EP1519884A1

EP1519884A1 - A refuse bin assembly

Info

Publication number: EP1519884A1
Application number: EP03747500A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alan Joseph Green; Gordon Fraser Cook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-04
Filing date: 2003-04-24
Publication date: 2005-04-06
Also published as: WO2003093142A1; AU2003226561A1

Abstract

A hygienic refuse bin assembly consists of a bin (10) has a single transparent wall (10A) and a decorative liner means (12). The decorative liner means (12) being adapted internally to the transparent bin wall (10A) and visible through the transparent wall (10A). The decorative liner means (12) is preferably a bendable laminate. The decorative liner means may be fixed in position or aid removal of an enclosed filled bin bag by rising upwards and expanding its top circumference to release the bin bag.

Description

A REFUSE BIN ASSEMBLY.

Technical field

This invention relates to refuse bins.

Bins of various types are known. These include household refuse bins, laundry baskets , small paper bins and bins in commercial situations as in banks and medical surgeries.

Background Art

Hygienic bins are characterized in that they are preferably made from non porous and surface cleanable material. They may be made from a material impervious to fluid, such as plastic and are preferably designed to limit egress of the contents. They are known to have various forms of decoration applied to them or have posters in glazing attached to the walls. Some bins are translucent and have decorative shapes. There are also some bins that have lights sinning through them and Some with liners to enable bags to be withdrawn from undercut inside areas generated by an irregular shape. There has been for many years a lot of activity in the design of these objects at both the cheap and dear end of the market. Adding appeal to these items usually adds significant cost. Open construction baskets with changeable decorative option are also known. Multi-walled advertising units with bins inside them are known.

An object of the present invention is to provided low cost means to produce a hygienic refuse bin with substantially improved cosmetic appeal. Other objects of the invention are to improve consumer choice and ease bin bag removal. Disclosure of invention

According to the present invention there is provided a hygienic refuse bin assembly having a transparent outer wall and a decorative liner means located within the outer wall and visible there-through. Thus the liner functions as decorative means preferably inside the bin, the liner providing decorative elements.

The bin assembly may be provided as a flat pack. The word 'transparent' is used throughout this specification to mean transparent and translucent and is used to indicate both light and detail being visible through a structure. "Refuse" is used to mean all kinds of waste. The decorative elements are preferably printed on the liner and may be suitable for commercial or household use.

The liner is preferably a plastic laminated paper that is preferably sized to fit inside a particular bin either by the user or at manufacture. The liner is preferably a bendable structure that may snap fit into place, not necessarily pre -adapted to the bin shape and thus has a multi fit capability. The liner may be inserted at manufacture as an integral part of the structure or preferably is changeable by the user. The liner fits between the bin bag and the bin wall. A bin bag fits inside in the normal manner. In some cases the liner may rise and fall to aid bin bag removal by reducing direct contact with the bin wall and preferably opens to aid bin bag removal. There may be internal means in the bin wall against which the liner edge can rest. The liner may be a snap fit and not move in function but be changeable by the user who can easily choose various decorative options. In the commercial version this would allow rapid change of advertising message. The decorative element may be placed in clear reusable protective pouches thus reducing servicing costs.

Alternative decorative options are therefore available in store or by post. The liner may be an open bendable sheet or constructed as a tube preferably with holding means at the top that enable removal of the bag and liner together with the tube being pulled off over the bag on removal from the bin thus avoiding the bag tearing. The tube preferably has the means to have the printed area on its outside surface changed.

While this invention is seen to relate to a single walled bin it is also seen as possible that the tube element may be more fixed in nature and act to form a cavity wall thus allowing the liner to be made of paper. The product as described is preferably plastic and confers the decorative values on an otherwise useful item in a cost effective manner, hi an embodiment of the invention, the bin may be sold as a flat pack , a translucent bendable sheet cooperating to fit a formed base and a top provided separately, all to be user fitted. The decorative appeal of the wall of the bin is enhanced by having it bounded by a base and top of solid colour and this is economically produced by providing the assembly as a flat pack. The bin top and a rim to hold the wall together may be produced as one moulded piece.

Where the bin has a base section a flat area on that section may be provided for foot contact to stabilize the bin during use.

A pedal bin may have a translucent outer casing with a decorative element on the outer bin surface showing through the casing. The decorative means and translucent casing being directly associated with the bin assembly unlike an advertising column. A further means of manufacture may be that of blow moulding or otherwise forming the single walled bin and the factory or user fitting of a decorative liner adding strength to the structure.

Bins may be triangular or oval in shape to provide maximum visible surface to the onlooker.

Bins made from flexible material and textiles, such as gardening bins, are known, as are bins with opening bottoms. If such a bin is hygienic, and is constructed to conform to the size of and contain a grocery carrier and also have a translucent wall it may provide a grocery carrier with a second function as a liner for such a bin. The bin preferably has an opening base with a controllable release. The grocery bag may preferably be of paper and used as a disposable liner and have advertising or decorative print that shows through the translucent wall. Such a flexible bin may have stiffening means in its top opening and have attachment means such as hooks or handles to attach to convenient places.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a liner made from sheet material free to rise and fall in a bin and is the best mode for carrying out the invention. Figure 2 shows a pedal bin assembly.

