Method and system for storing and temporarily relocating a trash container

• US 20080314263A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas W. Martin
• Original Assignee: Thomas W. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 100/102
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 9/3046 Containers with built-in compactor means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 9/00 Transferring of refuse between vehicles or containers with intermediate storage or pressing presses for baling per se B30B9/30

Abstract

A method and system for storing and temporarily relocating a trash container so as to decongest a thoroughfare.

Claims

1. A method for storing and re-locating a trash container comprising

mounting an empty trash container on an apparatus;

locating the apparatus and empty trash container in an out-of-the-way storage location;

filling the container with trash;

relocating the apparatus and filled trash container from the storage location to a location within a thoroughfare;

removing the filled container from the apparatus;

mounting an empty trash container on the apparatus; and

returning the apparatus and empty container to the out-of-the-way storage location where it may receive trash.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said trash container is a compactor and the storage location includes a source of power, including a step of periodically compacting trash within the container.

3. The method of claim 2 additionally including the step of switching the power source from compacting to powering movement of the apparatus.

4. A system for storing and temporarily relocating a trash container from a thoroughfare location to an out-of-the-way storage location on the same level as the thoroughfare so as to relieve congestion in the thoroughfare immediately adjacent the storage location, comprising:

a thoroughfare level storage location for receiving a trash container;

a movable apparatus on which the trash container may be mounted, located in the storage location; and

means for horizontally moving said apparatus to a temporary location in the thoroughfare thereby providing access for loading/unloading the container onto or from a vehicle for transportation to a refuse collection area and retracting the apparatus back to the thoroughfare level storage location.

5. The system of claim 4 additionally comprising means for horizontally movably supporting the apparatus and container.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said means for horizontally movably supporting the apparatus and container is selected from the group comprising wheels, rollers, skids, tracks and other low friction devices.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the trash container is a trash compactor.

8. The system of claim 7 additionally including a power source for said means for horizontally moving said apparatus from a storage to a thoroughfare location.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said power source is a hydraulic system.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the hydraulic system also powers the trash compactor.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein said means for horizontally moving said apparatus comprises a multi-section telescoping device attached at one end within the storage location and attached at the opposite end to the movable apparatus on which the trash container is mounted, whereby the telescopic sections may be extended and retracted so as to relocate the position of the apparatus and container.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said apparatus includes a frame having tracks for receiving and supporting the container on the apparatus.

13. A trash collection storage and loading/unloading system comprising:

a generally rectangular trash compactor comprising a body, a frame and spaced apart wheels at least on one end of said frame;

a movable apparatus on which the compactor rests;

a hydraulic power system;

telescopic means for moving said apparatus from a first storage position to a second loading/unloading position in a thoroughfare; and

a refuse collection transportation vehicle on which said compactor may be mounted for emptying at a refuse collection area..

14. A method for storing and relocating a trash container from an out-of-the-way storage location to a loading/unloading location in a thoroughfare comprising:

locating an apparatus for carrying a trash container in the out-of-the-way storage location;

filling the trash container with refuse;

moving the apparatus and filled trash container to a loading/unloading location within the thoroughfare;

loading said container onto a transport vehicle;

retracting said apparatus into the out-of-the-way storage location;

moving said container and collected trash to a refuse collection area where it is emptied;

delivering an empty trash container on a vehicle to the loading/unloading location;

moving said apparatus from the out-of-the-way storage location to an unloading location within the thoroughfare;

unloading the empty trash container from the vehicle including positioning the container onto the apparatus;

moving the apparatus and empty container from the thoroughfare to the out-of-the-way storage location;

filling the empty container with trash over a period of time; and

performing the above steps each time the container is filled with trash.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the trash container is a trash compactor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of filling the trash compactor includes periodically compacting trash within the compactor so as to reduce the volume and increase the density.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the out-of-the-way storage location is an opening or alcove within a building.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the thoroughfare is an alley adjacent the building opening.