AU682881B2 - Improvements in or relating to a composter - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 522987 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): o n r i Prodevco (NZ) Limited 34 Rahui Road GREENHITHE Auckland NEW ZEALAND DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Address for Service: Invention Title: Improvements in or relating to a composter The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 -I-e 'I p I' k liN% q'r '11 M'l -2- This invention relates to a composter and has been designed, particularly though not necessarily solely, for use as a garden composter.

A typical garden composter or compost bin comprises a receptacle into which food scraps, grass clippings and the like are placed to enable the composting cycle to take place.

A problem with such constructions is that in general the older material is at the bottom of the composter and therefore cannot be used until at least a substantial amount of the material in the compost bin is ready for use. There exists a need therefore for a composter which will enable the old material to be removed before newer material.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a composter which will go at least some distance to meeting the foregoing requirement or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided A composter including means defining or assemblable to define at least three composting compartments in Sa vertical inter-relationship, the top most compartment including an inlet for material to be composted (optionally closeable) and the lowermost including an outlet (optionally closeable) for removing composted material, 20 each of the upper at least two compartments providing an inclined support surface S (herein referred to as a "shelf") for material being composted wherein ongoing loading of material through said inlet cascades (preferably already composting or composted) material from the higher compartment into a lower said compartment onto a surface.

e The term "shelf" is not to be considered as restricted to planar nor regularly shaped shelves.

Preferably means is provided to close said inlet.

-3- Preferably means is provided to close said outlet.

Preferably there are three compartments.

Preferably said means defining or assemblable to define the vertically inttrrelated compartments is generally round in plan.

Preferably said means defining or assemblable to define the vertically interrelated compartments is formed from a plurality of moulded components.

Preferably said moulded components are formed by rotational or blow moulding.

Preferably said components defining said at least three composting compartments are capable of being self nested with a like component and/or being nested within one of its complimentary components.

Preferably the componentry to define said composting compartments are nestable, one component at least substantially within another and can accommodate any means to close said inlet and/or said outlet.

15 Preferably said composter is formed largely of a plastics material.

Preferably there are two shelves only.

Preferably each said shelf is substantially bowl or the like shaped but includes eccentrically positioned therein at least one optning to allow sala cascading down of composting material onto an out of register shelf below or the support 20 surface or other support of or for the lower most compartment.

Preferably said inlet is in the top of the upper most compartment.

Preferably means is provided to close said inlet, said means being a cover than can be rotated about a substantially vertical rotational access to bring an opening into or out of register with said inlet.

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-4- Preferably said outlet is in a side wall of the lower most compartment; there being provided means capable of being moved over said outlet or away from said outlet to allow the removal of composted or composting material from the lower most compartment.

Preferably said means defining the compartments does not define a base to the lower most compartment and a support surface for the apparatus or the ground itself provides the base of said lower most compartment.

In a further aspect the invention is, as a marketable item a nested composter of the present invention wherein the components thereof are nested to reduce space requirements.

In a further aspect the invention comprises a method of composting material which comprises providing or assembling a composter of the present invention loading at least a first amount of compostable material into said composter and at *some subsequent time loading via said inlet said additional composting material until such time as composted or composting material has accumulated in the lower most compartment.

In still a further aspect the invention consists in a composter comprising a container, a plurality of support surfaces ("shelves") in said container, said shelves being positioned and the container being loadable such that in use material from a 20 higher shelf can fall onto a lower shelf, said container having an opening at or near the bottom thereof in use to enable material to be withdrawn from the container.

Preferably each shelf is angled downwardly from a horizontal plane.

Preferably lower shelves have a greater downward inclination than upper shelf or shelves.

Preferably at least three shelves are provided.

Preferably said first shelf is angled downwardly between substantially 5 and substantially Preferably a second shelf is angled downwardly between substantially and substantially Preferably a third shelf is angled downwardly between substantially 15° and substantially Preferably an angled back member is provided.

Preferably said an:'led back member is angled downwardly between 45 and 800.

Preferably said container includes a front panel, said opening being formed by a gap below said front panel, one said shelf extending inwardly from or adjacent the bottom edge of said front panel.

Preferably a door is provided to allow said gap below said front panel to be substantially closed.

15 Preferably a pair of said and back panel are provided each said and back panel being formed in a substantially shape in cross-section.

^Preferably said side and back panel are placed adjacent one another to form said back.

