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The present invention relates firstly to an additional container according to the preamble of patent claim 1, which is provided for arrangement on or in a waste container. Furthermore, the invention relates to an additional container device with at least one additional container and to a waste container.
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Waste containers usually consist of a container body, which is used to hold the waste. The container body consists of a container bottom and a side wall projecting upwards from the container bottom. The open upper rim of the container has a insertion opening through which the waste is filled. The container bottom, the side wall and the open upper container rim delimit the receiving space of the waste container, which is provided for receiving the waste. The insertion opening is closed by means of a lid device. The lid device is hinged to the body of the container for this purpose. For better handling of the waste container, up to four wheel devices can be provided in the area of the container bottom.
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For some time now, waste containers of this type have been developed in such a way that different fractions of waste can be collected separately at the same time in the receiving space limited by the container body.
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According to an embodiment known from the general state of the art, the waste container has a partition wall which is arranged within the container body in such a way that the receiving space is divided into two separate compartments. However, both compartments interact with the common insertion opening.
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In order to further increase the number of different waste fractions that can be collected in the waste container, according to another embodiment known from the general state of the art, it is also known to use additional containers that are placed and positioned inside the waste container, preferably inside the container body. The additional containers are part of an additional container device, which consists of a holding device on which at least one additional container is located.
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Increasingly, waste containers of this type are being designed as modules, whereby there is a particular need to also provide the additional container or the additional container device as a module of the waste container. Such modules are usually manufactured separately and can later be assigned to a waste container as required.
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It is the object of the present invention to further developing an additional container, an additional container device and a waste container of the aforementioned type in such a way that a modular use is further improved.
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According to the invention, this object is solved by the additional container with the features according to independent patent claim 1, which represents the first aspect of the invention, by the additional container device with the features according to independent patent claim 10, which represents the second aspect of the invention, and by the waste container with the features according to independent patent claim 13, which represents the third aspect of the invention.
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Further features and details of the invention become evident from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details which are disclosed and described in connection with one of the aspects of the invention also apply in full in connection with the other two aspects of the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made in full to the disclosure of the other aspects of the invention.
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A basic idea of the invention is that the additional container is designed for modular use, and that the additional container device and/or the waste container is/are now of modular design. In particular, a module is an interchangeable element within an overall system. According to the present invention, the interchangeable elements are preferably the additional container itself, the additional container device, or interchangeable components of the waste container, such as partition devices within the waste container, the lid device of the waste container and/or of the additional container, fastening devices for fastening the lid devices, and the like.
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A further basic idea of the present invention is that a waste container equipped with an additional container or an additional container device can always be emptied into a waste collection vehicle easily and conveniently for the operator.
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When the additional container and the additional container device are used as intended, they are connected to the waste container in such a way that at least one additional container is placed inside or outside the body of the waste container.
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During the emptying process, the waste container is gripped and tipped into its emptying position. The additional containers are designed in such a way that they can be easily removed from the body of the waste container or taken out of the container body. This is achieved by the special design of the additional containers. Once the emptying process is complete, the waste container is tipped back into its original position. The additional container can then be placed back on or in the container body just as easily by the operator.
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By using such additional containers, the number of waste fractions that can be collected and stored in the waste container at the same time can be increased. For the purposes of the present description and the present invention, the term "waste" includes not only waste in the conventional sense, but also any form of valuable materials and recyclable materials. A "waste fraction" in the sense of the present description and the present invention is in particular a specific type of waste/valuable material, and in particular the smallest separable unit of a type of waste/valuable material.
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In particular, the additional container is a sorting container into which a specific waste fraction is sorted.
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The special design of the additional container makes it possible, on the one hand, for the additional container to be associated with the waste container in its intended use, and for the additional container to be filled by the user at the location of the waste container. Due to the special design of the additional container, however, it is also possible that the additional container is filled at a different location, for example in the house, and that it is only brought into contact with the waste container for emptying purposes. The special design of the additional container makes it possible for the users to decide freely and optionally which procedure they prefer.
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The present invention is in the field of waste containers. Before the individual aspects of the invention are discussed in detail, generally preferred embodiments for such a waste container are first described.
