Semi-autonomous tug apparatus
First Claim
1. A semi-autonomous tug apparatus for latching to a handle on a front side of a bin supported on the opposite back side by support wheels and comprising:
- a housing having front and back sides and a foot projecting rearwardly from the back side to form a toe;
a pair of drive wheels supporting the housing;
a castor wheel mounted on the toe;
reversible drive motors coupled to the respective drive wheels for driving the wheels independent of one another;
a control device for controlling the motors an including a controller;
an elongated lifting arm having first and second ends;
a swivel mounting the first end of the lifting arm from the housing to project the arm upwardly and laterally to the height of the handle;
a latch device on the second end for latching to the handle; and
the housing, arm and latch device being so configured and constructed to, when the latch device is latched to the handle, hold the castor wheel elevated from the support surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A trash bin tug carried on a pair of drive wheels driven by reversible motors and carrying a swivel support arm projecting upwardly and rearwardly towards a bin. The support arm carries a latch which cooperates with the support arm and tug to, upon being latched, support the front of the bin elevated from the support surface. The steps of selecting a tug with a support arm and carried on reversible drive wheels to be maneuvered from a remote control into position to engage a handle on a trash bin and latch onto the handle to elevate the front of the trash bin from the support surface.
41 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A semi-autonomous tug apparatus for latching to a handle on a front side of a bin supported on the opposite back side by support wheels and comprising:
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a housing having front and back sides and a foot projecting rearwardly from the back side to form a toe; a pair of drive wheels supporting the housing; a castor wheel mounted on the toe; reversible drive motors coupled to the respective drive wheels for driving the wheels independent of one another; a control device for controlling the motors an including a controller; an elongated lifting arm having first and second ends; a swivel mounting the first end of the lifting arm from the housing to project the arm upwardly and laterally to the height of the handle; a latch device on the second end for latching to the handle; and the housing, arm and latch device being so configured and constructed to, when the latch device is latched to the handle, hold the castor wheel elevated from the support surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A semiautonomous trash bin tug for maneuvering a trash bin of the type including a pair of rearwardly disposed support wheels supported on a support surface and a front wall including a horizontal handle and comprising:
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a housing supported on a pair of drive wheels and including a rearwardly projecting foot riding on a castor wheel; a pair of motors coupled to the respective drive wheels; a support arm pivotally carried from the housing and angling upwardly and laterally to form a free end; a latch device mounted on the free end and including a vertically disposed front plate formed with a window and configured at its upper extremity with a rearwardly turned, downwardly angled pressure plate for engaging the front wall and further configured at its bottom extremity with a rearwardly and upwardly sloped catch plate cooperating with the front plate to form a nest; a latch element pivotally mounted from the front plate for rotation in one direction to a release position projecting at least partially through the window and in the opposite direction to a latch position to capture the handle in the nest and block egress therefrom; an actuator coupled with the latch element to, upon the latch device moving rearwardly to approach the handle, engage such handle and on continuing rearward travel of the latch device, to rotate the latch element in the one direction to the latch position; and a keeper plate on the front side of the front wall carried slidably therefrom to slide from a retracted position elevated above the window to a keeper position projecting downwardly in confronting relationship with the window to block travel in the one direction of the latch element. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification