AU2010219281A2 - Mobile garbage bin - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A mobile garbage bin comprising a closed base, at least one wall extending upwardly 5 from the base and defining an interior cavity, and an opening extending from the cavity, the mobile garbage bin having a lifting zone located between the base and the opening, the cross sectional area of the mobile garbage bin above the lifting zone being greater than the cross-sectional area of the mobile garbage bin through the lifting zone. 23972231 (GHMatters) 3109/10 A- A -- --- ----- ...... ......

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant(s): SULO MGB Australia Pty Ltd Invention Title: MOBILE GARBAGE BIN The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: - 2 MOBILE GARBAGE BIN Technical Field This disclosure relates to mobile garbage bins and, more particularly, to mobile garbage 5 bins configured for use with grab or clamp lifting devices. Background Mobile garbage bins traditionally comprise a moulded plastics container, having a closed base, at least one container wall defining an internal cavity, an opening extending from the cavity, and wheels positioned in a lower portion of the container. 10 The bins also traditionally comprise a pivotable lid to cover the opening in a closed position. The mobile garbage bins are manufactured using injection moulding, blow moulding or rotational moulding. A variety of lifting devices are provided for disposal of the material inside a mobile 15 garbage bin including comb lifting devices, grab/clamp lifting devices and hook lifting devices and clamp lifting devices. The lifting devices must lift the mobile garbage bin such that material located inside the bin is removed through the opening. Lifting devices must be adaptable to collect material from a plurality of bins for disposal. Generally a council or waste collection agency will have standard lifting devices which 20 must be adapted to lift a variety of bins. Mobile garbage bins suffer continual wear and tear. Particular wear and tear is focussed on the rim about the opening of the bin and on the closed base of the bin. Mobile garbage bins need to be sufficiently strong to withstand lifting, dragging and the 25 materials inside the bin. Summary of the Disclosure Disclosed is a mobile garbage bin comprising a closed base, at least one wall extending upwardly from the base and defining an interior cavity, and an opening extending from 30 the cavity, the mobile garbage bin having a lifting zone located between the base and the opening, the cross sectional area of the mobile garbage bin above the lifting zone 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09i10 - 3 being greater than the cross-sectional area of the mobile garbage bin through the lifting zone. In one form the ratio of the maximum lateral cross-sectional area of the bin to the cross 5 sectional area of the mobile garbage bin through the lifting zone is greater than 1.15 to 1. In one form the ratio of the the volume of a space having a height of 1 metre and the cross-sectional area of the mobile garbage bin through the lifting zone to the overall 10 volume of the mobile garbage bin is less than 0.001 In another aspect, disclosed is a mobile garbage bin comprising a closed base, four substantially vertical walls extending upwardly from the base and defining an interior cavity, and an opening extending from the cavity, the mobile garbage bin having a 15 clamping zone located adjacent a front wall and inboard of the side walls such that the width of the bin at the clamping zone is less than the maximum width of the bin. In one form the clamping zone comprises chamfer panels which extend between the front wall and respective ones of the side walls. 20 In yet a further aspect, there is disclosed a mobile garbage bin comprising a closed base, at least one wall extending upwardly from the base and defining an interior cavity, and an opening extending from the cavity, the mobile garbage bin having a volume capacity of greater than 300L. 25 The clamping zone has a sufficiently narrow width to allow a clamp/grab lifting device to grasp the bin through the clamp zone. The mobile garbage bin has an overall volume of greater than 300 L, or in the illustrated form, approximately 340L. However in order to allow a standard clamp/grab lifter to lift the large size mobile garbage bin the cross 30 sectional area of the lifting zone must small enough to allow the clamps to extend around the bin without damaging the bin. 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10 - 4 Brief Description of the Figures Embodiments will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of a mobile garbage bin; 5 Fig 2 is a front view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 1; Fig 3 is a side view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 1; Fig 4 is a top view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 1; Fig 5 is a side view the mobile garbage bin of Fig 1, without a lid, stacked; Fig 6 is an isometric view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig I without a lid; 10 Fig 7 is a front view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 6; Fig 8 is a side view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 6; Fig 9 is a front view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 6; Fig 10 is a top view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 6; Fig 11 is a sectional view from A-A; 15 Fig 12 is an isometric view of a mobile garbage bin lid of one embodiment; Fig 13 is a side view of the lid of Fig 12 during manufacture; Fig 14 is a top view of the lid of Fig 12; Fig 15 is a side view of the lid of Fig 12; Fig 16 is a front view of the lid of Fig 12; 20 Fig 17 is a rear view of the lid of Fig 12; Fig 18 is a sectional view of A-A from Fig 17; Fig 19 is an