Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Cleaning Cart
This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to the
filing
date of to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,637, as filed on January
24,
2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to carts and more particularly to a
housekeeping
or service cart that facilitates trash collection.
Background of the Invention
A typical housekeeping cart comprises a frame supported on wheels such that
the cart can be pushed or pulled around a service area. For example such carts
are used in hotel housekeeping applications, janitorial services and the like.
The
frame may support shelves for carrying supplies, tool/equipment holders or the
like. These carts also may include trash bag compartments where a plastic
trash
bag/bag liner is supported for receiving trash. Some carts use a pivoting door
to
close the trash bag compartment. In known carts the door pivots about a single
axis and requires the user to hold the door open to access the trash
compartment.
Summary of the Invention
The cart comprises a plafform supported on wheels such that the platform may
be pushed or pulled across the floor. A plurality of vertical supports support
an
upper frame member at a spaced distance from the platform. The frame member
defines a first opening disposed over a compartment. A door closes the opening
to allow a user to isolate the compartment from the external environment. The
door pivots from the closed position to the open position about two axes such
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that the door can be conveniently opened and the compartment accessed from
different positions around the cart. In one open position the door extends
generally vertically upward to a stop position that allows the door to be
easily
opened and closed. In the second open position the door opens sideways and is
suspended downward along the side of the cart such that the door remains open
without protruding vertically above the upper frame member thus preventing the
door from blocking access to the compartment.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cart of the invention.
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the door assembly of the cart
of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the door in a first open position.
Fig. 4 is a more detailed view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the door moving toward a second open
position.
Fig. 6 is a more detailed view of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the door in a second open position.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment showing the door in a
first
open position.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 8 showing the door
moving
toward a second open position.
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Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
An embodiment of the cart of the invention is shown generally at I in Fig. 1
and
comprises a platform 2 supported on wheels 4 such that the platform may be
pushed or pulled across the floor. The wheels 4 may comprise caster wheels
that rotate around a vertical axis. In one alternate embodiment the cart
includes
a pair of caster wheels at the front of the cart and a pair of fixed wheels at
the
back of the cart. A plurality of vertical supports 6 support an upper frame
member 8 at a spaced distance from the platform 2. The frame member 8 is
positioned at a comfortable height where it can be accessed by a user. In the
illustrated embodiment the frame member defines a first opening 10 disposed
over a compartment 12. Compartment 12 may comprise a flexible bag or a rigid
container. A disposable trash bag/bag liner may be positioned inside of the
trash
compartment 12 such that trash is deposited in the trash bag through opening
10. The trash bag can be removed from the compartment 12 and disposed of
when filled. A door assembly 41 closes the opening 10 as will hereinafter be
described. Compartment 12 may be used for other purposes than trash
collection and removal.
The frame member 8 may also define a second opening 16 that retains a bucket
20 or other storage compartment. A storage bin 19 may also be supported below
the second opening 16 for retaining equipment or supplies. The frame member 8
may also be provided with various tool/equipment holders such as floor sign
hook
22, smaller storage compartments 24, hooks 26 for suspending cleaning
implements, slots 28 for retaining broom or mop handles and/or other storage
features. In the illustrated embodiment the platform 2 extends beyond the
vertical supports 6 to create an open platform surface 30 on which a bucket,
vacuum cleaner or the like may be supported. Further, the platform may extend
beyond the sides of the frame 8 to create smaller platform surfaces 29 on
which
the head of a mop or broom may be supported with the handle located in slots
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28. It will be appreciated that numerous changes in the layout of the cart 1
can
be made including, for example, adding additional shelves, storage cabinets or
the like. A handle 15 may be provided for pulling or pushing the cart.
Door assembly 41 includes a door 40 that closes the opening 10 to allow a user
to isolate the trash compartment from the external environment. Door 40 is
pivotably supported on movable frame 42 such that it pivots from the closed
position to the open position about two axes such that the door can be
conveniently opened and the compartment accessed from different positions
around the cart. In one open position the door is easily open and closed. In
the
second open position the door extends downward along the side of the cart such
that the door remains open and provides unobstructed access to the
compartment 12. In both open positions the door remains open without the user
having to manually hold the door open until a force is applied to the door to
close
the door. Door assembly 41 is configured to fit into opening 10 and close the
opening when the movable frame 42 and door 40 are in the closed position.
Movable frame 42 comprises a form that is shaped and dimensioned to fit into
opening 10. Movable frame 42 defines an internal opening 43 that is
dimensioned to maximize the size of the opening 43 relative to opening 10.
Movable frame 42 has a first corner pivotably mounted near one corner of
opening 10 and a second corner pivotably mounted near the opposite corner of
opening 10 such that movable frame 42 pivots about axis A-A relative to the
frame 8. In one embodiment the pivoting connection between the movable frame
42 and the frame 8 is created by extending pins 42a and 42b outward and along
axis A-A. Pins 42a and 42b are inserted into holes 47 and 49 formed in the
frame 8 such that the pins can rotate in the holes. The movable frame 42
extends about opening 10 such that it lies closely adjacent the periphery of
opening 10 along side walls 10a, 10b and 10c.
