Removable wheel and handle apparatus for trash receptacles

A removable wheel and handle apparatus for use with trash receptacles such as garbage cans or the like includes a handle adapted to engage the open edge of the trash receptacle, a bracket affixed to the bottom of the receptacle and a wheel assembly adapted to removably receive an extending portion of the bracket. The handle permits easy tilting of the trash receptacle on to the wheel assembly, thereby permitting the receptacle to be readily moved from one place to another. The handle and the wheel assembly may then be removed and applied to another receptacle in a like manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to trash receptacle handling apparatuses, and 
more particularly, to a removable wheel and handle apparatus for use with 
trash receptacles such as garbage cans, or the like. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Many devices are known in the prior art which may be used to move trash 
receptacles, such as garbage cans from one place to another. In multiple 
dwellings, generally the superintendent must move the receptacle from the 
basement to the curb where it is to be carted away by members of a 
sanitation crew. Individual home owners, in many instances, are required 
to move the receptacles from the rear or side of the house where they are 
stored to the curb to make them available to the sanitation crews. 
Typical devices that are used in conjunction with conventional garbage cans 
are U.S. Pat. No. 3,845,969 issued to M. E. Larson on Nov. 4, 1974, U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,188,109 issured to L. K. Broadrick on June 8, 1967, U.S. Pat. 
No. 3,374,004 issued to R. D. Oliver on Oct. 19, 1966, U.S. Pat. No. 
2,930,561 issued to D. D. Bittle on Feb. 24, 1958. All of the above 
patents are mechanical assemblies or dollys into which the garbage can is 
installed or placed for movement from one place to another. Each apparatus 
is relatively expensive to manufacture and not readily detachable from the 
receptacle associated therewith. 
The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the prior art 
by providing a relatively inexpensive removable handle and wheel assembly 
which may be used with conventional trash receptacles. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Therefore, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a 
removable handle and wheel assembly which may be used with conventional 
trash receptacles. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a removable handle 
and wheel assembly for use with conventional trash receptacles which may 
be manufactured at low cost. 
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a handle and 
wheel assembly which requires a minimum of storage space. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a handle and 
wheel assembly that may readily be installed and is easily removed from a 
trash receptacle. 
These objects, as well as, further objects and advantages of the present 
invention will become readily apparent after reading the description of a 
non-limiting illustrative embodiment and the accompanying drawing. 
A removable wheel and handle apparatus for use with trash receptacles, such 
as garbage cans, or the like, according to the principles of the present 
invention, comprises in combination, handle means including an enlongated 
central portion having a gripping means disposed on one end thereof and a 
pair of outwardly extending members affixed to the central portion a 
distance from the gripping means, the outwardly extending members being in 
one plane displaced from the central portion in a V-shaped configuration 
providing an opening between the central portion and the outwardly 
extending V-shaped members, the opening being adapted to receive the open 
edge of the trash receptacle therebetween; bracket means adapted to be 
affixed to the bottom of the trash receptacle, the bracket means having a 
portion extending beyond the outer perimeter of the bottom of the 
receptacle, the extending portion being provided with an upper portion and 
a lower portion forming an opening therebetween, the extending lower 
portion being provided with an aperture, and wheel assembly means having a 
tubular center portion terminating in an axle having a pair of wheels 
rotatably mounted thereon, the central portion being disposed between the 
wheels, the other end of the tubular center portion being provided with a 
leaf spring means affixed thereon at one end, the other end of the leaf 
spring extending towards the wheels, the leaf spring other end being bent 
90.degree. and extending into an opening of the tubular center portion and 
adapted to cooperate with the extending lower portion aperture when the 
lower portion is inserted into the tubular center portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the figures, and more particularly to FIG. 1 showing a 
trash receptacle handling apparatus 10 which in the preferred embodiment 
of the invention, includes a handle member 12 which is provided with an 
elongated central portion 14 which extends in a downwardly direction into 
a trash receptacle or garbage can 16. One end of the central portion 14 is 
provided with a gripping means 18 fabricated of a resilient shock 
absorbing material so that when the receptacle is rolled over cracks, up 
steps, or up or down a curb, the shock is not imparted to the person 
moving the receptacle. 
