Patent US5094582A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5094582A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waste collection and disposal system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1990-07-27
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Granted: 1992-03-10
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Expires: 2010-07-27
Abstract
Abstract A waste collection and disposal system utilizing a multi-compartment container and a collection vehicle with compartments corresponding to those of the container so as to keep the different waste materials separated throughout the collection process. The container has a locked cover over each compartment that is automatically unlocked when the container is placed in the inlet chute of the collector vehicle and descends to the bottom of the chute. To assure alignment of the compartments of the container with the proper compartments in the collector vehicle, the locking mechanisms holding the lids over the compartments of the container are arranged in an asymmetrical pattern that corresponds to the relative location of grooves in a tapered inlet chute leading to the compartments in the collector vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred Molzhon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:17
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65F; B65F1/00; B65F1/14; B65F1/16; B65F1/1615; B65F1/0033; B65F1/004; B65F1/12; B65F1/122; B65F3/00; B65F3/001; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/908; Y10S220/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A portable waste collection container for use with a collection vehicle, said vehicle having a plurality of separate adjacent compartments open at the top to receive different types of waste and having a common inlet chute above the compartments, said container comprising a bottom walls, side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a top edge to form an enclosure with an open tope, a partition extending between the side walls to divide the enclosure into a plurality of waste compartments corresponding in number to the compartments in the collection vehicle, a separate cover for each of the container compartments, each cover being mounted for pivotal movement from an open to a closed position and being normally in a closed position, the container having mounted thereon a releasable lock combined with each cover for independently maintaining each cover normally in a closed position, each lock including a release means which causes the simultaneous release of each of the locks when the release means engage the inlet chute in the collection vehicle just above the open tops of the compartments of the collection vehicle, thereby allowing the covers to simultaneously move to an open position for discharge of waste into the container compartments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A portable waste collection container for use with a collection vehicle, said vehicle having a plurality of separate adjacent compartments open at the top to receive different types of waste and having a common inlet chute above the compartments, said container comprising a bottom walls, side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a top edge to form an enclosure with an open tope, a partition extending between the side walls to divide the enclosure into a plurality of waste compartments corresponding in number to the compartments in the collection vehicle, a separate cover for each of the container compartments, each cover being mounted for pivotal movement from an open to a closed position and being normally in a closed position, the container having mounted thereon a releasable lock combined with each cover for independently maintaining each cover normally in a closed position, each lock including a release means which causes the simultaneous release of each of the locks when the release means engage the inlet chute in the collection vehicle just above the open tops of the compartments of the collection vehicle, thereby allowing the covers to simultaneously move to an open position for discharge of waste into the container compartments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The portable waste collection container of claim 1 in which means is provided to align the container compartments with the collection vehicle compartments before the release means releases the container cover locks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
The portable waste collection container of claim 2 in which the inlet chute of the collector vehicle is provided with grooves extending toward the open tops of the collector vehicle compartments, there being one such groove for each lock, and the release means for the locks each have a lock release portion extending outwardly from the container for engagement with one of the grooves, the locks being positioned on the container in a manner such that the container must be properly positioned before the lock release portions will engage the grooves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The portable waste collection container of claim 3 in which each lock has a locking nose engageable over a cover to hold the cover in a closed position, means is provided to bias the locking nose onto the cover, and each lock release means has a releasing member extending outwardly from the container, the locking nose and releasing member being on opposite sides of a pivot for the lock so that when the releasing member is moved inwardly the locking nose will release the cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The portable waste collection container of claim 4 in which the releasing member of each lock is engageable in one of the grooves when the container is properly aligned, the releasing member being forced inwardly as the container reaches the bottom of the inlet chute of the collector vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
240 words