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The waste container is preferably designed as a waste container with a capacity of up to 1,700 litres. The waste container is used in particular for the temporary storage of waste and/or valuable materials.
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The waste container comprises a container body. The container body initially comprises a container bottom. A container side wall extends from the container bottom in the direction of and up to an upper rim of the container body. In particular, the upper rim is also the upper container edge of the waste container.
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In principle, the invention is not limited to certain shapes of the container side wall. For example, the container side wall could have a round, oval or similar shape. In another embodiment, the container side wall has a polygonal shape. In a preferred embodiment, the container side wall has a rectangular shape or a shape approximating a rectangle, so that the container body also has such a rectangular shape or a shape approximating a rectangle. In this case, the container side wall or the container body has four wall segments abutting each other at their edges. The edges are preferably designed as rounded edges. In this case, the container side wall of the container body preferably consists of a front side, a rear side and two transverse sides, which extend between the front side and rear side and connect them to each other.
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The container body is closed at the bottom by the container bottom, from which the container side wall, in particular the wall segments, protrudes/protrudes and extends/extends upwards, i.e. away from the container bottom.
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The container side wall, or the wall segments, and the container bottom delimit an interior space of the container body, which is provided to receive and hold the waste and/or valuable materials and which forms the receiving space of the waste container. Depending on the container type, the interior space or the receiving space has a capacity of up to 1,700 litres, for example. For example, the interior space has a capacity of up to 120 litres, preferably up to 140 litres, preferably up to 190 litres, preferably up to 240 litres, preferably up to 390 litres, preferably up to 700 litres. However, the invention is also applicable to large waste containers which have a higher capacity of up to 1,700 litres, for example a capacity of 1,100 litres.
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To illustrate the invention, it is sometimes described with reference to a waste container with a capacity of 140 litres, without the invention being limited to this.
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At the upper end of the container side wall, which is the opposite end of the container side wall compared to the container bottom, i.e. at the upper rim of the container body, which in particular also corresponds to the upper container edge, the container body comprises a insertion opening for waste, the insertion opening preferably being bounded by the side wall of the container body or by the upper container rim or edge and extending over the entire cross-sectional area of the container body in the region of its upper rim.
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The waste container can be a mobile waste container. Such a waste container preferably has a drive gear, which in turn comprises a number of wheel devices. According to one embodiment, the mobile waste container comprises two such wheel devices which are arranged on a common first axle. However, each wheel device can also be arranged separately from the other wheel device on an individual axle. According to another embodiment, the mobile waste container can have at least one further additional wheel device, a third wheel device for example, wherein the additional wheel device is arranged on its own axis, which is spatially spaced from the axle(es) above. The additional wheel device can be arranged in such a way that it can change its rolling or movement direction. When using three such wheel devices, the waste container can be moved without the need to tip the waste container. In addition, it is much easier to align the waste container. If the first wheel devices are arranged on a first axis in the area of the rear side of the container body, the additional wheel device is preferably arranged on a second axis, for example in the area of the front side of the container body. The additional wheel device can be described as a type of "front wheel" for manoeuvring the waste container. In a further embodiment, however, the waste container comprises four such wheel devices. The four wheel devices are each preferably arranged in a corner area of the container body, preferably on the sidewall in the area of the container bottom or below the container bottom. Such a design with four wheel devices is used in particular for large waste collection containers. By using a drive gear, the waste container can be easily moved to a waste collection vehicle without wasting energy. The present invention can be realised for two-wheeled, three-wheeled, and four-wheeled waste containers.
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The insertion opening formed in the container body is usually closed by means of a lid device, whereby the lid device is arranged or hinged to the container body so that it can swivel in particular. This can be realised by means of suitable fastening devices, for example a hinge connection or an articulated connection. The lid device can be designed in one or more parts. According to a preferred embodiment, the lid device is divided and consists of several lid elements, for example two lid elements. Furthermore, it is preferably realised that each lid element of the lid device is arranged or hinged on the container body, in particular on the upper edge or rim of the container body, preferably with opposite swivel directions. This means that each lid element is arranged or articulated on its own and independently of the other lid elements on the container body, in particular on the upper rim or edge of the container, via the fastening devices. This means that each lid element can be actuated independently of the other lid elements. The lid elements are arranged or articulated on the container body in such a way that the lid elements can be swivelled. This means that the lid elements can be actuated, i.e. opened, and closed, by performing a swivelling movement.
