IP Library Granted Patent US 11,554,913
Granted Patent B2
US 11,554,913 · App. 17/379,797 · Granted Jan 17, 2023

Refuse container having indicator assembly

Inventors: Richard Sedory (Charlotte, NC); Martin Damon Bryant (Charlotte, NC); Kristin Kinder (Seattle, WA); Jennifer Coates (Charlotte, NC); Tyler Brown (Charlotte, NC)
Assignee: Wastequip LLC
B65F1/1484B65F1/02B65F1/1646B65F2210/128B65F2210/138B65F2210/152
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,554,913
App. No.
17/379,797
Granted
Jan 17, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refuse container having an indicator assembly for informing a waste generator of contamination in a waste stream. A refuse container includes a container body comprising a receptacle portion and a lid coupled with the receptacle portion. The receptacle portion includes a plurality of walls that together define an enclosed space for containing refuse. An indicator device is coupled with the container body. The indicator device is movable relative to the container body between a first position and a second position. First indicia is provided on one of the indicator device or the container body. When the indicator device is in the first position, the first indicia are visible from the exterior of the refuse container, and when the indicator device is in the second position, the first indicia are not visible from the exterior of the refuse container.

Claims (33)

1. A refuse container comprising:

a container body comprising a receptacle portion and a lid rotatably coupled with the receptacle portion, the receptacle portion comprising a plurality of walls that together define an enclosed space for containing refuse; and

at least one indicator device coupled with the container body, the at least one indicator device movable relative to the container body between a first position and a second position, wherein the at least one indicator device is movable in response to one or more of the following: actuation of a key and movement of a magnet; and

first indicia provided on one of the at least one indicator device or the container body;

wherein when the at least one indicator device is in the first position, the first indicia are visible from the exterior of the refuse container, and wherein when the at least one indicator device is in the second position, the first indicia are not visible from the exterior of the refuse container.

2. The refuse container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one indicator device is disposed within a housing integrally formed with the container body.

3. The refuse container of claim 2 , wherein the at least one indicator device is coupled with the receptacle portion and the housing and receptacle portion are integrally formed together by rotational molding.

4. The refuse container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one indicator device comprises a slidable panel.

5. The refuse container of claim 4 , wherein the first indicia comprise a color applied to a bottom wall of the at least one indicator device.

6. The refuse container of claim 4 , wherein the first indicia comprise textual information disposed on the container body.

7. The refuse container of claim 6 , wherein the textual information is formed by hot stamping.

8. The refuse container of claim 1 , wherein the at least one indicator device comprises a plurality of indicator devices.

9. A refuse container comprising:

a container body comprising a receptacle portion and a lid rotatably coupled with the receptacle portion, the receptacle portion comprising a plurality of walls and that together define an enclosed space for containing refuse; and

at least one indicator assembly coupled with the container body, the at least one indicator assembly comprising at least one indicator device movably disposed within a housing from a first position to a second position, wherein the housing is disposed within the enclosed space;

wherein the at least one indicator assembly comprises first indicia that are visible from the exterior of the refuse container when the at least one indicator device is in the second position.

10. The refuse container of claim 9 , wherein the container body defines a transparent portion through which the at least one indicator device is visible from the exterior of the refuse container.

11. The refuse container of claim 9 , wherein the container body defines an aperture through which the at least one indicator device is visible from the exterior of the refuse container.

12. The refuse container of claim 9 , wherein the housing is circular and the at least one indicator device comprises a rotatable panel.

13. A refuse container comprising:

a container body comprising a receptacle portion and a lid rotatably coupled with the receptacle portion, the receptacle portion comprising a plurality of walls that together define an enclosed space for containing refuse; and

at least one indicator assembly coupled with the lid, the at least one indicator assembly comprising at least one indicator device movable relative to the lid between a first position and a second position, wherein the at least one indicator assembly comprises a button;

wherein first indicia are visible from the exterior of the refuse container when the at least one indicator device is in the second position.

14. The refuse container of claim 13 , wherein the at least one indicator device is slidable within at least one slot defined in the lid.

15. A refuse container comprising:

a container body comprising a receptacle portion and a lid rotatably coupled with the receptacle portion, the receptacle portion comprising a plurality of walls that together define an enclosed space for containing refuse; and

at least one indicator assembly coupled with the lid, the at least one indicator assembly comprising at least one indicator device movable relative to the lid between a first position and a second position, wherein the at least one indicator device comprises a clickable dial;

wherein first indicia are visible from the exterior of the refuse container when the at least one indicator device is in the second position.

16. A refuse container comprising:

a container body comprising a receptacle portion and a lid rotatably coupled with the receptacle portion, the receptacle portion comprising a plurality of walls that together define an enclosed space for containing refuse; and

at least one indicator assembly coupled with the lid, the at least one indicator assembly comprising at least one indicator device movable relative to the lid between a first position and a second position, wherein the at least one indicator assembly comprises an electronic display;

wherein first indicia are visible from the exterior of the refuse container when the at least one indicator device is in the second position.

17. The refuse container of claim 13 , wherein the at least one indicator assembly comprises a housing integrally formed with the lid.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2024
From: WASTEQUIP, LLC; WASTEQUIP MANUFACTURING COMPANY LLC; GALBREATH LLC; TOTER, LLC; AMREP MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LLC
To: ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068557/0754 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2023
From: BROWN, TYLER; BRYANT, MARTIN DAMON
To: WASTEQUIP, LLC
Reel/Frame 063155/0681 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2023
From: KINDER, KRISTIN; COATES, JENNIFER; SEDORY, RICHARD
To: WASTEQUIP, LLC
Reel/Frame 063155/0749 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16745702 · Jan 17, 2020
Provisional Application 62794569 · Jan 19, 2019
Related Publication 20210347566A1 · Nov 11, 2021