Abstract:
This invention relates generally to a conveying system for moving garbage from a house to a road. A support structure includes interlocking sections that can be interconnected to provide a desired length. A regulating system provides two distance limits for the movement of a garbage container. A connector post including a quick release coupling allows the container to be removed easily from an endless flexible conveyor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to conveying devices for moving objects from one location to another. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for moving a receptacle such as a garbage bin to and from a house and a street. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conveying systems for moving objects are known in the art. The conveying system enables a homeowner to transport trash from his home to a curb-side location without having to carry it. The conveying system especially helps an elderly person or a disabled person to move loaded trash from his home to a street curb location. 
     Conveying systems typically include a support structure extending from a point near the home to a point near the curb. Commonly, the support structure is a track on which a garbage container can move. The weight of the container is supported by wheels. Many conveying systems typically include an endless conveyor chain. A first end of the endless conveyor chain is generally rotated by a rotary drive pulley. The rotary drive pulley is rotated by a motor. A second end of the endless conveyor chain generally rotates about a rotary idler pulley. The motor is attached to a first end of the support structure and the idler pulley is attached to a second end of the support structure. Commonly, the endless conveyor chain is also attached to a container. Typically, the endless conveyor chain extends longitudinally within the support structure so as to be movable in the space below the container. When the motor is turned on, the motor can drive the endless conveyor chain in a forward or a backward direction. Thus, the container can move with the endless conveyor chain and may carry the trash from the home to the curb. 
     Conveying systems are typically permanently installed and the length of support structure cannot be easily adjusted. Thus, it can be difficult for a homeowner to relocate the trash loading point. 
     Additionally, conventional conveying systems do not have a regulating system to control the distance of motion of the container. Furthermore, a conventional conveying system does not have a quick release coupling allowing the container to be easily released. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a conveying system for moving household trash from a point near a house to a point near a curb so that the homeowner does not have to carry the trash. The conveying system has a support structure that includes a plurality of interlocking mats. The homeowner can change the trash loading location by adding or removing sections of interlocking mats. Additionally, the conveying system includes a regulating system that can provide at least two distance limits for the movement of the container, for example, a first distance limit can stop the container near the house, and a second distance limit can stop the container near the road. Furthermore, the conveying system includes a wireless remote control allowing the homeowner to conveniently operate the motor from inside the house. Additionally, a quick release coupling allows the container to be removed easily from a connector post. 
     The present invention in one embodiment generally provides an apparatus comprising: 
     a motor; 
     a rotary drive pulley operatively coupled to the motor; 
     a support structure having a first end attached to the motor and a second end attached to an idler member; 
     an endless flexible conveyor connecting the rotary drive pulley and the idler member; 
     a first end of a connector post connected to the endless flexible conveyor; 
     a container for carrying objects removably attached to a second end of the connector post; and 
     a wireless remote control system for activating the motor. 
     The present invention in another embodiment provides an apparatus comprising: 
     a motor; 
     a rotary drive pulley operatively coupled to the motor; 
     an endless flexible conveyor connecting the rotary drive pulley and an idler member; 
     a support structure having a first end attached to the motor and a second end attached to the idler member, wherein the support structure further includes a plurality of interlocking mats, with a first longitudinal opening receiving a first portion of the endless flexible conveyor within each mat, and a second longitudinal opening receiving a second portion of the endless flexible conveyor within each mat; 
     a first end of a connector post connected to the endless flexible conveyor; and 
     a container for carrying objects removably attached to a second end of the connector post. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus comprising: 
     a motor; 
     a rotary drive pulley operatively coupled to the motor; 
     a support structure having a first end attached to the motor and a second end attached to an idler member; 
     an endless flexible conveyor connecting the rotary drive pulley and the idler member; and 
     a connector post having a first end connected to the endless flexible conveyor and a second end including a quick release coupling for attaching a container. 
