AU775273B2 - Container for aerobic decomposition of waste and frame for use in such a container - Google Patents

Description

WO 01/38200 PCT/AU00/01408 -1- CONTAINER FOR AEROBIC DECOMPOSITION OF WASTE AND FRAME FOR USE IN SUCH A CONTAINER The present invention relates generally to garbage containers for receiving waste, and in particular to systems for promoting the circulation of air within such garbage containers so as to assist in the decomposition process.

The storage of wastes which are capable of decomposing in conventional garbage containers results in the decomposition of the waste taking place in predominantly anaerobic conditions., which generates undesirable odours. It is known that the promotion of air flow within the garbage container can assist the aerobic decomposition of the wastes and therefore both minimise unpleasant odours and accelerate the decomposition process.

In order to assist the aerobic decomposition process, some existing garbage containers include perforations in the side walls of the container so that air is able to be introduced therein. Moreover, some known garbage containers include a grate for supporting the waste to be composted above the bottom of the garbage container to thereby maximise the surface area of the waste in contact with the air circulating within the garbage container.

Unfortunately, existing garbage containers which are intended to assist the decomposition of waste stored therein are inefficient, and often result in the restriction or blockage of the air circulating within the container.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a container for receiving wastes to be decomposed which ameliorates or overcomes one or more disadvantages of known containers.

It would also be desirable to provide a container for receiving wastes to be decomposed which optimised the decomposition process of the waste stored therein.

With this in mind, one aspect of the present invention provides a frame for use in a container for receiving organic wastes, the container comprising a WO 01/38200 PCT/AU00/01408 -2receiving vessel defining an opening and having a bottom and at least one wall, the frame including: one or more spacer members mountable within the receiving vessel so as to extend in a direction adjacent the wall, the spacer members projecting from the wall and including at least one iateraiiy extending pulion disuta: i e wall thereby form an air circulation path between the laterally extending portion and the wall.

Advantageously, a container including such a frame ensures that one or more air circulation paths running along the walls of the receiving vessel are created and maintained whilst the waste is aerobically contained within the container. Such air circulation paths have been found to significantly assist the aerobic decomposition process within the garbage container.

Preferably, the frame includes at least one bracing member supporting one or more of the spacer members. Attachment means may be provided for releasably attaching the frame to the receiving vessel. Alternatively, these base members may be integrally formed with the receiving vessel wall.

The frame may also include a base portion for supporting the spacer members. Attachment means may be provided for releasably attaching the spacer members to the base portion.

One or both of the aforementioned attachment means may be integrally formed with the spacer members.

In one embodiment, the frame may further include a grate portion supportable by the base portion. Attachment means may be provided for releasably attaching the grate portion to the base portion.

The frame may further include one or more aeration vents for insertion in corresponding apertures in the receiving vessel wall. The aeration vents may be integrally formed with the bracing member. The aeration vents may at least partially act to secure the frame to the wall of the receiving vessel.

The spacer members may be in the form of one or more ribs of T-shaped cross section.

WO 01/38200 PCT/AU00/01408 -3- Another aspect of the present invention provides a container for receiving organic wastes, the container comprising a receiving vessel defining an opening and having a bottom and at least one wall, a cover for closing the receiving vessel opening, and one or more apertures formed in the receiving vessel wall to promote circulation of air within die ieceiviiig vessel, and a framc accordin. o any one of the preceding claims.

The following description refers in more detail to the various features of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings where the container and frame for use in a container are illustrated in preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that the container and frame for use in a container are not limited to the preferred embodiments as illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a container according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the container of Figure 2 illustrating a first embodiment of a frame according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a plan view of the container of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a plan view of a spacer member forming part of the frame shown in Figures 3 and 4; Figures 6 is a perspective view of the frame shown in Figures 3 and 4; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of an aeration vent for insertion in the container shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown generally a garbage container 1 otherwise known as a mobile garbage bin or MGB. The garbage container 1 includes a receiving vessel 2 and a folding cover 3 which is pivotally attached to the receiving vessel 2 by means of the hinged assembly.

