AU733762B3

AU733762B3 - A rubbish bin

Info

Publication number: AU733762B3
Application number: AU42517/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Duncan Waugh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-19
Filing date: 2000-06-19
Publication date: 2001-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2006-06-19

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: A RUBBISH BIN Name of Applicant: DUNCAN WAUGH The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: A Rubbish Bin The present invention relates to a rubbish bin and, in particular, to a rubbish bin for use in a vehicle.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a rubbish bin suitable for use by passengers inside a motor vehicle, the bin having a housing which includes: a first aperture in an upper region of the housing for receiving rubbish; a second aperture in a side region of the housing for removal of rubbish from the housing; a cover member arranged to removably cover the second aperture; a first handle disposed on an opposite side of the housing to the second aperture; wherein, when the rubbish bin is in use and the cover member is removed, the handle facilitates emptying of rubbish from the housing via the second aperture.

Preferably, the housing further includes a base having a fixing means arranged to releasably fix the base to another surface. The fixing means may comprise Velcro.

The rubbish bin may be elongate, the first aperture may be located intermediate longitudinal ends of the rubbish bin, and the second aperture may be located at one of the longitudinal ends of the rubbish bin.

Preferably, the cover member is hingedly connected to the housing portion.

The rubbish bin preferably further includes means for releasably locking the cover member to the housing portion. The releasable locking means preferably includes a clip member disposed on one of the housing portion and the cover member, and an aperture disposed on the other of the housing portion and the cover member.

The first handle may include a first recess and an elongate first grip member extending over the first recess.

Preferably, the cover member is provided with a second handle. The second handle preferably includes a second recess and an elongate second grip member extending over the second recess.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a rubbish bin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic alternative perspective view of the rubbish bin shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the rubbish bin shown in Figures 1 and 2 during a rubbish removal operation by a user.

Referring to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a rubbish bin 10 which includes a housing portion 12 and a cover member 14. The housing portion 12 and the cover member 14 may be formed of any suitable metal which is sufficiently strong and non-brittle, such as plastics material.

The housing portion 12 is of generally elongate shape and includes a body portion 16 and a lid 18 hingedly mounted to the body portion 16 at hinges 20. The body portion defines a first aperture 21 coverable by the lid 18 and a second aperture 23 coverable by the cover member 14.

The cover member 14 is of generally truncated cube shape and includes a first elongate opening 22 and a second elongate opening 24. The first and second openings 22, 24 open into a first recess 26 which extends between the first and second openings 22, 24. An elongate first grip member 28 separates the first and second openings 22, 24 and extends over the first recess 26. The first and second openings-22, 24, the first recess 26 and the first grip member 28 together from a first handle which is arranged so that a user is able to grip the first grip member 28 and thereby firmly hold the cover member 14.

The housing portion 12 also includes a first locking portion, in this example in the form of a clip member and the cover member 14 includes a second locking portion, in this example in the form of an aperture 32. The arrangement is such that when the cover member 14 is engaged with the housing portion 12 the clip member engages with the aperture 32, thereby preventing undesired disengagement of the cover member 14 from the housing portion 12.

The housing portion 12 also includes a third elongate opening 34 and a fourth elongate opening 36. As with the first and second openings 22, 24, the third and fourth openings 34, 36 open into a second recess 38 which extends between the third and fourth openings 34, 36. An elongate second grip member 40 separates the third and fourth openings 34, 36. The-third and fourth openings 34, 36, the second recess 38 and the second grip member together from a second handle. The arrangement is such that a user is able to grip the second grip member 40 and thereby firmly hold the housing portion 12.

The housing portion 12 also includes fixing means (not shown) which serves to removably fix the housing portion 12 to a surface such as a floor of a vehicle. The fixing means may be at least one velcro strip adhesively fixed to an outer surface of the housing portion 12. In the above embodiment, the velcro strip(s) may be adhesively fixed to an underside surface 42 of the housing portion 12 so that the housing portion 12 is removably fixable to for example a floor of a vehicle. Of course, where the floor to which the housing portion 12 is to be fixed is not provided with carpet or similar material, a corresponding velcro portion would be adhesively fixed to the floor of the vehicle.

The cover member 14 is engaged with the housing portion 12 by positioning the cover member 14 over the second aperture 23 and engaging the clip member 30 with the aperture 32. In this way, the second aperture 23 is covered by the cover member 14 and rubbish is prevented by the cover member 14 from passing through the second aperture 23.

In use, the rubbish bin typically locates on the floor of a vehicle. In order to dispose of rubbish 46 in the rubbish bin 10, a user lifts the lid 18 and passes the rubbish 46 through the first aperture 21 and into the housing portion 12. After the user has disposed the rubbish 46 in the housing portion 12, the lid 18 is closed to cover the first aperture 21 and prevent egress of rubbish from the housing portion 12.

When it is desired to empty the rubbish bin 10, for example because the rubbish bin 10 has become full, the user grips the first grip member 28, manipulates the clip member 30 to separate the clip member 30 from the aperture 32, and urges the cover member 14 to move away from the housing portion 12. The rubbish bin 10 can then be emptied by gripping the second grip member 40 as shown in Figure 3 and tilting the housing portion 12 such that the rubbish 46 in the housing portion 12 passes through the second aperture.

It will be appreciated that although the cover member 14 of the above embodiment is completely separable from the housing portion 12, the cover member 14 may be movably mounted relative to the housing portion 12, for example by hinges.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

2. A rubbish bin as claimed in claim i, wherein the housing further includes a base having a fixing means arranged to releasably fix the base to another surface.
3. A rubbish bin as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cover member is provided with a second handle. Dated this 8th day of March 2001 DUNCAN WAUGH By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK