Container for & method of disposing of wet cement

Abstract

A reusable cement receptacle is provided that stores and dries wet cement. The dried cement is then removed for disposal from the receptacle by inverting the receptacle, at least partially.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0001] Applicant incorporates herein by reference any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents cited or referred to in this application or cited or referred to in the U.S. patents and U.S. patent applications incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Cement mixers are used to mix water and concrete mixture forming a liquid cement to be used as a building medium. These cement mixers are cleansed by rinsing their interior with water, which results in a waste, wet cement that poses an environmental hazard requiring proper disposal. The waste wet cement is poured from the cement mixer into a waste bin typically built from wood planks and lined with a plastic sheet that, when the wet cement is dried, sometimes becomes embedded in the dried concrete. Notwithstanding the plastic lining, cement contaminated water from the wet cement sometimes seeps from the bin and is a source of water pollution. Typically, the waste wet cement is allowed to dry and harden into a solid block in the wooden bin. After hardening of the waste wet cement into such a solid block, the wooden bin is deconstructed, and block is broken into smaller pieces for disposal or recycling. U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,036 B2 suggests using a waste container with flexible walls. To move this container, however, it must be placed on a flat bed tow truck.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0003] This invention has several features that are summarized in the CLAIMS. These features provide this invention with its many desirable attributes. After reading the following section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION,” one will understand how the features of this invention provide its benefits, which include, but are not limited to, providing a reusable wet cement waste container that is sturdy, resists corrosion, reduces labor costs, and is portable.

[0004] Briefly, the invention is a reusable concrete waste container comprising a rigid, non-porous receptacle providing a storage zone with an open top and at least one sleeve affixed to the underside of the receptacle. The sleeve cooperates with a lifting mechanism, such as, a forklift, for lifting the container to an elevated position. Optionally, one or more dividers are in the storage zone to divide the storage zone into multiple compartments.

[0005] This invention also includes a method of storing and disposing of wet waste cement. According to this method, waste wet cement is deposited into the container and allowed to dry to produce a solid block or blocks of dry concrete. The container is then inverted so the open top substantially faces downwards and then raised so that the dry concrete block slides from the storage zone. The container may be raised and inverted using a lifting mechanism such as, for example, a forklift. An interior surface of the container may be coated with a release agent prior to depositing the wet cement in the container.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] One preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. This embodiment depicts the novel and non-obvious reusable cement container and method of this invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. These drawings include the following figures (FIGS.), with like numerals indicating like parts:

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cement container of this invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the open top of the cement container.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bottom side of the cement container.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a view of the side of the cement container and a forklift moving into a position to engage the container and lift it.

[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates the container being lifted by the forklift shown in FIG. 5 to an elevated position.

[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates waste cement being poured from a cement mixer into the container after being moved by the forklift next to the cement mixer.

[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates the forklift in contact with an upper exterior side of the cement container.

[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates the forklift beginning to invert the container.

[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates the forklift continuing to invert the container.

[0017] FIG. 11 illustrates the container moving into the inverted position.

[0018] FIG. 12 illustrates the container raised above a supporting surface by the forklift.

[0019] FIG. 13 illustrates the inverted container being lifted to an elevation higher than the depth of the container to separate the container from a dry concrete block and depositing the block on the supporting surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One Preferred Embodiment

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the container 10 of this invention comprises a box-type receptacle 8 with an open top T and an underside 20b to which are attached a pair of spaced apart sleeves 28 and 30. The receptacle 8 is a rigid, non-porous structure that holds waste wet cement deposited therein through an open top T. As depicted in FIG. 7, because the receptacle 8 is non-porous, during air drying of the waste wet cementj, seepage of water from the wet cement onto the surrounding ground G supporting the container 10 is avoided. Typically, the receptacle 8 has a length L from about 3 to about 15 feet, a width W from about 2 to about 10 feet, and a height H from about 1 to about 5 feet,

