CA2384239A1

CA2384239A1 - Container for garbage collection

Info

Publication number: CA2384239A1
Application number: CA002384239A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Joris Georges Mertens; Patrick De Croock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: STICHTING PARTICIPATIE BIOBLUE
Priority date: 1999-09-15
Filing date: 2000-09-14
Publication date: 2001-03-22
Also published as: EP1212248A1; WO2001019707A1; BE1012899A3; AU7655400A; EP1212248B1; ATE247058T1; DE60004538D1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container for garbage collection, more specifical ly for the odour-free disposal of domestic garbage, garden garbage and such. Mo re specifically this invention relates to a container for odourless garbage collection, comprising means for de-odourizing and/or a deodorant, for the purpose of neutralising bad-smelling fumes originating from the garbage, directly or indirectly via chemical and/or biological processes.

Description

CONTAINER FOR GARBAGE COLLECTION
Field of the invention The invention relates to an improved apparatus for garbage collection, more specifically for the odour-free disposal of domestic garbage, garden garbage and such.
More specifically this invention relates to an apparatus for odourless garbage collection, comprising means for de-odourizing and/or a deodorant, for the purpose of neutralising bad-smelling fumes originating from the garbage, directly or indirectly via chemical and/or biological processes.
Background of the invention It is commonly known that garbage or waste such as domestic garbage, garden garbage and the like are disposed of in plastic garbage bags, put at the disposal of community members by the council for instance. Once you bring into use such a plastic bag, it is handy to hang it in an apparatus comprising a body frame and a cover, or in a closed container. If a bag partly filled with garbage is left like that for a certain time, the bad smell increases rapidly, especially when opening the lid. One is then tempted to throw away a halfly filled bag.
To solve this odour-problem it is commonly known to use double-sided containers, comprising a fluid in between the inner and the outer side to neutralize the garbage odours by the 2o presence of a de-odouriser and possibly a deodorant. A similar apparatus is described in US
1,462,693, more precisely a double-sided metal container, with a disinfectant in between the two sides.
A great disadvantage of such an apparatus is the difficulty to produce it in one piece, thus resulting in either a complex expensive manufacturing process or a work-intensive and costly assembly of the different pieces after the actual manufacturing. Another disadvantage is that the space between the two sides is so narrow and profound that it cannot be cleaned effectively if garbage is dropped in it by accident.
New is that the present invention is an improved apparatus for garbage collection whereby it is simple to manufacture said apparatus and whereby the space that holds the fluid can be filled and cleaned easily.

US 1,490,314 and US 2,425,612 use a disinfectant or a deodorant for solving the odour-problem. A disadvantage is however that the odour-reduction is limited. The present invention has a greater odour-reduction due to its active de-odourising elements.
Summary of the invention The improved apparatus for garbage collection according to the invention mainly comprises a container for temporary storage of substances, e.g. garbage, comprising a supporting body and a corresponding lid, said container further comprises means for housing a mixture of bacteria. In a preferred embodiment the mixture of bacteria comprises Clostridium, Lactobacillus and Entero-to bacteria. This mixture results in a very efficient de-odourisation of garbage, in particular organic waste.
In a first preferential embodiment the reservoir is ring-shaped and detachable from the container, comprising a collar that can be hooked at the top of the container.
In a second embodiment the apparatus comprises an extra reservoir for fluids situated at the bottom of the container. For the purpose of making it possible that the fumes of the garbage bag get in contact with the fluids containing the de-odouriser, the ring-shaped reservoir can be made in parts, namely it can exist of several reservoirs with air passages in between that allow circulation of condensation. For the same purpose, watertight passageways could be made in the ring-shaped reservoir, e.g. tubes mounted at the bottom of the ring-shaped reservoir that reach just 2o above the level of fluid.
In a third embodiment the reservoir is made detachable comprising a pumping means for dispersing the fluids directly onto the content of the container.
To prevent pollution of the fluid it is preferential to mount a grid or gauze or similar on top of each reservoir.
For the purpose of holding the garbage bag in place, the inner edge of the reservoir is provided with an edge with a groove, with which a binding agent, elastic or not, can be combined, so that the upper part of the garbage bag can be housed between said edge and said binding agent.
Another object of the invention is to provide a longer duration of odour-free housing of the 3o garbage in the container, which results in a compactation, allowing more waste (kg) to be contained in the same container volume.

