Waste container and axle assembly therefor

• US 6,328,320 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cascade Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cascade Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Moore, Sally L., Walski, Robert A., Kaminski, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/552,303
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 301/124.1, 301/111, 301/126, 301/131, 280/47.26, 280/47.27, 280/47.33, 280/47.34, 280/79.11, 280/79.2, 280/79.4, 280/79.5, 220/908
• US Class Current: 280/47.26
• 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: Y10S 220/908 Trash container

Abstract

A waste container has an axle assembly comprising an axle with opposing axle end caps adapted to mount the wheels of the waste container. The axle comprises a metal rod encapsulated in plastic. An annular axle groove is formed near the ends of the axle in the encapsulating plastic. The metal rod provides the necessary strength for the axle and the encapsulating plastic protects the rod from corrosion while permitting the formation of the annular axle grooves used for mounting the axle to the wheel. The axle can easily be injection molded, reducing the cost and manufacturing time of prior axles while still providing corrosion protection.

Claims

1. In a waste container for the storage and collection of residential or commercial waste, the waste container comprising:

a receptacle having a bottom wall and a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating in an upper edge to define a waste compartment with an open top;

at least one cover pivotally mounted to an upper portion of the receptacle and moveable between an open position, in which the cover is remote of the open top to permit access to the waste receptacle, and a closed position, in which the cover at least partially overlies the open top;

a handle extending from the upper portion of the receptacle;

a wheel assembly mounted to a lower portion of the receptacle and including an elongated axle, wheels rotatably mounted on the axle, and wheel retainers mounted to end portions of the elongated axle outwardly of the wheels to retain the wheels on the axle;

the improvement which comprises;

the axle comprises an elongated body formed of a molded synthetic resin; and

a reinforcing rod encapsulated within the elongated body to form an internal support therefor and strengthen the elongated body sufficiently to avoid undesirable deformation or failure of the axle under expected loads in the receptacle.

2. The waste container according to claim 1 wherein the elongated body has a groove integrally formed at end portions thereof;

and

the wheel retainers have a lug extending radially inwardly into the groove in the axle to retain the wheel on the axle.

3. The waste container according to claim 2 wherein the grooves extend circumferentially around the end portions of the elongated body.

4. The waste container according to claim 1 wherein the elongated body is cylindrical in shape.

5. The waste container according to claims 1 wherein the reinforcing rod extends substantially along the length of the elongated body.

6. The waste container according to claim 5 wherein the reinforcing rod is made of metal.

7. The waste container according to claim 6 wherein the synthetic resin is a filled or unfilled moldable thermoplastic polymer.

8. The waste container according to claims 7 wherein the synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, Nylon, polyester, acrylonitrile polymers, copolymer and homopolymers and blends thereof.

9. The waste container according to claim 1 wherein the synthetic resin is corrosion resistant.

10. The waste container according to claim 1 wherein the end portions of the elongated body include a tapered end.

11. The waste container according to claim 1 wherein the wheel retainer comprises a generally circular spring having a first end attached to the lug to bias the lug into the axle groove.

12. The waste container according to claim 11 wherein the lug includes a keeper extending radially inwardly toward the axle, and the generally circular spring biases the keeper into the axle groove.

13. The waste container according to claim 12 and further comprising a cover mounted to the wheel in overlying relationship with the hub opening to cover the wheel retainer.

14. The waste container according to claim 1 wherein the synthetic resin is a filled or unfilled moldable thermoplastic polymer.

15. The waste container according to claim 1 wherein the synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, Nylon, polyester, acrylonitrile polymers, copolymers, homopolymers and blends thereof.

16. In a wheel assembly comprising an axle with a groove at an end portion thereof, a wheel with a central hub having an opening passing therethrough for receiving the axle, a wheel retainer to retain the wheel on the axle and having a lug extending radially inwardly into the groove in the axle to secure the retainer to the axle, the improvement comprising:

the axle comprises an elongated body formed of a molded synthetic resin and with the groove integrally formed in the elongated body at an end portion thereof; and

a reinforcing rod encapsulated within the elongated body to form an internal support therefor and to strengthen the elongated body sufficiently to avoid undesirable deformation or failure of the axle during loading of the axle.

17. The wheel assembly according to claim 16 wherein the elongated body is cylindrical in shape.

18. The wheel assembly according to claim 16 wherein the groove extends circumferentially around the end portions of the elongated body.

19. The wheel assembly according to claim 16 wherein the reinforcing rod extends substantially along the length of the elongated body.

20. The wheel assembly according to claim 16 wherein the wheel retainer comprises a generally circular spring having a first end attached to the lug to bias the lug into the groove.

21. The wheel assembly according to claim 20 wherein the lug includes a keeper extending radially inwardly toward the axle, and the generally circular spring biases the keeper into the groove.

22. The wheel assembly according to claim 21 and further comprising a cover mounted to the wheel in overlying relationship with the hub opening to cover the wheel retainer.

23. The wheel assembly according to claim 16 wherein the synthetic resin is corrosion resistant.

24. The wheel assembly according to claim 16 wherein the synthetic resin is a filled or unfilled moldable thermoplastic polymer.

25. The wheel assembly according to claim 16 wherein the synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, Nylon, acrylonitrile polymers, copolymers, homopolymers and blends thereof.

26. A wheel assembly comprising:

an axle molded of a synthetic resin into an elongated shape with integrally formed wheel retaining indentations at end portions thereof and a reinforcing rod encapsulated within the elongated shape and extending at least along a portion of the elongated shape between the indentations;

a wheel with a central hub having an opening passing therethrough for receiving the axle;

a wheel retainer to retain the wheel on the axle, the wheel retainer comprising a spring and having at least one lug, the at least one lug having a first end attached to the spring and a free end extending radially from the first end, the at least one lug extending radially inwardly toward the axis of the axle into the axle indentation, and the spring biases the lug into the axle indentation.

27. The wheel assembly according to claim 26 wherein the indentation extends circumferentially around the end portions of the elongated body.

28. The wheel assembly according to claim 27 wherein the wheel retainer comprises a generally circular spring having a first end attached to the lug to bias the lug into the axle groove.

29. The wheel assembly according to claim 28 wherein the lug includes a keeper extending radially inwardly toward the axle, and the generally circular spring biases the lug or keeper into the axle groove.

30. The wheel assembly according to claim 29 and further comprising a cover mounted to the wheel in overlying relationship with the hub opening to cover the wheel retainer.

31. The wheel assembly according to claim 26 wherein the synthetic resin is corrosion resistant.

32. The wheel assembly according to claim 26 wherein the synthetic resin is a filled or unfilled moldable thermoplastic polymer.

33. The wheel assembly according to claim 26 wherein the synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, Nylon, acrylonitrile polymers, copolymers, homopolymers and blends thereof.