The receiving vessel 2 and the folding cover are usually constructed as moulded articles of plastics material. However, they may also be manufactured from other materials.

WO 01/38200 PCT/AU00/01408 -4- The receiving vessel 2 has a bottom 5 and, as can be seen in Figure 3, at least one wall 6 which defines an opening 7 into which waste to be aerobically contained is to be inserted. Conventionally, the receiving vessel 2 has an essentially rectangular or square cross section and the side walls of the container are integrally formed with the bottom 5. An axle 8 is mounted through apertures in the receiving vessel 2. Wheels 9 and 10 are rotatably mounted on the two ends of the axle 8. Accordingly, the garbage container 1 can be transported by pivoting of the receiving vessel 2 about the axle 8 so as to lift the bottom 5 off the ground and subsequently pulling or pushing the garbage container 1. The garbage container 1 includes apertures 11 to 16 formed in the side walls of the receiving vessel 2 to promote the circulation of air in the receiving vessel for the aerobic decomposition of the waste. As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the garbage container 1 contains one or more spacer members 18 to 33 supported within the receiving vessel 2. These spacer members 18 to 33 are mountable within the receiving vessel 2 so as to extend in a direction adjacent the wall. In the example illustrated in Figure 4, the spacer members 18 to 33 extend vertically within the receiving vessel 2 between at least part of the distance from the opening 7 to the bottom Figure 5 is a cross sectional plan view of an exemplary spacer member 18. The spacer member 18 projects from an inner surface 34 of the wall 6 of the receiving vessel 2 towards the centre of the receiving vessel 2. The spacer member 18 includes two ribs 35 and 36 laterally extending from the end surface 34 of the wall 6 of the receiving vessel 2. The spacer member 18 also includes laterally extending portions 37 to 39 distal the wall 6 of the receiving vessel 2.

The laterally extending portions 37 to 39 act to bear against the waste to be composted which is stored within the garbage container 1 and prevents such waste from coming into contact with the inner surface 34 of the wall 6.

Importantly, there is created an air circulation path between the laterally extending portions of the ribs and the inner surface 34 of the wall 6 which ensures that air circulates from the bottom of the garbage container 1 to the WO 01/38200 PCT/AU00/01408 opening 7, thereby optimising the composting of the waste stored within the garbage container 1.

It is to be understood that alternative forms of spacer members may be adopted in other embodiments of the invention.

The spacer members 18 to 33 may be integraiiy formed wiih the wail 6 of the receiving vessel 2. Alternatively, the spacer members may be mounted to or supported by the wall 6 of the receiving vessel 2. Various means may be used for mounting the spacer members to the wall, such as riveting or via the use of cooperating clip or other attachment members on one or both of the wall 6 and the spacer member in question.

Alternatively, the spacer members 18 to 33 may form part of a frame either integrally formed with the receiving vessel 2, or intended for insertion into and use in the receiving vessel 2. Figure 6 illustrates one embodiment of an exemplary frame 40 intended to be fabricated separately from and then inserted into the receiving vessel 2. The frame 40 may thus be advantageously used to retro-fit existing garbage containers 1 which are not provided with such spacer members during manufacture. In addition to the spacer members 18 to 33, the frame 40 includes bracing members 41 to 44 to which the spacer members 18 to 33 are mounted. In this embodiment, the bracing members 41 to 44 are integrally formed with the spacer members 18 to 33.

The frame 40 may be free standing within the receiving vessel 2.

Alternatively, the frame 40 may be clipped, riveted or otherwise attached to the receiving vessel 2. To that end, the frame 40 includes attachment hooks 45 to 48 for releasably attaching the frame to the wall 6 of the receiving vessel 2. A person skilled in the art will easily envisage other means of releasably attaching the frame to the receiving vessel.

