Patent Publication Number: US-2023137128-A1

Title: Dual storage and disposal device and method of use

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the general art of on-site disposal, storage and project logistical support, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for more efficient storage and disposal for on-site projects. 
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a Continuation in Part of, and claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/109,536 entitled “DUAL STORAGE AND DISPOSAL DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE,” filed on Nov. 4, 2020. The subject matter of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Construction and building renovation projects come in a variety of sizes, scopes, and available space to carry out work and bring in equipment. Parking for equipment, in some cases, may be plentiful, but often, it is not. Often, such projects are in an urban setting where parking is very limited and space is at a premium. Even in a more rural setting, space may be limited by driveway or road size limitations, or other equipment already parked on a property. 
     One issue that is more or less constant at any such job site is the removal of debris. This may be, for example, debris already present on site (such as at an older, crumbling building), debris from the removal or portions of a structure to begin new work (such as removal of a wall, kitchen or bathroom fixtures, damaged ceilings or roofs, etc), or debris created by new construction, such as leftover wood from sawing, portions of unused tiles or shingles, etc.). 
     Such disposal is typically handled by bringing in an onsite dumpster. The dumpster is parked, debris thrown in, and the dumpster is removed. Typically, dumpsters are a standard length of 14 m 16 or more typically, 22 feet that fit onto the back of a truck for delivery. However, because a dumpster is typically brought in on a large truck, a large amount of length and overhead clearance is required to deliver even a single dumpster. This can be problematic in tight areas with limited space, making the delivery of even a single container difficult, let alone multiple containers, difficult. 
     Further, tools and other equipment must be brought to a job site for use. This is typically done by bringing the tools in multiple vehicles of those working on a specific project. This can be unsatisfactory as these tools are often lost, stolen, or left somewhere and forgotten. This also makes coordination to make sure all necessary tools and equipment are on a site more difficult. Someone having to go retrieve, find or buy some item that is not present is a common occurrence. This is inefficient, raising costs and often slows or stalls progress. 
     Another alternative is to leave any tools or equipment within a structure that is being worked upon. This can be unsatisfactory if people are still residing or working there. Further, some structures under construction are easily broken into and this is a common occurrence. 
     Sometimes, a traditional roll off dumpster and traditional storage container or an enclosed trailer might be used to address both problems. However, this can take up much limited space, be excessively expensive for a project of more limited scope, and may not even be possible because of space limitations, Often if room is too limited, debris may be unsafely stored around the job site “here and there” resulting in unwanted hazards. 
     Besides being costly or perhaps not even possible, this is likely to result in more trips and deliveries, bringing more truck traffic to the job site. This can be problematic, particularly in urban or other settings with limited access for traffic, or areas (such as tourist towns or places with noise or hour restrictions) where one is trying to keep a low profile on construction activity. 
     SUMMARY 
     A dual storage and disposal device and method of use. The storage and disposal system device is, overall, comprised of a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom plate, a first side wall on one side of the device, and a second side wall on the opposite side of the first side wall. 
     The device further comprises apparatus for transporting the device on a truck or similarly capable vehicle. In one embodiment, the transport apparatus is comprised of a set of rollers beneath the device at the bottom plate in proximity to the rear wall, and it is further comprised of a hook lift attachment assembly and a hook lift bar located at the device front wall. 
     The device is comprised of a pair of distinct portions; a storage facility  30 , and a dumpster portion. 
     Turning to the storage facility portion, it is comprised generally of a storage facility front wall portion at the front of the storage facility, a storage facility rear wall portion at the rear of the storage facility, the first side wall of the device which acts as one side wall of the storage facility, and a dividing wall between the storage facility and dumpster portion that is also a second side wall of the storage facility. A roof or top is provided for overhead securement and protection. Typically, if the roof or top  38  is in the form of a top, apparatus for attaching it to the storage facility portion so the top can be open or closed is provided. If it is in the form of a roof, the roof is slanted to allow for drainage of rain or snow, or allow anything that lands on the roof to slide off. A door is provided at the front of the storage facility. 
     The door of the storage facility is comprised of hinges and a means of opening the door, and the door can be further comprised of a securing mechanism for locking the door into a closed position. This can be a lock, tabs and pins, or other means in the art. In one embodiment, a set of tabs and pins are used. 