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The lid device can be locked or lockable using a suitable lock, for example a gravity lock. A single lock can be realised for the entire lid device or a separate lock for each lid element.
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At least one handle element is preferably arranged or formed in the upper end area of the waste container, for example on the upper rim or edge of the container body, by means of which the waste container can be handled by the user.
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Preferably, the waste container is designed in such a way that different fractions of waste can be collected separately at the same time in the receiving space delimited by the container body. In order to be able to collect different waste and/or valuable material fractions in the waste container, at least one partition device, for example in the form of a partition wall or a partition plate, is preferably arranged within the receiving space, which divides the receiving space into two or more compartments. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more additional containers can also be placed in the receiving space, for example by means of a suitable holding device. In a preferred embodiment, the waste container of the present invention is designed as such a multi-chamber container with two or more compartments for receiving different waste and/or valuable material fractions.
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The waste container is preferably characterised by the fact that it has a height that is greater than its maximum width and/or maximum depth and/or than the maximum expansion distance of the container bottom. For example, if the waste container is one with a rectangular container body, the width of the container is preferably the distance between the two transverse sides. In such a case, the depth of the container is preferably the distance between the front side and the rear side. In such a case, the maximum expansion distance of the container bottom is preferably the diagonal of the container bottom.
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Preferably, the waste container can have a slightly tapered design. This means that the cross-sectional area of the container body becomes smaller in the direction of the container bottom, starting from the insertion opening where the lid device is hinged to the container body. This means that the container body tapers from the insertion opening in the direction of the container bottom. At the upper end of the container body, there is often a container rim that can protrude outwards beyond the edge of the container body, i.e. beyond its side wall.
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In order to be able to collect different waste fractions, the waste container comprises at least one, two or more additional containers, which are placed and positioned on or inside the container body. These additional containers are described in more detail below.
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The container body of the waste container may have, or the waste container may provide, at least two, preferably three or four compartments for receiving different waste fractions. According to one embodiment, the waste container can comprise a combination of different embodiments, namely at least one partition device, such as a partition wall, and at least one additional container. For example, the container body can be designed as a multicompartment container body. In such a case, for example, at least two compartments can be formed by using at least one partition device within the container body. The partition device, for example a partition plate or a partition wall, can be integrated vertically within the container body. In such a case, the interior, i.e. the receiving space, of the container body is divided into two compartments. Additional compartments can be realised by one or more additional containers.
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The waste container is preferably made of plastic, in particular a weather-resistant, solid plastic, or metal. Preferably, the waste container is made at least partially, preferably completely, from recycled material.
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Such waste containers are generally provided to be emptied into a waste collection vehicle by means of an emptying device, for example by means of a chute, such as a comb chute. Such chutes per se are already known and familiar to the person skilled in the art. Of course, the invention is not limited to a specific embodiment of the emptying device. The waste container preferably has, in particular in its upper edge or rim region, for example at or in the upper edge or rim of the container, a device which can co-operate with the emptying device. If emptying takes place via a chute as described above, the waste container preferably has a chute receptacle in the upper edge or rim area, for example in the form of a comb and/or a honeycomb structure.
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The individual aspects of the invention are now described in detail.
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According to the first aspect of the invention, an additional container is provided which comprises the features of independent claim 1. The additional container is provided for arrangement on or in a waste container. This means that, in addition to the main waste container, the additional container is a separate sealed container which serves to hold waste. In this way, different waste fractions can be collected in the main waste container and in the additional container. In particular, the additional container is a sorting container. In its intended use, the additional container is either arranged on the waste container, for example on the outside of the container body. Or, in its intended use, the additional container is arranged in the waste container, for example inside the container body of the waste container. Due to the special design of the additional container, it is possible for it to be provided inside and/or outside the container body of the waste container as required and as desired.
