EP0243246B1 - Device for collecting and dispensing with produce, e.g. refuse - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for household or professional use intended to allow the collection in a container provided for this purpose of various elements or products such as waste or garbage to be disposed of.

The present invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of the collection, at the family level, of household refuse with a view to their disposal in a single container and more especially consisting of a flexible bag of disposable synthetic material of known type.

However, the invention is not limited to this preferred application and may find use on a professional level, especially in the workshop, with a view to making it possible to bring together elements in a manufacturing process and consisting either of products originating from this manufacturing, or waste or debris intended for disposal.

The invention allows in particular the installation of a collector formed by a funnel provided with a cover installed in a fixed position and therefore arranged under ergonomic conditions, at the place where the distance to be traveled for the hand in sight of the evacuation of the product or waste, will be minimum without however cluttering the work plan by the establishment of a container provided for the reception of the products or waste thus collected.

Devices are known which allow products or debris or waste from a manufacturing process or housework to be collected in a container capable of being subsequently discharged.

These devices are for some installed or arranged on a removable element such as for example a movable trolley which can be brought near the work station; however, this removable cart is difficult to integrate into ergonomic conditions at the workstation and it generally represents a foreign element constituting an impediment to the movements of the operator, especially in a kitchen where the user will have to move the cart which will necessarily be on its way when it is near the work plan; so that the operator must either leave the trolley away and in this case the evacuation of products or debris will require a displacement or, in another solution, the operator will have to during each task move the trolley for the bring close to the worktop.

There are also known complex devices in which the work plan itself comprises an airlock allowing the evacuation to a container in the lower position of the products or debris from work carried out on the upper work plan; however, these systems aimed at ensuring a double seal between the work surface and the container in the lower position, represent complex embodiments therefore not very economical and unreliable in their operation.

Also known from French patent 81 17954 (FR-A-2513099) in the name of the applicant is a device which can be built into a worktop to receive in a lower position a container and in particular a plastic bag making it possible to collect the products or waste evacuated from the workplan.

Also known from Swiss Patent CH-A-117,665 is a crown (mounted on a weighing device) and in the form of two inverted cone trunks for receiving a lower bag.

The present invention relates to an improved device of this type allowing better operating installation conditions, in particular with regard to maintenance under hygienic and clean conditions as well as implantation conveniences.

• a) en ce que le manchon est constitué par un corps de révolution formé de deux troncs de cône opposés par leur petite base et comportant en conséquence en partie haute une partie tronconique dont la grande base est située vers le haut et formant trémie et la paroi extérieure de la partie supérieure tronconique du manchon, formant entonnoir, comporte un pourtour cylindrique pourvu de gorges pour faciliter la rétention d'un adhésif et la solidarisation par collage sur l'alésage intérieur de l'ouverture pratiquée dans le plan horizontal fixe, et cette partie tronconique est raccordée à une jupe inférieure formée d'un tronc de cône inversé et dont l'évasement est orienté vers le bas ;
• b) et en ce que la base circulaire du manchon correspondant à la grande base de la partie tronconique inversée dudit manchon comporte un diamètre identique avec un léger jeu à ladite paroi cylindrique de collage c'est-à-dire à l'ouverture nécessaire et devant être pratiquée dans le plan de travail, le tracé de cette ouverture étant ainsi facilité à partir de la base du manchon posée sur ledit plan horizontal fixe et dont la circonférence peut être aisément reportée sur ce plan.

To this end the invention relates to a device for the collection of various items or products such as household waste and refuse, intended to be collected in a container such as a flexible plastic bag and disposable, for their disposal within said bag, the device being of the type comprising a sleeve formed by a body of revolution able to pass through a fixed horizontal plane such as a work surface, in particular of a kitchen, to open from one side to its upper part , above or at said plane, by an opening provided with a removable cover, said sleeve being able to overhang by its lower part a removable container receiving said products or waste, characterized:

• a) in that the sleeve is constituted by a body of revolution formed by two truncated cones opposite by their small base and consequently comprising in the upper part a frustoconical part whose large base is located upwards and forming a hopper and the wall outer part of the frustoconical upper part of the sleeve, forming a funnel, has a cylindrical periphery provided with grooves to facilitate the retention of an adhesive and the bonding by bonding to the internal bore of the opening made in the fixed horizontal plane, and this frustoconical part is connected to a lower skirt formed by an inverted frustoconical cone and whose flare is oriented downwards;
• b) and in that the circular base of the sleeve corresponding to the large base of the inverted frustoconical part of said sleeve has an identical diameter with a slight clearance at said cylindrical bonding wall, that is to say at the opening required and to be made in the work plan, the layout of this opening being thus facilitated from the base of the sleeve placed on said fixed horizontal plane and the circumference of which can be easily transferred to this plane.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows and which is given in relation to a particular embodiment presented by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings.