     The apparatus further including a regulating system for providing at least two distance limits for the motion of the container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention will best be understood from a detailed description of the invention and a preferred embodiment thereof selected for the purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a conveying system; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a first end of the conveying system that includes a motor and a regulating system; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a second end of the conveying system that includes a idler pulley; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional side view of a container attached to an endless flexible conveyor by a connector post; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of a plurality of pipe sections; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of a wireless remote control; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of another conveying system embodiment including a plurality of interlocking mats; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of the interlocking mats; 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the first end of the conveying system; 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the container resting on a surface of the support structure; 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of another embodiment of the connector post attached to the endless flexible conveyor; 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the support structure; and 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the container resting on the support structure. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Although certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will be shown and described in detail, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in no way be limited to the number of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an example of the preferred embodiment. The features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings. Although the drawings are intended to illustrate the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a plan view of a conveying system  10 . The conveying system  10  includes a motor  12 , a motor housing  14 , a rotary drive pulley  16 , an idler member  18 , an endless flexible conveyor  20 , a container  22 , a wireless remote control system  24  (FIG.  6 ), a support structure  26 , a plurality of wheels  28 A,  28 B,  28 C and  28 D, a connector post  30 , a first end  32  of support structure  26  that is near a house  33 , a second end  34  of support structure  26 , and an idler assembly housing  36 . The motor  12  is placed in a motor housing  14  that is located at the first end  32  of the support structure  26 . One end of the rotary drive pulley  16  (e.g. sprocket, sheave, etc.) is operatively coupled to the motor  12 , and the other end of the rotary drive pulley  16  is attached to the endless flexible conveyor  20  (e.g. chain, cable, nylon rope, positive drive belt, etc.). The endless flexible conveyor  20  is also connected to the idler member  18  (e.g. pulley, sprocket, sheave, etc.). The idler member  18  is located within the idler assembly housing  36  that is attached to the second end  34  of the support structure  26  that is located near a road  35 . The container  22  (e.g. box, bin, etc.) is attached to the endless flexible endless conveyor  20  by the connector post  30 . The container  22  has wheels  28 A,  28 B,  28 C and  28 D for rolling along the support structure  26 . The support structure  26  may include a plurality of interlocking mats  50 A- 50 L (FIG.  7 ). Additionally, the support structure  26  may include a conduit  40  and a conduit  44  (FIGS.  2  and  3 ). The wireless remote control system  24  can turn on or off the motor  12 . The endless flexible conveyor  20  is driven by the motor  12  by the rotary drive pulley  16 . The endless flexible conveyor  20  pulls the container  22  by the connector post  30 , and the container  22  rolls along the support structure  26  by the wheels  28 A,  28 B,  28 C, and  28 D. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a first end  21  of a conveying system  11 . The first end  21  of the conveying system  11  includes the motor  12 , the motor housing  14 , a regulating system  150  including a control knob  152  and a control knob  154 , a first conduit  40  including a longitudinal slot  41 , a first portion  38  of the endless flexible conveyor  20 , a second conduit  44 , a second portion  42  of the endless flexible conveyor  20 , the connector post  30 , two connectors  46 A and  46 B, and a quick release coupling  48 . The regulating system  150  is connected to the motor  12 . The control knob  152  is rotated to adjust the position where the motor  12  rotation will stop when the connector post reaches a desired location near the first end  21  of the conveying system  11 . The control knob  154  is rotated to adjust the position where the motor  12  rotation will stop when the connector post reaches a desired location near a second end  23  of the conveying system  11  (FIG.  3 ). The first conduit  40  attaches to the housing  14  and surrounds an opening  100  in the housing  14 . The second conduit  44  attaches to