Abstract:
A vehicle mounted carrier for lifting and securing in an elevated position waste receptacles and other articles for transport. A housing including a pair of side plates, a rear plate and a bottom plate having apertures for mounting to a conventional trailer tow hitch assembly or to a vehicle bumper. A lever arm terminating at one end in a channel for receiving the article of transport and pivotally connected to the housing at the opposite end. A latch assembly is provided for securing the article of transport in an elevated position and for selectively releasing allowing the user to controllably lower and disengage the article of transport. The latch assembly includes a latch rod operably secured to a pair of springs secured to the lever arm and a pair of springs secured to the latch rod and to a lever handle. Lever arm stop element secured to the housing to limit the rotation of the lever arm.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to receptacle transport devices, and more particularly to transport devices for transporting waste receptacles on vehicles.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0004]     Many waste disposal companies are providing their customers with special trash receptacles and recycle bins for weekly curbside pickup. The receptacles provided by the waste disposal companies are typically larger in size and accommodate greater volume and weight than typical thirty-two gallon trash receptacles. Many of these receptacles are equip with a horizontal lift bar for automated dumping into waste disposal vehicles. Typically the receptacles are equipped with wheels, which allow the user to wheel the receptacles to the desired location.  
         [0005]     In many rural areas the trash source location, typically a residence, is located a considerable distance to the waste disposal company pick-up point, typically the public right-of-way. The oversized trash receptacles will not fit into most passenger vehicles and the increased weight capacity these receptacles accommodate make it difficult to lift the fully loaded receptacle into the bed of a pick-up truck or into the trunk of a passenger vehicle.  
         [0006]     One current method of transporting the trash receptacles is by means of a trailer. Transporting the trash receptacles in a trailer towed behind a passenger or light truck vehicle has several disadvantages.  
         [0007]     a) With a trailer in tow, vehicle maneuvering is restricted or requires special attention.  
         [0008]     b) Trailers may not accommodate various sizes of trash receptacles.  
         [0009]     c) Trash receptacles must be secured to prohibit overturning when transporting on steep terrain.  
         [0010]     d) The trailer must be left at the pick up point thereby subject to theft of vandalism or the trailer must be returned to the residence, and then towed back again to recover the emptied trash receptacle.  
         [0011]     There is needed, therefore a means for transporting the oversized and over weighted trash receptacles without the limitations described for trailering and in a method which does not require the user to lift the full loaded weight of the trash receptacle in order to transport.  
         [0012]     Another current method of transporting the trash receptacles is for the user to manually wheel the trash receptacle to the waste disposal company pick-up point. This method is often impractical due to the distance required for transport, inclement weather, slope or condition of terrain, and automatic gates, which open only upon sensing an approaching vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0013]     The carrier described herein serves to fulfill the need by providing a means of transporting the oversized trash receptacles equipped with a horizontal lift bar by a passenger or light truck vehicle from the point of trash generation (typically a residence) to the waste company pick up point (typically the public right of way) without having to manually lift the full weight of the loaded receptacle. The carrier can accommodate various sizes of the trash receptacles and can be mounted on a trailer towing assembly or bumper hitch assembly.  
         [0014]     In one form of the carrier, this need is realized by a lever arm, which terminates at one end at a channel designed to receive a horizontal lift bar of the receptacle. The other end of the lever arm is attached to a housing base. The housing base consists of a bottom and rear plate with end side panels on each side. The lever arm is mounted to the side panels and is free to pivot. The housing base can be mounted at the exterior of a vehicle typically at a trailer towing receiver system or bumper hitch system. Alternate method of mounting the carrier on the exterior of a vehicle include suspending the carrier on a bracket mounted to the bumper of the vehicle.  
         [0015]     To load the trash receptacle, the horizontal bar of the trash receptacle is placed into the channel with the lever arm in the down position. A horizontal and slightly upward force applied to the trash receptacle by the user lifts the receptacle. This force is continued until the receptacle is lifted to the full up position at which point the lever arm is automatically latched in the up position. The latching of the lever arm is accomplished by a latch rod, springs and grooves within the housing base. A handle pivots on the lever arm and is interconnected by springs to the latch rod.  
         [0016]     To ready the carrier for automatic latching prior to loading the receptacle, the lever arm is lowered. The trash receptacle is loaded and a force applied as previously described. As the lever arm is rotated up, a horizontal latch rod extending through slotted openings in the lever arm and resting on the leading edge of the housing base is guided into grooves on each side of the housing base. Spring tension secures the latch rod in the grooves, latching the lever arm in the up position. At this point, the trash receptacle is suspended clear of the ground and is ready for transport.  
