EP1401741B1 - Covering structure for urban garbage containers - Google Patents

Covering structure for urban garbage containers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1401741B1
EP1401741B1 EP02741184A EP02741184A EP1401741B1 EP 1401741 B1 EP1401741 B1 EP 1401741B1 EP 02741184 A EP02741184 A EP 02741184A EP 02741184 A EP02741184 A EP 02741184A EP 1401741 B1 EP1401741 B1 EP 1401741B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
covering structure
main body
apt
access door
garbage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP02741184A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1401741A1 (en
Inventor
Alfonso Gargiulo
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Individual
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Individual
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65FGATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
    • B65F1/00Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor
    • B65F1/14Other constructional features; Accessories
    • B65F1/1426Housings, cabinets or enclosures for refuse receptacles
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65FGATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
    • B65F1/00Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor
    • B65F1/14Other constructional features; Accessories
    • B65F1/16Lids or covers
    • B65F1/1615Lids or covers with means for locking, fastening or permanently closing thereof
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65FGATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
    • B65F1/00Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor
    • B65F1/14Other constructional features; Accessories
    • B65F1/16Lids or covers
    • B65F1/1623Lids or covers with means for assisting the opening or closing thereof, e.g. springs

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a covering structure for urban garbage containers, and in particular for solid garbage containers commonly called 'dumpsters'.
  • the garbage collecting containers and in particular the solid garbage containers commonly called dumpsters, are located just inside the urban context, typically in the close vicinities of public or private buildings.
  • Patent document US 5 377 907 A discloses a covering structure according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a covering structure for urban garbage containers overcoming the drawbacks hereto mentioned with reference to the known art.
  • the invention further provides a street furniture structure according to claim 31.
  • 'garbage container' refers to any type of container for collecting solid and/or liquid urban garbage.
  • the present invention provides several relevant advantages.
  • the main advantage lies in that the covering structure in all respects constitutes a street furniture component that masks the garbage container and shields it from outside exposure, thereby improving the sanitary conditions and the decorum of the surrounding environment and, in general, of the entire context of a city.
  • a further advantage lies in that the construction and the appearance of the covering structure are adjustable to the specific demands of each different urban context, e.g. to the type of paving and of spaces appointed to host garbage containers, to the specific architectural and street furniture style, with no need to differentiate accordingly the existent garbage containers.
  • a covering structure according to the present invention is generally indicated with 1.
  • the covering structure 1 is apt to be located about an urban garbage container, and in particular about a dumpster, to shield it from the outside environment.
  • the structure 1 comprises a box-structured main body 2 apt to shield said container sideways and upwards.
  • the main body 2 is substantially shaped as a parallelepiped missing a base, comprising four side walls and a top wall mutually connected therebetween.
  • the covering structure 1 comprises a first side wall 3, hereinafter referred to as front wall, a second side wall 4, hereinafter referred to as rear wall, a third side wall 5, a fourth side wall 6 and a top cover wall 7. These walls define an inner bay 8 of the main body 2 apt to receive the urban garbage container.
  • the main body 2 is openable at its front wall 3 to enable the insertion of the dumpster within the bay 8 and the extraction therefrom.
  • said front wall 3 is made of a pair of wings, 31 and 32, respectively, rotatably connected to the remaining portion of the main body 2, and in particular to the third and to the fourth side wall 5 and 6, respectively, according to substantially vertical rotation axes.
  • the two wings 31 and 32 be locked the one with the other in a closed configuration by reversible closing means consisting of a mere release mechanism, e.g., of the spring latch or spring mechanism type, disengageable by applying a mere outward pull to the two wings 31 and 32.
  • reversible closing means consisting of a mere release mechanism, e.g., of the spring latch or spring mechanism type, disengageable by applying a mere outward pull to the two wings 31 and 32.
  • Such closing means of the wings 31 and 32 are shown in greater detail in Figure 3C.
  • the means comprises, for each wing 31, 32, a shaped tongue 33 fixed with top cover wall 7 and apt to engage a corresponding shaped tooth 34 of a release mechanism 35.
  • the tooth 34 is associated with an elastic contrast member (not shown), e.g. a mere helical spring, that, in the absence of outside stresses applied, keeps the tooth 34 itself in the raised position of Figure 3C.
  • the tooth 34 forces the elastic member to strain, and in particular to elastically compress, so that the tooth itself can lower, disengaging the tongue 33 and thereby enabling the opening of the wing 31, 32.
  • the wings 31, 32 are released even when the latter is raised, as it will be illustrated in greater detail later on.
  • the covering structure 1 of the present embodiment further provides key-locking closing means 9 for the two wings 31 and 32, to avoid chance openings thereof by users.
  • the main body 2 be manually opened by operators in charge of carrying out the periodic emptying of the dumpster or the replacing thereof.
  • An alternative variant embodiment provides instead the presence of suitable opening means for the main body, apt to automatically open the latter, operable by an operator, e.g. by a push button or a remote control.
  • the covering structure 1 also comprises, in correspondence of the third and fourth side wall 5 and 6, respective structural extension members, in form of vertical rods, indicated by 10 and 11, respectively.
  • Each of the latter during the assembling of the covering structure 1, is removably locked at a respective side edge of the respective wall 5 or 6 to extend a corresponding horizontal dimension thereof, in particular the depth thereof, indicated by an arrow 110 in Figure 1.