Figure 3 shows a translucent bin with tubular liner forming a cavity wall. Figure 4 shows a translucent walled refuse bag for a grocery carrier. Figure 5 shows a triangular bin. Figure 6 shows a pouch system. Figure 7 shows an oval bin. Figure 8 shows components of a flat pack assembly. Referring to the drawings. Best mode for carrying out the invention

In figure 1 A hygienic bin assembly comprises a bin 10 and a liner 12 and a bin bag (not shown) located within the liner. The liner 12 is shown having risen up the inside of bin 10 so that the bin bag can be removed. Bin 10 preferably has a single transparent wall 10A and the liner is shown open at 16 to allow egress of the bin bag. The liner has decoration 11 that shows through the transparent wall 10A of the bin 10 . The bin 10 has extension means 14 that prevent it from fully exiting the bin. A catch 13 , for example in the shape of a rivet, stabilises the shape of the liner. The liner 12 is preferably constructed from a flexible bendable material preferably a laminate and may be provided as a flat sheet the length exactly matching the inside circumference of the bin thus when the edges of the sheet are joined to form a tube the tube can be flattened and snap into position inside the bin following every contour.

In figure 2 The bin is a pedal bin 10 with translucent wall 10A and pedal 15 is shown. An internal hygienic liner in the form of a bucket 17 is located within the pedal bin .The bucket 17 is provided with decoration 11 that may be removably applied to the outside surface of bucket 17 by a changeable liner 12.

In figure 3 A bin 10 with translucent or transparent wall 10A is shown . A tubular liner 12 , placed inside it, may be fixed in position or removable using handles 19 located on the liner. The liner 12 forms a cavity 10B with wall 10A and a decorative element either paper or bendable laminate 10C may be placed in the cavity or on the outer surface of the liner 12. A closure such as a U ring 24 is preferably removable and is located on top of the cavity 10B, hi figure 4 The bin 10D is preferably in the form of a translucent hygienic preferably flexible refuse bag with transparent wall 10A . It has a fixed handle 19 and a movable handle 20 that connects to a moveable base 21. On release of the movable handle 20 the base 21 of the bag opens to allow egress of a grocery sack 22 that forms a liner 12 that has decoration 11. This grocery sack 22 is preferably paper and preferably has a dual purpose as a grocery carrier and a disposable decorated liner 12 for a refuse bin. Refuse bin 10 preferably has a stiffened rim 18 and means such as handles or hooks 19 to attach to convenient household points such as the handle of a door although it may be free standing.

Figure 5 shows a triangular clear walled transparent bin 10. This has base 25 and internal extensions 23 . These internal extensions 23 serve to locate an internally placed decorative liner (not shown) that may also be held by means 24 such as the U ring in fig. 3. A triangular or oval shape is preferable for advertising or message display, hi figure 6 A liner 12 is in the form of a transparent pouch 12 A. This functions as a carrier for decorative means 12B that shows through the pouch 12A . The pouch 12 may have divisions 30 and the individual decorative elements are placed inside through an opening 31. This pouch allows normal poster paper to be used. hi figure 7 an oval bin 29 is shown. This has a translucent or transparent wall 10A and liner 12 with decorative text held in position by extensions 23 provided internally. The triangular and especially the oval shape of bin , as in figures 5 and 7, allow maximum surface presentation to the observer, hi figure 8 components of a flat pack transparent bin assembly are shown. A bendable transparent wall 10A has locking means 33 at one end that enables the wall to be formed as a tube. This tube is then located in a channel 26 of base 25. A laminated liner 12 with decoration 11 is then placed inside the tube and a base tray 27 is placed inside at the base preferably to hold the liner in place. Top closure 28 hinges at 32 and fits over the wall 10A by virtue of a frictional engagement 24.

Claims

1) A hygienic refuse bin assembly comprising a bin, having a single peripheral transparent outer wall and a decorative liner means located within the outer wall and providing visible decor mere-through.

2) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in claim 1 where the decorative liner means is located inside a cavity wall.

3) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in any of claims 1 and 2 where the decorative liner means is moveable relative to the bin .

4) A hygiemc refuse bin assembly as in claims land 3 where on pulling the bin bag upwards ,the decorative liner rises upwards relative to the bin and expands to release and aid bin bag removal .

5) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in claims 1,3,4 and 5 where the bin has internal means to locate the decorative liner means against the wall of the bin .

6) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in claims 1,3,4,5, where the decorative liner means is in a pouch .

7) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in claims l,2,3,4,5and 6 that is essentially oval in cross sectional shape.

8) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in claims 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 that is essentially triangular in cross sectional shape. 9) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in claim 1 that is constructed in the form of a flexible bag , that has a base able to be opened by the user, where the decorative liner is a grocery bag with decor on its outer surface the flexible refuse bag being sized to perform a second function as a grocery bag carrier.

10) A hygienic bin assembly substantially as described herein ,with reference to the drawings figures from 1 — 8.