Unitary ornamental front load containers, ornamental surrounds, and front load containers

Abstract

Unitary ornamental front load containers for containing trash and/or recyclables include a container for containing the trash and/or recyclables, and an ornamental surround attached with a connector to the front load container. The attached ornamental surround defines right and left front openings aligned with right and left front pocket openings of right and left fork pockets of the container. The ornamental surround obscures from view the front sidewall, the right sidewall having the right fork pocket, the left sidewall having the left fork pocket, the rear sidewall, and the at least one hinged top of the container by an observer standing on the ground. The container and the attached ornamental surround being liftable as a unit by forks of a front loading garbage truck to empty the trash and/or the recyclables from the unitary ornamental front load container.

Claims

1. An ornamental cover attachable to a front load container comprising a bottom, a front sidewall, a left sidewall, a right sidewall, and a rear sidewall, and at least one hinged top, the left sidewall having a left fork pocket having a left front pocket opening, and the right sidewall having a right fork pocket having a right front pocket opening, said ornamental cover comprising: a facade panel disposable across the front sidewall of the front load container; said attachable ornamental cover defining a left front opening alignable with the left front pocket opening of the left fork pocket of the front load container, and said attachable ornamental-cover defining a right front opening alignable with the right front pocket opening of the right fork pocket of the front load container; said attachable ornamental cover is operable for obscuring from view the front load container by an observer standing on the ground in front of said cover; and wherein the front load container and said attached ornamental cover being liftable as a unit by forks of a front loading garbage truck to empty the trash and/or the recyclable materials from the front load container.

2. The ornamental cover of claim 1 wherein said attachable ornamental cover being operable for obscuring from view the front sidewall, the left sidewall having the left fork pocket, the right sidewall having the right fork pocket, and the at least one hinged top of the front load container by the observer standing on the ground in front of said ornamental cover.

3. The ornamental cover of claim 1 further comprising a support operable for supporting said facade panel spaced apart from said front sidewall.

4. The ornamental cover of claim 3 wherein said support comprises a plurality of elongated members, elongated furring channels, and/or hat channels.

5. The ornamental cover of claim 1 wherein said ornamental cover is attachable to the front load container so that top edges of said facade panel is disposed above top edges of the front load container, and said ornamental cover is attachable to the front load container so that bottom edges of said facade panel is disposed above the ground.

6. The ornamental cover of claim 1 wherein said facade panel comprises a generally outer planar surface.

7. The ornamental cover of claim 1 further comprising a left rounded elongated vertically-extending member disposed along a left vertical side of said facade panel, and a right rounded elongated vertically-extending member disposed along a right vertical side of said facade panel.

8. The ornamental cover of claim 1 wherein said facade panel comprises the appearance of a plurality of slats.

9. The ornamental cover of claim 1 wherein said ornamental cover comprises a polymeric material.

10. A method for forming an ornamental refuse container for containing trash and/or recyclable materials, the method comprising: providing the ornamental cover of claim 1; and attaching the ornamental cover to a front load container.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the attaching comprises attaching the ornamental cover to the front load container with bolts.

12. The ornamental cover of claim 1 wherein said ornamental cover comprises holes for receiving bolts extendable through said ornamental cover and the front load container.

13. The ornamental cover of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bolts extendable through said ornamental cover and the front load container.

14. An ornamental cover attachable to a front load container comprising a bottom, a front sidewall, a left sidewall, a right sidewall, and a rear sidewall, and at least one hinged top, the left sidewall having a left fork pocket having a left front pocket opening, and the right sidewall having a right fork pocket having a right front pocket opening, the left sidewall having a left sidewall opening with a bottom of the left side wall opening disposed above the left fork pocket and/or the right sidewall having a right sidewall opening with a bottom of the right side wall opening disposed above the right fork pocket, said ornamental cover comprising: a side panel disposable across the left sidewall and the left fork pocket of the front load container, or across the right sidewall and the right fork pocket of the front load container, said side panel having a side opening disposed in an upper half of said side panel with a bottom portion of said side opening disposed above a lower half of said side panel and an upper portion of said side opening disposed below a top edge of said side panel, said side opening alignable with the left sidewall opening of the front load container or the right sidewall opening of the front load container so that a bottom of said side panel opening extends above the left fork pocket of the front load container or the right fork pocket of the front load container; a side opening panel sized for covering said side opening in said side panel; said attachable ornamental cover is operable for obscuring from view the left sidewall or the right sidewall by an observer standing on the ground in front of the left side panel or the right side panel; and wherein the front load container and said attached ornamental cover being liftable as a unit by forks of a front loading garbage truck to empty the trash and/or the recyclable materials from the front load container.

