Abstract:
A cart for supporting a container in an appropriate orientation for holding fluorescent light bulbs includes a support at an angle of between about 30° and about 60°. A method of handling fluorescent bulbs includes supporting an elongate, open ended container for the fluorescent bulbs on a wheeled cart at an angle of between about 30° and about 60° to permit efficient loading and unloading of the bulbs in the open container, and retaining the container in that orientation until the container is fully loaded.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the handling of fluorescent bulbs, and in particular to methods and apparatus for holding and transporting fluorescent bulbs. 
     Fluorescent bulbs are widely used in commercial and residential settings. A fluorescent bulb is a glass tube with electrodes on the end. Fluorescent bulbs contain a small quantity of mercury that can be harmful to the environment and to human health when improperly managed. Mercury is regulated under RCRA, which is administered by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Under current Federal law, mercury-containing lamps such as fluorescent may be hazardous waste. To prevent toxic material from contaminating the environment, fluorescent bulbs must be disposed of responsibly. 
     While fluorescent bulbs can come in a variety of sizes and shapes, the majority of bulbs are either 1⅜ inches in diameter and either 48 inches, 72 inches, or 96 inches long. Because they are fragile and because of their size, fluorescent bulbs can be hard to handle. A broken bulb presents hazards not just from injury from the broken glass, but also from contamination from the mercury vapor in the bulb. It is convenient to collect and hold fluorescent bulbs in an elongate container to protect the bulbs from breakage and contain the contents if there is a breakage. However, it is difficult to fully load a container that is upright or on its side, the bulbs tend to move within the box, breaking and/or making it difficult to load additional bulbs into the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, handling fluorescent bulbs, to facilitate the fast and efficient collection and disposal, while minimizing the risk of breakage, and the attendant risks of injury and contamination. 
     Generally, the method of this invention comprises supporting a container for the fluorescent bulbs at an angle while it is being filled. This allows the bulbs to be arranged in the most efficiently packed arrangement, and reduces the incidence of the bulbs moving before the container is filled. In the preferred embodiment, the container is held at an angle of between about 30° and about 60°, and more preferably at an angle of between about 35° and about 50°, and most preferably at an angle of between about 400 and about 45°. 
     Generally, the apparatus of this invention comprises a cart having a support having a sloped support surface for supporting a container for collecting fluorescent bulbs at an angle, and maintaining the container at that angle while the container is moved about as it is filled. The cart preferably holds the container at an angle of between about 30° and about 60°, and more preferably at an angle of between about 35° and about 50°, and most preferably at an angle of between about 40° and about 45°. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the cart comprises a base having a first and second ends, a first pair of wheels on the first end of the base, a second pair of wheels at the second end of the base. A strut, having first and second ends, is hingedly mounted at its first end to the first end of the base. A support having first and second ends, hingedly mounted at its first end to the second end of the base. The hinged mounting of the strut and support permit the strut and the support to swing between a folded position, in which the strut and the support lie generally parallel to the base, and an extended position in which the second end of the strut engages the support to hold the support at an angle of between about 30° and about 60° with respect to the base, more preferably at an angle of between about 350 and about 50°, and most preferably at an angle of between about 40° and about 45°. The support surface is preferably curved to support a cylindrical collection container. 
     Thus the method and apparatus of the present invention provide a fast and inexpensive way to collect fluorescent bulbs by holding the collection container in a preferred orientation while that container is being filled. This makes it easier to more densely pack the container, and reduces the risk that bulbs will be broken while the container is moved about as it is being filled, and as bulbs are inserted into the container. % 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a cart constructed according to the principles of this invention in its extended position; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a cart constructed according to the principles of this invention in its collapsed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a left end elevation view of the cart as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is bottom plan view of the cart as shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is bottom plan view of the base of the cart; 
     FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along the plane of line  6 — 6  in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the plane of line  7 — 7  in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the strut of the cart; 
     FIG. 9 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the strut, taken along the plane of line  9 — 9  in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the strut, taken along the plane of line  10 — 10  in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the support of the cart; 
     FIG. 12 is a end left elevation view of the support shown in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevation view of the support. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several view of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A cart constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and useful in the methods of this invention is indicated generally as  20  in FIGS. 1-4. The cart  20  comprises a base  22 , a strut  24 , and a support  26 , and as first pair of wheels  28  on axle  30  at one end of the base, and a second pair of wheels  32  on axle  34  at the other end of the base. In the preferred embodiment, the strut  24  and the support  26  are hingedly connected to the base  22  so that they can be pivoted relative to the base between an extended position (shown in FIG. 1) and a collapsed position (shown in FIGS.  2 - 4 ). 