         [0017]     To lower the receptacle and lever arm, the user manually repositions a handle, which applies an upward spring tension on the latch rod. In the up position the weight of the trash receptacle holds the rod tight to the housing grooves and prohibits upward motion of the latch rod. With the handle in this position, the receptacle and lever arm is held in the up position until the user applies a horizontal force to the receptacle opposite the gravitational force imparted by the trash receptacle, allowing the latch rod to move upward and free of the housing grooves. The lever arm is now free to rotate which allows the user to lower the trash receptacle and lever arm in a controlled manner.  
         [0018]     The carrier can be mounted to a vehicle in several methods. In the preferred method, the housing base is attached to a standard trailer towing hitch bar or vehicle bumper hitch. This attachment is accomplished by positioning the center hole in the bottom of the base plate over the hole in the hitch bar or bumper hitch and inserting the treaded portion of a bolt or inverted hitch ball through both base plate and hitch bar or bumper hitch. The hitch ball or bolt is secured in place with the application of a threaded nut and lock washer, thus clamping the housing base and hitch bar or bumper hitch together. Rotation of the housing base is restricted by stops located on the bottom of the housing base and positioned on each side of the hitch bar. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the carrier with the lever arm in the up and latched position.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows the front view section with the lever arm in the up position. The latch rod and handle are shown in the latched position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a side view with the lever arm in the up position (bold line) and in the down position (dashed line) mounted to a conventional trailer hitch bar assembly.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4   a  shows a section of the lever arm with handle and latch rod.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4   b  shows a section of the lever arm with axis or rotation bolt.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of the housing base. The lever arm assembly not shown.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  shows a rear view of the lever arm and housing.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  shows the carrier in side view mounted directly to a vehicle bumper.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  shows the carrier in side view mounted to a vehicle bumper by means of brackets attached to the bumper. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , it will be seen that an illustrative embodiment of the carrier is designated by the reference numeral  10  as a whole. The body of the carrier consists of a housing bottom plate  12 , a housing rear plate  14 , and a right and left housing side plate  16 R and  16 L respectively. In the preferred embodiment, the housing plates are constructed of flat steel plate and welded together at their intersections. However the housing plates can consist of any rigid material of sufficient rigidity to resist the loads imparted and which can be joined or formed.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 1 a  lever arm  18  is joined to a receiver channel  20  at one end. The width of the lever  18  is sufficient to provide clearance between the interior walls of the housing side plates  16 R and  16 L.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 2  the lever arm  18  is secured to the housing side plates  16 R and  16 L by lever arm mounting assembly  22  comprising of bolt, and nut assembly. The bolt of mounting assembly  22  is inserted through a mounting hole in the housing side plates  16  and through the full width of the lever arms  18 . Lever arm  18  is free to pivot about lever arm mounting assembly  22 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 3  the degree of rotation of lever arms  18  is restricted by a lever arm stop  24  consisting of a bolt and nut assembly mounted to side housing plates  16 R and  16 L. Lever stop  24  restricts the rotation of lever arm  18  to approximately twenty degrees of horizontal when lever arm  18  is in the down position. This angle from horizontal is approximate and shall be of sufficient degree to cause rotation of the lever arm  18  when a horizontal force is applied to receiver channel  20 . Latch rod  26  restricts the degree of rotation of the lever arm  18  in the up position. Latch rod  26  restricts the degree of rotation of lever arm  18  to several degrees beyond vertical. The extent of rotation is depicted in  FIG. 3  with lever arm  18  indicated in the down position as dashed line and in the up position indicated as bold line weight.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the receiver channel  20 , consisting of a steel channel is welded to lever arm  18  which consist of tube steel. Lever arm  18  can be constructed of alternate shapes or material sufficient to withstand the loads imparted. With lever arm  18  in the down position, receiver channel  20  is approximately five degrees of horizontal. The length of channel  20  is approximately one and a half inches shorter than the horizontal lift bar of the receptacle being transported. This length allows for flexibility in positioning the receptacle in relation to the receiver channel  20 . The width of receiver channel  20  is approximately thirty percent wider than the diameter of the horizontal lift bar of the receptacle. This additional width compensates for horizontal lift bars of the receptacle that might be bent. The depth of receiver channel  20  is sufficient to prohibit the horizontal lift bar of the receptacle from accidentally being jolted out of the receiver channel  20  during transport.  
         [0033]     Returning to  FIG. 3 , a latch rod  26  is shown. Latch rod  26  extends through slotted aperture  28 R and  28 L on each side of lever arm  18  and extends beyond side housing plates  16 R and  16 L. Springs  30 R and  30 L attach to the side housing plates  16 R and  16 L respectively at one end and to latch rod  26  on the opposing end. Springs  30 R and  30 L impose a tension on latch rod  26  towards the pivot point mounting assembly  22 . With lever arm  18  in the down position, latch rod  26  rests on the leading edge of sidewalls  16 R and  16 L. As lever arm  18  is rotated towards the up position, the distance between pivot point mounting assembly  22  and the leading edge of side housing plates  16 R and  16 L increases creating tension in springs  30 R and  30 L. Slotted aperture  28 R and  28 L at the sides of lever arm  18  restrict movement of latch rod  26 . Latch grooves  32 R and  32 L are located on side panels  16 R and  16 L respectively. Rotation of lever arm  18  is restricted in the up position by contact of latch rod  26  with latch groove  32 R and  32 L. In the full up position the tension imparted by springs  30 R and  30 L pulls latch rod  26  into latch grooves  32 R and  32 L.  
         [0034]     A lever handle  34  is indicated in  FIG. 3 . A lever handle mounting assembly  36  comprising of a bolt, and nut assembly is indicated and extends the full width of lever arm  18  through apertures on each side of lever arm  18 . Mounting assembly  36  extends through an aperture in lever handle  34  allowing lever handle  34  to pivot about mounting assembly  36  and to slide laterally. Lateral and rotational movement is restricted by the extension of lever handle  34  though handle lock groove  38 . Handle lock groove  38  is located on the rear side of lever arm  18  and is depicted in  FIG. 5 . Lever handle  34  protrudes beyond the interior wall of lever arm  18  sufficient length to grasp and reposition. Lever handle  34  consists of an angled steel bar in this embodiment of sufficient thickness to perform the functions described herein without deformation. However any rigid material of sufficient rigidity to resist the loads imparted could be substituted.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , Springs  40 R and  40 L attach to the interior leg of lever handle  34  and to latch rod  26  on the opposing end. Rotating lever handle  34  imparts spring tension on latch rod  26  by means disclosed herein.  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 5 a  top view of housing bottom plate  12  having a center hole is designated as a hitch hole  42  that is located in the longitudinal center of housing bottom plate  12 . Hitch hole  42  is located sufficient distance from housing rear plate  14  to allow a one inch diameter bolt and nut assembly to be inserted in hitch hole  42 .  
         [0037]     Anti rotation holes  44 R and  44 L located in housing bottom plate  12  are positioned equal-distance in pairs right and left of the centerline of hitch hole  42 . Machine bolts with nuts are inserted into the appropriate set of holes and act as stops on each side of a hitch bar to resist rotation of housing bottom plate  12  about hitch hole  42 . A series of anti-rotation holes  44 R and  44 L are provided to accommodate several standard widths of hitch bars.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 6  mounting holes  46 R and  46 L are located in housing rear plate  14 . Mounting holes  46 R and  46 L are located equal distances from housing side plates  16 R and  16 L respectively.  
         [0039]     Referring to  FIG. 1 a  load distribution bumper  48  consisting of a horizontal cylindrical is mounted between the interior walls of side housing plates  16 R and  16 L. In this embodiment load distribution bumper  48  consists of a bolt and nut assembly encased with rubber tubing however any horizontal shape and attachment method could be utilized to distribute the load over an increased area.  
         [0040]     The carrier  10  is designed to mount on the exterior of a passenger or light truck vehicle by several methods. In  FIG. 3  the carrier is attached to a conventional trailer-towing receiver  50  and hitch bar  52 . Carrier  10  is secured to hitch bar  52  with a bolt and nut assembly  54 . Referring to  FIG. 7  the carrier can also be attached to a vehicle bumper hitch  56  in a similar manner. Attachment is accomplished by positioning the hitch hole  42  located in housing bottom plate  12  over the hole in the hitch bar  52  or bumper hitch  56  and inserting the treaded portion of the bolt  54  through hitch hole  42  and the hitch hole of the hitch bar  52  or bumper hitch  56 . The bolt  54  is secured in place with the application of a threaded nut and lock washer, thus clamping the housing bottom plate  12  and hitch bar or bumper hitch together.  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 8  an alternate mounting method is illustrated. Bumper bracket  58  consists of an angled steel plate comprising of a horizontal and vertical leg. A series of vertical holes  60 R and  60 L are located on the vertical leg of bumper bracket  58  and correspond in width to mounting holes  46 R and  46 L. Carrier  10  is mounted to bumper bracket  58  by aligning mounting holes  46 R and  46 L with vertical holes  60 R and  60 L respectively at the desired vertical distance above the ground and secured with bolt and nut assemblies. Bumper bracket  58  is secured to a bumper hitch  56  by inserting a bolt or hitch ball through an aperture located in the center of the horizontal leg of bumper bracket  58  and through the hitch hole of bumper hitch  56 . In this embodiment, bumper bracket  58  is constructed of steel plate formed or welded into the shape illustrated. However any rigid material of sufficient rigidity to resist the loads imparted could be substituted.  
       OPERATION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0042]     With the carrier mounted by one of the methods described herein and with lever arm  18  in the down position, the carrier is now ready to be loaded. In the case of transporting wheeled trash receptacles having a horizontal lift bar the user aligns the receptacle&#39;s horizontal lift bar with the receiver channel  20 . Alignment of lift bar and receiver channel  20  can be accomplished by tilting the trash receptacle on the wheels thereby raising the lift bar to the desired height. The user places the horizontal lift bar of the receptacle inside receiver channel  20  and applies a horizontal and slightly upward force to the trash receptacle. This force causes the lever arm  18  to rotate about lever arm mounting assembly  22  in the upward direction and lifting the trash receptacle clear of the ground.  
         [0000]     As lever arm  18  is rotated towards the up position, latch rod  26  travels along the leading edge of housing side plates  16 R and  16 L increasing tension in springs  30 R and  30 L.  
         [0043]     In the full up position the tension imparted by springs  30 R and  30 L pulls latch rod  26  into latch grooves  32 R and  32 L. Now in the latched position, latch rod  26  is held in place by a combination of factors. The remaining tension imparted by springs  30 R and  30 L pulls latch rod  26  downward toward the center of lever arm rotation. The center of mass of the trash receptacle is offset from the center of rotation of lever arm  18 . This offset imparts a force to lever arm  18  thereby pulling latch rod  26  tight against the forward radius surface of latch grooves  32 R and  32 L into the latched position. In the latched position, the trash receptacle is suspended clear of the ground and secured in place ready for transport.  
         [0044]     With the trash receptacle in the suspended and latched position, the transport vehicle is unrestricted in movement and can deliver the trash receptacle to the point of discharge. To lower the receptacle and lever arm  18  the user must first reposition lever handle  34 . Lever handle  34  is rotated in the down position and locked in place by sliding the handle into the narrow portion of handle lock groove  38 . Rotating lever handle  34  to the down position increases tension in springs  40 R and  40 L imparting an upward force to latch rod  26 . This upward force is greater than the downward force imparted by springs  30 R and  30 L however latch rod  22  remains stationary in the latched position due to the frictional force between latch rod  22  and latch grooves  32 R and  32 L. This frictional force is supplied by the center of mass of the receptacle being offset from the rotation center of lever arm  18 . The user positioned behind the trash receptacle now applies a force to the receptacle opposite in direction to the gravitational force produced by the trash receptacle. This allows latch rod  22  to move within latch grooves  32 R and  32 L releasing the frictional force on latch rod  26  and allowing the force imparted by springs  40 R and  40 L to pull latch rod  26  free of latch grooves  32 R and  32 L. The user can now lower the receptacle and lever arm  18  in a controlled manner. Once on the ground, the user wheels the trash receptacle clear of receiver channel  20 .  
         [0045]     Lever arm  18  can now be rotated into the up position and secured in the latched position as previously described.  
       ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0046]     With the trash receptacle in the suspended and latched position, the transport vehicle is unrestricted in movement. The transport vehicle may backup or move forward on steep or flat terrain. Other devices for transport such as trailers restrict vehicle movement or require special attention when maneuvering. The trash receptacle is suspended in receiver channel  20  that has a depth sufficient to prohibit the receptacle from being jolted out of the channel on rough roads. The trash receptacle is held in place by the front edge of housing side plates  16  and load distributing bumper  48  prohibiting tipping or overturning of the receptacle when transporting on steep terrain. This is a clear advantage over transporting a trash receptacle in a trailer or the bed of a pickup truck where the receptacle easily tips over during transport. The mechanical advantage of lever arms  18  reduces the amount of effort required of the user to position the trash receptacle for transport. This is a clear advantage over other methods of transport where the full weight of the receptacle must be lifted such as into the bed of a pickup truck. Many of the larger trash receptacles allow a load up to 250 pounds. Clearly a user would not want to lift this full weight.