Patent Publication Number: US-8966945-B1

Title: Carting container anti-theft device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application generally relates to carting containers and, more particularly, to reducing theft or improper removal of carting containers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Carting containers, also called roll-off containers or dumpsters, are used to remove volumes of waste from a particular location. It is not uncommon in the carting industry for such containers to be misplaced or accidentally pulled by the wrong hauler. In addition, if the container contains a sufficient amount of valuable material like copper wire from a building demolition or other salable material, the container can be an attractive target for theft by an unscrupulous hauler. 
     Thus, there is a need in the carting container field for a device that provides a better way to address the above problems by reducing the ability of someone other than the proper hauler to pull the container onto their truck for removal. 
     SUMMARY 
     An anti-theft device for use on a hook affixed to a plate of a carting container is described. One example implementation of the anti-theft device is made up of an engagement unit including a shaft dimensioned to occupy an engagement portion of the hook, a first plate coupled to one end of the shaft. The first plate includes an associated passageway. A second plate is coupled to an other end of the shaft. The anti-theft device is also made up of a retaining bar including a stop plate, a locking arm, coupled to the stop plate, having at least one hole therein dimensioned to accept a shackle of a lock. The locking arm is dimensioned in transverse cross section such that a distal end of the locking arm can be inserted into and through the passageway of the engagement unit. The locking arm has a length such that, when the distal end has been inserted through the passageway, the stop plate will be on one side of the engagement unit and the at least one hole will be on the other side of the engagement unit. 
     Other example implementations are also described in conjunction with some of the advantages that can be obtained through use of the teachings herein to implement an anti-theft device according to the present claims. 
     The advantages and features described herein are a few of the many advantages and features available from representative embodiments and are presented only to assist in understanding the invention. It should be understood that they are not to be considered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims, or limitations on equivalents to the claims. For instance, some of these advantages are mutually contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some advantages are applicable to one aspect of the invention, and inapplicable to others. Thus, this summary of features and advantages should not be considered dispositive in determining equivalence. Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates, in simplified form, a portion of a prior art carting container containing a universal hook up hook via which the carting container can be loaded onto a truck for removal; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates, in simplified form, a portion of another prior art carting container containing a universal hook up hook from a greater distance than shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of a universal hook up hook similar to the hooks of  FIGS. 1-2  and a portion of the support plate to which it is welded; 
         FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate, in simplified form, one example implementation of an engagement unit part of the inventive carting container anti-theft device; 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate, in simplified form, one example implementation of a retaining bar part of the inventive carting container anti-theft device for use with the engagement unit of  FIGS. 4A-4C ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates, in simplified form, the engagement unit and retaining bar of the example implementation of  FIGS. 4-5  installed on a hook of a carting container; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates, in simplified form, the arrangement of  FIG. 6  following insertion of the shackle of the lock into a hole and locking of the lock; 
         FIGS. 8A-8B  respectively illustrate, in simplified form, the top and side views of an alternative implementation retaining bar similar to the retaining bar of  FIG. 5  for use with the engagement unit of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIGS. 9A-9B  respectively illustrate, in simplified form, the top and side views of the alternative implementation retaining bar with an example hidden shackle lock attached; 
         FIG. 10A  illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of another alternative implementation retaining bar; 
         FIG. 10B  illustrates the example implementation of  FIG. 10A  where the transverse cross section of the locking arm is substantially circular in shape; 
         FIG. 10C  illustrates the example implementation of  FIG. 10A  where the transverse cross section of the locking arm is substantially square in shape; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates, in simplified form, an alternative implementation engagement unit configured for use with a retaining bar implementation such as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B  or  FIGS. 10A and 10C ; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates, in simplified form, an alternative implementation engagement unit configured for use with a retaining bar implementation such as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B  or  FIGS. 10A and 10C ; and 
         FIGS. 13A-13B  respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a top and side view yet another alternative retaining bar implementation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In simplified overview, embodiments of a device that reduces the likelihood that an unauthorized hauler will pull, or impedes an unscrupulous hauler from stealing, a carting container is described herein. More particularly, the device is designed to impede access to the universal hook up hook by which a hauler would pull the container onto a truck via a cable connected to a winch, boom arm or other standard mechanism for doing so. 
