Patent Publication Number: US-3874547-A

Title: Caddy for compacted-refuse

Description:
[45] Apr. 1, 1975 United States Patent [191 Howard 0. S S a n O B Wiselogcl.............................. Bilbrey..,.... Walker...... Rupe, Jr. 970 Irwin..........  
 Primar)l Examiner-Albert J. Makay having a flat bottom with open ends giving free access [56] References cned in the caddy-open position for drag-on loading of a UNITED STATES PATENTS Abag of compacted garbage; when closed, upwardly in- 190/48 clined top structure affords a carrying grip and pre- .f 224/45 D .&#39;vents upside down placement; la rodlike securance 220/6 having a loop at one end engages rods in the top struc- 220/6 ture to keep the caddy closed.  
 220/6 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Van Fransson.......  
 Lisby Sterrett.....................,......... 919 Schocnborn...............,........ 922 Hammond ct al.  
 CADDY FOR COMPACTED-REFUSE This invention relates generally to portable receptacles and specifically to hinged-side ventilated protective containers for transporting compacted bagged garbage and the like.  
  A new problem for householders has presented itself with the widespread and increasing adoption of domestic garbage Compactors. Typically such Compactors comprise counter-high mechanisms with a garbage chute near the top for depositing items in a bag retained in a drawer-bin at the bottom and an electrically powered vertical ram extendable downward to cornpress the bag contents into solid cubical form occupying a fraction of the volume of uncompressed refuse. After repeated additions of refuse and compactions extending usually over a period of a week or more, the drawer-bin is pulled out, the bag is folded over the compacted mass, and the filled bag is then removed and deposited on the front curb (typically) for collection. Because of the weight of the compacted mass, removal of the bag from the drawer-bin is facilitated by provision in most models of compactor of a hinged bin wall which opens downwardly, forming a ramp down which a housewife or child can drag the bag, depositing it on the kitchen floor.  
  From this point on, disposal of the bag of garbage becomes difficult at best, and often becomes messy and sometimes dangerous.  
  Even for a full grown man, picking up the 2O to 40 pound load is difficult because there is no handle and the bag is not always clean, requiring awkwardly holding the bag away from the body. To make gripping the bag easier, it can be filled only partially, but this is wasteful. Any grease on the exterior of the bag not only makes gripping and carrying uncertain, but invites rodents, dogs and other animals to rip open the bag when deposited on the curb, exposing the mass of food material combines with splintered glass. The splintered glass is destructive to animals and thinly shod feet of humans` and is nearly impossible to remove when scattered over a lawn where it becomes additionally dangerous as projectiles thrown by power mowers.  
  Very heavy bags or double bags can be used for better retention of the compacted mass, but such bags are very expensive and the additional bulk must be stored in the home. Enclosing the bag in a cardboard or other box requires lifting the bag by gripping it to place it in the box and hides the presence and nature of the bag contained, causing garbage collectors either to take the entire box and contents, or to leave it, with the contents intact, where placed.  
  A principal object of the present invention is to provide a caddy or carrier for compressed refuse which avoids the difficulties indicated.  
  In the prior art numerous containers have been provided for transporting clothing and miscellaneous personal effects, such as the containers described in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3.645.382 and 2,779,460 and for receiving and&#39;transporting masses of solid material displacing fixed volumes, such as the container described,l in U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,025. However, the old-art cfevices fail to provide any suggestion of the present caddy which deals with the unique problem of handling bags of compressed rcfuse in a new, efficient manner.  
  Other objects of the present invention are to provide an easily loaded, easily secured and unsecured, nonjamming. safe, sanitary, economical, durable, non-sail,  
 readily stored refuse cube caddy of attractive appearance, affording full ventilation and, importantly, seethrough inspection of contents.  
  A still further object is to provide a double hinged openwork container having a flat bottom with ends openable to provide free access for loading, and failsafe securance including a carrying grip at the top and a novel latch.  
  In brief summary the invention includes: a flat bottom having parallel edges, a pair of sides, a hinge member securing the sides respectively to the parallel edges of the bottom, each side having at each end an inward turned end portion which abuts the inward turned end portion of the other side when the caddy is closed, each side having a top portion inclined upwardly toward the center, abutting the other side-top portion when the caddy is closed; and means for securing said sides together when the caddy is closed.  
