Abstract:
The invention relates a laundry hamper/receptacle having a handle assembly to lift a platform for removal of laundry inside of the hamper. A first handle assembly has singular tubular members with telescoping means connected to a rod affixed to the platform. An alternative handle assembly utilizes a pair of arms providing additional lifting capacity connected to a rod affixed to the platform.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a laundry hamper having a handle assembly to lift a platform for removal of laundry inside of the hamper. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved laundry receptacle. 
     In the typical household soiled clothing is kept in a hamper/receptacle until removed for cleaning. Removal of the laundry can pose problems, particularly for the elderly or those of limited physical capacity. Additionally the soiled clothing at the bottom of the hamper is difficult to reach. 
     The present invention permits the lifting of the clothing through the use of a handle and a rod attached to a platform. The platform is lifted to the opening at the top of the hamper for easy access to the clothing stored on the platform. Additionally, a pair of rear wheels allow the receptacle to be transported. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The device comprises a receptacle having side walls and a base wall with a passage defined opposed to the base wall. A hinged lid is provided. A lifting platform is positioned inside the receptacle. A rod, or alternatively a pair of rods, is attached at one end to the platform, and a handle is affixed to the other end of the rod. The rod is positioned within a conduit formed on the rear exterior of the receptacle. The platform is extendible to rest on the bottom of the receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention with platform in raised position. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partial view showing handle and platform. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view of the invention with retractable handle. 
         FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the invention with a handle and a pair of rods. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the invention  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 . The apparatus  10  comprises a housing  12  having side walls  14 , a rear wall  16 , front wall  18 , a base wall  20 , and an upper rim  22 , and further having a vertically extending slot  24  defined through the rear wall  16 . The housing  12  has a chamber defined by interior surfaces of the walls. A lid  26  pivotally connected to the housing  12  is provided. 
     An extendable handle assembly  28  comprises an outer cylindrical member  30 , at least one inner cylindrical member  32 , a handle grip  34 , and a bracket  36 , having a cylindrically-shaped cavity defined therein, mounted to an exterior surface of the rear wall  16 . The assembly  28  is disposed on the outer surface of the rear wall  16 . A first end of the outer cylindrical member  30  is connected to the bracket  36 . A button release mechanism  38  is disposed on a lower portion of the handle grip  34 . A cable  40  is connected at one end to the button release mechanism  38  and extends vertically downwardly through inner bores of the inner cylindrical member  32  and outer cylindrical member  30  attaching to spring biased pins  42  mounted to the members  30 ,  32 . By engaging the button release mechanism  38 , the assembly  28  is extracted and extended through well known telescoping means. 
     A central rod  50  having an upper end  52  and a lower end  54 , with an L-shaped portion integrally formed at the upper end  52 , is connected at the upper end to the inner cylindrical member  32  through the slot  24  of the rear wall  16  of the housing  12 . The lower end  54  extends perpendicularly from the upper end  52 . 
     A generally rectangular shaped lifting platform  60  having an upper planer surface  62  and a lower planer surface  64  is horizontally positioned inside the housing  12 . The lower end  54  of the central rod  50  is attached to the platform  60 . The platform  60  is of a predetermined size to fit snugly abutting the inner surfaces of the walls of the housing  12 , so to insure that clothing will not fall below the platform  60  to the bottom of the housing  12  and make it difficult to retrieve the clothing. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in use, soiled clothing is placed on the platform  60 . To retrieve the clothing for cleaning, the button release mechanism  38  is pushed, thereby disengaging the pins  42 . The handle grip  34  is pulled upwardly until a preferred position of the platform  60  is locked in place. 
     An alternative handle assembly  70  disposed on the exterior surface of the rear wall  16  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The assembly  70  comprises a generally oblong shaped handle  72  having inner and outer walls with a passage defined therethrough, and a chamber defined by inner walls, and a pair of tubular vertical lifting arms  74  aligned parallel to each other integrally formed at opposed ends of a bottom portion  76  of the handle  72 . The arms  74  have inner and outer walls having a bore defined therethrough in continuous connection with the chamber of the handle  72 . A pair of inner cylindrical members  78 , having first and second ends, are aligned parallel to each other and mated at the first end to the complementary arm  74 . A pair of outer cylindrical members  80 , having first and second ends, are aligned parallel to each other and mated to the second end of the inner cylindrical members  78 . The second ends of the outer cylindrical members  80  are mounted to a bracket  82  affixed to the exterior surface of the rear wall  16  juxtaposed the base wall  20 . Spring loaded lock pins  90  are positioned juxtaposed the first ends of the inner cylindrical members  78  and the outer cylindrical members  80 . 
     A central rod  84  is integrally formed on a lower portion of the handle  72  medially between the arms  74 . The rod  84  is connected through the slot  24  of the rear wall  16  to the platform  60 . A release button  86  is disposed on an upper portion of the handle  72 . Cable  88  is connected to the release button  86 , and extends through the interior of the handle  72  and arms  74 , connecting to the spring loaded lock pins  90 . When the release button  86  is engaged the pins  90  are moved, and the handle  72 , and thus the platform  60 , are extendable through well known telescoping means. 
     A pair of wheels  92  allow the apparatus  10  to easily be transported. A pair of hollowed indentations  94  fashioned for placement of a foot are formed relative the lowermost portion of the exterior surface of the side walls  14  of the housing  12 . The placement of the foot allows for stabilization while the platform  60  is being raised or lowered. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.