AU2018101955A4 - Litter bin and gross pollution collection and disposal container arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

A litter and gross pollution collecting assembly is disclosed. The assembly has a combination of an above ground litter collection enclosure and a below ground gross pollution collection enclosure. Tthe assembly provides for removal and emptying of both litter and gross pollution encloures concurrently. There is at least one wall of the assembly which reamins above ground while the enclosures are emptied to form a barrier. Fig. 1 Fig. 2

Description

LITTER BIN AND GROSS POLLUTION COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL CONTAINER ARRANGEMENT

FIELD [0001] The field of the disclosure is the collection of waste both stormwater gross pollution and kerbside litter.

BACKGROUND [0002] The street side rubbish bin has been slowly evolving from a simple but functional open container large enough to hold a days’ worth of litter and rubbish provided for use by pedestrians passing the bin. Those types of bins, however, need to be manually emptied, that is picked up and tipped into a larger container, or a plastic bag needs first to be installed and then when the bin is emptied the plastic bag, and its content needs to be manually lifted up and out of the bin.

[0003] In recent developments these types of bins have become almost street art with designer seeking to make this very functional item more appealing to the eye, partly to encourage their use but not addressing the need to still manually empty the street side bin.

[0004] There are examples, of large capacity bins which are too large for manual lifting, so they are lifted using machine assistance or transported away from the collection point for machine-assisted emptying.

[0005] An even more recent development is to incorporate a moveable bin inside an outer cover thus allowing the outer cover to be designed to be even more attractive. The moveable bin (typically a wheelie bin) still needs to be manually wheeled out of the outer cover (via a closable/lockable access door/panel) and moved to the rear or side of a waste (litter and gross pollution) collection and disposal truck equipped to machine assist with the emptying of the moveable bin.

[0006] All the bin arrangements described require manual effort at some stage of the emptying and replacement process.

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 [0007] Gross Pollution Traps (GPTs) are a separate field designed to separate and capture gross pollution from stormwater directed away from roadways before that gross pollution enters the waterways or ocean. Gross pollution includes course particulate material (by settlement) and litter (paper, cans, plastic), organic debris, and liquid water contaminates including oil, chemicals; etc. GPTs can be located at the source (i.e. at the road level before the gross pollution enters the stormwater pipes), along the stormwater pathways, and at end of line before entering natural water at the sea, river or lake.

[0008] By way of example, at end of line large installations handle large volumes of water exiting a stormwater pipe system into a river, sea or lake.

[0009] By way of example, at the source, e.g. the kerb of the road, sometimes the trap is a simple as fitting a grid across the entrance to the storm water inlet.

[00010] Sometimes but less often because of the greater cost, there is the sophisticated use of multiple tanks. One for settling, another for filtering and careful location of entrances and exits of the water to maximise water flow throughput, since rain events can cause flooding when the stormwater inlets cannot match the inflows of water runoff from streets and roads.

[00011] Typically, gross pollution is extracted/removed from the GPTs by emptying cages and the like, and since they are large, low in the ground-based pits, and heavy, they require machines or vacuum equipment to facilitate the collection of the trapped gross pollution. Such traps are secured from unauthorised access by strong and typically heavy covers while in use, and even those covers require separate removal to permit access for gross pollution extraction/ removal.

[00012] Water sensitive urban design (WSUD) is an approach to designing urban areas to deal with valuable water resources and reduce the harm water boum pollutants cause to water resources, at source, along the stormwater system, and at end of line. The problems described contribute to the cost and effectiveness of waste and gross pollution collection and disposal, and this specification provides an arrangement with the object to reduce cost and increase the effectiveness of collection and disposal of captured litter and gross pollution. It may be a further object to increase worker health and safety while reducing maintenance. A statement of the objectives in this specification does not limit the scope of the claims appended hereto,

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 nor should the statement or statements proscribe that all the features of the claims meet all of the objectives when a feature may meet just one of those objectives thus any single claim may not meet all of those objectives.

