Systems and methods for transporting bio-waste

Abstract

A remote-controlled vehicle for collecting and transporting bio-waste that is capable of compacting bio-waste, dumping the waste in a variety of ways, and that has a rechargeable battery, among other functions, is disclosed. A system for collecting the bio-waste material also is provided. The system includes a plurality of collection receptacles associated with a structure, each of the plurality of collection receptacles receiving the bio-waste material without the use of water as a carrier. A transport network extends from each of the plurality of collection receptacles to at least one storage receptacle located at the structure. A plurality of vehicles, or carts, is disposed within the transport network and collect the bio-waste material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A waterless collection receptacle for collecting bio-waste material, the collection receptacle comprising:
 a main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a chamber disposed therebetween, the upper surface comprising a lip and an opening therethrough, the lower surface comprising an opening therethrough, wherein the main body is configured to have a liner disposed in the chamber to receive bio-waste material deposited therein;   a seat coupled to the main body and supported on the lip of the main body; and   an absorbent material reservoir mounted on the main body, the reservoir comprising an interior chamber configured to hold an absorbent material, the reservoir having an opening connected to the chamber to enable absorbent material from the reservoir to be deposited into a liner disposed in the chamber, the reservoir comprising a pivoting guide member for controlling the movement of the absorbent material from the interior chamber to the liner.   
     
     
         2 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a drawer slidably received within the chamber of the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the drawer comprises one or more sliders for slidably mounting the drawer within the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the drawer is selectively extendable from a front end of the main body. 
     
     
         5 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the drawer comprises an upper lip upon which a liner may be mounted. 
     
     
         6 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the liner comprises at least one of an elasticated portion or a layer of releasable adhesive to attach the liner to the lip of the drawer. 
     
     
         7 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the liner comprises an open upper end configured to receive bio-waste material deposited therein and a closed lower end, the closed lower end being suspended in the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a liner dispenser mounted on the main body. 
     
     
         9 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material reservoir comprises a lid through which the interior chamber may be filled with absorbent material. 
     
     
         10 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in claim wherein the absorbent material reservoir comprises a fill opening that is coupleable to a supply of absorbent material and through which the interior chamber may be filled with absorbent material. 
     
     
         11 . A waterless collection receptacle for collecting bio-waste material the collection receptacle comprising:
 a main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a chamber disposed therebetween, the upper surface comprising a lip and an opening therethrough, the lower surface comprising an opening therethrough, wherein the main body is configured to have a liner disposed in the chamber to receive bio-waste material deposited therein;   a seat coupled to the main body and supported on the lip of the main body, the seat being pivotally mounted on the main body such that the seat can pivot between a raised position and a lowered position, the seat also being slidably connected to the main body such that the seat can slide between an extended position and a retracted position; and   an absorbent material reservoir mounted on the main body, the reservoir comprising an interior chamber configured to hold an absorbent material, the reservoir having an opening connected to the chamber to enable absorbent material from the reservoir to be deposited into a liner disposed in the chamber, the reservoir comprising a mechanism for controlling the movement of the absorbent material from the interior chamber to the liner.   
     
     
         12 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the lip comprises one or more grooves. 
     
     
         13 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the seat comprises one or more rollers that engage the one or more grooves to enable the seat to move between the extended and retracted positions relative to the reservoir. 
     
     
         14 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the seat rotates relative to the main body about at least one of the one or more rollers. 
     
     
         15 . A waterless collection receptacle for collecting bio-waste material, the collection receptacle comprising:
 a main body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a chamber disposed therebetween, the upper surface comprising a lip and an opening therethrough, the lower surface comprising an opening therethrough, wherein the main body is configured to have a liner disposed in the chamber to receive bio-waste material deposited therein;   a seat coupled to the main body and supported on the lip of the main body;   an absorbent material reservoir mounted on the main body, the reservoir comprising an interior chamber configured to hold an absorbent material, the reservoir having an opening connected to the chamber to enable absorbent material from the reservoir to be deposited into a liner disposed in the chamber; and   a delivery mechanism for delivering a predetermined quantity of the absorbent material from the interior chamber to the liner, the delivery mechanism comprises a spindle assembly having a plurality of paddles that, upon rotation, direct the predetermined quantity of absorbent material from the interior chamber, through the opening in the reservoir and into the liner in the chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the delivery mechanism further comprises a shaft supported by the reservoir. 
     
     
         17 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the spindle assembly is mounted on and rotates about the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the spindle assembly comprises a hub portion having a plurality of teeth, the hub portion being mounted on the shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a toothed member, the toothed member comprising a body mounted on the shaft, the body having a plurality of teeth extending therefrom, wherein the teeth of the hub portion and the teeth of the toothed member are configured to control the rotation of the spindle assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The waterless collection receptacle as recited in  claim 15 , wherein one or more paddles of the plurality of paddles comprises a cup-type structure.