15. The ornamental cover of claim 14 further comprising a support disposed between said ornamental cover and the sidewall of the front load container.

16. The ornamental cover of claim 15 wherein said support comprises a plurality of elongated members, elongated furring channels, and/or hat channels.

17. The ornamental cover of claim 14 wherein said ornamental cover comprises holes for receiving bolts extendable through said ornamental cover and the front load container.

18. The ornamental cover of claim 14 further comprising a support operable for supporting said side panel spaced apart and outwardly from the sidewall and the fork pocket extending outwardly from said sidewall.

19. The ornamental cover of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of bolts extendable through said ornamental cover, said plurality of supports, and the front load container.

20. The ornamental cover of claim 14 wherein said ornamental cover is attachable to the front load container so that a top edge of said side panel is disposed above a top edge of the front load container, and said side panel is attachable to the front load container so that a bottom edge of said side panel is disposed above the ground.

21. The ornamental cover of claim 14 wherein said side panel comprises a generally outer planar surface.

22. The ornamental cover of claim 14 wherein said side panel comprises the appearance of a plurality of bricks or blocks.

23. The ornamental cover of claim 14 wherein said ornamental cover comprises a polymeric material.

24. The ornamental cover of claim 14 wherein said side opening panel is hingedly attachable to said side panel.

25. The ornamental cover of claim 24 wherein said side panel and said side opening panel comprise a unitary design.

26. A method for forming an ornamental refuse container for containing trash and/or recyclable materials, the method comprising: providing the ornamental cover of claim 14; and attaching the ornamental cover to a front load container.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the attaching comprises attaching the ornamental cover to the front load container with bolts.

28. An ornamental cover attachable to a front load container comprising a bottom, a front sidewall, a left sidewall, a right sidewall, and a rear sidewall, and at least one hinged top, the left sidewall having a left fork pocket having a left front pocket opening, and the right sidewall having a right fork pocket having a right front pocket opening, said ornamental cover comprising: a facade panel disposable across the front sidewall of the front load container; said attachable ornamental cover defining at least a left portion of the facade panel alignable around at least a portion of the left front pocket opening of the left fork pocket of the front load container, and said attachable ornamental-cover defining at least a right portion of the facade panel alignable around at least a portion of the right front pocket opening of the right fork pocket of the front load container; said attachable ornamental cover is operable for obscuring from view the front load container by an observer standing on the ground in front of said cover; wherein said at least said left portion of said facade panel comprises a horizontal edge and a vertical edge alignable around the at least the portion of the left front pocket opening of the left fork pocket of the front load container, and wherein said at least said right portion of said facade panel comprises a horizontal edge and a vertical edge alignable around the at least the portion of the right front pocket opening of the right fork pocket of the front load container; and wherein the front load container and said attached ornamental cover being liftable as a unit by forks of a front loading garbage truck to empty the trash and/or the recyclable materials from the front load container.

29. The ornamental cover of claim 28 wherein said ornamental cover is attachable to the front load container so that a top edge of said facade panel is disposable above a top edge of the front load container, and said ornamental cover is attachable to the front load container so that a bottom edge of said facade panel is disposable above the ground.

30. The ornamental cover of claim 28 wherein said facade panel comprises a generally outer planar surface.

31. The ornamental cover of claim 28 wherein said facade panel comprises the appearance of a plurality of slats.

32. A method for forming an ornamental refuse container for containing trash and/or recyclable materials, the method comprising: providing the ornamental cover of claim 28; and attaching the ornamental cover to a front load container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various aspects of the present disclosure are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a unitary ornamental front load container in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front and a left side perspective view of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a rear and a right side perspective view of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a front and a left side perspective view, partially cutaway, of the container of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a rear and a right side perspective view of the container of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1 illustrating the folk openings;

(8) FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1 illustrating the left side opening panel;

(9) FIG. 8 is a left side elevational view of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1, with the left side panel removed, illustrating the aligned left sidewall opening of the container;

(10) FIG. 9 is a top view of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1 illustrating a connector for attaching the ornamental surround to the containers;

(11) FIG. 10 is a front and a left side perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 illustrating a portion of the connector;

(12) FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines 11-11 in FIG. 9, illustrating a portion of the connector for attaching the ornamental surround to the container;

(13) FIG. 12 is a front and a left side perspective view of the container of FIG. 1 and another embodiment of a portion of a connector in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure for use in attaching the ornamental surround to the container;

(14) FIG. 13 is an exploded side elevational view of a portion of the surround and a portion of the container of FIG. 1, and another embodiment of a portion of a connector in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure for use in attaching the ornamental surround to the container;

(15) FIG. 14 is a front and a right side perspective view of the container of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1, partially cut away, illustrating the bottom having an angled bottom portion;

(16) FIG. 15 is a front and a left side perspective view of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1 illustrating the ornamental surround being spaced above the ground;

(17) FIG. 16 is a rear and a right side perspective view of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 1 illustrating the ornamental surround being spaced above the ground;

(18) FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a unitary ornamental front load container in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure having a facade opening; and

(19) FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the container of the unitary ornamental front load container of FIG. 17 illustrating fork pockets that are disposed inwardly from the right and left sidewalls of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(20) The present disclosure addresses and enhances, inter alia, the collection trash or recyclable materials. For example, the present disclosure may include a unitary ornamental front load container having a container and an attached ornamental surround that provides a more pleasing visual appearance compared to conventional steel front load containers. The container and an attached ornamental surround may be transportable as a unit to and from a site such as schools, apartment complexes, shopping centers, and restaurants. While disposed at the site, the unitary ornamental front load container is liftable as a unit by the forks of a front loading garbage truck to empty trash and/or recyclable materials from the unitary ornamental front load container into the garbage truck. In some embodiments, the ornamental surround and container may include aligned side openings or aligned front openings allowing easy access by a user when placing trash or recyclables in the unitary ornamental front load container. In other embodiments, the unitary ornamental front load container may include a sloped bottom that results in discarded trash and/or recyclables placed in the aligned openings sliding downwardly and away from the side or front openings.

(21) FIG. 1 illustrates a unitary ornamental front load container 10 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure for containing trash and/or recyclables. As described in greater detail below, unitary ornamental front load container 10 provides a fixedly attached ornamental surround 100 that substantially obscures from view a container disposed therein by an observer standing on the ground 12. The fixedly attached ornamental surround 100 is liftable along with the container as a unit, by forks of a front loading garbage truck, passing through opening 102 and 104 in ornamental surround 100, to empty trash and/or recyclable materials from unitary ornamental front load container 10 into the garbage truck.

(22) With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in this exemplary embodiment, unitary ornamental front load container 10 includes ornamental surround 100 being attached to a container 300 for containing trash and/or recyclables. Ornamental surround 100 includes a facade panel 120, a left side panel 140, a right side panel 160, and a rear side panel 180. A pair of elongated rounded members, bumpers, or corners 190 and 195 may be disposed between facade panel 120, and left and right panels 140 and 160, respectively. In one embodiment, the facade panel may have the appearance of a slatted gate, and the left side panel, the right side panel, and the rear side panel may have the appearance of being formed from a plurality of bricks or blocks. Facade panel 120 may also include hinges 122 (FIG. 2), and handles 124 (FIG. 2). In this illustrated embodiment, the facade panel, hinges, and handle may be an integral one-piece unit, i.e., halves of the facade not actually operable to hingedly open. It will be appreciated that the ornamental surround may have any suitable ornamental look that provides a more pleasing visual appearance compared to conventional steel front load containers.

