GANNAWAY BRENDA ANN (AU)
GANNAWAY BRENDA ANN (AU)
| US6164896A | 2000-12-26 | |||
| US6361264B1 | 2002-03-26 | |||
| GB2275035A | 1994-08-17 |
| 1. | A type of vehicle accessory being a hitch to which a'wheeliebin'may be secured and immobilized for transport between points of pickup and setdown, the hitch comprising a shaft in one piece and a hook so that the lower end of the shaft is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheeliebin'wheels, the upper end of the shaft has a sliding clamp which fits neatly over the handle system of the bin and is adjusted by means of the sliding clamps described in Claims 35. |
| 2. | As in Claim 1, the hitch comprising a shaft and hook wherein the lower end of the shaft is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheeliebin'wheels, the upper end of the shaft has a sliding clamp which fits neatly over the handle system of the bin and is adjusted by means of the sliding clamps described in Claims 3 5. The shaft is divided into two parts. The lower part of the shaft is narrower than the upper part of the shaft, enabling it to slide inside the upper part of the shaft. A springloaded apparatus having a handle is attached to both parts of the shaft. The handle facilitates the expansion and contraction of the hitch. When the handle is raised the hitch expands to release the bin. When the handle is lowered towards the lower part of the hitch, the hitch contracts to secure the bin. The handle is springloaded so that the hitch is in a contracted position at all times, whether attached to a bin or not attached to a bin. |
| 3. | As in Claim 12, the hitch comprising a shaft and a hook so that the lower end of the shaft is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheeliebin'wheels, the upper end of the shaft has a sliding clamp that fits neatly over the handle system of a bin. The hitch comprises a sliding clamp having a bolt apparatus which is secured manually with a spanner. This action completes a locking of the entire device at both ends. |
| 4. | As in Claims 13, the hitch comprising a shaft and a hook so that the lower end of the shaft is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheeliebin'wheels, the upper end of the shaft has a sliding clamp which fits neatly over the handle system of a bin and is adjusted manually by means of a springloaded pin, which is inserted in one or a series of holes being set a predetermined spaces along the shaft to adjust for variation in sizes of bins. This action completes a locking of the entire device at both ends. |
| 5. | As in Claims 14, the hitch comprising a shaft in and a hook so that the lower end of the shaft is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheeliebin'wheels, the upper end of the shaft has a sliding clamp which fits neatly over the handle system of a bin. The shaft has a slot extending down the shaft for the purpose of receiving the sliding clamp having a bolt apparatus. The sliding clamp slides up and down the slot in the shaft until the exact place that fits the bin is found. At that point, the bolt apparatus is adjusted manually and secured with a spanner. This action completes a locking of the entire device at both ends. |
| 6. | As in Claims 15, the hitch may be connected to a keyhole attachment having an aperture that is larger at one end and narrower at the other end. The device is purposebent between both parts of the aperture so that the keyhole attachment sits flat over the tow bar and will remain stable if any undue stress occurs such as that which may occur if the hitch is towed over a bump or some uneven surface on the drive. A hinged flap is located at the largest part of the aperture of the keyhole attachment. This flap is designed to fit over that part of the aperture and slides into position to secure the towball when the towball is moved into the narrower part of the aperture of the keyhole attachment. The hitch and attached bin are then secure and may be transported from points of pickup and setdown. |
| 7. | As in Claims 16, an optional attachment extension hook may be secured to either form of the invention and specifically may be secured to the lower end of the shaft where the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheeliebin's wheels. The attachment is bolted to and fits over the lower part of the hitch and existing hook. In this fashion, the length of the hook where the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheeliebin's wheels is extended. This result will enable the hitch to be attached to bins having bases of unusual or variant designs. The action completed, the bin is locked into the entire device at both ends. |
| 8. | As in Claims 17, the invention comprises two types of shaft, three types of sliding clamp, all of which are interchangeable. The invention has optional keyhole attachment and extension hook. These attachments are described in Claims 6 and 7. |
2.'Wheelie-bins'are containers normally having an upstanding body for the deposit of refuse, re-cycleable material or such, having one pair of wheels located externally on the closed base of the body. Most bins have 2 wheels fixed so that when the bin is in an upright position the base of the bin sits firmly on the ground or other flat surface. However, when the bin is tilted by the use of its handle, the wheels become its axis and the bin may be rotated and wheeled manually, solely on those wheels. This function is performed easily by most householders whose place of pick-up is at no great distance from the place of set-down.
3. However, many householders have long or difficult drives. These conditions may apply where householders live in the country or low-density areas. In these circumstances, the bins are by necessity located at some distance from Councils'pick-up point for the removal of refuse.
4. This invention is seen as an aid to persons who need to attach and tow or disengage'wheelie-bins'from one place to another. The average sized'wheelie-bin'will be towed easily when attached to the hitch.
5. The invention provides a method of towing a'wheelie-bin'by utilizing a conventional vehicle tow-bar attachment or a fitting having a keyhole attachment to which a hitch is fitted incorporating a separate towing mechanism designed to tow with ease of mobility one of a series of standard type'wheelie-bins'which once attached to the hitch, achieves a safe point that clears the ground.
6. The components'independent design and form are able to fit and connect and be secured to motor vehicle tow-bar fittings. This feature allows flexibility in the size of the bins whilst making no difference to the size of the hitch.
7. In one form of the invention, the lower end of the shaft of the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheelie-bin's wheels. The upper end of the shaft has a sliding clamp, which fits neatly over the handle system of a'wheelie-bin'and is then adjusted by means of a bolt apparatus and secured manually with a spanner. The adjustment of the bolt completes a locking of the entire device at both ends. The upper end of the shaft is designed to attach easily to a conventional vehicle tow-bar attachment (not shown here) or a fitting having a keyhole attachment. Where a keyhole attachment is used, the largest part of the aperture should fit over the vehicle's tow ball and the hitch is pulled back so that the narrower part of the aperture receives the post of the tow ball. The bin is then secure, attached to the hitch and immobilized for its'journey.
It may be towed on its own wheels between places of pick-up and set-down.
8. In another form of the invention, the lower end of the shaft of the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the wheelie-bin's wheels. The upper end of the shaft has a sliding clamp which fits neatly over the handle system of a'wheelie-bin'and is then adjusted manually by means of a spring-loaded pin which may be inserted in one or a series of holes being set at predetermined spaces along the shaft to adjust for variation in sizes of bins. Once the spring-loaded pin is inserted in a hole this action completes a locking of the entire device at both ends. The upper end of the shaft is designed to attach easily to a conventional vehicle tow-bar attachment (not shown here) or a fitting having a keyhole attachment. Where a keyhole attachment is used, the largest part of the aperture should fit over the vehicle's tow ball and the hitch is pulled back so that the narrower part of the aperture receives the post of the tow ball. The bin is then secure, attached to the hitch and immobilized for its'journey. It may be towed on its own wheels between places of pick-up and set- down.
9. In another form of the invention, the lower end of the shaft of the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the wheelie-bin's wheels. The upper end of the shaft has a sliding clamp which fits neatly over the handle system of a'wheelie-bin'and is adjusted by means of a bolt apparatus which slides up and down in a slot on the shaft of the device to adjust for variation in sizes of bins. Once the exact place that fits the bin is found the bolt apparatus is then adjusted manually and secured with a spanner. The adjustment of the bolt completes a locking of the entire device at both ends. The upper end of the shaft is designed to attach easily to a conventional vehicle tow-bar attachment (not shown here) or a fitting having a keyhole attachment.
Where a keyhole attachment is used, the largest part of the aperture should fit over the vehicle's tow ball and the hitch is pulled back so that the narrower part of the aperture receives the post of the tow ball. The bin is then secure, attached to the hitch and immobilized for its'journey. It may be towed on its own wheels between places of pick-up and set-down.
