AT15649U1 - Furniture for collecting used plastic cups - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a piece of furniture for collecting used plastic cups, comprising: a container body 2; a flange 10 connected to the container body; a plurality of tubes 20 for collecting used plastic cups held by the flange inside the container body. Each collection tube 20 communicates with a first through-hole 13 formed in the flange 10 and making the respective collection tube accessible from the outside. The furniture comprises a plate 30 which is mounted on the flange 10 and is freely movable with respect to the flange. The plate 30 is provided with at least one throw-in opening 31, 32 which, when moving the plate with respect to the flange, may alternatively align with each of the first through-openings, so that at least one collecting tube is at one time made externally accessible. The remaining first passage openings, which are not aligned with the at least one insertion opening, are closed by the plate. The plate 30 comprises at least one continuous flat surface portion 33 which is formed on one side of the plate 30, which is opposite to the flange 10 side facing, and can serve as a storage area.

Description

Description “FURNITURE FOR COLLECTING USED PLASTIC MUGS

FIELD OF APPLICATION This invention relates to furniture for collecting used plastic cups. The cups can be disposable or reusable.

Advantageously, the furniture according to this invention can be used as a side table and possibly also as a collection point for other types of waste.

PRIOR ART Cup collectors for used plastic cups are known to be known. Such collectors include one or more tubular chambers for collecting the cups. These chambers have a somewhat larger cross section in plan view than the cups and expand vertically so that the cups can be inserted into them, stacking one inside the other. This type of collection enables a significant reduction in the volume of the collected material compared to a disorderly collection.

In general, the collectors described above are placed near vending machines such as coffee machines. As soon as the drink has been drunk, the used cup is thrown into the above-mentioned collector, while any spoon (made of a different material) is collected separately from the cups.

Although the presence of the above collectors in the vicinity of the above-mentioned machines is appropriate for a proper separate collection of waste, such collectors take away the usable space from the users of the machines. Especially in offices, the areas around the above-mentioned machines are often places where people meet and not just beverages are drawn. In this sense, the collectors are space-consuming objects. In addition, the above-mentioned collectors, which in any case are rubbish collection points and are often spilled with the remains of drinks on the outside, can become an object that disturbs the encounter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to completely or partially overcome the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior art by providing furniture for collecting used plastic cups or cups made of plastic material, which can collect them efficiently Cup enables and at the same time can be perceived as a piece of furniture that is not specifically designed for collecting waste.

Another object of this invention is to provide furniture for collecting used plastic cups that can also be used as a collection point for separate collection of other waste.

Another object of this invention is to provide a piece of furniture for collecting used plastic cups that is simple and inexpensive to carry out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The technical features of the invention in accordance with the foregoing objects will be apparent from the claims set out below, and the advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example and not limitation represent one or more embodiments. In these show:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piece of furniture for collecting used plastic cups according to a preferred embodiment of this invention;

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Patentamt [0011] - Figure 2 is a front view in partial section of the furniture shown in Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is an exploded view of the furniture of Figure 1 with the various components in an orthogonal representation in the vertical; and [0013] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the piece of furniture from FIG. 1 with the various components in an orthogonal representation in a top view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the accompanying drawings, a piece of furniture for collecting used plastic cups according to the invention has been designated as a whole by 1.

In the further course of the description and claims, reference is made to the furniture for collecting used plastic cups under conditions of use. References to a lower or upper position or a vertical or horizontal orientation are therefore to be understood in this sense.

According to a general embodiment of the invention, the furniture 1 for collecting used plastic cups comprises a container body 2, which extends along a vertical direction X between a lower part 3, which is intended to be placed directly or indirectly on the floor, and an upper part 4, in which an access opening 5 to the container body 2 is formed.

As shown in particular in the accompanying figures, the container body 2 can in particular be a cylinder with a circular base. However, the container body can have other shapes and in particular other than circular base areas, for example square or rectangular. The container body 2 can be made from any material, preferably from sheet metal.

