Patent Publication Number: US-11390127-B1

Title: Garbage can hitch and garbage can having a built-in hitch

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/954,484, filed on Dec. 28, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application pertains to hitch devices, and more particularly, to a single-part garbage can hitch for facilitating the movement of a garbage can using a vehicle, and a garbage can having a built-in hitch. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Some people live in a home with a large set back from a main road, such that the garbage must be pulled along a driveway, which in some cases can extend for hundreds of feet. Usually in such circumstances, the driveway is made of gravel or dirt, making it even more difficult to drag the garbage can, particularly when the garbage can is full of garbage. Inclement weather can also increase the human misery of manually pulling a garbage can full of garbage up or down a long, muddy road. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A through 1F  illustrate a single-part garbage can hitch from various view angles in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up side view of the single-part garbage can hitch of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up side view of the single-part garbage can hitch of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  with a handle bar of a garbage can disposed in a semi-cylindrical well in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the single-part garbage can hitch of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  being coupled with a garbage can in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of the single-part garbage can hitch of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  being coupled with a trailer hitch ball of a vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the single-part garbage can hitch of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  coupling the garbage can with the trailer hitch ball of the vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a garbage can having a built-in hitch for coupling the garbage can with the trailer hitch ball of the vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a plan view of the garbage can having the built-in hitch for coupling the garbage can with the trailer hitch ball of the vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the garbage can having the built-in hitch for coupling the garbage can with the trailer hitch ball of the vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates another side view of the garbage can having the built-in hitch for coupling the garbage can with the trailer hitch ball of the vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates yet another side view of the garbage can having the built-in hitch for coupling the garbage can with the trailer hitch ball of the vehicle in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. 
         FIG. 12  is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for using a single-part garbage can hitch to tow a garbage can using a vehicle. 
         FIG. 13  is a flow diagram illustrating another technique for using a single-part garbage can hitch to tow a garbage can using a vehicle. 
         FIG. 14  is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for manufacturing a single-part garbage can hitch to tow a garbage can using a vehicle. 
         FIG. 15  is a flow diagram illustrating a technique for manufacturing a garbage can having a built-in hitch to tow the garbage can using a vehicle. 
     
    
    
     The foregoing and other features of the inventive concept will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to enable a thorough understanding of the inventive concept. It should be understood, however, that persons having ordinary skill in the art may practice the inventive concept without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first block could be termed a second block, and, similarly, a second block could be termed a first block, without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. 
     It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “coupled to,” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, directly coupled to or directly connected to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly coupled to,” or “directly connected to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     The terminology used in the description of the inventive concept herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the inventive concept. As used in the description of the inventive concept and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
       FIGS. 1A through 1F  illustrate a single-part garbage can hitch  100  from various view angles in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. The single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be made of a single contiguous molded part. In an alternate embodiment, the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be made of multiple separate parts that are combined (e.g., attached to each other) to form a single functional part. The single-part garbage can hitch  100  is preferably made of plastic because it is lightweight and strong, but it will be understood that the single part garbage can hitch  100  can be made of any suitable hard material such as metal, fiber glass, wood, composite materials, or the like. In some embodiments, the single-part garbage can hitch  100  is manufactured using a plastic injection mold. In some embodiments, the single-part garbage can hitch  100  is manufactured using a 3D printer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can include a grab handle  110 . The grab handle  100  has proportions such that any typical human hand can easily grasp the single-part garbage can hitch  100  using the grab handle  110 . The single-part garbage can hitch  100  can include a base section  105 . In some embodiments, the base section  105  is substantially in the form of a block. However, it will be understood that the base section  105  can have other suitable shapes without departing from the inventive aspects described herein. 
