US3176949A

US3176949A - Support

Info

Publication number: US3176949A
Application number: US340060A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vernon L Moulton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-01-24
Filing date: 1964-01-24
Publication date: 1965-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 1982-04-06

Description

A ril 6, 1965 v. L. MOULTON 3,176,949

SUPPORT Filed Jan. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Vaewow A. BY

April 6, 1965 v v. L. MOULTON 3,176,949

SUPPORT Filed Jan. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

Vee/vazv A. Moon-01v United States Patent M 3,176,943 SUFPORT Vernon L. Moulton, Sidney, Mont. (Fairfield, Mont.) Filed Jan. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 340,060 4 Claims. (or. 248-147) This invention pertains broadly to supports, and more specifically, to support means particularly adapted for use in association with containers having cover means.

A basic objective of this invention is to supply a support for a covered receptacle, such as a refuse can, wherein the support includes means for placement and removal of the cover from the receptacle without manual handling thereof. This invention provides a construction embodying a foot controlled actuating means which permits the operator to use both hands in the placement of materials into the receptacle. In the handling of bulky, and often otherwise objectionable refuse materials, it is quite inconvenient to put the materials down having once lifted the same, remove the cover of a refuse container, pick up the materials once again, and place them in the container, and finally replace the cover. Apparatus of the instant invention supplies an actuating means which locates the container at a convenient height for use, and provides foot and gravity operated means for placement and removal of the cover therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a support and cover actuating means as described above which is adapted for use with existing receptacles and covers, and which prevents the loss of receptacle covers.

Yet another objective of the invention resides in the provision of a container and support assembly therefor wherein removal of the cover by animals, wind, or other undesired means is effectively prevented.

A still further object is to provide a container support of the character hereinbefore described, of variable dimension, whereby it is usable with containers of various sizes.

Among the additional objects and advantages of this invention are the provision of a support and actuating means as aforesaid, which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, showing a support and covered container, constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention, and showing in phantom lines the open position of the cover;

FiGURE 2 is an end view on the scale of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the support, the container being removed therefrom;

FIGURE 4 is a reduced scale, perspective view of the support hereof;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, detail sectional view, taken substantially on the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a spring clip employed herein.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of the invention and initially to a container 19 representative of the type of device with which the invention is adapted for use, such container is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The container 18 may have a cylindrical, upwardly flaring side wall 12 with a lower end portion 14 and upper end 16 the lower end having a base wall 18 extended thereacross and closing the same. The upper end 16 is provided with a removable cover 20 which has a generally centrally disposed, upwardly projecting handle 22 thereon of inverted Edibfii Patented Apr. 6, l9fi5 U-shape defining an opening 24. The container or receptacle 10 is, of course, conventional and representative of the type of container device with which the present invention is used.

The apparatus of the present invention comprising a container support and cover actuation means, is best seen in assembled condition in FIGURE 4 wherein it is generally identified by reference numeral 26. The support and means 26 includes an annular ring member 28 having an inner side 30 and an outer side 32, and having a plurality of generally rectangular support members 34 suitably secured (as by Welds 36) to the inner side 30 in a box-like arrangement within the ring member 28 to provide a subjacent support for the base wall 18 of the container 10. A plurality of leg members 38, each comprised of angularly related bars as with integral feet 42, is provided, and the leg members are located at the corners 44 of the boxlike arrangement of support members 34 with the feet 42 aligned with the corners 44 and the bars 40 secured to the inner sides 30 on opposite sides of each corner 44, as best seen in FIGURE 3. This arrangement provides maximum stability for the support when a heavy container 10 is placed therein. The leg members 38 serve to space the ring upwardly from a supporting surface 46 such as the floor or ground therebeneath.

A substantially rectangular, rigid guide member 48 is secured by welds 50 on each side of the ring 28 at selected angles, and each has an outwardly bent portion 52 with a. slot 54 formed therein. Also secured, as by welds 56, to opposite support members 34 are depending, substantially rectangular brackets 58 with apertures 60 formed thereinthe brackets serving to support an actuating bail assembly 62.

The bail assembly 62 includes a substantially U-shaped main bail portion including a foot engaged bight portion 64 from the ends of which extend side elements 66. The elements 66 include intermediate bent portions 68 which provide bearing portions pivotally engaged in the apertures 6t) of the brackets 58. At their outer ends, the side elements 66 are oppositely, outwardly bent to provide laterally extended end portions 70.

Secured pivotally to each extended end portion 70 of the respective side elements 66 are connection bracket means 72 comprising a plate 74 (FIGURE 5) with a first a'pertured arm 76 and a second, elongated apertured arm 78, the apertures in said arms being coaligned and the portions 70 extending therethrough. The outer end of the arm 73 has a reverted portion 80 provided with a clamping screw and nut 82.

Cover lifting and tilting arms 84 are supplied, and each has a lower end 86 clamped in the rebent portions 80, and an opposite upper end 88 integrally or otherwise connected to a top member 90. As seen in the drawing, the arms 84 extend slidably through the slots 54 of the bent end portions 52 of guide member 48, and the height thereof is variable by reason of the connections 80, to accommodate containers 10 of various heights as appears in more detail below.

At a generally central location, vertically aigned with the handle 22 of the container cover 28', the top member 99 has a raised, outwardly extended portion 92 dimensioned to extend across the handle 22 and of a length at least greater than the length of the handle. An annular band 94 is fixed, as by welds 96, to the top member beneath the portion 92 and is of a diameter such that it extends about the cover handle 22, as seen in FIGURE 2. With reference to FIGURE 6, shown therein is a spring clip 92; formed of a suitable spring material, and having a generally straight central portion 100, and spring arms 102 extending therefrom on each side with inturned ends 104 adapted to releasably grip the band 94 as best seen in FIGURE 4.

