AU2006100625B4 - Portable bin - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT \o \o Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: Trailer Trash Pty Ltd, A.C.N. 115 501 383, 427 Smith Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3141 Australia Glen Tremlett Crawford Thomas Alexander Garfield Jamieson Cameron Morrell Griffiths DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, of 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia 'Portable bin' The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Q \OPER\RJC 2006\JULY\2O7-1281527O INNOVATIONDOC. 27/7/06 P \OPER\RJC\UL05\ plembn\I 2115270 Traila TrM innovwo. dc27tf7A)6 -1- PORTABLE BIN Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable bin Background of the Invention Construction workers, for example, have previously used industrial sized dumpster type rubbish bins to store and remove rubbish from construction sites. These bins are typically large open receptacles that are dropped off and collected by specially modified trucks.

Trucks and bins of this kind have previously been developed in many different shapes and sizes. The size of the bin is typically selected to suit the particular needs of a construction site.

The industrial sized rubbish bins may provide a useful means of collecting and removing rubbish from a construction site. However, because they can typically only be moved by specially adapted trucks, they may not be easily moved around a construction site to locations where they are needed the most. Furthermore, each time the bin is full, the construction worker needs to call for the specially modified truck to come and take it away from the site to be emptied. It may not always be convenient to wait for and to pay for the specially adapted truck to remove and/or replace the bin.

Builders may work on a number of different construction sites during the course of a day, or a week, for example. Each construction site may need a bin to assist in removing unwanted materials. It may not be convenient and cost effective for a builder to have an industrial sized rubbish bin delivered by specially adapted truck to each work site that he or she is likely to work on. Furthermore, the bins may not be filled after work has been completed at each site. In this situation, the builder may not necessarily be getting value for the hire cost of the bin.

16-04-' 07 15:17 FROM-Davies Collison Cave +613925427707-1P30/9F-2 T-531 P004/009 F-523 Portable dumpster-type bins have previously been used to overcome one or more of the IND above-described difficulties. For example, dumpster-type bins have previously been coupled to trailers and towed behind vehicles to construction sites. However, known portable bins may not be able to easily and/or efficiently empty the contents of the bin.

INDS It is generally desirable to overcome or ameliorate one or mare of the above-described 0 o Summoa of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of' the present invention, there is provided a portable bin, including a hollow receptacle mounted on a trailer that includes a hitch so that it can be towed by a vehicle, wherein the receptacle is adapted to be decoupled from the trailer by a lifting device so that it can be emptied, and the receptacle includes an aperture through which its contents can be emptied when the lifting device decouples and rotates the receptacle more than ninety degrees.

Preferably, the bin includes first and second lugs coupled to opposite sides of the receptacle for engagement with the lifting device, wherein said lifting device engages said lugs to decouple and rotate the receptacle.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described, by way of nonlimiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure I s a side view of a portable bin; Figure 2 is a front perspective view of portable bin shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a back perspective view of portable bin shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the portable bin shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a partially exploded view of the portable bin shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side view of a trailer of the portable bin shown in Figure 1; COMS ID No: SBMI-07002228 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:24 Date 2007-04-16 -3- Once again, the claimed invention operates in a different manner. The receptacle must be decoupled from the trailer for emptying. Whilst decoupled it must be rotated through more than 90 degrees in order to ensure all refuse is removed therefrom. This contrasts directly with US 4934896 which uses a platen to 'push' the refuse out of the receptacle. We submit that the invention defined in claim 1 is novel and involves an innovative step in light of this docurnent.

US 5221173 This document discloses a multi-vehicle system for the transportation and disposal of refuse.

A vehicle travels to the remote site and uses built-in means to lift a receptacle, and place the contents of this receptacle in a hopper which is coupled to the vehicle. This hopper is then lifted from the vehicle by a larger vehicle, and the contents are emptied into a larger receptacle mounted on the rear of the vehicle.

This differs from the current innovation in that it requires the original receptacle to be lifted and its contents emptied into the hopper on the rear of the smaller vehicle. The current invention simply requires that a trailer with the receptacle mounted thereon is left at a site, and then decoupled from the trailer, and emptied when needed. This removes the intermediary step of emptying the receptacle into the hopper as described in US 5221173.

We submit that the claimed invention is novel and involves an innovative step in light of this document.

