Patent Abstract:
An adjustable hopper for aiding in the transportation of old roofing material, such as shingles, to a refuse dumpster is herein disclosed. The hopper is inwardly tapered towards a false bottom and has a manually actuating release lever for vacating the contents through said false bottom. The hopper assembly is mounted on four height-adjustable leg assemblies manipulated by a handle. The hopper and leg assemblies are mounted on a support frame with heavy-duty caster wheel assemblies at each of four corners. The support frame is constructed so as to enable the entire hopper assembly to be positioned about a conventional refuse dumpster with a minimal amount of clearance.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document No. 580,695 filed on Jun. 23, 2005. Other than stated herein, there are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending non-provisional applications, anywhere in the world. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is an apparatus that aids in the transportation of old roofing material from the roof to a refuse dumpster comprising a hopper with a false bottom telescopically mounted onto a wheeled base. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Anyone involved in the roofing business will tell you what a strenuous business it is. A typical day involves carrying heavy loads, enduring high temperatures and scorching sun and climbing steep roofs, all the while working at dangerous elevations above ground. Anything that reduces work or allows for a better job is welcome. Those roofing jobs which require the removal of the old roof, or a “tear-off” as it is commonly called, requires a much higher level of physical work. The old shingles must be dislodged, ripped up, and then pushed off of the roof. The physical activity required to transport these materials from the roof to the dumpster or refuse vehicle is staggering. Additionally, as these materials fall from the roof to the ground, damage to landscaping or even the house itself can occur. Finally, additional aids such as tarps or wheel barrows are required to pickup the material from the ground. 
   Several attempts have been made in the past to provide an apparatus for assisting in the transportation of roofing waste materials. U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,677 in the name of Beiler discloses a self-propelled trailer comprising a box-like bin with a tailgate with provisions to raise the bin to the height of the eaves of roofs via hydraulic pistons. The Beiler device requires transportation via motor vehicles to the job site and the hydraulic pistons require maintenance. The present invention, contrastingly, may be transported manually to and from a job site and a dumpster and simply telescopes up and down. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,340 issued in the name of Zalal provides an apparatus for an automatic debris removal system comprising a tilting dumpster riding on a carriage device of a pre-existing construction hoist, a detachable chute device, and an automatic dumping mechanism for the dumpster. The Zalal invention requires the use of a pre-existing construction hoist which may not be present on a particular jobsite. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,804 issued in the name of Mayle describes a an apparatus for lifting and carrying heavy loads comprising a steerable trolley-like device with a winch for moving a load onto an optional pan and a pair of lifting arms to move said load between the ground and roof. The Mayle device lacks the inherent benefit of removing the load through a false bottom, a feature in the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,524 issued in the name of Groat discloses a snow removal system for roofs and vehicles consisting of differing embodiments centered around a bermed tarp acting as a chute. Groat discloses a device that utilizes material not suited for removal of roofing debris and does not provide means to transport collected refuse to a sanitation dumpster. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,543,126 issued in the name of Hamlin describes a machine for loading and removing a flat roof comprising a flat conveyor belt on a pair of drive wheels and a chisel-like front member. A drive mechanism operates the conveyor belt to unload the old roofing material upward and outward, which needs to be scored so that it breaks as it ascends the conveyor and drops into a cart. The Hamlin invention utilizes a driven conveyor system to transport material and does not benefit from a simple and manually operated hopper dump system. The Hamlin invention is also highly specialized for removing flat roofing material prior to reparations or replacement. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,027 issued in the name of Patterson describes an apparatus and method for accurately measuring and dispensing dry material into a portable container. The Patterson apparatus is concerned with the accurate measuring of material and is therefore not within the scope of the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,358 issued in the name of Van Mill discloses a portable cart with an angular discharge auger, particularly for handling granular material. The auger tube is fixed to the hopper sump for drawing material from said sump and can be pivoted away during transport. The present invention handles material of a larger and bulkier nature than that of the device in the Van Mill patent and therefore does not benefit from the use of an auger. Additionally, the Van Mill device has no provisions for vertically manipulating the hopper structure to a job site. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,625 issued in the name of Christensen et al. discloses a portable ice cart with both elevation and tilt adjustment for an ice hopper. The Christensen et al. device utilizes a scissor-like linkage operated by a foot pedal actuating hydraulic cylinder for raising the ice hopper. The present invention utilizes a simple telescopic means for raising and lowering the hopper portion as opposed to the hydraulic system in the Christensen et al. apparatus. 
