Abstract:
A cover for a debris container has a top surface defining an opening into which debris may be added. The cover is a sheet of flexible material having an outer edge periphery and has a first fastening device being engaged to at least a portion of the sheet of flexible material. The first fastening device releasably engages the cover to an upper edge region of the debris container. The cover constructed and arranged to extend above the opening and the top surface of the debris container thereby covering any debris extending out of the opening and above the top surface of the debris container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from provisional U.S. Application No. 60/784,890, filed on Mar. 23, 2006, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    During demolition, building and remodeling activities, debris such as sheetrock, metal studs, flooring materials, ceiling tile, support structures, sheet-metal, plumbing, wiring and other building materials need to be removed from the site. Transporting this debris within and out of certain locations such as health care facilities, clean room manufacturing sites, museums, and occupied spaces, such as are found in office buildings and multi-unit residential structures, can be a health and safety concern due to potential spread of dust, dirt and friable contaminants from the debris to other areas of the facility, i.e. “clean” areas. 
         [0004]    Debris can be transported using various transport containers, for example, but not limited to, trash barrels, wheel barrows, buckets, powered dump trucks, and tilt trucks. Some of the transport containers have lids while other transport containers do not have lids. For example, tilt trucks can be used with a rigid removable lid. However, debris is often an awkward size and does not allow the use of the lid with the transport container. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is a need for a flexible lid/cover that can be used with different transport containers that will cover the debris within the transport container in order to prevent the spread of dust, dirt and friable contaminants from the transport container during transit within and out of the facility. 
         [0006]    The art referred to and/or described above is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. §1.56(a) exists. 
         [0007]    All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0008]    Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In at least one embodiment, the invention is directed to a cover for a transport container. The cover is constructed and arranged to minimize the spread of dust, dirt and friable contaminants from the transport container during transit. 
         [0010]    In at least one embodiment, the cover is suspended over the opening of the transport container by support members. In some embodiments, the cover has at least one window or pocket. In at least one embodiment, an informational card with indicia printed thereon is inserted into the pocket. 
         [0011]    These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for further understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference can be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described an embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0012]    A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a transport container with a cover; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the cover in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the cover in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a transport container covered by a cover with support members. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. 
         [0018]    For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a transport container  10  with a cover  20  extending over the top of the transport container  10 . Examples of transports containers  10  include, but are not limited to, trash barrels, wheel barrows, buckets, powered dump trucks, and tilt trucks. Some transport containers  10  have a top surface  12  that defines an opening through which debris in placed into the body of the transport container  10  and through which debris can extend above the top surface  12  of the transport container  10 . Other transport containers  10  are carts with shelves that have items stored on the shelves. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cover  20  extends over the transport container  10  so that the material within the transport container  10  is covered. In the case of a transport container  10  with shelves, the cover  20  can enclose a portion of the shelving or all of the shelving so that material on the shelves is covered. Additionally, the cover  20  extends down the sides of the transport container  10 , where the cover becomes engaged to an upper edge region of the transport container  10  via at least one fastening device  24 , as shown in the cross-section of  FIG. 3 . Thus, it is within the scope of the invention for the cover  20  to have one, two, three, four, five, six, seven or more fastening devices  24 . Note that the fastening device  24  can be positioned on the inside of the cover  20 , as shown by fastening device  24   a  or the fastening device  24  can be positioned on the outside of the cover  20 , as shown by fastening devices  24   b  and  24   c . The fastening device  24  can be a drawstring, elastic, e.g. an elastic cord or elastic band, or any combination thereof. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, at least one fastening device  24  extends about the entire circumference of the transport container  10 . Thus, the fastening device  24  has a length equal to the circumference of the transport container  10 . In some embodiments, at least one fastening device  24  extends about only a portion of the circumference of the transport container  10 . Therefore, the fastening device  24  has a length less than the circumference of the transport container  10 . In this embodiment, for example, the cover  20  has a plurality of fastening devices  24 , e.g. elastic bands, which engage portions of the cover  20  to the transport container  10 . For example, if the transport container  10  has a plurality of corners, an elastic band can extend about each of the corners so that the cover  20  fits tightly around the corners of the transport container  10 . Thus, the fastening devices  24  can be positioned in specific areas to tighten the engagement of the cover  20  to the transport container  10 . In at least one embodiment, the cover  20  has a first fastening device  24  that extends about the entire circumference of the transport container  10  and a second fastening device  24  that extends partially about the circumference of the transport container  10 . 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the fastening device  24  is positioned within a passageway  26  that is formed by folding over the edge of the cover  20  to form an attachment region  28 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the attachment region  28  can be on the inside of the cover  20 , shown by attachment region  28   a , or on the outside of the cover  20 , shown by attachment region  28   b . In one embodiment, 1.25 inches, or 3.175 centimeters, is folded over to form passageway  26 . The edge of the cover  20  can be engaged to the surface of the cover  20  at an attachment region  28  by any means known in the art, for example, but not limited to, sewing, adhesive or by heat sealing. In some embodiments, the fastening device  24  extends through a plurality of eyelets that are positioned about the perimeter of the cover  20 . Any number of eyelets can be used. 