  • front wings 31 and 32 are rotatably connected each to a respective extending member 10 or 11 by a traditional-type coupling system, based, e.g., on a shaped plate.
  • said extending members 10 and 11 enable to adjust the dimensions of the covering structure 1 to those of the container to be housed and/or to the urban environment housing the latter, making the covering structure 1 extremely versatile and universal, i.e. capable of allocating therein any collecting container without requiring any re-designing.
  • each extension member 10, 11 centrally has a suitable notch for optionally allocating an ornamental band, e.g. a metal band, e.g. of antiqued copper, to be selected according to the architectural context and to the remaining street furniture.
  • an ornamental band e.g. a metal band, e.g. of antiqued copper
  • the main body 2 provides connecting means 12 to street furniture members.
  • said connecting means 12 enable a removable connecting of said street furniture members, and are implemented by grooves or fixing guides, them also indicated by 12, obtained horizontally on said walls 4, 5 and 6.
  • the covering structure 1 can be provided to a final user equipped with said street furniture members.
  • the covering structure 1 comprises flower boxes 121, each of which provided with a suitable drip 122 for draining excess water.
  • connecting means 12 there can be allocated suitable wastebaskets or litterbins for differentiated collection of garbage, or any other ornamental member.
  • the connecting means 12 can also support modular architectural barriers apt to circumscribe, jointly with one or more covering structures according to the invention, a determined perimeter to be used as ecological island.
  • a member made of metal, preferably of Copper, acting as a further ornamental member preferably of Copper, acting as a further ornamental member.
  • the top wall 7 of the main body 2 has a profile substantially shaped as a frustum-of pyramid, onto the top base of which, in a position substantially centered with respect to the wall 7, an elastic access door 14 is obtained, which is formed by two wings 141 and 142 of elastic semirigid material.
  • the two wings 141 and 142 are connected to the remaining portion of top wall 7 at an edge thereof, so as to be rotatable according to respective axes of rotation, substantially horizontal and parallel.
  • the arrangement is such that the door 14 is openable towards the inside of the covering structure 1, i.e. towards the bay 8, forming a sort of trapdoor.
  • the wings 141 and 142 forming the door 14 are elastic by virtue of their constituent material and of their modes of connection to the remaining portion of the main body 2.
  • the structure and the location of said wings 141 and 142 are such that they are normally closed and apt to fold, as a result of an elastic straining that takes place at said rotatable connection, towards the inside of the covering structure 1, i.e. towards the bay 8.
  • the door 14 can be temporarily forced to an opened position to enable the introduction of garbage into the container and then automatically return, by virtue of the elastic return force of the wings 141 and 142, to a closed position after said introduction.
  • the elastic return force of the wings 141 and 142 is such that the door 14 is opened merely by resting the garbage thereon, and it is automatically closes again once the latter have fallen in the container.
  • a variant embodiment may provide that the contrast force opposed by the door 14 to its elastic straining be gauged so that the door be opened merely when the weight rested thereon exceeds a certain threshold, that is predetermined and selected so as to avoid chance openings, due, e.g., to birds or stray animals.
  • a variant embodiment could provide that the rotatable connections between the wings 141 and 142 and the remaining portion of the main body 2 consist of a traditional pin-sleeve coupling, and that to each of such connections there be associated a suitable elastic return member, e.g. a spring, cooperating with the respective wing 141 or 142 to maintain the latter usually closed.
  • a suitable elastic return member e.g. a spring
  • the upward location of the access door 14 enables an easy introduction of the garbage into the dumpster.
  • the garbage container should have an opened lid or no lid.
  • a further advantage associated with said arrangement is that users are in no way compelled to touch the dumpster.
  • the specific upwardly-tapered shape of the top portion of the main body housing the access door enables a total filling of the dumpster. Moreover, this shape, jointly to the centered position of the access door, enables an optimal dumpster filling and prevents an outpouring of the solid garbage from it, as the access door is located at the dumpster center.
  • the top cover wall 7 is rotatably connected to the remaining portion of the main body 2 at an edge thereof, so that the body 2 itself is upwardly openable.
  • the covering structure 1 further comprises moving means 15 of the top wall 7, operable by an operator to cause the upward rotation of the wall 7, thereby enabling inspection or maintenance steps of the covering structure itself or of the dumpster housed therein.
  • Such means 15 can be of mechanical or electromechanical type. Moreover, they can provide the lifting of the cover wall 7 to a predetermined set height, or enable the user to choose the desired height. Further, for their operation there may be provided a suitable interface externally applied onto the main body 2, e.g. a push button, or an interface issued to the operators, e.g. a remote control.
  • the moving means 15 are of purely mechanical type and will be detailed hereinafter with reference also to Figures 3A and 3B.
  • This means 15 first of all comprises, at each side end of the top wall 7, a cylinder-plunger mechanism 151, shown in Figure 3, associated with an elastic contrast member 152, in particular a helical spring.
  • the cylinder of mechanism 151 is rigidly secured, by traditional-type means, internally to the main body 2, on a respective side wall 5 or 6 at the connection of the latter to the front wall 3.
  • the elastic member 152 is wound about the plunger of mechanism 151, and its top end is abutted on a suitable abutting member of the plunger itself. Said plunger in turn abuts, at a top end thereof, on a respective plane abutment 153 of the top cover wall 7, implementing therewith a location abutment by mere contact.
  • the means 15 further comprises a bilateral anchoring system for anchoring the top wall 7 to the side walls 5 and 6, shown in Figures 3A and 3B.
