Dumpster

Abstract

A dumpster includes a plastic body with first and second plastic lids that are pivotally attached to the body. A divider is secured to the body to separate a dumpster interior into first and second compartments. The first lid covers the first compartment and the second lid covers the second compartment. The dumpster includes a locking assembly that allows one lid to be locked while the other lid remains unlocked, and which also allows both lids to be locked at the same time. Each lid includes a support frame to provide reinforcement during an emptying process when one lid is locked.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dumpster comprising:
 a body including a base wall, a front wall, side walls, and a rear wall that cooperate with each other to define a dumpster interior with an open top;   at least one lid pivotally attached to said body to at least partially cover the open top; and   a support frame mounted to the at least one lid.   
     
     
         2 . The dumpster according to  claim 1  wherein said lid is comprised of a plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The dumpster according to  claim 2  wherein said body is comprised of a plastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The dumpster according to  claim 2  wherein each side wall of said body includes front and rear supports configured to receive a sleeve, and wherein said sleeve defines a pocket configured to receive a lift fork. 
     
     
         5 . The dumpster according to  claim 2  wherein said at least one lid comprises at least a first lid and a second lid that cooperate to cover the open top when in a closed position, and wherein the first and second lids are moveable between open and closed positions independently of each other. 
     
     
         6 . The dumpster according to  claim 5  wherein each of said first and second lids includes said support frame, and wherein said support frame comprises first and second side support members and a front support member secured to each of said first and second side support members. 
     
     
         7 . The dumpster according to  claim 6  wherein each of said first and second lids includes at least two openings configured to receive said first and second side support members. 
     
     
         8 . The dumpster according to  claim 6  wherein said front support member includes a sleeve configured to receive a lock member. 
     
     
         9 . The dumpster according to  claim 5  including a locking assembly configured to lock one of the first and second lids in the closed position while allowing the other of the first and second lids to be moved to the open position. 
     
     
         10 . The dumpster according to  claim 9  wherein said locking assembly includes a lock frame mounted to said front wall and a slider mechanism mounted for sliding movement relative to said lock frame. 
     
     
         11 . The dumpster according to  claim 10  wherein each of said first and second lids includes at least one sleeve, and wherein said lock frame includes a plate mounted to said front wall, a plurality of flanges extending outwardly of said plate, and a lock bar supported by said flanges, and wherein said slider mechanism comprises slide bar with a handle and at least one shift sleeve that slidably receives said lock bar, and wherein said at least one shift sleeve slides along said lock bar between a first lock position where said first lid is locked and said second lid is unlocked, a second lock position wherein said second lid is locked and said first lid is unlocked, and a third lock position where both said first lid and said second lid are locked. 
     
     
         12 . The dumpster according to  claim 11  wherein said slide bar is rotatable relative to said lock bar. 
     
     
         13 . The dumpster according to  claim 5  including a divider attached to said body to separate said dumpster interior into at least first and second compartments, and wherein said first lid covers said first compartment and said second lid covers said second compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The dumpster according to  claim 13  including a first groove associated with said bottom wall to receive a lower edge of said divider and including a top support with a second groove to receive an upper edge of said divider. 
     
     
         15 . A lid assembly for a dumpster comprising:
 a lid body having a front edge, a rear edge and side edges extending between said front and rear edges;   a pivot connection interface formed in said lid body, said pivot connection interface configured for attachment to a dumpster body; and   a support frame secured to said lid body.   
     
     
         16 . The lid assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said lid body is comprised of a plastic material. 
     
     
         17 . The lid assembly according to  claim 16  wherein said support frame comprises a metal structure. 
     
     
         18 . The lid assembly according to  claim 16  wherein said support frame comprises first and second side support members and a front support member secured to each of said first and second side support members. 
     
     
         19 . The lid assembly according to  claim 18  wherein said front edge of said lid body includes a first hole that receives said first side support member and a second hole that receives said second side support member, and wherein said front support member is secured to forward ends of said first and second side support members. 
     
     
         20 . The lid assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said front support member is secured to an outer surface of said front edge of said body, and wherein said front support member includes at least one sleeve configured to receive a lock member to lock said lid body in a closed positioned. 
     
     
         21 . A dumpster comprising:
 a body including a base wall, a front wall, side walls, and a rear wall that cooperate with each other to define a dumpster interior with an open top;   at least a first lid and a second lid, said first lid pivotally attached to said body to cover a first portion of the open top and said second lid pivotally attached to said body to cover a second portion of the open top; and   a locking assembly configured to lock one of the first and second lids in the closed position while allowing the other of the first and second lids to be moved to the open position.   
     
