AU2010101242A4

AU2010101242A4 - Method and apparatus for securing a refuse container

Info

Publication number: AU2010101242A4
Application number: AU2010101242A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Russell John Luhrs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-09
Filing date: 2010-11-08
Publication date: 2010-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-08

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: Russell John Luhrs of 440 Luhrs Road, Mooralla, Victoria 3314, Australia Actual Inventor: Russell John Luhrs Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, I Nicholson Street, Melbourne 3000, Victoria, Australia Innovation Patent specification for the invention entitled: "Method and apparatus for securing a refuse container" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: r kNRPnRTn1 \nrrCXi' %1777AQS i nn 111vi 0 C:\NRPonbl\DCC\EJL\25635xll-lDOC-41112010 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SECURING A REFUSE CONTAINER Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to a method and apparatus for securing a refuse container, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a method for securing a rubbish bin to an aperture formed in ground material to resist movement of the refuse container by wind and also to make it more stable on a sloping surface. 10 Background of the Invention There exists a problem in that refuse containers, commonly referred to as rubbish bins or trash cans, are prone to being blown over by wind pressure, especially on sloping surfaces. The wind pressure may cause the refuse container to tip on its side, with the 15 refuse from inside the container being strewn over the ground. The refuse containers may also be blown into other objects, such as cars, causing damage. The applicant has identified that the problem of refuse containers being moved by wind pressure may cause unsightliness in that the refuse may be blown across a 20 picturesque area, as well as causing significant expense for the refuse to be collected and disposed of. Moreover, residents may become frustrated at having refuse littered through their properties, and damage to the environment may result from the refuse not being disposed of properly. 25 United States Patent No. 5,213,294 discloses a locking support for a refuse can, however the applicant has identified that this kind of locking support requires an upright post to be formed next to the refuse can, and that it would be beneficial for no above ground structures to be required.

