Abstract:
One embodiment of the invention relates to a portable receptacle including a container having an open top and including a first portion defining a first space configured to receive a first bag and having a support member to support at least a portion of the periphery of the first bag, and a second portion defining a second space configured to receive a second bag. The portable receptacle further includes a bag support including structure for connection to the container such that the bag support can be disposed between the first portion and the second portion in an orientation that permits the bag support in conjunction with the support member to support at least a portion of the periphery of the first bag such that at least a portion of the first bag is disposed within the first space, and relocated such that the bag support is no longer disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The portable receptacle further includes rolling members supporting the container for movement.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/778,848, filed Mar. 6, 2006 and 60/849,001, filed Oct. 10, 2006, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Building service contractors often perform office waste pick-up after hours in office buildings. The task of removing waste from desk-side wastebaskets typically has been accomplished by placing the trash from the wastebaskets in large 44 gallon or 55 gallon round waste containers fitted with polybag liners and supported on dollies. The large waste containers are moved around the office building to gather the trash from all the wastebaskets. As the polybag liners become full, they are removed from the large waste containers and moved to a temporary storage location, such as near an elevator.  
         [0003]     Problems are encountered using this technique and equipment. For example, the full polybags can get extremely heavy when filled with office trash. Workers complain of back strain and injuries from having to pull these bags out of the large containers. Additionally, the filled bags must be taken to the elevator and left there for another worker to haul them down the elevator to the basement or dock trash bins. The repeated trips back and forth to the elevator cost the deskside workers much time and productivity. Furthermore, many offices are now recycling paper, etc., and provisions for disposing of this second waste stream must be made as the deskside workers travel from desk to desk emptying trash.  
         [0004]     Some workers have tried using janitor carts to perform this trash removal function, by using a 44 gallon barrel attached to the front of the cart to hold the main waste stream (general trash) and using the bag in the handle area to hold recycle-able refuse. This still presents problems. The heavy poly-bag still must be lifted up and over the rim of the large barrel, and many trips must be made to and from the elevator dropping off each full bag of waste. The janitor cart is better used as a tool for cleaning restrooms and large public areas, not desk-side trash pick-up.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     One embodiment of the invention relates to a portable receptacle including a container having an open top and including a first portion defining a first space configured to receive a first bag and having a support member to support at least a portion of the periphery of the first bag, and a second portion defining a second space configured to receive a second bag. The portable receptacle further includes a bag support including structure for connection to the container such that the bag support can be disposed between the first portion and the second portion in an orientation that permits the bag support in conjunction with the support member to support at least a portion of the periphery of the first bag such that at least a portion of the first bag is disposed within the first space, and relocated such that the bag support is no longer disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The portable receptacle further includes rolling members supporting the container for movement.  
         [0006]     Another embodiment of the invention relates to a method of filling bags in a portable receptacle. The method includes moving into position a portable receptacle. The portable receptacle includes a container with a first portion defining a first space configured to receive a first bag, and a second portion defining a second space configured to receive a second bag, a bag support including structure for connection to the container such that the bag support can be disposed between the first portion and the second portion and relocated such that the bag support is no longer disposed between the first portion and the second portion, and rolling members supporting the container for movement. The method further includes placing a first bag on the bag support such that the first bag is in the first portion of the container, at least partially filling the first bag, and removing the first bag from the bag support and transferring the first bag to the second portion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of a portable receptacle according to an exemplary embodiment.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1B  is an isometric view of the portable receptacle of  FIG. 1  with a bag and a container positioned therein.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the portable receptacle of  FIG. 1A   
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the portable receptacle of  FIG. 1A  showing an access door in the rear wall.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the portable receptacle in  FIG. 1A .  
         [0012]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are isometric views of the portable receptacle in  FIG. 1  showing the bag support being moved from a first position to a second position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a partial isometric view of the access door in  FIG. 3  showing a detent structure.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a partial isometric view of the access door in  FIG. 3  showing a latch member in an unlocked position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a partial isometric view of the access door in  FIG. 3  showing the latch member in a locked position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view showing the latch member.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a partial exploded view showing the latch member.  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a plate of the latch member.  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of the portable receptacle in  FIG. 1  showing the diamond pattern arrangement of the wheels.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 13A-13C  are schematic side views of the portable receptacle of  FIG. 1  showing an exemplary method of filling bags in the portable receptacle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to  FIG. 1A , a receptacle  10  is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The receptacle  10  is an elongated open-topped body that is configured to receive one or more bags (i.e., garbage bags). The receptacle  10  includes a main body or container  12 , a moveable bag support  40  coupled to the container, and rolling members  50 .  
         [0022]     The main body  12  includes a bottom or floor  14 , a front wall  16  that extends generally upward from the floor  14 , a rear wall  22  that extends upward from the floor  14  generally opposite of the front wall  16 , and two side walls  24  that extend upward from the floor  14  generally perpendicular to the front  16  and rear  22  walls. The front wall  16  is a curved member that forms a generally smooth continuous surface between the two side walls  24 . According to an exemplary embodiment the floor  14 , front wall  16  and side walls  24  of the main body  12  are formed from an injection molded polymer such as a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or other comparable plastic resin. According to other exemplary embodiments, those portions of the main body  12  may be formed from metal, fiberglass, or other suitable material. A lower portion  23  of the rear wall  22  preferably is formed at least in part from metal (and may include a molded HDPE section) and is coupled to the side walls  24  and floor  14 . Access doors  62  (described in more detail below) can form an upper portion of the rear wall  22 , and the doors  62  are preferably formed of HDPE.  
         [0023]     A storage area  18  is provided on the front wall  16  and can be formed as a single unitary body with the front wall  16 . The storage area  18  is a vessel that is configured to receive tools or cleaning supplies (e.g., spray bottles, sponges, rags, etc.) that may be needed by a user of the portable receptacle  10 . According to one exemplary embodiment, a single storage area  18  is provided on the front wall. According to other exemplary embodiments multiple storage areas may be provided on the front wall  16  or at other locations on the main body  12 . According to other exemplary embodiments the storage area may be formed as a separate element from the main body  12  and may be coupled to the main body  12  with mechanical fasteners or other suitable fastening methods.  
         [0024]     The main body  12  forms a first portion  26  proximate to the front wall  16  that is configured to receive a first bag and a second portion  30  proximate to the rear wall  22  that is configured to receive a second bag.  
         [0025]     The first portion  26  can include a moveable bag support  40  and a support member  20  along the top of the front wall  16  that support at least a portion of the first bag or liner. According to an exemplary embodiment the bag support  40  is an elongated member (e.g., bar, band, rod, etc.) that is formed into a substantially arcuate shape. According to an exemplary embodiment the bag support  40  is formed from HDPE. According to other exemplary embodiments, the bag support may be formed from any other suitable material. The bag support  40  is pivotably coupled to the first portion  26  of the main body  14  on either end  42 . The bag support  40  is moveable between a first or retracted position ( FIG. 5A ) in which it is horizontal and generally follows the contour of the front wall  16  and a second or use position ( FIG. 5C ) in which it is disposed approximately 180 degrees from the retracted position. In the retracted position, the main body  12  is essentially undivided and can accommodate large items. In the use position, the bag support  40  divides the main body  12 . In this position, the bag support  40  and front wall  16  generally form a circle and can be used to support a first bag so that the bottom portion of the bag is received in the first portion  26  of the receptacle  10 .  
         [0026]     The first portion  26  includes one or more stops  28  (e.g., fins, walls, protrusions, flanges, etc.) that extend inward from at least one of the side walls  24 . These stops  28  limit the rotation of the bag support  40  and provide a ledge for the bag support  40  to rest on when it is supporting the weight of any material held in the bag.  
         [0027]     A wire bail  44  may be included along each of the support structure  20  and bag support  40  to facilitate coupling the first bag to the support structure  20  and the bag support  40 . The wire bails  44  can be configured as substantially half circles, with their ends pivotally mounted to the main body  12  or the bag support  40 . Conventional protrusions or catches  45  can be provided to hold the wire bails  44  in position  
         [0028]     The second portion  30  can be configured to receive a second bag. The second portion  30  more preferably is configured to receive a container  60  (e.g., trash bin, trash can, receptacle, etc.), which will receive the second bag. As shown best in  FIG. 4 , one or more generally vertical walls  32  (e.g., fins, projections, flanges, etc.) extend inward from the side walls  24  and are configured to at least partially position the container  60  within the second portion  30 . The floor  14  may include one or more raised portions  34  proximate to the side walls  24  that are configured to support the container  60 .  