(23) As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, container 300 may include a bottom 310 (FIG. 4), a front sidewall 320 (FIG. 4), a left sidewall 340 (FIG. 4) having a left outwardly-extending fork pocket 350 (FIG. 4) having a left front pocket opening 352 (FIG. 4), a right sidewall 360 (FIG. 5) having a right outwardly-extending fork pocket 370 (FIG. 5) having a right front pocket opening 372 (FIG. 5), a rear sidewall 380 (FIG. 5), and at least one hinged top 390. Outwardly-extending fork pocket 350 may flare upwardly and downwardly, but not outwardly to the side (e.g., flush or flat along the outside) to form the pocket opening 372.

(24) With reference again to FIGS. 2-5, ornamental surround 100 includes facade panel 120 disposed across front sidewall 320 (FIG. 4) of container 300 (FIG. 4), left side panel 140 (FIG. 2) disposed across left sidewall 340 (FIG. 4) and left outwardly-extending fork pocket 350 (FIG. 4) of container 300 (FIG. 4), right side panel 160 (FIG. 3) disposed across right sidewall 360 (FIG. 5) and right outwardly-extending fork pocket 370 (FIG. 5) of container 300 (FIG. 5), and rear side panel 180 (FIG. 3) disposed across rear sidewall 380 (FIG. 5) of container 300 (FIG. 5). Left and right outwardly-extending pockets may be generally horizontally disposed along the outer surface of the left and right sidewalls, respectively. Ornamental surround 100 obscures from view front sidewall 320 (FIG. 4), left sidewall 340 (FIG. 4) having the left outwardly-extending right fork pocket 350 (FIG. 4), right sidewall 360 (FIG. 5) having right outwardly-extending right fork pocket 370 (FIG. 5), rear sidewall 380 (FIG. 5), and at least one hinged top 390 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the container by an observer standing on the ground.

(25) As shown in FIG. 6, unitary ornamental front load container 10 includes ornamental surround 100 which defines left front opening 102 aligned with left front pocket opening 352 of left outwardly-extending fork pocket 350 of the container, and defines right front opening 104 aligned with right front pocket opening 372 of right outwardly-extending fork pocket 370 of the container. For example, elongated rounded members 190 and 195 may define left front opening 102 and right front opening 104, respectively. In other embodiments, the elongated rounded members or bumpers need not be provided, and the left and right vertical sides of the facade panel may extend outward over the front vertical edges of the left and right side panels and be provided with openings aligned with the pocket openings in the fork pockets of the container.

(26) FIG. 7 illustrates left side panel 140 of ornamental surround 100 which may include a left side opening panel 142. Left side opening panel 142 may be aligned, as shown in FIG. 8, with a left sidewall opening 342 in left sidewall 340 of container 300. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, left side opening panel 142 (FIG. 7) and left sidewall opening 342 (FIG. 8) may be aligned and allow for relatively easily disposal of trash and/or recyclables by a user compared to disposal by lifting top 390 (FIG. 8). With reference again to FIG. 7, left side opening panel 142 may be hingedly attached to left side panel 140. For example, a hinge 150 may be operably attached to the upper edge of left side opening panel 142, and to left side panel 140. A handle 145 may be attached to left side opening panel 142 for pivotally opening left side opening panel 142. The container may include a sliding door (not shown) slidable across the left sidewall opening in the container. The left side panel and the left side opening panel may include a unitary design, as shown in FIG. 7. In other embodiments, a right side panel of the ornamental surround may include a right sidewall opening panel aligned with a right sidewall opening in the right sidewall of the container. In further embodiments, both the left side panels and the left sidewall, and the right side panels and right sidewall may be provided with aligned openings.