     As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the base  22  has a first end  40  and a second end  42 . The base  22  comprises first and second longitudinally extending rails  44  and  46 . Three transverse members  48 ,  50 , and  52  extend between the first and second rails  44  and  46 . The ends of the rails  44  and  46  adjacent the first end  40  of the base ends slope generally upwardly, and have aligned holes  54  therethrough. Similarly, the ends of the rails  44  and  46  adjacent the second end  42  of the base slope generally upwardly, and have aligned holed  56  therein. There are grooves  58  and  60  formed in the bottom and top of the rail  44 , and groves  62  and  64  formed in the bottom and top of the rail  46 . The base  22  can be made of molded plastic, for example a polyethylene plastic, so that it is tough, durable, and strong, yet light weight. 
     As shown in FIGS. 8-10, the strut  24  has a first end  70  and a second end  72 . The strut  24  comprises first and second longitudinally extending rails  74  and  76 . Three transverse members  78 ,  80  and  82  extend between the first and second rails  74  and  76 . The ends of rails  74  and  76  adjacent the first end  70  have aligned holes  78 . The ends of the rails  74  and  76  adjacent the second end  72  bend out of the plane of the strut  70 . There is a groove  80  on the underside of the rail  74 , and a groove  82  on the underside of the rail  76 . The strut  24  can be made of molded plastic, for example a polyethylene plastic, so that it is tough, durable, and strong, yet light weight. 
     As shown in FIGS. 11-13, the support  26  has a first end  90  and a second end  92 . The support  26  has a tabs  94  projecting from the bottorn, adjacent the second end  92 . There are aligned holes  96  through the tabs  94 . The support  90  includes a support surface for supporting a container of fluorescent bulbs. In the preferred embodiment the support surface includes a generally planar surface  98  for engaging the bottom of the container, and a curved surface  100  for engaging the sidewall of the container. The support has a recess  102  on its underside for receiving the second end  72  of the strut, so that the strut holds the support at an angle of between about 30′ and about 60°, and more preferably at an angle of between about 35° and about 50°, and still more preferably at an angle of between about 40′ and about 45′. This is indicated as angle A in FIG.  1 . In the preferred embodiment, there are at least two recesses  102  so that the angle A can be adjusted by moving the second end  72  from one recess  102  to another. There is a handgrip  104  formed on the underside of the support  26 . The support  26  can be made of molded plastic, for example a polyethylene plastic, so that it is tough, durable, and strong, yet light weight. A belt  106  can be provided with a buckle, or more preferably a closure of mating hook and loop type fastening material, so secure a container on the support. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, ends of the rails  74  and  76  at the first end of the strut  24  fit within the ends of the rails  44  and  46  at the first end of the base  22 . The axle  30  extends through the aligned holes  78  in the strut and  54  in the base, hingedly mounting the first end  70  of the strut  24  to the first end  40  of the base  22 . As described above, the wheels  28  are mounted on the ends of the axle  104 . Similarly, the tabs  94  on the support  26  fit between the rails  44  and  46  at the second of the base. The axle  34  extends through holes  56  in the ends of the rails  46  and  46  at the second end of base  22  and through holes  96  in tabs  94  on the support  26 , hingedly mounted the second end of the support and the second end of the base. As described above, wheels  32  are mounted on the ends of the axle  106 . 
     Thus, the cart  20  can be folded into its collapsed state by disengaging the strut and the support, folding the strut flush against the base, and then folding the support over the base and strut. However, the cart can be quickly assembled into its operating state by unfolding the support, unfolding the strut and engaging the second end of the strut in the recess  102  in the underside of the support. The support  26  holds a container, such a drum at an appropriate angle for loading the container with fluorescent bulbs, and maintaining the container in this orientation as its is moved from place to place until the container is filled