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One side edge 40a of the door 40 is pivotably connected to movable frame 42
such that it pivots about axis B-B relative to the bale 42. Door 40 is
pivotably
mounted on movable frame 42 such that axis B-B is perpendicular to axis A-A
and in substantially the same plane. In one embodiment an axle 47 extends
through holes 51 in the door 40 and is supported at each end in holes 53 in
the
movable frame 42 such that the door 40 can pivot on axle 47 about axis B-B.
Other connection mechanisms may be used provided that door 40 can rotate
relative to movable frame 42 about axis B-B.
The side walls 10a, 10b and 10c define a ledge 44 that extends around the
periphery of opening 10 on which movable frame 42 rests when the door
assembly is in the closed position. The side walls 10a, 10b and 10c and/or
ledge
44 may also define hooks 49 or other structure for holding a disposable trash
bag
open in compartment 12.
In operation the user can pivot the door 40 to the open position by pivoting
the
door relative to frame 8 either along axis A-A or axis B-B. To temporarily
open
the door 40, the user grasps the side edge 42b of movable frame 42 opposite to
axis A-A. The user lifts on edge 42b to pivot the movable frame 42 and door 40
about axis A-A. The door assembly 41 rotates about axis A-A a distance
sufficient to allow access to trash compartment 12. In one embodiment the
rotation of door assembly 41 about axis A-A is limited by the engagement of
door
assembly 41 against the beveled edge 8a of frame 8 such that door 40 is held
in
an upstanding substantially vertical position. The door assembly 41 can return
to
the closed position under the force of gravity if pushed by a user. The
movable
frame 42 and door 40 can also be returned to the closed position using a
separate biasing mechanism such as a spring. It is contemplated that the door
assembly 41 will open a sufficient distance such that it just remains in the
open
position in a generally vertical orientation where it can quickly and easily
be
closed by simply pushing the movable frame 42 closed. The end 40c of door 40
extends above the axis of rotation A-A. In this arrangement the movement of
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the door assembly 41 to the open position will be stopped when the door
assembly 41 just passes the over-center position and is disposed substantially
vertically extending upward from frame 8. Movement of the door assembly 41 is
stopped by the engagement of the beveled surface 40e of door 40 with the
beveled surface 8a of frame 8, although a separate stop may be used. A hand or
finger grab 48 may be provided in movable frame 42 40 to allow the user to
grasp edge 42b.
To fully open the door 40, the door 40 is grasped by the user along side edge
40c opposite to edge 40d that is disposed adjacent axis B-B. The user lifts on
edge 40c to pivot the door 40 about axle 47 and axis B-B. A finger or hand
grab
50 is provided along edge 40c of door 40 that allows the user to grab the edge
of
door 40. The door 40 rotates about axis B-B as door 40 pivots in the holes
provided in frame 8. The axis B-B is disposed outside of the end wall 10d of
opening 10 a distance sufficient to allow the door 40 to pivot until it is
disposed
substantially vertically and is suspended downwardly from the axle 47 as shown
in Fig. 7. The end 40c of door 40 extends down below the axis of rotation B-B.
In this position the door is completely out of the way of opening 10 and will
remain in the open position until the user lifts and rotates door 40 about
axis B-B
to the closed position.
Pivoting the door assembly 41 about axis A-A allows the user to quickly open
and close door assembly 41 to contain the unpleasant smell and appearance of
the trash in compartment 12 such as in food courts. Such a use is also useful
where the user is collecting trash less frequently and walks further between
trash
pick-ups. Pivoting the door 40 about axis B-B is useful in applications where
odor and appearance are less of an issue and trash is collected frequently and
the distance between trash pick-ups is short. The system allows the user to
open and close the door quickly and/or leave the door open and out of the way
for accessibility. The system of the invention also allows the user to access
the
trash compartment from different sides of the cart.
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In one embodiment the door 40 and movable frame 42 are made of a plastic
such as ABS plastic. Other materials may be used. Further, the system could
be arranged with the frame 8 pivoted to the supports 6 such that the frame 8,
rather than the movable frame 42, pivots around axis B-B.
In an alternate embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a wire form bale 101 is
pivotably supported near one end of the opening 102 in frame 108 and pivots
about a first axis A-A. The bale 101 extends around three sides of the opening
102. One side edge 110a of the door 110 is pivotably connected to the bale 101
such that the door 110 it pivots about a second axis B-B that is perpendicular
to
the first axis A-A and in substantially the same plane. The bale 101 pivots
about
axis A-A to completely open the door 110 such that the door extends down and
is
suspended on the bale. Fig. 9 shows the door 110 in a partially open position.
In
the completely open position the door 110 will hang downward along one side of
compartment 112 suspended from bale 101. The bale 101 and door 110 can be
lifted and rotated to close the door. The door 110 can also be rotated about
the
bale 101 about axis B-B to open the door to a substantially vertical position
where the door can be quickly and easily open and shut as shown in Fig. 8. In
this position the engagement of the door 110 with the frame 108 stops the door
in
an upstanding substantially vertical position as shown.
Specific embodiments of an invention are disclosed herein. One of ordinary
skill
in the art will recognize that the invention has other applications in other
environments. Many embodiments are possible. The following claims are in no
way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments
described above.
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