     The single-part garbage can hitch  100  can include an attachment arm  120 , which can be used to attach to a center cross stiffener beam of a garbage can, as further described below. The attachment arm  120  can attach to multiple standard cross stiffener beam sizes. The attachment arm  120  can include a recess  130  located at an underside thereof. The single-part garbage can hitch  100  can include a semi-cylindrical well  115  located adjacent the attachment arm  120 , and between the attachment arm  120  and the grab handle  110 . The semi-cylindrical well  115  can be filled by a handle bar of a garbage can as further described below. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1C , the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can include a receptacle  125  having a downwardly facing opening. The receptacle  125  can be located within the base section  105  of the single-part garbage can hitch  100 . The receptacle  125  can be shaped to receive a trailer hitch ball of a vehicle, as further described below. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a close-up side view of the single-part garbage can hitch  100  of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 2  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. The receptacle  125  can include a hollow cylindrical section  205  and a hollow conical frustum section  215  having a tapered wall  210 . An end  225  of the conical frustum section  215  may meet at an end  230  of the cylindrical section  205 , thereby forming a contiguous open receptacle  125  within the base section  105 . The cylindrical section  205  can function to engage with a surface  235  of a hitch ball  220 . The frustum section  215  can function to engage with the surface  235  of the hitch ball  220 . For example, the tapered wall can function to keep the hitch ball  220  substantially centered within the receptacle  125 . The receptacle  125  can fit over any standard sized trailer hitch ball (e.g.,  220 ), such as 1⅞ inch, 2 inch, and 2 5/16 inch hitch balls. It will be understood that in alternate embodiments, the receptacle  125  can take other shapes that are suitable for being fit over any standard sized trailer hitch ball, without departing from the inventive aspects disclosed herein. For example, the receptacle  125  can have a hemispherical shape to receive the trailer hitch ball  220 . In some embodiments, the receptacle  125  has a box shape, a hexagonal shape, a triangular shape, or the like. 
     The single-part garbage can hitch  100  enables an easy on-off motion for smooth and efficient usability. For example, the shape of the receptacle  125  enables a user to fit the receptacle  125  over the hitch ball  220  using an easy place and drop motion, or to remove the receptacle  125  from the hitch ball  220  using an easy lift and remove motion. More specifically, the user can grasp the grab handle  110 , position the base section  105  over the trailer hitch ball  220 , and release grip of the grab handle  110  so that the single-part garbage can hitch  100  rests on the hitch ball  220  of a vehicle. A garbage can first be attached to the single-part garbage can hitch  100 , as further described below, and then the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be placed onto to the hitch ball  220 . Alternatively, the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be placed onto to the hitch ball  220  first, followed by the garbage can being attached to the single-part garbage can hitch  100 . The vehicle can then tow the garbage can, as further described below. When finished towing the garbage can, the user can grasp the grab handle  110 , and lift the single-part garbage can hitch  100  off of the trailer hitch ball  220 , and then detach the single-part garbage can hitch  100  from the garbage can. Alternatively, the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be detached from the garbage can first, followed by the lifting of the single-part garbage can hitch  100  off of the trailer hitch ball  220 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a close-up side view of the single-part garbage can hitch  100  of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  with a handle bar  305  of a garbage can disposed in the semi-cylindrical well  115  in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 3  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , the handle bar  305  can fit within the semi-cylindrical well  115  sandwiched between the attachment arm  120  and an opposing wall  310  of the base section  105 . In other words, the attachment arm  120  can include a first sidewall  315  of the semi-cylindrical well  115 , and the base section  105  can include the opposing sidewall  310  opposite the first sidewall  315  of the semi-cylindrical well  115 . The handle bar  305  may freely twist within the semi-cylindrical well  115  as needed to secure the attachment arm  120  to the garbage can, as further explained below. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the single-part garbage can hitch  100  of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  being coupled with a garbage can  400  in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 4  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. The dashed lines shown in  FIG. 4  are example boundaries of a garbage can  400 , but it will be understood that the relative dimensions of the garbage can  400  can be different without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The garbage can  400  can include a lid  405  and one or more sidewalls  410 . 
     The attachment arm  120  of the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can slip over a center cross stiffener  415  of the garbage can  400 , thereby securing the single-part garbage can hitch  100  to the garbage can  400  in such a way that prevents significant lateral movement of the single-part garbage can hitch  100 . In other words, the single-part garbage can hitch  100  is prevented from sliding along the handle bar  305  of the garbage can  400 . Put differently, the center cross stiffener  415  can prevent the single-part garbage can hitch  100  from sliding sideways, such that the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be kept substantially in a fixed position at or near a center region of the handle bar  305  of the garbage can  400 . 
