EP1885629A1

EP1885629A1 - Waste container

Info

Publication number: EP1885629A1
Application number: EP06744028A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Lowe
Original assignee: Egbert H Taylor and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Egbert H Taylor and Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-05-31
Filing date: 2006-05-30
Publication date: 2008-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-30
Also published as: GB2426692B; CN101184679A; WO2007007023A1; EP1885629B1; GB0511018D0; GB2426692A; GB0610647D0

Abstract

A wheeled waste container (11) for domestic or industrial refuse is generally triangular in plan so as to fit into a corner of a building, or be grouped with others around a comer or around a fixing post. The lid (12) comprises a fixed rear portion and a hinged front portion.

Description

Waste Container

This invention relates to a wheeled waste container, and particularly to a compact waste container for recyclable waste.

Conventional wheeled waste containers in the size range over 500 litre are generally rectangular in section and have a wheel at each corner. A single lid is generally hinged along one long edge, and a lifting bar is attached to the opposite long edge. Such containers may be of plastic or steel, and typically have a capacity in the range 1100- 1250 litre.

This type of container is often adapted for recyclable waste by utilizing a special lid having an opening adapted to the material to be recycled. Thus a glass recycling container will have one or more circular apertures in the Hd₅ generally about 150 mm in diameter, for bottles and jars. The lid itself is adapted to open when the container is upended over a waste collection truck.

Conventional rectangular waste containers do not adapt themselves to all locations and are generally unsuitable as items of street furniture. Furthermore, being relatively large, they are somewhat difficult to manoeuvre. Another problem is that several containers are required for different types of recyclable waste, and can be very space consuming. Yet another problem is that a conventional container may become excessively heavy if filled with one kind of waste, such as glass.

What is required is an alternative container, suitable for use with existing refuse trucks, which overcomes the aforementioned difficulties, and also provides new possibilities for container location. The container should be suitable for recyclable and conventional waste. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a container for refuse, and comprising an enclosure having a front wall, a lifting arrangement on the front wall and two sides walls, wherein the side walls are closer together at the back than at the front.

In a preferred embodiment the container is substantially triangular in plan, and is preferably symmetrical.

Such a container can appear entirely conventional from the front, and is thus adapted for any conventional refuse truck. Typically the container will have a horizontal lifting bar near the mouth, but other front lifting arrangements are suitable, such as the diamond lift socket. The width of the container at the front is to some extent determined by conventional lifting arrangements of refuse trucks, as is the overall height. A maximum capacity of 800-900 litres is envisaged if based on the relevant dimensions of a conventional rectangular container in the range 1100-1300 litres, but larger capacity containers of this kind are possible.

Typically containers according to the invention will be in the size range 100-1000 litres, more preferably in the range 200-1000 litres, and most preferably in the range 500-900 litres.

The side walls converge towards the back, and thus the container is adapted for location in corners, especially internal corners defined by two walls of a building. Such corners often define 'dead' space which is unusable for any purpose.

Converging side walls also permit other novel location arrangements. For example if the side walls converge at about 90°, a group of three containers may be arranged around an external corner, such as the corner of a building. Alternatively a group of four such containers can be anchored around a central fixing, which may be an existing item of street furniture such as a lamp standard. In this arrangement the lamp standard is also protected against impact damage from vehicles, and provides light over the waste containers.

A particular advantage of side by side groupings is that the public is presented with a substantially continuous front edge, and in the case of a circular array, the side and rear edges are not accessible; thus only the front side needs to be kept clean.

Side by side groupings also permit continuous advertising over the front faces. This is an important consideration in reducing waste collection costs, and/or providing public information.

A container according to the invention preferably has three wheels, and is thus highly manoeuvrable, yet stable. Two wheels are preferably located at the respective front corners, whereas the third is positioned on the mid axis close the rear most edge.

In one preferred embodiment the container is trapezoidal in plan so as to define a short back side. The front side or short back side may be curved. In this way a circular array can define a central eye in which a ground fixing can be located.

In another embodiment the front and sides may merge at a large radius or via multiple angled portions. For example the front and side may be connected by a relatively short panel arranged at an angle to both the front and side panel.

In a preferred arrangement such a short panel is intended to be exposed and faces to the front at an oblique angle. When arranged in a group, with sides of adjacent containers touching, such short panels present a substantially flush face which is oblique to the adjacent front walls and preferably symmetrical. This arrangement avoids a very acute angle at the inside corners of the front wall, and hence reduces the risk of waste being trapped therein. The arrangement also permits a more stylish appearance. This preferred arrangement may include a manoeuvring handle one each short panel, which in use is thus exposed but not protruding from the front wall.