  • said bilateral system comprises a bracket 154 fixed with the wall 5, 6 itself and bearing a slot 155.
  • the anchoring system further comprises, always for each wall 5, 6, a release mechanism 156, e.g. a spring mechanism of the type already described with reference to the locking system of the wings 31, 32, bearing a movable tooth 157 apt to engage the slot 155.
  • each tooth 157 of both said release mechanisms 156 is associated with a respective spring or other elastic member that, in the absence of external stresses, maintains it in an advanced position, i.e. engaged in the slot 155. Furthermore, each tooth 157 is retractable, winning the contrast force of the respective spring, by a respective horizontal tension rod 158 fixed with the tooth 157 itself.
  • the tension rods 158 are operable in the direction indicated by the arrows of Figure 3A by means of a pin 159, having a conical base tapered outwardly of the covering structure 1 and being operable by an operator.
  • the release mechanisms 156 maintain the top cover wall 7 locked to the side walls 5 and 6 by virtue of the engagement of the teeth 157 in the slots 155 of the brackets 154.
  • an operator should merely pull the pin 159 nearer.
  • the conical base of the pin 159 wedges in between the tension rods 158, forcing them to open up.
  • the latter causes a translation of the teeth 157 towards the outside of the covering structure 1, thereby determining the disengagement of the brackets 154.
  • the top wall 7 is free to rotate, and therefore the elastic return action of the helical springs 152 associated to the cylinder-plunger systems 151 forces the wall 7 to lift.
  • the pin 159 is associated with an elastic member apt to return it, once released by an operator, to the retracted position.
  • the cover wall 7 can be hand-lifted above the predetermined set height defined by the stroke of the plunger.
  • Said moving means could comprise, e.g., a telescopic damper system, preferably comprising a hydraulic jack.
  • the moving means could provide a remote-controlled hydraulic telescopic damper.
  • the covering structure 1 further comprises adjustable stabilizing means 16, and in particular an adjusting and leveling system to compensate the natural slope of the ground.
  • adjustable stabilizing means 16 are implemented by support members positioned at the four bottom corners of the parallelepiped forming the main body 2 and has a height adjustable independently the one from the other.
  • the means 16 enables the covering structure 1 to be installed at any location, regardless of the slope, and allow also a stabilization of the dumpster housed inside of the main body 2.
  • the covering structure 1 is apt to be manufactured of materials apt to ground-stabilize it by virtue of its own weight.
  • the invention is apt to house also wheeled garbage containers, preventing an accidental displacing thereof, e.g. due to a positioning thereof on markedly sloped roads, and also preventing an arbitrary displacing thereof by citizens.
  • a covering structure 100 of another embodiment comprises a plurality of access doors, and in particular a first and a second door, 101 and 102 respectively, located on a top portion of a main body 200 of the covering structure 100.
  • This plurality of access doors optionally matched by a corresponding plurality of garbage collecting containers housed within the main body 200, enables a differentiated collection of urban solid garbage.
  • one or more covering structures according to the invention can form, jointly to further street furniture members, an ecological island.
  • two covering structures, 201 and 202 respectively, are located at right angles, each supporting one end of a respective bench 203 at connecting means already introduced with reference to the first embodiment.
  • a further shared architectural member 205 e.g. a wastebasket or a flower box, supports these benches 203 at the other end thereof.
  • the covering structures 201 and 202 bear, at a top wall thereof, openings 204 for the separate collection of garbage.
  • Figure 6 shows another viable configuration for an ecological island, in which a bench is directly supported between two aligned covering structures.
  • said benches of Figures 5 and 6 form architectural barriers apt to circumscribe a determined perimeter to be used as ecological island.
  • one or more covering structures according to the invention form, jointly to further street furniture members of the hereto-introduced type, an actual street furniture structure.
  • the covering structure could have any shape, e.g. a rounded instead of a squared profile, and likewise any profile can be assumed by the access door for introduction the garbage.
  • the covering structure may be piece-formed or have a modular structure. In this latter case, it may have a plurality of walls reversibly connectable the one to the other, so as to be provided disassembled to a final user. Moreover, this reversible connection among the various portions of the main body could simplify the employ of the extension members introduced with reference to the first embodiment.
  • the invention provides several alternative embodiments enabling the access door of the main body to be temporarily forced to an opened position to enable the introduction of garbage into the container and to then automatically return to a closed position after said introduction.
  • a viable embodiment, alternative to the hereto disclosed one, provides e.g. that the door be associated with electromechanical-type moving means.
  • the door can also be slidably, rather than rotatably, connected to the remaining portion of the main body, and be operable manually or via a suitable interface, e.g., a push button.
  • reinforcement members of any type, external as well as internal.
  • lifting hooks arranged internally to the covering structure itself.
  • the covering structure may have a single door, openable at different levels in order to allow the garbage introduction as well as the extraction/insertion of the collecting container.
  • the access door may require a manual opening by the users.
  • a further simplified variant embodiment of the invention provides that the only opening obtained on the main body be the door apt to the introduction of garbage into the container.
  • the container is extracted/inserted from/into the covering structure at the missing bottom base of the latter, which therefore should be lifted to an appropriate height to carry out said insertion/extraction operations.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Refuse Receptacles (AREA)
  • Refuse Collection And Transfer (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Roof Covering Using Slabs Or Stiff Sheets (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
  • Soil Working Implements (AREA)