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The additional container initially comprises an additional container body, which in turn comprises an additional container bottom and an additional container side wall projecting upwards from the additional container bottom. The additional container bottom and the additional container side wall delimit a receiving space of the additional container, into which the waste is filled and at least temporarily stored. For this purpose, the additional container body has an upper additional container rim at its end opposite the additional container bottom, which delimits an additional container insertion opening.
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In principle, the invention is not limited to certain shapes of the additional container side wall. For example, the additional container side wall could have a round, oval or similar shape. In another embodiment, the additional container side wall has a polygonal shape. In a preferred embodiment, the additional container side wall has a rectangular shape or a shape approximating a rectangle, so that the additional container body also has such a rectangular shape or a shape approximating a rectangle. In this case, the additional container side wall or the additional container body has four wall segments, abutting each other at their edges. The edges are preferably designed as rounded edges. In this case, the additional container side wall of the additional container body preferably consists of a front side, a rear side and two transverse sides, which extend between the front side and rear side and connect them to each other.
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The additional container is preferably characterised by the fact that it has a height that is greater than its maximum width and/or maximum depth and/or than the maximum expansion distance of the additional container bottom. For example, if the additional container is one with a rectangular additional container body, the width of the additional container is preferably the distance between the two transverse sides. In such a case, the depth of the additional container is preferably the distance between the front side and the rear side. In such a case, the maximum expansion distance of the additional container bottom is preferably the diagonal of the additional container bottom.
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Preferably, the additional container can have a slightly tapered design. This means that the cross-sectional area of the additional container body becomes smaller from the insertion opening in the direction of the additional container bottom. This means that the additional container body tapers from the insertion opening in the direction of the additional container bottom.
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The additional container body is closed off downwards by the additional container bottom, from which the additional container side wall, in particular the wall segments, protrudes/protrudes and extends/extends upwards, i.e. away from the additional container bottom.
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At the upper end of the additional container side wall, which is the opposite end of the additional container side wall compared to the additional container bottom element, i.e. at the upper rim of the additional container body, which in particular also corresponds to the upper additional container edge, the additional container body of the additional container has an insertion opening for waste, the insertion opening preferably being delimited by the additional container side wall of the additional container body or by the upper additional container rim or edge and extending over the entire cross-sectional area of the additional container body in the region of its upper rim or edge.
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According to one embodiment, the additional container body, i.e. its receiving space, is closed by means of a lid device. The lid device can be arranged on the container body of the additional container. The additional container can be designed analogue to the waste container, so that at this point reference is also made in full to the explanations on the waste container above. According to one embodiment, the additional container comprises an independent lid device compared to the waste container. In this case, the additional container is closed via the lid device assigned to it. According to another embodiment, the additional container is also closed via the lid device associated with the waste container when the additional container is located within the container body of the waste container during intended use. However, combinations of both embodiments are also possible.
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The present invention relates in particular to additional containers with a capacity of up to 100 litres, for example up to 60 litres. For example, it may be provided that the additional container has a capacity of up to 30 litres. According to one embodiment, the additional container has a capacity of up to 20 litres, preferably between 10 litres and 20 litres. According to one embodiment the additional container has a capacity between 12 litres and 15 litres, for example, 15 litres, 12 litres or 12.5 litres. In this respect, the invention is not limited to specific capacities.
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According to the invention, the additional container is characterised in that it comprises a first handle element in the region of the upper rim or edge of the additional container. The first handle element is in particular an integral component of the additional container and is thus formed integrally with the additional container body. It is also conceivable that the first handle element is initially present as an independent component, which is then arranged on the additional container body. A handle element is, in particular, a part or an attachment on the additional container which enables the additional container to be gripped and manipulated, for example by hand. According to the present invention, this is a first function inherent in the first handle element.
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According to the invention, the first gripping element has a further, second function in addition to the first gripping function. According to the invention, the first gripping element is additionally designed as an attachment device. In this embodiment, the entire first gripping device is the attachment device. The attachment device has the function of allowing the additional container to be attached, for example fixed or fastened, at a specific location, for example outside or inside the container body of the waste container. In particular, the additional container can be detachably attached to or in a container body of a waste container using this attachment device. According to another embodiment, the first handle device comprises such an attachment device. This means that the attachment device is only one component and thus only one part of the first handle element.
