WHEELED CONTAINER PLATFORM FOR A SINGLE BUCKET

• US 20100230920A1
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard R. Thibault
• Original Assignee: Richard R. Thibault
• Inventors: Thibault, Richard R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/79.110
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/58 Wringers for scouring pads, mops, or the like, combined with buckets
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/165 Scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/50 involving cleaning of the cleaning members
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/52 using fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/54 using mechanical tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 15/09 Dust mop cleaners

Abstract

The invention is a wheeled platform adapted to accommodate at least one five gallon bucket surrounded by a plurality of storage compartments for use by a tradesman such as a drywall installer, tile installer, auto detailer, and the like. The wheeled platform includes a rigid base, having a lower and an upper surface structurally interconnected by a plurality of structural ribs and flanges. The flanges extend upward from the upper surface of the base to define a plurality of compartments which are intended to be used to store materials and tools used by the tradesman in the performance of their work. The platform base and flange arrangement define at least one cylindrical compartment for receiving a five gallon bucket. Four caster wheels are appropriately attached to the lower surface of the base so that the platform can be wheeled from a service vehicle to a specific job site having stored therein, the tradesman'"'"'s tools, as well as necessary material supplies to perform daily job functions. A retainer arrangement is provided on either side of the bucket to create a biasing force to secure the bucket within the compartment of the wheeled platform. The retainer arrangement permits the bucket to be lifted by its handle so that the bucket and platform base secured thereto can be conveniently lifted over uneven terrain or up and down steps.

Claims

1. A mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container, said mobile platform comprising:

a base member having an upper surface;

an oppositely disposed lower surface; and

a plurality of compartments integrally formed in said base member, one of said plurality of compartments being proximately centrally disposed on said base member for receiving said container, the remainder of said plurality of compartments partially surrounding said one of said plurality of compartments;

resilient means for removably coupling said container to said base member, said removable coupling means having one end mounted to said upper surface and an opposite end mounted to said container; and

means for conveying said mobile platform over a horizontal surface.

2. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 1 wherein each compartment of said plurality of compartments further comprises a peripheral outer flange extending above said upper surface of said base member.

3. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for conveying said mobile platform further comprises a plurality of wheels disposed underneath said lower surface of said base member for conveying said base member along a ground surface;

and

means for attaching said plurality of wheels to said base member.

4. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient means for removably coupling said container to said base member further comprises:

at least one upright housing frame member attached to said upper surface of said base member, said at least one upright housing frame member further being mounted alongside said one of said plurality of compartments being proximately centrally disposed on said base member;

said at least one upright housing frame member having an aperture therein; and

wherein said container further comprises a radially extending downwardly projecting skirt having an aperture therein near the open end of said container;

said resilient means further comprising a biasing member having one end attached to said aperture in said at least one upright housing frame and an opposite end attached to said aperture in said skirt along said outer wall of said container such that said biasing member when attached to said aperture in said upright frame member at one end and to said aperture in said skirt along said container wall near said open end at said opposite end generates a biasing force on said container to maintain said container securely mounted in said one of said plurality of compartments proximately centrally disposed on said base member.

5. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of compartments has a bottom surface integrally molded with said base member.

6. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 5 wherein said bottom surface has at least one opening therein such that a liquid can drain from each of said plurality of compartments.

7. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient means further comprises a bungee cord and means for mounting said bungee cord to said base member and said container.

9. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 7 wherein each compartment of said plurality of compartments further comprises a peripheral outer flange integrally molded with said base member and extending above said upper surface of said base member.

10. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for conveying said mobile platform further comprises a plurality of wheels disposed underneath said lower surface of said base member for conveying said base member along a ground surface;

and

means for attaching said plurality of wheels to said base member.

11. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 7 wherein said resilient coupling member is a bungee cord;

and means for mounting said bungee cord to said base member and said container.

12. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of compartments has a bottom surface integrally molded with said base member.

13. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 12 wherein said bottom surface has at least one opening therein such that a liquid can drain from each of said plurality of compartments.

8. A mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container, said mobile platform comprising:

a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a plurality of compartments integrally formed in said upper surface of said base member, one of said plurality of compartments being proximately centrally disposed on said base member for receiving said container, the remainder of said plurality of compartments partially surrounding said one of said plurality of compartments;

a resilient coupling member having one end and an opposite end;

means for removably attaching said one end of said resilient coupling member to said container;

means for removably attaching said opposite end of said resilient coupling member to said base member, whereby said resilient coupling member biases said container in a downward direction to retain said container in said one of said plurality of compartments of said base member; and

means for conveying said mobile platform over a ground surface.

14. A mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container, said mobile platform comprising:

a base member having an upper surface, an oppositely disposed lower surface, and a plurality of compartments integrally formed in said base member, two of said plurality of compartments being proximately centrally disposed on said base member for receiving a container in each of said two compartments of said plurality of compartments, the remainder of said plurality of compartments partially surrounding said two of said plurality of compartments;

resilient means for removably coupling each of said containers to said base member, said resilient means having one end mounted to said upper surface of said base member and an opposite end mounted to each of said containers mounted in said two of said plurality of compartments; and

means for conveying said mobile platform over a horizontal surface.

15. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 14 wherein each compartment of said plurality of compartments further comprises a peripheral outer flange extending above said upper surface of said base member.

16. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 14 wherein said means for conveying said mobile platform further comprises a plurality of wheels disposed underneath said lower surface of said base member for conveying said base member along a ground surface;

and

means for attaching said plurality of wheels to said base member.

17. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 14 wherein said resilient means for removably coupling each of said containers to said base further comprises:

at least one upright housing frame member attached to said upper surface of said base member, one of each of said at least one upright housing member further being mounted alongside a respective one of said two of said plurality of compartments being proximately centrally disposed on said base member;

each of said at least one upright housing frame members having an aperture therein; and

wherein each of said containers further comprises;

a radially extending downwardly projecting skirt having an aperture therein near the open end of said container; and

said resilient means further comprising;

a biasing member having one end attached to said aperture in said at least one upright housing frame member; and

an opposite end attached to said aperture, downwardly projecting skirt along said outer wall of said container such that said resilient means when attached to each of said aperture in said upright frame member at one end and to each said aperture in said skirt along said wall, near said open end at said opposite end, generates a biasing force on each of said containers to maintain each of said containers securely mounted in a respective one of said two of said plurality of compartments proximately centrally disposed on said base member.

18. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said plurality of compartments has a bottom surface integrally molded with said base member.

19. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 18 wherein said bottom surface has at least one opening therein such that a liquid can drain from each of said plurality of compartments.

20. The mobile platform for supporting and transporting a container as claimed in claim 14 wherein said resilient means further comprises a bungee cord;

and means for mounting said bungee cord to said base member and said container.