SUMMARY OF ASPECTS OF THE SUBJECT MATTER DISCLOSED [00013] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that is further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other features, details, utilities, and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following written Detailed Description including those aspects illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

[00014] In an aspect of the disclosure there is a litter and gross pollution collecting assembly comprising a combination of an above ground litter collection enclosure and a below ground gross pollution collection enclosure wherein the assembly provides for removal and emptying of both litter and gross pollution encloures concurrently and there is at least one wall of the assembly which reamins above ground while the enclosures are emptied.

[00015] In a further aspect of the disclosure, there is a litter and gross pollution collecting assembly associated with a gross pollution trap located below ground level, comprising: an upper housing and a lower housing. The upper housing has a body comprising, a litter collection enclosure having an opening adapted to receive litter, the litter collection enclosure attached to the upper housing, gross pollution collection enclosure having an opening adapted to receive gross pollution from the gross pollution trap and a plurality of outlets adapted to permit an outflow of water which carries the gross pollution into the gross pollution collection enclosure; and a one-way barrier located between the litter collection enclosure and the gross pollution collection enclosure arranged not to permit passage of litter into the gross pollution collection enclosure and to permit the passage of gross pollution into the litter collections enclosure during emptying of both enclosures. There is a lower housing having at least one wall located above ground level and the lower housing being located over a portion of the gross pollution trap, the lower housing adapted to releasably support the upper housing.

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 [00016] In an aspect the one-way barrier further comprises a reservoir to retain liquid poured into the litter collection enclosure thereby preventing the liquid from entering the gross pollution collection enclosure.

[00017] In an aspect there is a litter and gross pollution collecting assembly, the litter collection enclosure further comprising: a lid located above the opening of the litter collection enclosure and adapted to allow litter to be placed into the litter collection enclosure through the opening of the litter collection enclosure, and the lid being latched in a positon over the opening of the litter collection enclosure while being used for the collection of litter, but which unlatches when the upper housing is inverted for emptying of litter and the trapped gross pollution from their respective enclosures.

[00018] In an aspect, there is a litter, and gross pollution collecting assembly wherein the upper housing is adapted to be grasped by mechanical arms associated with a waste collection truck and raised substantially vertically out of and above the lower housing for inversion to empty collected litter and gross pollution from their respective enclosures.

[00019] In a further aspect there is a litter, and gross pollution collecting assembly wherein the upper housing, litter collection and gross pollution enclosures are an integral unit.

[00020] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither are the presented embodiments restricted in their embodiments about the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles disclosed. Therefore, the embodiments should be understood to include all such modifications within their scope.

[00021] The reference to any background or prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that such background or prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE [00022] Figure 1 depicts an external perspective view from the footpath side of the of a litter bin according to an embodiment of the disclosure herein;

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 [00023] Figure 2 depicts a external perspective view from the road of the litter bin of Figure i;

[00024] Figure 3 depicts a latched and hinged lid forming an openable upper surface of the street side litter bin embodiment depicted in Figures 1 and 2;

[00025] Figure 4 depicts an upper housing of the street side litter bin embodiment depicted in Figures 1 and 2 and to which the lid is hinged and latched;

[00026] Figure 5 depicts a lower housing with respect to the upper housing having an above ground portion and a below ground portion, and also depicted is an access lid of the below ground level entrance to the gross pollution trap assembly which is located below ground and under the street side litter;

[00027] Figure 6 depicts the access lid in place over the below ground level entrance to the gross pollution trap below ground;

[00028] Figure 7A depicts a waste disposal truck having a litter bin grasping and lifting mechanism aligned with the upper housing of the roadside litter bin;

[00029] Figure 7B depicts the upper housing with the litter collection enclosure therein and the associated gross pollution collections enclosure having a gross pollution trap being removed from the lower on-ground portion of the lower housing for emptying into a waste disposal truck;

[00030] Figure 7C depicts a line drawing of a perspective view from the road of the removable upper housing and associated litter collection enclosure and gross pollution collection enclosure; and [00031] Figure 8 depicts a cross-sectional view showing the interior of the above ground and below ground portions of the combined upper and lower housings and a portion of the gross pollution trap below ground.

