Selectively mobile waste receptacles and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10279994-B2
Application number	US-201816113842-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2018
Priority date	Aug 25, 2017
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

Waste receptacles and retractable casters for such waste receptacles are provided. The waste receptacle includes a housing that has an inner volume accessible by an opening. The housing also includes a base. The waste receptacle includes at least one foot attached to the base that is configured to support the waste receptacle in a standing position. On the housing is at least one retractable caster assembly with a caster moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the caster extends past the at least one foot to engage a surface on which the waste receptacle is placed. The waste receptacle is selectively disposed in either a standing position or a mobile position in which the receptacle is moveable along the surface by the retractable caster assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A waste receptacle, comprising:
a housing defining an inner volume accessible via an opening, the housing comprising a base;
at least one foot fixedly coupled to the base and configured to support the waste receptacle in a standing position; and
at least one retractable caster assembly coupled to the housing, the at least one retractable caster assembly comprising a caster selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the caster extends past the at least one foot to engage a surface on which the waste receptacle is disposed,
wherein the retractable caster assembly comprises:
a mounting plate coupled to the housing;
a pedal coupled to the mounting plate;
at least one damper operably disposed between the mounting plate and the pedal; and
a caster mounting sleeve coupled to the caster,
wherein the pedal is configured to selectively move the caster mounting sleeve to actuate the caster between the retracted position and the extended position, or vice versa, and

wherein the waste receptacle is selectively configurable in the standing position and in a mobile position in which the waste receptacle is movable along the surface via the at least one retractable caster assembly.

2. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , wherein:
the mounting plate comprises a tubular channel, and
the caster mounting sleeve is configured to operably slide within the tubular channel.

3. The waste receptacle of claim 2 , further comprising a release member coupled to the pedal, wherein the release member and the pedal are configured to work in concert to actuate the caster between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein the tubular channel comprises an elongated aperture through which the release member is anchored onto the caster mounting sleeve.

4. The waste receptacle of claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of pivot points disposed on each of the mounting plate, the pedal, the release member, and the caster mounting sleeve, wherein the mounting plate, the pedal, the release member, and the caster mounting sleeve rotate about at least one of the plurality of pivot points.

5. The waste receptacle of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of pivot points comprises:
a mounting plate pivot point;
a release member pivot point; and
a caster mounting sleeve pivot point,
wherein the mounting plate pivot point and the caster mounting sleeve pivot point form a plane parallel with the mounting plate, wherein the release member pivot point is configured to actuate between the plane as the caster assembly actuates the caster between the retracted position and the extended position.

6. A waste receptacle, comprising:
a housing defining an inner volume accessible via an opening, the housing comprising a base;
at least one foot fixedly coupled to the base and configured to support the waste receptacle in a standing position; and
at least one retractable caster assembly coupled to the housing, the at least one retractable caster assembly comprising a caster selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the caster extends past the at least one foot to engage a surface on which the waste receptacle is disposed,
wherein the retractable caster assembly comprises:
a mounting plate coupled to the housing;
a pedal coupled to the mounting plate;
a set of biasing members disposed between the mounting plate and the pedal, wherein the set of biasing members are configured to apply a constant force to the pedal; and
a caster mounting sleeve coupled to the caster,
wherein the pedal is configured to selectively move the caster mounting sleeve to actuate the caster between the retracted position and the extended position, or vice versa, and

wherein the waste receptacle is selectively configurable in the standing position and in a mobile position in which the waste receptacle is movable along the surface via the at least one retractable caster assembly.

7. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the caster is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the caster mounting sleeve by 360 degrees.

8. A waste receptacle, comprising:
a housing defining an inner volume accessible via an opening, the housing comprising a base;
at least one foot fixedly coupled to the base and configured to support the waste receptacle in a standing position; and
at least one retractable caster assembly coupled to the housing, the at least one retractable caster assembly comprising a caster selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the caster extends past the at least one foot to engage a surface on which the waste receptacle is disposed; and
a door configured to selectively conceal the at least one retractable caster assembly,
wherein the waste receptacle is selectively configurable in the standing position and in a mobile position in which the waste receptacle is movable along the surface via the at least one retractable caster assembly.

9. A waste receptacle, comprising:
a housing defining an inner volume accessible via an opening, the housing comprising a base;
at least one foot fixedly coupled to the base and configured to support the waste receptacle in a standing position; and
at least one retractable caster assembly coupled to the housing, the at least one retractable caster assembly comprising a caster selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position in which the caster extends past the at least one foot to engage a surface on which the waste receptacle is disposed,
wherein the waste receptacle is selectively configurable in the standing position and in a mobile position in which the waste receptacle is movable along the surface via the at least one retractable caster assembly,
wherein the waste receptacle further comprises a locking mechanism to selectively lock the waste receptacle in the standing position or in the mobile position.

10. The waste receptacle of claim 9 , wherein:
the caster is selectively movable between the retracted position and the extended position via a pedal and a pedal-actuated lever, and
the locking mechanism is associated with the pedal-actuated lever.

11. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one fixed caster fixedly coupled to the base, the at least one fixed caster being sized and positioned such that the at least one fixed caster and the at least one foot provide an approximately level support structure for the waste receptacle in the standing position.

12. The waste receptacle of claim 11 , wherein the at least one foot is disposed proximate the at least one retractable caster assembly, relative to the at least one fixed caster.

13. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , comprising at least two of the retractable caster assemblies.

14. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising a selectively openable panel through which a receptacle liner is positionable within the waste receptacle.

15. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one internal storage shelf accessible by a door associated with the waste receptacle.

16. A waste receptacle, comprising:
a housing defining an inner volume accessible via an opening, the housing comprising a base;
at least one foot fixedly coupled to the base and configured to support the waste receptacle in a standing position;
at least one internal storage shelf accessible by a door associated with the waste receptacle;
a latch configured to secure the door, wherein the latch is disposed within the inner volume of the housing; and
at least

Assignees

• Rubbermaid Commercial Prod Llc

Inventors

• Russell Christopher Loren
• Luedke Adam
• Connelly Jacob Wayne
• Decarr Gary

Classifications

• B60B33/0068

  the swivel axis being vertical · CPC title

• B60B33/06

  mounted retractably · CPC title

• B65F1/1473 Primary

  Receptacles having wheels · CPC title

• B65F1/06

  with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks {(B65F1/0073 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65F1/1426

  Housings, cabinets or enclosures for refuse receptacles (B65F1/006, B65F1/1452 take precedence) · CPC title