     More specifically, the recess  130  of the attachment arm  120  can be disposed in a horizontal section  420  of the attachment arm  120 , and can fit to the center cross stiffener  415 . A lip  430  of the horizontal section  420  of the attachment arm  120 , together with a vertical section  425  of the attachment arm  120 , can prevent the single-part garbage can hitch  100  from any significant lateral movement along the handle bar  305 . The dimensions of the recess  130  can be such that the attachment arm  120  fits snugly on the center cross stiffener  415 . The single-part garbage can hitch  100  can fit most standard sized garbage cans. Nevertheless, in some embodiments, the center cross stiffener  415  can be provided in different sizes depending on the garbage can manufacturer. Multiple types of single-part garbage can hitches  100  with varying dimensions of the recess  130  in order to fit and attach to any center cross stiffener  415  may be used. In some embodiments, the size of the recess  130  of the single-part garbage can hitch  100  is adjustable such that it can fit over or otherwise attach to any sized center cross stiffener  415 . 
     In some embodiments, the grab handle  110  can include a first vertical sidewall  435 , a second vertical sidewall  440 , and a horizontal wall  445  coupled to the first vertical sidewall  435  and to the second vertical sidewall  440 . In some embodiments, the grab handle  110  is a material strap, a plastic strap, a rubber strap, or other suitable handle that is connected to the base section  105 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a plan view of the single-part garbage can hitch  100  of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  being coupled with a trailer hitch ball  505  of a vehicle  510  in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 5  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. The dashed lines shown in  FIG. 5  are example boundaries of a garbage can  400  and the vehicle  510 , but it will be understood that the relative dimensions of the garbage can  400  and the vehicle  510  can be different without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. It will be understood that any type of vehicle  510  having a tow hitch ball can be used. 
     Once the single-part garbage can hitch  100  is engaged with the garbage can  400 , it can be lowered onto the trailer hitch ball  505 , as shown at  515 . For example, the attachment arm  120  can be attached to the center cross stiffener  415  of the garbage can  400 , and the handle bar  305  of the garbage can  400  can rest in the semi-cylindrical well  115  of the single-part garbage can hitch  100 . Thereafter, the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be grasped by the grab handle  110 , and moved together with garbage can  400  toward and then over the trailer hitch ball  505 . The weight of the garbage can  400  provides rigidity to the linkage, and once the single-part garbage can hitch  100  is attached to the hitch ball  500 , the weight of the garbage can  400  is transferred to the vehicle  510 . The load on the single-part garbage can hitch  100  itself is minimal. Because of the gravity-enhanced configuration providing downward levered pressure on the trailer hitch ball  505 , the single-part garbage can hitch  100  is advantageously kept securely linked to the trailer hitch ball  505 , even when the vehicle  510  drives over bumpy, gravelly, and/or dirt-based roads. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the single-part garbage can hitch  100  of  FIGS. 1A through 1F  coupling the garbage  400  can with the trailer hitch ball  505  of the vehicle  510  in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 6  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. 
     The garbage can  400  can include one or more wheels  605 . After the garbage can  400  has been linked to the vehicle  510  using the single-part garbage can hitch  100 , the vehicle  510  can easily drag the garbage can  400  as the one or more wheels  605  of the garbage can  400  rotate on the ground. The weight of the garbage can  400  provides rigidity to the linkage, which keeps the single-part garbage can hitch  100  from coming off the hitch ball  505 . After the garbage can  400  has been dragged to the end of the drive way, for example, the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be lifted from the hitch ball  505 . The single-part garbage can hitch  100  can then be easily detached from the garbage can  400  by disengaging the attachment arm  120 . Alternatively, the garbage can  400  can first be disengaged from the single-part garbage can hitch  100 , and then the single-part garbage can hitch  100  can be lifted from the hitch ball  505 . At no point does the garbage can  400  need to be lifted off the ground. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a garbage can  705  having a built-in hitch  700  for coupling the garbage can  705  with the trailer hitch ball (e.g.,  505  of  FIG. 5 ) of the vehicle (e.g.,  510  of  FIG. 5 ) in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. The built-in hitch  700  can be injection molded into the garbage can  705  itself. In an alternative embodiment, the built-in hitch  700  can be permanently attached to the garbage can  705 . In yet another embodiment, the built-in hitch  700  can be removably attached to the garbage can  705 . The built-in hitch  700  can simultaneously act as a stiffener for the handle bar  710  of the garbage can  705 . In some embodiments, the built-in hitch  700  is manufactured separately from the garbage can  705 , and then permanently or temporarily attached to the garbage can  705 . The attachment can be accomplished using screws, adhesives, welding, or the like. 
     The built-in hitch  700  can include a base section  715 . In some embodiments, the base section  715  is substantially in the form of a block. However, it will be understood that the base section  715  can have other suitable shapes without departing from the inventive aspects described herein. The built-in hitch  700  can include an upper pedestal  720  having a semi-cylindrical well  730  disposed therein. The upper pedestal  720  and well  730  can receive, hold, and/or provide structural support to the handle bar  710 . In other words, the handle bar  710  can fit at least partially into, and be held at least partially within, the semi-cylindrical well  730  of the upper pedestal  720 . In some embodiments, the handle bar  710  is free to rotate within the semi-cylindrical well  730  when a lid  735  of the garbage can  705  is opened or closed. In some embodiments, the handle bar  710  does not rotate, but is otherwise fixed or stationary within the well  730 . The garbage can  700  can include one or more sidewalls (e.g.,  750 ). The base section  715  can be attached to one of the sidewalls  750 . 
     The built-in hitch  700  can include a receptacle  725 . The receptacle  725  can be located within the base section  715  of the built-in hitch  700 . The receptacle  725  can be shaped to receive a trailer hitch ball of a vehicle, as further described below. The garbage can  705  can include one or more wheels  740 . After the garbage can  705  has been linked to the vehicle (e.g.,  510  of  FIG. 5 ) using the built-in hitch  700 , the vehicle  510  can easily drag the garbage can  705  as the one or more wheels  740  of the garbage can  705  rotate on the ground. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a plan view of the garbage can  705  having the built-in hitch  700  for coupling the garbage can  705  with the trailer hitch ball (e.g.,  505  of  FIG. 5 ) of the vehicle (e.g.,  510  of  FIG. 5 ) in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 8  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. The handle bar  710  can sit within the semi-cylindrical well  730  of the upper pedestal  720  of the built-in hitch  700  of the garbage can  705 . In some embodiments, the handle bar  710  is fixed or stationary within the well  730 . In some embodiments, the handle bar  710  can rotate within the well  730 . As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , the built-in hitch  700  can take the place of a cross stiffener beam. In other words, the garbage can  705  need not have a cross stiffener beam because the built-in hitch can provide a dual function of structural support and the ability to attach to a ball hitch of a vehicle. In some embodiments, both a cross stiffener beam (e.g.,  415  of  FIG. 4 ) and the built-in hitch  700  are part of the garbage can  705 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the garbage can  705  having the built-in hitch  700  for coupling the garbage can  705  with the trailer hitch ball (e.g.,  505  of  FIG. 5 ) of the vehicle (e.g.,  510  of  FIG. 5 ) in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 9  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. A side view of the base section  715  and the pedestal  720  of the built-in hitch  700  is shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates another side view of the garbage can  705  having the built-in hitch  700  for coupling the garbage can  705  with the trailer hitch ball (e.g.,  505  of  FIG. 5 ) of the vehicle (e.g.,  510  of  FIG. 5 ) in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 10  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. The side view in  FIG. 10  shows the receptacle  725 , which can be placed over the trailer hitch (e.g.,  505  of  FIG. 5 ). 
     The receptacle  725  can include a hollow cylindrical section (e.g.,  205  of  FIG. 2 ) and a hollow conical frustum section (e.g.,  215  of  FIG. 2 ) having a tapered wall (e.g.,  210  of  FIG. 2 ). The receptacle  725  can fit over any standard sized trailer hitch ball (e.g.,  220 ,  505 ), such as 1⅞ inch, 2 inch, and 2 5/16 inch hitch balls. It will be understood that in alternate embodiments, the receptacle  725  can take other shapes that are suitable for being fit over any standard sized trailer hitch ball, without departing from the inventive aspects disclosed herein. For example, the receptacle  725  can have a hemispherical shape to receive the trailer hitch ball (e.g.,  220 ,  505 ). In some embodiments, the receptacle  725  has a box shape, a hexagonal shape, a triangular shape, or the like. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates yet another side view of the garbage can  705  having the built-in hitch  700  for coupling the garbage can  705  with the trailer hitch ball  505  of the vehicle  510  in accordance with various embodiments of the present inventive concept. Some of the reference numerals of  FIG. 11  are described above, and therefore, a detailed description of these elements is not necessarily repeated. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the garbage can  705  having the built-in hitch  700  can be linked to the vehicle  510  for easy dragging. The garbage can  705  can include one or more wheels  740 . After the garbage can  705  has been linked to the vehicle  510  using the built-in hitch  700 , the vehicle  510  can easily drag the garbage can  705  as the one or more wheels  740  of the garbage can  705  rotate on the ground. The weight of the garbage can  705  provides rigidity to the linkage, which keeps the built-in hitch  700  from coming off the hitch ball  505 . After the garbage can  705  has been dragged to the end of the drive way, for example, the garbage can  705  with the built-in hitch  700  can be lifted from the hitch ball  505 . At no point does the garbage can  705  need to be lifted off the ground. Because of the gravity-enhanced configuration providing downward levered pressure on the trailer hitch ball  505 , the built-in garbage can hitch  700  is advantageously kept securely linked to the trailer hitch ball  505 , even when the vehicle  510  drives over bumpy, gravelly, and/or dirt-based roads. The built-in hitch  700  provides the added advantage of not being a separate part, i.e., of not having the step of attaching the hitch  700  to the garbage can  705 , or removing the hitch  700  from the garbage can  705 , since the hitch  700  is built-in to the garbage can  705 . 
     The built-in hitch  700  and the garbage can  705  can together be made of a single contiguous molded part. In an alternate embodiment, the built-in hitch  700  can be made of multiple separate parts that are combined (e.g., attached to each other), and attached to the garbage can  705 , to form a single functional part with the garbage can  705 . The built-in hitch  700  is preferably made of plastic because it is lightweight and strong, but it will be understood that the built-in hitch  700  can be made of any suitable hard material such as metal, fiber glass, wood, composite materials, or the like. In some embodiments, the built-in hitch  700  and/or the garbage can  705  are manufactured using a plastic injection mold. In some embodiments, the built-in hitch  700  and/or the garbage can  705  are manufactured using a 3D printer. 
       FIG. 12  is a flow diagram  1200  illustrating a technique for using a single-part garbage can hitch to tow a garbage can using a vehicle. At  1205 , a single-part garbage can hitch can be attached to a garbage can. At  1210 , a receptacle of the single-part garbage can hitch can be placed over a hitch ball of a vehicle, thereby securing the garbage can to the vehicle. At  1215 , the garbage can may be towed using the single-part garbage can hitch and the vehicle. 
       FIG. 13  is a flow diagram  1300  illustrating another technique for using the single-part garbage can hitch to tow the garbage can using the vehicle. At  1305 , a receptacle of the single-part garbage can hitch can be placed over the hitch ball of the vehicle. At  1310 , the single-part garbage can hitch can be attached to the garbage can, thereby securing the garbage can to the vehicle. At  1315 , the garbage can may be towed using the single-part garbage can hitch and the vehicle. 
       FIG. 14  is a flow diagram  1400  illustrating a technique for manufacturing a single-part garbage can hitch to tow a garbage can using a vehicle. At  1405 , a mold can be created for a single-part garbage can hitch as described herein, e.g., having a base section, a grab handle, an attachment arm that is configured to attach to a garbage can, a receptacle disposed within the base section, and a semi-cylindrical well disposed within the base section. At  1410 , plastic or another suitable hardening substance can be injected into the mold. At  1415 , the single-part garbage can hitch can be removed from the mold. 
     Alternatively, at  1420 , a design file of a single-part garbage can hitch as described herein can be loaded into a 3-D printer. At  1425 , the 3-D printer can print the single-part garbage can hitch having, e.g., a base section, a grab handle, an attachment arm that is configured to attach to a garbage can, a receptacle disposed within the base section, and a semi-cylindrical well disposed within the base section. 