The furniture 1 for collecting used plastic cups further comprises:

- a flange 10 which is connected to the container body 2 at the access opening 5; and a plurality of internally hollow tubes 20 for collecting used plastic cups, which are held by the above-mentioned flange 10 inside the container body 2 on a first side 11 of the flange 10 which faces the inside of the container body 2 ,

The collecting tubes 20 each extend along their own longitudinal direction Y, which runs essentially parallel to the vertical direction of expansion X of the container body.

Each collecting tube 20 communicates with a first through opening 13 which is formed in the flange 10 and makes the respective collecting tube 20 accessible from the outside. A number of first through openings 13 is thus formed in the flange 10, which is equal to the number of collecting tubes 20.

In operation, each tube 20 acts as a collection and guide chamber for used plastic cups. The cups thrown into the collecting tubes are guided to stack one inside the other, falling due to the force of gravity inside these tubes along the above-mentioned longitudinal direction Y, which is preferably vertical.

According to the invention, the furniture 1 comprises a plate 30 which is placed on the above-mentioned flange 10 on its second side 12 and facing outside the container body 2 and opposite to the first side 11.

The plate 30 is freely movable with respect to the flange 10 parallel to the above-mentioned second side 12.

The plate 30 is provided with at least one entry or insertion opening 31, 32 which, when the plate 30 is moved with respect to the flange 10, alternatively to each of the above-mentioned first through openings 13 which are formed in the flange 10, align

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Patent office can, so that at least one collecting tube 20 is made accessible from the outside at one time at different times.

The remaining first through openings 13, which are not aligned with the above-mentioned at least one insertion opening 31, 32, are closed by the plate 30.

Operatively, the movement of the plate 30 with respect to the flange is carried out by the users at the time when a collecting tube 20 for used cups is full and it is necessary to change to an empty or not yet full collecting tube.

Advantageously, plate 30 may be provided with a handle portion (not shown in the accompanying figures) which can be used by a user to facilitate movement of the plate with respect to the flange.

According to the invention, the plate 30 comprises at least one continuous flat surface part 33, which is formed on one side of the plate 30, which is opposite the side facing the flange 10, and can serve as a storage surface or level.

The furniture 1 for collecting used plastic cups according to this invention enables efficient collection of such cups thanks to the presence of a plurality of tubes 20 which collect the used cups and thereby stack them into one another, and at the same time can be used as a side table, the container body 2 represents the support foot and the plate 30 represents the shelf or level or shelf. The furniture 1 can thus be set up near drinks machines, for example, and used as a side table.

In addition, in the furniture 1 according to the invention, the tubes for collecting the cups are not visible from the outside and the corresponding insertion openings are only partially visible. The furniture 1 according to the invention can thus fulfill its main function as a cup collector and stacker and can be perceived as a piece of furniture that is not specifically intended for collecting waste.

The plate 30 preferably has the same dimensions as the flange 10 in plan view, as shown in the accompanying figures. Embodiments can be provided in which the plate 30 can have a larger extension than the flange 10 in plan view , so that the continuous usable area 33, which forms the storage area, is enlarged, or can have a smaller extension than the flange 10 in plan view. In this latter case, the plate 30 is at least partially embedded in the flange 10.

According to an embodiment, not shown in the accompanying figures, the above-mentioned insertion opening can have dimensions such that it intersects two or more first through openings, so that two or more collecting tubes are made accessible at the same time. However, this last solution is not preferred since the continuous flat surface part 33 of the plate 30, which forms the storage surface, takes up space by increasing the dimensions of this insertion opening and also the primary function that the furniture 1 fulfills, i.e. collecting waste becomes more obvious. From this point of view, the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures is that the above insertion opening 31, 32 is aligned with a single first opening 13 at a time.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the plate 30 is rotatably connected to the flange 10. Operatively, the movement of the plate 30 with respect to the flange 10, which causes the above-mentioned at least one insertion opening 31, 32 to align with at least one first through opening 13, is a rotational movement about an axis of rotation X1. A pin 50 for connection between the plate 30 and the flange 10 is preferably arranged on this axis of rotation X1.

As shown in particular in Figure 4, the above-mentioned first through openings 13, which are formed in the flange 10, around the above-mentioned axis of rotation X1

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Patent Office distributed, while the at least one insertion opening 31, 32 formed in the plate 30 is arranged eccentrically with respect to this axis of rotation X1 in order to cut the above-mentioned first through openings 13 during the rotational movement.

