Land vehicles – Wheeled – Stable vehicles – handle-propelled
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-14
2001-03-20
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Stable vehicles, handle-propelled
C220S769000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203034
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to containers for holding and transporting various materials. More particularly, this invention pertains to large, wheeled containers, commonly referred to as “tilt trucks”, for holding, transporting and dumping heavy or bulky materials.
Prior art tilt trucks comprise a polyethylene container body having a base, a front end wall, a rear end wall, opposite left and right side walls, and an open top. Usually, one of the front and rear end walls slants away from the other so that the tilt truck can be “tilted” onto the slanted end wall to unload the contents of the tilt truck. In some prior art tilt trucks, the container body is mounted within a separate steel frame for added support. Many prior art tilt trucks include a handle mounted to the front or rear end wall, and a plurality of wheels and/or casters mounted to the base of the container body.
In some prior art tilt trucks, the handle is bolted, welded, or otherwise mechanically fastened directly to one of the end walls of the tilt truck. Consequently, all vertical, lateral, and longitudinal (forward and rearward) forces applied to the handle during use are borne by that one end wall, which can present a problem, especially when particularly heavy loads are being carried. Also, in tilt trucks having a handle mounted to an end wall with mechanical fasteners, portions of the fasteners pass through holes in the end wall and are exposed to the contents of the tilt truck. If the metal fasteners rust, the contents of the tilt truck may become contaminated.
Prior art tilt trucks usually include a plurality of wheels and/or casters mounted to the base of the container body. Typically, a standard caster assembly is secured to a metal mounting plate, and the plate is bolted to the underside of the base of the container body. These mounting arrangements are cumbersome and increase the cost of manufacturing the tilt truck. Also, portions of the bolts used to fasten the mounting plates to the base pass through holes in the base and are exposed to the contents of the tilt truck.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by the present invention, which provides a transportable container with improved handle and caster mounting arrangements. It is an object of the present invention to provide a transportable container having handle and caster mounting arrangements that are less likely to contaminate the contents of the container. Another object is to provide a transportable container having a simple, yet sturdy handle mounting arrangement with fewer parts. Still another object is to provide a transportable container with a caster mounting arrangement having improved retentive properties to more securely position and hold a caster assembly. Yet another object is to provide a transportable container having an integral caster socket. A further object is to provide an improved method for mounting a caster assembly to the container body of a transportable container without the need for mechanical fasteners.
In general, a transportable container of the present invention comprises a container body and a handle. The container body includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls extending generally upwardly from the base to define a container interior. One of the container sidewalls constitutes a generally vertical first sidewall. The first sidewall has an interior side and an exterior side. The handle includes a hand-engageable portion and a mounting portion, which extends from the hand-engageable portion. The first sidewall includes a flange, which comprises an upper edge margin of the first sidewall. The flange includes an outwardly extending first flange portion and a downwardly extending second flange portion. The first sidewall, first flange portion and second flange portion together define a socket, which is adapted to receive the mounting portion of the handle therein for mounting of the handle to the container body.
In another aspect of the present invention, a transportable container comprises a container body, a sleeve member, and a caster assembly. The container body includes a caster socket formed therein. The caster socket has an interior surface with a closed upper end and an open lower end. The sleeve member has an outer surface adapted for engagement with the interior surface of the caster socket. The caster socket is sized to receive the sleeve member therein in a frictional engagement. The sleeve member has an axial hole extending from a bottom end of the sleeve member toward a top end of the sleeve member. The caster assembly has a pintle. The axial hole in the sleeve member is sized to receive the pintle of the caster assembly therein for mounting the caster assembly to the container body.
Generally, a method of the present invention is for mounting a caster assembly to a transportable container. The method comprises the steps of forming a container body from a curable polymeric material in a manner so that the container body has a caster socket formed therein, the caster socket having an interior surface with a closed upper end and an open lower end; providing a sleeve member having an outer surface adapted for engagement with the interior surface of the caster socket; inserting the sleeve member into the caster socket before the curable polymeric material of the container body is fully cured; and allowing the curable polymeric material of the container body to fully cure.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
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Contico International LLC
Howell & Haferkamp LC
Johnson Brian L.
Klebe Gerald
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