Abstract

Covering structure(1; 201; 202) for urban garbage containers, comprising a main body (2) having an inner bay (8) to house the container so that the latter be shielded sideways and upwards, said main body (2) further having an access door (14) to the bay (8)apt to enable the introduction of garbage into the container, wherein said door (14) is usually closed and apt to be temporarily forced to an opened position and to automatically return to a closed position after said introduction.

Description

  • The present invention relates to a covering structure for urban garbage containers, and in particular for solid garbage containers commonly called 'dumpsters'.
  • In all cities, the garbage collecting containers, and in particular the solid garbage containers commonly called dumpsters, are located just inside the urban context, typically in the close vicinities of public or private buildings.
  • However, often such containers lie in precarious sanitary conditions, being dirty and foul smelling. Also for this reason they are often left opened by users reluctant to touch them, the garbage left exposed to the outside further worsening the sanitary conditions of the surrounding environment and being detrimental to the decorum of the urban environment, as well as allowing access to stray animals.
  • Patent document US 5 377 907 A discloses a covering structure according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a covering structure for urban garbage containers overcoming the drawbacks hereto mentioned with reference to the known art.
  • This problem is solved by a covering structure according to claim 1.
  • The invention further provides a street furniture structure according to claim 31.
  • The term 'garbage container' refers to any type of container for collecting solid and/or liquid urban garbage.
  • The present invention provides several relevant advantages. The main advantage lies in that the covering structure in all respects constitutes a street furniture component that masks the garbage container and shields it from outside exposure, thereby improving the sanitary conditions and the decorum of the surrounding environment and, in general, of the entire context of a city. A further advantage lies in that the construction and the appearance of the covering structure are adjustable to the specific demands of each different urban context, e.g. to the type of paving and of spaces appointed to host garbage containers, to the specific architectural and street furniture style, with no need to differentiate accordingly the existent garbage containers.
  • Other advantages, features and the modes of employ of the present invention will be made apparent in the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. Reference will be made to the figures of the attached drawings, wherein:
    • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the covering structure according to the present invention;
    • Figure 2 is a front view of the covering structure of Figure 1;
    • Figure 3 is a side view of the covering structure of Figure 1, in different configurations;
    • Figure 3A is a plan view of a detail of the covering structure of Figure 1;
    • Figure 3B is a sectional view of a detail of Figure 3A, taken along line A-A thereof;
    • Figure 3C is a side view of another detail of the covering structure of Figure 1;
    • Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the covering structure according to the present invention; and
    • Figures 5 and 6 are each a perspective view of a respective further embodiment of the covering structure of the invention, depicted in an urban context.
  • With initial reference to Figures 1 and 2, a covering structure according to the present invention is generally indicated with 1.
  • The covering structure 1 is apt to be located about an urban garbage container, and in particular about a dumpster, to shield it from the outside environment. To this end, the structure 1 comprises a box-structured main body 2 apt to shield said container sideways and upwards. In the present embodiment, the main body 2 is substantially shaped as a parallelepiped missing a base, comprising four side walls and a top wall mutually connected therebetween. In particular, the covering structure 1 comprises a first side wall 3, hereinafter referred to as front wall, a second side wall 4, hereinafter referred to as rear wall, a third side wall 5, a fourth side wall 6 and a top cover wall 7. These walls define an inner bay 8 of the main body 2 apt to receive the urban garbage container.
  • The main body 2 is openable at its front wall 3 to enable the insertion of the dumpster within the bay 8 and the extraction therefrom. To this end, said front wall 3 is made of a pair of wings, 31 and 32, respectively, rotatably connected to the remaining portion of the main body 2, and in particular to the third and to the fourth side wall 5 and 6, respectively, according to substantially vertical rotation axes.
  • In the present embodiment, it is provided that the two wings 31 and 32 be locked the one with the other in a closed configuration by reversible closing means consisting of a mere release mechanism, e.g., of the spring latch or spring mechanism type, disengageable by applying a mere outward pull to the two wings 31 and 32.
  • Such closing means of the wings 31 and 32 are shown in greater detail in Figure 3C. As it is apparent in this latter Figure, the means comprises, for each wing 31, 32, a shaped tongue 33 fixed with top cover wall 7 and apt to engage a corresponding shaped tooth 34 of a release mechanism 35. The tooth 34 is associated with an elastic contrast member (not shown), e.g. a mere helical spring, that, in the absence of outside stresses applied, keeps the tooth 34 itself in the raised position of Figure 3C.
  • As mentioned above, by merely by pulling the wing 31, 32, the tooth 34, abutting the tongue 33, forces the elastic member to strain, and in particular to elastically compress, so that the tooth itself can lower, disengaging the tongue 33 and thereby enabling the opening of the wing 31, 32.
  • Moreover, in the present embodiment, by virtue of the fact that the tongues 33 are fixed with the top cover wall 7, the wings 31, 32 are released even when the latter is raised, as it will be illustrated in greater detail later on.
  • With further reference to Figures 1 and 2, the covering structure 1 of the present embodiment further provides key-locking closing means 9 for the two wings 31 and 32, to avoid chance openings thereof by users.
  • Hence, in the present embodiment, it is provided that the main body 2 be manually opened by operators in charge of carrying out the periodic emptying of the dumpster or the replacing thereof.
  • An alternative variant embodiment provides instead the presence of suitable opening means for the main body, apt to automatically open the latter, operable by an operator, e.g. by a push button or a remote control.
  • It will be appreciated that the present embodiment enables the operators to carry out said dumpster emptying or replacing steps in an extremely easy manner.
  • Always in the present embodiment, the covering structure 1 also comprises, in correspondence of the third and fourth side wall 5 and 6, respective structural extension members, in form of vertical rods, indicated by 10 and 11, respectively. Each of the latter, during the assembling of the covering structure 1, is removably locked at a respective side edge of the respective wall 5 or 6 to extend a corresponding horizontal dimension thereof, in particular the depth thereof, indicated by an arrow 110 in Figure 1.
  • Moreover, the front wings 31 and 32 are rotatably connected each to a respective extending member 10 or 11 by a traditional-type coupling system, based, e.g., on a shaped plate.
  • It will be understood that said extending members 10 and 11 enable to adjust the dimensions of the covering structure 1 to those of the container to be housed and/or to the urban environment housing the latter, making the covering structure 1 extremely versatile and universal, i.e. capable of allocating therein any collecting container without requiring any re-designing.
