# US 10,121,354 B2 · Waste receptacle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,121,354 B2 - Document ID: US10121354B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/838,147 - Filed: 2017-12-11 - Published: 2018-04-12 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-31 - Assignees: Edison Nation Medical, LLC - Applicants: Edison Nation Medical, LLC - Inventors: Michael Morgan Starkey; Lloyd Stephen Riggs; Aubrey Nathan Beal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121354B2 ## CPC - G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms - B62B 3/02: involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible - B62B 3/04: involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment - B62B 3/106: {the objects being bags} - B65F 1/06: with flexible inserts, e.g. bags or sacks {(B65F1/0073 takes precedence)} - B65F 1/1415: {for flexible receptables, e.g. bags, sacks} - B65F 1/1473: {Receptacles having wheels} - B62B 2202/20: Dustbins, refuse containers - B62B 2202/22: Flexible bags, e.g. for rubbish - B62B 2205/006: dismountable - B65F 2210/1525: for metal - Y02W 30/10: Waste collection, transportation, transfer or storage, e.g. segregated refuse collecting, electric or hybrid propulsion - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M) - B65F: GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE (disinfecting refuse A61L; refuse disintegrators B02C; sorting refuse B03B; B07B; handcarts for transporting refuse receptacles B62B; sack holders B65B67/00; converting refuse into fertilisers C05F; converting refuse into solid fuels C10L; sewers, cesspools E03F; arrangements in buildings for the disposal of refuse E04F17/10; refuse-consuming furnaces F23G; {for surgical articles A61B50/36}) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract A waste cart includes a base housing; a center upright having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the base housing; a top housing secured to the distal end of the center upright, wherein the top housing has two or more disposal openings for two or more separate disposal portions including, a first waste portion which has a first metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; and a second waste portion which includes a second metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; an electronics module which operates each metal detector independently; and an alarm indicator operationally associated with the electronics module which is activated when the electronics module detects the passage of a metal item through an opening into a waste portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A waste cart, comprising: a base housing; a center upright having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being secured to said base housing; a top housing secured to said distal end of said center upright, said top housing having two or more disposal openings for two or more separate portions including, a first waste portion which has a first metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through a said opening; and a second waste portion which includes a second metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through a said opening; electrical components including a processor and processor-executable code contained in a non-transitory machine-readable medium, the electrical components being operationally associated with each metal detector and configured to operate each metal detector independently of one another or in tandem; and an alarm indicator operationally associated with said electrical components which is activated when the passage of a metal item through a said opening of either the first or second waste portion is detected. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The waste cart of claim 1, wherein each said metal detector includes a receiver coil and a transmitter coil, wherein said coils are set up in either a constant wave (CW) configuration or a pulse induction (Pl) configuration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The waste cart of claim 1, wherein a quadrupole arrangement is utilized, wherein a single transmitter coil encircles both the first waste portion and the second waste portion and a first receiver coil is set to detect metal and a second coil is set to cancel external effects. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The waste cart of claim 1, further including a blocking shield to help isolate one region magnetically from another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The waste cart of claim 4, wherein the blocking shield is comprised of Mu-metal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The waste cart of claim 1, further comprising a motion detector and/or accelerometer sensor which is operationally associated with the electrical components and functions to alert and/or disable the detection notification when the cart is in motion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The waste cart of claim 1, further including a cross talk feature operationally associated with the electrical components which allows for one waste cart to communicate with other waste carts in close proximity in order to avoid false detections of each system. ### Claim 8 A waste cart, comprising: a base housing; a center upright body which has a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being secured to said base housing; a top housing secured to said distal end of said center upright; wherein said base housing, center upright body, and top housing each is formed of a material that is amenable to disinfectant in the hospital environment and has surfaces contoured for easy cleaning in the hospital environment; wherein said top housing has at least two separate disposal openings for two waste portions including a first waste portion the opening of which is large enough to receive waste that is typically in the hospital environment; and a second waste portion the opening of which is large enough to receive waste that is typically in the hospital environment; and wherein the waste cart further comprises, a barrier separating the first waste portion from the second waste portion; and a metal detector and an indicator system operationally associated with each said waste portion which provide a notification when a metal item passes near or through a said opening for said waste portion; wherein said metal detector is oriented perpendicular to the passage of waste; wherein each metal detector is operated independently of one another or in tandem; and wherein an alarm indicator is activated when the passage of a metal item is detected through said disposal opening for either the first or second waste portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The waste cart of claim 8, wherein said coils are set up in either a constant wave (CW) configuration or a pulse induction (Pl) configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The waste cart of claim 8, wherein a quadrupole arrangement is utilized, wherein a single transmitter coil encircles both the first waste portion and the second waste portion and a first receiver coil is set to detect metal and a second coil is set to cancel external effects. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The waste cart of claim 8, further including a blocking shield to help isolate one region magnetically from another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The waste cart of claim 11, wherein the blocking shield is comprised of Mu-metal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The waste cart of claim 8, further comprising a motion detector and/or accelerometer sensor which functions to alert and/or disable the detection notification when the cart is in motion. ### Claim 14 A method for detecting metallic objects as they pass through a waste cart including the steps of: (a) providing a waste cart comprising: a base housing; a center upright body which has a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being secured to said base housing; a top housing secured to said distal end of said center upright, said top housing having two or more disposal openings for two or more separate waste portions including, a first waste portion which has a first metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through a said opening; and a second waste portion which includes a second metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through a said opening; means for operating each metal detector independently of one another; and an alarm indicator operationally associated with said means which is activated when said means detects the passage of a metal item through a said opening of either the first or second waste portion; (b) operating the metal detectors; (c) collecting waste generated during a procedure by placing the waste through said disposal openings into either the first or second waste portion; (d) activating said alarm indicator in the event that one of said metal detectors indicates the passage of a metallic object though a detection field; (e) retrieving said metallic object from said first or second waste portion; and (f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until the desired waste is collected. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein each said metal detector includes a receiver coil and a transmitter coil, wherein said coils are set up in either a constant wave (CW) configuration or a pulse induction (Pl) configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein a quadrupole arrangement is utilized, wherein a single transmitter coil encircles both the first waste portion and the second waste portion and a first receiver coil is set to detect metal and a second coil is set to cancel external effects. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further including a blocking shield to help isolate one region magnetically from another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the blocking shield is comprised of Mu-metal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising a motion detector and/or accelerometer sensor which is operationally associated with said means and functions to alert and/or disable the detection notification when the cart is in motion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein said means comprises electrical components located within the base housing of the waste cart.