   None of the prior art particularly describes an apparatus that allows roofers to easily remove discarded roofing materials in a timely fashion without damage to landscaping and without excessive physical labor. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which the transportation of discarded roofing materials from the roof to the refuse container can be accomplished in an easier manner than current methods allow. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, it has been observed that there is a need for a device to collect and remove roofing materials or other objects from elevated heights for subsequent removal to a sanitation device. 
   It has further been observed that there is a need for an apparatus that may be elevated in a simple and effective manner from a lower ground position to an upper position adjacent to, or abutting against, a roof or other elevated job site. 
   The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that collects and retains removed roofing materials from a job site into a hopper structure. 
   It is a further object of the invention to elevate the hopper structure via telescopic support legs to a roof or other elevated job site to minimize the effort in collecting and retaining removed roofing materials. 
   It is a further object of the invention to transport the collected and retained removed roofing materials to a refuse container on a wheeled support frame. 
   It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a wheeled support frame with the proper clearance around a conventional roll-off dumpster or other common commercial refuse container, while the hopper structure is in its elevated state. 
   Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a handle to hingedly release a false bottom in order to release the contents of the hopper structure into a conventional refuse container. 
   To achieve the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a method for the collection, retention, and removal of roofing materials loaded within an elevated and transportable dump hopper, and the transportation of said roofing materials within the elevated dump hopper to a conventional refuse container, such as a roll-off dumpster, via a wheeled support frame that provides the needed clearance for the subsequent release of the false bottom of the hopper structure to remove the contents of the hopper structure directly into the refuse container. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the roof shingle removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the roof shingle removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 3   a  is a top view of the hopper structure  11  with a bottom opening door  16 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 3   b  is a perspective view of the hopper extension device  32 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the roof shingle removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the roof shingle removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the roof shingle removal device  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
   
       
       
         
             10  roof shingle dump cart 
             11  hopper structure 
             12  lid 
             13  release lever 
             14  hook 
             15  knob 
             16  false bottom 
             17  catch 
             20  adjustable leg 
             21  handle 
             22  adjustment hole 
             23  support structure 
             24  caster wheel suspension 
             25  caster wheel 
             27  lid handle 
             28  coupling 
             29  hinge 
             30  top/bottom hopper lip 
             31  side hopper lip 
             32  hopper extension device 
             33  extension supporter/adjuster 
             34  hopper bottom 
             35  hopper sump side walls 
             36  hopper sump 
         
       
     
  
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 3   b . However the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention. Any such work around will also fall under the scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
   The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
   The present invention describes an apparatus and method for assisting in the transportation of old roofing material. The roof shingle dump cart with hopper (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10  consists of a hopper system, an adjustable leg assembly, and a caster wheel assembly. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , the apparatus  10  takes the form of an elevated hopper system. The hopper assembly consists of a hopper  11  preferably comprised of a resilient material, such as steel in an extrusion, stamping, and bending process; a false bottom  16  hingedly connected to the bottom of the hopper  11 ; a lid  12  with a lid handle  27  hingedly connected to the top of the hopper  11 ; and a hopper extension device  32 .  FIG. 3   a  depicts the angular interior of the hopper  11  allowing the gravitational effect to progress the discarded contents towards the hopper bottom  34  and the false bottom  16 , which has a catch  17  on it to hook onto a release lever  13 . The hopper  11  generally is a reverse pyramidal structure with two (2) long inwardly sloping sides  31  and two (2) short inwardly sloping sides  30 . Each sloping side  30 ,  31  slopes downward to the hopper sump  36  defined as a centrally dissected hopper bottom  34 . The centrally dissected area comprises two (2) opposing vertically downward sloping dumper sump side walls  35  to a hingedly attached false bottom  16 . At least one (1) release lever  13 , which retains the false bottom  16  in a closed position with a hook  14  engaging the catch  17 , disengages the false bottom  16 , providing an aperture for the discarded contents to flow through. The release lever(s)  13  also have a knob  15  on the opposite end of the hook  14  for one to grasp and are attached to the exterior of the dumper sump side walls  35 . The length of the hopper  11  can be extended by the use of the hopper extension device  32  to accommodate the conventional width of roofs. The hopper extension device  32  is attached to the hopper  11  via two adjustable lid supports  33  removably attachable to the lid  12 .  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  depict the use of the supports and adjusters. 
   The hopper  11  has four (4) opposing upwardly adjustable legs  20  that contain a plurality of aligned adjustment holes  22  drilled therethrough. The adjustable legs  20  may be fabricated out of the same material as the hopper assembly. The adjustable leg assembly consists of adjustable legs  20 , adjustment holes  22 , and a handle  21 . The adjustable legs  20  comprise two (2) nested hollow legs, either tubular or rectangular, which are joined together by a coupling  28  and containing aligned adjustment holes  22  drilled therethrough, capable of extending the adjustable legs  20  to the desired height for accommodating differing roof heights and differing refuse containers. A locking pin or similar device can secure the vertical adjustment of the legs  20 . The adjustable legs  20  can be elevated by the use of the handles  21  attached to each adjustable leg  20  by mechanical fasteners. A piece of flat iron connects the handles  21  permitting a single person manipulate the telescoping legs  20 . The adjustable leg assembly is attached to the outer surface of the side walls of the hopper  11  via conventional material fastening means. 
   The wheel assembly preferably comprises caster wheels  25 , a wheel suspension  24 , and a support structure  23 . The caster wheels  25  and the wheel suspension  24  are secured to the support structure  23  and configured in such a way which allows the caster wheels  25  to swivel in a 360° arc and to also employ locking means. The support structure  23  is configured in a curvature method over the wheel suspension  24  to provide extra stability and to allow the apparatus  10  to straddle the back of a pick up truck and/or refuse container. The size of the caster wheels  25  allows better mobility over uneven grades of terrain and prevents landscape from being trampled. The adjustable leg assembly is attached to the upper surface of the support structure  23  via mechanical fasteners or welding methods. 
   The preferred embodiment of the present invention is designed to be used by the common consumer with little or no special skills and minimal experience and training necessary. Likewise, experienced roofers, maintenance workers, and do-it-yourselfers can find this invention to greatly aid them in roofing, particularly in eliminating damage to property, eliminating possible injury to workers, and in assisting in clean-up to protect and maintain the environment. When the device is first procured, it should be made of a resilient material, such as steel with a suitable anti-corrosion finish, such as paint. 
   The method of utilizing the device may be achieved by performing the following steps: adjusting the legs  20  to the proper height; opening the hinged lid  12  with the lid handle  27 ; adjusting the lid supports  33  as necessary by sliding them upwards so the lid  12  reaches the edge of the roof; and attaching the hopper extension device  32  to the lid supports  33 . Once the old shingles have been removed, and placed within the hopper  11 , the disposable contents are ready to be vacated. The apparatus  10  can then be rolled over to a roll-off dumpster to dispose of the contents through the false bottom  16 . 
   More specifically, the apparatus  10  rolls over to the job site by utilizing the swiveling caster wheels  25 . The caster wheels  25  are large enough to allow easy rolling over rough surfaces and grades while preventing grass or landscaping from being tattered. The apparatus  10  can then be elevated by adjusting the height of the adjustable legs  20 . The height is situated by the adjustment holes  22  to a convenient height at the roof eave level. At this height, the apparatus  10  can be above shrubbery, flowers, and other landscaping. The elongated span between the adjustable legs  20  not only provides stability but permits the straddling of the refuse containers. The stability is augmented even further with the curvature of the support structure  23 . The apparatus  10  then needs to be strapped down or anchored and have the caster wheels  25  locked to prevent motion during the process of removing shingles. The lid  12  of the apparatus  10  must be opened by lifting the end that is not hinged to the hopper structure  11  or via the lid handle  27 . The lid supports  33  slide upwards so that the lid  12  reaches the edge of roof. 
   The hopper structure  11  attached to the adjustable legs  20  is now elevated at a convenient height at the desired location. The elevated hopper structure  11  encompasses an aperture for old roofing material from the roof of the dwelling. The angular interior of the hopper structure  11  compels the discarded materials to flow to the bottom by gravitational effect. A hopper extension device  32  extends the aperture of the hopper structure  11  to accommodate the conventional width of roofs for further reach. The hopper extension device  32  is attached to the hopper structure  11  via two adjustable lid supports  33  attached to the lid  12 . 
   Once the hopper structure  11  is filled with the old roofing materials, the apparatus  10  is unstrapped and the caster wheels  25  are unlocked, to transport the discarded contents to a roll-off dumpster or refuse container. The elevated apparatus  10  is now at a convenient height to straddle the roll-off dumpster or refuse container, with the false bottom  6  positioned above the interior of the dumpster. The discarded contents can then be vacated by using the release lever(s)  13 . The release lever(s)  13  disengage the false bottom  16 , by removing the hook portion  14  of the lever(s)  13  retaining the catch  17  of the false bottom  16  providing an aperture for the discarded contents to flow through. The false bottom  16  is hinged on one side of the hopper structure  11  to prevent discarded contents from exiting until the release lever  13  is pulled. 
   The elevation of the apparatus  10  also provides for easy transportation within the bed of a pickup truck. 
   Yet another embodiment of the present invention  10  is the use of the dump cart with hopper as a dumping mechanism for other materials such as old gutters, leaves and other grime found in gutters, or other similar discarded materials obtained from an elevation. 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4