  • Moreover, in the present embodiment it is provided that each extension member 10, 11 centrally has a suitable notch for optionally allocating an ornamental band, e.g. a metal band, e.g. of antiqued copper, to be selected according to the architectural context and to the remaining street furniture.
  • Always in correspondence of the third and fourth side wall 5 and 6 and also of the rear wall 4, the main body 2 provides connecting means 12 to street furniture members. In the present embodiment, said connecting means 12 enable a removable connecting of said street furniture members, and are implemented by grooves or fixing guides, them also indicated by 12, obtained horizontally on said walls 4, 5 and 6.
  • Hence, the covering structure 1 can be provided to a final user equipped with said street furniture members. In the embodiment of Figure 1, it is provided that the covering structure 1 comprises flower boxes 121, each of which provided with a suitable drip 122 for draining excess water.
  • Moreover, at said connecting means 12 there can be allocated suitable wastebaskets or litterbins for differentiated collection of garbage, or any other ornamental member. As it will be illustrated hereinafter with reference to further embodiments of the invention, the connecting means 12 can also support modular architectural barriers apt to circumscribe, jointly with one or more covering structures according to the invention, a determined perimeter to be used as ecological island.
  • Moreover, inside said guides or grooves there can be positioned a member made of metal, preferably of Copper, acting as a further ornamental member.
  • The top wall 7 of the main body 2 has a profile substantially shaped as a frustum-of pyramid, onto the top base of which, in a position substantially centered with respect to the wall 7, an elastic access door 14 is obtained, which is formed by two wings 141 and 142 of elastic semirigid material.
  • The two wings 141 and 142 are connected to the remaining portion of top wall 7 at an edge thereof, so as to be rotatable according to respective axes of rotation, substantially horizontal and parallel. Hence, the arrangement is such that the door 14 is openable towards the inside of the covering structure 1, i.e. towards the bay 8, forming a sort of trapdoor.
  • As mentioned above, the wings 141 and 142 forming the door 14 are elastic by virtue of their constituent material and of their modes of connection to the remaining portion of the main body 2. In particular, the structure and the location of said wings 141 and 142 are such that they are normally closed and apt to fold, as a result of an elastic straining that takes place at said rotatable connection, towards the inside of the covering structure 1, i.e. towards the bay 8. Hence, the door 14 can be temporarily forced to an opened position to enable the introduction of garbage into the container and then automatically return, by virtue of the elastic return force of the wings 141 and 142, to a closed position after said introduction.
  • In the present example, the elastic return force of the wings 141 and 142 is such that the door 14 is opened merely by resting the garbage thereon, and it is automatically closes again once the latter have fallen in the container.
  • A variant embodiment may provide that the contrast force opposed by the door 14 to its elastic straining be gauged so that the door be opened merely when the weight rested thereon exceeds a certain threshold, that is predetermined and selected so as to avoid chance openings, due, e.g., to birds or stray animals.
  • Of course, a variant embodiment could provide that the rotatable connections between the wings 141 and 142 and the remaining portion of the main body 2 consist of a traditional pin-sleeve coupling, and that to each of such connections there be associated a suitable elastic return member, e.g. a spring, cooperating with the respective wing 141 or 142 to maintain the latter usually closed.
  • It will be appreciated that the upward location of the access door 14 enables an easy introduction of the garbage into the dumpster. Of course, for this introduction the garbage container should have an opened lid or no lid.
  • Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the user can easily inlet the garbage in the collecting containers merely resting said garbage onto the abovedescribed access door 14. In fact, inletted garbage is automatically gravity-transferred to the collecting container, with no risk of outside pouring which soils city roads.
  • A further advantage associated with said arrangement is that users are in no way compelled to touch the dumpster.
  • Furthermore, the specific upwardly-tapered shape of the top portion of the main body housing the access door enables a total filling of the dumpster. Moreover, this shape, jointly to the centered position of the access door, enables an optimal dumpster filling and prevents an outpouring of the solid garbage from it, as the access door is located at the dumpster center.
  • With reference now to Figure 3, in the present embodiment the top cover wall 7 is rotatably connected to the remaining portion of the main body 2 at an edge thereof, so that the body 2 itself is upwardly openable.
  • The covering structure 1 further comprises moving means 15 of the top wall 7, operable by an operator to cause the upward rotation of the wall 7, thereby enabling inspection or maintenance steps of the covering structure itself or of the dumpster housed therein. Such means 15 can be of mechanical or electromechanical type. Moreover, they can provide the lifting of the cover wall 7 to a predetermined set height, or enable the user to choose the desired height. Further, for their operation there may be provided a suitable interface externally applied onto the main body 2, e.g. a push button, or an interface issued to the operators, e.g. a remote control.
  • In the present embodiment, the moving means 15 are of purely mechanical type and will be detailed hereinafter with reference also to Figures 3A and 3B. This means 15 first of all comprises, at each side end of the top wall 7, a cylinder-plunger mechanism 151, shown in Figure 3, associated with an elastic contrast member 152, in particular a helical spring. The cylinder of mechanism 151 is rigidly secured, by traditional-type means, internally to the main body 2, on a respective side wall 5 or 6 at the connection of the latter to the front wall 3. The elastic member 152 is wound about the plunger of mechanism 151, and its top end is abutted on a suitable abutting member of the plunger itself. Said plunger in turn abuts, at a top end thereof, on a respective plane abutment 153 of the top cover wall 7, implementing therewith a location abutment by mere contact.
  • The means 15 further comprises a bilateral anchoring system for anchoring the top wall 7 to the side walls 5 and 6, shown in Figures 3A and 3B. For each wall 5, 6, said bilateral system comprises a bracket 154 fixed with the wall 5, 6 itself and bearing a slot 155. The anchoring system further comprises, always for each wall 5, 6, a release mechanism 156, e.g. a spring mechanism of the type already described with reference to the locking system of the wings 31, 32, bearing a movable tooth 157 apt to engage the slot 155.
  • As described above, the tooth 157 of both said release mechanisms 156 is associated with a respective spring or other elastic member that, in the absence of external stresses, maintains it in an advanced position, i.e. engaged in the slot 155. Furthermore, each tooth 157 is retractable, winning the contrast force of the respective spring, by a respective horizontal tension rod 158 fixed with the tooth 157 itself. In turn, the tension rods 158 are operable in the direction indicated by the arrows of Figure 3A by means of a pin 159, having a conical base tapered outwardly of the covering structure 1 and being operable by an operator.