W~ 01/19707 CA 02384239 2002-03-07 pCT/EP00/08966 Brief description of the drawings To illustrate the features of the invention we present three preferential embodiments of an improved apparatus for garbage collection. A reference is made to the following figures:
Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of an apparatus according to the invention.
Figure 2 represents part F2 of Figure 1 on a larger scale.
Figure 3 is a cross-section following line III-III of Figure 1.
Figure 4 shows a cross-section similar to that of Figure 1 for a variant.
Figure 5 is a cross-section following line V-V of Figure 4.
l0 Figure 6 is a cross-section following line VI-VI of Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a detachable reservoir.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a grid for a detachable reservoir of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a planview of a grid-structured handle for the grid of Figure 8.
Detailed description of the invention A first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention comprises, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, a reservoir 1 with a side 2 and a bottom plate 3.
As shown in Figure 1 the container 1 can be closed off by a lid 4, comprising a surrounding 2o edge 5 for the purpose of well closing off the container 1. The container 1 also comprises a handgrip 6 for opening and closing the lid 4.
Figures 2 and 3 show the container 1 comprising a ring-shaped reservoir 7 for fluid 8, said reservoir 7 extends over an angle of 360° and consists in this embodiment of an outer side 9 and an inner side 10, connected in this case to an inward running bottom 11.
The outer side 9 of the reservoir 7 comprises on nearly its entire outer side 12 a U-shaped collar 13, which is interrupted only by a hinge 14, by which the said lid 4 is connected to the reservoir 7, said U-shaped collar 13 is made so that it fits exactly on the upper edge 15 of the side 2 of the container 1.
The inner side 10 of the reservoir 7 comprises at its top edge 16 a surrounding groove 17 3o which can be combined with a binding agent 18, elastic or not, e.g. a cord, a ribbon, a rubber band or similar.

