base element 1 by means of supporting means in the form of the four-bar mechanism indicated in its entirety by 6 and the arm 5. This four-bar mechanism 6 has as the top and bottom bar respectively the arm 5, in particular the arm part 7 thereof extending backwards, and the base element 1, in particular the front part 8 thereof. Furthermore, the four-bar mechanism 6 comprises the control bars 9 and 10. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the front control bar 9 is pivotally fixed on a hinged part 11 of the base element 1 which is situated relatively far forward, while the rear control bar 10 is fixed on a hinged part 12 of the base element 1 which is situated relatively far back. The hinged part 12 lies higher up than the hinged part 11. The two hinged parts 11, 12 form the position in which the supporting means in the form of the four-bar mechanism 6 and the arm S are fixed on the base element 1. The front control bar 9 in the idle position shown in Figure 2 points transversely upwards relative to the base element 1, and is connected by means of hinge 20 to the arm S, in particular the rear arm part 7 thereof. The rear control bar 10 in the idle position extends transversely downwards relative to the base element 1 , and is fixed on the hinge 13 of the arm part 7. The hinge 20 is situated at a higher level than the hinge 13. Furthermore, the front control bar 9 is longer than the rear control bar 10.

In connection with the stability of the pedal operating assembly, two of such four- bar mechanisms 6 are provided on either side of the engagement part 4. The arms S are interconnected here by the connecting plate 14 on which the engagement part 4 is fixed. Furthermore, the front control bars 9 of both four-bar mechanisms 6 are interconnected by a torsion bar 21 , and the two rear control bars 10 by a torsion bar 22.

On the underside of the base element 1 is an operating rod IS, which is suspended so as to rotate about its axis, one end of which operating rod has a crank 16 which rests against the underside of the connecting plate 14. As can be seen in Figure 1, the other end of the operating rod 15 has a further crank 17, which by means of a pull bar (not shown) can be brought into connection with the cover (not shown) of a pedal bin whose base element 1 forms the base. Otherwise, a push bar can also be used.

The effect of now pressing on the engagement part 4 with the foot is that the engagement part 4 describes the movement path 18. This therefore means that the engagement part 4, and in the present exemplary embodiment also the supporting means 19, which are in the form of the arms 5 with connecting plate 14, perform a backwardly and downwardly directed movement when the pedal 3 is pressed downwards. This movement course ensures that the base element 1 is not pressed backwards when the pedal 3 is operated by the front of the foot, which foot is resting with the heel so that it does not slide on the ground and likewise describes such a movement path.

It can also be said that when the engagement part 4 is depressed the distance between the engagement part 4 and the hinged part 11 , the hinged part 12, or the two S hinged parts 11 and 12, is reduced.

The embodiment of the pedal operating assembly shown in Figures 4 - 6 again comprises a base element 1, which is shown in its entirety. The pedal 3 has an engagement part 4, and an arm 5. In this embodiment the pedal 3 is supported by means of the rotary support 30 on the base element 1. On the rear side of the arm 5 is a hinged0 fixing 31 , to which a push bar (not shown) must be fixed for opening and closing the cover. In the idle position shown in Figure 5, in which the engagement part 4 is tilted upwards and the hinged fixing 31 is tilted downwards, said cover is in the closed position. The engagement part 4 is then situated at a height which is not higher or is lower than the height of the rotary support 30. In the operated state shown in Figure 6, S the engagement part 4 is tilted downwards and the hinged fixing 31 is tilted upwards, in connection with opening the cover. Since such an operating assembly with a pressure bar is known per se, no further details of it are shown here. In this embodiment the distance between the engagement part 4 and the fixing position 30 of the supporting means 19 on the base element 1 has not changed. Nor is that necessary, since in the idle0 position the engagement part 4 does not lie higher up than the fixing position 30.

As can be seen in Figures S and 6, the rotary support 30 is situated at a relatively high level above the base element 1. As a result of this, the engagement part 4 in the idle position, as shown in Figure S, is likewise situated at a relatively high level. When the engagement part 4 is operated, because of this high placing of the rotary support 30,5 said engagement part will already make the desired movement backwards, as indicated by the movement path 18.

In the embodiment of Figures 7 - 8, the rotary support 30 of the arm 3 on the base element 1 is again situated at a relatively low level. The front side of the arm 3 will consequently make a movement forward when said arm 3 is moved out of the idle0 position shown in Figure 8 to the operated position shown in Figure 9. In order to make the desired movement of the engagement part 4 backwards possible in this embodiment also, said engagement part is slidably accommodated on the front end of the arm 3. For this purpose, the engagement part has a slot 32, in which the front plate-shaped part 33 of the arm 3 is slidably accommodated. By means of the compression spring 34, which at one side rests against a shoulder 35 of the arm 3, and at the other side rests against a shoulder 36 of the engagement part 4, the engagement part 4 is kept constantly pressed forward under spring-loaded pretension, in such a way that the strip 37 on which the shoulder 36 is fixed is held pressed against the stop 38 of the arm 3.

For operation with the foot, the foot is placed on the engagement part 4, in such a way that when the arm 3 tilts downwards from the position shown in Figure 8 to the position shown in Figure 9, said engagement part 4 gradually slides backwards relative to the arm 3. Here again, the desired movement path 18 with backwardly directed component of the engagement part 4 is obtained, hi the position shown in Figure 9 the distance between the engagement part 4 and the rotary support 30 is less than in the position shown in Figure 8. Furthermore, in this embodiment, like the embodiment of Figures 4 - 6, a push bar (not shown) is fixed on the rotary fixing 31 on the rear side of the arm 3.

Claims

1. A pedal operating assembly, such as for foot operation of the cover of a pedal bin, comprising a base element (1) to be set up on the ground, a forward pointing pedal (3) on the front side of the base element ( 1 ), which pedal (3) is provided with an engagement part (4) for the foot and also supporting means (19) for supporting the engagement part (4) so that it is movable relative to the base element (1) between an idle position and working positions situated at a level lower than that of the idle position, characterized in that the supporting means (19) are designed in such a way that in the idle position the engagement part (4) lies further forward than it does in any working position.

2. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the engagement part (4) is movable directly from the idle position along a path extending obliquely and/or in a curved manner towards the base element (1).

3. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supporting means (19) comprise a four-bar mechanism (6) of which the pedal (3) and the base element (1) form part.

4. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the four-bar mechanism (6) defines a plane extending backwards from the pedal (3) over the base element (1) and directed transversely to said base element (1).

5. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the pedal (3) comprises an engagement part (4) and also an arm (S) extending backwards relative to said engagement part (4) and forming part of the four-bar mechanism (6).

6. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in one of Claims 3 - S, characterized in that the four-bar mechanism (6) comprises two control bars (9, 10) hingedly connected to the base element (1) and hingedly connected to the pedal (3).

7. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the control bars (9, 10), at least in the idle position of the pedal (3), are situated in a transversely directed position relative to the base element (1).

8. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, viewed in the plane defined by the four-bar mechanism (6), the control bars (9, 10) lie one behind the other, and the front control bar (9), at least in the idle position, extends upright from a hinged suspension (11) on the base element (1).

9. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the rear control bar (10), at least in the idle position, extends downwards from a hinged suspension (12) on the base element (1).

10. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 8 and 9, characterized in that the hinged connection (20) between the front control bar (9) and the arm (5) is situated at greater height above the base element (1) than the hinged connection (13) between the rear control bar (10) and the arm (S).

11. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in one of claims 6 - 9, characterized in that the supporting means (19) comprise two parallel four-bar mechanisms (6).

12. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the parallel control bars (9, 10) of the parallel four-bar mechanisms (6) are interconnected in pairs by torsion bars (21, 22).

13. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engagement part (4) is slidable (32, 33) relative to the supporting means (19) in the direction towards the base element (1) and away from the base element.

14. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the supporting means (19) comprise an arm (3) extending from the engagement part (4) to the base element (1) and the engagement part (4) is slidable (32, 33) relative to the arm (3).

15. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting means (19) comprise an arm (3) extending from the engagement part to the base element (1), which arm on the end facing away from the engagement part (4) is hingedly (30) suspended relative to the base element (1 ) at a level that is approximately the same as or is higher up relative to the base element (1) than the level of the engagement part (4) when in the idle position.

16. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance between the engagement element (4) and the fixing position (11, 12; 30) of the supporting means (19) on the base element (1) is variable.

17. The pedal operating assembly as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pressing element (15-17) is provided, which pressing element comprises an operating rod (15) which is pivotally connected on the base element (1) and is provided with a crank (16) which interacts with the pedal (3), in such a way that by operation of the pedal (3) the operating rod (15) is turned by the crank (16).

18. A pedal bin, comprising a container which is open on the top side, a cover which closes the open top side of the container, and also a pedal operating assembly as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the operating rod (15) is connected to the cover.

19. A method for operating a pedal operating assembly as claimed in one of claims 1- 17, which pedal operating assembly comprises a base element (1), a freely forwardly directed pedal (3) on the front side of the base element (I), which pedal (3) is provided with an engagement part (4) for the foot, and also supporting means (19) by means of which the engagement part (4) is supported so that it is movable in the height direction relative to the base element (1) between an idle position and working positions, which supporting means (19) permit a movement of the engagement part (4) relative to the base element (1) transversely relative to the height direction, in such a way that in the idle position the engagement part (4) lies further forward than it does in any working position, characterized by the steps of: -moving the engagement part (4) downwards from the idle position, and also -moving the engagement part (4) directly from the idle position backwards relative to the base element (1).

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, comprising the steps of:

-placing the front of the foot of a person on the engagement part (4) of the pedal

(3) and with the heel on the ground on which the base element (1) is situated,

- moving the front of the foot downwards in such a way that the engagement part

(4) moves backwards relative to the base element (1) directly from the start of the movement downwards of the engagement part.