C:NRPonbKDCC\EJL\256358H I.DOC4/11/2010 -2 Examples of the present invention seek to provide an apparatus for securing a refuse container which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more disadvantages of previously proposed efforts. 5 Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refuse container securing apparatus, including a base fixed or integral to a body of the container and a bolt secured to the body of the container by the base, the bolt having a handle portion 10 and an anchor portion, wherein the bolt is able to be moved by actuating the handle portion between a retracted configuration in which the anchor portion is raised above a ground surface and an engaged configuration in which the anchor portion is lowered into an aperture formed in the ground surface for securing the container from lateral movement relative to the aperture. 15 Preferably, the refuse container includes a sleeve for lining the aperture. In a preferred example, the bolt is generally L-shaped or T-shaped, with the handle portion forming a transverse part of the bolt and the anchor portion forming a longitudinal 20 portion of the bolt. Preferably, the base is fixed to the body of the container such that the anchor portion of the bolt extends substantially vertically when the refuse container is standing in an upright condition. 25 Preferably, the base is fastened to a sidewall of the body of the container. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of securing a refuse container to resist movement from wind pressure, including 30 the steps of: fixing a base of a securing apparatus to a body of the container; C:\RPonbrDCC\EJL25635xiSi DOC-4/11/2011 -3 standing the refuse container on a ground surface; and moving a bolt of the securing apparatus relative to the base from a retracted configuration to an engaged configuration in which an anchoring portion of the bolt is lowered into an aperture formed in the ground surface for securing the container to resist 5 lateral movement relative to the aperture. Preferably, the method further includes the steps of inserting a sleeve in the ground surface such that the aperture is lined by the sleeve, and moving the bolt to the engaged configuration with the anchoring portion retained inside the sleeve within the aperture. 10 More preferably, the sleeve is sunk such that an upper edge of the sleeve is at or below the ground surface. Even more preferably, the method includes the step of driving the sleeve into the ground to form the aperture. In a preferred form, the method includes the step of forming the aperture at a 15 location where the container is to stand for collection for emptying. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to 20 the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a refuse container securing apparatus holding a refuse container about to be collected by a waste removalist vehicle; 25 Figure 2 is a detailed diagrammatic side view of a refuse container securing apparatus fitted to a refuse container; Figure 3 is a front diagrammatic view of the refuse container securing apparatus; 30 Figure 4 is a top front perspective view of a refuse container fitted with a refuse container securing apparatus; C\NRPornbDCCEJL\25O XS - I.DOC-4/I l/21110 -4 Figure 5 is a detailed front perspective view of the refuse container securing apparatus shown in Figure 4; and 5 Figure 6 shows a front view of two examples of refuse container securing apparatus fitted to separate refuse containers. Detailed Description 10 Figures 1 to 3 show diagrammatic sketches of a refuse container securing apparatus 10 in accordance with one example of the present invention, and Figures 4 to 6 show representations of several other prototypes of refuse container securing apparatus 10 in accordance with similar examples of the present invention. 15 Advantageously, the refuse container securing apparatus 10 is a simple bolt and sleeve arrangement which allows a refuse container 16 to be held in place against movement from wind pressure while standing in place awaiting collection by a waste removalist. Advantageously, the structure to which the refuse container 16 is anchored is at or below ground level, thereby avoiding any inconvenience to normal usage of the area 20 where the structure is located. In particular, the applicant has identified that refuse containers 10 are typically collected from a footpath or "nature strip" which may also be used for other purposes which will not be interfered with due to the anchoring structure being located at or below ground level. 25 More specifically, the refuse container securing apparatus 10 includes a base 12 fixed to a body 14 of the refuse container 16, and a bolt 18 secured to the body of the container 16 by the base 12. The bolt 18 has a handle portion 20 and an anchor portion 22. The bolt 18 is able to be moved by actuating the handle portion 20 between a retracted configuration in which the anchor portion 22 is raised above a ground surface 24, and an 30 engaged configuration in which the anchor portion 22 is lowered into an aperture 26 formed in the ground surface 24 for securing the container 16 from lateral movement - C\NRPonbl\CCEL\256358_.DOC4/11/21I10 -5 relative to the aperture 26. Advantageously, as shown in Figure 1, the refuse container securing apparatus 10 still allows for vertical movement of the refuse container 16 relative to the ground surface 24 such that the refuse container 16 is able to be picked up by a waste removalist vehicle 28 for emptying of the refuse container 16 in the vehicle 28. 5 When lowered by the waste removalist vehicle 28 back to the ground surface 24, the bolt 18 may be lowered back into the aperture 26. Alternatively, the bolt 18 may allow for retraction back into the retracted configuration in the event that the anchor portion 22 is not lowered accurately back into the aperture 26 thereby abutting with the surrounding ground surface 24. 10 Figure 2 shows the bolt 18 in the engaged configuration wherein the anchor portion 22 is lowered into the aperture 26. The refuse container securing apparatus 10 may also include a sleeve 30 for lining the aperture 26. The sleeve 30 may be particularly applicable to ground surfaces made of soft material, eg. soil, which may be deformed readily in 15 response to movement of the refuse container 16 when the apparatus 10 is in the engaged configuration. The sleeve 30 may be formed of a cylindrical portion of steel or other resilient material. Where the ground surface 24 is formed from a hard material such as concrete, it may be sufficient not to use a sleeve 30, and instead to rely upon an unlined aperture 26 drilled into the ground surface 24. 20 As shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the bolt 18 is generally L-shaped, with the handle portion 20 forming a transverse part of the bolt 18 and the anchor portion 22 forming a longitudinal portion of the bolt 18. The base 12 is fixed to the body 14 of the container 16 such that the anchor portion 22 of the bolt 18 extends substantially vertically 25 when the refuse container 16 is standing in an upright condition. The base 12 may be fastened to a sidewall of the body 14 of the container 16. The fastening of the base 12 to the sidewall may be by way of screw type fasteners, and the base 12 may be in the form of a generally flat plate which is advantageously able to be adapted for retro-fitment to sidewalls of different types of refuse container 16. The base 12 may have a plurality of 30 spaced loops 32 for retaining the bolt 18 to the base 12 whilst allowing sliding movement of the bolt 18 within the base 12 between the retracted and engaged configurations.