isometric view of a mobile garbage bin of a second embodiment; Fig 20 is a side view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 19; Fig 21 is a rear view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 19; 25 Fig 22 is a front view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 19; Fig 23 is a top view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 19; Fig 24 is a bottom view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 19; Fig 25 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of a mobile garbage bin; Fig 26 is a perspective view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 25; 30 Fig 27 is a front view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 25; Fig 28 is a side view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 25; Fig 29 is a rear view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 25; 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10 - 5 Fig 30 is a top view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 25; Fig 31 is a bottom view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 25; Fig 32 is a cross sectional side view of the rim of an embodiment of a mobile garbage bin; 5 Fig 33 is a cross sectional front view of the rim of Fig 32; Fig 34 is a cross sectional plan of a portion of an embodiment of a mobile garbage bin; Fig 35 is a top view of a mobile garbage bin of a fourth embodiment; Fig 36 is a rear view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 35; Fig 37 is a side view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 35; 10 Fig 38 is a front view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 35; Fig 39 is a second side view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 35; Fig 40 is a bottom view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 35 Fig 41 is a top isometric view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 35; Fig 42 is a bottom isometric view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 35; 15 Fig 43 is a top view of a mobile garbage bin of a fifth embodiment; Fig 44 is a rear view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 43; Fig 45 is a side view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 43; Fig 46 is a front view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 43; Fig 47 is a second side view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 43; 20 Fig 48 is a bottom view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 43; Fig 49 is a top isometric view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 43; Fig 50 is a bottom isometric view of the mobile garbage bin of Fig 43. 25 Detailed Description of Embodiments Referring to the Figures, disclosed is a garbage bin 1 comprising a closed base 2, a front wall 4a, side walls 4b and 4c and a rear wall 4d. The substantially vertical walls 4 and the base 2 define an interior cavity 5. The garbage bin I further comprises an opening 6 extending from the cavity 5. 30 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10 - 6 The garbage bin 1 can be adapted for any volume and features of the garbage bin are effective on any volume container, however the disclosure is made specifically in relation to a mobile garbage bin with an interior cavity volume of greater than 300L. 5 The opening 6 is defined by the top edges of each of the walls 4 and is substantially aligned with the base 2 of the garbage bin 1. In a not illustrated form, the opening 6 is sloped with respect to the base 2 to improve access to the interior cavity 5 of the bin 1. The front portion 35 of the opening 6 is positioned closer to the base 2 than the rear portion. This sloped opening places the opening entrance at a point that is more 10 accessible for a user to allow a user to deposit material in the bin 1 with more ease. The opening 6 is surrounded by a peripheral rim 7. At the rear top edge 8 of the garbage bin I a pair of elongate hollow handle bars 9 are 15 provided. The bars 9 are secured to the garbage bin 1 by hollow handle webs 10 extending outwardly from the rear top edge 8. The webs 10 are positioned at the end of each of the pair of bars 9 such that the bars 9 form handles. The centre-most handle webs I Oa are longer than the outer handle webs 1 Ob such that the two handles are sloped downwardly and inwardly from the centre to the edge of the bin 1. The handle 20 webs 10 are linked by a central web 11 which extends between the centre-most handle webs 10a. The bars 9 are arranged to support a lid 12. The lid 12 comprises outer braces 13 which are engaged with the outer edges of the bars 9 by means of hinge pins 14 which extend 25 through the outer braces 13 into the bars 9. The hinge pins 14 allow the lid 12 to pivot between a closed position in which the lid 12 rests on the rim 7 and covers the opening 6 and an open position in which the lid 12 hangs from the hinge pins 14 and bars 9 and rests against the rear wall 4d of the garbage bin 1. The bars 9 and webs 10 and 11 are formed integrally with one another such that a hollow 60 extends through both. 30 The lid 12 includes an inner brace 16 which extends from the rear centre of the lid 12. The inner brace 16 includes an indented bearing surface 17 which is adapted to rest on 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10 - 7 the central web 11. The inner brace 16 provides additional support to the lid 12 to limit flex and improve stability when it is pivoting between the open position and the closed position. The indented bearing surface 17 allows the lid 12 to rest on the central web 11 through a range of positions while the lid 12 is pivoting. 