EP3263488B1

EP3263488B1 - Separate waste collection set, tray and separate waste collection container

Info

Publication number: EP3263488B1
Application number: EP17178976.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giacomo Gollinucci
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-07-01
Filing date: 2017-06-30
Publication date: 2020-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-30
Also published as: EP3263488A1; ES2798849T3

Description

The present patent application relates to a separate waste collection set.
It is known the use of a plurality of different waste containers, depending on the type of waste they have to contain, for collecting separate waste at home. Such containers may be of different shape and size, depending also on the type of waste they have to contain. However, the space available for waste collection within most houses is scarce and, at times, particularly narrow; therefore, said space must be used in the best possible way.
It is also known the use of a plurality of waste collection containers arranged inside drawers or compartments in the kitchen furniture. In particular, waste collection containers are often arranged below the kitchen sink.
However, the presence of the sink siphon is a problem for known waste collection systems, since the size of the containers must be compatible with that of the siphon so as not to interact with it. Therefore, this limits the optimized use of the available space in known systems.
The object of the present invention is to provide a separate waste collection set overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks, which is simple, inexpensive and suitable for any type of space, thus maximizing the containment capacity of the available space.
The object of the present invention is to provide a tray that can house a plurality of separate waste collection containers, said containers having different size and being possibly arranged in a plurality of different mutual positions.
The object of the present invention is to provide a container that can be steadily and safely arranged within a respective tray and can be combined with other similar containers having one or more different dimensions, according to a plurality of different possible combinations.
The present invention provides a waste collection set as claimed in claim 5. The present invention provides a tray as claimed in claim 1. The present invention provides a container as claimed in claim 2.
Document DE-U-295 01 769 discloses a tray according to the preamble of claim 1 and a container according to the preamble of claim 2. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a non-limiting embodiment, wherein:

Figures 1 and 2 show in perspective a separate waste collection set according to the present invention in respective different operating configurations;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first component of the separate waste collection set according to the present invention;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the first component of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second component of the separate waste collection set according to the present invention;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a third component of the separate waste collection set according to the present invention;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a fourth component of the separate waste collection set according to the present invention;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a fifth component of the separate waste collection set according to the present invention;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a possible variant of the separate waste collection set according to the present invention.

In Figures 1 and 2, the reference number 1 indicates as a whole a waste collection set comprising a tray 2 and a plurality of waste containers 3 arranged inside the tray 2. According to the example shown in Figures 3 and 4, the tray 2 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, with a longitudinal axis X. Advantageously, the tray 2 has a housing 4 configured to house one or more containers 3, as better shown below. Specifically, the housing 4 is delimited in the tray 2 by:
a left edge 5, a rear edge 6, a right edge 7 and a front edge 8.
The terms "rear" and "front" mean the longitudinal edges of the tray 2 with reference to the arrangement of the set 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The front edge 8 and the rear edge 6 are those of larger size. The left edge 5 and the right edge 7 are transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the rear edge 6 and to the front edge 8.
In particular, the tray 2 comprises a plurality of dividing elements 9 to divide the housing 4 into a plurality of seats, as further shown hereinafter. In Figures 3 and 4, the dividing elements 9 are abutments.
In particular, the tray 2 comprises a plurality of rear abutments 10 and a plurality of front abutments 11 protruding inside the housing 4. In particular, the rear abutments 10 protrude inside the housing 4 from the rear edge 6 and, respectively, the front abutments 11 protrude inside the housing 4 from the front edge 8.
There is a same number of rear and front abutments 10 and 11. The rear and front abutments 10 and 11 are evenly distributed along the longitudinal axis X. The rear and front abutments 10 and 11 are aligned to form pairs of abutments 12. In Figures 3 and 4, the rear and front abutments 10 and 11 are indicated with Roman numbers, wherein the rear and front abutments 10 and 11 marked with the same Roman number form a corresponding pair of abutments 12.
Advantageously, each pair of abutments 12 is configured to delimit laterally two adjacent seats 13 inside the housing 4. In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4, the rear pair 10 and the front pair 111 of abutments define five seats 13 inside the housing 4, each of which is indicated in Figures 3 and 4 with a different Roman number.
In particular, the rear edge 6 and the front edge 8 define:

the seat 131 together with the left edge 5 and the pair of abutments 121;
the seat 1311 together with the pair of abutments 121 and 1211;
the seat 13III together with the pair of abutments 1211 and 12III;
the seat 13IV together with the pair of abutments 12III and 12IV; and
the seat 13V with the pair of abutments 12IV and the right edge 7.