  The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent on examination of the following description, including the drawings in which like numerals indicating like parts:  
  FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of a standard type compressed garbage bag and a partially open caddy according to the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is an isometric drawing of the FIG. 1 caddy fully closed;  
 FIG. 3 is an isometric fully open;  
  FIG. 4 is an end elevation showing a preferred method of loading the FIG. 1 caddy;  
  FIG. 5 is an isometric drawing showing the FIG. l caddy in storage; and  
  FIG. 6 is a detail in partial view of a novel securance according to the invention.  
  As indicated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the invention 10 comprises generally symmetrical carrier having an openwork bottom l2 such as of plastic covered welded metallic rods, hinges 14, preferably in the form of loose fitting loops attaching openwork sides 16 to the bottom, and openwork end halves 18 and top halves 20 afdrawing of the FIG. l caddy fixed to the sides. A portion at the center of each top half has a hand access opening 22 adjacent a central rodlike top frame member 24 and the rodlike members at that location preferably are surrounded by tubular elastic grips 26 to prevent slipping and ease the load on the hand when the structure is lifted.  
  In the preferred embodiment illustrated, as best shown in FIG. 2, the top halves slope upward to the center; this upward or outward slope affords a favorable load distributing angle in the top structure, and provides hand clearance above the load and room above the load for engaging the preferred securance 28 of this invention.  
  Loading the caddy is facilitated and made much safer by the particular twice-hinged open-end flat bottom feature described. l  
  FIG. 1 shows a filled bag B being lowered into the caddy. Except with light material or partial loads in the bag, this method is not recommended.  
  FIG. 4 shows the recommended method in which the heavy filled bag B is dragged across the flat bottom 12 from one end, and the sides are then raised and secured.  
  Carrying the caddy l0 by the handgrips automatically keeps it safely closed; additionally when fastened,  
 the quick-attach, quick-detach securance 28 keeps the caddy closed.  
  Securance 28 attaches at one end 30, which preferably is flattened and has a perforation for the purpose, by a chain 32 .to the caddy to prevent loss. As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5 the securance comprises a rigid length of heavy wire or light rod having an open loop 34 of about one and one-half turns at one end. The spacing between turns and the diameter of the loop permit the pair of parallel rods 24 at the top of the caddy to pass between the turns and to be captured within the loop when the shank is rotated and dropped asin FIG. 2. To reverse the procedure and release the securance, the shank is raised, rotated to the FIG. 6 position, and slipped off the rods. Either procedure takes but an instant, yet no animal can open the caddy, and small children are not likely to discover how to open the securance, thus protecting them from the glass splinters and other contents.  
  FIG. 3 best shows bend 36 of about twenty degrees in the shank of the securance adjacent the loop. This bend provides clearance to swing the shank down after connection.  
  In the open position the caddy l0 can be compactly hung for storage from any convenient hook H, and takes no more space to hang than a large pan would.  
  In summary, it can be seen that the novel structure of the invention provides for safe loading, safe carrying, safe bag storage at curbside, easy but positive nonjamming securance; non-freezing, non-binding abutting relations of the moving parts; that the structure is strong, resilient, unobtrusive whem empty, easily inspected when filled, is impossible to place upside down when closed, (which would invite rough handling by garbagemen attempting to open the structure) and finally that the structure is easily washed by splashing with water, and is self-draining.  
 Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. lt is therefore, to be understood that within&#39; the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.  
  What is claimed and desired to be secured by U.S.l Letters Patent is:  
  l. A compacted-refuse caddy comprising: a flat bottom ,having parallel edges, a pair of sides, a hinge member securing the sides respectively to the parallel edges of the bottom, each side having at each end a fixed inward turned end portion which abuts the bottom and the inward turned end portion of the other side when the caddy is closed, each side having a fixed top portion inclined upwardly toward the&#39; center, each fixed top portion parallel with and abutting the other top portion when the Caddy is closed; the top portions respectively having rods along the abutting portions with handrecesses adjacent the respective rods, the hand recesses proximately located for adapting the rods to serve as handle structure, each rod having a resilient tubular grip thereon, all said bottom and and sides being of openwork construction, and means for securing said sides together when the caddy is closed, including a securance comprising an elongate rigid rod having first and second ends with an open loop in the first end thereof, the loop comprising substantially one and onehalf turns; the spacing between the turns and the diameter of the loop dimensioned for receiving therebetween said rods when abutting and for capturing the rods within the loop when the securance is operatively rotated.  
  2. A compacted-refuse caddy as recited in claim 1, the elongate rigid rod having an obtuse bend therein proximate the loop, said bend positioned for providing clearance between a portion of the securance and the caddy when said rods along the abutting portions are captured within the loop.