5 As shown in Fig 34, the hinge pin 14 comprises an elongate member 61 and a head 62. In use the elongate member 61 extends through hollow 60 of the bar 9 and the outer web 10 into the lid 12. The head 62 rests against the inner wall of the hollow 60. The hinge pin 14 is held in place by a snap fit. 10 In one embodiment shown in Figs 1 to 24, the lid 12 is hollowed and includes a balcony projection 20 which projects toward the front 21 of the lid 12. The balcony projection 20 defines an inset portion 22 which is located between the front 21 of the lid 12 and the balcony projection 20. The balcony projection 20 is supported by two support webs 15 23 which extend upwardly from the front 21 of the lid 12 to the balcony projection 20. In a second embodiment shown in Figs 25 to 31, the balcony projection 20 is supported by a single support web 23. The inset portion 22 is set back from the front of the lid 12 and, in one form, includes 20 moulded ventilation cavities (not illustrated). The moulded ventilation cavities in one form include mesh moulded into the inset portion 22. Alternatively slots or an open vent are available, all of which allow material in the interior cavity 5 of the bin I to be aerated. This feature is particularly beneficial for organics. The balcony projection 20 projects over the ventilation cavities such that when the lid 12 is in its closed position 25 precipitation is largely prevented from entering the interior cavity 5. As best shown in Fig 13, two lids 12 are manufactured in a single mould. The lids 12 are rotationally moulded in a base-to-base arrangement to form a closed hollow shell. The lids 12 are then trimmed to form two separate symmetrical lids. 30 The lid 12 has an internal volume defined by the height the lid 12 rises above the rim 7. In the form shown, the internal volume of the lid 12 is 15L. 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09110 - 8 The rim 7 comprises a closed hollow section 28 which is located about the opening 6. The hollow section 28 has a base surface 29, a top surface 30, an inner surface 31 and an outer surface 32 which define an internal cavity 33. The inner surface 31 is integral 5 with the container walls 4. In alternative forms the rim 7 includes a front portion 35 which comprises a hollow section 28 having a base surface 29, a top surface 30, an inner surface 31 and an outer surface 32 which define an internal cavity 33. Finger grips 37 are located beneath the rim 7 on the side walls 4b and 4c of the bin 1. 10 The shallow finger grips provide for greater mobility of the bin 1. The front portion 35 of rim 7 which projects outwardly from the front container wall 4a comprises a closed hollow section 28 which includes a recess 36. The recess 36 is positioned in base surface 29 and extends upwardly into the rim 7. Base surface 29 15 includes a flange 38 extending downwardly to define one side of the recess 36. The other side of recess 36 is defined by container wall 4a. The cross-section of closed hollow section 28 is best shown in Figs 32 and 33. The cross-section comprises two square hollow sections 40 which are conjoined at one 20 corner to produce a stepped shape. The stepped shape means one side of the lower square hollow section 40b forms the flange 38. While the embodiment shown has a stepped cross-section, other cross-sections are effective to provide a base surface 29 with a recess 36. For example, an inverted L 25 shaped cross section, an inverted U-shaped cross-section, a T shaped cross-section or alternative cross-sections with an indentation extending into the hollow section or a protrusion extending downwardly from the hollow section are effective. The recess 36 is adapted to allow a comb lifting device to be inserted therein to lift the 30 garbage bin. The recess 36 includes webs 66 extending from the front wall 4a to the rim 7 to provide support to the rim 7. The webs 66 are positioned sufficiently far apart to allow a comb lifting device to insert a comb into the recess for lifting. 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10 -9 The hollow section 28 provides for rigidity and strength about the top of the garbage bin, where wear and tear is considerable, while allowing the garbage bin 1 to be manufactured with less material than a solid rim would require. This has benefits for 5 costs and use of raw materials in manufacture along with weight benefits. The hollow section 28 in the rim 7 is ideally suited for manufacture by rotational moulding while providing the rigidity and strength needed in a rim and the recess required for comb lifting. 10 The base 2 includes a convex portion 41 which is positioned centrally within the base 2. The convex portion allows for flex in the base which improves the wear of the base 2 and reduces incidence of cracking. The base 2 comprises four feet including two primary feet 46 and two stabilising feet 44 positioned in a front portion 43 of the base 2. The rear portion 42 of the base 2 is supported above the ground by a pair of wheels 48 15 interconnected by an axle 49. The axle 49 is mounted to extend across the rear wall 4d adjacent the base 2 such that the wheels 48 extend below the base 2. The axle 49 is mounted to the rear wall 4d of the bin I to extend through a tubular holder 57 that extends across the rear wall 4d on its interior surface. The holder 57 adds 20 strength to the lower portion of the rear wall 4d. Because the holder is not spaced apart from the wall 4d but instead is integrally formed with the wall 4d most material disposed in the cavity will not be caught under the holder 57. The stabilizing feet 44 are positioned in the front portion of the bin and act to stabilize 25 the mobile garbage bin 1 by providing points on which the garbage bin 1 rests on rough surfaces. The stabilizing feet 44 are solid and are integrally formed with the base 2. The primary feet 46 are positioned slightly behind and outside of the stabilizing feet 44. The reinforcing feet 46 are solid and are integrally formed with the base 2. The feet act 30 in place of a wear plate on the base 2 of the bin 1. Castor wheels (not illustrated) may be retrofitted to or moulded with the reinforcing feet 46 to allow for greater mobility of 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/0910 - 10 the garbage bin. The material thickness of the reinforcing feet 46 acts to support the castor wheels within the base 2. In a second embodiment the base comprises two feet 46 extending downwardly from 5 the base 2. The two feet 46 are positioned in the front portion of the bin and are solid and integrally formed with the base. Castor wheels (not illustrated) may be retrofitted to or moulded with a portion of the feet 46. The feet 46 stabilize the bin 1, raise the base 2 above the ground and act as a wear plate. 10 The reinforcing feet 46 and the stabilizing feet 44 provide additional strength to the base 2 and act as wear plates. An indented footrest 58 is located to extend into the rear wall 4d at a point above the holder 57. The footrest allows a user to position their foot to assist in tilting the garbage 15 bin 1. The walls 4 of the garbage bin 1 extend upwardly from the base 2 to the opening 6. A lifting zone 50 is positioned on the walls 4 between the base and the opening. Above the lifting zone 50, a shoulder 52 extends outwardly from each corner of the garbage 20 bin 1. The shoulder 52 acts to provide slip resistance when the garbage bin I is lifted by a grab arm (not illustrated). Below the shoulder 52 the corner panels 54 of the walls are chamfered to produce a polygonal cross-section such as, in this case, an octagonal cross-section. This provides a narrowed cross-section at the lifting zone 50. In the embodiment shown in Figs 1 to 24, the corner panels 54 include a plurality of raised 25 protrusions 55 which provide additional slip resistance for the lifting device. In one form, the shoulder 52 is 600mm above the ground. The lateral cross-sectional area of the bin at a point just below the shoulder in the lifting zone 50 is approximately 0.31m2 while the lateral cross-sectional area of the bin above the shoulder 52 is 30 approximately 0.39m 2 . Thus the ratio of the maximum lateral cross-sectional area of the bin to the cross-sectional area through the lifting zone is approximately 1.25. The ratio of the volume occupied by a space having a height of 1 metre and the cross-sectional 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10 - 11 area through the lifting zone to the overall volume of 340L is 0.0009. In this form the narrow lifting zone and the high volume of the bin mean the ratio of the maximum lateral cross-sectional area of the bin to the cross-sectional area through the lifting zone will be greater than approximately 1.15 while the ratio of the volume of a 1 metre space 5 having a cross-sectional area through the lifting zone to the overall volume of 340L will be less than 0.001. The cross-sectional area of the bin 1 at the lifting zone 50 is kept to a minimum in order to allow the lifting device to grasp the bin 1. In order to allow the volume of the mobile 10 garbage bin to exceed 300L, the upper portion 56 of the bin 1 above the shoulder 52 has a larger cross-sectional area than the lifting zone 50. The upper portion 56 of the bin has a substantially square cross-section while at the lifting zone 50, the bin 1 has a substantially polygonal cross section. 15 The grab lift device contacts the garbage bin I at the corner panels 54 beneath the shoulder 52 to lift the bin. Therefore the distance between the corner panels 54 and therefore the depth and width of the bin I at the lifting zone 50 must be sufficiently consistent between bins of various volumes and sizes to allow a standard grab lift device to lift the bins without readjusting the size of the grab-arm or the length of the 20 associated strap. In the embodiment shown in Figs 25 to 31, the front portion 35 of the rim 7 includes moulded handles 65. The handles are defined by a cavity 68 which extends through the rim 7 to allow a user to insert a hand through the rim for improved bin mobility. The 25 handles 65 are positioned to the outer sides of the front portion 35 of the rim 7 such that a comb lifter can lift the bin utilizing the central recesses 36. In the embodiments shown in Figs 35 to 50, the lifting zone 150 is positioned slightly higher in the overall bin structure than in prior embodiments. A person skilled in the art 30 would appreciate that the position of the shoulders 152 in the walls 4 can be adjusted without adjusting the overall bin capacity, the volumes and ratios discussed or falling outside the ambit of the disclosure. 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10 - 12 The material of the bin 1 may be composed of a single layer, the thickness of which can be varied depending upon the strength needed in the bin walls 4 and base 2. For example if the bin 1 is being utilized for construction waste thicker walls and base 5 would provide additional strength. The rotational moulding process can also provide a multi-layered material. For example, the outer layer could be composed of a specific coloured material, while an inner layer is composed of recycled material to increase the strength of the walls and base without using excess material. 10 In one form the bin 1 is rotationally moulded and it has been described as such herein, however the bin and features of the bin can also be manufactured by injection moulding or any other type of plastics moulding without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 15 In the claims which follow and in the preceding summary, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", that is the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments. 20 Variations and modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the disclosure. 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10