C:\NRPonbDCC\EJ26358 1 DOC-4/11/2010 -6 Figures 4 and 5 show a refuse container securing apparatus 10 in an engaged configuration, wherein a sleeve 30 of the apparatus 10 is inserted in the ground surface 24 in the form of a grass area. The sleeve 30 is sunk within the grass ground surface such that 5 an upper edge 34 of the sleeve 30 is at or below the level of the ground surface 24. The sleeve 30 may be driven into the ground surface 24 to form the aperture 26. Alternatively, the aperture 26 may be formed first, with the sleeve 30 being subsequently inserted into the aperture 26. 10 The aperture may be formed at a location, for example on a footpath or nature strip, where the refuse container 16 is to stand for collection for emptying by a waste removalist vehicle 28. Another like aperture may be formed at a location where the refuse container 16 is to be located at all other times when it is not standing for collection for emptying (eg. within a residential property). As shown in Figure 5, the bolt 18 may be provided with 15 upper and lower stops 36 for stopping movement of the bolt 18 relative to the base 12 at the retracted configuration and the engaged configuration, respectively. Figure 6 shows two refuse containers 16 of different sizes, each of the refuse containers 16 having a refuse container securing apparatus 10 fixed to a wall of the body 20 14 of the container 16. Each of the refuse container securing apparatuses 10 has a bolt 18 which is generally T-shaped with the handle portion 20 forming a transverse part of the bolt 18. A lower portion of the bolt 18 may be bent inwardly toward the refuse container 16 to facilitate insertion of the anchor portion 22 in the aperture 26. 25 While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above 30 described exemplary embodiments.

C.NRPorblDCCEJI.\25635XlI DOC-flIf2I01 -7 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or 5 steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or 10 information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. A refuse container securing apparatus, including a base fixed or integral to a body of the container and a bolt secured to the body of the container by the base, the bolt 5 having a handle portion and an anchor portion, wherein the bolt is able to be moved by actuating the handle portion between a retracted configuration in which the anchor portion is raised above a ground surface and an engaged configuration in which the anchor portion is lowered into an aperture formed in the ground surface for securing the container from lateral movement relative to the aperture. 10

2. A refuse container securing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further including a sleeve for lining the aperture.

3. A refuse container securing apparatus as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein the 15 bolt is generally L-shaped or T-shaped, with the handle portion forming a transverse part of the bolt and the anchor portion forming a longitudinal portion of the bolt.

4. A refuse container securing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 3, 20 wherein the base is fixed to the body of the container such that the anchor portion of the bolt extends substantially vertically when the refuse container is standing in an upright condition.

5. A refuse container securing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, 25 wherein the base is fastened to a sidewall of the body of the container.

6. A method of securing a refuse container to resist movement, including the steps of: fixing a base of a securing apparatus to a body of the container; standing the refuse container on a ground surface; and 30 moving a bolt of the securing apparatus relative to the base from a retracted configuration to an engaged configuration in which an anchoring portion of the bolt C:\NRPortb\DCCEJL\25635 - LDOC-4/11/2010 -9 is lowered into an aperture formed in the ground surface for securing the container to resist lateral movement relative to the aperture.

7. A method of securing a refuse container to resist movement as claimed in claim 6, 5 further including the steps of inserting a sleeve in the ground surface such that the aperture is lined by the sleeve, and moving the bolt to the engaged configuration with the anchoring portion retained inside the sleeve within the aperture.

8. A method of securing a refuse container to resist movement as claimed in claim 7, 10 wherein the sleeve is sunk such that an upper edge of the sleeve is at or below the ground surface.

9. A method of securing a refuse container to resist movement as claimed in claim 8, including the step of driving the sleeve into the ground to form the aperture. 15

10. A method of securing a refuse container to resist movement as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, including the step of forming the aperture at a location where the container is to stand for collection for emptying. 20

11. A refuse container securing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of securing a refuse container to resist movement, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 25