Preferably a bottom panel is provided.

21 20 Preferably said bottom panel and said angled back panel are provided in the form of a single member.

In a further aspect the invention may broadly be said to consist in a kit of parts erectable into a composter according to the preceding paragraph.

In a still further aspect the invention consists in a method of forming compost comprising the steps of providing a composter according to the preceding -6paragraph, from time to time inserting compostable materi into an upper part of said composter and from time to time withdrawing material from a lower part of said composter.

Preferred forms of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 is a plan view of a composter according to one preferred form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of in Figure Figure 3 is a front elevation of the composter of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side elevation of the composter of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a cross-section on in Figure 1, Figure 6 is a front elevation of a bottom and angled back panel for use in the composter of Figure 1, Figure 7 is a cross-section on on Figure 6, 15 Figure 8 is an enlarged detail of the circled area in Figure 7, Figure 9 is a front elevation of a combined front panel and shelf for use in the composter of Figure 1, Figure 10 is a plan view of the construction of Figure 9, Figure 11 is a cross section on in Figure 9, 20 Figure 12 is a front elevation of a door for use in the composter of Figure S* 1, SFigure 13 is a side elevation of the construction of Figure 12, Figure 13 is a side elevation of the construction of Figure 12, Figure 14 is a plan view of the construction of Figure 12, Figure 15 is a side elevation of a side and back panel for use in the construction in Figure 1,

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-7- Figure 16 is a front elevation of a left hand unit of the construction of Figure Figure 17 is a cross section of of a left hand side and back panel.

Figure 18 is a plan view of a right hand side and back panel as shown in Figure Figure 19 is a detail of the circled are on Figure 18, Figure 20 is a plan view of an intermediate shelf used in the composter of Figure 1, Figure 21 is a front elevation of the shelf of Figure Figure 22 is a cross section on on Figure Figure 23 is a plan view of a top panel or shelf for use in the composter of Figure 1, Figure 24 is a front elevation of the panel or shelf of Figure 23, Figure 25 is a cross section on in Figure 23, 15 Figure 26 is a cross section on in Figure 27 of an alternative shelf to that shown in Figures 20 to 22, Figure 27 is a plan view of the alternative shelf, Figure 28 is a front elevation of the shelf in Figure 27, Figure 29 is a cross sectional view of a two shelf version of a composter 20 showing how 2 shelves only can define 3 vertically aligned compartments, there being provided a tilt openable cover for the top inlet, Figure 30 is a view of a preferred rotationally moulded plastics form of composter in accordance with the present invention formed substantially with a circular cross section when viewed in horizontal planes, but showing for the bottom most compartment a door type structure capable of being moved about the I i 1 I -8periphery to reveal the outlet for the composted or composting material and showing at the top thereof a rotatable cover have an opening capable of being brought into and/or out of register with an inlet into the top compartment, the arrangement shown in figure 30 being formed from three main parts that define the two "shelf' form of the composter and together with the closing means for the inlet and outlet is all that is required, Figure 31 is plan view of the composter of figure Figure 32 is the section HH of the composter of figure 31, this section being shown in elevation, Figure 33 is the section II with respect to the composter of figure 32 when looking downwardly showing the top most shelf like member with its bowl form (preferably with drainage openings) and its major opening which is out of register with an underlying opening of a like bowl shaped shelf element, the view of figure 33 showing the nature of the door structure depicted, 15 Figure 34 is a view of the apparatus of figures 30 through 33 as it might be nested for supply to customers at a point of sale, the nested components being shown in section similar to that shown in figure 32 but for convenience not showing the various preferred drainage holes etc, Figure 35 is a form of the invention manufacturered preferably in seven pieces or seven sub-assemblies capable of being nested, each or at least some of the components being formable by blow moulding, Figure 35 showing the assembled apparatus as it would be assembled in use from a direction which includes a preferred step forming closure for the lower outlet and showing the rotational form of cover for the inlet, 1I -9- Figure 36 is a sectional view with respect to the plan view of Figure 37 of the apparatus of Figure 35 denoting by reference numerals Roman I VII) the preferred seven components of which compoents III and V (of the blow moulded components I VI) (and possibly also VII) are provided with the shelf like regions provided by provision of the appropriate tear shaped openings depicted in the plan view 37, Figure 37 is a plan view of the arrangement depicted in Figure Referring to Figures 1 to 28 of the drawings a composter is provided as follows. The composter 1 is formed by a container and a plurality of shelves are provided in the container. The shelves are positioned so that in use material from a higher shelf can fall onto a lower shelf. In the preferred form there are three shelves one of which also forms a top panel and also an angled back member is provided which is integral with the bottom panel of the container. The shelves are downwardly inclined from the horizontal and generally the angle from the horizontal 15 increases as one moves down the container. Thus, in the preferred form of the invention the container 1 has a pair of side and back panels 2, one of which is left handed and the other of which is right handed, so that the backs can be joined together to form a construction providing the sides 3 and back 4 of the container.