[0021] The receptacle 8, and preferably also the sleeves 28, 30, do not react chemically with wet cement. They may be made of a metallic sheet material such as certain types of corrosion resistant steel or they may be coated or painted with a suitable material that does not react chemically with wet cement. Such steel sheets may be welded to form, or attach, the components of the container 10 together. The container 10 may also be fabricated by casting or press bending forming techniques. Preferably, sttel sheets having a thickness of at least {fraction (5/64)} inch are used to make the receptacle 8 and sleeves 28 and 30. Typically, the steel sheets have a thickness from about {fraction (3/16)} to ½ inch. The pair of sleeves 28, 30 is welded to the exterior EX (FIG. 4) of the underside 20b of the receptacle 8. As depicted in FIG. 2, the cross-section of the sleeves 28, 30 may be rectangular in shape. These sleeves 28, 30 are hollow and each has opposed open ends E1 and E2 (FIG. 4) that allow the forks 44 of a forklift 40 (FIG. 5) to be received therein when the container 10 is to be moved. The bottom wall 20, which preferably has a rectangular configuration, has a longitudinal axis X, and the sleeves 28, 30 provide an elongated tunnel that is substantially at a right angle with respect to this longitudinal axis. The sleeves 28, 30 may also be positioned so that they are parallel to the longitudinal axis X.

[0022] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the receptacle 8 comprises a bottom wall 20 and attached sidewall 21. The sidewall 21 includes a first pair of opposed sides 12, 16 and a second pair of opposed sides 14, 18 that define a storage zone Z within the receptacle 8 where the wet cement is deposited and allowed to dry, forming within this zone Z a block or blocks of solid concrete. The storage zone Z has a volume of at least 5 cubic feet, and preferably is from 6 to 750 cubic feet. The first pair of opposed sides 12, 16 and second pair of opposed sides 14, 18 extend upward from an internal surface 20a of the bottom wall 20. The sides 12, 14, 16, 18 may extend from the bottom wall 20 at an angle &agr; (FIG. 2). For example, the angle &agr; may range from about 90 to about 140 degrees. When greater than ninety degrees relative to the bottom wall 20, the sides 12, 14, 16, 18 taper outward as best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, facilitating the release from the receptacle 8 of a dried concrete block 61 (FIG. 13). Each opposed side 12, 14, 16, 18 has a bottom end 12a, 14a, 16a, 18a, respectively, and a top end 12b, 14b, 16b, 18b, respectively. As best shown in FIG. 4, the sides 12, 14, 16, and 18 are welded together and to the bottom wall 20.

[0023] As best depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3, a lip 32 provides a frame that is rectangular configured and welded to the top ends 12b, 14b, 16b, and 18b of respectively of the sides 12, 14, 16, 18. This lip 32 enhances the rigidity of the receptacle 8 to reduce the likelihood of the sides 12, 14, 16, 18 bowing outward upon filling the receptacle with wet cement. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, on the exteriors of the sides 12 and 16 are, respectively, pairs of reinforcing braces 52a and 54b and 52b and 54b. These braces 52a, 54a, 52b, and 54b are oriented substantially vertically, extending along substantially the entire height of the sides 12 and 16 from the bottom wall 20. The braces 52a and 54b are respectively aligned with the open ends E1 of the sleeves 28 and 30, and the braces 52b and 54b are respectively aligned with the open ends E2 of the sleeves 28 and 30. The opposed ends, respectively, E1 and E2 of the sleeves 28 and 30 projected outward beyond the bottom wall 20, and the lower ends E3 of the 52a, 54a, 52b, and 54b are welded to these outwardly projecting sleeve ends SE1 and SE2. These braces 52a, 54a, 52b, and 54b each have their upper ends E4 welded to the underside 32a of the lip 32. This configuration of the braces 52a, 54a, 52b, and 54b serves a threefold purpose: One, it provides support for the sides 12 and 16, so that these sides resist bulging outward when the receptacle 8 is filled with waste wet cement. Two, it strengthens the sleeves 28 and 30, making them more robust when interacting with the forks 44 of the forklift 40. And three, it assists in providing overall structural rigidity to the container 10.