Figure 1 shows a general perspective view of the sleeve considered in isolation and not provided with its receptacle with which it is normally associated.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the sleeve mounted on a work surface and associated with a disposable bag.

Figure 3 shows the upper part, projecting above the worktop, of a sleeve mounted on a worktop of a kitchen and provided with its closing cover.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a "kitchen area" illustrating in perspective several modes of implementation and insertion into a work plan of the evacuation and collection device according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows a variant in which the sleeve according to the invention is associated with a flexible tubular structure and Figure 6 shows another variant in which the sleeve of the invention surmounts a rigid evacuation pipe. Figure 7 shows the tracing of the opening to be practiced in the fixed horizontal plane.

According to all of the figures, it can be seen that the sleeve 1 passes through an opening 4 arranged in the work surface 5.

And the sleeve has two parts, namely an upper part 2 in the form of a truncated cone, connected to a lower part or skirt 3 in the form of an inverted truncated cone, the two cone trunks 2 and 3 being opposed by their small base .

The surface 6 forming the internal wall of the upper conical part 2 thus constitutes a hopper, the diverging part of which faces upwards and therefore makes it possible to receive and collect consequently towards the lower central part all the elements, in particular waste or debris which are introduced into the frustoconical space defined by the upper part 2 of the sleeve from the zone located above the work surface.

Thus, the frusto-conical upper part 2 of the sleeve acts as a hopper making it possible, if necessary, to collect by sliding by hand on the work surface the elements, in particular the waste to be removed, this frusto-conical part forming hopper thus easily allowing the waste to be moved from the worktop to the interior space.

And the frustoconical shape thus given to this upper part makes it possible to gather in the central zone the elements intended to be evacuated which can therefore flow along the frustoconical wall 6.

Against by the lower part 3 constitutes a skirt diverging towards the periphery and this skirt is subtracted by its shape in contact with the flowing elements. from the hopper 6.

Under these conditions it is avoided that the lower part 3 of the sleeve, which is not easily or directly accessible, is soiled and this part therefore remains withdrawn in contact with the debris or waste which rolls on the wall 6; this wall being easily accessible and therefore capable of being cleaned.

Advantageously, provision has been made in one embodiment for the connection of the interior wall 6, belonging to the upper truncated cone 2, to the interior wall 8 belonging to the inverted frustoconical skirt 3, to be carried out with a slight flange in place. or collar oriented inward and forming a device called "drop of water". This device 7 makes it possible to cause the flow of liquid elements which could slide along the wall 6 and which will therefore drip towards the lower receptacle (hereinafter described) by preventing this liquid from continuing to run along the inner wall 8 of the skirt 3; so that the latter is thus perfectly removed from sources of dirt and soiling.

In the upper position, a cover 9 is provided to close the opening of the frustoconical part 2 forming an introduction hopper.

This cover 9 comprises, on the one hand, a central disc, the periphery of which ends at a right angle, so that the lower angle 11 comes into bearing contact along a linear circumference on the upper part of the frustoconical wall 6.

The cover 9 comprises, in the lower part relative to the disc 10, a cylindrical crown 12 also terminating at its base at a right angle, the angle 13 being provided to ensure a second linear circumferential contact on the wall 6.

An airtight contact is thus obtained, thanks to the superposition of the two linear obturation zones and in a circle respectively at 11 and 13, however this arrangement avoids surface-to-surface contact which would risk crushing any deposits or waste which could have taken place and remained in position of adhesion on the wall 6; this crushing could indeed cause an incrustation of the deposits on the wall 6, making it more difficult for them to be evacuated and for cleaning the wall 6.

However, the two contacts ensure perfect sealing of the cover relative to the wall 6 forming an introduction hopper.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the upper plane 14 of the disc 10 forming the cover, and intended to come to a slightly lower level relative to the upper plane 15 of the work plane 5.

This arrangement allows the positioning on the disc 10 of a surfacing element 16 capable of being harmonized and of coming substantially at the level of the surfacing 15 equipping the work surface 5.

An advantageous aesthetic effect is thus obtained, the decoration equipping the work surface and consisting of the surfacing 15 being extended by the corresponding decorative element 16 disposed on the cover.

The central part of the cover comprises, in known manner, a hollow boss 17 allowing the insertion of the bar 18 for gripping the cover.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the sleeve according to the invention, the upper frustoconical part 2 is equipped in its upper zone with an external cylindrical crown 19 provided with grooves 20,21.