     
         22 . The dumpster according to  claim 21  wherein said body and said first and second lids are comprised of a plastic material. 
     
     
         23 . The dumpster according to  claim 22  including a support frame mounted to each of the first and second lids. 
     
     
         24 . The dumpster according to  claim 21  wherein said locking assembly includes a lock frame mounted to said front wall and a slider mechanism mounted for sliding movement relative to said lock frame. 
     
     
         25 . The dumpster according to  claim 24  wherein each of said first and second lids includes at least one sleeve, and wherein said lock frame includes a plate mounted to said front wall, a plurality of flanges extending outwardly of said plate, and a lock bar supported by said flanges, and wherein said slider mechanism comprises slide bar with a handle and at least one shift sleeve that slidably receives said lock bar, and wherein said at least one shift sleeve slides along said lock bar between a first lock position where said first lid is locked and said second lid is unlocked, a second lock position wherein said second lid is locked and said first lid is unlocked, and a third lock position where both said first lid and said second lid are locked. 
     
     
         26 . The dumpster according to  claim 25  wherein said slide bar is rotatable relative to said lock bar. 
     
     
         27 . The dumpster according to  claim 22  including a divider attached to said body to separate said dumpster interior into at least first and second compartments, and wherein said first lid covers said first compartment and said second lid covers said second compartment. 
     
     
         28 . A locking assembly for a dumpster comprising:
 a lock frame including a plate configured for attachment to a wall of a dumpster body, a plurality of flanges extending outwardly of said plate, and a lock bar supported by said flanges; and   a slider mechanism mounted for sliding movement relative to said lock frame, said slider mechanism including a slide bar having at least one shift sleeve that is coupled to said lock bar such that said slide bar can slide along said lock bar between a plurality of lock positions.   
     
     
         29 . The locking assembly according to  claim 28  including at least one lock sleeve configured for attachment to a dumpster lid, said slide bar being received within said lock sleeve to lock the dumpster lid to the dumpster body. 
     
     
         30 . The locking assembly according to  claim 28  wherein said slide bar is rotatable relative to said lock bar. 
     
     
         31 . A dumpster comprising:
 a plastic body including a base wall, a front wall, side walls, and a rear wall that cooperate with each other to define a dumpster interior with an open top;   at least a first lid and a second lid each comprised of a plastic material, said first lid pivotally attached to said body to cover a first portion of the open top and said second lid pivotally attached to said body to cover a second portion of the open top; and   a divider attached to said body to separate said dumpster interior into at least first and second compartments, and wherein said first lid covers said first compartment and said second lid covers said second compartment.   
     
     
         32 . The dumpster according to  claim 31  including a first groove associated with said bottom wall to receive a lower edge of said divider and including a top support with a second groove to receive an upper edge of said divider. 
     
     
         33 . The dumpster according to  claim 32  including a pair of L-shaped divider bottom supports secured to said bottom wall and spaced apart from each other to form said first groove. 
     
     
         34 . The dumpster according to  claim 33  wherein said top support comprises a first attachment bracket attached to said rear wall, a second attachment bracket attached to said front wall, and a support body mounted to said first and second attachment brackets, said support body including said second groove. 
     
     
         35 . The dumpster according to  claim 31  including at least one support bracket that secures said divider to one of said front and rear walls. 
     
     
         36 . The dumpster according to  claim 31  including a support frame for each of said first and second lids and a locking assembly configured to lock one of said first and second lids in the closed position while allowing the other of said first and second lids to be moved to the open position. 
     
     
         37 . A divider assembly for a dumpster comprising:
 a divider wall having an upper edge, lower edge, and front and rear side edges extending between said upper and lower edges;   a divider bottom support including a first groove to receive said lower edge of said divider wall; and   a divider top support including a second groove to receive said upper edge of said divider wall, and wherein said divider wall is configured to separate a dumpster interior into first and second compartments when said divider wall is mounted within said first and second grooves.   
     
     
         38 . The divider assembly according to  claim 37  wherein said divider bottom support comprises a pair of L-shaped divider bottom brackets configured to be secured to a dumpster bottom wall, said bottom brackets being spaced apart from each other to form said first groove. 
     
     
         39 . The divider assembly according to  claim 37  wherein said top support comprises a first attachment bracket configured for attachment to a dumpster rear wall, a second attachment bracket configured for attachment to a dumpster front wall, and a support body mounted to said first and second attachment brackets, said support body including said second groove. 
     
     
         40 . The divider assembly according to  claim 37  including at least one support bracket configured to secure said divider wall to one of a dumpster front and rear walls.