A pair of outwardly extending members 19 and 20 are affixed to the central 
portion a distance preferably equal to approximately one-third the length 
of the central portion 14 and are in one plane displaced from the central 
portion 14 forming an opening therebetween 15 for receiving the edge 24 of 
the trash receptacle 16. (Refer to FIG. 2.) 
A bracket 26 preferably has a fan shaped portion 28 which is provided with 
a pair of apertures 30 and 32. Apertures 30 and 32 are utilized to mount 
the bracket 28 to the bottom surface 34 of the trash receptacle 16 by 
conventional means, such as a pair of nuts and bolts, not shown. A curved 
portion 36 of bracket 26 is designed to curve around the lip portion found 
on the bottom circumference of some trash receptacles in addition to 
providing the proper angle to permit easy movement of the trash receptacle 
16. A portion of the bracket 26 extends beyond the outer circumference of 
the bottom surface 34 of receptacle 16 and has an upper overlying portion 
38 and a lower or end portion 40 forming an opening 42 therebetween as 
shown in FIG. 4. The lower portion 40 is provided with an elongated 
aperture 43 whose function will be explained hereinafter. 
A wheel assembly 44 has a tubular center portion 46 having an axle 48 
inserted therethrough at one end 50, with a pair of wheels 52 and 54 
rotatably mounted thereon, in a conventional manner, with the central 
portion 46 disposed between the wheels 52 and 54. The other end of said 
tubular center portion 46 has a leaf spring 56 affixed thereon by means of 
a rivet 58. The other end 59 of leaf spring 56 extends towards the wheels 
52 and 54 and is bent downwardly 90.degree. extending into the central 
opening 60 of the tubular center portion 46. The end 64 of leaf spring 56 
is adapted to be received by and cooperate with aperture 43 provided in 
the lower extending portion 40 of bracket 26 when bracket 26 is inserted 
into opening of the tubular center portion 46. A lifting means 66 
preferably in the form of a ring is affixed to the end 58 of leaf spring 
56 proximate the 90.degree. end to permit the leaf spring 56 to be readily 
raised out of aperture 43, thus releasing the wheel assembly 44 from the 
bracket when desired. 
In operation the bracket 26 is affixed to the bottom surface 34 of the 
receptacle 16 and it remains there permanently. The wheel assembly 44 is 
then placed over the extending lower portion 40 of bracket 26 until the 
leaf spring 56 enters the aperture 42, thereby locking it in position. The 
elongated central portion 14 of handle member 12 is placed over the edge 
24 of receptacle 16 until opening 15 receives the edge 24 therein holding 
the receptacle edge 24 between the central portion 14 and the outwardly 
extending members 18 and 20. Pulling outwardly on gripping means 18 
permits the receptacle 16 to be tilted upon the wheels 52 and 54, thus 
permitting the receptacle to be moved easily. 
To remove the wheel assembly 44 from the bracket 26, it is required to 
apply upward lifting pressure on ring 66 until leaf spring 56 clears 
aperture 42, then rearward pressure on the wheel assembly 44 will remove 
it from bracket 26 for use on another receptacle. Exerting pressure in an 
upwardly direction will remove the handle member from the receptacle for 
use elsewhere, also. 
Therefore, a primary advantage of the present invention is to provide a 
removable handle and wheel assembly which may be used with conventional 
trash receptacles. 
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a removable 
handle and wheel assembly for use with conventional trash receptacles 
which may be manufactured at low cost. 
A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a handle 
and wheel assembly which requires a minimum of storage space. 
Still another advantage of the present invention is to provide a handle and 
wheel assembly that may readily be installed and is easily removed from a 
trash receptacle. 
It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, 
arrangements of parts and operating conditions which have been herein 
described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention 
may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of 
the invention.