The panel 2 is substantially L-shaped in cross section having a side wall 5 and a 20 back wall 6. The outer extremity of the back wall 6 preferably has an inturned flange 7 and the outward extremity of the side wall 5 also desirably have an inwardly

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extending web 10 and 11 respectively terminating in downwardly extending flanges 12 and 13. The two back and side panels 2 are placed the flanges 7 adjacent.

The front of the container is provided by a panel The panel 20 has a front wall 21 and extending inwardly from the front wall 21 is a shelf 22. The front wall 21 and the shelf 22 lay have inturned flanges 23 and 24 respectively and the upper edge of the front panel 21 has a web 24 and a downwardly depending flange 25. The outer edge of the shelf 22 preferably carries a downturned flange 26. The flanges 23 and 24 may be affixed in any desired manner to the side walls 3. Thus, a gap or opening 30 is provided in use below the front panel 21 and this may be closed with a door or gate. The door or gate may be provided by a sliding panel 31 having out-turned flanges 32 at the upper and lower edges thereof. The flanges 32 do not extend to the side edges of the panel 31 being cut back therefrom so that the edge extremities 33 of the sliding panel 31 may be positioned between the inturned flange 8 of the side and back panels 2 and the front wall 21 of the panel 20. Above the shelf 22 is provided a shelf 40 which takes the form of a shelf like structure. The front of the shelf 40 may be downturned to form a flange 41 and the sides downturned to form a flange 42.

Also, the rear edge of the shelf 40 may be downturned to form a flange at 43 and Sb substantially midpoint inwardly extending slot 44 is provided. The slot is arranged so that the two flanges 7 on the back panel 4 may be positioned in the slot 44, The rear flange 43 is set at an angle so that the shelf 40, when in position, extends 1. downwardly forwardly of the container as can be seen for exampl, in Figure 5. This 20 angle is desirably between substantially 15 and substantially 45 for example, about 20°. The flanges 40 and 43 can also be affixed to the adjacent side or back walls of the container. The shelf 22 is also set downwardly at an angle from the horizontal being inclined downwardly rearwardly of the container, again at an angle of about 15 to 45°. A top panel is also provided fcr the construction and the top panel includes a shelf or the like 50 having upturned side flanges 51 and a c 11 downturned front flange 52. An upturned flange 53 may be provided on the edge opposite the downturned flange 52. This shelf 50 is positioned in the top of the container and the side flanges 51 may be connected to the side walls 3. Again the shelf 50 is set an angle for example an angle substantially between 5 and 30° down from the horizontal.

A bottom panel and inclined back panel are also desirably provided. The t ttom and inclined back panel 60 includes a bottom surface 61 which may have downturned side flanges 62 and an inclined back face 63 which may also have rearwardly turned side flanges 64 and a downturned back flange 65. The side and back flanges 64 and 65 may be connected to the adjacent side wall 3 and back wall 4 and again the downturned flange 62 may be connected to the side wall 3. The angle from the horizontal of the back panel 63 may be, for example, from substantially 45° to substantially 90°. The construction has been described with three shelves and the inclined back panel 64. It will be apparent thai a different number of shelves could be provided but the construction is such that material on one shelf may fall to the lower shelf in use. The shelves as shown in Figure 0000** extend about tvvo-thirds of the distance across the container and although this is not necessarily a precise distance, extension into the container of about this distance is believed to be suitable in use.

The container is desirably manufactured from metal such as galvanised time but other materials such as wood or plastics materials could be used. It will be clear 0.4 that a range of sizes could be produced.

Drain apertures could be provided in the bottom panels 61 and if desired viewing apertures could be prbvided, for example, in the side walls 3. A lid 70 may be provided to close the container. The lid 70 is desirably hinged to the rest of the 12container and may have rain holes therein. The lid may be adjustable as to angle and this may be achieved, for example, by providing a strut engaged at one end to the lid or container, and engageable at one of a selected number of positions with the container or lid respectively.