Each seat 13 has a substantially rectangular shape, in plan view, whose longer side is transverse to the longitudinal axis X of the tray 2.
According to the example shown in Figures 3 and 4, each dividing element 9, i.e. a rear abutment 10 or a front abutment 11, is a tooth having a substantially trapezoidal profile.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the tray 2 further includes a pocket 14 beside the housing 4. The pocket 14 is configured to house objects, such as sponges or bags. In particular, the pocket 14 extends along an edge larger than the housing 4; in the shown example, the pocket 14 extends along the rear edge 6 or the front edge 8.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, each container 3 is configured to engage one or more seats 13.
Generally, each container 3 has a parallelepiped shape defined by a support wall 15, a rear wall 16, a right wall 17, a front wall 18 and a left wall 19. The support wall 15 has a shape, in plan view, complementary to a seat 13 or to more adjacent seats 13.
The rear wall 16 and the front wall 18 are configured to be arranged close to the rear edge 6 and, respectively, to the front edge 8. The container 3 has an inner cavity configured to house the waste and an opening, which is substantially opposed to the support wall 15 and which connects the inner cavity with the outside, namely is configured to allow the insertion of the waste in the inner cavity of the container 3.
According to the shown example, the front wall 18 and the rear wall 16 of each container 3 are parallel and opposed to each other. Analogously, the right wall 17 and the left wall 19 are parallel and opposed to each other. The front wall 18 and the rear wall 16 each have an extension that is an integer multiple of the extension of a seat 13 along the longitudinal axis X of the tray 2.
The dimensions of each container 3 are hereinafter defined according to a reference system X'Y'Z', in which: the axis X' is coplanar to the support wall 15 and, in use, is substantially parallel to the front wall 18 and to the rear wall 16; the axis Y' is coplanar to the support wall 15 and is perpendicular to the axis X' (in particular the axis Y' is parallel to the right wall 17 and to the left wall 19); the axis Z' is perpendicular to the support wall 15.
In particular, each container 3 has:

a width 1, corresponding to the extension of the rear wall 16 or of the front wall 18 along the axis X';
a thickness s, corresponding to the extension of the right wall 17 or of the left wall 19 along the axis Y'; and
a height h, corresponding to the extension of the side walls of the container, namely the rear wall 16 or the front wall 18 or the right wall 17 or the left wall 19, along the axis Z'.

The right wall 17 and the left wall 19 of the container 3 are configured to be arranged near the right edge 7 or the left edge 5 of the housing 4.
As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 9, the tray 2 can house a plurality of containers 3 selected within a group of different containers 3.
For example, the containers 3 may differ at least for one or more of the following dimensions: width 1, thickness s, height h.
Some examples of containers 3 that can be housed in the tray 2 are shown hereinafter.
In Figure 5, 3I indicates an example of a container 3 having a width 11 corresponding to the extension of two adjacent seats 13, a thickness SI corresponding to the extension of the left edge 5 or of the right edge 7 of the tray 2, and a height hI.
In Figure 6, 3II indicates a further example of the container 3. The width III of the container 311 is equal to the width LI of the container 31, namely the width III is equal to the extension of two adjacent seats 13. The height hII of the container 311 is lower than the height hI of the container 31.
In Figure 7, 3III indicates a further example of a container. The container 3III has a width lIII corresponding to the extension of a single seat 13, and a height hIII.
In Figure 8, 3IV indicates a further example of a container. The container 3IV has a width lIV equal to the container 3III, namely a width lIV equal to the extension of a single seat 13, and a height hIV lower than the height hIII of the container 3III.
As shown in the figures, each container 3 has one or more grooves 22, each of which is configured to engage with an abutment 9 of the tray 2. As shown in the figures, the abutments 9 of the tray 2 are equal to each other and have a trapezoidal profile with a conical shape pointing upwards, i.e. the larger base of the trapezoidal profile substantially lies on a support plane. Each groove 22 is complementary to the abutments 9 of the tray 2.
As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the containers 311 or 3IV having a lower height hII or hIV also show a section or volume increase. In particular, the side walls (i.e. the rear wall 16, the right wall 17, the front wall 18 and the left wall 19) of the container 311 or 3IV have an outward-sloping section 30, this sloping section 30 allowing an increase of the volume, namely of the containment capacity of the container 311 or 3IV.
Advantageously, the sloping section 30 allows adapting the groove 22 to the abutment 9 while maintaining an aesthetic/dimensional uniformity between the grooves 22 of the containers 3 arranged inside the tray 2. Therefore, although containers 3 of different heights are arranged inside the tray 2, the width and sloping of the respective grooves 22 are substantially uniform in all containers 3. Moreover, the sloping of the grooves 22 substantially resembles the contour formed between two adjacent containers. In this way, the same visual impact is advantageous maintained, whatever the type and the mutual arrangement of the containers 3.
As shown in the drawings, the containers 3 and 311 shown in Figures 5 and 6 have a groove 22 on both the rear wall 16 and the front wall 18. The groove 22 is substantially arranged in the middle of a respective wall, namely at the passage, is use, between two adjacent seats 13. The groove 22 is substantially parallel to the axis Z' of the container 3.
As shown in Figures 5 to 8, each container 3 advantageously has a groove 23 formed on the right wall 17 and on the left wall 19 and substantially parallel to the axis Z'. Such groove 23 allows applying a retractable handle 24 to the container 3, namely each groove 23 provides inside the container a continuous and smooth thickness to which the handle 24 is fastened. In this way, the container 3 is free from inner protrusions (generally present in containers of known types) which may break the bag in use or during the extraction. In other words, the groove 23 provides inside the container 3 a sliding surface on which the waste bag can slide without stumbling in use. At the same time, the groove 23 provides a sufficient thickness to fasten the handle 24 to the container 3. Therefore, advantageously, each groove 23 allows a retractable connection between the handle 24 and the container 3.
As shown in Figure 1, in use a user lays a tray 2 on the support plane with its housing 4 facing upwards.
Then she/he arranges in the tray 2 one or more containers 3 selected within a group of different containers 3. In particular, the containers 3 may differ for their: width 1, thickness s or height h.
The containers 3 are selected according to the available space in which the waste collection set 1 may be placed. For example, the type and the arrangement of the containers 3 may be chosen depending on the size and position of the siphon of a sink.
The containers 3 are inserted in the tray 2 and are kept in a predetermined position by form coupling, i.e. by the way they fit together, occurring between each container 3 and the respective seats 13 of the tray 2.
Figure 1 shows a first waste collection set comprising a tray 2, a container 311, two containers 3III and a container 3IV. In the example shown in Figure 1:

a container of type 311 is inserted in the seat 131;
a container of type 3IV is inserted in the seat 1311;
a container of type 311 occupies the seats 13III and 13IV; and
a container of type 3III occupies the seat 13V.

Figure 2 shows the same set 1 of Figure 1 in which the containers 3 are arranged in a different order. In particular:

a container of type 3III occupies the seat 131;
a container of type 3III occupies the seat 1311;
a container of type 311 occupies the seats 13III and 13IV; and
a container of type 3V occupies the seat 13V.

Figure 9 indicates with the reference number 101 a variant of the separate waste collection set 1 according to the present invention.
In the example shown in FIG. 9, the composition of the selected containers 3 is different. In particular, in the set 101 shown in Figure 9:

a container of type 31 occupies the seats 131 and 1311;
a container of type 3III occupies the seat 13III;
a container of type 31 occupies the seats 13IV and 13V. The waste collection set 101 may obviously have a plurality of different configurations depending on the type and position of each container 3.

For example, the waste collection set 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 may implement the following alternative combinations of containers:

3III, 311, 3III, 3IV;
3111, 3111, 3IV, 311;
3IV, 3III, 3III, 311;
3IV, 3III, 311, 3III;
311, 3III, 3IV, 3III.

