Damage-resistant refuse receptacle lifter Number:6,921,239 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Damage-resistant refuse receptacle lifter

Abstract: A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container includes a base, a drive unit mounted to the base and having a rotatable output shaft, a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container, at least one lift arm having a first end carried by the output shaft and a second end associated with the carriage, and at least one actuator arm having a first end pivotably carried by the base and a second end pivotably associated with the carriage. One of the lift arm or the actuator arm is pivotable at a location along the length thereof to allow movement of the carriage relative to the base and independent of rotation of the output shaft allowing movement of the carriage in response to obstacles or road debris so as to prevent damage to the lifter. In another embodiment, the carriage may include an upper portion carrying an upper hook and a lower portion carrying a lower hook where the lower portion is pivotable relative to said upper portion to allow movement of said lower hook relative to said upper hook independent of rotation of said output shaft.

Patent Number: 6,921,239 Issued on 07/26/2005 to Arrez,   et al.

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Inventors:	Arrez; Ramiro (Chicago, IL); Arrez; Carols (Berwyn, IL)
Assignee:	Perkins Manufacturing Company (LaGrange, IL)
Appl. No.:	102060
Filed:	March 20, 2002

Current U.S. Class:	414/408; 414/421
Intern'l Class:	B65F 003/00
Field of Search:	414/408,421,406

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Other References

Lifting Mechanism for a Sanitation Vehicle, U.S. Appl. No. 378,823, filed May 12, 1982, now abandoned (bearing production Nos. B984-1005), with photographs (dated Dec., 1981) (bearing production Nos. B1082-1097), photographs of a present version of the above cited reference (bearing production Nos. B1098-1110A), and other related documents (bearing production Nos. 935-937, 939, 948-977, 981, 983, 1006-1025, and 1111-1125). Refuse Removal Systems, Inc., "Waste Wheeler," Waste Age, 1982 (with photographs of the device bearing production Nos. B913-922). Rubbermaid "Mobile Toter.". McKagen, World Wastes, "Supercan! Can . . . And Does,"Jun. 1983, pp. 24-26. Waste Age, Mar. 1982, pp. 31-33. U.S. Appl. No. 10/081,654 (pending) to Arrez et al. including PTO filing receipt, specification, claims, abstract, and drawings. U.S. Appl. No. 10/108,825 (pending) to Arrez et al. including PTO filing receipt, specification, claims, abstract, and drawings. Zarn Model "D" sales brochure, printed prior to Mar. 20, 2002. Taskmaster Lifter features/specifications from: http://www.baynethinline.com/products_taskmaster.htm. U.S. Appl. No. 10/718,336, filed Nov. 20, 2003, entitled "Front Mounted Lifter For Front Load Vehicle.". Arrez et al., U.S. Appl. No. 10/767,041, filed Jan. 29, 2004, entitled "Heavy Duty Cart Lifter.". Arrez et al., U.S. Appl. No. 10/691,989, filed Oct. 23, 2003, entitled "Receptacle Lifter With Retractable Gripper Arms.". Bayne Brochure Thinline Grabber Lifter, Model GTLS 1110, undated (2 pages). Perkins Mfg. Brochure: "The Original Rotary Tuckaway," Model D6080-20K, (2 pages). Bayne Brochure Thinline® Grabber Lifter, Model GTLS 1110, undated, (2 pages).

Primary Examiner: Hess; Douglas
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cook,Alex,McFarron, Manzo,Cummings & Mehler, Ltd.

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Parent Case Text

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This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/280,091 filed Mar. 30, 2001.

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Claims

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1. A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container, said lifting device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a drive unit mounted to said base and having a rotatable output shaft;

(c) a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container;

(d) at least one lift arm having a first end carried by said output shaft and a second end associated with said carriage; and

(e) at least one actuator arm having a first end pivotably carried by said base and a second end pivotably associated with said carriage,

selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm being pivotable at a location along the length thereof to allow movement of said carriage relative to said base independent of rotation of said output shaft.

2. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein said output shaft has two opposed ends defining a first axis about which said output shaft is rotatable.

3. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein said first end of said lift arm is carried by one end of said output shaft and rotates about said first axis in response to rotation of said output shaft.

4. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein at least two lift arms are secured to said output shaft, one lift arm being secured to each end of said output shaft.

5. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein said first end of said actuator arm is pivotably associated with said base for rotation about a second axis displaced from said first axis.

6. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm includes at least one hinge interposed between the respective ends thereof, said pivotal movement of selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm occurring along a pivoting axis.

7. The lifting device of claim 6 wherein said pivoting axis is axially offset from said first axis.

8. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein at least two actuator arms are pivotably mounted to said base for rotation about a second axis displaced from said first axis.

9. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein said carriage includes an upper hook and a lower hook.

10. The lifting device of claim 9 wherein said upper hook is carried by said lift arm and said lower hook is movable by said actuator arm when said carriage is raised so that said first hook and said second hook selectively engage the refuse container.

11. The lifting device of claim 9 wherein said carriage includes a telescoping member extending between said first and said second hooks to move said hooks relative to one another as said carriage is raised and lowered.

12. The lifting device of claim 11 wherein said telescoping member comprises an inner member and an outer member, said inner member of said telescoping member being carried by said second end of said lift arm and said outer member of said telescoping member being pivotably associated with said actuator arm.

13. The lifting device of claim 11 wherein said first end of said telescoping member is carried by said second end of said lift arm.

14. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm defines a hinge at said location between the respective ends thereof to allow said movement of said carriage.

15. The lifting device of claim 14 wherein said selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm comprises two arm portions pivotably joined at said location to define said hinge.

16. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm includes a stopping element to limit the range of pivotable movement.

17. A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container, said lifting device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a drive unit mounted to said base and having a rotatable output shaft;

(c) a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container; and

(d) at least one lift arm having a first end carried by said output shaft and a second end associated with said carriage, said lift arm being pivotable at a location along the length thereof to allow movement of said carriage relative to said base independent of rotation of said output shaft.

18. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said output shaft has two opposed ends defining a first axis about which said output shaft is rotatable.

19. The lifting device of claim 18 wherein said first end of said lift arm is secured to one end of said output shaft and rotates about said first axis in response to rotation of said output shaft.

20. The lifting device of claim 18 wherein at least two lift arms are secured to said output shaft, one lift arm being secured to each end of said output shaft.

21. The lifting device of claim 18 further comprising wherein at least one actuator arm pivotably associated with said base for rotation about a second axis displaced from said first axis.

22. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said carriage includes an upper hook and a lower hook for selectively engaging the refuse container.

23. The lifting device of claim 22 wherein said carriage includes a telescoping member extending between said first and second hooks to move said hooks relative to one another as said carriage is raised and lowered.

24. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said lift arm includes a hinge along the length thereof to allow movement of said carriage relative to said base independent of rotation of said output shaft.

25. The lifting device of claim 24 wherein said hinge defines a pivoting axis which is axially offset from said first axis.

26. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said lift arm includes a stopping member to limit the range of pivotable movement of said lift arm.

27. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said carriage includes an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion carrying an upper hook and said lower portion carrying a lower hook.

28. The lifting device of claim 27 wherein said lower portion is pivotably movable in relation to said upper portion.

29. A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container, said lifting device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a drive unit mounted to said base and having a rotatable output shaft;

(c) a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container, said carriage including an upper portion carrying an upper hook and a lower portion carrying a lower hook;

(d) at least one lift arm having a first end carried by said output shaft and a second end associated with said carriage;

said lower portion being pivotable relative to said upper portion to allow movement of said lower hook relative to said upper hook independent of rotation of said output shaft.

30. The lifting device of claim 29 wherein said upper portion is carried by said second end of said lift arm and said lower portion is pivotably associated with said lift arm.

31. The lifting device of claim 29 wherein said lower portion and said upper portion are connected by a telescoping connection.

32. T