         [0023]    In at least one embodiment, the fastening device  24 , e.g. a drawstring, is pulled or adjusted so that the cover  20  fits tightly about the transport container  10  and an adjustment member maintains the snug/tight fit of the cover  20  about the transport container  10 . Thus, the fastening device  24  allows the cover  20  to be releasably engaged to the transport container  10 . In one embodiment, the adjustment member can have two holes through which the two ends of the drawstring are threaded, thereby forming a loop whose size is adjusted by sliding the adjustment member along the drawstring, which encircles the transport container  10 . Note that because the fastening device  24  maintains the snug/tight fit of the cover  20 , the cover  20  can be any size. Thus, a transport container  10  that has a larger sized cover  20  can accommodate more debris and/or debris extending farther out of the opening of the transport container  10  than the same transport container  10  with a smaller sized cover  20  due to the oversized or loose fit of the larger sized cover  20  about the opening of the transport container  10 . In this way a cover  20  can be used on transport containers  10  that are smaller than the specific transport container  10  the cover  20  was designed for as well as for the specific transport container  10  that the cover  20  was designed. 
         [0024]    As discussed above, the cover  20  can have more than one fastening device  24 , shown, for example, in  FIG. 3  by fastening devices  24   b  and  24   c . The fastening devices  24  are separated by a distance D 1 . It is within the scope of the invention for the fastening devices  24  to be separated by any distance. The fastening devices  24   b,c  can be the same type of fastening device  24  or different types of fastening devices  24 . In  FIG. 3 , a first fastening device  24   b  is contained within passageway  26   b , while a second fastening device  24   c  is engaged directly to a surface of the cover  20 . In one embodiment, the first fastening device  24   b  is a drawstring and the second fastening device  24   c  is an elastic band engaged to the cover  20 . Although  FIG. 3  shows two fastening devices  24  on the right hand side of the cover  20 , as discussed above, the cover  20  can have any number and any type(s) of fastening devices  24 , each fastening device being separated from the adjacent fastening device(s)  24 . In at least one embodiment, the use of a plurality of fastening devices  24  helps increase the retention of dust within the transport container  10 , thereby minimizing the dust from leaving the transport container  10 . 
         [0025]    The cover  20  can be made with any material. Preferably, the material is flexible so that it can cover debris that extends out of the opening of the transport container  10 , above the top surface of the transport container  10 . In at least one embodiment, the material is puncture and/or tear resistant. In some embodiments, the material minimizes or prevents dust from escaping from the transport container  10 . In one embodiment, the material has a tight weave to minimize or prevent dust from escaping from the transport container  10 . In some embodiments, the material has a coating to cover any openings in the material&#39;s weave. It is within the scope of the invention for any coating material to be used, for example, but not limited to silicon-modified organic (SMO) elastomeric emulsion, liquid silicone rubber, and room-temperature-vulcanizing (RTV) elastomers. Examples of suitable material for the cover  20  include, but are not limited to, poly sheeting/polyethylene, high density polyethylene (HDPE), canvas, linen, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, cross-laminated high-density polyolefin film, extrusion laminated reinforced polyethylene sheeting, extrusion laminated films, and reinforced with polyester string reinforcement grids. 
         [0026]    In at least one embodiment, the cover  20  has at least one support member  34 . It is within the scope of the invention for the cover  20  to have one, two, three, four, five, six or more support members  34 . The support member(s)  34  can be made from any material, for example, but not limited to fiberglass, plastic, wood, steel, metal alloys, and any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the support member(s)  34  are fiberglass poles. In some embodiments, the support member(s)  34  are flexible rods such as are used in tent that does not require stakes to be set up. In at least one embodiment, the cover  20  with support member(s)  34  is engaged to the transport container  10  by an elastic band. 
         [0027]    The support member(s)  34  can be straight, curvilinear or can have one, two, three, four, five, six or bends. The support member(s)  34  can be engaged to the cover  20  by any support means  36 , including but not limited to pockets, bands of material or elastic, and any combination thereof. Each support member  34  can be engaged to the cover  20  by one, two, three, four, five, six or more support means  36 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the support member  34  is engaged to the cover  20  by two support means  36 . 
