Composting device sliding lid with a seal assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906847-B2
Application number	US-201816048819-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 9, 2016
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a composting device including a housing defining an interior with an access opening providing access to the interior, a composter bin located within the interior and in communication with the access opening, and a cover slidably mounted to the housing and slidable along a sliding path between opened and closed conditions to selectively open and close the access opening. An angled seal assembly is provided on the cover and housing. Both a sealing surface and a seal are angled relative to a sliding path such that the space between the seal and the sealing surface decreases as the cover is slid from the opened to the closed condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A composter comprising:
a housing defining an interior, and having an access opening providing access to the interior;
a waste bin located within the interior and in communication with the access opening;
a cover slidably mounted to the housing and slidable along a sliding path, lying within a horizontal plane, between opened and closed conditions to selectively open and close the access opening;
a carriage mounted to a bottom of the cover to define a first angle relative to the horizontal plane;
a seal assembly comprising a seal mounted to the carriage and oriented at the first angle and a sealing surface provided on the housing about the access opening and oriented to define a second angle relative to the horizontal plane;
wherein the first and second angles are arranged such that a space between the seal and the sealing surface decreases as the cover is slid from the opened to the closed condition, and the seal abuts the sealing surface in the closed condition to seal the cover relative to the housing.

2. The composter of claim 1 wherein the first and second angles are complementary.

3. The composter of claim 1 wherein the seal surface completely surrounds the access opening.

4. The composter of claim 3 wherein the seal and seal surface have complementary shapes.

5. The composter of claim 1 wherein the seal is compressible.

6. The composter of claim 5 wherein the seal has a G-shape cross section.

7. The composter of claim 1 further comprising rails slidably mounting the cover to the housing.

8. The composter of claim 7 wherein the rails are horizontal.

9. The composter of claim 8 wherein the housing comprises a removable end plate in which the access opening is provided and to which the rails are mounted.

10. The composter of claim 7 wherein the carriage is slidably mounted to the rails.

11. The composter of claim 1 further comprising a funnel mounted to the housing and defining the access opening.

12. The composter of claim 11 wherein the second angle is angled upwardly toward the sliding path.

13. The composter of claim 12 wherein second angle is angled downwardly toward the sliding path.

14. The composter of claim 11 wherein one of the first and second angles is greater than the other.

15. A composter comprising:
a housing defining an interior;
a removable end plate mounted to the housing and having an access opening providing access to the interior;
a waste bin located within the interior and in communication with the access opening;
a cover slidably mounted to the housing and slidable along a sliding path, lying within a horizontal plane, between opened and closed conditions to selectively open and close the access opening; and
a seal assembly comprising a seal depending from one of the cover and removable end plate and a sealing surface provided on the other of the cover and removable end plate;
wherein a bottom of the cover defines a first angle relative to the horizontal plane and the removable end plate defines a second angle relative to the horizontal plane and the first and second angles are arranged such that a space between the seal and the sealing surface decreases as the cover is slid from the opened to the closed condition, and the seal abuts the sealing surface in the closed condition to seal the cover relative to the housing.

16. The composter of claim 15 wherein the first and second angles are oriented in the same direction relative to the sliding path.

17. The composter of claim 16 wherein one of the first and second angle is greater than the other.

18. The composter of claim 15 wherein the seal is compressible.

19. The composter of claim 18 wherein the seal has a G-shaped cross section.

20. The composter of claim 15 wherein the sealing surface surrounds the access opening.

21. The composter of claim 20 wherein the sealing surface and seal have complementary shapes.

22. The composter of claim 15 further comprising a funnel mounted to the housing.

23. The composter of claim 22 wherein the funnel defines the access opening.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Buzruk Abhishek
• Wilcox Christopher C
• Clark Brian

Classifications

• C05F17/964 Primary

  Constructional parts, e.g. floors, covers or doors · CPC title

• B01L2300/041

  Connecting closures to device or container · CPC title

• B65D43/20

  linearly slidable · CPC title

• C05F17/907 Primary

  Small-scale devices without mechanical means for feeding or discharging material, e.g. garden compost bins · CPC title

• Y02W30/40

  Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse · CPC title