This cylindrical surface 19 as well as the grooves 20, 21 make it possible to facilitate blocking and securing, in particular by gluing, of this cylindrical part of the sleeve in the bore 4 provided in the working plane.

It is indeed easy under these conditions to allow the establishment of a deposit of interstitial glue, filling the grooves 20 and 21 and thus facilitating the joining of this cylindrical peripheral part 19 on the internal bore provided in the work plan 5.

According to also an advantageous characteristic of the invention, this cylindrical part 19 ends at its upper part by a collar 22 projecting outwards and tapering to die at the level of the upper plane of the surfacing element 15; this makes it possible to facilitate the routing, by sliding, if necessary by hand, of the elements to be removed which can be "swept" from the upper surface of the work surface 5 to the upper orifice of the frustoconical part 2 forming a hopper, the elements thus sliding along the work surface and being able to easily overcome the slight obstacle constituted by the flange 22 which is connected by a slight slope on this work surface.

However, the flange 22 projecting relative to the bore 4 makes it possible to hide the slight imperfections resulting from the work of the material when the bore 4 has been produced; a perfect aesthetic device is thus obtained while facilitating its operating conditions.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, provision has been made for the base 23 of the inverted frustoconical skirt 3 to form a circle with a diameter identical to the cylindrical part 19 situated at the top of the sleeve.

Under these conditions and as seen in the light of Figure 7, it is easy to ensure the establishment of the sleeve on a work surface intended to be equipped; indeed the base 23 can be easily placed at the place intended to receive the sleeve and the circular layout of this base can then be easily transferred to the work surface; this line can then be cut by any suitable means and one obtains the bore 4 through which the base 23 can pass while this bore 4 receives exactly the upper cylindrical part 19 on which the internal bore can be secured.

Figure 4 shows multiple possibilities for setting up the device according to the invention.

We see that the latter can be, as previously described, inserted through the thickness of the worktop 15 of a kitchen, by flush with the peripheral flange 22 at this plane, the cover 9 being located substantially in the extension of the work plan.

It is thus seen that two devices or evacuation sleeve according to the invention can be positioned side by side, each receiving in the lower part a bag 24 (Figure 2).

This allows selective disposal of the waste, for example by isolating organic waste on the one hand and non-biodegradable waste (glass, metal) on the other.

The invention is more particularly intended to allow the evacuation of waste from a disposable plastic bag, the bag 24 being connected to the base of the inverted frustoconical skirt 3.

And for this purpose the inverted frustoconical base 3 is associated with a clamp 25 (more particularly visible in Figure 1).

This collar 25 is produced, for example, in the form of a metal belt, for example steel, and it comprises a closing device of the "toggle" type, the lever 26 of which can be folded down with one hand.

We can easily ensure with both hands the establishment of the bag; the latter is easily positioned by its upper edges inside the belt; and the assembly can be engaged on the base 3, the folding of the lever 26 then making it possible to block the assembly.

It can be seen that the inverted frustoconical shape of the skirt 3 has this particular advantage with regard in particular to the use of a flexible bag 24, to ensure the hermetic closure of the assembly; in fact the weight of the materials or debris inserted into the bag and accumulating within the latter causes a pull downwards which in turn causes a self-tightening effect of the collar 25, the diameter of which is constant when closed; as a result, a firmer tightening of the bag 24 is obtained as the latter exerts a downward traction.

A light bead 27 ends the base 23 and ensures a definitive blocking of the bag on the inverted frustoconical base 3.

Figure 4 shows various possibilities for positioning the sleeve according to the invention.

It can be seen at 28 that the sleeve can for example be placed on a plane 29 situated in the lower position relative to the work plane 5; and this plane is itself covered by a foldable plate 30 on which the cover 9 can be mounted integral, so that when the plate or flap 30 is folded to come to be embedded in the work plane 5 against the lower plane 29 , the cover 9 engages in the closed position in the upper truncated cone forming hopper 6.

It can be seen that the sleeve can be engaged on the upper plane 31 of a retractable drawer 32, the inner part of which is free to receive the bags 24.

The sleeve can also be engaged on the plane 33 also arranged on the inner part of the pivotally mounted door 34, the assembly thus being erasable inside the sink shelf 35.

According to the right part of Figure 4 we see that the sleeve, passing through a work surface 5ʹ, can lead above a container made here no longer of a flexible bag but of a bin of a traditional trash can.

According to the example in FIG. 5, it can be seen that the sleeve 1 having passed through the work surface 5 is connected at its lower part to a flexible tubular element 36 consisting of a "sock" or tube formed from a synthetic tubular film of known type and the upper part of which is secured to the base of the sleeve 1 by the locking belt 25.