  • Hence, under conditions of normal use of the covering structure 1, the release mechanisms 156 maintain the top cover wall 7 locked to the side walls 5 and 6 by virtue of the engagement of the teeth 157 in the slots 155 of the brackets 154. To open the top cover wall 7, an operator should merely pull the pin 159 nearer. In this way, the conical base of the pin 159 wedges in between the tension rods 158, forcing them to open up. The latter, in turn, cause a translation of the teeth 157 towards the outside of the covering structure 1, thereby determining the disengagement of the brackets 154. In this way, the top wall 7 is free to rotate, and therefore the elastic return action of the helical springs 152 associated to the cylinder-plunger systems 151 forces the wall 7 to lift.
  • It will be understood that the same result would be attained by inserting an elastic member between the base of each cylinder and the bottom end of the related plunger, instead of winding said elastic member about the plunger.
  • Preferably, the pin 159 is associated with an elastic member apt to return it, once released by an operator, to the retracted position.
  • It will be appreciated that the lifting of the top wall 7 by the mechanism 151 also causes the disengagement of said closing means of the wings 31 and 32 of the front wall 3, as the tongues 33 of the latter, by lifting integrally to the wall 7, disengage the teeth 34.
  • The opposite motion, i.e. the closing of the cover wall 7 onto the front wall 3, is instead hand-operated by the operator, which lowers the wall 7 acting against the return force of the plunger-associated elastic member 152 and reinserts the teeth 157 into the respective slots 155.
  • Always in the present embodiment, in order to enable inspecting and cleaning operations inside the covering structure 1, the cover wall 7 can be hand-lifted above the predetermined set height defined by the stroke of the plunger.
  • Of course, variant embodiments could provide means alternative to said cylinder-plunger mechanism. Said moving means could comprise, e.g., a telescopic damper system, preferably comprising a hydraulic jack. E.g., the moving means could provide a remote-controlled hydraulic telescopic damper.
  • The covering structure 1 further comprises adjustable stabilizing means 16, and in particular an adjusting and leveling system to compensate the natural slope of the ground. In the present embodiment, such means 16 are implemented by support members positioned at the four bottom corners of the parallelepiped forming the main body 2 and has a height adjustable independently the one from the other.
  • Therefore, the means 16 enables the covering structure 1 to be installed at any location, regardless of the slope, and allow also a stabilization of the dumpster housed inside of the main body 2.
  • Moreover, the covering structure 1 is apt to be manufactured of materials apt to ground-stabilize it by virtue of its own weight.
  • It will presently be appreciated that the invention is apt to house also wheeled garbage containers, preventing an accidental displacing thereof, e.g. due to a positioning thereof on markedly sloped roads, and also preventing an arbitrary displacing thereof by citizens.
  • It will also be appreciated that the covering structure of the heretodescribed embodiment is easy to install, to use and to clean.
  • Moreover, it will by now be apparent that for the covering structure different materials may be used which perfectly adapt to the installation site thereof, thereby respecting, needwise, given environmental constrains.
  • It will further be understood that the present invention is susceptible of several variant embodiments alternative to the hereto-described ones, some of which will summarily be illustrated hereinafter with sole reference to the aspects differentiating them from the hereto-considered ones.
  • With reference to Figure 4, a covering structure 100 of another embodiment comprises a plurality of access doors, and in particular a first and a second door, 101 and 102 respectively, located on a top portion of a main body 200 of the covering structure 100. This plurality of access doors, optionally matched by a corresponding plurality of garbage collecting containers housed within the main body 200, enables a differentiated collection of urban solid garbage.
  • Moreover, with reference to Figures 5 and 6, as abovementioned one or more covering structures according to the invention can form, jointly to further street furniture members, an ecological island.
  • In the example of Figure 5, two covering structures, 201 and 202 respectively, are located at right angles, each supporting one end of a respective bench 203 at connecting means already introduced with reference to the first embodiment. Additionally, a further shared architectural member 205, e.g. a wastebasket or a flower box, supports these benches 203 at the other end thereof. Moreover, as it is shown in said Figure 5, the covering structures 201 and 202 bear, at a top wall thereof, openings 204 for the separate collection of garbage.
  • Figure 6 shows another viable configuration for an ecological island, in which a bench is directly supported between two aligned covering structures.
  • Therefore, said benches of Figures 5 and 6 form architectural barriers apt to circumscribe a determined perimeter to be used as ecological island.
  • Hence, overall, one or more covering structures according to the invention form, jointly to further street furniture members of the hereto-introduced type, an actual street furniture structure.
  • According to further embodiment variants, the covering structure could have any shape, e.g. a rounded instead of a squared profile, and likewise any profile can be assumed by the access door for introduction the garbage.
  • Moreover, the covering structure may be piece-formed or have a modular structure. In this latter case, it may have a plurality of walls reversibly connectable the one to the other, so as to be provided disassembled to a final user. Moreover, this reversible connection among the various portions of the main body could simplify the employ of the extension members introduced with reference to the first embodiment.
  • It will also be understood that the invention provides several alternative embodiments enabling the access door of the main body to be temporarily forced to an opened position to enable the introduction of garbage into the container and to then automatically return to a closed position after said introduction. A viable embodiment, alternative to the hereto disclosed one, provides e.g. that the door be associated with electromechanical-type moving means. In this case, the door can also be slidably, rather than rotatably, connected to the remaining portion of the main body, and be operable manually or via a suitable interface, e.g., a push button.
  • Likewise, a person skilled in the art will reckon several alternative embodiments of the moving means of the top cover wall and of the closing means of the two front wings.
  • Moreover, to the main body of the covering structure, and in particular to the top cover wall, there can be applied reinforcement members of any type, external as well as internal.
  • Furthermore, to move the covering structure onto the main body there can be provided lifting hooks, arranged internally to the covering structure itself.
  • According to a further embodiment, the covering structure may have a single door, openable at different levels in order to allow the garbage introduction as well as the extraction/insertion of the collecting container.
  • Of course, as abovementioned, according to a simplified embodiment the access door may require a manual opening by the users.
  • Moreover, a further simplified variant embodiment of the invention provides that the only opening obtained on the main body be the door apt to the introduction of garbage into the container. According to this variant, the container is extracted/inserted from/into the covering structure at the missing bottom base of the latter, which therefore should be lifted to an appropriate height to carry out said insertion/extraction operations.
  • The present invention has hereto been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that there may be other embodiments afferent to the same inventive kernel, all falling within the protective scope of the appended claims.

