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US 5,690,025 AGranted
Trash receptacle and compactor for use in public areas and method
OwnerBobby Leonard Hawkinsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low profile trash receptacle housing carries a plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced hydraulic cylinders (A) and (B) for incrementally and simultaneously supplying a downward stroke upon a horizontally disposed compaction plate (C) so that upon retraction of the compaction plate and cylinders to a raised position following a compacting cycle adequate space is provided so that a door (D) may be opened to extend inwardly for reception of trash into a lower compacting portion of the housing with guides (E) providing stability to the compaction plate at all times during the compacting cycle.
Claims14
A trash receptacle and compactor for use in a public area comprising:
- a substantially rectangular upright housing;
- a generally horizontal support fixed in an upper portion of said housing;
- an assembly including a plurality of hydraulic cylinders carried by said generally horizontal support, said hydraulic cylinders being extensible downwardly for exerting a downward compacting force in increments creating a compaction stroke of greater length than the stroke of any single cylinder;
- said assembly further including a generally horizontally disposed rigid compaction plate carried at a lower end of said assembly;
- a compacting compartment beneath and in vertical alignment to receive said rigid compaction plate;
- a trash entry door in said housing pivoted so as to extend inwardly when in opened position and with said cylinders in retracted position providing a passageway below said compaction plate of sufficient size to permit passage of trash directly beneath said compaction plate into said compacting compartment;
- a pivotal connection for said door about a horizontal upper edge above said compaction plate when in raised retracted position so as to be inclined inwardly when opened and said compaction plate is in said raised retracted position forming said passageway for trash beneath said compaction plate;
- spaced vertical guides for aligning said compaction plate for downward movement on a compaction stroke responsive to said downward compacting force exerted by said cylinders upon said compaction plate;
- the spaced vertical guides include a vertical trackway guiding a movable support carrying said compaction plate during a power stroke, and a pair of vertical rods carried by said compaction plate and said movable support for guiding said compaction plate;
- and
- retracting means for returning said cylinders and compaction plate to raised position upon completion of a compaction stroke;
- whereby a low profile compactor may provide compacting force in increments of lesser length than the compaction stroke as the compaction plate is lowered as well as affording a passageway for trash beneath the compaction plate when the cylinders are retracted to bring the compaction plate to raised position.
9 more elements
The method of collecting and compacting trash in a public area comprising the steps of:
- providing an upright trash receiving housing;
- positioning a generally horizontally disposed power operated assembly including a movable support and a compaction plate depending therefrom for vertical movement in said housing for compacting trash in a lower compacting compartment in vertical alignment therewith;
- hinging a trash receiving door for pivotal movement in said housing which, when pivoted to open position with said compaction plate in raised retracted position extends inwardly beneath said compaction plate providing a passageway of sufficient size to permit passage of trash directly beneath said compaction plate into said compacting compartment;
- guiding and positioning said power operated assembly on a vertical trackway during application of compacting force and during retraction to raised position;
- and
- guiding and positioning said compaction plate for vertical movement in respect to said movable support;
- and
- exerting a compaction stroke of such length as to compact said trash in the lower compacting compartment by incremental movements between said horizontal support, said movable support and said compaction plate;
- whereby a low profile compactor may provide for the introduction of trash beneath the compaction plate when in raised retracted position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.