         [0029]     The rear wall  22  can include one or more access doors that allow bags to be removed from the main body  12  laterally without having to lift them up and over the front  16 , rear  22 , or side walls  24 . According to an exemplary embodiment the rear wall  22  includes two doors  62  that may be opened to allow bags to be pulled from the second portion of the receptacle  10 . The metal portion  23  of the rear wall  22  allows the container to be generally rigid even when the doors  62  are open.  
         [0030]     The doors  62  preferably are hingedly connected to upwardly extending portions  23   a  of the rear wall  22  such that they can swing between open and closed positions. The doors  62  can have round bosses  63  that rotatably fit within holes in flanges  64 , which project from the upwardly extending portions  23   a . The bosses  63  preferably allow sufficient play in the vertical direction such that the doors can be moved upwardly in a range of about three quarters of an inch.  
         [0031]     The doors  62  can be held in the closed position by a variety of means. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the doors  62  are held closed by a detent structure  80  and a latch member  90 .  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the detent structure  80  includes a projection  81  that extends from the door and a recess  82  in the molded section of lower portion  23  of the rear wall  22 . Due to the play of the doors  62  in the vertical direction, they can be lifted upwards such that the projections  81  can be lifted out of the recesses  82  so the doors  62  can swing open. When the doors  62  are swung closed, the projections  81  fall into the recesses  82  to hold the doors  62  closed.  
         [0033]     As shown in FIGS.  7  to  11 , the latch member  90  includes a panel member  91  that moves between an unlocked position ( FIG. 7 ) and a locked position ( FIG. 8 ). The panel member  91  slides within a groove  92  formed in the doors  62 . The panel member  91  is formed of two plates  91   a ,  91   b  connected by pins  91   c . The interior plate  91   b  includes projections  93  ( FIG. 11 ) that fit into recesses  94  ( FIG. 10 ) in one of the doors  62  to hold it in either of the unlocked and locked positions.  
         [0034]     Handles  36  are provided on the upwardly extending portions  23   a  of the rear wall  22  to allow a user to manipulate the portable receptacle  10 . According to an exemplary embodiment, the handles  36  have a generally circular cross-section form arcs that extend out from the rear of the main body  12 . The handles  36  may be integrally formed with the main body  12  or may be coupled to the container with mechanical fasteners or another suitable method.  
         [0035]     Rolling members  50  are coupled to the floor  14  of the main body  12  and are configured to allow a user to move the receptacle  10 . According to one exemplary embodiment, the rolling members  50  include two first fixed-axis wheels  52  and two second smaller wheels  54  (e.g., casters, etc.). As shown best in  FIG. 12 , The rolling members  50  are arranged in a diamond pattern with the first wheels  52  provided proximate to the side walls  24  and the second wheels  54  provided proximate to the rear  22  and front  16  walls. The diamond pattern arrangement of the rolling members  50  allow the receptacle  10  to turn in a small area.  
         [0036]     The portable receptacle  10  may be used to collect a single waste stream with the bag support  40  folded in a retracted position and no container  60  in the second portion  30  of the receptacle  10 . The portable receptacle  10  may also be configured to receive a first bag by folding the bag support  40  into the use position, disposed between the first portion  26  and second portion  30  of the receptacle  10 . A first bag is placed in the first portion  26  of the receptacle  10  and is supported by the bag support  40  and the support structure  20  as shown in  FIG. 13A . When the first bag is at least partially filled, it is removed from the bag support  40  and support structure  20  and transferred from the first portion  26  to the second portion  30  and another bag is placed into in the first portion  26  as shown in  FIG. 13B . One or more bags may be retained in the second portion  30  before being removed from the receptacle  10  through the doors  62  on the rear wall  22  as shown in  FIG. 13C .  
         [0037]     If a container  60  is in the second portion  30  of the receptacle  10 , a bag may be removed from the first portion  26  and be retained between a bag in the first portion  26  and the container  60  in the second portion  30 . The bag may be removed through the doors  62  on the rear wall  22  after the container  60  is removed from the second portion  30  of the receptacle  10 .  
         [0038]     For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components or the two components and any additional member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature.  
         [0039]     Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings.