Abstract:
The dust control cover for a refuse bin is removably installed atop a refuse bin, dumpster, or similar container. The cover has a truncated pyramid configuration, with a series of doors in the sides and top. A system of perforated pipes or tubes is preferably installed within the cover. The pipes connect to a water inlet fitting extending through the cover wall. A water supply (garden hose, etc.) is connected to the fitting, and the water is turned on to produce a fine spray or mist within the cover and its underlying refuse bin, thereby wetting down the contained materials to reduce or eliminate hazardous airborne dust or particulates from the material. The cover may include forklift pockets to facilitate installation and removal of the cover upon and from the bin, and a series of latch pin assemblies for positively securing the cover to the bin.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/272,477, filed Sep. 29, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to solid waste disposal devices, and particularly to a dust control cover for a refuse bin, e.g., a dumpster or the like, for reducing dust otherwise emitted into the atmosphere during construction, demolition, and similar operations. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Building construction and demolition operations are notorious for raising dust due to the movement of large components or masses of loose material. While building construction can raise a fair amount of such airborne particulates, demolition operations tend to be far worse. Generally, discarded materials (concrete, insulation, etc.) are transferred into large refuse bins or containers, i.e., dumpsters, as soon as practicable after being broken up for removal from the building structure. In many instances, workers attempt to reduce the scatter of dust and particulate matter by delivering such materials from the construction or demolition site to the dumpster by means of an enclosed tube or the like, and covering the bin or dumpster. 
         [0006]    This can be particularly critical in the demolition of older building structures, when asbestos and/or other hazardous materials were used in the construction of the building years in the past. In many instances, there was no knowledge or realization of the potential hazards in handling such materials, e.g., asbestosis from breathing air laden with asbestos dust or fine fibers, etc., at the time the structure was built. Accordingly it is not only good practice, but required by law in nearly all demolition operations, to take steps to at least greatly reduce, if not entirely eliminate, the airborne spread of such potentially hazardous materials. 
         [0007]    In many instances a relatively simple tarpaulin or the like is used to cover the interior of the refuse bin or dumpster in order to reduce the spread of airborne dust and particles therefrom. While such devices provide some reduction in airborne dust emission from the bin or dumpster during operations, a better solution is the provision of a rigid cover or shell over the otherwise open top of the dumpster or bin. However, such rigid covers or shells are clearly relatively heavy, and conventionally do not include means to facilitate their handling and placement atop or removal from the underlying bin or dumpster. Moreover, such a removable top should be secured positively to the bin or dumpster for transport of the dumpster or bin to and from the construction or demolition operation. Even though such a rigid cover or top is relatively massive, the jarring of the dumpster and top due to the stiff suspension of the truck as it travels over rough pavement or terrain can cause the top to be dislodged from its placement atop the refuse bin if not positively secured in place. 
         [0008]    Thus, a dust control cover for a refuse bin solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The dust control cover for a refuse bin has the general form of a truncated pyramid. A plurality of doors are provided in the sides and top of the cover to provide for the dumping of rubble or other materials into the refuse bin or dumpster upon which the dust control cover is installed. The interior of the cover is preferably provided with a series of perforated pipes or tubes that communicate with a water inlet connection disposed to the exterior of the cover. The cover may be installed atop a refuse bin, e.g., a dumpster, roll-on bin or the like, with a water supply line (garden hose, etc.) connected to the water inlet. When the water supply is turned on a fine mist of water is sprayed into the interior of the refuse bin and cover, wetting down the contents thereof and any dust rising from the contents to reduce or eliminate the emission of dust and particulate matter from the operation. 
         [0010]    The cover further preferably includes a pair of parallel forklift pockets or receptacles disposed along the opposite longer edges or sides of the cover. This enables a forklift to pick up the cover and install it on the bin, or to lift the cover from the bin as desired. A plurality of locking pins and receptacles are also provided for positively securing the dust control cover removably to the underlying refuse bin or dumpster, as desired. The dust control cover when secured to the underlying refuse bin allows the assembly to be transported with assurance that the cover cannot be dislodged from the bin while in motion due to jarring of the bin and cover when traveling over rough surfaces, thus positively retaining the rubble, debris, and/or other collected materials within the refuse bin until the cover is removed to dump the load. 
         [0011]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a dust control cover for a refuse bin according to the present invention, showing its installation atop a refuse bin or dumpster. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view in section of the dust control cover of  FIG. 1 , showing the sprinkler or water misting pipes or tubes therein. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an environmental perspective view of the dust control cover of  FIG. 1  being manipulated by a forklift for placement onto or removal from a refuse bin. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, partial perspective view of a portion of the dust control cover of  FIG. 1  and the underlying refuse bin, showing an exemplary means of positively securing the cover to the underlying bin. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the completed installation of the dust control cover of  FIG. 1  to the refuse bin, using the securing means illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The dust control cover for a refuse bin may include a water system for reducing airborne dust, as well as a series of retaining pin assemblies to assure that the cover or lid remains positively attached to the underlying bin or dumpster during transport.  FIG. 1  provides an environmental view of the dust control cover or lid  10  secured to the top of a refuse bin or dumpster D at a building construction or demolition site. The bin or dumpster D may be a roll-off type dumpster having wheels W, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , or other refuse bin type or configuration as desired. 
         [0019]    The dust control cover or lid  10  is in the general form or shape of an elongated and truncated pyramid, having opposite first and second major sides  12  and  14 , opposite first and second minor sides or ends  16  and  18 , and a flat top or apex  20 ; the second major side  14  and second minor side  18  are shown in the elevation view in section of  FIG. 2 . Each of the sides  12  through  18  has a lower edge, respectively  22  through  28  and slopes upwardly and inwardly from its respective lower edge to the top or apex  20  to define a hollow interior volume  30  therein, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0020]    Each of the sides  12  through  18  preferably includes at least one access opening therethrough, e.g., the opening  32  of the first minor or end side  16  shown in  FIG. 1 . Each opening is provided with a selectively openable door thereover, with doors  34  through  40  provided for the respective sides  12  through  18 . The flat top apex  20  is also preferably provided with at least one door. In the exemplary bin cover or lid  10  shown in the drawings, the apex or top  20  includes two oppositely hinged doors  42  and  44 . Each of the doors  34  through  44  is hinged along its lower or outer edge, with a latch provided at its opposite edge. Thus, the doors  34  through  44  may be closed to retain dust, particulate matter, and debris within the interior volume  30  of the dust control cover or lid  10 , with only those doors necessary for the receipt of materials into the lid and underlying dumpster or bin being opened, e.g., the open single first end door  38  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0021]    The height of the sloping sides  12  through  18  is one of the factors defining the extent of the interior volume  30  of the lid or cover  10 . Additional volume may be gained by providing a depending vertical wall, respectively  46  through  52 , from the respective lower edges  22  through  28  of the four sides. The refuse bin or dumpster D includes first through fourth sides S 1  through S 4  and a bottom B, with the sides and bottom of the bin or dumpster D defining an interior volume V. The lower edges  22  through  28  of the sides of the cover or lid  10 , or more specifically their lower vertical walls  46  through  52 , seat atop the upper edges E 1  through E 4  of the corresponding sides S 1  through S 4  of the refuse bin or dumpster D to enclose the combined interior volumes  30  of the cover or lid  10  and V of the underlying bin or dumpster D, as shown particularly in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
         [0022]    The dust control cover or lid  10  is a relatively massive structure, as it is preferably formed of steel sheet and other steel components and may be configured to fit a relatively large roll-off refuse bin or dumpster D. Accordingly, handling of the lid or cover  10  may be facilitated by forklift pockets  54  and  56  installed along the lower edges or depending vertical walls of the first and second major sides  12  and  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . The provision of such forklift pockets  54  and  56  enables a forklift F to manipulate the cover or lid  10  for placement on or removal from the underlying bin or dumpster D as desired, generally as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. Flanges  58  and  60  depending from the respective forklift pockets  54 ,  56 , or from the lower edges of the lower vertical walls  46  and  48  depending from the lower edges of the major sides  12  and  14 , provide more positive positioning of the cover or lid  10  atop the bin or dumpster D. 
         [0023]    The interior volume  30  of the dust control cover or lid  10  includes at least one water spray pipe therein. In the example of  FIG. 2 , a series of pipes  62  is installed along the inner edges of the top or apex  44 , internally along each lateral edge of the sloping major and minor sides  12  through  18 , and internally along the lower edge of each of the sides  12  through  18  or along their respective depending vertical walls, e.g., the vertical wall  48  of the second major side panel  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . More or fewer spray or misting pipes  62  may be installed within the dust control cover or lid  10  as desired, and/or their placement may be other than that shown in  FIG. 2 . Each of the pipes  62  includes a large number of very small water spray or misting perforations or nozzles  64  therein adapted to spray a fine mist of water into the interior volume  30  of the dust control cover or lid  10 , and thus to the interior volume V of the underlying bin or dumpster D when the lid or cover  10  is installed thereon, when water is supplied to the pipes  62 . 
         [0024]    A water supply fitting  66 , e.g., a threaded or quick release hose connection or the like, extends through one of the sides or lower vertical walls of the lid or cover  10  and communicates with the spray pipe(s)  62  therein, generally as shown in  FIG. 2 . A conventional water hose H ( FIG. 1 ) may be connected to a suitable water supply and to the water supply fitting  66  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ; the fitting  66  is concealed by the open door  38  in  FIG. 1 ) to provide water to dampen the air volumes  30  and V within the lid or cover  10  and underlying bin or dumpster D, thus wetting down airborne dust and particulates within the dumpster and its cover or lid. The result is the elimination of nearly all airborne dust and particulates within the dumpster and its cover, thus essentially eliminating the escape of such potentially harmful particles into the surrounding atmosphere where they might otherwise be inhaled by workers or others in the area. 
         [0025]    The dust control cover  10  and its underlying refuse bin D further include a series of latch assemblies  68  to provide positive attachment of the cover or lid  10  to the bin or dumpster D, to assure that the lid or cover  10  cannot be jarred loose from the bin or dumpster D during transport. One or more such assemblies  68  may be installed along each major side of the cover and corresponding side of the dumpster, with there preferably being two or more such assemblies  68  along each side, depending upon the size of the cover  10  and its bin or dumpster D. These assemblies  68  are shown generally in  FIGS. 1 through 3  and in detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0026]    Each latch assembly  68  comprises a tab  70  extending outwardly from the upper edge of the major side walls of the bin or dumpster, e.g., edge E 1  of side S 1  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Each tab  70  includes a slot  72  therein. Corresponding plates  74  extend horizontally outwardly from the two major sides  12  and  14  of the lid or cover  10 , with the planes of the tabs  70  being substantially vertical and the planes of the plates  74  being substantially horizontal, i.e., normal to the planes of the corresponding tabs. Each plate  74  is positioned to lie immediately above and slightly to one side laterally of the corresponding tab  70  of the bin or dumpster D when the cover  10  is placed thereon. Each plate  74  includes a pin passage  76  therethrough, for the removable insertion of a pin  78  therethrough. Each pin  78  has a slot  80  therethrough, with the slot  80  of each pin  78  aligning with the slot  72  of a corresponding tab  70  when the cover or lid  10  is placed atop the dumpster or bin D and the pin  78  is dropped into the pin passage  76  of its plate  74 . A retainer pin  82  installs removably through the slot  80  of the slotted pin  78 , thereby locking the slotted pin  78  to the underlying tab  70  of the bin or dumpster D and precluding removal of the lid or cover  10  therefrom. The pins  78  and  80  may be tethered or otherwise secured to their corresponding structures to prevent their loss, or alternatively they may be supplied in a bag or other container for safekeeping when not installed. 
         [0027]    The bin or dumpster lid or cover  10  is used essentially as shown in the drawings and described further above. The dumpster D and its cover or lid  10  are transported to the construction or demolition site and positioned as desired. The lid or cover  10  is placed atop the bin or dumpster D by a forklift F, as shown in  FIG. 3 , or by other suitable means as desired. The lid or cover  10  is then positively secured to the top of the dumpster or bin D for transport, by means of the latching assemblies  68  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5  and described further above. 
         [0028]    Once the bin and cover assembly have been positioned at the construction or demolition site, a hose H is extended from a water supply and connected to the fitting  66  of the cover or lid  10 , The water is turned on when material is dumped into the dumpster D and its overlying cover or lid  10 , thereby wetting down any dust and/or particulate matter to preclude its escape from the dumpster and its cover. Once the dumpster has been filled or is no longer needed at the site, it may be hauled away conventionally for disposal of the construction debris therein. The debris remains damp if no appreciable time has passed for it to dry, thus greatly reducing or eliminating the production of dust when the lid or cover  10  is removed from the dumpster or bin D and the contents are dumped. 
         [0029]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.