Patent Application
20080089764
The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.
The system of this invention is referred to generally in
Referring initially to
Referring again to
Referring again to
The first lifting arm 27 has a proximal end pivotally connected to the anchor panel 26, and the second lifting arm 28 has a proximal end directly and pivotally connected to a distal end of the first lifting arm 27. The second lifting arm 28 has a distal end directly and pivotally connected, without the use of intervening elements, to the U-shaped bracket 29 in such a manner that the first and second lifting arms 27, 28 simultaneously pivot while the U-shaped bracket 29 is adapted from the curbside location towards the collection bin 21.
Referring to
The motorized pump 34 is responsive to the control signals from the controller 24 and thereby generates and transmits first and second input signals to the interface based upon information received from the control signals. The sensor 36 generates and transmits a third input signal to the interface 37 upon detecting a presence of the garbage container within the collection bin 21.
Referring to
The controller 24 is electrically coupled to the garbage container biasing mechanism and the garbage container cleaning mechanism 25, 31 respectively, and generates and transmits a plurality of control signals based upon user inputs generated from the driver compartment 50. The garbage container cleaning mechanism 31 and the garbage container biasing mechanism 25 are simultaneously operable, and the brushes 39 are connected in series with the motorized pump 34.
The system includes a utility vehicle that is equipped with a washing and sanitizing system which is designed for use in conjunction with household garbage containers. Of course, the system may be designed to wash a variety of objects other than garbage containers, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The utility vehicle follows a conventional trash collection vehicle in order to effectively clean and sanitize a garbage container after it has been emptied. The utility vehicle includes a robotic arm that is conveniently controlled from the cab of the utility vehicle and is used to securely clamp and lift a garbage container into an enclosed utility vehicle bed. The robotic arm effectively positions the interior of the garbage container in line with a plurality of pressurized water jets, which are crucial for advantageously thoroughly washing the entire interior surface area of the garbage container.
After the trash container is washed, a liquid, sanitizing and disinfecting solution is sprayed into the interior area of the trash container. The robotic arm then lifts the garbage container and drains all residual liquids into the enclosed bed before returning the container to curbside. The thoroughly cleaned garbage container is then returned to the household or business. Of course, the cleaning and sanitizing service could be provided on a regular basis, perhaps once a month, and a small fee could be charged for the service, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
The present invention, as claimed, provides the unexpected and unpredictable benefit of a system that is convenient and easy to use, provides considerable time savings, is durable and reliable in design, and provides users with an effective means to maintain their garbage containers at a clean and sanitized state. The present invention helps to reduce the risk of disease causing bacteria and other such organisms from growing in a garbage container and becoming a health risk. Such a system is easy to use, virtually requiring no effort on the homeowner's part, thus advantageously saving them a considerable amount of time. The garbage container sanitizing system ensures that garbage can still be collected on a regular basis, while also improving the safety of all persons coming into contact with those containers.
In use, a method for cleaning a garbage container at a curbside location includes the steps of: providing a truck 20 with a rearwardly positioned collection bin 21 provided with a support platform 22 nested therein and an open top end 23; providing a controller 24 seated within a driver compartment 50 of the truck 20; the control 24 generating and transmitting a plurality of control signals based upon user inputs generated from the driver compartment 50; selectively biasing the garbage container 51 between an upright position from the curbside to an inverted position located partially within the collection bin 21 of the truck 20 while a driver of the truck 20 remains seated within the truck; and cleaning an interior surface of the garbage container 51 while situated at the inverted position such that fluids and debris are channeled directly into the collection bin 21 during cleaning procedures.
In use, the method further includes the steps of: directly affixing an anchor panel 26 to the lateral side of the truck 20 by extending the anchor panel 26 downwardly from a top edge of the truck 20; pivotally affixing first and second power-operated lifting arms 27, 28 to each other; pivotally coupling the first lifting arm 27 coupled to the anchor panel 26; directly affixing, without the use of intervening elements, a U-shaped bracket 29 to the second arm 28; operably connecting a plurality of gripping fingers 30 to the U-shaped bracket 29; and selectively articulating each of the gripping fingers 30 between compressed and expanded positions.
In use, the method further includes the steps of: pivotally connecting a proximal end of the first lifting arm 27 to the anchor panel 26; directly and pivotally connecting, without the use of intervening elements, a proximal end of the second lifting arm 28 to the a distal end of the first lifting arm 27; pivotally connecting a distal end of the second lifting arm 28 to the U-shaped bracket 29; and simultaneously pivoting the first and second lifting arms 27, 28 by adapting the U-shaped bracket 29 from the curbside location towards the collection bin 21.
In use, the method further includes the steps of: seating a reservoir 32 seated within the collection bin 21; depositing a predetermined quantity of a cleaning agent 33 within the reservoir 32; electrically coupling a motorized pump 34 directly to the controller 24; electrically coupling a power source 35 to the controller 24 and the motorized pump 34 respectively; seating a sensor 36 within the reservoir 32 by positioning the sensor 36 adjacent to the open top face thereof; electrically coupling an interface 37 to the motorized pump 34 by located the interface downstream thereof; electrically coupling a plurality of discharge nozzles 38 to the interface 37 by attaching the discharge nozzles 38 in fluid communication with the reservoir 32; electrically coupling a plurality of brushes 39 to the interface 37; the motorized pump 34 generating and transmitting first and second input signals to the interface 37 based upon information received from the control signals; and the sensor 36 generating and transmitting a third input signal to the interface 37 upon detecting a presence of the garbage container 51 within the collection bin 21.
In use, the method further includes the steps of: electrically coupling an OR logic gate 40 directly to the motorized pump 34; electrically coupling an AND logic gate 41 directly to the sensor 36 and the OR logic gate 40 respectively; the OR logic gate 40 generating and transmitting a first output signal to the AND logic gate 41 when at least one of the first and second input signals has a true value; the AND logic gate 41 generating and transmitting a true second output signal when both of the third input signal and the first output signal have true values; and the AND logic gate 41 generating and transmitting a second output signal with a false value when at least one of the third input signal and the first output signal has a false value.
While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/850,808, filed Oct. 12, 2006, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60850808 | Oct 2006 | US |
