Trash cart

[0001] This application is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/US02/38767 filed Dec. 5, 2002, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/338,430, filed Dec. 6, 2001.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a trash cart.

[0004] 2. Background Art

[0005] Trash carts, and particularly large roll-out trash carts, are widely used by and provided to residents by municipalities in order to make storage and collection of household trash more convenient. Unfortunately, many larger trash carts (such as the industry standard 96 gallon or 40 liter models) are often difficult to handle and maneuver. This is especially true when the trash cart is full and heavy due to the trash contained within. In many trash carts, the only space available for a user to grasp is the pivoted area where the lid attaches to the body of the trash cart. Unfortunately, grasping this location may not provide the user with the most efficient way of handling the container when full.

[0006] Accordingly, an improved trash cart is desired which provides a user with ease of handling and maneuverability, particularly when the container is a relatively large roll-out cart.

[0007] It is an object according to the present invention to provide a trash cart with a handle member that is capable of securing the lid to the body of the cart.

[0008] It is another object according to the present invention to provide a trash cart with a handle member that is capable of being used as a means to maneuver the trash cart.

[0009] In keeping with the teachings according to the present invention, provided is a trash cart having a body with an upper body portion defining an opening for loading and unloading trash from the body; a lid for closing the opening of the body; and a handle member which is pivotably attached to a rear portion of the upper body portion. When the handle member is oriented in a first position it cooperates with the lid to impede movement of the lid, and when the handle member is oriented in a second position, the lid is able to freely open.

[0010] Also provided according to the present invention is a trash cart including a hollow body having an upper portion defining an opening for loading and unloading waste therefrom; a lid for closing said opening for loading and unloading trash from the hollow body; and a handle member pivotably attached to the upper body portion. When the handle member is rotated in a forward position it cooperates with the lid to impede movement of the lid, and when the handle member is oriented in a rearward position, the lid is able to be opened.

[0011] The lid may be pivotably attached to the body along a hinge axis. In some embodiments, the handle member may also pivot relative to the lid and body along the same hinge axis, and in other embodiments, the handle member is disposed along a different hinge axis.

[0012] The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0027] FIGS. 1–7 illustrate a first embodiment of a trash cart 10 according to present invention. Cart 10 includes a generally hollow body portion 12 and a lid member 14 which are pivotably and rotatably connected to each other by hinge member 16. Cart 10 also includes a handle member 18 which is also attached to body portion 12 by hinge member 16, and which pivots and rotates relative to body portion 12 and lid 14 about the axis of hinge 16. Body portion 12, lid 14 and handle member 18 are each preferably formed of a plastic material such as HDPE, via an injection molding process, but may of course be formed by other methods lending itself to this design.

[0028] Body portion 12 has an upper portion 15 defining an opening 17 for loading and unloading trash from hollow body portion 12. Lid 14 serves to close opening 17 of body portion 12. Cart 10 may also include wheels 20 supported for rotation by bottom 13 of body portion 12, and which rotate about axle 21 connected to body portion 12, such that a user may maneuver cart 10 by rolling it. Cart 10 may be used for all types of waste, including organic, etc.

[0029] According to the teachings of the present invention, handle member 18 allows a user to easily and efficiently handle and maneuver trash cart 10. This feature is particularly useful when the trash cart is relatively large in size, or when it is full or heavy. FIG. 1 shows handle member 18 in a closed and preferably locked position. With addition reference to FIG. 2, handle member 18 in the closed position is received within a recess 22 via a slight interference fit on the upper surface 24 of lid 14. In the embodiment shown, upper surface of handle member 18 and the surrounding portion upper surface 24 of lid 14 are flush and coplanar. Handle member 18 also includes a first handling portion 30 and a second handling portion 32. First handling portion 30 is horizontally disposed at the front of handle member 18 and provides sufficient opening and clearance 31 therein for receiving a user's hand therein. Second handle portion 32 is vertically disposed generally in the central area of handle member 18, and also provides sufficient opening and clearance 33 for receiving a user's hand therein.

[0030] Handle member 18 in this position may be locked in place to either lid 14 or body portion 12. As illustrated in FIG. 2, handle member 18 includes a pair of latch tabs 26 which are inserted into and received by corresponding openings 28 in body portion 12 in a latched or locked relationship (but may also be positioned such that latch tabs 26 are received by holes within lid 14.) In the embodiment shown, latch tabs serve to secure lid 14 to body portion 12. When a user desires to maneuver cart 10, handle member 18 is pulled forward slightly and raised (preferably by way of handling portion 30) in order to release latch tabs 26 from openings 28. Subsequently, handle member 18 is grasped at either first handling portion 30 or second handling portion 32, and rotated upwards and through the positions shown in FIGS. 2–4. FIGS. 4–6 illustrate handle member 18 in its fully open (use) position. As best shown in FIGS. 5–7, when in a fully opened position, a rear portion 50 of handle member 18 is stopped from further rotation by an interference fit with upper body portion 15. Accordingly, forces applied to handle member 18 in the open position causes cart 10 to be tilted onto wheels 20, such that cart 10 may be rolled to any desired location across surface 5 (see FIG. 6.)

[0031] In order to empty the trash contained therein, cart 10 may be lifted via first or second handling portions 30, 32 and also lifted at the bottom by hand pocket 38 (FIG. 7.) In most instances, when lid 14 is open as shown in FIGS. 7–8, handle member 18 remains secured to lid 14 via the aforementioned interference fit within recess 22.

[0032] FIGS. 9–14 illustrate a second embodiment of a trash cart 110 according to the present invention. Features of cart 110 that correspond to those of the first embodiment will carry a like reference numeral with a “1” prefix added. Cart 110 includes a body portion 112 and a lid member 114 which is pivotably attached to body portion 112 by way of hinge 116. Cart 110 also includes a handle member 160 which is attached to body portion 112 such that handle member 160 is able to pivot and translate with respect to body portion 112. Specifically, upper body portion 115 includes a rim 119 having an elongated and generally horizontally-disposed channel opening 121 along each side thereof. This allows handle member 160 to translate freely within opening 121 so that handle 160 may be translated forward and rotated to the front (FIGS. 9–10) or translated rearward and rotated to the rear (FIG. 11) of cart 110, such that lid 114 may be freely opened and closed (and thus cart 110 maybe lifted and emptied in these positions.)

[0033] As shown in FIG. 12, when handle member 160 is disposed rearwardly within channel 121 and rotated forward, a central portion 162 of handle member 160 is received by a recessed area 154 in lid 114. Handle member 160 in this orientation serves to impede movement of lid 114. Specifically, it is shown that lid 114 and handle member 160 are attached to body portion 112 along different hinge axes. Accordingly, when oriented as in FIG. 12, as lid 114 is raised, its movement is impeded by handle member 160, and thus prevent lid 114 from being opened.

[0034] In order to maneuver cart 110, handle member 160 is rotated upward and is stopped at its vertical position, such as by detents interfacing between handle member 160 and body portion 112. Accordingly, as with cart 10, sufficient force exerted upon handle member 160 causes cart 110 to tilt back upon its wheels 120 in order to be transported across surface 105 to a desired location. A user may also apply force to a foot step 142 disposed at the lower rear of body portion 112, in order to assist in the tilting of cart 110. Lid 114 also includes a centrally disposed handling portion 164.

[0035] Lastly, it is contemplated that for either embodiment of cart 10 or 110, when the handle member is in its closed/locked orientation and the lid is unable to open, that the user may grasp handle 32, 164 and lift and carry the cart to its desired location. Of course, this may be easier if the cart is relatively small. In such a design, the cart need not have wheels.

[0036] 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 lirnitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.