The upper side of reservoir 7 is preferentially covered by a ring-shaped grid 19, a gauze or similar. In a variant the ring-shaped reservoir 7 can be made so that it extends over an angle of less than 360°.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.
This embodiment also comprises a container 1, similar to that of the first embodiment, but it now comprises an extra reservoir 20 situated at the bottom 11 of the container 1.
The reservoir 20 comprises a ring-shaped collar 21 at the inner side of the container 1, whereby on top of said collar 21 there is a grid 22, a gauze or similar, for the purpose of 1o appropriately covering the extra reservoir 20. To prevent the grid 22 from sliding over said collar 21, collar 21 comprises an edge 23.
For the purpose of making it possible that the fumes inside the garbage bag 24 and the de-odourising bacteria in the fluid 8 under the garbage bag get in contact , the ring-shaped reservoir 7 is made by a few, in this case four, reservoirs 25, where in between there are airholes 26. They act as condensation pass throughs.
It is preferred to cover the reservoirs 25 and the airholes 26 in between by the ring-shaped grid 19, gauze or similar, so that the garbage can not drop in the reservoirs 25, nor between the garbage bag 24 and the side 2 of the container 1. By the presence of these grids, namely the ring-shaped grid 19 and the grid 22, the fluid 8 remains in permanent contact with the odours 2o created in the garbage bag, but said grids also prevent garbage falling in said reservoirs 7, respectively 25 and 20.
Due to the temperature increase caused by biological processes in the organic waste, fluids in the organic waste will condensate. The fumes caused by this process of condensation are circulated by the airholes 26. These provide for an efficient contact between fumes and bacteria.
It is also possible, in a variant of the above embodiments, to omit the outer side 9 of the reservoir 7 or the reservoirs 25, whereby in that state the side 27 of bottom 11 of reservoir 7, respectively reservoirs 25, is fixed watertight to the side 2 of container 1, e.g. by gluing or welding side 27 to side 2.
In yet another variant watertight passthroughs can be made in the ring-shaped reservoir 7, 3o e.g. tubes fixed in bottom 11 that reach above fluid level, said tubes making air passages, by which the garbage bag 24 fumes and the fluids 8 with de-odourising under the garbage bag 24 make contact.
In a third embodiment, or additionally to the previous two embodiments, an extra reservoir as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 can be added to a container. This embodiment allows a mixture of 5 bacteria to be dispersed directly onto the garbage. This improves the de-odourising effect.
Dispersing can be made possible via a suitable pumping means. Figure 7 shows the extra reservoir 29 that is fixed to the upper side of the container by means of the holding elements 31.
Figure 8 shows a grid 34 that covers reservoir 29. Segment 33 of the grid 34 fits into segment 32 of the reservoir 29. Grid 34 has an upstanding border 35 that fits into segment 30 of reservoir 29.
1o Grid 34 further comprises an opening 36 for a handle, an opening 37 for pumping means and a holder 38 for a deodorant. Figure 9 shows a grid-structured handle means 39.
The grid-structured handle 39 comprises a handle 40 of which the ends are fixed into the holes 41 and further comprises an opening 42 for pumping means. The grid-structured handle 39 is first put on top of reservoir 29 whereafter grid 34 is placed onto the handle. The grid-structured handle 39 thus enables safe lifting of grid 34. The grid-structure of grid 34 and that of the grid-structured handle 39 is identical.
The use of said apparatus according to the invention is very simple and is described as follows.
2o Reservoir 7, respectively reservoirs 25 and the extra reservoir 20, will be filled with a suitable fluid 8, e.g. water comprising a means for neutralising odours. Said means will preferentially comprise a known de-odouriser possibly also a deodorant is added.
In its most preferential embodiment said means will comprise a mixture of bacteria having de-odourising means, and said means will also comprise a deodorant. The bacteria take care of neutralising the obnoxious fumes, while the deodorant will spread a nice smell. When the surrounding temperature reaches above 25°C, the effect of the deodorant diminishes, while the bacteria are growing best en bring about the desired de-odourising effect.
The mixture of bacteria preferentially comprises Clostridium, Lactobacillus and Entero bacteria. The bacteria have been mutated to live long and to produce enzymes during splitting 3o that neutralise odour-components. Said mixture of bacteria comprises non-pathogene bacteria that are as well aerobe, as anaerobe as optionally aerobe and anaerobe. A special feed supply is used comprising mainly proteins diluted with sugars and carbohydrates.
Said mixture of bacteria has the capacity to break down and neutralise smelling components and odours, also pig manure, smelling and polluted waters like ponds and streams.
Said mixture of bacteria is resistant against relatively high temperatures.
Tests on the evolution of the concentration of odour in a treated and a non-treated container proved, as reported in Table 1, a 95% reduction of odour after 2 weeks in the treated container (101 755 ppm) as to the untreated container (269 015 ppm).
Day Untreated garbage Treated garbage according to invention Table 1: Evolution of concentration of odour (ppm) Tests on the evolution of the concentration of ammonia in said container showed, as reported in Table 2, a reduction of 68% after 2 weeks.
Day Untreated garbage Treated garbage according to invention 1 <2 <2 8 <2 <2 15 2,8 < 2 22 7,0 2,2 Table 2: Evolution of concentration of ammonia (ppm) After applying the fluids 8 in the reservoirs 7, respectively reservoirs 25 and reservoir 20, 2o said reservoirs are covered with the ring-shaped grid 19, respectively grid 22.
Over the inner side of reservoir 7, respectively reservoirs 25, a garbage bag 24 or similar, e.g. known for garbage collection, is put in, whereby to keep the garbage bag 24 in place, the free end of the garbage bag 24 is placed over the groove 17, whereafter a suited, elastic or not, binding agent 18 is fixed over the free end of the garbage bag 24 and the groove 17, thus clasping the garbage bag 24 between the inner side 10 of the reservoir 7, respectively reservoirs 25, and the binding agent 18.
When opening the said equipped container by means of the lid 4, the annoying smells, originating from the garbage already present within, that would normally be spread, are not perceptable anymore, since they have been neutralized. Said smells are concentrated at the top of the apparatus, more specifically against the lid 4, The ring-shaped grid 19 prevents the spilling of garbage in the reservoir 7, respectively the reservoirs 25 or in between the garbage bag 24 and the inner side 2 of the container 1.
1o In the second embodiment the grid 22 supports the garbage bag 24 and prevents said garbage bag 24 of hanging in the fluids 8 of the extra reservoir 20 with its bottom side 28.
An additional advantage of an apparatus according to the invention is that, if by accident garbage is spilled nevertheless through the grid 19 in the reservoir 7, respectively the reservoirs 25, said reservoirs can easily be cleaned.
If the reservoir 7 or the reservoirs 25 is/are fixed permanently to the side 2 of the container 1, and garbage is spilled in these reservoirs by accident, then the spilt garbage can easily be removed because the reservoirs are shallow.
If the reservoir 7 is not fixed permanently to the side 2 of the container 1, but is hooked over the upper side 15 of the container 1 by means of a collar 13, then reservoir 7 can simply be 2o removed from the container 1 for cleaning and put back afterwards.
An additional advantage of the apparatus according to the invention, is the fact that because reservoir 7, respectively reservoirs 25, contain so little fluid 8, the weight of the apparatus is limited to a minimum, thus enabling that said apparatus can be moved around easily.
Yet another advantage of the second embodiment, as described in Figures 4, 5 and 6, is that the presence of the extra reservoir 20 improves the entire stability of the apparatus, because the centre of gravity is lower.
Said apparatus can be used in all possibles places, inside or outside the house, bad smells are eliminated completely, the apparatus can very easily be cleaned, is lightweight and has a good stability.