The tubular element 36 extends downwards until it crosses the floor 38, thanks to the interposition of a rigid tubing 37, which extends to the lower floor to receive the bag 24 secured by the loop 25ʹ to the base of the assembly formed by the rigid tubular jacket 37 fitted with the tubular element 36.

According to the variant shown in FIG. 6, the rigid tubular jacket 37 can extend to the base of the sleeve to which it is directly connected by interlocking with the interposition of a seal, for example the O-ring 39.

These two arrangements of FIGS. 5 and 6 show and illustrate a use of the device according to the invention in which the evacuation from a stage makes it possible to direct the waste to the lower stage where the receptacle is located, here a bag 24 but which could be a larger container.

Claims (9)

1. Device for collecting various elements or products such as waste and household refuse, intended to be collected in a container such as a disposable, supple plastic bag, the device being of the type comprising a sleeve formed by a body of revolution (1) adapted to traverse a fixed horizontal plane such as a work-top (5), particularly in a kitchen, opening out on one side in its upper part, above or at the level of said top, in an opening provided with a removable lid (9), the lower part of said sleeve being adapted to overhang a removable container (24) for receiving said products or refuse, characterized:

   a) in that the sleeve is constituted by a body of revolution formed by two frustums of cone whose small bases are opposite each other and consequently comprising in its upper part a truncated part (2) whose large base is located towards the top and forming hopper and the outer wall of the truncated upper part of the sleeve, forming funnel, comprises a cylindrical periphery (19) provided with grooves (20, 21) for facilitating retention of an adhesive and connection by gluing on the inner bore (4) of the opening made in the fixed horizontal plane (5), and this truncated part is joined to a lower skirt (3) formed by an inverted frustum of cone and whose tapering is oriented downwardly;

   b) and in that the circular base (23) of the sleeve (1) corresponding to the large base of the inverted truncated part (3) of said sleeve comprises a diameter identical, with a slight clearance, to said cylindrical wall (19) for gluing, i.e. to the necessary opening (4) and having to be made in the work top (15), the outline of this opening thus being facilitated from the base of the sleeve (23) placed on said fixed horizontal plane (5) and whose circumference may easily be transferred onto this plane.
2. Device according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that the sleeve (1) comprises in its upper part a flange (22) adapted to project slightly above the support plane (15) such as the work top (15) traversed by the sleeve, said flange extending peripherally towards the outside beyond the opening made in said work top, and said flange (22) comprises an edge becoming thinner towards the periphery, dying out at the level of the upper work top (5) traversed by said sleeve.
3. Device according to one of Claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the circular zone of connection between the two inverted cones comprises an inward flange (7) forming "droplet" provoking the fall of the liquid elements introduced in the funnel towards the interior space of the bag, and avoiding the flow of said liquid along the inner face of the lower skirt (3).
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in that the truncated upper part (2), forming hopper, of the sleeve cooperates with a removable lid (9) whose periphery, coming into contact with the inner truncated surface of the sleeve, comprises at least one lip whose edge bearing on the truncated inner surface of the sleeve is defined by an angle (11) thus determining a hermetic, circular, linear abutment of said lip on the truncated wall (6), forming hopper, of said sleeve.
5. Device according to Claim 4,
   characterized in that the removable lid (9) comprises on its periphery two superposed circular lips of diameter decreasing from top to bottom, such that the angular edges (11 and 13) of said lips come into abutment at two superposed levels on the truncated inner wall (6) of said sleeve, thus provoking two levels of hermetic closure of the sleeve by two super-posed circular contacts.
6. Device according to Claim 5,
   characterized in that the lid (9) comprising two lips (11 and 13) abutting on the truncated upper part of the sleeve is constituted by an upper disc (10) extended downwardly by a cylindrical ring (12), the two linear circumferential abutments being procured by the annular edge (11) of the disc, on the one hand, and by the base (13) of said cylindrical ring, on the other hand.
7. Device according to Claim 6,
   characterized in that the disc (10) comprises on its upper face a flat part recessed in a ring coaxial to said disc, adapted to receive a decorative surfacing element (16) particularly harmonized with the surfacing of said fixed horizontal plane.
8. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in that the sleeve (11) comprises a supple, tubular structure (36) of disposable type, fitted on the outer wall of the base, in the form of an inverted frustum of cone, of said sleeve, on which it is maintained fast by a clamp, the lower part of said supple tubular structure arriving at a container located in lower position, possibly on a lower storey of the premises.
9. Variant of a device according to Claim 8,
   characterized in that the sleeve (11) is joined to a rigid tubular structure (37) fitted on the base, in the form of an inverted frustum of cone, of said sleeve, with the interposition of O-rings (39), the rigid tubular structure extending downwardly until it arrives at a container located in lower position, possibly on a storey located beneath the work premises.

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