Automatic bin lid opener system

{
  "publication_number": "US9919867B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Automatic bin lid opener system",
  "abstract": "An automatic bin lid opener system is an apparatus used for opening and closing the top hatch of a storage bin from a control box at ground level to allow the user to avoid climbing ladders to the top of the storage bin. The control box may be operated manually or may be programmed to operate automatically as preferred by the user. The programmable control box may also be operated remotely at great distances via a cell phone using a cell phone application.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An automatic bin lid opener system comprising: a bin top closure comprising a lid first portion, a lid second portion, and a hinge, wherein said lid first portion is nonremovably attached to a top opening of a storage bin and said lid second portion is pivotally attached to said lid first portion on one side via said hinge such that when said lid second portion is not in a parallel relationship with said lid first portion, an inner volume of said storage bin is able to be accessed, and when said lid second portion is in a parallel relationship with said lid first portion, said inner volume is sealed from an exterior environment; a bin lid operator comprising an actuator, a telescopic cylinder having a first end and a second end, a swivel joint, a bail, and a programmable control box; wherein said first end of said telescopic cylinder is attached to said swivel joint and said swivel joint is attached to a top exterior surface of said storage bin; wherein said second end of said telescopic cylinder is pivotally attached to said bail, and said bail is attached to said lid second portion; wherein said actuator is in communication with said telescopic cylinder such that said telescopic cylinder is able to pivot said lid second portion via an actuation of said actuator; wherein said programmable control box is in communication with said actuator; and wherein said bin top closure is useful for remotely opening a top of a storage bin for filling said storage bin with said material and for aerating said material therein, and wherein said bin top closure is useful for remotely closing and sealing said storage bin thereafter to increase a safety of a user and to reduce a labor.",
    "2. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 1 wherein said programmable control box of said bin top closure is able to operate at least one said bin lid operator.",
    "3. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 2 wherein said programmable control box comprises a programmable time delay function.",
    "4. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 3 wherein said programmable control box is adapted to operate approximately six said bin lid operators independently.",
    "5. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 3 wherein said programmable control box is adapted to be operated remotely via a cell phone.",
    "6. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 2 wherein said programmable control box further comprises a manual bin lid operator switch.",
    "7. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 2 wherein said programmable control box comprises a plurality of electrical power cords each extending to an exterior of said programmable control box, each said electrical power cord having a quick coupler for coupling to a power cord for a corresponding said bin lid operator.",
    "8. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 1 wherein said programmable control box further comprises a plurality of exterior status indicators for indicating presence of power and wireless fidelity.",
    "9. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 1 wherein said bin lid operator is able to be attached to an existing storage bin lid.",
    "10. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 9 wherein said bin lid operator is adapted to pivotally open said lid second portion.",
    "11. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 9 wherein said bin lid operator is adapted to slide open said lid second portion.",
    "12. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 11 wherein said bin lid operator is adapted to operate a slide valve located on a bottom of said storage bin.",
    "13. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 9 wherein said bin lid operator is able to apply approximately 200 pounds of closing force.",
    "14. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 1 wherein said actuator is adapted to extend eight inches from a fully retracted position.",
    "15. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 1 wherein said swivel joint is adapted to freely rotate in four directions to compensate for misalignment.",
    "16. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 1 wherein said telescopic cylinder is adapted to have approximately six attachment points for adjusting a length of said telescopic cylinder to allow for a 90 degree opening of said lid second portion.",
    "17. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 1 wherein said manual bin lid operator switch is adapted to hold said lid second portion at any user preferred angle of opening.",
    "18. The automatic bin lid opener system of claim 1 wherein said bail is structured and arranged to provide a mechanical advantage for said telescopic cylinder to pivotally operate said lid second portion.",
    "19. An automatic bin lid opener system comprising: a bin top closure comprising a lid first portion, a lid second portion, and a hinge, wherein said lid first portion is non-removably attached to a top opening of a storage bin and said lid second portion is pivotally attached to said lid first portion on one side via said hinge such that when said lid second portion is not in a parallel relationship with said lid first portion, an inner volume of said storage bin is able to be accessed, and when said lid second portion is in a parallel relationship with said lid first portion, said inner volume is sealed from an exterior environment, a bin lid operator comprising an actuator, a telescopic cylinder having a first end and a second end, a swivel joint, a bail, and a programmable control box; wherein said bin lid operator is able to be attached to an existing storage bin lid; wherein said first end of said telescopic cylinder is attached to said swivel joint and said swivel joint is attached to a top exterior surface of said storage bin; wherein said swivel joint is adapted to freely rotate in 4 four directions to compensate for misalignment; wherein said second end of said telescopic cylinder is pivotally attached to said bail and said bail is attached to said lid second portion; wherein said bin lid operator is adapted to pivotally open said lid second portion; wherein said bin lid operator is adapted to slide open said lid second portion; wherein said bin lid operator is adapted to operate a slide valve located on a bottom of said storage bin; wherein said bin lid operator is able to apply approximately 200 pounds of closing force; wherein said telescopic cylinder is adapted to have approximately 6 six attachment points for adjusting a length of said telescopic cylinder to allow for a 90 degree opening of said lid second portion; wherein said actuator is in communication with said telescopic cylinder such that said telescopic cylinder is able to pivot said lid second portion via an activation of said actuator; wherein said actuator is adapted to extend eight inches from a fully retracted position; wherein said programmable control box is in communication with said actuator; wherein said programmable control box of said bin top closure is able to operate at least one said bin lid operator; wherein said programmable control box is adapted to operate approximately six said bin lid operators independently; wherein said programmable control box comprises a programmable time delay function; wherein said programmable control box further comprises a manual bin lid operator switch; wherein said manual bin lid operator switch is adapted to hold said lid second portion at any user preferred angle of opening; wherein said programmable control box further comprises a plurality of exterior status indicators for indicating presence of power and wireless fidelity; wherein said programmable control box is adapted to be operated remotely via a cell phone; wherein said programmable control box comprises a plurality of electrical power cords each extending to an exterior of said programmable control box, each said electrical power cord having a quick coupler for coupling to a power cord for a corresponding said bin lid operator; and wherein said bin top closure is useful for remotely opening a top of a storage bin for filling said storage bin with said material and for aerating said material therein, and wherein said bin top closure is useful for remotely closing and sealing said storage in thereafter to increase a safety of a user and to reduce a labor.",
    "20. The combination of an automatic bin lid opener system and a wireless fidelity system comprising: a.) a bin top closure comprising; a lid first portion, a lid second portion, and a hinge, wherein said lid first portion is non-removably attached to a top opening of a storage bin and said lid second portion is pivotally attached to said lid first portion on one side via said hinge such that when said lid second portion is not in a parallel relationship with said lid first portion, an inner volume of said storage bin is able to be accessed, and when said lid second portion is in a parallel relationship with said lid first portion, said inner volume is sealed from an exterior environment; b.) a bin lid operator comprising; an actuator, a telescopic cylinder having a first end and a second end, a swivel joint, a bail, and a programmable control box; wherein said first end of said telescopic cylinder is attached to said swivel joint and said swivel joint is attached to a top exterior surface of said storage bin; wherein said second end of said telescopic cylinder is pivotally attached to said bail, and said bail is attached to said lid second portion; wherein said actuator is in communication with said telescopic cylinder such that said telescopic cylinder is able to pivot said lid second portion via said bail when said actuator is activated; wherein said programmable control box is in communication with said actuator; and wherein said bin top closure is useful for opening a top of a storage bin from a ground level via said programmable control box for filling said storage bin with a material and for aerating said material therein, and wherein said bin top closure is useful for closing and sealing said storage bin thereafter from a ground level to increase a safety of a user and to reduce labor; c.) a wireless fidelity system comprising; a mobile station having; a wireless transceiver; a control unit; and an antenna system; wherein said wireless transceiver is located within said programmable control box and adapted to receive a command from a cellular phone; wherein said control unit is located within said programmable control box and adapted to receive a command from said wireless transceiver, said control unit in communication with said programmable control box; wherein said antenna system is adapted to receive a wireless cellular command signal from a cell phone; and wherein said wireless fidelity system is useful for adjusting a degree angle of opening of said lid second portion from a remote location via said cell phone."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR 1.71(d).\n\nThe following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention(s). It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art, or material, to the presently described or claimed inventions, or that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.\n\n1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates generally to the field of lids for bins and more specifically relates to an automatic bin lid opener system.\n\n2. Description of the Related Art\n\nVarious grains and dry materials are produced and used extensively in the agricultural business. These materials are produced and stored in volume, usually in silos or bins. Most often, there are multiple storage bins in operation on the average sized farm. The dry material that is usually stored in these bins dictates the design for the bins, which generally has a cylindrical sidewall with a conical shaped bottom that funnels the dry material, such as grain, to a bottom opening. The bottom opening has some type of hatch or closing device. To put the material in the bin, there is a top lid that is opened, which may be used also for introduction of air for aeration of the stored material.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65D 90/66",
    "B65D 90/62",
    "B65D 90/623"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65D 90/62",
    "B65D 90/66"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Shawn Poncsak"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-17",
  "publication_date": "2018-03-20",
  "grant_date": "2018-03-20",
  "priority_date": "2016-02-17",
  "application_number": "US-201615045633-A",
  "family_id": "61600167",
  "cited_by_count": 9,
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}