Stackable refuse cart

• US 7,290,775 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cascade Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cascade Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Parker, Brian G., Kilduff, James R., Bollo, Joseph A. Jr., Acosta, Mariano D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSZEWSKI, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/105,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20060232029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 280/47.26, 280/33.998, 280/47.24, 206515-520
• 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: B65F 1/1473 Receptacles having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2220/12 nestable

Abstract

A stackable refuse cart includes a container, an axle, a set of wheels. The container includes first and second axle supports. The first axle support supports the axle in an operative position to rotatably support the container. The second axle support supports the axle in a stowage position enabling the container to be stacked with other containers without interference from the axles. In one embodiment, the second axle support includes a recess defined in the floor of the container. In another embodiment, the second axle support includes a pair of supports that hold the axle against a sidewall within the container. In yet another embodiment, the second axle support is a cradle integral with the container handle.

Claims

1. A stackable refuse cart kit comprising:

a single axle;

a pair of wheels, each of said wheels adapted to be attached to said axle; and

a container including a first axle support and a second axle support separate from said first axle support, said container defining a refuse containing space, said first axle support adapted to support said axle in an operative position wherein said wheels can be attached to said axle for rolling the cart on said wheels, said second axle support adapted to support said axle in a stowage position, wherein said wheels are unattached from said axle in said stowage position, separate from said operative position, said axle and wheels not interfering with an adjacent container in a stack of the containers when said axle is in said stowage position.

2. The refuse cart of claim 1 wherein said container includes a sidewall and a floor, and said second axle support is a recess in said floor within said refuse containing space, said recess retaining said axle by surrounding a portion of said axle.

3. The refuse cart of claim 2 wherein said axle includes a first end and a second end and said second axle support further includes a pair of ribs extending from said floor, said recess retaining said first end of said axle, said ribs extending on opposite sides of said support to retain said second end of said axle.

4. The refuse cart of claim 2 wherein said floor slopes downwardly towards said recess to funnel said axle into said recess.

5. The refuse cart of claim 2 wherein said axle includes a diameter and said recess includes a depth, said recess depth being approximately the same as said axle diameter.

6. The refuse cart of claim 2 wherein said axle includes a diameter and said recess includes a depth substantially less than said diameter, said floor including an exterior surface defining a recess opposite said recess within said refuse containing space, such that when a plurality of containers are stacked together said axle diameter fits between said recess within said refuse.

7. The refuse cart of claim 1 wherein said container includes a sidewall and a floor, said second axle support including at least one rib extending from an interior surface of said sidewall into said refuse containing space, said rib capable of holding said axle against said sidewall.

11. The refuse cart of claim 1 wherein said container includes a sidewall and a floor, said sidewall including an exterior surface outside said refuse containing space, second axle support including an axle holder extending from said exterior surface of said sidewall said axle holder defining a space shaped to retain said axle.

12. The refuse cart of claim 11 wherein said container includes a handle extending from said exterior surface of said sidewall, said axle holder including a cradle integrally formed in said handle.

13. The refuse cart of claim 12 wherein said sidewall includes an upper edge and a rim extending around said upper edge, said handle extending from said rim, said handle shaped to hold said axle against said rim.

14. The refuse cart of claim 11 wherein said axle includes a circumference and defines a notch extending around at least a portion of said circumference, a portion of said cradle shaped to extend into said notch when said axle is held in said cradle.

15. The refuse cart of claim 11 wherein said container includes a rib extending from said exterior surface, said rib including a lower edge shaped to correspond to the outer surface of said axle, said lower edge contacting an axle held in the cradle of another container when said container is stacked inside said other container.

8. A stackable refuse cart kit comprising:

an axle;

at least one wheel adapted to be attached to said axle; and

a container including a first axle support and a second axle support, said container defining a refuse containing space, said first axle support adapted to support said axle in an operative position wherein said wheel can be attached to said axle for rolling the cart on said wheel, said second axle support adapted to support said axle in a stowage position separate from said operative position, said axle when in the stowage position not interfering with an adjacent container in a stack of the containers, wherein said container includes a sidewall and a floor, wherein said second axle support includes two ribs extending from an interior surface of said sidewall, said axle including first and second ends, wherein each of said ribs is capable of holding one of said axle ends between said rib and said sidewall.

9. The refuse cart of claim 8 wherein said sidewall includes a front sidewall and a rear sidewall, each including an interior and an exterior surface, said first axle support disposed on said exterior surface of said rear sidewall, said ribs disposed on said interior surface of said front sidewall.

10. The refuse cart of claim 9 wherein said front sidewall includes a lower portion, an upper portion, and a joining portion, said lower portion extending upwardly from said floor, said joining portion extending outwardly from said lower portion, said upper portion extending upwardly from said joining portion, said ribs extending from said upper portion proximate said joining portion.

16. A stack of unassembled refuse carts comprising:

a single axle having a first end and a second end;

a pair of wheels, each of said wheels adapted to be attached to one of said first and second ends of said axle; and

a container defining a space for containing refuse, said container including an axle mount and an axle stowage support separate from said axle mount, said axle mount adapted to receive said axle in a rolling position such that said wheels can be attached to said axle and said container can be rolled on said wheels, said axle stowage support adapted to support said axle in a stowage position unattached from said wheels, said axle and said wheels not interfering with an adjacent container in the stack of carts when said axle is in said stowage position.

17. The stack of unassembled carts of claim 16 wherein said axle stowage support is a cradle that is shaped to correspond to the outer surface of said axle, said cradle retaining said axle by surrounding at least a portion of said axle.

18. The stack of unassembled carts of claim 17 wherein said axle includes a circumference and defines a notch cut into said circumference, a portion of said cradle extending into said notch.

19. The stack of unassembled carts of claim 16 wherein said container includes an interior surface and an exterior surface and a handle on said exterior surface, said axle stowage support being a cradle defined in said handle to hold said axle between said handle and said exterior surface.

20. The stack of unassembled carts of claim 16 wherein said axle stowage support is a cradle that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, said exterior surface including a rib having a lower surface, said lower surface shaped to correspond to the outer surface of said axle, said lower surface contacting the surface of an axle that is held in the cradle of another container when said container is stacked inside said other container.

21. A stackable refuse cart comprising:

an axle;

a wheel adapted to be attached to said axle; and

a container including a plurality of sidewalls and a floor, said sidewalls and said floor defining a space for containing refuse, at least one of said sidewalls including a rib extending therefrom within said space for containing refuse, said rib capable of supporting said axle against said at least one of said sidewalls within said space.