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 [00032] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE [00033] This disclosure provides details of at least one embodiment of a litter and gross pollution collecting assembly which is a combination of housings both above ground, but the upper housing houses the litter collection enclosure and is associated with the gross pollution enclosure, and the lower housing is used for supporting the upper housing. The assembly provides for the separate collection of litter and gross pollution in a manner that does not combine the two types of rubbish but provides for the emptying of both litter and gross pollution from the assembly concurrently. The at least one wall of the lower housing is arranged to support the upper housing which is attached to the above ground litter collection receptacle. The lower housing remains on the ground during the emptying of the litter and gross pollution from their respective enclosures. This at least one wall is, in the embodiment depicted, in at least Figure 1, has the four side walls each of which are, in this embodiment, vertical having a height illustrated by the brackets. Those four walls form a barrier about the opening in which the litter and gross pollution collecting assembly is housed during use but removed when being emptied. The collection receptacles are co-located, so that the combined assembly can be used by people wishing to dispose of litter and when required stormwaterborne gross pollution can enter the assembly at road level and the gross pollution is trapped within the lower portion of the litter and gross pollution collecting assembly.

[00034] Figure 1 depicts an external perspective view from the footpath side of the of the litter bin according to an embodiment of the disclosure herein. The litter and gross pollution collecting assembly 10 is associated with a gross pollution trap 12 located below ground level (not shown in Figure 1). An upper housing 14 (the full height of which is shown by the curved bracket) has a body 16 comprising, a litter collection enclosure 82 (refer Figure 8) internal of the upper housing. The enclosure 82 has an opening adapted to receive litter, and in this embodiment, an externally accessible aperture is provided in the form of a slot and key-hole type opening 18 located above the opening to enclosure 82 and a lid 18. The circular portion of the opening is intended to allow substantially cylindrical cans and bottles to be placed into the upper housing through the slot and thus enter the litter collection enclosure. The litter collection enclosure is attached, in this embodiment, to the upper housing, such that, as will be described, the upper housing along with the litter collection enclosure can be

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 lifted vertically out of the lower housing 19 (the height of which is shown by the square bracket).

[00035] Figure 2 depicts an external perspective view from the road of the litter bin 10 with the enclosure opening 18 (not shown) facing the footpath. The gross pollution trap 12 is not shown in Figure 2, but the concrete cover of the trap is depicted, as is the kerb level storm water entrance 20 for storm water and water home gross pollution to enter the trap located below the litter bin. Also depicted in Figure 2 is a removable cover 22 which when removed allows access to a descending surface formed by a stainless steel chute structure 52 (shown in Figure 5) used to guide the water and gross pollution to the gross pollution collection enclosure 84 (depicted in Figures 5 and 8). The descending stainless steel chute structure further comprises a by-pass flap which allows stormwater flows to by-pass the gross pollution collection enclosure and pass directly in the stormwater drain below, should the gross pollution collection chamber be full, thereby preventing ponding at street level.

[00036] Figure 3 depicts a latched and hinged lid 30 forming an openable upper surface of the street side litter bin embodiment depicted in Figures 1 and 2. The lid in this embodiment fully covers the upper housing 14 but in an alternative the lid may accommodate one or more apertures through which litter can be added to the litter collection enclosure 82, or the one or more apertures may be an alternative to or in addition to the aperture 18 on the footpath side of the assembly. Further, the upper surface of the lid is fitted so that there is a slope with respect to a horizontal plane so that rainwater will fall off the lid and towards the roadway and the kerb level storm water entrance 20. Not shown is a gravity latch. The latch retains the lid to the upper housing while in normal use, but which unlatches when the bin assembly is tipped for emptying so that the lid falls away from the then lower portion of the upper housing to allow the litter and gross pollution to fall from the up-ended/substantially inverted litter and gross pollution collection enclosure. The gravity latch only allows the lid to be opened when the bin is inverted (tipped for emptying as depicted in Figures 7A and 7B). The lid is unable to be opened from street level when the bin is in normal operating position as depicted in Figure 1. This prevents the public from opening the bin lid 30 and depositing large rubbish items in the litter collection enclosure thereby prematurely filling that enclosure.

