The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 02, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1999
John P. Kasik, Dallas, TX (US);
Cardinal Automation, Inc., Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A signaling device is mated with a conventional container to develop a change in state for indicating that the container has been accessed. In conjunction with a refuse container having a body and a cover connected to the body of the container by a hinge, the signaling device takes the form of a flag which is coupled with the hinge of the container so that the flag can move between a lowered position in which the flag lies over the cover of the container, and a raised position in which the flag extends upwardly from the container, providing the desired change in state. In use, the flag is automatically moved from the lowered position to the raised position when the cover is opened, signaling that the container has been accessed. The flag is automatically returned from the raised position to the lowered position as part of the procedure which is used to later empty the container. The signaling device can then be used to identify only those containers which have been accessed so that only those containers having a signaling device which indicates that the particular container has been accessed are emptied.