DUMPSTER

Abstract

A dumpster includes a plurality of walls that cooperate to define a dumpster interior. A lip is formed about an upper periphery of the walls. A lid is attached to the dumpster to close access to the dumpster interior. The lid rests on the lip when in the closed position. An access feature is formed within the lip to allow access for a hand to easily raise the lid to access the dumpster interior.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/234,332, filed Aug. 17, 2009.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to large containers, in particular dumpsters that can be lifted and dumped by 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. A more recent dumpster is constructed entirely of plastic. The pockets on the side walls are integrally molded with the walls of the dumpster in a rotomolding process.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides different embodiments of plastic dumpsters with features that improve accessibility to a dumpster interior.

In one embodiment, a lip is provided around an upper edge of a periphery of the dumpster. An access feature is provided in the lip to allow access for a hand to easily raise a lid of the dumpster. One example configuration discloses an access feature formed along a front portion of the lip. Other configurations disclose access features formed in the lip at corners of the dumpster.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dumpster with lids according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dumpster of FIG. 1 without the lids.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the dumpster of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the dumpster of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the dumpster of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a front corner of the dumpster of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a section view, partially broken away, of a hand access area for the dumpster of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a front corner of an alternate embodiment of a dumpster.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the dumpster of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a front corner of an alternate embodiment of a dumpster.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the dumpster of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A dumpster 10 according to a first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-7. Referring to FIG. 1, the dumpster 10 includes a base wall 12, front wall 14, side walls 16 and rear wall 18 (FIG. 2). The front wall 14, rear wall 18, and side walls 16 extend upwardly from the base wall 12 to define a dumpster interior 24.

A hollow lip 38 extends around an upper edge of a periphery of the dumpster 10, i.e. the hollow lip 38 extends about upper edges of the front 14, rear 18, and side 16 walls. The lip 38 extends outwardly of the front 14, rear 18, and side walls 16 to form an overhang.

At least one lid 40 is hingeably mounted on the dumpster 10 and is moveable to close access to the dumpster interior 24. In one example, first 40a and second 40b lids are mounted to the dumpster 10 that are independently moveable relative to each other. The lids 40a, 40b are connected to the lip 38 at the rear wall 18 via hinge members 26 and rest on upper edges of the lip 38 along the front and side walls when in the closed position.

Pockets 20 are located at the side walls 16 of the dumpster 10. The pockets 20 are each formed by a sleeve 90 inserted (or, alternatively, insert-molded) into a front support 92 and a rear support 94 that is located at each of the side walls 16. The supports 92, 94 are reinforced by upper gussets 28, 22. The sleeves 90 could be formed of a material different from that of the rest of the dumpster 10. For example, the sleeves 90 could be metal, or the sleeves 90 could be a higher-density polymer. The sleeves 90 also could be removable, such that damaged sleeves 90 could be replaced. The sleeves 90 each include a front flange 96 that includes a large inner flange portion 98 positioned to overlap a portion of the front wall 14.

FIG. 2 shows the dumpster 10 with the lids 40a, 40b removed to show the dumpster interior 24. Stacking posts 106 are formed to extend below the supports 92, 94 and an upper edge of the lip 38 along the side walls 16 includes stacking recesses 108 aligned with the stacking posts 106. Stacking posts 106 of one dumpster 10 are received within stacking recesses 108 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 106 and recesses 108 are shown as being located along the side walls 16, it should be understood that the posts and recesses could be located at other positions in addition to, or in place of, the post and recesses as shown.

At least one access feature is formed within the lip 38 to allow access for a hand to easily raise the lid 40 to access the dumpster interior 24. The access feature can comprise a recess in the lip 38, a truncation in the lip 38, or other similar structure. Further, each lid could have a separate access feature, or a single access feature could be used for one or more lids.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1-7, the at least one access feature comprises at least one recess 42 is formed in the upper front edge of the hollow lip 38. In the example shown, at least one recess 42 is associated with each lid 40a, 40b (see FIG. 1). Optionally, a single recess could extend along at least a portion of each lid. The recesses 42 allow a user's hand to more easily get under a front edge of the lids 40a, 40b in order to lift the lids to access the interior 24 of the dumpster 10.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the dumpster 10 showing the lids 40 in a closed position the recesses 42 being generally centrally located with respect to the corresponding lid 40a, 40b. The lids 40a, 40b could also include a recessed area 36 in alignment with the recesses 42 to further facilitate hand access.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the dumpster 10 with the lids 40a, 40b in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 4, each sleeve 90 is tapered toward the rear. At least one, and optionally several, protruding retainers 104 are integrally formed in the sleeve 90. The retainers 104 are sized and positioned to snap-fit past the front supports 92 to retain the sleeves 90 in the supports 92, 94. Alternatively, recesses could be formed in the sleeves 90, with corresponding protrusions formed in the supports 92, 94. Additionally, or alternatively, fasteners (e.g. screws, rivets, etc) could also fasten the sleeves 90 to the dumpster 10.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the dumpster 10 showing the supports 92, 94 and the sleeves 90 projecting outwardly from the side walls 16 of the dumpster.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a front corner of the dumpster 10. The other front corner would be symmetric. As shown, the recess 42 is formed in an upper front edge of the hollow lip 38.