[00037] Figure 4 depicts an upper housing of the streetside litter bin embodiment depicted in Figures 1 and 2 and to which the lid 30 is hinged and latched. As will be described, the

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 upper housing 40 depicted in Figure 4 is separable from the lower housing 50 depicted in Figure 5 when the upper housing 40 is grasped and lifted. The outer surface of the lower housing has the same appearance as the outer surface of the upper housing (regarding the pattern and shape), but that is a mere aesthetic consideration. The inner wall of the upper housing is made of metal but could be a hard and UV resistant plastic. The housings do require some impact resistance since the process of removing and replacing the upper housing, and the depending collection enclosures (litter and gross pollution) may graze or impact the inner wall of the upper housing. The material of the upper and lower housings can be of any suitable material, but stainless steel is long wearing, maintains a clean appearance over longer periods than many other materials, and is easier to clean than many other materials. Of course, where a design needs to accommodate a particular aesthetic then the material, shape and pattern may be very different from the embodiment disclosed.

[00038] Figure 6 depicts the access lid 22 in place over the below ground level kerb level storm water entrance 20 to the gross pollution trap below ground enclosure. The lid is constructed of heavy and impact resistant UV resistant plastic and covered with a raised checker plate ornamentation to provide an anti-slip surface since there will be occasions when people may stand on the lid.

[00039] Figure 7A depicts a waste disposal truck 70 having a litter bin grasping 72 mechanisms and a lifting 74 mechanism aligned with the upper housing of the road side litter bin. Although a person is depicted standing near the road side litter bin, there is no need for a person to be there. The bin grasping and lifting mechanisms can be operated by the same person that drives the truck, so this operation is essentially a one-person task. The driver first aligns the bin grasping and lifting mechanism with the litter bin and does not need to be exact since the grasping portion of the mechanism comprises two arms 72A and 72B which are horizontally separated a much greater width than the width of the upper housing. As the lifting mechanism is moved closer to the litter bin the distance between the arms of the grasping mechanism reduce. The reduction in distance is achieved in a manner which accommodates the possible off-set location of the litter bin and finally engages/grasps opposite sides of the upper housing. Once firmly grasped the lifting mechanism raises the upper housing as depicted in Figure 7B.

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 [00040] Figure 7B depicts the upper housing 40 and associated litter collection enclosure 82 (Figure 8) and associated gross pollution retainer portion 84 (Figure 8) associated with the gross pollution trap, being removed from the lower in-ground portion of lower housing 50, for emptying the upper housing 40 into the waste disposal truck 70. The operation of the grasping 72 and lifting 74 mechanisms is typically hydraulically powered and manipulated, and the weight of the portions lifted will typically exceed the combined weight of the litter and gross pollution trapped therein, even if the latter is still wet. At least in this embodiment, the metal construction of the upper housing, lid and both the litter and gross pollution enclosures are very likely to be greater than the contents. However, the hydraulic lifting capacity and strength of the mechanism is rated to lift weights many hundreds of per cent greater than the weights involved in the litter and gross pollution collecting assembly. As can be observed there is no need for a person to be tasked with anything other than controlling the truck, and the lifting and emptying process.

[00041] Figure 7C depicts a line drawing of a perspective view from the road of the removed upper housing and associated litter collection enclosure and gross pollution collection enclosure. In the lower portion of the gross pollution collection enclosure 84, a oneway barrier 86a and associated aperture 86b to the enclosure is provided for the passage of gross pollution and water into the enclosure and over time, water out of the enclosure. The one-way filter and associated aperture are located at the lower end of the descending stainless steel chute arrangement 52 (Figure 5). Figure 8 depicts a biased (springloaded in one embodiment) guillotine style gate 84a that is open while the litter and gross pollution collecting assembly is in normal use so that stormwater can flow from the stormwater kerb level entrance via the apperture 86b (Figure 8) but the one-way barrier 86a (Figure 8 showin in an open postion) is biased closed when the litter and gross pollution collecting assembly is lifted vertically. The closure of the gate prevents the retained pollutants from escaping through the opening when the litter and gross pollution collecting assembly is being inverted to be emptied.

[00042] So as to keep separate the litter and gross pollution, it is an alternative to include a one-way barrier 85 located between the litter collection enclosure 82 and the gross pollution collection enclosure 84 (see Figure 8). In an embodiment the barrier is hinged to the side wall of the combined collection enclosure. The barrier is arranged to not permit the passage of litter into the gross pollution collection enclosure and to permit the passage of gross pollution ίο

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 into the litter collection enclosure during emptying of the enclosures, that is when the combined upper housing, litter collection housing and gross pollution collection housing is inverted by the raising mechanism of the waste disposal truck 70. The location of the one-way barrier is nominally at ground level, but it could be above or below, but generally will be at or lower than ground level.

[00043] As described in regards to Figure 5 there is lower housing 50 having at least one wall located above ground level and the lower housing being located over the gross pollution trap arrangement, the lower housing is adapted to releasably support the upper housing. In an embodiment, there is no mechanism for retention of the upper housing to the lower housing, with the weight of the combined upper housing, litter collection enclosure and gross pollution collection enclosure plus the trapped litter and gross pollution, at times being sufficient to retain the two housing together. In another embodiment, not depicted, there is a locking mechanism which can be arranged so that only the force that can be exerted by a hydraulic raising mechanism will dislodge and replace the locking mechanism. In another embodiment, there can be a manually operated lock which needs to be unlocked to allow the housings to be separated. In another embodiment, there can be a manually operated lock which needs to be unlocked to allow the housings to be separated. The base of the outer housing remains on/in the ground. Indeed, the base is integrated into the upper portion of a cement pit. In one embodiment the pit is sized to accommodate not only the base of the litter bin, but the depth of the pit will determine the capacity of the removable portion of the bin containing litter and gross pollution.

[00044] The upper housing of the litter bin assembly is mechanically grasped and as shown in Figure 7B, is mechanically lifted substantially vertically out of the lower housing. As shown in Figure 8, there is a below ground gross polluton arrangement located below the installed lower housing. Thus the litter and gross pollution collecting assembly can be retrofitted and connected to existing street kerb stormwater drainage inlets that include a gross pullution trap. Thereby serving dual purposes as both a conventional architectural street litter collection receptacle and also as an efficient at-source primary treatment litter retention device for capturing and retaining gross pollutants conveyed in street stormwater runoff. This dual-purpose functionality significantly contributes to the reduction of stormwater pollution and provides an easy, cost-efficient solution to the ever-increasing problem of litter and stormwater gross pollution capture and removal.

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 [00045] While the bin is being mechanically removed and emptied the high walled lower housing remains in situ and creates a barrier to access or inadvertent walking/falling of a person or animal into the lower portion of the gross pollution trap during the emptying process.

[00046] Figure 8 depicts a cross-sectional view of the interior of the above ground and below ground portions of the combined upper and lower housings and the gross pollution trap below ground enclosure. Not shown is the conventional arrangement of a stormwater trap having a below ground volume to accommodate a large volume of stormwater before it flows into one or more stormwater pipes that carry the stormwater to a river, lake or out to sea. By trapping gross pollution at the source, it does not end up in natural water courses or the sea. There may be other chambers and circuitous routes for the stormwater to facilitate the stilling of the water to permit the falling out of suspension of particulate matter, as well as chambers in which lighter than water chemicals such as oil and some greases, can accumulate for later removal. Removal of sediment and chemicals can be done when the upper housing and associated litter collection enclosure and associated gross pollution retainer portion associated with the gross pollution trap, are removed from the lower in-ground portion of the lower housing, providing an entrance and passage for suction and other waste removal devices to the volumes and chambers described.

[00047] The use of mechanical lifting and emptying of the litter and gross pollution bin avoids or minimises human interaction with that process thus ensuring greater worker health and safety conditions.

[00048] Please be aware that there are many terms which are used to describe the named elements used to describe the features disclosed. The following is a non-exhaustive list: bin, litter receptacle, container; trash, rubbish, garbage, waste, gross pollution; street, road, curb, curb-side, footpath, pavement, sidewalk.

[00049] Although in this disclosure there are preferred forms, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. Applicants regard the subject matter of their disclosure to include all novel and nonobvious combinations and sub-combinations of the various elements,

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element or property of the disclosed embodiments is essential. The following claims define certain combinations and sub-combinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties that are regarded as novel and non-obvious. Other combinations and sub-combinations may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether they are broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of applicants' disclosure.

[00050] As used in the specification and claims, the singular form a, an and the and include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[00051] The present disclosure may use the term comprise (open-ended) or consist essentially of’ the components of the present disclosure as well as other methods or elements described herein. As used herein, comprising means the elements recited, or their equivalent in structure or function, plus any other element or elements which are not recited. The terms having and including are also to be construed as open-ended unless the context suggests otherwise. As used herein, consisting essentially of’ means that the claimed arrangement, method and system may include ingredients in addition to those recited in the claim, but only if the additional ingredients do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics as claimed.

[00052] Where used herein, the term and/or when used in a list of two or more items means that any one of the listed characteristics can be present, or any combination of two or more of the listed characteristics can be present. For example, if a step is described as containing characteristics A, B, and/or C, the step can contain A feature alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

Claims (5)

1. A litter and gross pollution collecting assembly comprising a combination of an above ground litter collection enclosure and a below ground gross pollution collection enclosure wherein the assembly provides for removal and emptying of both litter and gross pollution encloures concurrently and there is at least one wall of the assembly which reamins above ground while the enclosures are emptied.

2018101955 05 Dec 2018

2. A litter and gross pollution collecting assembly associated with a gross pollution trap located below ground level, comprising:

an upper housing having;

a body comprising, a litter collection enclosure having an opening adapted to receive litter, the litter collection enclosure attached to the upper housing; and a gross pollution collection enclosure depending from the litter collection enclosure, gross pollution collection enclosure having an opening adapted to receive gross pollution from the gross pollution trap and a plurality of outlets adapted to permit an outflow of water which carries the gross pollution into the gross pollution collection enclosure;

a one-way barrier located between the litter collection enclosure and the gross pollution collection enclosure arranged not to permit passage of litter into the gross pollution collection enclosure and to permit the passage of gross pollution into the litter collections enclosure during emptying of both enclosures;

a lower housing having at least one wall located above ground level and the lower housing being located over the gross pollution trap arrangement, the lower housing adapted to releasably support the upper housing.

3. A litter and gross pollution collecting assembly according to claim 1, the litter collection enclosure further comprising:

a lid located above the opening of the litter collection enclosure and adapted to allow litter to be placed into the litter collection enclosure through the opening of the litter collection enclosure, and the lid being latched in a positon over the opening of the litter collection enclosure while being used for the collection of

2018101955 05 Dec 2018 litter, but which unlatches when the upper housing is inverted for emptying of litter and the trapped gross pollution from their respective enclosures.

4. A litter and gross pollution collecting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the upper housing is adapted to be grasped by mechanical arms associated with waste collection and disposal truck and be raised substantially vertically out of and above the lower housing for inversion to empty collected litter and gross pollution from their respective enclosures.

5. A litter and gross pollution collecting assembly according to claim 1 wherein the upper housing, litter collection and gross pollution enclosures are an integral unit.