       FIG. 15  is a flow diagram  1500  illustrating a technique for manufacturing a garbage can having a built-in hitch to tow the garbage can using a vehicle. At  1505 , a mold can be created for a garbage can including a built-in hitch as described herein, e.g., having a base section, a receptacle disposed within the base section, a pedestal, and a semi-cylindrical well disposed within the pedestal. At  1515 , plastic or another suitable hardening substance can be injected into the mold. At  1520 , the garbage can including the built-in hitch can be removed from the mold. 
     Alternatively, at  1520 , a design file of a garbage can including the built-in hitch can be loaded into a 3-D printer. At  1525 , the 3-D printer can print the garbage can including, e.g., a built-in hitch as described herein, e.g., having a base section, a receptacle disposed within the base section, a pedestal, and a semi-cylindrical well disposed within the pedestal. 
     Some embodiments include a garbage can hitch, comprising a base section, a grab handle coupled to the base section, and an attachment arm coupled to the base section, and configured to attach to a garbage can. The garbage can hitch can include a receptacle disposed within the base section, and configured to receive a hitch ball of a vehicle. The garbage can hitch can include a semi-cylindrical well disposed within the base section, and configured to receive a handle bar of the garbage can. 
     In some embodiments, the attachment arm includes a first sidewall of the semi-cylindrical well, and the base section includes a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall of the semi-cylindrical well. In some embodiments, the receptacle includes a hollow cylindrical section. In some embodiments, the receptacle includes a hollow conical frustum section having a tapered wall. In some embodiments, the attachment arm includes a recess located at an underside thereof. In some embodiments, the attachment arm includes a vertical section and a horizontal section. In some embodiments, the horizontal section includes a lip. In some embodiments, the recess of the attachment arm and the lip are configured to be attached to a cross stiffener of the garbage can to prevent lateral movement of the garbage can hitch along a handle bar of the garbage can. 
     In some embodiments, the grab handle includes a first vertical sidewall, a second vertical sidewall, and a horizontal wall coupled to the first vertical sidewall and to the second vertical sidewall. In some embodiments, the base section, the attachment arm, and the receptacle are arranged in a gravity-enhanced configuration to provide downward levered pressure on the hitch ball responsive to the garbage can being attached to the vehicle. In some embodiments, the garbage can is attachable to the vehicle via the garbage can hitch, and the garbage can is configured to be dragged by the vehicle using the garbage can hitch. In some embodiments, the base section, the grab handle, the attachment arm, and the receptacle form a single contiguous part. In some embodiments, the single contiguous part is an injection molded single part made of plastic. 
     Some embodiments include a garbage can, comprising one or more sidewalls, and a built-in hitch attached to the one or more sidewalls. In some embodiments, the built-in hitch includes a base section, and a receptacle disposed within the base section, and configured to receive a hitch ball of a vehicle. The garbage can may further include a handle bar. The built-in hitch can include a pedestal coupled to the base section of the built-in hitch. The built-in hitch can include a semi-cylindrical well disposed within the pedestal of the built-in hitch, wherein the handle bar is held at least partially within the semi-cylindrical well. 
     In some embodiments, the receptacle includes a hollow cylindrical section. In some embodiments, the built-in hitch is attachable to the vehicle, and the garbage can is configured to be dragged by the vehicle using the built-in hitch. In some embodiments, the one or more sidewalls of the garbage can and the built-in hitch form a single contiguous part. In some embodiments, the single contiguous part is an injection molded single part made of plastic. 
     Having described and illustrated the principles of the inventive concept with reference to illustrated embodiments, it will be recognized that the illustrated embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles, and can be combined in any desired manner. And although the foregoing discussion has focused on particular embodiments, other configurations are contemplated. In particular, even though expressions such as “according to an embodiment of the invention” or the like are used herein, these phrases are meant to generally reference embodiment possibilities, and are not intended to limit the inventive concept to particular embodiment configurations. As used herein, these terms can reference the same or different embodiments that are combinable into other embodiments. 
     Consequently, in view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments described herein, this detailed description and accompanying material is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the inventive concept. What is claimed as the invention, therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.