Preferably a container according to the invention is provided with a side latch to permit fixing to an adjacent container. This arrangement ensures that groups of containers are retained in a stable assembly. A container may for example have a female fixing at one side, and a male fixing at the other side. Advantageously, the side walls slope outwardly and upwardly, and this arrangement provides a small gap at the lower edge within which a latch may be located.

Typically a container according to the invention will have wheels for easy manoeuvring thereof. However simple feet may be provided where the container is adapted to be lifted and replaced by a grab of a waste vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment the container includes a lid having a relatively fixed portion at the rear, and a pivotable leaf at the front wherein the pivot axis is parallel to the front side and at a distance from the rear. Such an arrangement allows a sufficient opening for emptying, and sufficient spacing of two pivots to prevent twisting of the opening leaf.

In the most preferred embodiment, the lid is somewhat domed, the fixed rear portion thus presenting a smooth downward surface when upended, and ensuring unobstructed exit of waste during emptying. The hinge axis is preferably more than halfway back from the front wall, and may be at about two thirds of the container depth from the front side. The hinge axis is preferably not more than three quarters back from the front wheel.

Although a symmetrical container is preferred, having a 90° included angle for the side walls, it is envisaged that various asymmetrical shapes may allow for novel use of locations, for example by allowing a serpentine grouping. Furthermore containers according to the invention may be linked as groups with conventional containers having a common frontal appearance. Thus large and small volume containers can be linked together in an aesthetically pleasing group. Containers having a 60° included angle of the side walls, and a short back side, allow a grouping of six containers to form a hexagon. Each such container has a slightly greater capacity than containers with a 90° included angle, the front to rear dimension being dictated by the permissible maximum emptying envelope of refuse vehicles.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a domed lid of a container, and comprising a front portion and a rear portion hinged thereto, the rear portion being part domed and adapted for attachment to the rim of a waste container at¹ the rear and along at least part of the adjacent sides thereof, and the front portion being pivotable on the rear portion to define an opening of the container, the front portion being fitting closely at the remainder of the rim of the container.

Preferably the front portion is part-domed, and in one embodiment has an opening therein for insertion of waste or other material. Li a preferred embodiment said rear portion includes a latch element thereon for co-operation with a latching point, such as a latching post.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a schematic container according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the container of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the container of Fig. 1. Figs. 4-6 show in plan various dispositions of containers according to the invention.

Fig. 7 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a side and rear view of the embodiment of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is a birds-eye view of a group of containers of the kind shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

With reference to Figs. 1-3, a waste container 10 is generally triangular in plan, and comprises a main body 11, a lid 12, and three castors 13 at the corners. The main body 11 may be formed of steel or plastic, and in the latter case preferably as a rotational moulding. The lid 12 defines a circular opening 14 for glass bottles and the like, and is closed by a releasable latch. The latch may for example be a gravity latch which allows the lid to open only when the container is upended via the usual comb bar 15, and thus prevents disposal of objects larger than the opening 14.

The lid may be attached to the main body in any suitable manner, but in one preferred embodiment comprises two portions hinged about an axis 17 (Fig. 3) parallel to the front side. The rear portion 18 is fixed immovably to the main body 11, whereas the front portion 19 is permitted to swing open by a suitable hinge or pivot arrangement. In another arrangement the lid comprises leaves hinged at the side to open in the manner of petals.

The front side comprises side pillars 21, and a slightly recessed rectangular panel 22 adapted for advertisements, instructions and the like. The base 23 is dropped between the wheels to maximize internal volume. The fixed portion 24 of the lid presents a downward sloping face 25 when upended, thus facilitating emptying of waste from the container.

Some typical arrangements of containers are illustrated in Figs. 4-6.

In Fig. 4, line 31 represents the perimeter of a building in which a single container 32 is placed at an internal angle, in an otherwise unusable space. A group of three containers 33 is placed around an external angle.

In each case access is available at all sides and the advertising potential at the front of each container is fully exploited.

Fig.5 shows a group of four containers 34 grouped around a post 35, such as a lamp standard or telegraph pole. Fig. 6 shows a line of containers 36 facing alternately in opposite directions. In both cases, access is maintained over the full frontage of the bins, whilst maximizing advertising potential.

The dimensions of containers illustrated in Figs. 4-6 are representative. In particular the arcuate recess at the rear of containers 34 may be as large, or as small as required. In practice it is envisaged that each apex of the container may be somewhat truncated or rounded, as shown in the second embodiment.