GB 1587903 This document describes a receptacle which may be lifted and moved by a specially designed transporter. This transporter has specialised lugs which engage the receptacle, and allow it to be moved easily. This allows the receptacle to be placed in a position where it may be easily removed by a truck which is specifically designed for this purpose. This truck may then transport the receptacle over larger distances with greater ease.

The claimed invention includes a receptacle mounted on a trailer. In contrast, GB 1587903 describes a transporter which fits around the receptacle and uses lugs to lift said receptacle.

The current invention requires a lifting device in order to lift, rotate and therefore empty the receptacle, whereas no such requirement is anticipated by GB 1587903. We submit that the invention defined in claim 1 is novel and involves an innovative step in light of this document.

GB 2405394 This document describes a hopper which is fixed to a trailer, and may be rotated by a number of hydraulic actuators. The hopper is placed above a conveyor belt, which is used to convey the material dropped by the hopper to a place far from the hopper. In this way the contents of the hopper may be emptied and delivered to a position away from that of the hopper.

In contrast, the claimed invention describes a receptacle which is not fixed to the trailer, but is able to be decoupled therefrom. This decoupling is used primarily for emptying the contents of the receptacle, and this tipping is undertaken by an external machine, not machinery mounted upon the trailer as in GB 2405394.

I' \OI'ER\RJC\ WM\1 2815270 sponse comdoc 2/3/07 P \OPERRJC\2005%ptcmbcAI 2815270 Trila Tnr umova.i, dw.27)7A0 -4- The receptacle 12 includes a generally rectangular base member 18 preferably having a length of 1750mm and a width of 1800mm. The base member 18 includes front 20 and back 22; and left 24 and right 25 side walls extending upwardly therefrom. The base member 18 and the mentioned side walls generally define the hollow receptacle 12. The walls of the receptacle 12 are preferably made of 3mm sheets of a hard durable material such as steel. The walls of the receptacle 12 can otherwise be made of any suitable material.

The front wall 20 is generally rectangular in shape and preferably has a height of 1500mm and a width of 1800mm. The back wall 22 is also generally rectangular in shape and preferably has a height of 900mm and a width of 1800mm.

The left side wall 24 preferably has a base length of 1750mm, corresponding to that of the length of the base member 18; a front height of 1500mm, corresponding to that of the height of the front wall 18; and a back height of 900mm, corresponding to that of the height of the back wall 20. The top length of the left side wall 24 includes a straight section 26 and a diagonal section 28. The straight section 26 extends perpendicularly from the top of the front wall 18 towards the back wall 20 and is preferably 500mm in length.

The straight section 26 is parallel to the length of the base member 18. The diagonal section 28 extends from the straight section 26 to the top of the back wall 20 and is preferably 1387mm.

The right side wall 25 has the same shape and dimensions as that of the left side wall 24.

The upper section 30 of the receptacle 12 includes flat section 32 that extends between the straight sections 26 of the left 24 and right 25 sides of the receptacle 12. The abovedescribed aperture 16 is generally rectangular in shape and is defined by the flat section 32; the diagonal sections 28 of the left 24 and right 25 side walls; and the back wall 20. The aperture 16 is of a suitable size and shape to receive rubbish, for example, for storage in the receptacle 12. The aperture 16 is preferably 1387mm in length and 1800mm in width.

P \OPER\RJC\25\&ScptpbaI S 5270 TrallsTns mnovlali d.2707/06 The receptacle 12 includes a lid 34 coupled to the upper section 30 of the receptacle 12 by hinge 36. The hinge 36 includes first and second lugs that are respectively coupled to the straight sections 21 of the left 24 and right 25 side walls. The hinge 36 defines an axis about which the lid 34 can rotate between closed and open positions, as shown in Figures 1 and 5 respectively. The lid 34 is shaped to completely cover the aperture 16 when arranged in the closed position shown in Figure 1. The lid 34 preferably includes two panels that can independently rotate about the hinge 36 between the described closed and open positions.

The trailer 14 shown in Figures 6 and 7 includes a chassis 40 supported on springs 42 and attached to front and back axles 44,46. The ends of the axles 44,46 are coupled to wheels 48. The trailer 14 also includes a hitch 50 for coupling the trailer to a vehicle and a jockey wheel 52. The configuration of the above described parts of the trailer 14 is generally known and is not described here in further detail. The trailer 14 preferably includes a known configuration of these parts.