         [0028]    In some embodiment, the pockets are positioned above an elastic band. Between the pockets and the elastic band, the material forming the cover  20  is loose. Each end of a support member  34  is inserted in a pocket thereby forming a domed cover that extends over the top surface and/or opening of the transport container  10 . In this embodiment, the support members  34  are made of lightweight material so that the elastic band is able to support the cover  20 . 
         [0029]    In at least one embodiment, the addition of support members  34  to the cover  20  increases the volume of the transport container  10 , as shown in the cross-section of  FIG. 4 . The width of the opening defined by the top surface  12  of the transport container  10  is W 1 . The transport container  10  has a height equal to D 2  without the cover  20 , and a height equal to D 3  with the cover  20 . Thus, the debris placed within the transport container  10  can have a maximum height of D 3 . The support member(s)  34  can be in any configuration so long as it supports the cover  20  over the opening of the transport container  10 . Note that the configuration of the support member(s)  34  will depend upon the configuration of the opening of the transport container  10 . In some embodiments, the support members  34  form an X shape. In at least one embodiment, the support members  34  are parallel to one another. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, the support member(s)  34  are engaged to the top surface  12  of the transport container  10 . In  FIG. 4 , the ends of the support member  34  are uneven so that a portion of the end of the support member  34  abuts the top surface  12  of the transport container  10  and a portion of the end of the support member  34  extends along a side (interior or exterior) of the transport container  10 . 
         [0031]    In at least one embodiment, the ends of the support member  34  and the top surface  12  of the transport container  10  fit together like a tongue and groove, where the end of the support member  34  is the “groove” and the top surface  12  of the transport container  10  is the “tongue”. In this embodiment, a first portion of the end of the support member  34  extends along the exterior side of the transport container  10 , a second portion of the end of the support member  34  abuts the top surface  12  of the transport container  10  and a third portion of the end of the support member  34  extends along the interior side of the transport member  34 . 
         [0032]    The exterior surface of the cover  20  has at least one pocket  22  or window  22 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The pocket  22  or window  22  provides information about the contents of the container  10  either visually, in the case of the window  22 , or by an informational card inserted into the pocket  22 . Although the pocket/window  22  shown in the figures is substantially square in shape, the pocket/window  22  can have any configuration or shape, including, but not limited, to rectangular, triangular, or irregular shape. The pocket  22  has at least one opening through which an informational card may be placed into the pocket  22 . The informational card may have data about the type of material within the transport container  10 , the location of the proper disposal site for the material, or information about the disposal carrier for the material. For example, if the transport container  10  contains material made from asbestos, the informational card can have the appropriate warning, e.g. “asbestos—hazardous material”, and/or the location and/or the name of the appropriate disposal site or disposal carrier. 
         [0033]    The window  22  is an opening in the cover  20  that is covered by a transparent material so that the contents of the transport container  10  can be viewed through the window  22 . Similarly, the pocket  22  is preferably made from transparent material so that the informational card may be viewed through the pocket  22 . In some embodiments, the informational card has data written on both sides of the card so that the information can be read from the inside of the cover  20 . In this embodiment, if the cover  20  is inside out, the informational card can still be seen and read. In at least one embodiment, the cover  20  has a combination window  22 /pocket  22  which can be used as a window  22  or alternatively as a pocket  22  with an informational card. In some embodiments, the informational card extends out of the pocket  22 . In this embodiment, the pocket  22  need not be made from transparent material because the data can be written on the portion of the informational card that extends out from the pocket  22 . Pockets can be placed around the cover  20  so that the informational card can be seen from different vantage points. Thus, it is within the scope of the invention for the cover  20  to have one, two, three, four, or more pockets  22 . Each pocket  22  can have informational cards with the same information printed thereon or informational cards with different information printed thereon. 
         [0034]    Other means to secure an informational card to the exterior surface of the cover  20  can be used. For example, an elastic band engaged to the exterior surface of the cover  20  can secure an informational card to the exterior surface of the cover  20 . In this embodiment, the informational card has a first portion and a second portion. The elastic band extends over the first portion and the second portion has information printed thereon. 
         [0035]    In at least one embodiment, the cover  20  has information printed directly onto a surface of the cover  20 . Information that can be printed include, but is not limited to, the name of the company doing the renovation/demolition work, information about the contents of the transport container  10 , advertising, and any combination of thereof. It is within the scope of the invention for the cover  20  to be any color(s). For example, if the company has a particular trademarked color scheme it can request the cover  20  to incorporate that color scheme. 
         [0036]    This completes the description of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.