Some large containers include wheels or other similar mechanisms to aid with movement. For example, large garbage or recycling containers often include two wheels on one side and a lift bar or handle or other similar means on the opposite side. At rest, the side without the wheels sits on the ground and prevents the container from moving. When the container is to be moved, the lift bar can be used to lift the side opposite the wheels off the ground, so that the side with wheels can be rolled to move the container between locations. Some such containers are referred to as “toter-style” trashcans.
A “toter-style” trashcan tends to become heavy when it is filled with debris, which makes it difficult to lift the side opposite the wheels so that the trashcan may be moved. People with disabilities, particularly those that are wheelchair-bound, may be unable to lift the side of the trashcan opposite the wheels.
This disclosure provides examples of devices for moving large containers. Many alternatives and modifications, which may or may not be expressly mentioned, are enabled, implied, and accordingly covered by the spirit of the disclosure. Although trashcans and “toter-style” trashcans are mentioned repeatedly herein, it should be understood that other large containers may be moved with devices described herein.
Device 10 includes a first piece 24 with a planar portion 26 having a wheel mounted 28 at one side 30 and one or more press members 32 on the other side 34. Wheel 28 may be a caster wheel that is configured to swivel on a plane parallel to that of planar portion 26. Planar portion 26 is shaped on one side 36 to fit within recess 20 of a standard “toter-style” trashcan 12. Press members 32 may be elongate bars forming a portion of first piece 24 that are curved at the end of first piece 24 opposite planer portion 26 so that the ends will contact a side 38 of a container such as trashcan 10, as will be explained further below. Although device 10 of
A second piece 40 is attached to first piece 24 at a pivotal connection 42 that allows the two pieces to pivot about an axis 44. Second piece 40 includes on a first end 46 a lift portion 48 that is curved away from the rest of second piece 40. A handle 50 is provided at a second end 52 of second piece 40 opposite lift portion 48. In this non-limiting example, second piece 40 is constructed with an elongate bar 54, and handle 50 is a 180-degrees curved portion 56 of elongate bar 54. Parallel portions 58 of elongate bar 54 that extend between handle 50 and lift portion 48 are separated from each other by a distance 60 that is greater than a distance between outermost surfaces of press members 32, so that press members 32 fit between. The opposite may be true in some embodiments, and in yet other embodiments where only one press member is present, a different configuration may be implemented. In some embodiments, a separate handle connects two separate bars that form second piece 40.
Once the device is maneuvered so that lift bar 22 of “toter-style” trashcan 12 is in between press members 32 and lift portion 48, as shown in
This simultaneous engagement is best seen in
Some embodiments may include mechanisms for preventing lift portion 48 and press member 32 from pivoting away from each other beyond a predetermined angle. For example, device 10 in
Devices according to the present disclosure may be constructed using any number of materials. In exemplary embodiments, the device is constructed from steel. In other embodiments, the device may be constructed from aluminum. Moreover, while the embodiments described above are manipulated using manual power (i.e., an individual pivots the handle down manually), embodiments that use electro-mechanical power or hydraulics to assist in lifting the container are also contemplated herein.
It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses distinct embodiments with independent utility. While each of these embodiments has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible.
The subject matter of the disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the disclosure recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed through presentation of claims in a related application.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/237,488, filed Aug. 27, 2009 and entitled DEVICE FOR MOVING LARGE CONTAINERS, the complete disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110049823 A1 | Mar 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61237488 | Aug 2009 | US |