The chassis 40 includes a load bearing support platform 54 mounted over the axles 44,46.

The load bearing support platform 54 is generally rectangular in shape and is of similar length to and width to that of the base member 18 of the receptacle 12. The load bearing support platform 54 is shaped to receive the base member 18 and distribute its weight evenly through the axles 44,46 to the wheels 48 of the trailer 14.

The load bearing support platform 54 preferably includes left and right steel beams 56,58 that extend in parallel from the back of the trailer 14 towards the front of the trailer. The left and right beams 56,58 are preferably 1750mm long. The left and right beams 56,58 are separated by four spaced apart beams 60, where two of the four spaced apart beams are arranged over respective axles 44,46. The back end of the load bearing support member 54 includes an beam 62 that extends between the left 24 and right side walls of the trailer 14. The beam 62 preferably functions as a bumper bar for the trailer 14. The left and right beams 56,58; the spaced apart beams 60; and the beam 62 are preferably P %OPER\RCU005Xccptnber" 2815270 Tnila Tr ivov ti dme27m1067 -6welded together using any suitable welding technique. Alternatively, the beams ,I 56,58,60,62 are coupled together using any suitable means.

The upper surface of the load bearing platform 54 is preferably stepped so as to at least partially receive the base member 18 of the receptacle 12. The trailer 14 thereby at least partially engages the side walls of the receptacle 12 and inhibits lateral movement of the receptacle 12 with respect to the trailer 14.

The trailer 14 can be used to move the receptacle 12 by hitching the trailer to a vehicle and towing the trailer to the desired location. The receptacle 12 and the trailer 14 thereby form the portable bin The receptacle 12 includes first and second lugs 70 respectively coupled to generally central sections of the left 24 and right 25 side walls. The lugs 70 are, for example, parallel tubular sleeves 70 each having an end that opens in the direction of the back wall 22. The tubular sleeves 70 are shaped for engagement with respective arm members 72 of the lifting device 74, as shown in Figure 8.

The lifting device 74 is preferably a rubbish truck 74 that includes forked arms 72 for engaging standard dumpster type bins. Rubbish trucks 74 of this type are known and are not described here in further detail. The portable bin 10 is preferably adapted for use with known rubbish trucks 74.

The rubbish truck 74 is adapted to empty the portable bin 10 by performing the following steps: I. Arranging the forked arms 72 so that tip ends of the arms 72 are adjacent open ends of respective tubular sleeves 70 of the receptacle 12; 2. Inserting the arms 72 into respective tubular members 3. Decoupling the receptacle from the trailer 14 by hydraulically raising the arms 72 of the truck 74; and P \OPER\RJC\2005 -Wmbc, 12 270T T- h i-ovatimdoc.27M7106 -7- 4. Raising the receptacle 12 over the roof of the cabin of the truck 74 and rotating the receptacle so that the aperture 16 overlies an emptying bay 76 of the truck in the emptying position shown in Figure 9.

The arms 72 of the truck 74 rotate the receptacle 12 as it moves from the trailer towards the emptying position so that the receptacle 12 is generally upside down when it is in the emptying position. In this position, the aperture 16 is located over the truck's emptying bay 76 and the contents of the receptacle 12 is free to fall under gravity into the bay 76.

The above described method steps have previously been effected to empty standard dumpster type bins and are not described here in further detail.

The rubbish truck 74 is adapted to return the receptacle 12 back to its terminal position on the trailer 14 by performing the following steps: 1. Moving the receptacle away from the emptying position shown in Figure 9 back over the cabin of the truck 74 so that the receptacle approaches the trailer 14; 2. Placing the receptacle 12 on the load bearing support platform 54; and 3. Withdrawing the arms 72 of the truck from the respective tubular sleeves If both the trailer 14 and the truck 74 have not moved during the emptying process, then the receptacle 12 will likely be replaced by the truck 74 in the position from which it was removed. Triangular guides 78 are located above the wheels, between the axles 44,46, on the left and right sides of the trailer 12 to assist in locating the receptacle 12 in the correct seated position on the load bearing member 54.

