Computer-controlled rubbish container

Abstract

A computer-controlled rubbish container includes a power bank, a control circuit, and a wheel assembly coupled to a bottom portion of a rubbish container. The wheel assembly includes an electric motor coupled to a wheel, wherein the wheel rotates upon a wireless signal sent from a computer to the control circuit. In some embodiments, the wheel assembly is configured to engage and disengage from a ground surface such that the rubbish container is capable of manual pushing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-controlled rubbish container comprising:
 a rubbish container having a top portion and a bottom portion and a receptacle body extending therebetween;   two or more motorized wheel assemblies fixedly coupled to the bottom portion, each of the motorized wheel assemblies comprising: 
 an electric motor, 
 a wheel coupled to the electric motor, and 
 an actuator coupled to the wheel, electric motor, or both, 
 wherein upon extension of the actuator, the wheel is configured to engage with a ground surface, and upon retraction of the actuator the wheel is configured to disengage from the ground surface; and 
   a plurality of casters coupled to the bottom portion of the rubbish container, wherein the plurality of casters is engaged to the ground surface when the actuator is in a retracted state, and the plurality of casters is disengaged from the ground surface when the actuator is in an extended state.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor backet hingedly coupled to the bottom portion and further coupled to the electric motor. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel bracket hingedly coupled to the bottom portion and further coupled to the wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 1 , the motorized wheel assembly further comprising a bumper coupled to the wheel, wherein the bumper is configured to engage with the bottom portion and thereby inhibit over-retraction of the actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 1 , the actuator further comprising a linear actuator. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 1 , the actuator further comprising an actuator arm, the actuator arm being rotatably coupled to the wheel, the electric motor, or both. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is hingedly coupled to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         8 . A computer-controlled rubbish container comprising:
 a rubbish container having a top portion and a bottom portion and a receptacle body extending therebetween; and   a motorized wheel assembly fixedly coupled to the bottom portion, 
 the motorized wheel assembly comprising an electric motor and a wheel coupled to the electric motor. 
   
     
     
         9 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 8 , the motorized wheel assembly further comprising an actuator coupled to the wheel, the electric motor, or both, wherein the wheel is configured to engage to a ground surface when the actuator is in an extended state, the wheel further configured to disengage from the ground surface when the actuator is in a retracted state. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 9 , the motorized wheel assembly further comprising a bumper coupled to the wheel, wherein the bumper is configured to engage with the bottom portion and thereby inhibit over-retraction of the actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 8 , the actuator further comprising a linear actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 8 , the actuator further comprising an actuator arm, the actuator arm being rotatably coupled to the wheel, the electric motor, or both. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-controlled rubbish container of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is hingedly coupled to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         14 . A motorized wheel assembly comprising:
 an electric motor,   a wheel coupled to the electric motor,   a actuator rotatably coupled to the wheel, the electric motor, or both, 
 the actuator configured to extend and retract and wherein the wheel is configured to comprise a plurality of positions upon movement of the actuator; and 
   wherein the motorized wheel assembly is configured to fixedly couple to a bottom portion of a rubbish container.   
     
     
         15 . The motorized wheel assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a bumper coupled to the wheel, the bumper being configured to inhibit over-retraction of the actuator. 
     
     
         16 . The motorized wheel assembly of  claim 14 , the actuator further comprising a linear actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The motorized wheel assembly of  claim 14 , the actuator further comprising an actuator arm, the actuator arm being rotatably coupled to the wheel, the electric motor, or both. 
     
     
         18 . The motorized wheel assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the electric motor couples to a center portion of the wheel. 
     
     
         19 . The motorized wheel assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a motor bracket coupled to the electric motor wherein the motor bracket is configured to hingedly couple to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         20 . The motorized wheel assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a wheel bracket coupled to the wheel wherein the wheel bracket is configured to hingedly couple to the bottom portion.