Retractable refuse container
A retractable refuse container allows for the container to be rolled to a curb. The refuse container has a turf anchor or planting stake attached to a retractable line played from a retracting spring loaded spool incorporated in the container wall near its base. The stake has a hinged handle which may be rotated upward for insertion of a foot for planting the stake and hand grasping for stake removal. The stake is stored in a support friction groove on the container, the stake line being attached at its free end to the stake handle. Upon a worker carrying and dumping the container, the stake line is played out from the spool. The spring action of the retracting spool will then retract the line to the curb near the stake. The owner pulls the stake, snaps it into the stake support, and returns the container to a permanent location.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/527,009, filed Dec. 5, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to trashcans and containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to trash or refuse containers having a staked, retracting retrieval system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rubber, plastic, fiberglass, metal and other types of refuse, trash, or recycle containers are in wide use for purposes of holding trash, garbage, or recyclable waste for pickup by sanitation workers or other haulers. In most households the containers or trashcans are simply rolled or carried to the curbside for pickup. Once the contents are emptied into a sanitation truck or other vehicle, the refuse containers or trash cans are often discarded by simply tossing the containers on their sides to the lawn or driveway. The wind may roll such containers out into the street, representing a hazard to drivers and pedestrians and the potential loss of the container or can. Also, many refuse containers or cans, once emptied, lack adequate weight to retain them in place when rested upright in windy conditions, resulting in similar risks of injury or loss. It would be desirable to provide a system for staking or otherwise holding the refuse containers or trash cans in place after emptying. It would further be desirable to provide such a system which maintains control of the container or can at all times, even during the emptying process. This would end the problems of damage and loss of these items as described above.
Thus a retractable trashcan solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe retractable refuse or trash container of the present invention allows for the container to be rolled to the edge of the owner's property, such as a street curb. The refuse container has at its external lower end a turf anchor or planting stake that is attached to a retractable line played from a retracting spring loaded spool incorporated in the container wall near its base. The stake may be pushed into a grassy area of earth next to the road or curb, typically between the sidewalk and the curb. The stake has a hinged handle which may lay flat with the ground surface and rotated upward for insertion of the user's foot for planting the stake and for grasping with the hand for stake removal. The stake is removably held for convenient storage in a friction groove of a support located on the container near the housing of the retractable spool, the line from the spool being attached at its free end to the stake or its handle.
Upon the sanitation worker grasping the refuse container and carrying it to the truck for dumping, the stake line is played out from the spool. If the sanitation worker then fails to replace the container in its proper place, the spring action of the retracting spool will retract the line, thus retrieving the container to its proper location next to the curb near the stake. The owner may then pull the stake, snap it into the stake support, and return the container to the garage or other permanent location.
It is an aspect of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe retractable refuse or trash can or container of the present invention allows for the container to be rolled to the edge of the owner's property, such as a street curb. The refuse container has at its external lower end a turf anchor or planting stake that is attached to a retractable line played from a retracting spring loaded spool incorporated in the container wall near its base. The stake may be pushed into a grassy area of earth next to the road or curb, typically between the sidewalk and the curb. The stake has a hinged handle and is removably held for convenient storage in a friction groove of a support located on the container near the housing of the retractable spool, the line from the spool being attached at its free end to the stake or its handle.
Upon the sanitation worker grasping the refuse container and carrying it to the truck for dumping, the stake line is played out from the spring loaded retracting spool. If the sanitation worker then fails to replace the container in its proper place, the spring action of the retracting spool will retract the line, thus retrieving the container to its proper location next to the curb near the stake.
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Retractable reel housing 40 is located on the sidewall 20 near bottom wall 16 and is preferably integral with the container 14. Retractable reel housing 40 contains a retractable reel 41 (see
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In operation, a household owner pushes the wheel refuse container 14 to the curb for refuse pickup. The owner then snaps the planting stake 42 from its support 46 and plants it into the ground G by inserting his foot into handle 52 and pushing downward on surface 60. The sanitation worker S then picks up the container 12, carries it to the trash truck, and dumps the refuse. The stake line 44 plays out from retractable reel 41 during this process. As the sanitation worker replaces the container near the curb, the line 44 is taken up by reel 41. If the worker merely tosses the container toward the curb, the reel retracts line 44 and pulls the container to the curb, keeping it from rolling down the street or being hit by a passing vehicle. The owner then merely uprights the container, pulls up the planting stake by means of handle 52, and snaps it into the groove 50 of support 56. The owner then wheels the container to its normal location such as in a garage.
The refuse container of the present invention is preferably made of an impact resistant polymer plastic, but may be constructed of any conventional materials. The planting stake is preferably made of suitable metal material such as steel. However, an extremely durable plastic could be substituted for the suitable metal material. The retracting reel is preferably employs a steel coil spring. The refuse container may be of any desired size acceptable by a sanitation department.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A retractable refuse container comprising:
- a refuse container having a first bottom wall and a sidewall;
- a planting stake having a shaft and a handle;
- a retracting spool reel located on said sidewall of said refuse container; and
- a stake line mounted on said retracting spool reel and having a free end attached to said planting stake;
- whereby a user such as a sanitation worker may draw said container from the vicinity of said stake as said retracting spool reel plays out said stake line to a dumping point, and upon dumping the contents of said container and releasing any pulling and holding pressure on said container, said retracting spool reel acts to take up said stake line such as to return said container to said planting stake.
2. The retractable refuse container of claim 1, wherein said planting stake further comprises a hinge rotatably attaching said shaft with said handle.
3. The retractable refuse container of claim 2, wherein said handle of said planting stake is generally oval in shape having a hollow center for grasping and is attached with said hinge along an elongated side of said handle, said shaft extending perpendicularly from about the center of said hinge, said handle being of sufficient size to receive the toe of a shoe for planting said stake.
4. The retractable refuse container of claim 3, further comprising a mounting support located on said container wall having a friction groove of sufficient size for removably mounting said planting stake by grasping said shaft.
5. The retractable refuse container of claim 1, further comprising a spool reel housing integral with said container, said housing defining a stake line throughbore, said retracting spool reel being mounted within said spool reel housing and positioned therein such that said stake line is free to exit and enter said stake line throughbore.
6. The retractable refuse container of claim 5, wherein said spool reel housing is located on the outer side of said sidewall and proximate said bottom wall.
7. The retractable refuse container of claim 5, wherein said refuse container further comprises a second bottom wall spaced above said first bottom wall spool forming a space therebetween, said reel housing being located within said space, said sidewall having a stake line throughbore.
8. The retractable refuse container of claim 5, wherein said retracting spool is spring loaded so as to retract said stake line and draw said refuse container toward said planting stake as planted upon release of said refuse container by a user.
9. The retractable refuse container of claim 8, wherein said retracting spool reel comprises a stop or ratchet requiring manipulation by said the user to activate said retracting spool reel to retract said stake line, drawing said refuse container toward said planting stake as planted.
10. The retractable refuse container of claim 1, wherein said container is generally cylindrical in shape and has a conforming hinge mounted cover for opening and closing said container while maintaining attachment of said cover with said container.
11. The retractable refuse container of claim 10, wherein said container comprises at least one pair of wheels located at said bottom wall so as to allow the rolling transport of said container by a user.
12. The retractable refuse container of claim 1, wherein said container is rectangular in shape and has a conforming hinge mounted cover for opening and closing said container while maintaining attachment of said cover with said container.
13. The retractable refuse container of claim 12, wherein said container comprises at least one pair of wheels located at said bottom wall so as to allow the rolling transport of said container by a user.
14. The retractable refuse container of claim 13, said first bottom wall further comprising a bottom wall container support depending from said bottom wall and spaced from said pair of wheels for supporting said container at a level position.
15. A retractable refuse container comprising:
- a refuse container having a bottom wall and a sidewall;
- a planting stake having a shaft and a handle;
- a retracting spool reel located on said sidewall of said refuse container;
- a stake line mounted on said retracting spool reel and having a free end attached to said planting stake;
- said planting stake further comprising a hinge rotatably attaching said shaft with said handle;
- a mounting support located on said container wall having a friction groove of sufficient size for removably mounting said planting stake by-grasping said shaft; and
- a spool reel housing integral with said container, said housing defining a stake line throughbore, said retracting spool reel being mounted within said spool reel housing and positioned therein such that said stake line is free to exit and enter said stake line throughbore;
- said retracting spool being spring loaded so as to retract said stake line and draw said refuse container toward said planting stake as planted upon release of said refuse container by a user;
- whereby a user such as a sanitation worker may draw said container from the vicinity of said stake as said retracting spool reel plays out said stake line to a dumping point, and upon dumping said container and releasing pulling and holding pressure on said container, said retracting spool reel acts to take up said stake line such as to return said container to said planting stake.
16. The retractable refuse container of claim 15, wherein said container is generally cylindrical in shape and has a conforming hinge mounted cover for opening and closing said container while maintaining attachment of said cover with said container.
17. The retractable refuse container of claim 16, said container further comprising at least one pair of wheels located at said bottom wall so as to allow the rolling transport of said container by a user.
18. The retractable refuse container of claim 15, wherein said container is generally rectangular in shape and has a conforming hinge mounted cover for opening and closing said container while maintaining attachment of said cover with said container.
19. The retractable refuse container of claim 18, said container further comprising at least one pair of wheels located at said bottom wall so as to allow the rolling transport of said container by a user.
20. The retractable refuse container of claim 19, said container further comprising a bottom wall container support depending from said bottom wall and spaced from said pair of wheels for supporting said container at a level position.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 19, 2004
Publication Date: Jul 13, 2006
Inventor: Terry Garvie (Harrisburg, PA)
Application Number: 10/991,465
International Classification: B65D 25/22 (20060101);