Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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"GARBAGE CAN HOLDER"
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improve-
ments in garbage can holders, particularly holders for a
plurality of cans which preferably includes wheel means
which can be raised or lowered relative to the holder so
that the holder is supported upon the supporting surface by
means of the legs or, alternatively, by means of the wheels
thus enabling the holder together with any garbage cans
which may be supported therein, to be moved from one loca-
tion to another readily and easily.
Garbage can holders are known which are either
supported upon legs or upon wheels. When supported only
by legs, they are difficult to move from one ]ocation to
the other and when supported by wheels, the wheels have to
be calked or otherwise prevented from rotating when the
garbage can holder is in the desired location.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes disadvantages
inherent in existing garbage can holders by providing a de-
vice which is preferably provided with wheels, two of which
may be castoring wheels and in which the wheels may be
raised or lowered relative to the holder as desired.
In accordance with the invention there is provided
a garbage can holder comprising in combination a substan-
tially rectangular base frame, a base secured to said frame
and spanni.ng same, a leg secured to each corner of said
frame and including a downwardly depending, ground engag-
ing portion for supporting said base adjacent to but spaced
from the ground and an upwardly extending, rail support-
ing portion, side and end rails extending between said up
wardly extending portions above said base, to define, with
said base, a garbage can holding container which is open
above said base, said base being formed from an open grid
material, four wheel assemblies, each operatively secured
to the ground engaging portion of a respective one of the
legs, linkage means connected to each of said wheel assem-
blies and an operating handle connected to said linkage
means and arranged such that the handle is movable from a
first position in which each wheel is raised by said link-
age means above the bottom of the respective leg to a
second position in which each wheel is lowered by the link-
age means to a position below the bottom of the respective
leg.
Another advantage of the present invention is
the ease of manoeuvering the garbage can holder from one
location to the other particularly when two of the wheels
are castoring type wheels.
Yet another advantage of the invention is to pro-
vide a device of the character herewithin described which
is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and
otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is de-
-2A-
signed.
With the foregoing in vlew, and other advantages
as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to
which this invention relates as this specification pro-
ceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to
the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which in-
cludes a description of the preferred typical embodiment
of the principles of ~he present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment
without the wheels.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.
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Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing
the wheel assemblies attached thereto.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational
view of one of the castoring wheel assemblies.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of
one of the other wheel assemblies.
Figure 7 is an enlarged and sectional view substan-
tially along the line 7-7 in Figure 4.
Figure 8 is an enlarged and sectional view substan-
tially along the line 8-8 in Figure 4.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESC TIO
Proceeding to describe the invention in detail, re-
ference should first be made to Figures 1, 2 and 3. The inven-
tion collectively designated 10 comprises a substantially rec-
tangular base frame 11 formed from tubing or the like and hav-
ing a base collectively designated 12 spanning same, said base
being preferably formed from wire which is threaded through
apertures in the base. Alternatively, however, a grided base
may be provided and secured to the base frame in a conventional
manner so that the base spans the frame as clearly shown. Al-
though a grided base 12 is illustrated, a solid base can of
course be provided but the grided base is preferable for drain-
age and air circulation considerations.
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A leg component of square cross sectional configu-
ration is secured to adjacent each corner oE the base frame
11 by means of nut and bolt assemblies (not illustrated),
welding, or any other conventional means. Reference to the
drawings will show that the surfaces of the square cross
section of these legs are situated at approximately 45 with
reference to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the
base frame with one planar surface 14 engaging the curved
corner portion 15 of the base frame.
The legs include downwardly extending ground en-
gaging portions 16 and cross bar supporting upwardly extend-
ing portions 17 with the portions 16 being below the base
frame 11 and the portions 17 extending thereabove.
In the present embodiment, the upper ends of the
portions 17 of the legs extend over in the form of end mem-
bers 18 at the upper ends thereof with cross bars 20 extend-
ing between each end pair of legs 13 spaced downwardly from
the portions 18 as clearly shown for example in Figure 3.
Side rails 21 extend between the upwardly extend-
ing portions 17 of the legs on each side of the base frame
as illustrated in Figures l and 2 thus defining an upwardly
extending garbage can holder portion having an open upper
side so that garbage cans may be stored therein with the
bases thereof resting upon the base 12.
