Abstract:
A refuse container having a system of weights and ballasts to prevent tipping and maintain a closed position of the container&#39;s lid following emptying of the refuse container.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claim priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/703,379, filed Sep. 20, 2013 and titled TIP RESISTANT REFUSE TOTE, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The current invention relates to a system of weights and ballasts that are configured to ensure lid closure and prevent tipping of a refuse tote. In particular, the present invention comprises a lid weight and a container ballast that are positioned at precise locations on a refuse tote to prevent tipping of the refuse tote and to prevent the lid from remaining in an opened position following emptying of the tote. 
         [0003]    A refuse tote is a container that is used to store garbage, recyclables, and green waste prior to disposal. Conventional refuse totes are formed of relatively light-weight polymer materials. Some refuse totes include a container having a lid hingedly attached thereto. The interior of the container is accessed by lifting and temporarily removing the lid from an opening of the container. The contents of the tote are protected from the elements and animals by repositioning the lid onto the opening of the container. 
         [0004]    The refuse container is typically emptied by a garbage truck having a clamp that picks up and inverts the tote into a hopper. The inverted position of the tote causes the lid to open under the force of gravity thereby releasing the contents of the tote into the truck. As the tote is returned to its upright position and returned to the ground, the lid of the refuse tote is commonly swung into an opened position. In some instances, the path of swinging lid causes the lid to contact and damage an item in proximity to the tote, such as a car, a person, or a vinyl fence. Further, the momentum created by the swinging lid may result in the tote tipping backwards and falling onto its side. Wind and animals may also cause the emptied refuse tote to tip over, further inconveniencing the owner and causing damage to nearby items. 
         [0005]    Thus, while system and methods currently exist for disposing refuse, challenges still exist. Accordingly, it would be an improvement in the art to augment or even replace current techniques with other techniques. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In order to overcome the limitations discussed above, the present invention relates to a tip resistant refuse tote having a system of weights and ballasts that stabilize the refuse tote and ensure proper closure to the tote&#39;s lid following emptying of the refuse tote. Thus, the present invention provides a refuse tote that eliminates damage due to tipping and uncontrolled swinging of the tote&#39;s lid. 
         [0007]    In some instances, a refuse tote is provided having a lid that is hingedly coupled to a container. The container further comprises a front, a rear, a left side, a right side, and an interior having a base. The base of the interior comprises a center of gravity. In some instances, a ballast is provided that is secured to the base at a position that is between the center of gravity and the front of the container, or at a position that is forward of the center of gravity. In some instances, the ballast comprises a weight that weighs approximately 40% of the weight of the emptied refuse tote. 
         [0008]    The lid of the refuse container further comprises a front, a rear, a left side, a right side, an outer surface and an inner surface. In some instances, a weight is secured to the front of the lid, at a position that is opposite the hinged connection of the lid to the container, and at a position that is adjacent the front of the container. In some instances, the lid weight comprises a weight that weighs approximately 40% of the weight of the refuse tote lid. 
         [0009]    The container ballast and the lid weight may include any size, shape, configuration that is compatible for placement on the refuse tote, as described herein. For example, in some instances a lid weight is provided that comprises a handle. Further, the container ballast and the lid weight may include any material sufficient to achieve the weight ratios described herein. For example, in some instances the container ballast and lid weight materials comprise metal, sand, concrete, water, and/or a polymer material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to limit the scope of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a refuse tote having a lid weight in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-section side view of a refuse tote having a lid weight and a container ballast in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3 , shown in parts A and B, illustrates a cross-section top view of a container portion of a refuse tote having a container ballast in accordance with various representative embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4 , shown in parts A and B, illustrates various views of a refuse container having a lid weight handle in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-section side view of a refuse tote having an integrated container ballast and lid weight in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-section side view of a refuse tote having an imbedded container ballast and lid weight in accordance with a representative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The presently preferred embodiment of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0018]    As used herein, the term “refuse tote” is understood to include any container having a hinged lid that is capable of containing refuse, such as garbage, recyclables, yard debris, green waste and other items for disposal. 
         [0019]    A used herein, the term “center of gravity” is used to describe a coordinate position in the bottom of the container portion of the refuse tote from which the weight of the refuse tote is considered to act. In some embodiments, the center of gravity for the refuse tote is a center or central point on the bottom of the tote. In other embodiments, the center of gravity for the refuse tote is a point on the bottom of the tote at which the weight distribution between the front, rear, left side and right side of the refuse tote is balanced. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a refuse tote  10  is shown. In general, refuse tote  10  comprises a base container  20  having a lid  30  hingedly attached thereto. In some instances, lid  30  is hingedly coupled to a rear side  40  of container  20 . Lid  30  and container  20  are configured to enclose an internal volume  50  that is designed to receive refuse, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, refuse tote  10  comprises one or more weights that are strategically positioned to prevent tipping of tote  10  and maintain a closed position of lid  30 . For example, in some embodiments tote  10  comprises a lid weight  32  that is attached to lid  30  at a position towards the front  34  of lid  30 , and further at a position that is opposite the hinged connection  12  of lid  30  to container  20 . Further still, in some embodiments, lid weight  32  is coupled to lid  30  at a position that is adjacent the front  42  of container  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In general, it is desirable to position lid weight  32  at a position maximally distanced from hinged connection  12 . 
         [0022]    The precise position of lid weight  32  is generally centered on lid  30  at a position that is at the front  34  of lid  30 . Lid weight  32  may include any material and/or shape that is compatible for use on a refuse container. In some instances, lid weight  32  comprises a metallic material, such as steel, aluminum, lead, iron and/or stainless steel. In other instances, lid weight  32  comprises a polymer material having sufficient density and/or weight. Further still, in some embodiments lid weight  32  comprises a composite material or a cementitious material. 
         [0023]    In some instances, lid weight  32  comprises an outer plate  36  positioned on an outer surface of lid  30 , and an inner plate  38  positioned on an inner surface of lid  30 , wherein the outer and inner plates  36  and  38  sandwich a portion of lid  30  between the two plates. Outer and inner plates  36  and  38  may be secured to lid  30  by any compatible means. In some embodiments, outer and inner plates  36  and  38  are secured to each other and lid  30  via one or more fasteners  70 , such as a bolt and nut fastener. 
         [0024]    Lid weight  32  comprises an overall weight that is approximately 40% of the weight of lid  30 . In other embodiments, lid weight  32  comprises an overall weight that is from approximately 15% to approximately 60% of the weight of lid  30 . For example, in some embodiments lid weight  32  weighs approximately 4 pounds. In other embodiments, lid weight  32  weighs from approximately 2 pounds to approximately 10 pounds. 
         [0025]    With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , some embodiments of the present invention further include a container ballast  22  that is attached to the bottom  44  of tote  20  at a position forward of the center of gravity  100 . In some instances, ballast  22  is positioned such that a minority portion of ballast  22  is positioned at or rearward of center of gravity  100 , and a majority portion of ballast  22  is positioned forward of center of gravity  100 . In other embodiments, ballast  22  is positioned such that a rearward surface of ballast  22  is approximately equal with center of gravity  100 , and the remaining ballast extends forward of center of gravity  100  towards front  42  of tote  20 . Further, in some embodiments ballast  22  is approximately centered between center of gravity  100  and front  42  of tote  20 . Further still, in some embodiments ballast  22  is secured to bottom  44  at a position that is maximally forward of center of gravity  100 . 
         [0026]    Container ballast  22  may include any material and/or shape that is compatible for use on a refuse container. In some instances ballast  22  comprises a metallic material, such as steel, lead, iron, aluminum, and/or stainless steel. In other instances, ballast  22  comprises a polymer material having sufficient density and/or weight. Further still, in some embodiments ballast  22  comprises a composite material or a cementitious material. 
         [0027]    In some instances, ballast  22  comprises an outer plate  24  positioned on an outer surface of container  20 , and an inner plate  26  positioned on an inner surface of container  20 , wherein the outer and inner plates  24  and  26  sandwich a bottom portion  44  of container  20  between the two plates. Outer and inner plates  24  and  26  may be secured to container  20  by any compatible means. In some embodiments, outer and inner plates  24  and  26  are secured to each other and container  20  via one or more fasteners  70 , such as a bolt and nut fastener. 
         [0028]    Container ballast  22  comprises an overall weight that is approximately 40% of the weight of lid weight  32  and refuse tote  10 , when empty. In other embodiments, ballast  22  comprises an overall weight that is from approximately 15% to approximately 60% of the weight of lid weight  32  and refuse tote  10 , when empty. For example, in some embodiments container ballast  22  weighs approximately 20 pounds. In other embodiments, ballast  22  weighs from approximately 10 pounds to approximately 30 pounds. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 3A , a cross-section top view of container  20  is shown. In some embodiments, center of gravity  100  comprises an x-axis component  100   a  and a y-axis component  100   b,  wherein the intersection of the two axes  100   a  and  100   b  is the center of gravity  100 . One having skill in the art will appreciate that the design of refuse tote  10  will necessarily shift the x-axis  100   a  and y-axis  100   b  components of center of gravity  100 , thereby changing the possible positions of container ballast  22 . Generally, where refuse tote  10  is symmetrical across the y-axis  100   b,  container ballast  22  may be centered on y-axis  100   b,  as shown. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, ballast  22  is U-shaped and configured for placement along front  42  and side walls  46  and  48  of container  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . In this configuration, ballast  22  is positioned in a maximally forward position and maximally outward position with respect to x-axis  100   a  and y-axis  100   b.    
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , in some embodiments lid weight  32  comprises a handle  60 . Handle  60  may include any size and shape that achieves the teachings of the present invention. In some instances, handle  60  comprises a bar  62  that is attached to front  34  of lid  30  via one or more tabs  64  and one or more fasteners  70 . The position of bar  62  extends the distance between hinged connection  12  and lid weight  32 . Further, the position of bar  62  shifts the weight of lid weight  32  to a position maximally forward of the x-axis  100   a  of center of gravity  100 , thereby further assisting the function of container ballast  22 . Thus, in some embodiments, lid weight  32  provides a utilitarian function as a handle  60  to assist a user in opening lid  30 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments container ballast  22  and/or lid weight  32  comprise an integrated weight. For example, in some embodiments ballast  22  and lid weight  32  comprise a thickened portion of bottom  44  of container  20  and a thickened portion of lid  30 . In some instances, the thickened portions of bottom  44  and lid  30  comprise a polymer material having a greater density than the remaining polymer material of refuse tote  10 . In other embodiments, the thickened portions comprise the same polymer material as the remaining portions of refuse tote  10 , however the dimensions of the thickened portions are selected to achieve the desired weight ratios, discussed above. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments container ballast  22  and/or lid weight  32  comprise a compartment  80  into which a weighted material  82  is inserted and stored. Compartment  80  may further include a spout or other opening whereby to insert weighted material  82  into compartment  80 . In some embodiments, compartment  80  may be accessed by a user, such as by removing a cap or covering (not shown). Following access to compartment  80 , the user may reclose compartment  80  to retain weight material  82  in compartment  80 . 
         [0034]    Weighted material  82  may comprise any material that is compatible for use with a refuse tote. For example, in some embodiments weighted material  82  comprises a liquid, such as water or antifreeze. In other embodiments weighted material  82  comprises a cementitious material. Further, in other embodiments weighted material  82  comprises a metallic material in the form of lead shot or another type of shot material. 
         [0035]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.