Container driver

• US 20070172341A1
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Gregory
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Gregory
• Inventors: Gregory, Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US11/713,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20070172341A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/495
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/90 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/005 Detachably mounted motor units
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0079 Towing by connecting to another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1468 Means for facilitating the transport of the receptacle, e.g. wheels, rolls hand-operated refuse vehicles B65F3/005

Abstract

A container transportation assist vehicle (CTAV) according to the present invention may include an assist vehicle having an electric control to enable a user to engage the pilot vehicle to a refuse bin or other suitable container and use the motor or motors of the pilot vehicle to propel and steer the refuse bin or other container to a selected area. Alternatively, the CTAV may be steered manually, or using a handle, or using a handle coupled with a pivotable wheel. The CTAV further comprises a lifting platform to transfer refuse bin weight to the CTAV for traction, and an attachment means to fixedly engage the refuse bin.

Claims

1. A container driver comprising:

a generally planar chassis having a front side and a back side, and a top edge, a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge;

hook means slidably extending from the top edge of the chassis for engaging the rim of a container to be moved;

two drive wheels rotatably secured along the bottom edge of the chassis;

two drive motors secured to the chassis, each drive motor providing motive energy a drive wheel;

one or more operator controls transforming operator input into speed and direction signals;

a control assembly receiving the speed and direction signals and providing motor control signals to the two drive motors according to the speed and direction signals;

weight transfer means secured to the chassis for transferring weight from a container to be moved to the two drive wheels through the chassis.

2. The container driver of claim 1 further comprising:

extension means for powered extension and retraction the hook means under operator control;

3. A method for moving a four wheeled refuse container comprising the steps:

orienting a container driver having two drive wheels adjacent to the approximate center of a side of a four wheeled refuse container;

extending a hook means from the top of the container driver to engage a rim of the refuse container;

engaging the rim of the refuse container with the hook means;

manipulating operator controls to drive a weight transfer paddle from a bottom edge of the container driver up under a bottom edge of the refuse container to transfer a portion of the weight of the refuse container to the container driver;

manipulating operator controls to supply motive energy to drive wheels of the container driver to move the container driver and the engaged refuse container.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of manipulating operator controls to supply motive energy further comprises:

manipulating operator controls to independently supply motive energy to each of the two drive wheels of the container driver to move the container driver and the engaged refuse container.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of extending a hook means further comprises:

manipulating operator controls to apply power to extend a hook means upwardly from the top of the container driver past a rim of the refuse container;

manipulating operator controls to apply power to retract the hook means to engage the rim of the refuse container.