DUMPSTER

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/375,888 filed Aug. 23, 2010.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to large containers, in particular dumpsters, which can be lifted and dumped by the forks of a refuse or recycling truck. Traditionally, these dumpsters were constructed of metal with metal pockets welded to side walls for receiving the forks of the truck.

[0003] A more recent dumpster is constructed entirely of plastic. The pockets on the side walls can be integrally molded with the walls of the dumpster in a rotomolding process. The plastic dumpster should be sufficiently robust to accommodate various dumpster applications including serving as a receptacle for trash as well as recycled products such as glass, metal, plastic, paper, etc.

[0004] The present invention provides a plastic dumpster with features for increasing the robustness of the dumpster and for improving accessibility to a dumpster interior.

[0005] A dumpster includes a body with a base wall, a front wall, side walls, and a rear wall that cooperate with each other to define a dumpster interior with an open top. One or more lids are pivotally attached to the dumpster body.

[0006] In one example, the dumpster lids and body are comprised of a plastic material.

[0007] In one example, a support frame is attached to the plastic lid.

[0008] In one example, first and second lids are pivotally secured to the dumpster body. A locking mechanism is moveable between a plurality of lock positions. In a first lock position the first lid is locked and the second lid is unlocked and in a second lock position the second lid is locked and the first lid is unlocked. In a third lock position, both the first and second lids are locked at the same time.

[0009] In one example, the dumpster includes a divider that separates the dumpster interior into first and second compartments. The first lid covers the first compartment and the second lid covers the second compartment.

[0040] A dumpster 10, shown in FIG. 1, includes a bottom or base wall 12, a front wall 14, side walls 16 and a rear wall 18 (FIG. 2). The front wall 14, rear wall 18, and side walls 16 extend upwardly from a periphery of the base wall 12 to define a dumpster interior 20 (FIG. 5). First 22 and second 24 lids are pivotally connected at the rear wall 18 of the dumpster and are independently movable between open and closed positions.

[0041] Pockets 26 are formed in each side wall 16. The pockets 26 comprise a sleeve (schematically shown at 28 in FIG. 1) and front 30 and rear 32 supports. The sleeves 28 are inserted (or, alternatively, insert-molded) into the front support 30 and rear support 32. In FIG. 1, the sleeves 28 are shown in an uninstalled position for purposes of clarity.

[0042] The sleeves 28 could be formed of a material different from that of the rest of the dumpster 10, or could be formed as one-piece with the dumpster from the same material. For example, the sleeves 28 could be metal, or the sleeves could be a higher-density polymer. The sleeves 28 also could be removable, such that damaged sleeves could be replaced. Snap-fit or other types of attachment methods could be used to attach the sleeves to the supports 30, 32. Fork arms extending outwardly from a vehicle, such as a garbage or recycling truck for example, are inserted into the sleeves 28 to raise and lower the dumpster.

[0043] The front and rear supports 30, 32 are reinforced by upper gussets 34. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, stacking posts 36 are formed below the front and rear supports 30, 32 and stacking recesses 38 (FIG. 5) are formed along an upper edge of one of the walls of the dumpster 10. The stacking recesses 38 are aligned with the stacking posts 36. Stacking posts 36 of one dumpster 10 are received within stacking recesses 38 of another dumpster when the dumpsters are in a stacked relationship. This allows multiple dumpsters to be efficiently stored and transported between different locations. While the stacking posts 36 and recesses 38 are shown as being located along the side walls 16 of the dumpster, it should be understood that the posts and recesses could be located at other positions in addition to, or in place of, the posts and recesses as shown.

[0044] A hollow lip 40 extends around an upper edge of the periphery of the dumpster 10, i.e. the hollow lip 40 extends about upper edges of the front 14, rear 18, and side 16 walls. The lip 40 extends outwardly of the front 14, rear 18, and side walls 16 to form an overhang. A hinge connection portion 42 (FIG. 2) extends outwardly of a rear edge portion of the lip 40. The lids 22, 24 are mounted on the dumpster 10 at the hinge connection portion 42 such that each lid 22, 24 can be moved independently of the other to close or open access to the dumpster interior 20 as needed.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, recesses 44 are formed in an upper front edge of the hollow lip 40. The recesses 44 allow a user's hand to more easily get under front edges of the lids 22, 24 in order to lift the lids to access the interior of the dumpster 10.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 5, the dumpster 10 includes a divider 46 that separates the dumpster interior 20 into at least two different receptacle compartments 20a, 20b. This allows trash and/or recycling to be pre-sorted prior to pick-up. For example, one compartment 20a could be used for trash while the other compartment 20b could be used for recycling materials such as glass, plastic, metal, paper, etc. Or, the dumpster could be used for recycling alone, with one compartment being used for glass and the other compartment being used for metal or plastic, for example. The divider 46 will be discussed in greater detail below.

[0047] When the dumpster 10 is being emptied, a garbage truck or recycling vehicle will insert forks or lift arms into the sleeves 28 to raise the dumpster upwardly and then the lift arms are rotated to turn the dumpster upside down such that the trash can be emptied into the truck. The dumpster 10 includes a locking assembly 50 that allows one of the lids 22, 24 to be locked while the other of the lids 22, 24 is unlocked. This allows one of the compartments 20a or 20b to remain closed while the contents of the other compartment 20a or 20b are emptied into the garbage truck or recycling vehicle. FIG. 5 shows an example where lid 22 is held in the closed/locked position by locking assembly 50 while the lid 24 is open to provide access to the contents of compartment 20b.

[0048] The lids 22, 24 are usually formed from a plastic material by a blow molding process. Typically, these lids are not robust enough to support the weight of the trash and/or recycling held in one of the compartments as the dumpster is turned upside down, while the other compartment is being emptied. As such, the subject lids 22, 24 each include a support frame 52 (FIG. 6) that is installed within a body of the respective lid 22, 24. The support frame 52 strengthens the lids 22, 24 such that when the dumpster is turned upside down, the locked lid can support the weight of the trash remaining in the locked compartment. The support frame 52 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 7A-7C and 8.

[0049] In one example, the support frame 52 is comprised of a metal structure including a pair of side support members 54 and a front support member 56 that is secured to forward ends of the side support members 54 with welding, fasteners, or with any other type of attachment method. A sleeve 58 is integrally formed with or separately mounted to the front support member 56. The sleeve 58 forms part of the locking assembly 50, which will be discussed in greater detail below.

[0050] In one example, each lid 22, 24 is drilled in six locations. Two holes 60 (FIG. 6) are formed to receive the side support members 54 and the remaining four holes 62 are formed to receive fasteners to secure the support frame 52 to the lid 22, 24. This is merely one example of attaching the support frame 52 to the lids, other attachment configurations could also be used depending on the size and shape of the lid.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5, the locking assembly 50 includes a lock frame 70 attached to the hollow lip 40 and a slider mechanism 72 that interacts with the sleeves 58 on the lids 22, 24, and which is movable relative to the lock frame 70. As shown in FIG. 9, the hollow lip 40 includes a forward wall 74, a lower wall 76, a rearward wall 78, and an upper wall 80 that cooperate to define a hollow cavity 82 within the lip 40. As shown in FIGS. 10A-10C, the lock frame 70 includes a plate 84 that is mounted to the forward wall 74 of the lip 40 at a location between the recesses 44. A plurality of flanges 86 extend outward of the plate 84 and include openings 88 that are aligned with one another to receive a bar 90. In the example shown, three flanges 86 are used to support the bar 90, two flanges at each end of the plate 84 and one flange in the middle of the plate 84; however, fewer or additional flanges could be utilized depending on the size of the dumpster.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 11A-11C and FIGS. 12-15, the slide mechanism 72 includes a slide bar 92 that supports a handle 94. One or more shift sleeves 96 are integrally formed with, or mounted to, the slide bar 92. The shift sleeves 96 are aligned with one another and slidably receive the bar 90 of the lock frame 70. As shown in FIG. 12, the bar 90 is attached to the lock frame 70 with at least one fastener 98; however, other attachment methods could also be used.

