TRACKABLE CART

• US 20090078702A1
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Original Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Inventors: Hector, Jeremy, Martin, Robert Lee JR., Martin, Zachary Thomas, Dannenfeldt, Matthew Lester
• Application Number:
  US12/236,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20090078702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/200
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1468 Means for facilitating the transport of the receptacle, e.g. wheels, rolls hand-operated refuse vehicles B65F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2250/1143 Polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An example trackable cart includes a body having an upper body portion defining an opening for loading and unloading items from the body and a lid for closing the opening of the body. The lid pivotably attaches to the body along a hinge axis. The trackable cart includes an identifier contained adjacent the hinge axis.

Claims

1. A trackable cart comprising:

a body having an upper body portion defining an opening for loading and unloading items from the body;

a lid for closing the opening of the body, the lid pivotably attached to the body along a hinge axis; and

a identifier contained adjacent the hinge axis.

2. The trackable cart of claim 1 including a hinge member pivotably attaching the lid to body, the hinge member containing the identifier.

3. The trackable cart of claim 1 including a hinge member having portions defining a cylindrical chamber that receives at least one pin, the pin pivotably attaching the lid to the body.

4. The trackable cart of claim 3 wherein the cylindrical chamber contains the identifier.

5. The trackable cart of claim 3 wherein the cylindrical chamber has an elliptical cross-section.

6. The trackable cart of claim 3 wherein at least one of the body and the lid defines the cylindrical chamber.

7. The trackable cart of claim 4 wherein the pin limits movement of the identifier.

8. The trackable cart of claim 1 including at least one wheel on a lower rear portion of the body.

9. The trackable cart of claim 1 wherein the identifier is a radio frequency identification tag.

10. A trackable cart comprising:

a body having an upper body portion defining an opening for loading and unloading items from the body;

a lid for closing the opening of the body;

a hinge member pivotally connecting the body to the lid;

a handle; and

a identifier, wherein at least one of the hinge member and the handle contains the identifier.

11. The trackable cart of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the hinge member or the handle is molded with the body or the lid.

12. The trackable cart of claim 10 wherein the items include recyclables, trash, or both.

13. A method of assembling a trackable cart comprising:

(a) securing a non-optical identifier relative a cart, the cart having an associated optical identifier;

(b) reading the non-optical identifier; and

(c) associating the non-optical identifier with the optical identifier.

14. The method of claim 13 including scanning the optical identifier.

15. The method of claim 14 including scanning using a handheld scanner.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the non-optical identifier includes a serial number or a bar code.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the non-optical identifier includes a radio frequency identification tag.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the securing step includes positioning the non-optical identifier within a hinge of the cart.

19. The method of claim 13 including associating an location with the non-optical identifier.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the address includes a mailing address or a street address.