(27) FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate one embodiment of a connector 400 (FIG. 9) for fixedly attaching the ornamental surround 100 (FIG. 9) to container 300 which may include a plurality of spacers or supports. For example, a plurality of spacers or supports 420 may be employed for supporting and attaching facade panel 120 (FIG. 9) to front sidewall 320 of container 300. A plurality of spacers or supports 440 may be employed for supporting and attaching left side panel 140 (FIG. 9) to left sidewall 340 of container 300. Supports 440 allow generally supporting left side panel 140 (FIG. 9) spaced apart and outwardly from left sidewall 340 and left side pocket 350. A plurality of spacers or supports 460 (FIG. 9) may be employed for supporting and attaching right side panel 160 (FIG. 9) to right sidewall 360 (FIG. 9) of container 300. Supports 460 (FIG. 9) allow left side panel 160 (FIG. 9) to be spaced apart and outwardly from right sidewall 360 (FIG. 9) and right side pocket 370 (FIG. 9). A plurality of spacers or supports 480 (FIG. 9) may be employed for supporting and attaching rear panel 180 (FIG. 9) to rear sidewall 380 (FIG. 9) of container 300. As shown in FIG. 11, the connector for fixedly attaching the ornamental surround 100 to container 300 may include a plurality of bolts 490 that extend through the ornamental surround, the plurality of supports, and the container, and which are secured with nuts 495. Aligned holes may be provided in the container, ornamental surround, and supports for receiving the bolts. The supports may be solid or may be hollow. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, spacers may not be needed for attaching and supporting the facade panel to the front sidewall, or for attaching and supporting the rear panel to the rear sidewall.

(28) FIG. 12 illustrates another embodiment a left side support 540 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure for attaching left side panel 140 (FIG. 9) of ornamental surround 100 (FIG. 9) to container 300, and a facade support 520 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure for attaching facade panel 120 (FIG. 9) of ornamental surround 100 (FIG. 9) to container 300. In this illustrated embodiment, support 540 and support 520 may be configured in the shape of a grid-like pattern. A right side support may be the reverse of the left side support. A rear side support may be similar to the facade support.

(29) FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment a support 600 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure for use in attaching ornamental surround 100 to container 300. Support 600 may be in the shape of an elongated furring channel or hat channel. A plurality of supports 600 may be used to attach the ornamental surround to the containers. For example, a middle portion 610 may be operably attached with bolts to container 300, and ends or legs 620 may be operably attached with bolts to surround 100. The bolts may have a rounded head that is placed along the inside of the container and/or along the outside of the ornamental surround. It will be appreciated that the orientation of support 600 may be flipped so that the middle portion abuts the ornamental surround and the legs abut the container. Supports 600 may extend horizontally, vertically or on an angle relative to the ground. Support 600 may be formed from steel, a polymeric material, or other suitable materials. In still other embodiments, the support may be molded into the ornamental surround, or welded to the container.

(30) It will be appreciated that other operable connectors may be employed for attaching the ornamental surround to the container. For example, operable connector may include bolts and sleeves, hooks (one end of which secured to the container and the other end engaging the ornamental surround), or other suitable connector members or means. In other embodiments, the ornamental surround may be operably configured to incorporate the connectors, e.g., snap fit onto the container.

(31) With reference to FIG. 14, bottom 310 of container 300 may include a lower horizontal portion 312, and an angled bottom portion 314. An upper portion 316 of angled bottom portion 314 may be disposed adjacent to a bottom edge 344 of left sidewall opening 342 and angled downwardly and away from the left sidewall opening of container 300. In other embodiments, for example, where a right sidewall opening in the right sidewall of the container is provided, the bottom may include an angled bottom portion that is disposed adjacent to a bottom edge of the right sidewall opening and angled downwardly and away from the right sidewall opening of the container. The angled bottom may be disposed on an angle of about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees, or about 37 degrees from the horizontal. The angled bottom may extend over 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, 60 percent, or other percentage of the bottom. In other embodiments, the bottom may be an entirely horizontal bottom. With reference again to FIG. 5, container 300 may include a drain 385 disposed in rear sidewall 380 and disposed generally adjacent to horizontal bottom portion 312 (FIG. 14) of the bottom. A plurality of spaced-apart supports or stringers 318 may extend along the bottom of container 300 for raising the container off the surface of the ground.