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The first handle element, which will be described in more detail below, is a type of universal handle with which the additional container can be gripped and lifted, in particular by means of a user's hand, and with which the additional container can also be arranged on the outside of the container body of the waste container and/or inside the container body of the waste container.
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To empty waste from the additional container, the additional container is gripped via the first handle element and lifted from the body of the waste container. After the emptying process, the additional container is brought back into contact with the container body of the waste container via the first handle element.
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According to one embodiment, the additional container comprises a second handle element which is arranged or formed on/in a region of the additional container bottom, in particular on/in the additional container bottom, or on/in a lower section of the additional container side wall facing the additional container bottom, or on/in a transition region between the additional container bottom and the additional container side wall.
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According to one embodiment, the first handle element and the second handle element are provided one below the other on the additional container body.
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In particular, the second handle element has the function that the additional container, which is gripped and lifted via the first handle element, can be tipped via the second handle element in such a way that the waste located in the receiving space of the additional container can be removed from the additional container.
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To facilitate this tipping process, the first handle element and the second handle element are preferably provided directly below each other on the additional container. This means that they lie in an imaginary straight line and are provided in particular in alignment with one another. If the additional container side wall of the additional container consists of several wall segments, for example, the first and second handle elements are preferably located on one and the same wall segment. According to one embodiment, this wall segment is, for example, a rear side of the additional container body.
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According to one embodiment, the first handle element protrudes outwards from the additional container body. This means that the handle element protrudes outwards beyond the side wall of the additional container
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According to one embodiment, the first handle element is designed as a handle strip, in particular as an angled profile strip. The handle element extends, for example, over the entire width of the additional container side wall, for example a corresponding wall segment. According to one embodiment, in which the additional container side wall has at least one wall segment, the handle strip extends over a length that is less than, equal to or greater than the width of the wall segment. In the latter case, the first handle element even protrudes slightly over the additional container body.
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According to one embodiment, the first handle element is designed as an angled profile element. An angled profile is in particular a bevelled component. The angled profile element comprises a first profile leg and a second profile leg, which have a bevelled alignment in relation to one another. The first handle element is connected to the additional container body via the first profile leg, i.e. via a first end of the first profile leg. The first profile leg is also connected to the second profile leg, for example at a second end of the first profile leg, which is opposite the first end of the profile leg. The first profile leg and the second profile leg can be detachably or non-detachably connected to one another. The distance of the second profile leg from the additional container side wall is determined by the width of the first profile leg. The first profile leg can have a width of a few centimetres, for example between 2 and 7 centimetres. The width of the first profile leg is selected in particular so that the user can later reach into the area between the second profile leg and the additional container side wall with his hand. The first and second profile legs can be isosceles or non-isosceles, so that the profile leg widths differ.
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According to one embodiment, the second profile leg protrudes from the first profile leg at a defined angle in the direction of the additional container bottom. This angle is measured in relation to the course of said side wall segment, from which the first profile leg protrudes. Preferably, the second profile leg protrudes from the first profile leg with an inclined or curved course, at least in parts. This makes it easier for a user's hand to engage with the first handle element, in particular when the additional container is located on a holding device of an additional container device. According to one embodiment, the second profile leg protrudes from the first profile leg at a defined angle of between 0 degrees and 70 degrees, preferably between 20 degrees and 60 degrees, preferably between 40 degrees and 50 degrees. A protrusion at an angle of 0 degrees means that the second profile leg runs in parallel to the course of the respective side wall segment.
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According to one embodiment, the first profile leg and the second profile leg define an attachment space which forms the attachment device described further above. The additional container is then attached to the inside or outside of the container body of the waste container by means of the first handle element, as will be explained below in connection with the additional container device according to the invention and the waste container according to the invention.
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According to one embodiment, at least one section of the second profile leg has a curved shape to facilitate engagement.
