Dumpster with a moveable false floor and method of collecting trash using the same

• US 20080017645A1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Next Millennium Dumpsters, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tony Garagiola
• Inventors: Garagiola, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/345.4
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/12 with devices facilitating emptying
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/122 Features allowing the receptacle to be lifted and subsequently tipped by associated means on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/804 with means to lift or draw out content
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/817 Follower
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/908 Trash container
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble

Abstract

A dumpster having a moveable false floor which moves from a bottom of the dumpster toward a top opening when the dumpster is tilted to a substantially inverted orientation during collection of trash. The moveable false floor has freedom to move a predetermined length toward the top opening, where upon reaching the predetermined length a restraining means abruptly stops the floor causing the dumpster to shake dislodging adhered trash. Upon being returned to an upright orientation the moveable false floor moves back to the bottom.

Claims

1. A dumpster, said dumpster comprising:

a walled container;

a moveable false floor comprised of a planar member having a plurality of upper coupling elements on a lower side of the planar member, where said moveable false floor moves from a bottom of the dumpster towards a top opening of the dumpster when the dumpster is tilted from an upright orientation towards an inverted orientation, and upon retuning the dumpster to the upright orientation the moveable false floor moves back to the bottom;

a plurality of lower coupling elements fixedly attached to the dumpster proximate to the bottom; and

a restraining means, wherein said restraining means comprises a plurality of connecting elements, where a connecting element is attached to an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element, where said restraining means provides the moveable false floor freedom to fall a predetermined length toward the top opening pushing out trash when the dumpster is tilted toward an inverted orientation, where upon reaching the predetermined length the restraining means abruptly stops the floor causing the dumpster to shake dislodging adhered trash, and then when the dumpster is returned to an upright orientation, the floor returns to the bottom of the dumpster.

2. The dumpster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting element is comprised of a collapsible member selected from the group consisting of a chain, a telescoping rod, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a cable, a line, or a combination thereof.

3. The dumpster, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said member is a chain.

4. The dumpster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper coupling element is a bracket with an eyelet.

5. The dumpster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower coupling element is a bracket with an eyelet.

6. The dumpster according to claim 1, where the dumpster further comprises a plurality of stops that prevent the moveable false floor from hitting the plurality of lower coupling elements.

7. The dumpster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said moveable false floor starts to move towards the top when the dumpster is tilted greater than about 90 degrees.

8. The dumpster, as claimed in claim 7, wherein after the dumpster has been tilted past 90 degrees, said moveable false floor starts to move towards the bottom when the dumpster is tilted to an angle less than about 90 degrees.

9. The dumpster, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said planar member is structurally reinforced with beams.

10. The dumpster according to claim 1, wherein said dumpster further comprises a covering lid that closes over the top opening.

11. The dumpster according to claim 1, wherein said dumpster further comprises a guiding means, wherein said guiding means helps maintain the moveable false floor aligned substantially perpendicular to a sidewall of the dumpster, and delays movement by the false floor until the dumpster is approaching a fully inverted orientation.

12. The dumpster according to claim 6, wherein said stops are a dampening means that slowly stop the movement of the false floor when it returns to the bottom of the dumpster.

19. The dumpster according to claim 11, wherein said guiding means comprises a plurality of vertical longitudinal rails and intersecting slidable members.

13. A method of collecting trash from a dumpster with a top opening and a bottom, where said dumpster has a moveable false floor, said method comprising the steps of:

engaging the dumpster using a hydraulic lifting-tilting system;

raising the dumpster from its storage location to a position substantially above a collection port of a trash collection truck;

tilting the dumpster from an upright orientation towards an inverted orientation, therein causing said moveable false floor to drop a predetermined length from the bottom of the dumpster, said predetermined length being set by a restraining means, wherein said dropping false floor pushes trash out of the dumpster through the top opening, and upon reaching the predetermined length the floor is abruptly stopped causing the dumpster to shake therein dislodging adhered trash;

returning the dumpster to the upright position causing the moveable false floor to move back to the bottom;

lowering the dumpster; and

disengaging the hydraulic lifting-tilting system from the dumpster.

14. A method of converting a conventional dumpster with a fixed bottom wall and a top opening to a dumpster with a moveable false floor, said method comprising the steps of:

opening and/or removing a covering lid if the dumpster is equipped with one;

removing all or selected portions of the fixed bottom wall of the dumpster to create access from the bottom of the dumpster;

fixedly attaching a plurality of stops and a plurality of lower coupling elements to the dumpster at a point proximate to the bottom wall, where the stops are positioned to prevent the moveable false floor from hitting the lower coupling elements;

fitting the moveable false floor comprised of a planar member with a plurality of upper coupling elements on a lower side of the plate;

lowering the moveable false floor into the dumpster such that said moveable false floor rests on the stops;

repositioning the covering lid if the dumpster is equipped with one; and

attaching a restraining means, wherein said restraining means comprises a plurality of connecting elements, where a connecting element is attached to an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element, where said restraining means provides the moveable false floor freedom to move a predetermined length toward the top opening, where upon reaching the predetermined length the restraining means abruptly stops the floor causing the dumpster to shake dislodging adhered trash, and then when the dumpster is returned to an upright orientation, the floor returns to the bottom of the dumpster.

15. The method, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said connecting element is comprised of a collapsible member selected from the group consisting of a chain, a telescoping rod, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a cable, a line or a combination thereof.

16. The method, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said member is a chain.

17. The method, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said upper coupling element is a bracket with an eyelet.

18. The method, as claimed in claim 14, wherein said lower coupling element is a bracket with an eyelet.