The shelf 80 of Figures 26 to 28 is an alternative to the construction of Figures 20 to 22 having a shelf part 81 and back part 82. The top flanges may be connected to the underside of web In use the various panels described above are erected into the container above described. Material such as food scraps, grass clippings and the like may then be positioned onto the top shelf 50 or dropped through the space at the back of the top Panel 50 to fall onto the next lower shelf 40. If desired or necessary, water can also be played onto this material. Over a period of time the material in the container will be transformed into compost and will also slide from the shelf 50 to the shelf 40 to the shelf 22 and on to the back wall 63 and finally to the i or panel

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S^ 15 61. The door 31 may then be lifted and the compost removed from the floor surface 61.

Further material may be put into the top of the construct., and the converted material withdrawn from the bottom thus enabling a continuous compost making cycle to be effected.

20 Thus it can be seen that in at least the preferred form of the invention a composter ik provided which has the advantage that a continuous cycle of compost making can be achieved as the material drops from shelf to shelf and thence to the floor of the construction. It is also an advantage of the construction that it can be provided in a kitset form so as to reduce the bulk of the construction for storage and transportation being able to be readily erected on site by a purchaser.

,m 'i I 13 Connections can be made by for example screv. its and bolts, pop rivets, welding, clipping, nails, or in any other satisfactory manner.

Figure 29 shows an alternative to the form of the apparatus depicted in figures 1 through 28. This form of the apparatus shows two shelf like members 89 defining three chambers A, B and C.

In use the lid would be open and material to be composted would drop from one shelf to another before accumulating as a composted or composting mass in the lower chamber. Obviously, the less frequently the material is loaded the longer the material will have to remain at each level.

If the apparatus of figure 29 is formed from metal conductivity between the warmth of the composting material and the exterior can give rise to some condensation problems. In such circumstances it can be seen that vent holes have been provided in the lid and vent holes will be provided elsewhere to avoid moisture accumulation. Such a need for ventilation (a balancing act) however is reduced if for example the material is less thermally conductive. Where however, a less conductive material such as a mouldable plastics material is used then the rectangular or other easily fabricated shapes for the composter, already referred to, are most conveniently avoided.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 30 through 34 preferably the components are moulded by an appropriate moulding process, for example, rotational moulding in relation to the larger components.

Appropriate plastics materia'- include UV established plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.

In the form of the invention as shown in Figures 30 through 34 there are three major components 90, 91 and 92 with components 90 and 91 defining shelves,

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14 93 and 94 respectively, each with its appropriate opening 95 and 96, to provide the outer register arrangement shown in figure 33.

The other two components includes a capping member 97 with an opening 98 capable by rotation about a vertical rotation axis of being brought into and/or out of register with an inlet opening 99 of the member 92.

The outlet 100 is coverable by member 101 which is moveable from the condition shown in figures 30 and 31 around the outside circumference of the member 90 but confined within the annular groove 102 (see figure 32). While certain air access openings 103 and 104 are depicted these are preferred only since with the lower thermal conductivity (relative to metal) of the preferred plastics material condensation is less of a difficulty.

With the configurations depicted through figures 30 to 33 inclusive, the nested arrangement shown in figure 34 is possible. Indeed with the arrangement shown in figure 34 the whole arrangement could be bagged or shrink wrapped.

Alternatively like components can be separately nested or accumulated.

In operation it can be seen particularly with reference to figure 32 how the arrangement of the plastics moulded unit is much the same as that depicted in figure 29, ie; there are compartments A, B and C as before with the three 4 compartments being separated by the shelf like members 93 and 94.

20 With the preferred bowl forms and the minimal openings it is possible to s e ensure a greater tendency for composting or composted material to cascade from o.i. one compartment, eg A to B and subsequently B to C, rather than non composting or composted materials.

The most preferred form of the present invention is that depicted in figures 35 through 37 where components I VII are moulded of a suitable plastics material

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15 (for example a suitable light stablised pvc or some other plastics polymer) where components can be made in pairs or the like so as to reduce the moulding steps and thereafter be machined as far as necessary to provide the required openings in the shelf like members (defined preferably in compoents III and V) to be spaced by spacer member IV (and to inturn include a top member with the inlet, the top member III being closeable by a rotational cover I.

