Trash cart

• US 7,121,564 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Original Assignee: Rehrig Pacific Company
• Inventors: Hassell, Jon P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coolman, Vaughn
• Application Number:
  US10/498,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20050029763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 280/47.26, 280/47.131, 280/47.24, 280/79.2, 220/908
• US Class Current: 280/47.26
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1615 with means for locking, fastening or permanently closing thereof

Abstract

A trash cart has a body with an upper body portion defining an opening for loading and unloading trash from the body; a lid for closing the opening of the body; and a handle member which is pivotably attached to a rear portion of the upper body portion. When the handle member is oriented in a first position it cooperates with the lid to impede movement of the lid, and when the handle member is oriented in a second position, the lid is able to freely open.

Claims

1. A trash cart comprising:

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

a lid for closing the opening of the body; and

a handle member having an elongated arm pivotably attached to a rear portion of the upper body portion, a handling portion formed at an outer end of the arm, wherein the handle member is pivotable between a first position in which the arm extends across the lid, wherein said outer end latches to the upper body portion to impede movement of the lid and a second position in which the arm of the handle member extends generally away from the body and in which the lid is able to freely open.

2. The trash cart of claim 1 wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the body along a hinge axis.

3. The trash cart of claim 2 wherein the handle member is pivotable relative to the lid and the body.

4. The trash cart of claim 1 further including a hinge member pivotably attaching the handle member and the lid to the body.

5. The trash cart of claim 1 wherein the handle member includes the first handling portion and a second handling portion.

6. The trash cart of claim 5 wherein the first handling portion is generally perpendicular to the second handling portion.

7. The trash cart of claim 6 wherein a rearward portion of the handle member is pivotably attached to the body and wherein the first handling portion extends from a forward portion of the handle member opposite the rearward portion.

8. The trash cart of claim 1 wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the body along a first hinge axis and the handle member is pivotably attached to the body along a second hinge axis, spaced from the first hinge axis.

12. The trash cart of claim 1 wherein the handle member is selectively lockable relative to the body in order to prevent rotation of the handle member.

13. The trash cart of claim 1 wherein the handle member is pivotably attached to the body at a rearward portion of the handle member and wherein the handle member is selectively latched to the body in order to prevent rotation of the handle member and the lid.

14. The trash cart of claim 13 further including at least one latch tab received by at least one opening in order to latch the handle member to the body.

16. The trash cart of claim 1 further including at least one wheel on a lower rear portion of the body.

9. A trash cart comprising:

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

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

a handle member pivotably attached to a rear portion of the upper body portion along a second hinge axis, spaced from the first hinge axis, wherein the handle member is slidably and pivotably attached to the body portion, wherein when the handle member is oriented in a first position its cooperates with the lid to impede movement of the lid, and when the handle member is oriented in a second position, the lid is able to freely open.

10. The trash cart of claim 9 wherein the handle member is rotatable to a forward position in which a portion of the handle member is received within a recess in the lid when the lid is in a closed position to prevent opening of the lid.

11. The trash cart of claim 10 wherein the handle member is slidable toward the first hinge axis of the lid to a rearward position before being rotatable to the forward position and being received in the recess.

15. The trash cart of claim 9 wherein the lid includes a recess for receiving the handle member and securing the handle member to the lid.

17. A trash cart comprising:

a hollow body having an upper portion defining an opening for loading and unloading waste therefrom;

a lid for closing said opening for loading and unloading trash from the hollow body; and

a handle member having an arm with a first end pivotably attached to the upper body portion, the handle member including a first handling portion on a second end of the arm opposite the first end, wherein when the handle member is rotated in a forward position the arm extends across the lid and the second end of the arm is latched to the body to impede movement of the lid, and when the handle member is oriented in a rearward position, the arm extends away from the body and the lid is able to be opened; and

wherein the lid is pivotably attached to the body along a hinge axis and the handle member is pivotably attached to the body along the hinge axis, the handle member being pivotable relative to the body and the lid.

18. A trash cart comprising:

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

a lid for closing the opening of the body, the lid pivotably attached to a rear portion of the upper body portion;

a handle member having an elongated arm having a rearward portion pivotably attached to the upper body portion, the handle member including a first handling portion extending from a forward portion of the arm of the handle member and a second handling portion extending generally from a middle portion of the arm the handle member, the second handling portion extending perpendicularly to the middle portion of the arm;

wherein the second handling portion projects from the middle portion of the arm in a direction generally perpendicular to the arm and not parallel to the hinge axis; and

at least one wheel rotatably mounted on a bottom of the body.

19. The trash cart of claim 18 further including a hinge member having a hinge axis, the lid and the handle member each attached to the body by the hinge member and independently rotatable about the hinge axis.

20. The trash cart of claim 19 wherein the forward portion of the handle member is selectively latchable to the body portion when the handle member is rotated to a forward position.