FIG. 7 shows the corner of the dumpster 10 of FIG. 6, partially broken away through the recess 42 in the hollow lip 38. The hollow lip 38 includes a bottom wall 44, front wall 46, rear wall 47 and upper wall 49 that cooperate to define a hollow interior cavity. In the recess 42, the hollow lip 38 further includes an angled wall 48 between the front wall 46 and a truncated portion of the upper wall 49, as well as a pair of side walls 43 on opposite sides of the angled wall 48 (see FIG. 6). The angled wall 48 and side walls 43 are configured to form the recesses 42 at each desired location. The recesses 42 make it easier for a user to insert their hand below the front edge of the lids 40a, 40b (FIG. 1) in order to lift one or both of the lids 40 to access the interior of the dumpster 10.

In the example shown in FIGS. 8-9, the access feature comprises at least one corner recess 50 that is formed in the upper corner edge of the hollow lip 38a at lid 40a. A similar corner recess 50 would also be associated with lid 40b. The recesses 50 allow a user's hand to more easily get under a front edge of the lids 40a, 40b in order to lift the lids to access the interior 24 of the dumpster 10.

FIGS. 8-9 show the corner recess 50 formed in the corner of the hollow lip 38a in combination with the recess 42. Alternatively, the corner recess 50 could be provided instead of the recess 42. The remainder of the dumpster 10a could be identical to that of FIGS. 1-7. The corner recess 50 provides an alternative location for the user to place their hand to lift the lids 40a, 40b. The corner recess 50 is provided by an angled upper wall portion 52 connecting the upper wall 49a of the hollow lip 38a to the front wall 46a portion of the hollow lip 38a. The angled upper wall portion 52 extends along a portion of the front wall 14 and one of the side walls 16.

In the example shown in FIGS. 10-11, the access feature comprises at least one truncation 54 that is formed in the upper corner edge of the hollow lip 38b at lid 40a. A similar truncation 54 would also be associated with lid 40b. The truncation 54 allow a user's hand to more easily get under a front edge of the lids 40a, 40b in order to lift the lids to access the interior 24 of a dumpster 10b.

FIGS. 10-11 show the front corner of the alternate dumpster 10b with the truncation 54 formed in the corner of the hollow lip 38b in addition to the recess 42. Alternatively, the truncation 54 could be provided instead of the recess 42. The remainder of the dumpster 10b could be identical to that of FIGS. 1-7.

The truncation 54 comprises an angled forward wall portion 46b of the forward wall of the lip 38b. The angled forward wall portion 46b extends obliquely relative to the front wall 14 and the associated side wall 16. The truncation 54 is located such that a portion 60 of the lid 40a projects outwardly of the hollow lip 38b, as more clearly shown in FIG. 11, such that a bottom surface 62 of the corner comprises a hand grip surface. The truncation 54 provides an alternative location for the user to place their hand to lift the lids 40a, 40b.

In the illustrated embodiments, the dumpster 10, 10a, 10b apart from the lids 40a, 40b and sleeves 90 is rotomolded as a single piece. The lids 40a, 40b and sleeves 90 are subsequently attached. The dumpsters 10, 10a, 10b, disclosed herein can be rotomolded plastic dumpsters; however, other manufacturing techniques could conceivably be used instead or in addition to rotomolding.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. Alphanumeric identifiers on method steps are for convenient reference in dependent claims and do not signify a required sequence of performance unless otherwise indicated in the claims.

Claims

1. A dumpster comprising:

a base wall;

a plurality of walls extending upwardly from a periphery of the base wall to define a dumpster interior;

at least one lid movable to close access to the dumpster interior;

a lip formed about an upper periphery of the plurality of walls; and

at least one access feature formed in the lip and adapted to allow access for a hand to easily raise the lid to access the dumpster interior.

2. The dumpster of claim 1 wherein the plurality of walls includes a front wall, side walls and rear wall, and wherein the at least one lid is hingeably mounted to the lip along an upper edge of the rear wall.

3. The dumpster of claim 2 wherein the at least one lid comprises a plurality of lids that are moveable between open and closed positions independently of each other and wherein the at least one access feature is associated with one or more of the lids.

4. The dumpster of claim 1 wherein the lip comprises a hollow structure including a bottom wall, a forward wall, a rearward wall, and an upper wall.

5. The dumpster of claim 4 wherein the plurality of walls includes at least a front wall and a rear wall with the lid being pivotally connected to the rear wall, and wherein the at least one access feature is formed within the lip along an upper edge of the front wall.

6. The dumpster of claim 5 wherein the at least one access feature comprises at least one recess formed within an outer surface of the lip.

7. The dumpster of claim 6 wherein the lip includes an angled wall extending upwardly from the forward wall of the lip to a truncated portion of the upper wall and a pair of side walls on opposing sides of the angled wall that cooperate to form the recess.

8. The dumpster of claim 6 wherein the at least one lid comprises a plurality of lids and including at least one recess formed in the lip for each lid.

9. The dumpster of claim 4 wherein the plurality of walls includes at least a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls with the lid being pivotally connected at the rear wall, and wherein the at least one access feature is formed within the lip at a location between an intersection of an upper edge of the front wall and an upper edge of one of the pair of side walls.

10. The dumpster of claim 9 wherein the at least one access feature comprises at least one recess formed within an outer surface of the lip.

11. The dumpster of claim 10 wherein the lip includes an angled wall connecting the front wall of the lip to the upper wall of the lip to form the recess, and wherein the angled wall extends along a portion of the front wall and the one of the pair of side walls.

12. The dumpster of claim 9 wherein the at least one access feature comprises a truncation formed at least at one corner of the dumpster.

13. The dumpster of claim 12 wherein the truncation comprises an angled forward wall portion of the forward wall of the lip, the angled forward wall portion extending obliquely relative to the front wall of the dumpster and the one of the pair of side walls.

14. The dumpster of claim 13 wherein a corner of the lid projects outwardly of the lip such that a bottom surface of the corner comprises a hand grip surface.

15. The dumpster of claim 1 wherein the at least one lid comprises first and second lids that are moveable between open and closed positions independently of each other, and wherein the at least one access feature comprises at least one first access feature associated with the first lid and at least one second access feature associated with the second lid.

16. The dumpster of claim 1 wherein the at least one access feature comprises a recess formed in the lip.

17. The dumpster of claim 16 wherein the recess is formed at least at one of an upper front wall edge of the dumpster and a corner of the dumpster.

18. The dumpster of claim 1 wherein the at least one access feature comprises a truncation formed at least at one corner of the dumpster.

19. The dumpster of claim 1 including pockets associated with two opposite walls of the plurality of walls, the pockets adapted to receive fork arms of a refuse vehicle.

20. The dumpster of claim 19 wherein the pockets comprise sleeves that are supported from front and rear support members on each of the two opposite side walls.

21. The dumpster of claim 20 wherein the sleeves are removable from the front and rear support members.

22. The dumpster of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the lip includes at least one stacking recess to receive a corresponding stacking post of another dumpster.

23. A dumpster comprising:

a base wall;

a front wall extending upwardly from the base wall;

a rear wall extending upwardly from the base wall;

at least first and second side walls extending upwardly from the base wall, wherein the base wall, front wall, rear wall, and first and second side walls cooperate to define a dumpster interior;

a lip formed about an upper edge of the front wall, rear wall, and first and second side walls; and

at least one lid hingeably connected to the lip at the rear wall to close access to the dumpster interior; and

at least one access feature formed in the lip and adapted to allow access for a hand to easily raise the lid to access the dumpster interior.

24. The dumpster of claim 23 wherein the at least one lid comprises a plurality of lids that are moveable between open and closed positions independently of each other, and wherein the at least one access feature comprises at least one access feature associated with each lid of the plurality of lids.

25. The dumpster of claim 23 wherein the lip comprises a hollow structure including a bottom wall, a forward wall, a rearward wall, and an upper wall.

26. The dumpster of claim 25 wherein the at least one access feature comprises at least one recess formed in the lip.

27. The dumpster of claim 26 wherein the at least one recess is formed in the lip at least at one of an upper front wall edge of the dumpster and a corner of the dumpster.

28. The dumpster of claim 27 wherein the at least one recess comprises a plurality of recesses with at least one recess being formed at the upper front wall edge and at least one recess being formed at the corner.

29. The dumpster of claim 27 wherein the at least one recess is formed at the upper front wall edge of the dumpster and wherein the lip includes an angled wall extending upwardly from the forward wall of the lip to a truncated portion of the upper wall and a pair of side walls on opposing sides of the angled wall that cooperate to form the recess.

30. The dumpster of claim 27 wherein the at least one recess is formed at the corner of the dumpster, and wherein the lip includes an angled wall connecting the forward wall of the lip to the upper wall of the lip to form the recess, and wherein the angled wall extends along a portion of the front wall of the dumpster and the one of the first and second side walls.

31. The dumpster of claim 25 wherein the at least one access feature comprises a truncation formed at least at one corner of the dumpster.

32. The dumpster of claim 31 wherein the truncation comprises an angled forward wall portion of the forward wall of the lip, the angled forward wall portion extending obliquely relative to the front wall of the dumpster and the one of the first and second side walls.

33. The dumpster of claim 32 wherein a corner of the lid projects outwardly of the lip such that a bottom surface of the corner comprises a hand grip surface.

34. The dumpster of claim 23 wherein the base wall, front wall, rear wall, first and second side walls, and the lip are all integrally rotomolded to form one-piece plastic structure.