     In this regard,  FIG. 1  illustrates, in simplified form, a portion  100  of a prior art carting container containing a universal hook up hook  102  via which the carting container can be loaded onto a truck for removal. The hook  102  is formed on, or rigidly secured to, a support plate  104 , for example in the latter case, by welding or other appropriate known securing means. The hook  102  is oriented such that its tip(s)  106   a ,  106   b  are pointed towards the rear of the container (i.e. away from the direction the container will be pulled by the winch cable, boom arm or other mechanism to load it onto a truck) such that the gap  108  between the tip(s)  106   a ,  106   b  or the tip  106   a  and the plate  104  can be engaged on the container-side of the hook to load it onto a truck. In addition, as partially shown in the portion  100  of this particular carting container, the hook  102  sits in a recess on the exterior of the container but bounded by the walls of the container and the plate  104 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates, in simplified form, a portion  200  of another prior art carting container containing a universal hook up hook  102  from a greater distance than shown in  FIG. 1 . As can be better seen in the portion  200 , the hook  102  sits in a recessed volume  202  defined by the plate  104  and inwardly extending parts  204   a ,  204   b ,  204   c  of the container&#39;s front wall  206  (only part of which is shown for simplicity). 
       FIG. 3  illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of a prior art universal hook up hook  302  similar to the hooks  102  of  FIGS. 1-2  and a portion of the support plate  304  to which it is welded. In this view, the gap  108  can easily be seen, as can the engagement portion  306  of the hook  302  (i.e. the part engaged by the by the winch cable, boom arm or other mechanism to load it onto a truck). 
     With the foregoing understanding, the anti-theft device invention can be described with reference to various specific example implementations. In general, the carting container anti-theft device comprises two parts: an engagement unit and a retaining bar. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate, in simplified form, one example implementation of an engagement unit  400  part of the inventive carting container anti-theft device. Specifically,  FIG. 4A  is a top view of the engagement unit  400 ,  FIG. 4B  is a front view of the engagement unit  400  and  FIG. 4C  is a right side view of the engagement unit  400 . Note that, in this implementation, the engagement unit  400  is configured such that the opposing side of each view (i.e. bottom, back and left side) would be the minor image of the view shown. As best shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the engagement unit  400  is made up of two plates  402 ,  404 , separated by a bar  406 . At least one of the two plates  402 ,  404  includes an associated passageway  408  through which a part of the retaining bar component can be passed, as will be described in greater detail below. In this example implementation, both plates  402 ,  404  have their own individual passageway  408 , although, for other implementations, the device can be fully used with only one passageway  408  in one of the plates. Advantageously, two passageways  408  make for a more versatile engagement unit  400 . As can be seen from  FIG. 4C  in conjunction with  FIGS. 4A-4B , the bar  406  separating the plates  402 ,  404  is, in this implementation, round with a radius selected to conform to a hook engagement portion  306 , with this example implementation, of the hook  302  of  FIG. 3 . In other implementations, the bar  406  could have other shapes, the important aspect being its ability to occupy a portion within the hook between the engagement portion  306  and the entrance of the gap  108  to help prevent connection of a winch, boom arm or other removal device and/or to impede movement of the engagement unit  400  in substantially any direction other than towards the rear of the container. 
     In a similar vein,  FIGS. 5A-5C  illustrate, in simplified form, three views of one example implementation of a retaining bar  500  part of the inventive carting container anti-theft device configured for use with the engagement unit  400  of  FIGS. 4A-4C . Specifically,  FIG. 5A  is a top view of the retaining bar  500 ,  FIG. 5B  is a side view of the retaining bar  500  and  FIG. 5C  is a end-on view of the retaining bar  500  viewed in the direction of the arrow “X” in  FIG. 5B . 
     The retaining bar  500  is made up of a locking arm  502  having a transverse cross section closely corresponding to the passageway  408  of the engagement unit  400  with which it will be used (not shown to scale). In addition, the locking arm  502  has a length “L” such that, when inserted into the engagement unit  400  during use on a carting container hook  102 , at least one hole (described below) near the distal end  504  of the locking arm  502  will be beyond the end of the engagement unit  400  and, with some implementations, the locking arm  502  will be sufficiently long that, in use, the distal end  504  can be positioned close to or abutting the back wall of the carting container to advantageously prevent a winch cable, boom or other container loading device from bypassing the anti-theft device and indirectly engaging the container&#39;s hook  102  or engaging the locking arm  502  of the anti-theft device in a manner similar to the way it would engage the hook. 
     As noted above, the retaining bar  500  includes at least one, and likely more, holes  501  placed and sized to accept the shackle of a lock close to the engagement unit  400  when the distal end  504  of the locking arm  502  has been inserted into and through the passageway  408  for locking as described in greater detail below. Note that, as shown, the holes are shown as round and are placed near the top of the retaining bar  500 . Depending upon the particular implementation, intended lock and available clearances, the hole(s)  501  could be of any shape and dimension that will accept the intended lock shackle and such hole(s)  501  could placed at other places on the retaining bar  500 , for example, near the lower edge of the retaining bar  500  (i.e. closer to the part that will be closest to the plate  104  in use) or near its center (provided that the intended lock is able to make use of the hole. 