The above-mentioned axis of rotation X1 preferably coincides with a central axis of the container body 2 parallel to the vertical direction of expansion X. In the example shown in the attached figures, the central axis coincides with the cylindrical symmetry axis of the container body 2.

Preferably, as shown in the accompanying figures, the plate 30 comprises two insertion openings 31 and 32, each of which is arranged in the plate 30 in order to cut part of the through openings 13 formed in the flange 10. In this way, at least two first through openings can be cut at the same time, making at least two collecting tubes accessible at the same time. In this case too, according to an embodiment not shown in the attached figures, one or both insertion openings can have dimensions such that they intersect two or more first through openings simultaneously, so that two or more collection tubes are made accessible at the same time. However, this last solution is not preferred, since the increase in the dimensions of one or both of the insertion openings takes up space for the continuous flat surface part 33 of the plate 30, which forms the storage surface, and also the primary function that the furniture 1 fulfills, i.e. collecting waste becomes more obvious. From this point of view, the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures is that an insertion opening 31, 32 is aligned with a single first opening 13 at a time.

According to the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures and in particular in Figure 4, the first through openings 13 are distributed over two circular rings lying coaxially to the above-mentioned axis of rotation X1, so that they form two different groups of through openings 13. The above two insertion openings 31 and 32 are arranged in two different radial positions with respect to the axis of rotation X1, so that each of them intersects one of the two groups of through openings 13.

Advantageously, the above two insertion openings 31 and 32 are arranged so that both intersect one through opening 13 of the respective group.

Advantageously, the flange 10, which carries the collecting tubes 20 inside the container body 2, can in turn be rotatable with respect to this container body 2. In this way, it is possible to move the collection tubes that are operational during a certain period of time (i.e. those that are aimed at a discharge opening) into the most comfortable or most accessible position for the users.

Advantageously, the flange 10, which carries the collecting tubes 20 inside the container body 2, can be removed together with the associated collecting tubes 20 from the container body. In this way, the collecting tubes are made easily accessible when emptying and cleaning the furniture 1.

Preferably, the flange 10, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is provided on the first side 11 with a support member 15 which extends around the circumference around all the collecting tubes 20 and is intended to carry a collecting bag, that covers all the tubes from below. The tubes 20 are open at the bottom to allow the used cups to fall into this sack.

According to the embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, the flange 10, connected to it, can carry at least one secondary collecting tube or secondary collecting tube 21 at a second through opening 14.

The plate 30 in turn is provided with a secondary insertion opening 34, which is intended to point to this second through opening 14, around the secondary header tube 21

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To make the patent office accessible from outside.

Operatively, the secondary collecting tube 21 is intended for collecting waste other than plastic cups, preferably sticks for stirring the drinks contained in the cups.

Preferably, the secondary header tube 21, as shown in the accompanying figures, is separably connected to the flange 10, so that the release of the secondary tube 21 from the flange 10 is made possible and the insertion of the secondary tube 21 into a sack is possible, this sack is attached to the tube 21 itself, for example by arranging the edges in the connection area between the tube 21 and the flange 10.

In particular, the above-mentioned sub-collection tube 21, the corresponding second through hole 14 formed in the flange 10, and the corresponding sub-insertion opening 34 formed in the plate 30 are arranged coaxially with the rotation axis X1. In this way, the second through opening 14 and the secondary insertion opening 34 are always aligned with one another and the secondary tube 21 is always accessible from the outside.

According to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying figures and in particular in Figure 2, the collecting tubes 20 extend to a predetermined depth H in the interior of the container body, wherein they occupy only an upper interior 7 of the container body. Between the lower ends of the collecting tubes 20 and the lower part 3 of the container body 2, a lower interior space 8 is thus delimited, which is not occupied by the collecting tubes and can therefore be intended in particular for collecting other types of waste.

This lower interior 8 is advantageously accessible from the outside through one or more openings 9 which are formed in the container body 2. These one or more openings 9 can preferably each be provided with a closure flap, for example a swing flap. In this way, these openings can be covered, whereby the appearance of the furniture 1 is improved.

Preferably, the furniture 1, as shown in particular in Figure 2, comprises a dividing element 40, which is arranged separating between the upper interior 7 and the lower interior 8 and serves to carry the weight of the used cups in the sack.

Advantageously, according to an embodiment not shown in the attached figures, the furniture 1 can comprise a subdivision structure which is arranged in the interior of the lower interior 8 and is suitable for delimiting one or two independent compartments. Each of these independent compartments is preferably accessible from the outside through an independent opening.

Operatively, each of these two or more independent compartments can be dedicated to collecting a different waste.

Advantageously, the furniture 1, as shown in the accompanying figures, may comprise a floor support base or base 6, to which the lower part 3 of the container body 2 is connected.

This container body 2 is preferably rotatable in relation to this floor stand 6 in order to facilitate the alignment of the flange and the plate in the position most convenient for the user.

Advantageously, this container body 2 can also be separated from this base 6, so that the lower interior 8 is made easily accessible when emptying and cleaning the furniture 1.

Advantageously, the furniture 1 can be provided with one or more closures (not shown in the attached figures) in order to temporarily close the insertion openings 31, 32.

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Patent Office The number and dimensions of the openings and manifolds can vary depending on requirements. The dimensions of the container body are chosen accordingly. In this way, versions of the furniture 1 can be designed with different capacities.

The invention enables numerous advantages, some of which have already been described.

The furniture 1 for collecting used plastic cups according to this invention enables these cups to be collected efficiently and at the same time can be perceived as a piece of furniture which is not specifically intended for collecting waste. In particular, the furniture 1 can also be used as a side table.

The furniture 1 for collecting used plastic cups according to this invention can also be used as a collection point for separate collection of other waste.

The furniture 1 for collecting used plastic cups according to this invention is simple and inexpensive to carry out, since its components can be easily made from sheet metal (such as the container body) or from plastic (in particular the other elements) using common manufacturing processes.

[0063] The objects are therefore achieved with the invention.

Of course, in its practical implementation it can also take other forms and configurations than described above, without thereby leaving the scope of protection of the patent.

In addition, all parts can be replaced by technically equivalent elements, and the dimensions, shapes and materials used can be as required.

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Patent Office

Claims (16)

Expectations 1. Furniture for collecting used plastic cups, comprising: - A container body (2) which extends along a vertical direction of expansion (X) between a lower part (3), which is intended to be placed directly or indirectly on the floor, and an upper part (4), in which an access opening ( 5) is formed to the container body (2) extends; - A flange (10) which is connected to or assigned to the container body (2) at the access opening (5); - A plurality of internally hollow tubes (20) for collecting used plastic cups from the above-mentioned flange (10) inside the container body (2) on or corresponding to a first side (11) of the flange (10), which for Inside the container body (2) is turned, held or carried and each extend along its own longitudinal direction (Y), which is essentially parallel to the vertical direction of expansion (X) of the container body, each collecting tube (20) having a first through opening (13) communicates, which is formed in the flange (10) and makes the respective collecting tube (20) accessible from the outside, characterized in that it comprises a plate (30) on the flange (10) on or corresponding to the second Side (12) is placed or superimposed, facing outside of the container body (2) and opposite or opposite to the first side (11) and with respect to the flange (10) parallel to the tw one side (12) is freely movable, the plate (30) being provided with at least one insertion opening (31, 32) which, when the plate (30) is moved with respect to the flange (10), alternatively extends to each of the first through openings (13), which are formed in the flange (10), can align so that at different times at least one collecting tube (20) is made accessible from the outside at once, the remaining first through openings (13) that are not directed to the at least one Insertion opening (31, 32) are aligned, are closed by the plate (30), the plate (30) comprising at least one continuous flat surface part (33) on one side of the plate (30) that the flange ( 10) facing the opposite side, is formed and can serve as a storage surface or level. 2. Furniture according to claim 1, wherein the plate (30) with the flange (10) is rotatably connected and the movement of the plate (30) with respect to the flange (10) is a rotational movement about an axis of rotation (X1), and the first through openings (13) formed in the flange (10), distributed around this axis of rotation (X1), and the at least one insertion opening (31, 32) formed in the plate (30) off-center with respect to the axis of rotation (X1) is arranged to cut or overlap the first through openings (13) during the rotary movement. 3. Furniture according to claim 2, wherein the axis of rotation (X1) coincides with a central axis of the container body (2) parallel to the vertical direction of expansion (X). 4. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the plate (30) comprises two insertion openings (31, 32), each of which is arranged in the plate (30) to a part of the through openings (13) which are in the flange (10) are designed to cut or overlay them. 5. Furniture according to claim 2 or 3 and claim 4, wherein the first through openings (13) on two coaxial to the axis of rotation (X1) lying circular rings or rings are distributed so that they form two different groups of through openings (13), and the two insertion openings (31, 32) are arranged in two different radial positions with respect to the axis of rotation (X1), so that each of them intersects or overlaps one of the two groups of through openings (13). 7.13 AT 15 649 U1 2018-04-15 Austrian Patent Office 6. Furniture according to claim 5, wherein the two insertion openings (31, 32) are arranged such that both cut or overlap a through opening (13) of the respective group at the same time. 7. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the flange (10), which carries the collecting tubes (20) inside the container body (2), in turn is rotatable with respect to the container body. 8. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the flange (10) which carries the collecting tubes (20) inside the container body (2) can be removed together with the associated collecting tubes (20) from the container body. 9. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the flange (10) on the first side (11) is provided with a support element (15) which extends around the circumference around all collecting tubes (20) and is intended for this purpose to carry a collection sack which envelops all the tubes from below, the tubes (20) being open at the bottom in order to allow the used cups to fall into this sack. 10. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the flange (10), connected to it or associated with it, carries at a second through opening (14) at least one secondary header or secondary header (21) and wherein the plate (30 ) is provided with a secondary insertion opening (34) which is intended to point towards the second through opening (14) in order to make the secondary collecting tube (21) accessible from the outside, the latter being intended for collecting waste other than plastic cups, preferably sticks or spoons to stir the drinks contained in the cups. 11. Furniture according to claim 10, wherein the secondary header (21) with the flange (10) is separably connected or assigned, so that the insertion of the secondary tube (21) into a sack and the attachment of this sack to this secondary tube (21) becomes. 12. The furniture of claim 11, wherein the sub-manifold (21), the corresponding second through opening (14) formed in the flange (10), and the corresponding side opening or entrance opening (34) formed in the plate (30) is formed, are arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation (X1). 13. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the collecting tubes (20) extend to a predetermined or predetermined depth (H) inside the container body, wherein they only an upper interior (7) of the container body between the lower ends of the collecting tubes (20) and the lower part (3) of the container body (2) so that a lower interior space (8) is defined or defined, which is not occupied by the collecting tubes and can therefore be intended, in particular, for collecting other types of waste ., the lower interior (8) being accessible from the outside through one or more openings (9) formed in the container body (2), these one or more openings (9) preferably each being provided with a closure flap. 14. Furniture according to claim 10 and 13, comprising a dividing element (40) which is arranged separating between the upper interior (7) and the lower interior (8) and serves to carry the weight of the used cups in the sack. 15. Furniture according to claim 13 or 14, comprising a partition structure which is arranged inside the lower interior (8) and is suitable for delimiting two or more independent compartments, each of these independent compartments preferably being accessible from the outside through an independent opening , 8.13 AT 15 649 U1 2018-04-15 Austrian Patent Office 16. Furniture according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a floor storage base or base (6), with which the lower part (3) of the container body (2) is rotatably connected, the container body (2) preferably with respect to the floor storage base (6) can be rotated, the container body (2) preferably being separable from the base (6). 4 sheets of drawings 9/13 AT 15 649 U1 2018-04-15 Austrian Patent Office 1.4 X, X1 X, XTFIG.1 10/13 AT 15 649 U1 2018-04-15 Austrian Patent Office 2.4 X, X1 FI (3.2 11/13 AT 15 649 U1 2018-04-15 Austrian Patent Office X, X1a \ 3.4 n-- 6 - FIG.3 h ^L X, X1 12/13 AT 15 649 U1 2018-04-15 Austrian Patent Office 4.4 X, X1 FIG.4 13/13