     The dumpster portion is comprised of the dividing wall, which is also the front wall of the dumpster portion, a pair of dumpster side walls, the device rear wall, and bottom portion. The dumpster portion can be further comprised of rear wall opening and securing apparatus to make the real wall openable or secure it when closed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic side view of the embodiment of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic front view of the embodiment of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic rear view of the embodiment of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of the opposite side view to that shown in the embodiment of  FIG.  5   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Disclosed herein is dual storage and disposal system and method for implementation and use. Turning to  FIG.  1   , the storage and disposal system device (“device”)  10  is, overall, comprised of a front wall  12 , a rear wall and/or door  14 , a bottom plate  16 , a first side wall  18  on one side of the system device  10 , and a second side wall  20  on the opposite side of the device  10  in relation to the first side wall  18 . 
     The device further comprises apparatus for transporting the device on a truck or similarly capable vehicle. In this embodiment, the transport apparatus is comprised of a set of rollers  22  beneath the device  10  at the bottom plate in proximity to the rear wall and/or door  14  of the device  10 . Turning to  FIG.  3   , it is further comprised of a hook lift attachment assembly  24  and a hook lift bar  26  located at the device front wall  12 . By these means, a truck or vehicle can attach the device  10  and pull it onto, or take it off of, a truck bed platform or other platform as desired. 
     The device  10  is comprised of a pair of distinct portions; a storage facility  30 , and a dumpster portion. 
     Turning to the storage facility portion  30 , it is comprised generally of a storage facility front wall portion  32  at the front of the storage facility  30  and rear wall portion  34  at the rear of the storage facility  30 , which, because of the storage facility  30  location in this embodiment, are a portion of the first side wall and second side wall  18 ,  20 . The storage facility portion  30  is further comprised of a dividing wall  48  between the storage facility  30  and dumpster portion  50  that, because of its location, is a second side wall of the storage facility  30 . A roof or top  38  is provided for overhead securement and protection. This can be in the form of roof, a top, or other suitable component. In this embodiment, and as shown in  FIG.  1   , a top is provided. The top  38  is further comprised of tap attachment and securing apparatus  39  for securing the top  38  to the device  10 . In this embodiment, the top attachment and securing apparatus  39  is comprised of a set of hinges and tabs. These allow the top  38  to be open for ease of access or securely closed. 
     For clarity, it is noted that the overall device  10  is oriented such that the front wall  12 , containing the attachment apparatus is front of the device  10  and the rear wall and/or door  14  is at the rear of the device. The dumpster portion  50  is similarly oriented, such that the dividing wall  48  is the “front” of the dumpster portion  50  and the rear wall and/or door  14  is at the rear. 
     Turning additionally to  FIGS.  2   , for ease of discussion, the “front” of the storage facility  30 , though, is in an orientation such that the side having the door  40 , is at the “front” of the storage facility  30  while it is on a side of the overall device  10 . Accordingly, the first side wall  18  of the device  10  is oriented to the frontal side of the storage facility  30 , and the second side wall  20  is orientated to the rear side of the storage facility  30 . And turning additionally to  FIG.  3   , the front wall  12  of the device serves as the wall of one side of the storage facility  30 . 
     Returning to  FIG.  1   , further the bottom plate  16  of the overall device  10  is comprised of the storage facility bottom portion  36  and dumpster bottom portion. The first side wall  18  is comprised of the storage facility front wall portion and a dumpster side wall  52 , and the second side wall  20  is comprised of the storage facility rear wall portion  34  and other dumpster side wall  52   a . These divisions are partly denoted by physical portions of the device  10 , but also as conceptual aids in discussing the separate portions of the device  10 . 
     Turning to  FIG.  2   , a door  40  is provided at the front of the storage facility portion  30 . The door  40  of the storage facility  30 , is comprised of hinges  42 ,  42   a  and a means of opening the door. Typically, this is a handle or knob and in this embodiment, is a door knob  44 . The door can be further comprised of a securing mechanism  46  for locking the door into a closed position. This can be a lock, tabs and pins, or other means in the art. In this embodiment, a set of tabs and pins are shown. 
     Further, in this embodiment, the roof or top  38  is a roof. Typically, the roof i 38   s  slanted to allow for drainage of rain or snow, or allow anything that lands on the roof  38  to slide off. This provides protection to the structure and to anything stored inside the structure. 