(32) With reference still to FIG. 5, container 300 may include a hinge 392 disposed forward and away from rear sidewall 380 of container 300 for pivotally connecting hinged top 390 to container 300. For example, container 300 may include a fixed angled rectangular planar portion 394 that is attached on three edges to rear sidewall 380, left sidewall 340 (FIG. 4), and right sidewall 360. A fourth edge may be attached to hinge 392. Angled rectangular planar portion 394 slopes downwardly to rear sidewall 380 and allows water to run off the top surface of angled rectangular planar portion 394 toward the back. Top 390 may also have a top surface that angles toward the front to allow water to run off toward the front. With reference again to FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that the top surface of top 390 will remain clear from hitting an upper edge 185 of rear side panel 180 of ornamental surround 100 when unitary ornamental front load container 100 is lifted, tipped, and emptied by a front loading garbage truck.

(33) With reference again to FIGS. 2-5, unitary ornamental front load container 100 may include hinged top 390 of container 300 having a top surface disposed at a first vertical height H1 (FIG. 4) above the ground, and facade panel 120 (FIG. 2) may include an upper edge having a second vertical height H2 (FIG. 2) disposed above the ground. Second vertical height H2 may be greater than first vertical height H1. As shown in FIG. 2, left side panel 140, right side panel 160, and rear side panel 180 of ornamental surround 100 may include upper edges disposed at a third vertical height H3 above the ground. Third vertical height H3 may be greater than first vertical height H1 (FIG. 4). The third vertical height H3 may also be greater than second vertical height H2. For example, the vertical height of the ornamental surround may be about 5 feet to about 7 feet high, or about 6 feet high, or other suitable heights. The upper edges of the ornamental surround 100 may be disposed a distance of about 2 inches to about 7 inches, about 3 inches to about 6 inches, about 2 inches, about 3 inches, about 4 inches, about 5 inches, or a suitable distance above the upper surface of the hinged top of the container. The facade may have an upper scalloped edge, e.g., being lower in the middle compared to the sides.

(34) As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, a bottom edge 126 of facade panel 120, a bottom edge 146 of left side panel 140, a bottom edge 166 of right side panel 160, a bottom edge 186 of rear side panel 180, and bottom edges 196 and 197 of elongated rounded members 190 and 195 respectively, may be vertically spaced above the ground. For example, the bottom edges of the ornamental surround 100 may be disposed a distance D of about 1 inch to about 5 inches, about 2 inches to about 3 inches, or a suitable distance off the ground. In other embodiment, the ornamental surround may have lower edges that are disposed or closely spaced adjacent to the ground.

(35) FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of a unitary ornamental front load container 1010 having an ornamental surround 1100 and a container 1300 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure for containing trash and/or recyclables. Unitary ornamental front load container 1010 is similar to unitary ornamental front load container 10 described above with the exception of a facade panel 1120 having a facade opening panel 1122, and as shown in FIG. 18, container 1300 having a left inwardly-extending fork pocket 1350 having a left front facing opening 1352, and a right inwardly-extending fork pocket 1370 having a right front facing opening 1372.

(36) As will be appreciated from the present description, the unitary ornamental front load containers provide an attached ornamental surround that substantially obscures from view a container disposed therein by an observer standing on the ground. The attached ornamental surround is liftable along with the container as a unit, by forks of a front loading garbage truck, passing through opening in the ornamental surround, to empty trash and/or recyclable materials from the unitary ornamental front load containers into the garbage truck.

(37) In the various embodiments, the unitary ornamental front load containers may include facade panels, right side panels, left side panels, and rear side panels which may be generally constant thickness planar panels that are generally vertically disposed. In the illustrated embodiments, the left side panel, the right side panel, and the rear side panel may have the appearance of being formed from a plurality of bricks or blocks. The front side panel may have the appearance of a plurality of slats. It will be appreciated that the ornamental surround may have any suitable aesthetically appealing appearance, for example, that obscures the look and function of the container disposed therein. Each of the panels may be one-piece construction or may be formed from a plurality of pieces.