A portable waste collection container for use with a collection vehicle, said vehicle having a plurality of separate adjacent compartments open at the top to receive different types of waste and having a common inlet chute above the compartments, said inlet chute having grooves extending toward the open tops of the compartments, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a top edge to form an enclosure with an open top, a partition extending between the side walls to divide the enclosure into a plurality of waste compartments corresponding in number to the compartments in the collection vehicle, a separate cover for each of the container compartments, each cover being mounted for pivotal movement from an open to a closed position and being normally in a closed position, a releasable lock for maintaining each cover in a closed position, said locks each having a lock release portion extending outwardly from the container for engagement with one of the grooves in the inlet chute thereby allowing the covers to move to an open position for discharge of waste in the container compartments, the locks being positioned on the container in a manner such that the container must be properly positioned before the lock release portions of the locks will engage the grooves, and means to align the container compartments with the collection vehicle compartments before the lock release portions release the container cover locks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
240 words
A portable waste collection container for use with a collection vehicle, said vehicle having a plurality of separate adjacent compartments open at the top to receive different types of waste and having a common inlet chute above the compartments, said inlet chute having grooves extending toward the open tops of the compartments, said container comprising a bottom wall, side walls extending upwardly from the bottom wall to a top edge to form an enclosure with an open top, a partition extending between the side walls to divide the enclosure into a plurality of waste compartments corresponding in number to the compartments in the collection vehicle, a separate cover for each of the container compartments, each cover being mounted for pivotal movement from an open to a closed position and being normally in a closed position, a releasable lock for maintaining each cover in a closed position, said locks each having a lock release portion extending outwardly from the container for engagement with one of the grooves in the inlet chute thereby allowing the covers to move to an open position for discharge of waste in the container compartments, the locks being positioned on the container in a manner such that the container must be properly positioned before the lock release portions of the locks will engage the grooves, and means to align the container compartments with the collection vehicle compartments before the lock release portions release the container cover locks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
The portable waste collection container of claim 6 in which each lock has a locking nose engageable over a cover to hold the cover in a closed position, means is provided to bias the locking nose onto the cover, and each lock has a releasing member extending outwardly from the container, the locking nose and releasing member being on opposite sides of a pivot for the lock so that when the releasing member is moved inwardly the locking nose will release the cover.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The portable waste collection container of claim 7 in which the releasing member of each lock is engageable in one of the grooves when the container is properly aligned, the releasing member being forced inwardly as the container reaches the bottom of the inlet chute of the collector vehicle.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of collecting and disposing of waste materials of different types and maintaining the different waste materials separate throughout the collection and disposal process, said method comprising: providing a collection container having a plurality of separate compartments, each for a different type of waste material; providing a separate cover for each of the compartments of the collection container; providing a separate lock combined with each cover for maintaining the cover normally in a closed position during the collection process and while the container is inverted during the collection process, each lock being released by force applied to the lock in a direction toward the container; providing a collection vehicle having waste compartments corresponding in number and relative position to the compartments in the collection container; and providing the collection vehicle with a chute above the compartments, the chute having tapered walls that apply force to the locks as the collection container reaches the bottom of the chute in an inverted position thereby simultaneously releasing each of the locks on the collection container covers to simultaneously discharge the contents of each of the containers into the compartments of the collection vehicle.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
191 words
A method of collecting and disposing of waste materials of different types and maintaining the different waste materials separate throughout the collection and disposal process, said method comprising: providing a collection container having a plurality of separate compartments, each for a different type of waste material; providing a separate cover for each of the compartments of the collection container; providing a separate lock combined with each cover for maintaining the cover normally in a closed position during the collection process and while the container is inverted during the collection process, each lock being released by force applied to the lock in a direction toward the container; providing a collection vehicle having waste compartments corresponding in number and relative position to the compartments in the collection container; and providing the collection vehicle with a chute above the compartments, the chute having tapered walls that apply force to the locks as the collection container reaches the bottom of the chute in an inverted position thereby simultaneously releasing each of the locks on the collection container covers to simultaneously discharge the contents of each of the containers into the compartments of the collection vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-10 | 1995-09-09 | 1996-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-10 | 1999-09-09 | 2000-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-10 | 2003-09-09 | 2004-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |