Abstract: A cart for heavy folding tables facilitates the loading, folding, erection, and unloading of one or more conventional folding tables therefrom, by a single person without substantial effort by the person performing the operation. The present cart includes a table receiving bed at such a height that a table tipped with its lower edge resting upon the base is slightly overbalanced toward the lower edge, with nearly all of the weight of the table still resting upon its lower two legs. The base of the cart includes a series of ridges forming pairs of notches for holding the lower edge of tables placed thereon.

Abstract: A rotationally molded container rim and method for fabrication thereof. The inventive method includes rotationally molding a container while at the same time integrally molding a circumferential rim having an enclosed interior void. Molten plastic and unmelted particles flow from a primary portion of the mold through a gap of uniform width into a secondary mold portion to form the rim. During molding, air is vented from the enclosed void to ambient air outside the mold through a vent opening. The vent opening preferably includes a hollow tube. The rotationally molded container rim that is formed according to the inventive method preferably includes walls that form an enclosed polygonal section. The walls enclose the interior void and at least one vent opening leads from the interior of the rim to the outside of the container.

Abstract: In a rotationally-molded thermoplastic refuse container of the type having a hollow handle integrally-molded with a refuse carrying compartment of the container, the improvement which includes a wall integrally-formed with the refuse container and sealingly enclosing the hollow handle from communication with the refuse-carrying compartment of the container for providing greater strength to the container and preventing refuse from lodging in the hollow handles.

Abstract: In a rotationally-molded thermoplastic refuse container of the type having a hollow handle integrally-molded with a refuse-carrying compartment of the container, the improvement which includes a wall integrally-formed with the refuse container and sealingly enclosing the hollow handle from communication with the refuse-carrying compartment of the container for providing greater strength to the container and preventing refuse from lodging in the hollow handles.

Abstract: In a rotationally-molded thermoplastic refuse container of the type having a hollow handle integrally-molded with a refuse-carrying compartment of the container, the improvement which includes a wall integrally-formed with the refuse container and sealingly enclosing the hollow handle from communication with the refuse-carrying compartment of the container for providing greater strength to the container and preventing refuse from lodging in the hollow handles.

Abstract: A refuse container characterized by durability and light weight. The refuse container includes a lightweight blow-molded body, including integrally-formed bottom wall and side walls, the upper end of the side walls around the periphery thereof defining a mouth for receiving refuse, and for receiving and supporting a lid. An integrally-formed blow-molded handle extends outwardly from a rear side of the container adjacent the upper end thereof. The handle includes first and second spaced-apart hollow handle supports formed adjacent the side edges of the rear side of the container and a hollow handle bar integrally-formed with and extending between the first and second handle supports.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus for determining the weight of a load while the load is in vertical motion, comprising a stationary support, a lifter for lifting and lowering the load thorough a range of vertical motion, and at least three elongate weigh beams secured to the stationary support and the lifter by respective opposite ends thereof and rigidly spacing the lifter horizontally from the stationary support. The weigh beams sense the weight of the load continuously while the load is in motion. A computer is operatively connected to the weigh beams for receiving and processing weight information sensed by the weigh beams and outputting data representative of the weight of the load. A first weight is sensed representing the container and refuse contained in the container. A second weight is sensing after the container has been emptied and subtracted from the first weight to derive a net weight representing the weight of the emptied refuse.

Abstract: A heavy-duty, wear resistent, blow-molded plastic wheel comprising first and second integrally-formed wheel sides defined by alternating axially spaced-apart and joined side segments. A solid center core portion surrounds a central axle bore. The wheel also includes an integrally-formed, axially-extending tread, and molded, integrally-formed axle bore support means in the first and second wheel sides radially-outwardly adjacent of the axle bore and diagonally extending between the first and the second wheel sides to provide enhanced support to the axle bore.

Abstract: A heavy-duty, wear resistent, blow-molded plastic wheel comprising a circular web defining a central axle bore, an integrally-formed radially-extending peripheral side wall, and an integrally-formed, axially-extending tread, the side wall having a width no greater than one-fourth the width of the tread. A roll-out type, plastic waste container having a waste-receiving container body, a handle, a lifting bar and wheel mounts is provided in combination with a heavy-duty, wear resistant, blow-molded plastic wheel as described above mounted on the wheel mounts.

Abstract: A lift unit for lifting and inverting waste containers for emptying. The waste containers are of the type having an enlarged lip proximate the mouth of the container. The lift unit includes grippers for gripping the enlarged lip of the container and lifting arms for lifting and inverting the waste container for emptying while gripped by the enlarged lip. The lift unit includes a support for supporting the side of the waste container while the container is being lifted and inverted. The grippers are carried by the lifting arms. The pair of opposed lifting arms can be adjusted to waste containers of different heights and widths.

Abstract: A method of lifting and tipping a container off of a supporting surface in order to dump contents therefrom, the container being of the type having a bottom walland upright side walls, the upper extent of which side walls define an opening. The apparatus includes a hook for engaging the bottom of the container and a first support carrying the hook for supporting the bottom of the container through a range of lifting and tipping movement upwardly from the supporting surface and defining a first movement segament wherein the forward side wall of the container in relation to the direction of movement of the container is unsupported. A second support cooperates with the first support for supporting the forward side wall of the container through a second range of lifting and tipping movement subsequent to the first lifting and tipping movement wherein the container is tipped to an angle sufficient to empty the contents therefrom.

Abstract: A refuse container of the type adapted to be lifted during an emptying cycle from an upright position by opposed retaining arms of a mechanical dumping unit, emptied into a refuse vehicle and lowered back to the upright position. The refuse container comprises a bottom, with side walls connected to the bottom on one end and defining an open top on the other end. The side walls include first and second spaced-apart shoulders which define a narrowed waist formed in the walls around the periphery of the refuse container to receive the retaining arms and lock the refuse container against movement relative to the retaining arms during both the lifting and lowering movements of the emptying cycle.

Abstract: A vacuum-controlled apparatus for gripping or gripping and lifting a load such as a roll-out refuse container. The lifting apparatus includes a primary vacuum pad for initially engaging the load, the primary vacuum pad comprising a vacuum head for exerting a vacuum-induced suction grip on the load, secondary vacuum pad carried by the vacuum head for secondarily engaging the load and supplementing the vacuum-induced grip on the load. A lifting arm effects vertical movement of the load. The vacuum pads are resilient and have a load-contacting surface on one side thereof generally corresponding to the shape of a surface of the load to be contacted by the load-contacting surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and tipping a container off of a supporting surface in order to dump contents therefrom, the container being of the type having a bottom wall and upright side walls, the upper extent of which side walls define an opening. The apparatus includes a hook for engaging the bottom of the container and a first support carrying the hook for supporting the bottom of the container through a range of lifting and tipping movement upwardly from the supporting surface and defining a first movement segment wherein the forward side wall of the container in relation to the direction of movement of the container is unsupported. A second support cooperates with the first support for supporting the forward side wall of the container through a second range of lifting and tipping movement subsequent to the first lifting and tipping movement wherein the container is tipped to an angle sufficient to empty the contents therefrom.