An external side of the base member 18 of the receptacle 12 includes feet 80 that are inset from the edges of the rectangular base member 18 so that they lie adjacent the beams 58,60,62 of the load bearing platform 54 when the receptacle is seated in position. The feet 80 assist in locating the receptacle in the correct seated position on the trailer 14. The P OPFR\RJCUCU5'\S etbefX1281527OTnila Trah iova-o.,do O7/06 -8feet 80 also preferably abut the beams 58,60,62 of the load bearing support member 54 and thereby inhibit lateral movement of the receptacle 12 with respect to the trailer 14.

The portable bin 10 includes a locking device 82 for securely coupling the receptacle 12 to the trailer 14. The locking device 82 preferably includes a chain 84 welded to a left end section of the beam 62, as shown in Figure 10. The chain 84 extends from the beam 62 towards the front of the trailer 14. The chain can be threaded through an open ended tubular sleeve 78 coupled to the left side wall 24 of the receptacle 12. A left front section of the load bearing support platform 54 includes a side beam 86 extending laterally from the platform 54. The side beam 86 is position forward of the front axle 44 and includes a shackle 88 coupled thereto. The shackle 88 is adapted to engage the chain and to securely lock the chain to the side beam 86. When the chain 84 and the shackle 88 are arranged in the above-described manner, the receptacle 12 is securely coupled to the trailer 14. The locking device 82 preferably includes a further chain (not shown) welded to a right end section of the beam 62. The chain extends from the beam 62 towards the front of the trailer 14. The chain can be threaded through the open ended tubular sleeve 78 coupled to the right side 25 wall of the receptacle 12. A right front section of the load bearing support platform 54 includes a side beam 90 extending laterally from the platform 54. The side beam 90 is position forward of the front axle 44 and includes a shackle coupled thereto. The shackle is adapted to engage the chain and to securely lock the chain to the side beam 90. When the chain and the shackle are arranged in the above-described manner the receptacle 12 is securely coupled to the trailer 14.

The receptacle 12 could alternatively be secured to the trailer 14 by any other suitable means that also permits the receptacle 12 to be selectively decoupled from the trailer 14.

While we have shown and described specific embodiments of the present invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. We desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular forms shown and we intend in the append claims to cover all modifications that do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

P \OPER\RJC\2(Wplbe,I 2813270 T-.lI T innm,0., dw.Z7/07106 -9- Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

P \OPERJCX205c -cnbcv28 15270 Trils Trs hnos-t dm-271O07f List of Parts Portable Bin Receptacle 12; Trailer 14 Aperture 16 Base member 18 Front Wall Back Wall 22 Left Side Wall 24 Straight Section 26 Diagonal Section 28 Upper Section Flat Section 32 Lid 34 Hinge 36 Chassis Spring 42 Front Axle 44 Back Axle 46 Wheel 48 Hitch Jockey Wheel 52 Load Bearing Support Platform 54 Left Steel Beam 56 Right Steel Beam 58 Spaced Apart Beam I Beam 62 Lug Arm member 72 Lifting Device 74 P %OEkJU ~~pmu2815270 Tr.aIl Trs innov.ootdoc27AT7/06 Emptying Bay 76 Guide 78 Feet Locking Device 82 Chain 84 Side Beam 86 Shackle 88 Side Beam

Claims (1)

16-04-'07 15:18 FROM-Davies Collison Cave +61392542770 T-531 P005/009 F-523 o-12- ci Claims Defining the Invention 1. A portable bin, including a hollow receptacle mounted on a trailer that includes a 5 hitch so that it can be towed by a vehicle, wherein the receptacle is adapted to be decoupled from the trailer by a lifting device so that it can be emptied, and the receptacle includes an aperture through which its contents can be emptied when the olifting device decouples and rotates the receptacle more than ninety degrees. 2. The portable device claimed in claim 1, including first and second lugs coupled to opposite sides of the receptacle for engagement with the lifting device, wherein said lifting device engages said lugs to decouple and rotate the receptacle. 3. The portable device claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, including a locking device for securely coupling the receptacle to the trailer. 4. The portable device claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the trailer is shaped to at least partially receive a base section of the receptacle and thereby inhibits lateral movement of the receptacle with respect to the trailer. The portable device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: SBMI-07002228 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:24 Date 2007-04-16