1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to maintenance and janitorial equipment, and more particularly, to a refuse holder which is designed to hold refuse as well as store and transport janitorial supplies.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Equipment for holding and transporting cleaning items is commercially available. One example of a bucket having storage receptacles is shown in my U.S. Design Pat. No. 350,632 which was issued on Sep. 13, 1994. Cleaning supplies, such as for example, spray bottles, towels, brushes and sponges, as well as other cleaning items suited to the type of maintenance/cleaning to be performed, may be required to be carried from room to room, such as, in office complexes, hotels, schools and other buildings.
One typical holder for janitorial supplies is a janitorial cart, which generally have open shelves for placement of items thereon, and wheels to facilitate moving the items.
Large trash cans often are used by janitorial staff to empty smaller waste baskets or refuse containers in offices, schools, homes, hospitals and other locations.
A need exists for an improved device which may be used to collect refuse, and at the same time, may hold and transport janitorial supplies.
An improved refuse collection device is provided having a compartment for refuse collection and storage components for storing items. According to a preferred embodiment, the refuse collection device has storage components provided on its exterior. A handle preferably is provided to facilitate transporting the refuse device and janitorial supplies or collected refuse from one location to another.
The refuse collecting device further provides specially configured components and/or compartments for holding and storing items. For example, embodiments of the device may be configured to be particularly suitable for a variety of cleaning applications. Alternately, the refuse collecting device may be constructed for one or more particular applications, such as, for example, bathroom cleaning applications.
Preferably, the refuse collecting device is water resistant and is constructed to prevent escape of materials collected therein. A preferred construction of the refuse collection device includes a refuse collection compartment, and has a holder on an exterior of the device for holding a bucket, such as a bathroom cleaning bucket, that may be transported with the refuse collecting device.
The refuse collection device may be used in connection with a variety of cleaning applications, and the holding components may be configured to hold and store janitorial supplies, such as, for example, towels, rags, sponges, a supply of trash bags, towels and toilet paper rolls (for replacement in bathroom cleaning applications), as well as other bathroom cleaning items. The configuration of the device facilitates holding the items in a single place so they are readily accessible when needed.
The refuse collection device preferably is constructed so that the device and items held thereby may be easily moved from place to place.
Another feature is that according to preferred embodiments, the placement of the holding component features facilitate access and use of the items that may be held, such as a roll of towels, bucket, and other janitorial supplies.
According to preferred embodiments, the refuse collection device is configured to hold trash bags of different sizes.
These and other advantages are provided by my invention.
Referring to
Holding components, such as, for example, the plurality of hooks 22 may be provided for holding a trash bag 100 open in the space 20. As illustrated in
Preferably, one or more holding rail components, such as the left and right holding rail components 30, and the front holding rail component 31, are provided to hold supplies, such as, for example, a roll of trash bags (not shown), or a roll of paper towels. The right side and left side holding rail components 30 are each shown having a rail or rod 32 supported on the respective side wall 14, 15 with a pair of brackets 33. The brackets 33 are shown mounted to the side walls 14, 15, and optionally may be formed with the side walls 14, 15. The rod 32 may be an expandable rod, such as a spring rod constructed from two sections with a spring (not shown), or alternately, may be a single structure that is configured to be press fit into the brackets 33 and removed from the brackets 33 when a change of the roll of bags or other items, is required. Alternately, other suitable brackets, such as arms, gravity held configurations and the like may be used, but preferably, the rod and item carried thereon are securely held so that when the device 10 is moved, the bags or other items do not fall off of the device 10. Preferably, the front side holding rail component 31 may be constructed similar to the left and right side holding rail components 30, or the various alternative constructions described herein. As shown in
Preferably, at least one holding compartment 40 may be provided to hold items, such as toilet paper rolls, towels or other supplies that may be used in connection with janitorial services, such as providing replacement rolls of toilet paper and replacement towels to dry hands and such as products used for cleaning and refuse collection and disposal. The holding compartment 40 has a space 41 therein accessible by an opening 42. The compartment 40 preferably is molded in the right wall 15 of the device. The holding compartment 40 may be configured with a dimension and size suitable to accommodate toilet paper rolls, such as, for example, rolls having widths of 3½ inches or 4½ inches, and diameters which may be about 4½ inches for standard household toilet paper rolls, or about 9½ inches for larger generally commercial rolls. The opening 42 of the compartment 40 preferably projects about 5 inches from the side wall 15 for accommodating toilet paper rolls so that the rolls may be easily inserted through and withdrawn from the opening 42 of the compartment 40. Preferably, the compartment 40 has a length of about 20 inches and a depth of about 7 inches to permit multiple rolls of toilet paper to be stored in and transported with the container 10 until needed. Preferably, side wall 14 is also provided with a compartment 40 formed therein (e.g., preferably molded therewith), preferably having the same dimensions of the compartment 40 formed on side wall 15.
A compartment 45 is provided on the front wall 12 of the device 10 for facilitating holding items therein. Preferably the front holding compartment 45 is configured and dimensioned to hold paper towels, and more preferably the paper towels that are stacked and generally rectangular in shape. Since these paper towels generally often are supplied in bundles measuring about 6½ inches tall by 3½ inches wide by 10¼ inches in length, the front holding compartment 45 preferably may be configured with an opening that projects about 8 inches from the front wall 12, a length of about 20 inches, and a depth of about 8 inches so that the towel bundles may be placed and stored side by side and transported by the device 10, and removed when needed. The front holding compartment 45 may be constructed as described herein in connection with the side holding compartment 40. For example, the holding compartments 45 may be molded with the wall 12.
A bucket holder 50 is provided, and according to the preferred configuration shown in
Referring to
The refuse collecting device 10 preferably includes a handle 60 for facilitating transport of the device 10 and the supplies and equipment held by the device 10. The handle 60 has a preferred configuration shown connected to the rear wall 13 so that a user may push the device 10 through hallways, rooms and other areas of a building. According to preferred embodiments, the handle 60 is provided near the top of the device 10 at a location convenient for a user to access. The handle 60 is shown connected to the rear wall 13, and according to a preferred configuration, is integrally molded with or into one or more components of the device 10, such as the rear wall 13, or enclosure 11. As illustrated in
The refuse collecting device 10 is movable. Preferably, wheels 70 are provided to facilitate moving the device 10. The wheels 70 (
The refuse collection device 10 shown and described herein, preferably may be constructed of suitable dimensions to fit through doorways. In one preferred configuration, the width of each wall 12, 13, 14, and 15 of the refuse collection device 10 is about 30 inches and the height of the refuse collection device 10 is about 40 inches, though alternative dimensions may be used. According to preferred embodiments, the refuse collection device 10 may be provided with rounded front side edges 83, 84 for facilitating movement of the device 10 and negotiation of obstacles that may be present when transporting the device 10.
Preferably, the refuse collection device 10 is constructed from materials which are water resistant, and also are resistant to general cleaners, such as typical cleaners used to clean furniture, toilets, glass, bathroom hardware and other fixtures.
Turning to
While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the description is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein and as defined by the appended claims.
The benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/397,591 filed on Jun. 14, 2010 is hereby claimed, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/397,591 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3162462 | Elders | Dec 1964 | A |
4165088 | Nelson | Aug 1979 | A |
5361978 | Monroe | Nov 1994 | A |
5380033 | Harling | Jan 1995 | A |
5390944 | Sherwin | Feb 1995 | A |
5419452 | Mueller et al. | May 1995 | A |
5474192 | Hartzell | Dec 1995 | A |
5704496 | Latta | Jan 1998 | A |
5833250 | Schier et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5881891 | Murphy, Jr. | Mar 1999 | A |
7240910 | Stuemke | Jul 2007 | B2 |
7467801 | Garduno | Dec 2008 | B1 |
20020109318 | Calmeise et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20020185831 | Chan | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20030122331 | DiGiacomo et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20060157946 | Stuemke | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20060232033 | Pint | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20070209597 | Brock et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20070210546 | Presnell et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61397591 | Jun 2010 | US |