Claims (8)

1. A mobile garbage bin comprising a closed base, at least one wall extending upwardly 5 from the base and defining an interior cavity, and an opening extending from the cavity, the mobile garbage bin having a lifting zone located between the base and the opening, the cross sectional area of the mobile garbage bin above the lifting zone being greater than the cross-sectional area of the mobile garbage bin through the lifting zone. 10

2. A mobile garbage bin as defined in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the maximum lateral cross-sectional area of the bin to the lateral cross-sectional area through the lifting zone is greater than 1.15 to 1.

3. A mobile garbage bin as defined in claim 1, wherein the ratio of the volume of a 15 space having a height of 1 metre and cross-sectional area of the mobile garbage bin through the lifting zone to the overall volume of the mobile garbage bin is less than 0.001.

4. A mobile garbage bin comprising a closed base, four substantially vertical walls 20 extending upwardly from the base and defining an interior cavity, and an opening extending from the cavity, the mobile garbage bin having a clamping zone located adjacent a front wall and inboard of the side walls such that the width of the bin at the clamping zone is less than the maximum width of the bin. 25

5. A mobile garbage bin as defined in claim 4, wherein the clamping zone comprises chamfer panels which extend between the front wall and respective ones of the side walls.

6. A mobile garbage bin as defined in any of the preceding claims having a volume 30 capacity of greater than 300L. 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10 - 14

7. A mobile garbage bin comprising a closed base, at least one wall extending upwardly from the base and defining an interior cavity, and an opening extending from the cavity, the mobile garbage bin having a volume capacity of greater than 300L. 5

8. A mobile garbage bin substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 23972231 (GHMatters) 3/09/10