The frame 40 further includes a base portion 50 for supporting the spacer members 18 to 33. In this embodiment, the base member 50 has an annular form extending around the inner surface 34 of the wall 6 of the receiving vessel 2. The spacer members 18 to 33 are provided with resilient snap-fit attachment devices 51 to 54 for releasably attaching the spacer members 18 to 33 to the WO 01/38200 PCT/AU00/01408 -6base portion 50. In this example, the attachment members 51 to 54 are integrally formed with the spacer members 18 to 33.

The attachment members 51 to 54 additionally include vertically extending aeration channels, as exemplified by the channels referenced 100-102 formed in the attachment member 51. T"hnese addiioaal ch-ainells, toUgcthcr.t.

the air circulation paths formed between the walls of the vessel and the spacer members, contribute to the air flow within the receiving vessel.

Conveniently, the attachment members 51 to 54 are adapted to engage the inner surface of the receiving vessel 2 upon insertion of the frame 40 into the receiving vessel, so as to cause the attachment members 51 to 54 to bear against and be caused to securely attach to the base portion The frame 40 further includes a grate portion 55 supportable by the base portion 50. The grate portion 55 acts to support the wastes to be composted within the garbage container 1 above the receiving vessel bottom 5. The grate portion 55 may be releasably attached to the base portion 50 by one or more snap-fit hinges 56 or like attachment members, enabling the grate portion 55 to pivot with respect to the base portion The frame 40 may further include aeration vents 57 to 64 for insertion in corresponding apertures, such as the apertures 11 to 13 shown in Figures 1 and 2, of the receiving vessel wall 6. This example, the aeration vents 57 to 64 are integrally formed with the bracing members 41 to 44. When inserted into the corresponding apertures in the receiving vessel wall 6, the aeration vents 57 to 64 act to at least partially attach the frame 40 to the receiving vessel 2. Separate aeration vents, such as the aeration vent 65 illustrated in Figure 7 may additionally inserted into further apertures, such as the aperture 14 shown in Figure 2, to further promote the flow of air within the receiving vessel 2.

Finally, it is to be appreciated that modifications and/or additions may be made to the garbage container and frame for use in a garbage container without departing from the ambit of the present invention described herein.

CLAIMS:

Claims (12)

1. A frame for use in a container for receiving wastes, the container comprising a receiving vessel defining an opening and having a bottom and at least one wall, the frame including: one or more spacer members mountable within the receiving vessel so as to extend in a direction adjacent the wall the spacer members projecting from the wall and including at least one laterally extending portion distal the wall to thereby form an air circulation path between the laterally extending portion and the wall.

2. A frame according to Claim 1, and further including: at least one bracing member each supporting one or more of the spacer members.

3. A frame according to either of Claims 1 or 2, and further including: first attachment means for releasably attaching the frame to the receiving vessel.

4. A frame according to any of the preceding claims, and further including: a base portion for supporting the spacer members.

5. A frame according to Claim 4, and further including: second attachment means for releasably attaching the spacer members to the base portion.

6. A frame according to either of claims 4 or 5, wherein: one or both of the first and second attachment means are integrally formed with the spacer members.

7. A frame according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, and further including: a grate portion supportable by the base portion.

8. A frame according to claim 7, and further including: third attachment means for releasably attaching the grate portion to the base portion.

9. A frame according to any one of Claims 2 to 8, and further including: RECIFIED SHEET (Rule 91) ISA/AU WO 01/38200 PCT/AU00/01408 -8- one or more aeration vents for insertion in corresponding apertures in the receiving vessel wall. A frame according to Claim 9, wherein; said aeration vents are integrally formed with the bracing member.

S

11. A frame accornring to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spacer members are in the form of one or more ribs of T-shaped cross section.

12. A container according to Claim 12, including a frame according to any one of the preceding claims. RECTIFIED SHEET (Rule 91) ISA/AU