the housing  14  and surrounds an opening  102  in the housing  14 . The first portion  38  of the endless flexible conveyor  20  is connected to the rotary drive pulley  16  and is located in the first conduit  40  below the longitudinal slot  41 . A first end  43  of the connector post  30  is connected to the first portion  38  of the endless flexible conveyor  20  by the connectors  46 A and  46 B. A second end  45  of the connector post  30  includes a hole  47  to which a quick release coupling  48  can be attached. The quick release coupling  48  (shown in phantom) allows the container  22  to be removably attached to the connector post  30 . The connector post  30  slides along the longitudinal slot  41  of the first conduit  40 . The quick release coupling  48  can include a connector (e.g., pin, clip, cotter pin, etc.). 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a second end  23  of the conveying system  11 . The second end  23  of the conveying system  11  includes the idler member  18 , the idler assembly housing  36 , the first conduit  40  including the longitudinal slot  41 , the first portion  38  of the endless flexible conveyor  20 , the second conduit  44 , the second portion  42  of the endless flexible conveyor  20 , the connector post  30 , the connectors  46 A and  46 B, and the quick release coupling  48 . The first conduit  40  attaches to the idler assembly housing  36  and surrounds an opening  104  in the idler assembly housing  36 . The second conduit  44  attaches to the idler assembly housing  36  and surrounds an opening  106  in the idler assembly housing  36 . The endless flexible conveyor  20  wraps around the idler member  18 . The idler member  18  may be, for example, a pulley, a sprocket etc. The endless flexible conveyor  20  can include, for example, a cable, rope, belt, positive drive belt, etc. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a partial cross-sectional side view of the container  22  attached to the endless flexible conveyor  20  by the connector post  30 . The container  22  is removably attached to the connector post  30  by the quick release coupling  48 . Thus, the container  22  can be easily released from the connector post  30 . The container  22  also includes wheels  28 A,  28 B,  28 C and  28 D for rolling along on a top surface  108  of the support structure  26 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the first conduit  40  including pipe sections  52 A and  52 B, and the second conduit  44  including pipe sections  54 A and  54 B. The pipe sections  52 A and  52 B include longitudinal slots  41 A and  41 B, respectively. 
     The pipe sections  52 A and  52 B include heads  56 A and  56 B respectively. A plurality of pipe sections  52  can be interconnected to form a desired total length of the first conduit  40 . For example, pipe sections  52 A and  52 B can be interconnected by pressing a first end  57 A of the pipe section  52 A into the head  56 B. Additional pipe sections  52  (not shown) may be added to form the first conduit  40 . The longitudinal slots  41 A and  41 B are aligned to form one continuous slot  41 . 
     A plurality of pipe sections  54  can be interconnected to form a desired total length of the second conduit  44 . The pipe sections  54 A and  54 B include heads  61 A and  61 B, respectively. A plurality of pipe sections  54  can be interconnected to form a desired total length of the second conduit  44 . For example, pipe sections  54 A and  54 B can be interconnected by pressing a first end  59 A of the pipe section  54 A into the head  61 B. Additional pipe section  54  (not shown) may be added to form the second conduit  44 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a plan view of the wireless remote control  24 . The wireless remote control  24  has an “up” button  60  and a “down” button  62  for controlling the motor  12 . When the “up” button  60  is pushed, the motor  12  and the rotary drive pulley  16  rotate in a clockwise direction causing the endless flexible conveyor  20  to rotate in a clockwise direction. Thus, the container  22  is driven by the endless flexible conveyor  20  toward the road  35  (FIG.  1 ). When the “down” button  62  is pushed, the motor  12  and the rotary drive pulley  16  rotates in a counter-clockwise direction causing the endless flexible conveyor  20  to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus, the container  22  is driven by the endless flexible conveyor  20  toward the house  33 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of another embodiment of a conveying system  15  including the container  22  and the support structure  26 . The support structure  26  includes a plurality of interlocking mats  50 A,  50 B,  50 C,  50 D,  50 E,  50 F,  50 G,  50 H,  50 I,  50 J,  50 K and  50 L. The container  22  can move along the top surface  108  of the interlocking mats  50 A- 50 L. 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of the interlocking mats  50 A and  50 B. The interlocking mat  50 A has protruding portions  64 A,  64 B and a receptive portion  66 A. The interlocking mat  50 B has a protruding portion  64 C and receptive portions  66 B and  66 C. When the protruding portion  64 A is received in the receptive portion  66 B, the protruding portion  64 B is received in the receptive portion  66 C, and the protruding portion  64 C is received in the receptive portion  66 A, the interlocking mat  50 A and interlocking mat  50 B are connected. In a similar manner, additional interlocking mats  50  may be added to form a desired total length of support structure  26 . 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a first end  110  of a conveying system  17 . The motor  12  is placed in the motor housing  14 . A shaft  76  connects the motor  12  with the rotary drive pulley  16 . The endless flexible conveyor  20  passes around the rotary drive pulley  16 . The endless flexible conveyor  20  can be a cable (e.g., wire rope, etc.). Another embodiment of a control system  72  is connected to the motor  12 . The control system  72  includes a plurality of control buttons  74 A,  74 B,  74 C and  74 D. The function of the control buttons  74  is similar to that of the remote control buttons  60  and  62  in the remote control unit  24  (FIG.  6 ). For example, an operator can control the direction of the container  22  movement by pressing the “up” control button  74 A or  74 C, or by pressing the “down” control button  74 B or  74 D. As illustrated in FIG. 9, for the convenience of the operator, control buttons  74 A and  74 B are mounted on the motor housing  14 , and the control buttons  74 C and  74 D are mounted inside the house  33 . 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a container  25  resting on the support structure  26 . FIG. 10 illustrates the support structure  26 , a first opening  90 , a second opening  92 , a first layer of rigid material  80 , a second layer of rigid layer  82 , the first portion of the endless flexible conveyor  38 , the second portion of the endless flexible conveyor  42 , the connector post  30 , the quick release coupling  48 , the container  25 , the wheels  28 A,  28 B,  28 C, and a garbage bin  78 . The support structure  26  has the first layer of rigid material  80  in the first opening  90  receiving the first portion  38  of the endless flexible conveyor  20  and a first end  112  of the connector post  30 . The support structure  26  also includes the second layer of rigid material  82  in the second opening  92  receiving the second portion  40  of the endless flexible conveyor  20 . Longitudinal slot openings  90 A and  90 B are located in the top surface  108  of the support structure  26 . The container  22  is removably attached to the connector post  30  by the quick release coupling  48  including, for example, a threaded connector. The garbage bin  78  is removably placed in the container  22  and moves along with the container  22 . 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the connector post  30  attaching to the first portion  38  of the endless flexible conveyor  20 . FIG. 11 illustrates the connector post  30 , the endless flexible conveyor  20 , a first clip  84 A and a second clip  84 B. The first clip  84 A and the second clip  84 B may include knots in the endless flexible conveyor  20 , positioning the connector post  30  to a fixed location on the endless flexible conveyor  20 . 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a support structure  128 . The support structure  128  includes a first conduit  114  including a longitudinal slot  116 , a second conduit  118  and a platform  88  including a longitudinal slot opening  86 . The platform  88  with a longitudinal slot opening  86  is attached to an upper portion  122  of the first conduit  114 . The longitudinal slot longitudinal slot  116  of the first conduit  114  is aligned with the longitudinal slot opening  86  in the platform  88 . Thus, the connector post  30  (not shown) can move along the longitudinal slot  116  of the first conduit  114  and the longitudinal slot opening  86 . An upper portion  124  of the second conduit  118  is attached to the platform  88 . As illustrated in FIG. 12, the platform  88 , and the conduits  114  and  118  rest on the ground surface  126 . Furthermore, the support structure  128  may be formed as a single molded unit from (e.g., plastic, polyester resin, etc.). 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the container  130  resting on a support structure  132 . The support structure  132  includes a platform  134 , a first conduit  136  including a longitudinal slot  138 , and a second conduit  140 . 
     The first conduit  136  and the second conduit  140  are attached to the platform  134 . The platform  134  includes a lower portion  135 , a side wall  156 A, and a side wall  156 B. The lower portion  135  of the platform  134  rests on the ground surface  126 . The support structure  132  may be formed as a single molded unit from (e.g., plastic, polyester resin, etc.). The container  130  is attached to the connector post  30  with a quick release coupling  48 . The quick release coupling  48  can include, for example, a cotter pin, clamp or any other suitable connector. The container  130  includes wheels  28 A,  28 B,  28 C and  28 D that roll on the platform  134 . The side walls  156 A and  156 B guide the wheels  28 A,  28 B,  28 C, and  28 D. 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, the conveying system can transport not only trash or garbage but other objects such as newspapers, mail, groceries, etc. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.