Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EXTENSION DEVICE FOR REFUSE CONTAINERS
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates generally to waste management
products, and more
particularly to an extension device for refuse containers.
Background
[0002] The statements in this section merely provide background
information related to the
present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
[0003] In recent years, many municipalities have begun mandating
the use of specific
refuse containers for residential and commercial waste. In many instances, the
containers are
provided by the local agency responsible for garbage collection and are
specifically chosen to
be suitable for use with automated rear or side-loading arms that are secured
onto modern
waste collection vehicles.
[0004] In order to reduce the number of visits and the costs
involved in waste collection
efforts, these refuse containers are typically large, wheeled bins having a
hinged lid and a
capacity of between 60 and 96 gallons. Although useful for receiving and
storing large
amounts of waste, these containers suffer from many practical drawbacks for
residents who
must use them every day.
[0005] For example, due to the large size and weight of the
containers, many users have a
difficult time transitioning the container onto its wheels and then physically
pushing or pulling
the container to the curb. This is particularly difficult due to the close
proximity of the handle
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to the side of the container, as the handle also functions as the support for
the hinged lid
mechanism. Additionally, it is not uncommon for water, dirt, and other grime
to accumulate
along the top surface of the lid between uses. In many instances, a user does
not notice these
materials until they use the handle to tilt the container toward them, at
which time the water and
other grime are unceremoniously splashed onto the user's legs or clothing.
[0006] Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide an extension
device for refuse
containers that can be quickly and easily secured onto a container in order to
overcome each of
the drawbacks noted above.
Summary of the Invention
[0007] The present invention is directed to an extension device
for a refuse container. One
embodiment of the present invention can include a pair of generally Y-shaped
sides, each
having a top end and a pair of spaced apart bottom ends. The sides can be
positioned parallel to
each other via two bumpers that are positioned between the pair of spaced
apart bottom ends,
and a device handle that is positioned between the top ends of each side.
[0008] In one embodiment, a refuse handle capture assembly can be
positioned between the
sides of the device preferably at a location that is equidistant to the two
bumpers. The
assembly can include a pair of circular arms that are rotated by a central rod
to transition
between a locked and an unlocked position. Each of the arms can include
openings for
receiving and engaging the handle of a refuse container. Of course, other
embodiments are
contemplated wherein the bumpers are not equidistant to the handle capture
assembly.
[0009] The assembly can be positioned at different locations along
the length of the Y-
shaped side members in order to engage refuse containers having different
shapes and sizes.
When secured onto a refuse container, the bumpers can engage the lid and back
wall of the
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container and the device handle can be positioned diagonally outward from the
container to
provide an adjustable mechanical advantage for allowing a user to tilt and
move the refuse
container.
[0010] This summary is provided merely to introduce certain
concepts and not to identify
key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0011] Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings.
It should be
appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and
instrumentalities shown.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extension device for
refuse containers that is
useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
[0013] FIG. 2A is a cutout view of the refuse handle capture
assembly of the extension
device for refuse containers in the unlocked position, in accordance with one
embodiment of
the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2B is a cutout view of the refuse handle capture
assembly of the extension
device for refuse containers in the locked position, in accordance with one
embodiment of the
invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the extension device for refuse
container, in accordance
with one embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the extension device for
refuse container in
operation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the extension device
for refuse container in
operation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
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[0018] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the extension device
for refuse container in
operation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the extension device
for refuse container in
operation, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0020] While the specification concludes with claims defining the
features of the invention
that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better
understood from a
consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As
required, detailed
embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to
be understood that
the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be
embodied in
various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed
herein are not to
be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for
teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements
in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein
arc not intended to
be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the
invention.
Definitions
[0021] As described herein, a "unit" means a series of identified
physical components
which are linked together and/or function together to perform a specified
function.
[0022] As described throughout this document, the term "about"
"approximately"
"substantially" and "generally" shall be used interchangeably to describe a
feature, shape, or
measurement of a component within a tolerance such as, for example,
manufacturing
tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.
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[0023] As described herein, the term "slidingly engage",
"telescopically connected" and
derivatives thereof shall be used interchangeably to describe a situation
wherein two identified
objects are connected such that one identified part moves relative to the
other.
[0024] As described herein, the term "removably secured," and
derivatives thereof shall be
used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together
in a non-permanent
manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated.
[0025] As described throughout this document, the term
"complementary shape," and
"complementary dimension." shall be used to describe a shape and size of a
component that is
identical to, or substantially identical to the shape and size of another
identified component
within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement
tolerances or
the like.
[0026] As described herein, the term "connector" includes any
number of different
elements that work alone or together to repeatedly join two items together in
a nonpermanent
manner. Several nonlimiting examples of connectors include, but are not
limited to, thread-to-
connect, twist-to-connect, and push-to-connect type devices, opposing strips
of hook and loop
material (e.g., Velcro ), attractively oriented magnetic elements or magnetic
and metallic
elements, buckles, clamps, sockets, clips, and compression fittings for
example. Each
illustrated connector and/or complementary connector can be permanently
secured to the
illustrated portion of the device via a permanent sealer such as glue,
adhesive tape, or stitching,
for example.
[0027] FIGS. 1-7 illustrate one embodiment of an extension device
for refuse containers 10
that are useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. In
each of the
drawings, identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the
invention or elements
of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are
shown in the
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individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective
figure. For
purposes of this description, the terms "upper," "bottom," "right," "left,"
"front," "vertical,"
"horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as
oriented in FIG. 1.
[0028] Although illustrated below for use with a wheeled refuse
container the inventive
concepts are not to be construed as limiting to any such use. To this end, the
device 10 can be
used with any type of bin or container wherein it is beneficial to have an
increased ability to
grasp and maneuver the same.
[0029] As shown at FIG 1, the device 10 can include a first
generally Y-shaped side
member 11 having a top end 11a, and a pair of spaced apart bottom ends llb and
11c, and a
second generally Y-shaped side member 12 also having a top end 12a, and a pair
of spaced
apart bottom ends 12b and 12c. The side members can be positioned parallel to
each other, and
a pair of bumpers 13 and 14 can be positioned between the bottom ends 11b-12b
and 11c-12c,
and a handle 15 can be positioned between each of the top ends 1 la and 12a,
respectively.
[0030] In the preferred embodiment, the device components may be
formed from materials
that are, for example, relatively strong and stiff, while remaining
lightweight such that the
overall weight of the device does not exceed 10 pounds, for example. Several
nonlimiting
examples include hut are not limited to various metals or metal alloys,
plastics/polymers,
and/or various composite materials (e.g., carbon fibers in a polymer matrix,
fiberglass, etc.).
[0031] Although not illustrated, other embodiments of the device
10 are contemplated
wherein the spaced apart bottom ends of the side members are hingedly attached
to the upper
portions so as to allow the device to be stored in a flat orientation.
Likewise, the length of the
side members may include telescoping sections so as to increase or decrease
the overall length
(e.g., distance between bumpers and handle) of the device. Such a feature
provides a user-
adjustable mechanical advantage when maneuvering refuse containers or other
such bins.
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[0032] In either instance, one embodiment of a refuse handle
capture assembly 20 can be
positioned between the side members 11 and 12 at a location that is
equidistant from the
bumpers 13 and 14, and diagonally toward the handle 15. As will be described
below, the
position of the assembly can be adjusted by a user to suit the particular
dimensions of a refuse
container for which the device will be used.
[0033] As shown best at the cutout FIGS. 2A and 2B, the handle
capture assembly 20 can
include a first generally triangular-shaped securement wall 21 having a first
circular recessed
area 21a and a first opening 21b that is formed along the front end of the
first wall and that
extends into the first opening. The capture assembly can also include a second
generally
triangular-shaped securement wall 22 having a second circular recessed area
22a and a second
opening 22b that is formed along the front end of the second wall and that
extends into the
second opening.
[0034] In one embodiment, a pair of circular arms 23 and 24 are
provided within the
recessed areas 21a and 22a, of the first and second walls 21 and 22,
respectively. Each of the
circular arms having openings 23a and 24a that arc complementary in shape and
size to
openings 21b and 22b, respectively.
[0035] In one embodiment, a central rod 25 having a rod lever 26
is connected to the center
of each of the circular arms 23 and 24. The rod can function to rotate the
arms within the
circular recessed areas of the first and second walls so as to transition the
assembly between an
unlocked position (FIG. 2A) wherein openings 21b/23a and 22b/24a are aligned,
and a locked
position (FIG. 28) wherein openings 21b/23a and 22b/24a are not aligned.
[0036] As shown best at FIG. 3, the refuse handle capture assembly
20 can be slidingly
positioned (arrow a) along the length of the side members 11 and 12 so as to
be able to engage
a wide variety of refuse containers whose handles extend at different amounts
from the
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container bodies. To this end, one embodiment of the device can include a
plurality of
apertures 31a positioned along wall 11, and a plurality of complementary
apertures 3 lb that are
positioned alongside wall 12. Each of the apertures can function to receive
mounting hardware
such as the illustrated bolts 32, for example, that can pass therethrough to
be secured within
openings 33 in the securement walls 21 and 22 (See FIGS 2A and 2B). Such a
feature
functions to allow the capture assembly to be positioned at any number of
different positions
along the length of the device.
[0037] Of course, the device is not limited to the use of the
openings and bolts, as any
number of other connectors may be provided for adjusting and securing the
handle capture
assembly 20 along the length of the device.
[0038] FIGS 4-7 illustrate one embodiment of the device 10 in
operation with a refuse
container 1. As shown, the device can be positioned against the container such
that one of the
bumpers e.g., 13 is resting against the back wall of the container, the other
bumper e.g., 14 is
positioned against the lid 2 of the container, and the handle 3 of the
container is positioned
between the bumpers.
[0039] Next, the refuse handle capture assembly 20 can be slid
(see arrow b) toward the
container until the horizontal portion of the container handle 3 is located
within the aligned
openings 21b/23a and 22b/24a of the assembly in the unlocked position.
[0040] When so positioned, the rod 25 can be rotated (see arrow c)
to transition the handle
capture assembly into the locked position wherein the handle 3 is secured
within the openings
21b and 22b of the securement walls by the circular arms 23 and 24,
respectively.
[0041] Finally, when the device is secured onto the container 1, a
user can grasp and pull
the handle 15 downward to rotate (see arrow d) the container 1 onto its wheels
4 and can then
push or pull the container in any desired direction.
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[0042] As would be apparent to those of skill in the art, the use
of an elongated handle
extending away from the handle of the container provides the user with
physical leverage and
mechanical advantage that allows the user to tilt and move the container with
significantly
reduced effort-about 50%, even when the container is filled to the maximum
capacity.
Moreover, because the handle 15 of the device 10 is positioned away from the
lid 2 of the
container, any liquids or other such debris that has accumulate along the lid
will not make
contact with the user during the tilting of moving of the container.
Furthermore, when the
device is positioned onto the lid of the container, the device will secure the
lid in the closed
position, thus preventing items from escaping if the container is tipped over
and/or preventing
access by animals such as racoons, rodents, cats, dogs, skunks, for example.
[00431 As described herein, one or more elements of the extension
device for refuse
containers 10 can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment
means such
as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings and welds, among others.
Moreover,
although the above embodiments have been described as including separate
individual
elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this
end, one of skill
in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements
may be formed
together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing
processes, such as
welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of
material milled or
machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections
thereof.
[0044] As to a further description of the manner and use of the
present invention, the same
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further
discussion relating to
the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
[0045] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of
describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used
herein, the
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singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms
as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the
terms "comprises"
and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of
stated features,
integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or
addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components,
and/or groups thereof. Likewise, the term "consisting" shall be used to
describe only those
components identified. In each instance where a device comprises certain
elements, it will
inherently consist of each of those identified elements as well.
[0046]
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all
means or step
plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any
structure, material, or
act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as
specifically
claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for
purposes of
illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited
to the invention in the
form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of
ordinary skill
in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The
embodiment was
chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention
and the practical
application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand
the invention for
various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular
use
contemplated.
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