     The retaining bar  500  further includes, at an end opposite the distal end  504 , a stop plate  508  coupled to the locking arm  502  that limits travel of the locking arm  502  through the passageway  408 . As shown, in this implementation, the stop plate  508  is “L-shaped” with the “stem” of the “L” having a length such that that the “leg”  510  of the “L” can slide under the plate  104  of the carting container. Of course in other implementations, the stop plate  508  can have some other shape (for example, one that optionally limits access to the recessed volume  202 , inhibits pivoting, or impedes access to other parts of the engagement unit  400 ), since its primary function is to limit the insertion travel of the locking arm  502 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates, in simplified form, the engagement unit  400  and retaining bar  500  of the example implementation of  FIGS. 4-5  installed on a hook  102  of a carting container similar to the containers of  FIGS. 1-2 . As shown, the engagement unit  400  has been positioned such that the plates  402 ,  404  are to either side of the hook  102  with the bar  406  abutting the engagement portion  602  of the hook  102 . Note here that the dimensions of the plates  402 ,  404  are such that they extend towards the rear of the container beyond the tip(s)  106  of the hook  102 , thereby preventing any access of a winch cable, boom arm or other loading device to the part of the hook  102  between the engagement portion  306  and the entrance of the gap  108 . In addition, as shown, the locking arm  502  has been inserted into and through the passageway  408  such that the leg  510  is underneath the support plate  104  and, due to the length of the locking arm  502 , the distal end  504  is close to the wall  604  at the back of the hook-containing recess. While in this position, the shackle  606  of a lock  608  can be inserted through one of the holes  501  to prevent withdrawal of the locking arm  502 . In addition, advantageously, the stop plate  508  and/or the wall  604  prevent substantial movement of the locking arm  502  in a direction towards the back of the carting container while the shackle  606  concurrently prevents withdrawal of the locking arm  502 . Similarly, the stop plate  508  impedes movement of the engagement unit  400  out of the opening  108  in the hook  102  and, in this implementation, the leg  510 , being under the support plate  104  (i.e. on a side of the support plate  104  opposite the hook  102 ), further restricts pivotal movement of the locking arm  502 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates, in simplified form, the arrangement of  FIG. 6  following insertion of the shackle  606  of the lock  608  into a hole  501  and locking of the lock  608 . Once the lock  608  is locked, access to the hook  102  for attaching the removal winch cable, boom arm or other hook engaging element cannot easily be accomplished because, before the hook  102  can be used to move the container, the lock  608  would need to be unlocked or cut off, and the locking arm  502  of the retaining bar  500  would need to be withdrawn such that the engagement unit  400  could be removed. 
     Advantageously, by locating the holes such that the lock  608  will be in the back portion of the recess containing the hook  102 , accessibility to the lock  608  is limited so that cutting using a saw, bolt cutter or torch to defeat the lock or picking the lock becomes more difficult and time consuming, if it can be done at all. 
       FIGS. 8A-8B  respectively illustrate, in simplified form, the top and side views of an alternative implementation retaining bar  800  similar to the retaining bar  500  of  FIG. 5  for use with the engagement unit  400  of  FIG. 4 . As can be seen, with this example implementation, in addition to the holes  501 , the locking arm  802  includes one or more notches or cutout areas  804 . The notches or cutout areas  804  of this example implementation are configured to allow a hidden shackle lock to be used instead of, as in  FIG. 7 , a padlock style lock  608 . 
       FIGS. 9A-9B  respectively illustrate, in simplified form, the top and side views of the alternative implementation retaining bar  800  with an example hidden shackle lock  900  attached. Note that, for a configuration where the hole(s)  501  and notches or cutout areas  804  are on the bottom edge of the retaining bar  800  (shown in dotted lines), use of a hidden shackle lock  900  will further restrict access. 
       FIG. 10A  illustrates, in simplified form, a side view of another alternative implementation retaining bar  1000 . As shown in  FIG. 10A , with this example implementation, the locking arm  1002  has an alternative shape in transverse cross section to the substantially rectangular cross section of  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 10B  illustrates the example implementation of  FIG. 10A  where the transverse cross section of the locking arm  1002  is substantially circular  1002   a  in shape.  FIG. 10C  illustrates the example implementation of  FIG. 10A  where the transverse cross section of the locking arm  1002  is substantially square  1002   b  in shape. 
     Other cross sectional shapes for the locking arm can also be used, such as substantially triangular and substantially oval shapes, as well as other regular or irregular shapes, in alternative implementations. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates, in simplified form, an alternative implementation engagement unit  1100  configured for use with a retaining bar implementation such as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B  or  FIGS. 10A and 10C . As shown, the engagement unit  1100  is similar to the engagement unit of  FIG. 4 , in that it has a similar bar  406  to engage a container hook and two plates  1102 ,  1104  to either side of the bar  406 , but differs in that one of the plates  1102  has no passageway at all and the other plate  1104  is configured with a round passageway  1106 . Advantageously, depending upon the sizing of the passageway  1106  and the locking arm  1002  with which it will be used, the cross section of the passageway in the engagement unit  1100  and locking arm need not be the same, for example, either the cross section of  FIG. 10B  or the cross section of  FIG. 10C  could be accommodated by the engagement unit  1100 . This is illustrated in dashed lines in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates, in simplified form, an alternative implementation engagement unit  1200  configured for use with a retaining bar implementation such as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10B  or  FIGS. 10A and 10C . As shown, the engagement unit  1200  is similar to the engagement unit of  FIG. 4 , in that it has a similar bar  406  to engage a container hook and two plates  1202 ,  1204  to either side of the bar  406 , but differs (like  FIG. 11 ) in that one of the plates  1202  has no passageway at all. In contrast to  FIG. 11  however, the other plate  1204  is configured with a square passageway  1206 . Advantageously, as with  FIG. 11 , depending upon the sizing of the passageway  1206  and the locking arm  1002  with which it will be used, the cross section of the passageway  1206  and the locking arm need not be the same, for example, either the cross section of  FIG. 10B  or the cross section of  FIG. 10C  could be accommodated. This is illustrated in dashed lines in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIGS. 13A-13B  respectively illustrate, in simplified form, a top and side view yet another alternative retaining bar  1300  implementation. As shown, this retaining bar  1300  is similar to those described above, but it includes two locking arms  1302 ,  1304 , that are connected to each other by a connection plate  1306  in a spaced apart manner so that they can each be inserted into a different passageway of an engagement unit  1308  (shown in dotted lines) that includes two passageways (for example, like the one shown in  FIG. 4 ). Note that, in this case, the retaining bar  1300  does not include an optional “leg” to engage the underside of the supporting plate of a container (although such a “leg” may be included in other implementations of such a retaining bar. In addition, depending upon the particular implementation only one, or both, of the locking arms  1302 ,  1304  could have at least one hole  501  to accept a lock as described herein, and likely more than one hole for versatility. 
     At this point it is to be understood and appreciated that the particular cross sectional shapes used for the locking arm and corresponding passageway, as well as where a passageway is located (i.e. in or on one or both of the plates) are a matter of design choice and may be influenced by the hook(s) and container(s) with which they may be used. Similarly, although the shaft  406  is shown as being substantially round and having an offset relative to the center of the plates it abuts, both its shape and the offset (if any) will also be a matter of design choice and may be a function of the hook(s) and container(s) with which it will be used. Likewise, the particular shape of the plates may similarly be a function of the hook(s) and container(s) with which they will be used. 
     In addition, it should be understood that, with respect to the lock, the term “lock” is intended to mean any type of locking mechanism that can be attached through the hole(s) and prevent ready withdrawal of the locking arm under the relevant circumstances. Thus, for example, under certain circumstances even one or more bolt/nut combinations could serve as a “lock” in a particular instance, provided removal would require a more than acceptable amount of time or effort within the context it is used. 
     Finally, it should be noted that, in all cases, it is intended that the engagement unit and retaining bar will be made of sufficient thicknesses, and of material(s) of sufficient hardness and strength, that removal or destruction by cutting, heating, cooling or impact cannot easily and quickly be achieved. Thus, suitable materials for the engagement unit and retaining bar can include hardened steel, titanium, and other appropriately hard metals and alloys, the section of which is well within the skill in the art once the likely use specifics are known. In similar vein, it is presumed that a suitably strong lock will also be used in this regard. 
     It should be understood that this description (including the figures) is only representative of some illustrative embodiments. For the convenience of the reader, the above description has focused on a representative sample of all possible embodiments, a sample that teaches the principles of the invention. The description has not attempted to exhaustively enumerate all possible variations. That alternate embodiments may not have been presented for a specific portion of the invention, or that further undescribed alternate embodiments may be available for a portion, is not to be considered a disclaimer of those alternate embodiments. One of ordinary skill will appreciate that many of those undescribed embodiments incorporate the same principles of the invention as claimed and others are equivalent.