US 11,794,993 B2
Autonomously propelled waste receptacle and associated methods
Jamison F. Gavin, Coral Springs, FL (US); and Tahri E. Turner, Roswell, GA (US)
Filed by Jamison F. Gavin, Coral Springs, FL (US); and Tahri E. Turner, Roswell, GA (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/74,013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0047110 A1, Feb. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. B65F 3/20 (2006.01); G05D 1/02 (2020.01); B30B 1/18 (2006.01); B65F 3/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65F 3/20 (2013.01) [B30B 1/18 (2013.01); G05D 1/0231 (2013.01); G05D 1/0255 (2013.01); G05D 1/0257 (2013.01); G05D 1/0278 (2013.01); G05D 1/0285 (2013.01); B65F 2003/146 (2013.01); B65F 2210/128 (2013.01); B65F 2210/1443 (2013.01); B65F 2210/162 (2013.01); B65F 2210/184 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
17. An autonomously propelled waste receptacle comprising:
a top comprising
a top opening, a top underside with a plurality of top Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) affixed thereon, an upper ridge comprising a disinfectant spray actuator, and motorized pivot system configured to rotate the top into an angled position;
a collapsible lid comprising
a lid axle, a static panel, a downward rotating panel, and a backstop;
a housing comprising
a circuit board panel with a printed circuit board (PCB) affixed thereon, an activity processor, a door and doorway;
an exterior comprising
a user interface, a plurality of sensors, at least one antenna, a camera, a plurality of LEDs circumscribing an upper portion, and a plurality of LEDs circumscribing a lower portion;
an interior comprising
a bin, a trash compactor system comprising a plurality of threaded rods connected to the collapsible lid, an upper can platform, a bottom tech platform comprising a plurality of bottom motors, a motor processor, and an upper chamber positioned between the collapsible lid and the top comprising at least one chamber sensor and at least one chamber motor;
a bottom comprising
at least one pair of motorized wheels;
wherein the downward rotating panel is configured to pivot from a horizontal closed position into a downward orientation, defined as an open position;
wherein the chamber sensor is configured to recognize when an object has entered the upper chamber so as to signal the motor processor to actuate the chamber motor and pivot the downward rotating panel into an open position;
wherein the motor processor is configured to signal the top LEDs and the disinfectant actuator to initialize for a period of time when the collapsible lid has returned to a closed position;
wherein the collapsible lid is configured as a masher operable to descend the interior of the autonomously propelled waste receptacle via the threaded rods and compact trash within the bin;
wherein the user interface is configured as an override to automated features of the autonomously propelled waste receptacle;
wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of lidar sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and radar on the autonomously propelled waste receptacle housing;
wherein the plurality of top LEDs is configured to emit at least one of ultraviolet light with wavelengths between the range of 10-400 nanometers and visible light with wavelengths between the range of 400-700 nanometers;
wherein the camera is configured to assist with navigation and object identification;
wherein the bin is configured to rotate from a vertical position, defined as a receiving position, to an angled position defined as an emptying position;
wherein the door is configured to rotate into an open orientation allowing the bin to pass through the doorway when the bin is converting to an emptying position;
wherein the autonomously propelled waste receptacle is configured to navigate using at least one of the plurality of sensors, camera, WiFi communication, cellular communication, and global positioning system (GPS) communication;
wherein the at least one antenna is configured to send and receive at least one of cellular signals, WiFi signals, and GPS signals and data;
wherein the activity processor is configured to orient the autonomously propelled waste receptacle within a geographic area using information from the at least one of cellular signals, WiFi signals, and GPS signals and data;
wherein the lower tech platform comprises a plurality of wheel apertures configured to accommodate the motorized wheels therethrough; and
wherein the autonomously propelled waste receptacle is configured to use the motorized wheels to drive.