Rectangular plates 22 may be secured as by bolts 23
or the like, between the side rails 21 and the sides of the
base frame 11 intermediate the ends thereof as shown in Figure l.
.
In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 4
through 8, a wheel assembly collectively designated 24 is pro-
vided upon each side at one end 25 of the garbage can holder
assembly and a further pair of wheel assemblies collectively
designated 26 are provided at the other end 27 of the garbage
can holder assembly.
The wheel assemblies 24 are preferably of a noncas-
toring type whereas the wheel assemblies 26 are preferably
castoring wheel assemblies.
Means are provided to mount the wheel assemblies 24
at said one end 25 thereof taking the form of a support plate
28 secured to each of the ground engaging leg portions 16 at
the end 25 and a wheel axle 29 is journalled for partial rota-
tion between the two plates28 which are in spaced and parallel
relationship one with the other. This axle 29 is provided
with a cranked end portion at each end thereof including a
first portion 30 extending at right angles from the longitudinal
axis of the main portion 31 and then extending again at right
angles from the lower ends of the portions 30, to provide
wheel mounting portions 32 parallel to the main portion 31 but
spaced in a different plane and extending outwardly therefrom.
The wheels 33 are conventional and are journalled for rotation
upon these wheel mounting portions 32 in a conventional manner.
An actuating arm 34 is secured to and extends upward-
ly from the main portion 31 of the axle 29, substantially in-
termediate the ends thereof.
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The o-ther wheel assemblies 26 include a wheel support-
ing axle 35 journalled for partial rotation within one end 36
of a pair of mounting plates 37 which extend rearwardly from
the lower ends 16 of the legs 13 situated at the other end of
the garbage can holder assembly and these plates 36 are in sub-
stantial alignment with the plates 28 hereinbefore described.
These plates 37 are also secured to the leg portions as by bolts,
welding or other conventional means.
A castoring wheel assembly bearing sleeve 38 is secur-
ed adjacent each end of the axle 35 and receives for free rota-
tion, the central castoring spindle 39 of the wheel assemblies
26, said spindle carrying the wheel fork 40 between which is
journalled for rotation a wheel 41 mounted upon spindles 42 in
a conventional manner so that these wheel assemblies 26 are pre-
ferably castoring wheel assemblies as clearly illustrated.
An actuating lever 43 is secured by one end thereof
intermediate the ends of the wheel axle 35 and extends upwardly
therefrom substantially parallel to the actuating arm 34 and a
link 44 is pivotally connected by the ends thereof between ad-
jacent the upper ends of the actuating arms 34 and 43 as clear-
ly shown in Figure 4 with link 44 being adjustable in length
for assembly purposes by means of one portion 44A being tele-
scopically engaged within the other portion 44B and pinned in
position through any one of a selection of apertures 45.
An operating handle 46 is provided at said one end 27
of the holder being pivotally mounted by the lower end 47 there-
of between lugs48Awhich extend from intermediate the ends of
a fixed brace 49 extending between the plates 37 as clearly
shown in Figure 7. A connector link 48 extends between the
handle 46 intermediate the ends thereof and the junction be-
tween the operating arm 43 and the distal end portion of the
link 44s as clearly shown in Figure 7, the connections between
the connecting link 48 and the arm being pivotal and the con-
nection between the connecting link 48 and the operating arm
43 also being pivotal.
In operation, with the handle in the position shown
in full line in Figure 4, the wheels are in the lowermost posi-
tion with the lower ends 49 of the portions 16 of the legs be-
ing raised clear of the ground so that the assembly can readily
be manoeuvered from one location to another assisted by the
castoring wheel assemblies 26 and being pulled if necessary,
by the handle 46.
When it is .in the desired location, the handle 46 is
moved to the substantially vertical position shown in phantom
in Figure 4 thus raising the wheels 24 and 26 to the position
shown in phantom and thereby lowering the lower ends 49 of the
legs into contact with the ground or other supporting surface
thus firmly supporting the garbage can holder in this position.
Final.ly it should be noted that the wire base 12 is
preferably formed in a craddle configuration with upturned end
portions 12A and upturned side portions 12B as clearly shown in
Figures 1 and 3.
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Since various modifications can be made in my inven-
tion as hereinàbove described, and many apparently widely dif-
ferent embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of
the claims without depar~ing from such spirit and scope, it is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specifi~
cation shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a
limiting sense.