Analogously, the waste collection set 101 shown in Figure 9 may implement the following alternative combinations of containers:

31, 31, 311;
311, 31, 31.

A plurality of waste collection sets, different by number, type and arrangement of the containers 3, may obviously be provided.
Moreover, a plurality of waste collection sets, different by the number of the seats 13 of the tray 2 (and consequently by the number and arrangement of the containers), may be provided.
The waste collection set of the type described above has the advantage of being extremely flexible and allowing the best possible combination to optimize the available collection space. In particular, in the case where the waste collection set 1 is arranged below the sink, containers 3 with a lower height h may be arranged only below the siphon in order to optimize the available waste collection space.
Furthermore, the waste collection set of the type described above allows having an ordered and coordinated array of containers 3 and, therefore, makes the set of separate waste collection containers 3 aesthetically pleasing to the user's eye.
Moreover, the possibility of using containers 3 having at least one different dimension, selected among width 1, height h and thickness s, allows the user to choose the space of each container 3 depending on her/his needs. For example, she/he may provide a container 3 for plastic waste larger than a container 3 for organic waste. Finally, the use of dimensionally different containers 3 enables the user to find the correct container 3 in a faster and more intuitive way.
Furthermore, the possibility of using trays 2 with different number of seats 13 allows a greater choice of sets suitable for any type of drawer or compartment.

Claims

A tray (2) for a separate waste collection set (1; 101), having a housing (4) for containers (31; 311; 3III; 3IV) and comprising dividing elements (9; 10, 11) configured to divide said housing (4) into a plurality of seats (13); wherein the dividing elements (9; 10, 11) are abutments (10, 11) at least partially protruding inside the housing (4) of the tray (2) and wherein the tray further comprises: a rear edge (6), a front edge (8), a right edge (7) and a left edge (5) for laterally delimiting said housing (4) ; characterized in that each abutment (10, 11) protrudes from a respective rear edge (6) or front edge (8) inside the housing (4) and has a substantially trapezoidal profile; and that said abutments (10, 11) are evenly distributed along a longitudinal axis (X) of the tray (2) such that the rear and the front abutments (10, 11) are aligned to form pairs of abutments (12).
A container for the tray (2) according to claim 1, having a cup-shaped body with an inner cavity and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape; wherein the container (3; 31; 311) comprises a rear wall (16), a right wall (17), a front wall (18) and a left wall (19) ; the container being characterized by having a support wall (15) complementary to two adjacent seats (13) of said tray (2) and configured to engage, in use, two adjacent seats (13) of said tray (2); wherein said container (3; 31; 311) has a reference element (22) on the rear wall (16) and on the front wall (18) configured to cooperate, in use, with a respective dividing element (9; 10, 11) in order to fasten said container (3; 31; 311) inside the tray (2); wherein each reference element (22) is a groove with a trapezoidal profile.
The container according to claim 2, characterized in that the rear wall (16), the right wall (17), the front wall (18) and the left wall (19) of said container (311) have an outward-sloping section (30) in order to increase the volume of said container (311).
The container according to Claim 2 or 3 characterized by a further groove (23) on the right wall (17) and a further groove (23) on the left wall (19), each of which at least partially protruding in the inner cavity of the container (3; 3I; 311) and forming a smooth sliding surface on which, in use, a waste bag can slide without stumbling; and by a handle (24) attached to the right wall (17) and to the left wall (19) of said container (3; 3I; 3II) at the respective further grooves (23).
Separate waste collection set (1; 101) comprising a plurality of first containers (3; 3I; 3II; 3III; 3IV) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, a tray (2) according to claim 1, and a plurality of second containers (3; 3I; 3II; 3III; 3IV), wherein each second container (3; 3I; 3II; 3III; 3IV) has a cup-shaped body having an inner cavity and a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, comprising a rear wall (16), a right wall (17), a front wall (18), a left wall (19) and a support wall (15) complementary to one seat (13) and configured to engage a single seat (13), whereby the first and the second containers differ from each other in width.
Set (1; 101) according to claim 5 wherein two or more containers (3; 31; 311; 3III; 3IV) of said separate waste collection set differ from each other in height (h).