[0053] The shift sleeves 96 slide along the bar 90 to move the locking assembly 50 between first and second lock positions. The shift sleeves 96 also rotate relative to the bar 90 as the handle 94 is pivoted between a raised position (FIG. 15) and a lowered position (FIG. 11C). The slide bar 92 is slid into the first lock position (FIG. 13) which locks the first lid 22 in place, allowing the second lid 24 to be opened. When the slide bar 92 is slid into the second lock position, the bar 92 is moved to the right as indicated by arrow 100 in FIG. 14 and slides out of sleeve 58 on lid 22 and slides into the sleeve 58 of lid 24 to lock lid 24 in place, which allows lid 22 to be opened. The shift sleeves 96 abut against the flanges 86 (FIG. 13), which serve as stops, when moved into the first and second lock positions. When the slide bar 92 is in a middle or centrally located position, a third lock position is provided with one end of the slide bar 92 being received within the sleeve 58 of lid 22 and an opposite end of the slide bar 92 being received within sleeve 58 of lid 24. In this position both lids 22, 24 are locked.

[0054] The divider 46 and apparatus for attaching the divider 46 within the dumpster 10 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 16-20. The divider 46 is positioned to generally align with the split between the first 22 and second 24 lids. Two divider bottom supports 102 are mounted to the base wall 12 with a plurality of fasteners (FIGS. 16 and 17B). As shown in FIG. 17C, each divider bottom support 102 has an L-shaped cross-section with a base leg 104 that lies generally flat with the base wall 12 and an upwardly extending leg 106. The divider bottom supports 102 are mounted in the dumpster such that there is a slot 108 (FIG. 17B) formed between the upwardly extending legs 106. A bottom edge of the divider 46 is then received within this slot 108. Optionally, the bottom wall 12 of the dumpster 10 could be formed to have a molded slot to receive the bottom edge of the divider 46. Further, as another option, the front 14 and rear 18 walls of the dumpster could have molded slots to receive edges of the divider 46.

[0055] At least two divider support brackets 110 (only one is shown in FIG. 16) are mounted to a mid-portion of the divider 46 to secure the divider to the dumpster 10. In one example, one support bracket 110 is attached to the divider 46 and the rear wall 18 and one support bracket 110 is attached to the divider 46 and the front wall 14. In another example, two support brackets 110 could be used at each of these locations. The support bracket 110 (FIGS. 18A-18B) comprises a 90 degree bracket having a first portion 112 fixed to the divider 46 and a second portion 114 that is fixed to the rear 18 or front 14 wall. The first 112 and second 114 portions are generally perpendicular to each other. Each portion includes at least one opening for a fastener attachment. While two brackets are shown, it should be understood that additional brackets could also be used if needed.

[0056] A divider top support 120 for the top edge of the divider 46 is shown in FIGS. 19A-20. The top support 120 includes a pair of attachment brackets 122 with a support body 124 extending between the brackets 122. The support body 124 includes a groove 126 that receives the upper edge of the divider 46. Each bracket 122 includes an upper first portion 128 that is fixed to the lip 40 and a lower second portion 130 that is fixed to the rear 18 or front 14 walls. The first 128 and second 130 portions are offset from each other due to the overhang of the lip 40 relative to the dumpster walls. Securing the divider 46 to the front 14 and rear 18 walls, as well as including a top support 120, strengthens the structure of the dumpster.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiments, the dumpster 10, apart from the lids 22, 24 and sleeves 28, is rotomolded as a single piece. The lids 22, 24 and sleeves 28 are subsequently attached. Other manufacturing techniques could also conceivably be used instead or in addition to rotomolding. In one example, the lids 22, 24 are formed by using a blow molding process; however, the lids could be formed by using other methods, such as injection molding, for example.

[0058] While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.