AU2013100848A4 - Wheelie bin breather - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The Bin Breather is a device manufactured from two standard wheelie bin lids with a raised, square shaped section. The raised section is excised from one lid, cutting around the lower boundary of the raised section leaving a square section with a raised edge approximately 10mm deep. The raised section is then excised from the second lid, cutting around the upper boundary leaving a square hole with a raised edge approximately 10mm high. A length of expanded metal 40mm wide is then formed to fit snugly inside the raised edge of the square section excised from the first lid, shaped to allow for moulded contours in the lid, and fixed to the inside of the section with pop-rivets. This now modified section is then fixed to the inside of the raised section around the hole in the second lid with pop-rivets so that an air gap of 20mm exists between the lower and upper sections. A standard lid is then removed from a wheelie bin and the modified lid is fitted in its place. This process can be applied to different sized wheelie bin lids C' 'I'

Description

Page 1: Specification: Wheelie Bin Breather For want of a better name this device is to be called a "Wheelie Bin Breather". The need for this device arose from green garden matter being placed into a wheelie bin in hot weather, causing sweating, condensation and odour when the lid was fully closed. If the lid was left in a slightly raised position allowing air into the bin, the sweating and condensation was reduced, but flies and other insects, as well as water from rain, could then enter the bin and cause other forms of putrefaction. The need then became apparent for a form of breather which would allow air to circulate in the bin but prohibit the entry of insects and rain. Two damaged bin lids were obtained from the local council and altered as described: Lid 1. A section was cut from one lid such that it would cover a hole left by cutting out a matching section in Lid 2. Pic 1 Lid 2. A section was cut from the raised portion of the second lid such that it could be covered by a slightly larger section cut from Lid 1. Pic 1 A band of perforated metal was then cut and shaped in such a way that would allow it to be fixed to the inner surfaces of the cut-out from Lid 1 and the inside of the hole formed in Lid 2. (Pics 2 & 3) it was calculated that this needed to be 40mm in width so that when the bin lid was fully opened and allowed to fall down the 'back' of the bin; it would hang vertically without fouling the bin. An air gap of 20mm was achieved. (Pic 4) This size is also necessary so that if the bin is allowed to fall backwards after being emptied by the device on the garbage truck, the bin could lie on the ground without damaging the modified lid. (Pic 5) The device has been in use for 12 months on a bin used for typical household waste and garden refuse, and has proved to be satisfactory in terms of the amount of sweating and condensation that takes place in the bin, with consequent reduction in odour. The narrow air gap is adequately covered to disallow entry of rain. The bin on which it is fitted is collected weekly by the local council's garbage truck fitted with a mechanical lifter, and has suffered no damage. The design of the lid is such that it could be made in any size according to the size of the bin to which would be fitted. If the design of the device proceeds to a manufacturing process it is envisaged that the breathing section of the lid would be moulded as part of the lid, not an 'after market' fitting. Envisaged market would be to local government organisations, recycling organisations or the general public. The possibility of using Protected Workshops to either fit modified or newly remanufactured lids to existing bins or even manufacture the device 'from scratch' also exists, providing employment to people in these establishments. Ian Wallis