초록 ▼

A lift apparatus for conveying, lifting and at least partially inverting a refuse container for emptying into a dumpster or a refuse receptacle. The apparatus preferably has a base with wheels and a handle to facilitate transport. In one embodiment, the handle telescopes vertically and is hook shape

A lift apparatus for conveying, lifting and at least partially inverting a refuse container for emptying into a dumpster or a refuse receptacle. The apparatus preferably has a base with wheels and a handle to facilitate transport. In one embodiment, the handle telescopes vertically and is hook shaped and adapted for engaging the lip of a dumpster or garbage chute. A pair of offset pivot arms is pivotally mounted to the frame and to a bin carriage, into which a refuse receptacle may be received. Application of a pivoting force to the pivot arms lifts and at least partially inverts the bin carriage for emptying the refuse container. Preferably a damper is provided on bin carriage movement as well as a locking mechanism to prevent bin carriage movement while being conveyed. The device may be operated manually, or adapted with mechanical power output devices to simplify lifting.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for transporting and lifting, toward at least partial inversion, a refuse container, comprising: a frame having at least two wheels adapted to provide rollable transport thereof; a column connected to said frame: means for coupling said column to a refuse deposit

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for transporting and lifting, toward at least partial inversion, a refuse container, comprising: a frame having at least two wheels adapted to provide rollable transport thereof; a column connected to said frame: means for coupling said column to a refuse depository, said means for coupling said column to a refuse depository comprises an extendable member for temporarily engaging a top edge of said refuse depository; a bin carriage adapted for receiving a refuse container; a plurality of angularly offset parallel pivot arms coupled between said column and said bin carriage; wherein said pivot arms are adapted to, in response to an applied pivot force, guide said bin carriage upwardly and impart a rotation thereof resulting in at least partial inversion of said refuse container; and means for generating said pivot force. 2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said extendable member is adapted for being locked into an engagement position with the top edge of said refuse depository. 3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means for reversibly locking said bin carriage into a fixed position in relation to said column. 4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said bin carriage comprises: a generally horizontal base adapted for supporting the bottom surface of a refuse container retained within said bin carriage; an upright mounted to said base, said upright pivotally coupled to said pivot arms; and a plurality of substantially horizontal rails mounted to said upright. 5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said plurality of horizontal rails comprises: at least one horizontal rail mounted at a first height to said upright; and at least one horizontal rail mounted at a second height, below said first height, to said upright. 6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising at least one handle member attached to at least one of said horizontal rails. 7. An apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein said base of said bin carriage further includes at least one wheel adapted for supporting the weight of said bin carriage along with said refuse container. 8. An apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein said bin carriage further comprises a refuse chute attached proximal to an upper end of said bin carriage adapted for directing the contents of said refuse container during inversion for controlling the disbursion of contents while being emptied. 9. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein said bin carriage further comprises means for vertically retaining said refuse container within said bin carriage during said inversion. 10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for vertically retaining said refuse container comprises a lip disposed on said upright adapted to engage an upper surface of said refuse container during inversion of said refuse container to restrain vertical motion of said refuse container. 11. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for vertically retaining said refuse container comprises a retention member attached to said bin carriage and adapted for positioning above said refuse container prior to inversion. 12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said retention member is biased toward a position above said refuse container that prevents it from disengaging from said bin carriage during inversion. 13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one long stroke cylinder pivotally coupled between said column and at least one of said pivot arms, said cylinder configured to dampen the motion of said pivot arm. 14. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said pivot force is provided by manually operated means for mechanical force transfer for lifting said bin carriage from a first position to a second position. 15. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a power transfer device adapted to translate a mechanical input to a mechanically advantaged output for driving the position of said pivot arms. 16. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said power transfer device comprises a manual input coupled to a transmission having an output coupled to said pivot arms and adapted for imparting said pivot force thereto. 17. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a mechanical power output device adapted for imparting sufficient force to said pivot arms to generate said lifting motion. 18. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said mechanical power output device is selected from the group of mechanical power output devices consisting essentially of engines, electric motors, hydraulic actuators, and pneumatic actuators. 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said mechanical power output device comprises an electric motor in combination with a transmission. 20. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a transmission adapted to receive mechanical input power from a portable device providing a mechanical output of sufficient force when coupled to said pivot arms through said transmission to generate said lifting motion. 21. An apparatus for transporting and lifting, toward at least partial inversion, a refuse container, comprising: a bin carriage adapted for receiving a refuse container; a frame having at least two wheels adapted to provide rollable transport of said bin carriage; means for lifting and rotating said bin carriage for at least partial inversion of a refuse container received by said bin carriage, wherein said means for lifting and rotating said bin carriage comprises: a column connected to said frame; and a plurality of angularly offset parallel pivot arms coupled between said column and said bin carriage; wherein said pivot arms are adapted to, in response to a pivot force, guide said bin carriage upwardly and impart a rotation thereof resulting in at least partial inversion of said refuse container; means for coupling said column to a refuse depository, wherein said means for coupling said column to a refuse depository comprises an extendable member for temporarily engaging a top edge of said refuse depository; and means for generating said pivot force. 22. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said extendable member is adapted for being locked into an engagement position with the top edge of said refuse depository. 23. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising: means for reversibly locking said bin carriage into a fixed position in relation to said column. 24. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said bin carriage comprises: a generally horizontal base adapted for supporting the bottom surface of a refuse container retained within said bin carriage; an upright mounted to said base, said upright pivotally coupled to said pivot arms; and a plurality of substantially horizontal rails mounted to said upright. 25. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said plurality of horizontal rails comprises: at least one horizontal rail mounted at a first height to said upright; and at least one horizontal rail mounted at a second height, below said first height, to said upright. 26. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, further comprising at least one handle member attached to at least one of said horizontal rails. 27. An apparatus recited in claim 24, wherein said base of said bin carriage further includes at least one wheel adapted for supporting the weight of said bin carriage along with said refuse container. 28. An apparatus recited in claim 24, wherein said bin carriage further comprises a refuse chute attached proximal to an upper end of said bin carriage adapted for directing the contents of said refuse container during inversion for controlling the disbursion of contents while being emptied. 29. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein said bin carriage further comprises means for vertically retaining said refuse container within said bin carriage during said inversion. 30. An apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein said means for vertically retaining said refuse container comprises a lip disposed on said upright adapted to engage an upper surface of said refuse container during inversion of said refuse container to restrain vertical motion of said refuse container. 31. An apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein said means for vertically retaining said refuse container comprises a retention member attached to said bin carriage and adapted for positioning above said refuse container prior to inversion. 32. An apparatus as recited in claim 31, wherein said retention member is biased toward a position above said refuse container that prevents it from disengaging from said bin carriage during inversion. 33. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, further comprising at least one long stroke cylinder pivotally coupled between said column and at least one of said pivot arms. 34. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said pivot force is provided by manually operated means for mechanical force transfer for lifting said bin carriage from a first position to a second position. 35. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a power transfer device adapted to translate a mechanical input to a mechanically advantaged output for driving the position of said pivot arms. 36. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said power transfer device comprises a manual input coupled to a transmission having an output coupled to said pivot arms and adapted for imparting said pivot force thereto. 37. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a mechanical power output device adapted for imparting sufficient force to said pivot arms to generate said lifting motion. 38. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said mechanical power output device is selected from the group of mechanical power output devices consisting essentially of engines, electric motors, hydraulic actuators, and pneumatic actuators. 39. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said mechanical power output device comprises an electric motor in combination with a transmission. 40. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a transmission adapted to receive mechanical input power from a portable device providing a mechanical output of sufficient force when coupled to said pivot arms through said transmission to generate said lifting motion. 41. An apparatus for transporting and lifting, toward at least partial inversion, a refuse container, comprising: a frame having at least two wheels adapted to provide rollable transport thereof; a column connected to said frame; a bin carriage adapted for receiving a refuse container; a plurality of angularly offset parallel pivot arms coupled between said column and said bin carriage; wherein said pivot arms are adapted to, in response to an applied pivot force, guide said bin carriage upwardly and impart a rotation thereof resulting in at least partial inversion of said refuse container; means for coupling said column to a refuse depository, wherein said means for coupling said column to a refuse depository comprises an extendable member for temporarily engaging a top edge of said refuse depository; and means for generating said pivot force. 42. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said extendable member is adapted for being locked into an engagement position with the top edge of said refuse depository. 43. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, further comprising: means for reversibly locking said bin carriage into a fixed position in relation to said column. 44. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said bin carriage comprises: a generally horizontal base adapted for supporting the bottom surface of a refuse container retained within said bin carriage; an upright mounted to said base, said upright pivotally coupled to said pivot arms; and a plurality of substantially horizontal rails mounted to said upright. 45. An apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein said plurality of horizontal rails comprises: at least one horizontal rail mounted at a first height to said upright; and at least one horizontal rail mounted at a second height, below said first height, to said upright. 46. An apparatus as recited in claim 44, further comprising at least one handle member attached to at least one of said horizontal rails. 47. An apparatus recited in claim 44, wherein said base of said bin carriage further includes at least one wheel adapted for supporting the weight of said bin carriage along with said refuse container. 48. An apparatus recited in claim 44, wherein said bin carriage further comprises a refuse chute attached proximal to an upper end of said bin carriage adapted for directing the contents of said refuse container during inversion for controlling the disbursion of contents while being emptied. 49. An apparatus as recited in claim 44, wherein said bin carriage further comprises means for vertically retaining said refuse container within said bin carriage during said inversion. 50. An apparatus as recited in claim 49, wherein said means for vertically retaining said refuse container comprises a lip disposed on said upright adapted to engage an upper surface of said refuse container during inversion of said refuse container to restrain vertical motion of said refuse container. 51. An apparatus as recited in claim 49, wherein said means for vertically retaining said refuse container comprises a retention member attached to said bin carriage and adapted for positioning above said refuse container prior to inversion. 52. An apparatus as recited in claim 51, wherein said retention member is biased toward a position above said refuse container that prevents it from disengaging from said bin carriage during inversion. 53. An apparatus as recited in claim 44, further comprising at least one long stroke cylinder pivotally coupled between said column and at least one of said pivot arms, said cylinder configured to dampen the motion of said pivot arm. 54. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said pivot force is provided by manually operated means for mechanical force transfer for lifting said bin carriage from a first position to a second position. 55. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a power transfer device adapted to translate a mechanical input to a mechanically advantaged output for driving the position of said pivot arms. 56. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said power transfer device comprises a manual input coupled to a transmission having an output coupled to said pivot arms and adapted for imparting said pivot force thereto. 57. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a mechanical power output device adapted for imparting sufficient force to said pivot arms to generate said lifting motion. 58. An apparatus as recited in claim 57, wherein said mechanical power output device is selected from the group of mechanical power output devices consisting essentially of engines, electric motors, hydraulic actuators, and pneumatic actuators. 59. An apparatus as recited in claim 57, wherein said mechanical power output device comprises an electric motor in combination with a transmission. 60. An apparatus as recited in claim 41, wherein said means for generating said pivot force comprises a transmission adapted to receive mechanical input power from a portable device providing a mechanical output of sufficient force when coupled to said pivot arms through said transmission to generate said lifting motion.