Abstract:
A hitch mountable refuse container transport device has a vertical element supporting a telescoping mount that carries T-bar keys on a horizontal bracket. Each key has a horizontal surface sized to be received within a recessed portion on the refuse container and engage a lip on an upper periphery of the recessed portion. Adjustment of the telescoping mount lifts the containers for transport.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to the field of refuse hauling and, more particularly, to a device mountable on a standard trailer hitch for lifting and transporting standardized residential refuse containers. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Automation of collection devices for refuse containers has become an essential part of waste management for most locations whether metropolitan, urban or rural. Waste and recycling companies have developed standardized refuse containers that employ an integrated attachment recess and restraining bar. The containers are typically constructed of high impact polyethylene or other plastic. The attachment recess is molded into one side of the container with a horizontal restraining bar mounted in the recess. A vertical tine on a robotic lifting arm mounted to the side of the refuse collection vehicle is inserted into the recess and engages the restraining bar for automatically hoisting the container in an arc to dump the container into the refuse bin on the truck chassis. The use of such containers by waste collection companies is increasing because it speeds the collection process and reduces the chances of back injury to their employees. 
     To minimize the number of cans for pick up at any residence, and as facilitated by the automated lifting devices on the collection trucks, the containers are frequently of a size larger than can be lifted by an individual when full. In many cases, the containers are massive enough that one person cannot lift them comfortably even when empty. Most containers have integral wheels for maneuvering into position for pick-up and returning to their location for use, however, the wheels are not sufficiently durable or properly positioned for moving the containers any distance. The containers typically incorporate a hinged lid that swings open in the dumping cycle and is opened by hand for inserting refuse into the container. The hinge of the lid normally incorporates one or more handles for tilting the container onto its wheels. 
     The lack of easy transportability of the containers for the home or business owner is particularly problematic in rural areas where the containers may need to be moved some distance to a main road for collection by the refuse company. Some users tie or employ clamping devices to attach the handles of the container to a vehicle bumper or trailer hitch to roll the container behind a vehicle to and from the collection point. The general lack of serviceability of the wheels for this purpose typically results in premature failure of the wheels or other inconvenient failure or accident with the containers during such transport. 
     It is therefore desirable to provide a device that engages the existing container-lifting interface for transport of the containers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hitch mountable refuse container transport device incorporates a hitch bar for mounting in a standard hitch receiver on a vehicle. The hitch bar has an upstanding stub at the opposite end from the end inserted into the receiver and a removable vertical element is carried by the stub. The vertical element is secured to the stub at a desired height by aligning one of a plurality of holes vertically spaced in the side of the element with an aperture in the stub and inserting a pin through the aperture and selected hole. The purpose of this adjustment is to compensate for the variability of hitch heights on various vehicles. Similarly, the amount of insertion of the hitch bar into the receiver hitch is adjustable by means of a similar row of aligning apertures secured at the desired amount of insertion using a pin. The purpose of this adjustment is to permit variable amounts of access to the lift when standing between it and the back of the vehicle. 
     A telescoping mount is received by the vertical element. Vertical movement of the mount is achieved through the use of a lead screw that engages a threaded plane in the lower half of the vertical element. As the lead screw is rotated, the upper half of the telescoping mount extends or retracts. The lead screw is rotated by hand using a crank or, alternatively using an electric motor. Finally, an engagement key is attached to the telescoping mount. The key has a horizontal surface sized to be received within a recessed portion on the refuse container and engage a lip on an upper periphery of the recessed portion. A notch is vertically spaced below the horizontal surface on the key to receive a restraining bar horizontally mounted across the recessed portion. When the can is lifted, its balance is such that the lower end tilts inward toward the lift such that the restraining bar is engaged by the key to make it less likely that the can will bounce off the lift during transport. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a standard refuse container with which the present invention will be employed; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention for attaching a single refuse container; 
     FIG. 3 a  is an isometric view demonstrating a partial cutaway view showing the “T bar” of the present invention engaged within the recess of the container and secured by the lifting bar; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a side view of the cutaway of FIG. 3 a  for additional detail. 
     FIG. 4 a  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the invention for attaching two refuse containers; 
     FIG. 4 b  is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 a.    
     FIG. 4 c  is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 a    
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the operating mechanism for the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 4 a ; and, 
     FIG. 6 is partial sectional view of an alternative embodiment employing a motorized drive. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a refuse container  10  typical of the type to be used with the present invention. The container has a molded body  12  including cutouts to receive wheels  14 . A lid  16  is hinged to the body using integral handle hinges  18 . A recess  20  in the body is employed for attachment to the automated dumping equipment present on the refuse collection vehicles using a lip along the upper periphery of the recess, as will be described in greater detail subsequently and a restraining bar or molded-in cross piece  22  carried horizontally within the recess. 
     A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. A hitch bar  24  is provided to be carried by the receiver (not shown) in a standard towing hitch assembly present on many cars, sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. A row of locking apertures  26  align with mating holes in the receiver for insertion of a pin to lock the hitch bar into the receiver. A stub  28  extends from the hitch bar to carry a vertical element  30  on which a telescoping mount  32  is received. The key to engage the refuse container is a T-bar  34  cantilevered from the telescoping mount by a bracket  36  which spaces the T-bar from the wall of the mount. The telescoping mount is translated along the vertical element using a screw drive, described in greater detail subsequently, actuated by crank  38 . The embodiment shown in the drawings employ square or rectangular cross section tube sized for mating elements to be telescopically received in or receive adjacent elements. 
     Operation of the invention is best described with respect to FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b , which shows a cutaway of the container to demonstrate the attachment mechanism for the present invention. The top of the T-bar is received within the recess in the container and extends into the channel  40  formed by the lip  42 . The telescoping mount is translated upwardly using the screw drive and the T-bar extends fully into the channel. Because of the location of the recess at the back of the container, the balance of the container is such that it will rotate toward the bottom of the T-bar when lifted. The restraining bar  22  is engaged by a notch  44  in the bottom of the T-bar. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the notch is formed by the bottom of the vertical arm of the T-bar and a plate  45  welded to the back of the vertical arm as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 a . The restraining bar, urged into the notch by the weight of the container and the rotational moment about the horizontal arm of the T-bar, prevents the container from bouncing vertically and allowing the T-bar to be dislodged from the channel. 
     A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b  and  4   c . The telescoping mount  32  has been shortened for convenience in the drawings. As shown, the bracket  36  of the embodiment of FIG. 2 receives a horizontal bar  52  which carries two T-bar assemblies  34   a  and  34   b  spaced at each end. This arrangement allows two refuse containers to be lifted and transported simultaneously. Length of the bar for spacing of the T-bar assemblies is determined by the size of the containers to be carried. Positioning apertures  54  in the bar allow horizontal adjustment of the bar when cans of different size are employed or to equalize the torque on the bracket and telescoping mount when cans of significantly differing weight are carried. A locking aperture  56  in bracket  36  allows insertion of a pin or bolt  56  through one of the positioning apertures to fix the horizontal bar in place. 
     Each T-bar assembly has a channel  60  which is received over a spacer  62 . Alignment apertures  64  provide for positioning of the T-bar on the horizontal bar and spacer with a pin or bolt  66  inserted to fix the T-bar in place. Operation of this embodiment is comparable to that described for the first embodiment with the channel of each refuse container being aligned over the horizontal arm of one T-bar. Upon translation of the telescoping mount upward by turning of the crank to engage the screw drive, the horizontal bar of each T-bar is fully engaged within the channel and the restraining bar on the container rotates into engagement with the notch at the base of the vertical arm of each T-bar. For the embodiments shown, the spacer provides a common dimension for the T-bar channel to allow attachment directly to the bracket  36  as shown in FIG. 2 or to the horizontal bar for the two container arrangements shown in FIG. 4 a . A third T-bar can be carried on the bracket with the horizontal bar in place to allow carrying three containers, if desired. 
     Each of the described embodiments in FIGS. 2 and 4 a-c  incorporate a plurality of engagement holes  48  vertically spaced along the vertical element for selective alignment with aperture  46  in the stub for adjustment. Mounting the vertical element at the different engagement holes using a locking pin  50  allows the telescoping mount to be grossly positioned for varying hitch receiver heights and refuse container sizes to reduce the travel required for the telescoping mount translation mechanism. In an equivalent embodiment, the plurality of holes is alternatively placed in the stub with a single aperture in the vertical element. Positioning of a similar mounting pin (not shown) through the receiver hitch and into one of the row of holes  26  in the hitch bar permits access to the crank from a location between the refuse container and back of the vehicle when the container is too large for the user to reach the crack by reaching over the container. 
     FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of the telescoping mount translation mechanism for the invention as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 a . The telescoping mount  32  (which is again shown in shortened form) incorporates a lead screw  64  rotated by crank  38  which is engaged by threaded receiver  66  rigidly held in the vertical element. A flanged cap  68  restrains the lead screw within the telescoping mount while allowing rotational motion. Those skilled in the art will recognize alternative bearing arrangements for the lead screw attachment to the telescoping mount. 
     An alternative embodiment employing a motorized drive for the lead screw is shown in FIG. 6. A reversible electric motor  70  is mounted to a step  72  extending from the telescoping mount. Mating gears  74  engage the motor to the lead screw for operation. Power for the motor is obtained using a standard trailer lights/accessory plug  76  or alternative wiring to the vehicle electrical system. A directional control switch  78  allows the user to raise or lower the telescoping mount. 
     Having now described the invention in detail as required by the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and substitutions to the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Such modifications are within the scope and intent of the present invention as defined in the following claims.