Claims (31)

  1. A covering structure (1) for urban garbage containers, comprising a main body (2) apt to be arranged about at least one container, said main body (2) having an inner bay (8) apt to receive the container itself so that the latter be shielded sideways and upwards, said main body (2) further having at least one access door (14) to said bay (8) apt to enable the introduction of garbage into the container, wherein said door (14) is normally closed and apt to be temporarily forced to an open position and to return automatically in closed position after said introduction, and wherein said main body (2) comprises a top portion (7) having a substantially upwardly-tapered profile, characterized by said at least one access door (14) being located at the apex thereof.
  2. The covering structure (1) according to claim 1, wherein said main body (2) has an openable portion (3) apt to enable the insertion and the extraction of the container in/from said bay (8).
  3. The covering structure (1) according to claim 2, comprising reversible closing means (33, 34, 35) for said openable portion (3) of said main body (2).
  4. The covering structure (1) according to claim 2 or 3, comprising key-locking closing means (9) of said openable portion (3) of said main body (2).
  5. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, wherein said openable portion of said main body (2) is a side portion (3) thereof.
  6. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the claims 2 to 5, wherein said main body (2) comprises a pair of wings (31, 32) rotatably connected to the remaining portion of the main body (2) itself to enable the insertion and the extraction of the container in/from said bay (8).
  7. The covering structure (1) according to claims 5 and 6, wherein the wings (31, 32) of said pair are arranged at said openable side portion (3) and are rotatable according to a substantially vertical rotation axis.
  8. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the claims 2 to 7, comprising automatic opening means of said openable portion (3) of said main body (2) operable by an operator.
  9. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said top portion is a top cover portion (7) rotatably connected to the remaining portion of the main body (2) itself so that the latter be upwardly openable.
  10. The covering structure (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a reversible anchoring system (154, 156) of said top cover portion (7) to the remaining portion of said main body (2).
  11. The covering structure (1) according to claim 9 or 10, comprising moving means (15) of said top cover portion (7) operable by an operator.
  12. The covering structure (1) according to claims 10 and 11, wherein said moving means (15) comprises a disengaging mechanism (158, 159) of said reversible anchoring means (154, 156) operable by an operator.
  13. The covering structure (1) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said moving means (15) comprises a plunger (151) cooperating with said top cover portion (7) to determine the rotation thereof, a cylinder fixed with the remaining portion of said main body (2) inside which said plunger is slidable and an associated elastic member apt to determine the sliding of said plunger in said cylinder.
  14. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the claims 11 to 13, wherein said moving means (15) comprises a hydraulic telescopic damper.
  15. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the claims 11 to 14, wherein said moving means (15) comprises a remote-controlled hydraulic telescopic damper.
  16. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said access door (14) is located at a position substantially centered on said top portion (7) of said main body (2).
  17. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said access door (14) is rotatably connected to the remaining portion of said main body (2).
  18. The covering structure (1) according to claims 16 and 17, wherein said access door (14) is rotatably connected to the remaining portion of said main body (2) according to a substantially horizontal axis of rotation, the arrangement being such that said door (14) is apt to rotate towards the inside of said bay (8) to enable the introduction of garbage into the container.
  19. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the claims 16 to 18, wherein said access door (14) is apt to assume said opened position by virtue of the weight of garbage rested thereon.
  20. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said access door (14) comprises a pair of side-by-side wings (141, 142).
  21. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said access door (14) is elastically deformable to assume said opened position.
  22. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an elastic return member cooperating with said access door (14) to keep the latter normally closed, said member being elastically strainable to enable said door (14) to assume said opened position.
  23. The covering structure (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of access doors (101, 102), arranged so as to enable a separate collection of solid urban garbage.
  24. The covering structure (201, 202) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of doors (204) apt to the differentiated collection of solid urban garbage.
  25. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main body (2) is substantially shaped as a polyhedron missing a base, comprising a plurality of side walls (3, 4, 5, 6) and a top wall (7) reciprocally connected or connectable the one to the other.
  26. The covering structure (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one structural extension member (10, 11) apt to be removably locked at a side edge of one of the side walls (3, 4, 5, 6) of said plurality to extend a corresponding horizontal dimension of said main body (2).
  27. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising adjustable stabilizing means (16) apt to compensate the slope of the ground.
  28. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising connecting means (12) to street furniture members such as flower boxes (121), benches (203), wastebaskets, architectural barriers and the like, located on said main body (2).
  29. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main body (2) is piece-formed.
  30. The covering structure (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said main body (2) is in form of a modular structure.
  31. A street furniture structure comprising at least one covering structure (1; 201; 202) according to any one of the preceding claims, and one or more street furniture members selected from a group comprising flower boxes (121), benches (203), wastebaskets and architectural barriers apt to circumscribe a determined perimeter, connected or connectable to said main body (2).
EP02741184A 2001-06-28 2002-06-28 Covering structure for urban garbage containers Expired - Lifetime EP1401741B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT2001NA000027U ITNA20010027U1 (en) 2001-06-28 2001-06-28 CONTAINER COVER WITH COVER SUITABLE TO HIDE CONTAINERS FOR WASTE COLLECTION.
ITNA20010027U 2001-06-28
PCT/IT2002/000427 WO2003002431A1 (en) 2001-06-28 2002-06-28 Covering structure for urban garbage containers