It will be appreciated that containers according to the invention can be used as items of street furniture to define certain spaces or boundaries, in addition to providing receptacles for waste. Furthermore these containers may be grouped around another feature, such as a lamp standard, and provide a degree of protection thereto. Moreover, the post 35 may also provide a discrete means of securing the containers in place. In a preferred embodiment each container is provided with a side latch, (not illustrated) to permit latching to an adjacent container. In this way a number of containers can be fixed in an informal group, but released for individual emptying.

A single group, such as the four containers 35, may for example comprise recycling containers for glass, cans, papers and plastics, and each container may have a different colour.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a main body and lid portion 18 moulded as a single rotational moulding. The taper on the inside of portion 18 ensures unobstructed emptying when the container is upended, and the axis 17 provides for spaced pivots for the opening lid portion 19. Within the main body a perimeter frame

(not shown) reinforces the mouth and is bolted or riveted through the container wall. At the front the frame is attached to the usual comb bar 15, again by bolts or rivets. The castors are bolted through the base to suitable internal reinforcing plates.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment having somewhat rounded front edges. Thus container 40 has a substantially flat front panel 41, substantially flat sides 42 orthogonal to one another, and a short back face 43. The transition between the front and sides is via short panels 44 which truncate the apex which would otherwise be formed. The sides 42 are adapted for fitting into a corner or against another container (such as shown in Figs. 4-6), and in use are hidden; as illustrated they are thus relatively plain.

The front panel and short panels 41,44 are provided with an indented rectangular shape 45,46 which both increases stiffness and adds to the aesthetic appearance. Other kinds of shallow indented or protruding features are of course possible. The rear panel allows accommodation of an irregular corner feature of a building, and can accommodate a central member when containers are arranged in a group, as shown in Fig. 5. When grouped around such a feature, the short panels of adjacent containers are substantially flush and may, as illustrated, each be provided with handles 47 for manoeuvring.

Although illustrated with feet 48, this embodiment may be provided with castors, one or more of which may be fixed against swivelling to aid steering of the container.

The lid 50 comprises a rear portion 51 fixed to the back face 43 and an adjacent portion of each side face 42 at the mouth of the container, by any suitable means. The connection may be semi-permanent, and in the form of e.g. rivets.

A front portion 52 of the lid is hinged to the rear portion 51 about axis 53 and includes a latch 54 whereby it can be closed unless opened by a key or the like. The front portion fits closely around the remainder of the perimeter of the mouth of the container, as illustrated.

Also provided on the front portion is a sub lid 55 which is also hinged about axis 53, and may be opened by a user to deposit articles within the container. The sub Hd ensures that oversize articles are not deposited. Different shapes of sub lid are possible, according to the nature of the articles to be deposited, and such sub lids may be used in conjunction with, or as a replacement for openings closed by a slit diaphragm or a brush seal.

The front portion 52 overlaps the rear portion 51, as illustrated at 56 in order to prevent ingress of rain water when in the closed condition.

Typically all main parts of the lid 51,52,55 are moulded in a suitable plastic material, using metal parts where appropriate for hinge pins, fasteners, latches and the like.

A rear facing pocket 57 may be provided in the rear portion 51, as illustrated to receive a fixing member (not shown) of e.g. a fixing post. A suitable retaining means 58 is provided to engage/release the fixing member, and preferably the retaining means is adapted to receive the fixing member in an automatic snap-fitting manner. Release may be effected by insertion of an appropriate key.

Fig. 9 illustrates in plan a group of four containers 40 around a central fixing post 60. The post has four equispaced and generally horizontal fixing spikes 61 adapted for respective engagement in the pockets 57 by the retaining means 58.

When used for recycling purposes, the containers may be used for different purposes e.g. cans, paper, glass, plastic, and be grouped around a lamp standard in an aesthetic and visually pleasing array.

Claims

1. A container for refuse and comprising an enclosure having a front wall, a lifting arrangement on the front wall, and two side walls wherein the side walls are closer together at the back than at the front.

2. A container according to claim 1 and having a capacity in the range 200-1000 litres.

3. A container according to any preceding claim and having two wheels at the front wall, and one wheel at the back.

4. A container according to any preceding claim and symmetrical in plan.

5. A container according to any preceding claim, and substantially triangular in plan.

6. A container according to claim 5 wherein said side walls are substantially at right angles, in plan.

7. A container according to any of claims 1-4 and trapezoidal in plan.

8. A container according to any preceding claim and having a lid thereon, said lid comprising a rear portion fixed to the mouth of the container and a front portion hinged thereto.

9. A container according to claim 8 wherein said lid is domed.

10. A container according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the axis of said hinge is substantially parallel to said front wall.