10. The invention includes a keyhole attachment having an aperture, that is larger at one end and narrower at the other end. The device is purpose-bent between both parts of the aperture so that the keyhole attachment sits flat over the tow bar and will remain stable if any undue stress occurs such as that which may occur if the hitch is towed over a bump or some uneven surface on the drive. A hinged flap is located at the largest part of the aperture of the keyhole attachment. This flap is designed to fit over that part of the aperture and slides into position to secure the tow-ball when the tow-ball is moved into the narrower part of the aperture of the keyhole attachment.
11. The invention includes an optional spring-loaded apparatus located centrally on the shaft. This apparatus provides the consumer with a quick and easy means of releasing the bin at either points of set down. The hitch is divided into two parts. The lower part of the hitch is narrower which enables it to slide inside the top part of the hitch. A spring-loaded apparatus enables the expansion and contraction of the hitch. When the handle is raised the hitch expands to release the bin. When the handle is lowered towards the lower part of the hitch, the hitch contracts to secure the bin. The handle is spring-loaded so that the hitch is in a contracted position at all times, whether attached to a bin or not attached to a bin.
12. The invention includes an optional attachment extension hook which may be secured to any forms of the invention and specifically may be secured to the lower end of the shaft where the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheelie-bin's wheels. The attachment is bolted to and fits over the lower part of the hitch and existing hook. In this fashion, the length of the hook where the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheelie-bin's wheels is extended. This result will enable the hitch to be attached to bins having bases of unusual or variant designs. Such a bin is then secure, attached to the hitch and immobilized for its'joumey. It may be towed on its own wheels between places of pick-up and set-down.
13. The bolt apparatus and the spring loaded pin apparatus may be designed in user-friendly fashion to achieve a design by which the fingers of the user may manipulate these apparatuses easily (such design or designs are not shown here).
14. An embodiment of the present invention is its compact size, which enables the device to be stored easily.
15. This innovation is novel due to the type and design of the device working in conjunction with the predetermined or variable sizes of the load and the vehicle tow bar fixing mechanism. It is thought that the device's attractions extend to its manufacture in various media e. g. Plastic, Metal or Fibreglass thereby enabling an inexpensive and extremely useful device.
16. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings which show three examples of the invention any one or more of which may be preferred by consumers but all providing the convenience of being secured easily to a bin on the lower end of the device and at the top of the bin being secured by the adjustable or sliding clamp.
The combined bin and hitch is attached to a motor vehicle and then towed from one place to another.
17. Figure 1 shows the hitch in its'simplest form being a shaft at which on the lower end a hook fits beneath the base of the bin between the'wheelie-bin's wheels. At the upper end of the shaft a sliding clamp fits neatly over the handle system of a'wheelie-bin'and is then adjusted by means of a bolt so that the bin may be secured and immobilized for its'journey between places of pick-up and set-down. The adjustment of the bolt completes a locking of the entire device at both ends. The upper end of the shaft is designed to attach easily to a conventional vehicle tow-bar attachment (not shown here) or a fitting having a keyhole attachment.
Where a keyhole attachment is used, the largest part of the aperture should fit over the vehicle's tow ball and the hitch is pulled back so that the narrower part of the aperture receives the post of the tow ball.
18. Figure 2 shows an optional spring-loaded apparatus located centrally on the shaft. This apparatus provides the consumer with a quick and easy means of releasing the bin at either points of set down. The hitch is divided into two parts. The lower part of the hitch is narrower than the top part so that it will slide inside the top part of the hitch. A handle is hinged at either side of the bottom part of the hitch. On either side of the handle, two arms pivot and are then hinged to the upper part of the hitch. When the handle is raised the hitch expands to release the bin. When the handle is lowered towards the lower part of the hitch, the hitch contracts to secure the bin. The handle is spring-loaded so that the hitch is in a contracted position at all times whether attached to a bin or not attached to a bin.
19. Figure 3 (aXb) and (c) shows the lower end of the shaft of the hitch, which hooks below the base of the bin between the'wheelie-bin's wheels. Figure 4 (a) shows the upper end of the shaft, which has a sliding clamp that fits neatly over the handle system of a'wheelie-bin'and is then adjusted manually by means of a bolt apparatus and secured manually with a spanner. The adjustment of the bolt completes a locking of the entire device at both ends.
20. Figure 4 (b) shows the upper end of the shaft which has a sliding clamp that fits neatly over the handle system of a'wheelie-bin'and is adjusted by means of a bolt apparatus which slides up and down in a slot on the shaft of the device to adjust for variation in sizes of bins. A nut inside the shaft secures the bolt apparatus. Once the exact place that fits the bin is found the bolt apparatus is then adjusted manually and secured with a spanner. The adjustment of the bolt completes a locking of the entire device at both ends.
21. Figure 4 (c) shows the upper end of the shaft which has a sliding clamp that fits neatly over the handle system of a'wheelie-bin'and is then adjusted manually by means of a spring-loaded pin which may be inserted in one or a series of holes being set at predetermined spaces along the shaft to adjust for variation in sizes of bins.
Once the spring-loaded pin is inserted in a hole this action completes a locking of the entire device at both ends.
22. Figure 5 shows a keyhole attachment that is purpose-bent between both parts of the aperture so that the keyhole attachment sits flat over the tow bar and will remain stable if any undue stress occurs such as that which may occur if the hitch is towed over a bump or some uneven surface on the drive. At the largest part of the aperture of the keyhole attachment is a hinged flap designed to fit over that part of the aperture and secures the whole keyhole attachment as the narrower part of the aperture receives the post of the tow ball.
This flap is designed to fit over that part of the aperture and slides into position to secure the tow-ball when the tow-ball is moved into the narrower part of the aperture of the keyhole attachment.
23. Figure 6 shows the optional attachment extension hook which may be secured to any forms of the invention and specifically may be secured to the lower end of the shaft where the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheelie-bin's wheels. The attachment is bolted to and fits over the lower part of the hitch and existing hook. In this fashion, the length of the hook where the hitch is hooked below the base of the bin between the'wheelie-bin's wheels, is extended. This result will enable the hitch to be attached to bins having bases of unusual or variant designs. Such a bin is then secure, attached to the hitch and immobilized for its'journey. It may be towed on its own wheels between places of pick-up and set-down.
24. The'wheelie-bin'hitch offers a number of choices for the Consumer in that there are: Two forms of the hitch from which a choice may be drawn. The hitch may be the simple form which secures the'wheelie-bin'with a bolt apparatus or a'quick release'form which provides the consumer with a quick and easy means of releasing the bin at either points of set down.
Three forms of sliding clamp each of which has its own attraction. The sliding clamp apparatus appears in these ways: The first sliding clamp enables the hitch to be secured with either a bolt apparatus, easy to use, secured manually with a spanner ; or A spring-loaded pin with holes set at pre-determined intervals. Once the spring loaded pin is inserted in a hole this action completes a locking of the entire device at both ends; or A slot in the shaft, which once the exact place that fits the bin is found, the bolt apparatus is adjusted manually and secured with a spanner.
A purpose-bent keyhole attachment which is used in lieu of a conventional vehicle tow-bar attachment.
25. So that damage may not occur to the vehicle or the bin at higher speeds, a vehicle connected to a'wheelie-bin' by method of the'wheelie-bin'hitch should not be reversed and should not travel in excess of 1 Okm/h. The size of loads should not exceed those recommended by the'wheelie-bin'manufacturers.
26. An elasticized strap such as an'Octopus'strap (not shown here) is recommended and may be used to secure the lid of the'wheelie-bin'when the bin attached to the hitch, is in transit from the points of pick-up and set- down. The use of such a strap would prevent any damage to vehicle or any other object or surface, which might result from, refuses spilling out from the bin in transit.