Abstract:
An attachment for a side loading refuse vehicles wherein the attachment can secure several different types of refuse containers. The attachment is operated without electronics and hydraulics, thus making retrofitting already in-use refuse vehicles easy and inexpensive.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to provisional patent application 62/103,155 which was filed on Jan. 14, 2015, and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Due to the variety of existing carts and containers utilized to hold refuse, different mechanisms are required to lift and empty such carts and containers into a refuse collection device. 
         [0003]    It is an object of the invention to provide an attachment that can lift and empty several types of refuse carts and containers. 
         [0004]    It is also an object of the invention to have an attachment that does not rely on hydraulics. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention provides a solution to engage a variety of carts and containers utilized to store refuse. The invention is an attachment selectively mountable to a side loader refuse collection vehicle. A secondary adapter can be removed from the attachment to facilitate the engagement of a particular cart or container. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the attachment without a secondary adapter; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the attachment with the secondary adapter; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the attachment on a side loader; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the attachment on a side loader and engaging a container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Now referring to the figures,  FIG. 1  shows an attachment  20  without a secondary adapter.  FIG. 2  shows an attachment  20  with the secondary adapter  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the attachment  20  has a main body  26  with a top  28  and a bottom  30 . A first type of refuse container can be engaged by the attachment  20  via upper grooves  32  and lower grooves  34 . Preferably the upper grooves are U-shaped. Typically bars of the first type of refuse container are captured in the grooves  32  and  34 . A second type of refuse container  82  can be engaged by the attachment  20  with the use of the secondary adapter  22 . When the adapter  22  is mounted on the attachment  20  the U-shaped grooves  32  are not utilized. 
         [0011]    The attachment  20  comprises a rod  24  having a first end  25  and a second end  27 . The first end  25  of the rod  24  is inserted through the main body  26  through an opening  29  in the main body  26 . A pair of housings  31  located on inner walls of the main body assist with attaching the rod  24  to the main body  26 . The second end  27  is attached to a cross member  68  which is further attached to a first engagement member  70  and a second engagement member  72 . The engagement members  70  and  72  engage a particular section of an existing side loading mechanism  80  of a refuse collection vehicle. 
         [0012]    A clamp  35  encloses the rod  24  and connects the rod  24  to a first linkage  41  and a second linkage  43 . The first linkage  41  is connected to a first locking member  33 . The second linkage  43  is connected to a second locking member  36 . The second linkage  43  is in communication with a biasing member  60  which can be a spring  61 . Preferably the spring  61  can be attached to a flange  45  that is then connected to a first end  47  of the second linkage  43 . 
         [0013]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the attachment  20  is connected to the side loading mechanism  80  by means of a pair of connecting members  90  which can be bolted to attachment  20  utilizing openings  40 . The attachment  20  can be used without the secondary adapter  22 . The secondary adapter  22  comprises an L-shaped bar  50  supported by a pair of flanges  52 . In order to utilize the secondary adapter  22 , the adapter  22  is fastened to a mounting plate  51  of the attachment  20 . The user can selectively choose whether to remove or connect the adapter  22  to the attachment  20  depending on the container or cart to be picked up by the attachment  20 . 
         [0014]    When the side loading mechanism is activated, a component of the first type of refuse container is engaged by the attachment  20 . A first portion of the refuse container is within the upper grooves  32  while a second portion of the refuse container is within the lower grooves  34 . Through the use of a manual action by the user, the members  70  and  72  are manipulated such that the rod  24  is rotated in a first direction relative to the attachment  20 . The rotation of the rod  24  also rotates the clamp  35 . As the clamp  35  is connected to the first linkage  41 , the second linkage  43 , and the spring  61 , these particular parts are affected as well by the rotation. The rotation moves the first linkage  41  such that it moves the first locking member  33  over the first portion of the refuse container and secures the first portion. Similarly, the rotation moves the second linkage  43  such that it moves the second locking member  36  over the second portion of the refuse container. The spring  61  moves along with the second linkage  43 . The tension in the spring  61  then provides a force that can maintain the locking members  33  and  36  in place. The spring  61  biases the locking members  33  and  36  in the locked position so the container  82  will not disengage from the attachment  20  when the container  82  is inverted. 
         [0015]    The refuse container can then be emptied through the existing side loading mechanism. In order to disengage the container from the apparatus  20 , the opposite procedure is utilized. The rod is rotated the opposite direction with a force to overcome the force of the spring. The locking members then no longer secure the first or second portion of the refuse container. Accordingly, the refuse container can be placed back at its original location. 
         [0016]    When the secondary adapter  22  is in use, the attachment  20  works in the same way, however, the second portion of the second type of refuse container will not be within the upper grooves  32 . Instead, the second portion will be located in the L-shaped bar  50  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Accordingly, although the first locking member  33  will rotate it will not secure the second portion. The first portion of the second type of refuse container will be secured by the second locking member  36 . 
         [0017]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by appended claims and their equivalents.