The bottom shelf defining member V is supported on a pedestal or the like member VI in which an appropriate opening corresponding to the closure depicted in figures 35 through 37 can be plug fitted, such a cover being stablished by the step form of the element VII depicted in figure 36.

In use therefore, as with the earlier embodiments there is the sequential cascading of the material downwardly but there is no need for a rotational movement of the closure VII of the lower most element VI since the same need not be steadied and can be pulled away from the device and then reinserted as appropriate, the step form can preferably be used during a loading sequence if the access opening is presented to high for a particular person.

It is believed that the apparatus in accordance with the present invention should find widespread acceptance.

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Claims (4)

16- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A composter including means defining or assemblable to define at least three composting compartments in a vertical inter-relationship, the top most compartment including an inlet for material to be composted (optionally closeable) and the lowermost including an outlet (optionally closeable) for removing composted material, each of the upper at least two compartments providing an inclined support surface (herein referred to as a "shelf") for material being composted wherein ongoing loading of material through said inlet cascades (preferably already composting or composted) material from the higher compartment into a lower said compartment onto a surface. 2. A composter as claimed in claim 1 wherein means is provided to close said inlet. 3. A composter as claimed in 1 or 2 wherein means is provided to close said outlet. 4. A composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein there are three compartments. A composter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said means defining or 20 assemblable to define the vertically inter-related compartments is generally round in plan. 6. A composter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said means defining or assemblable to define the vertically inter-related compartments is formed from a plurality of moulded components. 7. A composter of any one of the preceding claims wherein said moulded components are formed by rotational or blow moulding. i r Ilg s~ll -17- 8. A composter of any one of the preceding claims wherein said components defining said at least three composting compartments are capable of being self nested with a like component and/or being nested within one of its complimentary components. 9. A composter of any one of the preceding claims wherein the componentry to define said composting compartments are nestable, one component within another and can accommodate any means to close said inlet and/or said outlet. A composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said composter is formed largely of a plastics material. 11. A composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein there are two shelves only. 12. A composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each said shelf is substantially bowl or the like shaped but includes eccentrically ,positioned therein at least one opening to allow said cascading down of composting 15 material onto an out of register shelf below or the support surface or other support of the lower most compartment. 13. A composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said inlet is in the top of the upper most compartment. 14. A composter as claimed in claim 13 wherein means as provided to close said 20 inlet, said means being a cover that can be rotated about a substantially vertical rotational access to bring an opening into or out of register with said inlet. a.. 15. A composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said outlet is in a side wall of the lower most compartment; there being provided means capable of being moved over said outlet or away from said outlet to allow the removal of composted or composting material from the lower most compartment.

18- 16. A composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said means defining the compartments does not define a base to the lower most compartment and a support surface for the apparatus or the ground itself provides the base of said lower most compartment. 17. A composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims substantially as herein before described with reference to any one or more of Figures 30 to 34 or to 37 of the accompanying drawings. 18. As a marketable item a nested composter of any one of the preceding claims wherein the components thereof are nested to reduce space requirements.

19. A method of composting material which comprises providing or assembling a composter as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, loading at least a first amount of compostable material into said composter and at some subsequent time loading via said inlet said additional composting material until such time as composted or composting material has accumulated in the lower most compartment. 15 20. A method of composting using a composter typified by one as described by 4* SJ.. reference to any one of Figures 30 to 34 or 35 to 37, said method being performed 'substantially as hereinbefore described.

21. A composter comprising a container, a plurality of support surfaces ("shelves") in said container, said shelves being positioned and the container being loadable such that in use material from a higher shelf can fall onto a lower shelf, said container having an opening at or near the bottom thereof in use to enable material to be withdrawn from the container. DATED this 30th day of August 1994. PRODEVCO (NZ) LTD By Its Patent Attorney DAVIES COLLISON CAVE I I ABSTRACT A composter comprising means defining or assemblable to define at least three composting compartments 'in a vertical inter-relationship, the top most compartment including an inlet for material to be composted (optionally closeable) and the lowermost including an outlet (optionally closeable) for removing composted material, wherein each of the upper at least two compartments provide a support surface (herein referred to as a "shelf') for material being composted until (directly or indirectly) ongoing loading of material through said inlet cascades (preferably already composting or composted) material from the higher compartment into a lower said compartment onto a support surface. S s o