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1401741A1 EP1401741A1 (en) 2004-03-31
EP1401741B1 true EP1401741B1 (en) 2006-01-04

Family

ID=11451385

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02741184A Expired - Lifetime EP1401741B1 (en) 2001-06-28 2002-06-28 Covering structure for urban garbage containers

Country Status (9)

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EP (1) EP1401741B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE314983T1 (en)
DE (1) DE60208558T2 (en)
DK (1) DK1401741T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2259087T3 (en)
IT (1) ITNA20010027U1 (en)
MA (1) MA26197A1 (en)
TN (1) TNSN03151A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2003002431A1 (en)

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GB2414920B (en) * 2004-06-09 2006-11-15 Margaret Clayton Waste disposal unit
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GB0903236D0 (en) * 2009-02-25 2009-04-08 Taylor Egbert H & Company Ltd Enclosure for waste container
EP2900362A1 (en) 2012-09-28 2015-08-05 Promethera Biosciences S.A. Mobile facility for preparing and distributing cell-based medicinal products
DE202016102846U1 (en) 2016-05-30 2016-06-12 Ese World B.V. Insertion device for a collection device and collection device
CN105836337B (en) * 2016-06-20 2018-05-11 湖南大学 A kind of Combined dustbin
CN108910369B (en) * 2018-09-14 2024-03-26 北京城建五建设集团有限公司 Full-push-pull closed spray type garbage station and construction method thereof

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US4679700A (en) * 1986-10-10 1987-07-14 Tharrington G Robert Self-closing container top
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DE20010368U1 (en) * 2000-06-07 2000-08-17 Paul Wolff GmbH & Co KG, 41068 Mönchengladbach Housing for placing objects

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES2259087T3 (en) 2006-09-16
TNSN03151A1 (en) 2005-04-08
EP1401741A1 (en) 2004-03-31
ITNA20010027U1 (en) 2002-12-28
MA26197A1 (en) 2004-07-01
DE60208558T2 (en) 2006-10-05
ITNA20010027V0 (en) 2001-06-28
DE60208558D1 (en) 2006-03-30
WO2003002431A1 (en) 2003-01-09
DK1401741T3 (en) 2006-05-22
ATE314983T1 (en) 2006-02-15

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