(38) The container may be formed from steel, aluminum, recycled tires, or other suitable materials or combination of materials. For example, the container may be formed from steel having a thickness of about 0.1 inch. The corners of the container may be reinforced with inch by 3 inch by 3 inch steel angles. The stringers 108 and 109 (FIG. 1) extending along the bottom may be formed from inch by 3 inch by 2 inch steel tubes. The ornamental surround and the supports may be hollow or solid and formed from, for example, a polymeric material such as a generally hard or high density polyethylene polymer material, an open or closed cell foam material, or a laminate of two or more materials. The panels of the ornamental surround may have a thickness generally of about inch, about inch, about inch, about 1 inch, about 2 inch, about inch to about 1 inch, about 1 inch to about 2 inches or greater than about 2 inches, or other suitable thicknesses. In other embodiments, the panels may be hollow allowing a reduction in weight compared to solid panels. For example, the panels forming the ornamental surround may be formed by rotational molding, a manufacturing process operable to create a low stress, hollow part. Rotational molding may include a heated hollow mold which is filled with a charge or shot weight of material. The mold and material is then slowly rotated (usually around two perpendicular axes) causing the softened material to disperse and stick to the walls of the mold. Rotating the mold during the heating phase maintains an even thickness throughout the part and avoids sagging or deformation also during the cooling phase. It will be appreciated that other manufacturing processes may be employed for forming the panels. For example, rotocasting or rotacasting may be employed which uses self-curing resins in rotated unheated molds.

(39) The unitary ornamental front load containers may include an 8 yard container (operable to hold eight cubic yards of material) having a width of about 72 inches, a depth of about 70 inches, and a height of about 70 inches. Other sizes may include the container sized for containing 2 yards (e.g., about 80 inch width, about 40 inch depth, and 36 inch high), containing 4 yards (e.g., about 80 inch width, about 54 inch depth, and 48 inch high), containing 6 yards (e.g., about 80 inch width, about 66 inch depth, and 60 inch high), or containing 8 yards (e.g., about 80 inch width, about 66 inch depth, and 80 inch high). It will be appreciated that the container may have other suitable sizes and configuration.

(40) In other embodiments, the facade may be have the appearance of being formed with a plurality of slats, e.g., need not inched hinges or handles. In other embodiments, the surround may be disposed across the front, and left and right sidewalls of the containers, e.g., the ornamental surround need not extend along the rear sidewall of the container such as where observers would not be able to observe the rear surface of the unitary ornamental front load container. In still other embodiments, where a plurality of unitary ornamental front load containers will be disposed in side-by-side relation, the unitary ornamental front load containers need only include a facade, and the outermost or end unitary ornamental front load container may include a facade panel, and a right or a left side panel.

(41) In still other embodiments, a unitary ornamental front load container may not include a side opening. The hinged top may be reachable by a user in lifting the top and depositing trash or recyclables in the container.

(42) Benefits and advantages of the present disclosure may include a more aesthetically pleasing refuse container employing an eco-friendly/recyclable materials, and/or elimination of a separate surround, e.g., installed fence or brick walls attached to the ground. Where lighter materials are used for the container, the unitary ornamental front load container may weigh less and be lighter to lift than a typical steel front end loan container thereby reducing delivery costs and/or wear and tear on the garbage trucks.

(43) It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments and/or aspects thereof may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the various embodiments without departing from their scope.

(44) While the dimensions and types of materials described herein are intended to define the parameters of the various embodiments, they are by no means limiting and are merely exemplary. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the various embodiments should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

(45) In the appended claims, the terms including and in which are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms comprising and wherein. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms first, second, and third, etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means-plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase means for followed by a statement of function void of further structure.

(46) It is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages described above may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the systems and techniques described herein may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

(47) While the disclosure has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the disclosure is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the disclosure can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, while various embodiments of the disclosure have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the disclosure may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosure is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

(48) This written description uses examples in the present disclosure, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.