The container 10 is mounted in the apparatus 26 in t the manner shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with the base wall 18 thereof resting on the support members 34, and the arms 84 are adjusted in thebrackets 72 to a location wherein the band 94 of the top member 90 extends about the handle 22. The clip 98 is then extended through the handle opening 24 and the ends 104 are secured to the band 94, resulting in a clamping of the handle 22 between the clip 9 8 and the central portion 92 of the member 99.

In operation, the operator removes the cover '26 by depressing the bight portion 64 of the bail assembly 62 with the foot, as seen in FIGURE 1, thus pivoting the bail about the bearing portions 68 and causing the end portions 70 to raise the .arms 84 through the guides 48 in the path illustrated. When the foot is removed, the cover gravitates to a closed position.

Having described and illustrated an embodiment of this invention in some detail, it will be understood that this description and illustration are offered merely by Way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A stand assembly for use with refuse container or the like having a substantially cylindrical, upwardly flaring,

side wall with an open upper end and a lower end, a'base wall extended across the lower end, a cover removably secured on the upper end, and thecover having an upwardly extending, substantially U'shaped handle, the stand assembly comprising:

an annular ring member extending about the container 'lower end;

plural support members secured to the ring member and supporting the container base wall;

a plurality of leg members secured to the ring member to support the same in spaced location upwardly from a supporting surface;

outwardly extending guide members, having slots formed therein, secured to the ring member on opposite sides thereof;

support brackets, having apertures therein, depending from the support members at spaced locations beneath the ring member; I

an actuating bail assembly, including a substantially U-shaped main bail portion with a foot engaged bight portion and side elements with intermediate bearing portions, the bearing portions being pivotally journalled in the apertures of said support brackets, and the side elements having outwardly extended end portions;

connection bracket means pivotally secured to the end portions of the side elements;

cover actuating arm means including elongated side being extended across the container cover with a band extending about the handle thereof; and

a spring clip, releasably secured to the band and clamping the handle against the central portion.

2. A stand assembly for use with a container comprising:

a horizontally-disposed ring member,

a plurality of support members disposed within said ring member and secured to the inner side of said ring member and adapted to support the base of a container,

a plurality of leg members secured to the ring member to support the same in spaced relation from a supporting surface,

opposed brackets operatively connected to the inner side of said ring member and to said support members,

a horizontal foot-actuable bail assembly extending be tween and tiltably connected to said brackets,

opposed guide members operatively secured to the outer side of said ring member,

a pair of upstanding lifting and tilting arms extending slidably through said guide members, bracket means connecting the lower end of each arm to the adjacent bracket for movement of said arms with said bail assembly, and

a top member extending between and secured to the upper ends of said arms.

3. The stand assembly according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of support members are shaped to a box-like configuration with the apices secured to the inner side of said ring member.

4. The stand assembly according to claim 2, wherein said top member is provided with a raised central portion, and which includes in addition a band operatively secured to the top member beneath the raised portion and adapted toreleasably clamp the handle of a container when supported in said stand assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,845,883 2/32 Mandel 248-147 2,102,914 12/37 Rienks et al. 248147 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A STAND ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH REFUSE CONTAINER OR THE LIKE HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL, UPWARDLY FLARING SIDE WALL WITH AN OPEN UPPER END AND A LOWER END, A BASE WALL EXTENDED ACROSS THE LOWER END, A COVER REMOVABLY SECURED ON THE UPPER END, AND THE COVER HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING, SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED HANDLE, THE STAND ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: AN ANNULAR RING MEMBER EXTENDING ABOUT THE CONTAINER LOWER END; PLURAL SUPPORT MEMBERS SECURED TO THE RING MEMBER AND SUPPORTING THE CONTAINER BASE WALL; A PLURALITY OF LEG MEMBERS SECURED TO THE RING MEMBER TO SUPPORT THE SAME IN SPACED LOCATION UPWARDLY FROM A SUPPORTING SURFACE; OUTWARDLY EXTENDING GUIDE MEMBERS, HAVING SLOTS FORMED THEREIN, SECURED TO THE RING MEMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF, SUPPORT BRACKETS HAVING APERTURES THEREIN, DEPENDING FROM THE SUPPORT MEMBERS AT SPACED LOCATIONS BENEATH THE RING MEMBER; AN ACTUATING BAIL ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED MAIN BAIL PORTION WITH A FOOT ENGAGED BIGHT PORTION AND SIDE ELEMENTS WITH INTERMEDIATE BEARING PORTIONS, THE BEARING PORTIONS BEING PIVOTALLY JOURNALLED IN THE APERTURES OF SAID SUPPORT BRACKETS, AND THE SIDE ELEMENTS HAVING OUTWARDLY EXTENDED END PORTIONS; CONNECTION BRACKET MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE END PORTIONS OF THE SIDE ELEMENTS; COVER ACTUATING ARM MEANS INCLUDING ELONGATED SIDE ARMS, WITH LOWER ENDS CONNECTED TO THE CONNECTION BRACKET MEANS, EXTENDING SLIDABLY THROUGH THE SLOTS IN THE GUIDE MEMBERS; A TOP MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE ARMS AND HAVING A RAISED CENTRAL PORTION; AN ANNULAR BAND SECURED TO THE TOP MEMBER BENEATH THE RAISED CENTRAL PORTION THEREOF, THE TOP MEMBER BEING EXTENDED ACROSS THE CONTAINER COVER WITH A BAND EXTENDING ABOUT THE HANDLE THEREOF; AND A SPRING CLIP, RELEASABLY SECURED TO THE BAND AND CLAMPING THE HANDLE AGAINST THE CENTRAL PORTION.