     Turning to the dumpster portion  50 , it is comprised of the dividing wall  48 , which is also the front wall of the dumpster portion  50 , a pair of dumpster side walls  52 ,  52   a , the device rear wall and/or door  14 , and bottom portion  56 . Turning to  FIG.  4   , in this embodiment, the wall and/or door  14  is comprised of a door capable of opening for ease of emptying the dumpster portion  50 . The dumpster portion  50  can be further comprised of rear wall opening and securing apparatus  58  to make the real wall and/or door  14  openable or secure it when closed. 
     The portions of the device  10  can also be in differing orientations. Turning to  FIG.  5   , the device  10  is shown with the door  40  on the opposite side of the dumpster facility  30  as in the previous embodiment. Further, the dividing wall  48  is shown in further detail. 
     Turning to  FIG.  6   , additions can be made to the storage facility  30  to increase its function as a storage shed. In this view, the embodiment of  FIG.  5    is reversed and a window  60  has been placed at the back of the storage facility  30 . However, The window  60  can be of any material that is securable to the wall  20  and difficult to break, such as, e.g., thick glass, or plastic or other resin. Bars  62  or other means of keeping the window from being used to break into the storage facility  30  can also be added, such as, in this embodiment, a set of bars  62 . Having a window can both provide light for improved viewing when entering the storage facility  30 , but can also provide a user the ability to “look around” and see what is in the storage facility  30  quickly. 
     The device can be any suitable size capable of being transported to a site and dropped off for use. Further, the storage shed portion  30  can be decreased or expanded in relation to the dumpster portion, depending upon such factors as uses of the device  10 , and amount of tools relative to amount of expected collected debris. In this embodiment, the unit is 14 ft long, or 13-15 ft long, and 8 ft wide, or 7-9 ft wide, with each portion taking an equal amount of the length. 
     In another example embodiment, the device can be 16 ft long, or 15-17 ft long, and 8 feet wide, or 7-9 ft wide, wherein the front of the storage facility is 6 feet of the length and an open top dumpster is 10 ft of it. 
     Further, though in these embodiments, the dumpster is open top, a top and means for securing it can be added if necessary. 
     In this manner, a dual purpose device is provided and can be placed at a job site. The dumpster portion  50  can be used for collecting job waste materials, while the storage side provides secure storage for tools or supplies. This is particularly suited to projects that need tools or equipment, but not necessarily a full size dumpster. These could include, for example, projects such as single-room or other limited remodels, deck or fence builds or rebuilds, or work on a small building or small part of a building. 
     EXAMPLE 
     John is working on a room remodel in a house with limited access and parking. He needs some ability to dispose of debris, and a way to store tools and equipment while working on the job. Previously, he has left his tools at the site, but they sometimes disappear. He has also had he and his workers transport tools and equipment every day. However, this takes extra time that could be devoted to completing the job. Further, sometimes there are coordination problems and all the tools did not necessarily show up when needed. In addition, a tool would occasionally be lost in the confusion of work and be left outside, where it either disappeared or rain or other weather would come along in the night and ruin the tool. 
     John has the storage and dumpster device  10  dropped off. He only has to bring his tools one time. He stores them in the storage facility portion. As he proceeds with the job, tools are easy to find and return, while debris is simply thrown into the attached dumpster portion. At night, he locks up the storage portion  30 , knowing his tools are secure from theft, out of the way, and protected from the elements. In the morning, he simply opens the storage portion  30  and can directly proceed with the work that day. This can save a number of useless or redundant trips to fetch or obtain tools or other equipment. The more limited space taken by the dual-use device  10  is also making access for his vehicle(s) and those of the building&#39;s owner(s) easier to maintain. When the job is completed, the device  10  is loaded onto a truck. If his tools and equipment are secure, John may even opt to leave them in the storage portion  30 , while the device  10  is transported back to his shop or directly to another job. Through use of this device, John has increased his efficiency, saved money, saved inconvenience, and decreased the space taken for working on the job. 
     Disclosed herein is a dual storage and disposal device for effectively storing tools or equipment or other material, while also providing a means for collecting debris and material within the same space, thereby increasing operational efficiency, reducing costs, and improving the experience for users and their clients. 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, the expression of these individual embodiments is for illustrative purposes and should not be seen as a limitation upon the scope of the invention. It is to be further understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.