Container Lifting Mechanism

Abstract

A double handle attachment hingedly semi-fixed to a refuse sink as described, whereby a container may be inverted so that its contents may be spilled into the sink, and the refuse container secured against falling.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been known in the past to utilize special equipment adapted to automatically empty relatively small, household size, refuse containers into larger refuse conveyances, such as garbage trucks. One of the major problems encountered in such arrangements is the tendency of the refuse container to gravitationally fall into the garbage truck itself when the container is inverted to empty its contents. Various devices employing complicated hook engaging systems, and rotatable locking arrangements have been devised to overcome this problem. However, none of these arrangements embodys a simple, non-moving container locking arrangement for retaining the container when it is inverted. The specific adaptation of a low-profile refuse container in such systems has not yet been satisfactorily developed until the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A double handle lever arrangement as shown whereby a specially constructed container is temporarily engaged. Upon operation of the lever, the refuse container is inverted to empty its contents into a refuse sink, such as a garbage truck or the like. The refuse container, however, is retained by the lever arrangement and is safely returned to its normal upright position when emptied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the invention attached initially to a conventional garbage truck, shown in phantom;

FIG. 2 illustrates a low-profile refuse container engaged by, and in one stage of operation of this invention; and,

FIG. 3 illustrates the same refuse container in yet another stage of operation of this invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the container in a third stage of operation of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the environment of a preferred use of this invention is shown. A refuse truck 10 of any of the more recent, modern types is shown having a closeable opening 12 at its rear for receiving refuse. The receptacle 10 could be any kind of refuse or cargo sink, such as a trash bin or the like. Near the opening 12, the apparatus 20 of this invention is fixed.

The apparatus of this invention consists primarily of an "L" shaped frame 22 hingedly fixed on the garbage truck 10 or other refuse sink at hinges 24. Roller tracks 26 are provided on one face or side of the frame 22 for reinforcement to the frame 22, and for additional purposes which will be described in detail below. A lever 30 is provided having a roller 32 movably fixed at one of its ends adapted to engage the track 26. The lever 30 is fixed at its opposite end to a powered means 34, such as a motor. Such powered means can be set to operate upon actuation of a manual switch, or automatically if so desired.

On the frame 22 are mounted lifting handles 40, 42. The lift handles 40, 42 have rounded lips, as shown in FIG. 2, so that they can engage locking bars as will be described hereinafter. The upper lift handle 40 has its lip facing upward, and the lower lift handle 42 is disposed having its lip facing oppositely, or downward. A slope bar 44 can be welded to protect the locking bars and other parts from snagging on the lifting apparatus during operation.

In the drawings are shown a low-profile, portable refuse container 50 suitable for home use. The container 50 is constructed having a bin 52 with a low profile for easy filling and cleaning by the householder, and which will be readily acceptable from an appearance viewpoint. The low profile places the center of gravity at a point which is lower than normal, and hence affords added protection from overturning by animals or children, and affords a greater stability in storage and use. The container 50 is constructed with a double handled frame structure 54 which allows easy movement of the unit from either side. A curved portion of this frame structure for leg support prevents penetration of the frame into the turf or ground, and eliminates snagging of the legs on curbs and other obstructions. The container is portable by virtue of wheels 56 mounted on the frame structure 54, as shown, or on bin 52. The "L" shape of the frame allows the hinge 24 to be mounted within the cargo sink 10. The hinge 24 thus mounted is then free from outside corroding environment.

Container 50 is provided with locking bars 58, 60, locking bar 58 being positioned on the upper side of the container 50, may be the handle frame 54, as shown. The lower locking bar 60 may be made integral with the container bin 52, or may be part of the frame structure 54 as shown. The locking bars 58, 60 are machined so that their diameters are exactly the inside dimension of the lift handles 40, 42. The distance "A" between the surfaces of the locking bars 58, 60 is the same as the distance "A" from the lower part of the lip of lift handle 40 to the end of the lip of lift handle 42.

While the upper locking bar 58 is placed at the upper end of the inclined bin wall, the lower locking bar 60 is disposed approximately half the vertical height of the container 50, approximately mid-distance between the ground and the locking bar 58. In this manner, the corresponding lower lift handle 42 can be disposed on a truck or like refuse sink at a satisfactory level above the ground, so that during truck movement a low vehicle clearance problem is avoided.

In operation, the lifting mechanism works in the following manner. The container 50 is wheeled to a refuse sink 10, such as a garbage bin, truck or the like, on which the lifting mechanism is attached at hinge 24, using the bin frame handle opposite the frame handle or locking bar 58. By pushing downward, the container 50 then is tilted so that the locking bar 58 can be placed inside lift handle 40. By actuating powered means 34, the lever 30 then rotates counter-clockwise, and in turn rotates the lift frame 26 about hinge 24 counter-clockwise. The extremity of the lip on lift handle 42 just clears locking bar 60. The lower end of frame 26 extends beyond the lip of lift handle 42, and thus engages locking bar 60 during rotation. As the frame 26 continues to rotate, the container 50 is lifted until it is inverted. By virtue of the inclined wall of the container bin 52, the refuse passes easily and dumps into the sink 10. During rotation and inversion, the container 50 slides down a small distance so that the container 50 is supported completely by the lift handle 42 supporting locking bar 60. The container 50, therefor, is incapable of falling into the refuse sink 10. The lip of lift handle 40 can be constructed of sufficient length so that when the container 50 is inverted during operation, the locking bar 58 cannot swing outwardly.

Upon reversing the movement of powered rotating means 34, the container 50 is easily returned to its upright position, resting on the ground.

Claims

I claim:

1. An apparatus for emptying a portable cargo container whereby a cargo sink receives refuse through an opening in the wall thereof comprising:

A. a cargo sink including an opening in a wall thereof;

B. powered lift means including a vertically swingable hinged frame having its pivot axis fixed to said cargo sink adjacent said opening, further including oppositely opening lift hooks with the uppermost lift hook opening upwardly, said hooks being spaced vertically on said frame in its normally lowered retracted position;

C. a portable cargo container including at least two locking bars vertically spaced thereon a distance less than the spacing of the outermost tips of said lift hooks; whereby the topmost locking bar of said container is moved into the uppermost hook while the frame is in its normally lowered retracted position and the lower bar is moved into the lower hook in response to the lifting of the frame as refuse is dumped from the portable cargo container upon pivoting of said frame and said portable container hooked thereto to a substantially inverted dumping position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lowermost lift hook is disposed approximately one-half the distance between the uppermost lift hook and ground.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the portable cargo container includes:

A. a bin having a low profile, at least one inclined wall and an opening in the top thereof;

B. a bin frame fixed about said bin, said frame defining a first handle on one side of said bin and locking bars on the opposite side of said bin;

C. said bin frame further defining curved leg portions intermediate sides of the bin; and

D. wheels mounted on said frame opposite said leg portions, making said bin freely movable.