[0024] An optional feature of the invention is the use of at least one divider to create separate compartments within the storage zone Z. Preferably, two dividers 24 and 26 are disposed in the storage zone Z to create storage compartments 22a, 22b, and 22c. These dividers 24 and 26 are welded in position between the opposed sides 12 and 16. The upper ends E5 and E6 of the dividers 24 and 26 as shown in FIG. 2 are beneath the lip 32. Each divider 24 and 26 has a pair of opposed walls 24b and 26a that taper from a top segment 27 outwardly towards the bottom wall 20. As discussed subsequently in greater detail, the compartments 22a, 22b, and 22c assist in forming three segments of dried concrete, and may eliminate crushing dried blocks of concrete.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the container 10 may be moved by an operator 42 riding a forklift 40 and by inserting the forks 44 of the forklift 40 into the sleeves 28, 30. Depending on the direction that the container 10 is approached, the forks 44 slide into the open ends E1 or E2 of the sleeves 28, 30. As depicted in FIG. 6, when the operator 42 actuates a raise and lower control mechanism (not shown) on the forklift 40, the forks 44 rise to lift the container 10 upwards in the direction U. The operator 42 then drives the forklift 40 with the elevated container 10 to a desired location such as to a cement truck 50 discharging waste wet cement 60 as shown in FIG. 7. The forklift 40 may also be used to put the container 10 into the bed of a truck or other vehicle to transport the container 10.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 7, the container 10 is initially orientated in up position so that the open top T is positioned to receive waste wet cement 60 flowing down a chute 70 of a cement truck 50. The waste wet cement 60 is deposited into the container 10 from the mixer 50a into any one, or all, of the compartments 22a, 22b, 22c. The liquid waste cement 60 in the container 10 is allow to dry by simply standing in the open air until a dry, solid concrete block 61 (FIG. 13) is formed within the compartments 22a, 22b, and 22c. The compartments 22a, 22b, and 22c may be partially filled or completely filled up to the lip 32.

[0027] After a container 10 is filled with the wet cement 60 as discussed above, and the wet cement is allowed to dry, the forklift 40 is used to invert the container 10, such that the open top T of the container 10 faces downward. The solid concrete block 61 will now, due to gravity, fall onto the ground's G supporting surface 100 or into a recycling bin (not shown). As shown in FIG. 8, the forks 44 of the forklift 40 engage the container 10 to tip it over. By contacting the underside 32a of the lip 32, and side 16 at a point nearby the lip 32, and moving the forklift 40 forward while the forks 44 are raised, the container 10 pivots about corner A as depicted in FIG. 9. As the container 10 turns, the point where the fork 44 contacts the container 10 moves from a point on the side 16 nearby the lip 32 to a point on side 16 nearby the bottom wall 20. Specifically, as the forklift 40 moves forward, the forks 44 push against the side 16. When using a reach fork lift (not shown), its forks are partially inserted into the sleeves 28, 30 and the forks simultaneously lift and turn to invert the container 10.

[0028] The forklift 40 continues to turn the container 10 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Referring to FIG. 10, the container 10 is inverted so that it lies with side 12 facing the supporting surface 100. As the forklift 40 continues to move forward, the forks 44 push against the underside 20b of the receptacle 8. As the forks 44 push the container 10, the container 10 continues to tip over as shown in FIG. 11, with the corner B of the container 10 contacting the supporting surface 100. Also, as the container 10 is turned, the contact point of the fork 44 with the container 10 moves from a point on the underside 20b to a point on the underside 20b nearby sidewall 12.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the container 10 is turned until it is in a top down position as shown in FIG. 12 with the open top T facing the ground G. The forks 44 are then inserted into the sleeves 28, 30 and the container 10 is raised as illustrated in FIG. 13, causing the dry solid concrete block 61 to slide from the storage zone Z due to gravity. If the compartments 22a, 22b and 22c are only partially filled, three separate solid blocks are formed upon the wet cement drying. Typically, the weight of the dry cement block or blocks 61 is enough to cause the solid block or blocks to slide from the container 10. The dry solid concrete block or blocks 61 may then be broken into smaller pieces for disposal.

[0030] A release agent may be used to assist in the removal step. For example, prior to filling the storage zone Z with the wet cement, the interior surfaces of the storage zone may be coated with a commonly used lubricant such as form oil. Such form oil would be used each time the container is used. Alternately, the interior surfaces of the storage zone may be coated with a polymer that the dried concrete will not stick too, for example a fluorocarbon polymer such as Teflon®.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to the particular embodiment disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention.

Claims

1. A reusable container that receives wet cement comprising:

a rigid receptacle that holds the wet cement, said receptacle including an open top into which the wet cement is deposited into the receptacle, a bottom wall having an exterior bottom side, and a side wall extending from the bottom wall,

said side wall and bottom wall being made of solid material and not having any openings therein that allow water in the wet cement to seep from the receptacle through said walls, and

at least one sleeve affixed to the exterior bottom side that cooperates with a lifting mechanism for lifting the container to an elevated position,

2. The reusable container of claim 1 where the sidewall comprises four sides that taper outwardly from the bottom wall.

3. The reusable container of claim 1 further comprising at least one divider disposed within said receptacle.

4. The reusable container of claim 3 where the divider has a pair of opposed walls that taper from a top segment outwardly towards the bottom wall.

5. The reusable container of claim 1 where said walls comprise metal.

6. The reusable container of claim 5 where said walls comprise steel.

7. The reusable container of claim 6 where said steel walls have a thickness of at least {fraction (5/64)} inch.

8. The reusable container of claim 1 where said receptacle has a volume of at least 5 cubic feet.

9. The reusable container of claim 8 where said receptacle has a volume of from 5 to 750 cubic feet.

10. The reusable container of claim 1 where the bottom wall has a rectangular configuration with a longitudinal axis and the sleeve comprises an elongated tunnel that is substantially at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

11. The reusable container of claim 1 including an interior surface coated with a release agent.

12. A reusable container that receives wet cement comprising:

a rigid, solid metal, box-type receptacle having a volume of from 5 to 750 cubic feet that holds the wet cement, said receptacle including

an open top into which the wet cement is deposited into an interior of the receptacle,

a bottom wall having an exterior bottom side, and

a side wall having opposed sides extending from the bottom wall and tapering outward from the bottom wall;

said side wall and bottom wall not having any openings therein that allow water in the wet cement to seep from the receptacle through said walls, and

a pair of spaced apart sleeves affixed to the exterior bottom side that cooperate in engaging a fork lift for lifting the container to an elevated position.

13. The reusable container of claim 12 further comprising at least one divider disposed within said receptacle.

14. The reusable container of claim 13 where the divider has a pair of opposed walls that taper from an upper end outwardly towards the bottom wall.

15. The reusable container of claim 12 where said walls comprise steel.

16. The reusable container of claim 15 where said steel walls have a thickness of at least {fraction (5/64)} inch.

17. The reusable container of claim 12 including an interior surface coated with a release agent.

18. A reusable container that receives wet cement comprising:

a rigid box-type receptacle having a volume of from 5 to 750 cubic feet that holds the wet cement, said receptacle including

an open top having a rectangular configuration with a rigid reinforcing lip at an upper end of the top defining an opening into which the wet cement is deposited into an interior of the receptacle,

a bottom wall having an exterior bottom side, and

a side wall having opposed sides extending from the bottom wall and tapering outward from the bottom wall;

said side wall and bottom wall being made of steel having a thickness of at least {fraction (5/64)} inch and not having any openings therein that allow water in the wet cement to seep from the receptacle through said walls,

at least one divider disposed within the interior of said receptacle, said divider having a lower end at or near the bottom wall and an upper end near but not above the open top, said divider including a pair of opposed walls that taper from the upper end outwardly towards the bottom wall, and

a pair of spaced apart sleeves affixed to the exterior bottom side that cooperate in engaging a fork lift for lifting the container to an elevated position,

the bottom wall having a, rectangular configuration with a longitudinal axis and said sleeves each comprising an elongated tunnel that is substantially at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

19. The reusable container of claim 18 where at least a pair of opposed sides of the side wall each have a brace on exterior thereof.

20. The reusable container of claim 19 including an interior surface coated with a release agent.

21. A method for storing and disposing of wet cement comprising:

depositing wet cement into an open end of a rigid receptacle to at least partially fill the receptacle, said receptacle having non-porous walls that prevent water in the wet cement from seeping from the receptacle and including at least one coupling mechanism that cooperates in engaging a lifting mechanism for lifting the receptacle to an elevated, at least partially inverted position, for removing cement contained within said receptacle,

drying said wet concrete in said receptacle;

elevating and at least partially inverting said receptacle with said lifting mechanism such that dried cement within said receptacle is removed from the said receptacle due to gravity.

22. The method of claim 21 where said step of elevating and at least partially inverting said receptacle such that dried cement within said receptacle is removed from the said receptacle comprises:

engaging said receptacle with said lifting mechanism;

raising said receptacle above a supporting surface; and

turning said receptacle such that said open end substantially faces downwards, thereby allowing the dried cement to fall from the receptacle.

23. The method of claim 21 where said lifting mechanism comprises a forklift.

24. The method of claim 21 where said coupling mechanism is a sleeve on an exterior of a bottom wall.

25. The method of claim 21 where the receptacle has sides that taper outward from a bottom wall.

26. The method of claim 21 including coating an interior surface of the receptacle with a release agent prior depositing wet cement therein.

27. A method for storing and disposing of wet cement comprising:

depositing the wet cement into an open top of a container with non-porous walls so that water from the wet cement does not seep from the container through said walls;

drying said wet cement in said container to produce therein dry concrete; and

inverting said container such that said dry concrete is removed by gravity from said container through the open top.

28. The method of claim 24 where said container comprises:

a bottom wall;

at least one side wall extending from said bottom wall to define the open top; and

at least one coupling mechanism that cooperates in engaging a lifting mechanism for lifting the container to an elevated position.

29. The method of claim 28 where said step of inverting said container such that said dry concrete is removed from said container comprises:

engaging said container with a lifting mechanism; and

raising said container above a supporting surface; and

inverting said container such that the open top of said container substantially faces downwards towards the supporting surface to allow the dry concrete to fall due to gravity from the container onto the supporting surface.

30. The method of claim 30 where said lifting mechanism is a forklift.

31. The method of claim 28 where said coupling mechanism is a sleeve coupled to said bottom wall.

32. The method of claim 27 including coating an interior surface of the container with a release agent prior depositing wet cement therein.

33. A reusable container that receives wet cement comprising:

a rigid receptacle that holds the wet cement, said receptacle including an open top into which the wet cement is deposited into the receptacle, a bottom wall having an exterior bottom side, and a side wall extending from the bottom wall having at least one pair of opposed sides,

said side wall and bottom wall being made of solid material and not having any openings therein that allow water in the wet cement to seep from the receptacle through said walls,

said open top having a rigid reinforcing lip at an upper end thereof, said reinforcing lip defining an opening into which the wet cement is deposited into the receptacle,

a pair of spaced apart sleeves affixed to the exterior bottom side that cooperates with a lifting mechanism for lifting the container to an elevated position, said sleeves each having opposed end portions that extend beyond the exterior bottom side, and

a pair of reinforcing braces on an exterior of each of the opposed sides of said side wall, each brace aligned with one end portion of each of the sleeves and extending between the lip and said aligned end portion, said braces having opposed ends respectively connected to the lip and aligned end portion.