It is self evident that neither the container, nor the reservoirs need to be circle-shaped, but that they can be of any shape, be it e.g. square, hexagonal or any other geometrical or non-geometrical shape.
It is clear that the present invention is not limited in any way to the embodiments given as examples in the above Figures, but it can resort to any shape and size without going beyond the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Container for temporary storage of substances, e.g. garbage, comprising a supporting body and a corresponding lid, said container further comprises means for housing a mixture of bacteria.

2. Container according to claim 1 wherein the mixture of bacteria comprises a de-odourising effect.

3. Container according to claim 2 wherein the mixture of bacteria comprises clostridium, lactobacillus and entero-bacteria.

4. Container according to any of the claims 1 - 3 comprising a feed supply for the growth of the mixture of bacteria consisting of mainly proteins dissolved in a mixture of preferentially sugars and carbohydrates.

5. Container according to any of the claims 1 - 4 further comprising a deodorant.

6. Container according to any of the claims 1 - 5 comprising means for allowing circulation of condensation inside the container.

7. Container according to claim 6 comprising air passages for allowing circulation of condensation inside the container.

8. Container according to any of the claims 1 - 7 comprising a reservoir for housing a mixture of bacteria, whereby said reservoir is completely contouring the content of the container.

9. Container according to claim 8 comprising several reservoirs for housing a mixture of bacteria, contouring the content of the container, whereby said reservoirs are separated.

10. Container according to any of the claims 1 - 9 comprising a reservoir for housing a mixture of bacteria, whereby said reservoir is situated at the bottom of the container

11. Container according to any of the claims 1 - 10 comprising a reservoir as described in claim 8 or 9 fixed, permanently or detachable, to the upper part of the container.

12. Container according to any of the claims 1 - 11 comprising a grid covering said reservoirs, and if present the spaces in between these reservoirs.

13. Container according to the claims 1 - 12 comprising means for dispersing said mixture of bacteria directly onto the content of the container.

14. Container according to any of the previous claims 1 - 13 having a means for housing a content holder, e.g. garbage bag.

15. Container according to any of the previous claims 1 -14 having rolling elements.

16. Container according to any of the previous claims 1 - 15 having an output means provided at the bottom allowing for drawing off fluids.

17. Container according to any of the claims 1 - 16, mainly comprising a holding body covered by a lid, having at least one reservoir for fluids with a depth smaller than the depth of that of the container.

18. Detachable reservoir suitable for housing a mixture of bacteria in a container according to any of the claims 1 -17.

19. Reservoir according to claim 18 provided with a grid and pumping means.

20. Method for treating garbage in a sealed environment, such as a container, especially household, comprising the steps of collecting garbage in a container and allowing contact of odour-components of said garbage with the de-odourising bacteria.

21. Method according to claim 20 wherein the contact is enhanced via condensation and the circulation of the odour-components in the container.