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According to one embodiment, the first handle element comprises at least one engagement opening. The engagement opening is a hole in the first handle element into which the user can reach with his hand in order to lift the additional container slightly. The arrangement of the engagement opening should be selected in such a way that the user's hand cannot come into contact with waste, for example when the additional container is in its intended use inside the container body of a waste container. According to one embodiment, the engagement opening is formed in the first profile leg. Furthermore, the attachment space described above can initially be blocked by a holding device when the additional container is attached, so that the additional container must first be lifted slightly before the user can engage with the first handle element. The user can also use the engagement opening for this purpose.
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According to one embodiment, the second handle element comprises a recessed grip or notch, or it is designed as a recessed grip or notch. A "recessed grip" is in particular a specially shaped cavity or recess, for example in the body of the additional container. A recessed grip is in particular a cavity, recess or opening that is moulded into the body of the additional container and serves as a handle to make the additional container easier to handle, for example to tilt. Accordingly, the second handle element can also be, for example, an indentation, a recess, a depression, a pocket, or the like in the additional container body.
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According to one embodiment, the second handle element comprise an engagement opening which faces the additional container bottom, i.e. which is orientated in the direction of the additional container bottom. For handling, the user's hand engages the second handle element via the engagement opening from below in the direction of the container bottom. According to one embodiment, the second handle element comprises a handle element side wall that is at least partially formed by the additional container side wall. This side wall then defines an engagement space into which the user inserts a hand to actuate the second handle element.
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According to one embodiment, the additional container comprises a lid device for closing the additional container insertion opening, the lid device being arranged on the additional container body, in particular being pivotably articulated on the additional container body. According to one embodiment, the lid device comprises at least one handle element for its actuation. The handle element is, for example, designed as a handle strip, a recessed grip or notch, a handle shell, a molding, or the like.
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According to one embodiment, the additional container, in particular the lid device of the additional container, for example a handle element of the additional container, comprises an indicator element. In the same way, for example, the waste container, which is equipped with at least one additional container, can also be provided with such an indicator element. An "indicator element" is generally an element that is used to indicate different processes and/or states on/in an additional container or waste container. In particular, the indicator element is a device by means of which certain information is displayed and/or provided. This information can be of a very different nature, but in the present case always relates to an additional container or waste container or the contents of such an additional container or waste container. The information can be of a qualitative and/or quantitative nature, indicate certain conditions, processes and states, and the like. The invention is not subject to any limitations in this respect. Different types of indicator elements can also be used in any combination. For example, such an indicator element can be used to indicate which type of waste may be filled into an additional container or waste container.
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For example, an indicator element can have a sensor element, preferably for level measurement and/or for fraction detection and/or an interface from a sensor element to an external receiving device and/or to a sensor element and/or a communication module for communication with an external receiving device. In this way, it is easy to recognise the current fill level in the waste collection container or in the additional container and/or which material is currently being collected in the waste collection container or in the additional container.
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For example, an indicator element can have or be a coloured marking. Coloured indicator elements can be used to identify waste fractions and emptying intervals or to adapt the design to company colours. In another embodiment, the indicator element can also have an interchangeable insert, which offers the possibility of applying text or Braille. For example, an indicator element can be designed in the form of writing, letters, and the like.
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According to one embodiment, the container bottom of an additional container has a rounded end, or the container bottom is designed as a rounded bottom element. The rounded shape makes the additional container easier to clean.
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According to one embodiment, the additional container, preferably the additional container side wall and/or the additional container bottom, has ventilation openings. Ventilation openings are advantageous if waste is stored in the additional container that needs to be ventilated, for example textiles, biowaste or the like.
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According to one embodiment, the additional container bottom is detachably arranged on the additional container side wall. This means that the additional container bottom and the additional container side wall are independent components compared to each other, which can be connected to each other, in particular attached to each other and detached from each other. They are attached using a corresponding connecting device. This can be realised, for example, via a plug-in connection, a screw connection, a snap-in connection, a clamp connection, a clip connection, a bayonet connection, another coupling connection, or the like. Any form of detachable connection is conceivable here, with which the individual components can be detached from each other again without damage. If the additional container bottom is detached from the additional container side wall, the capacity of the additional container can be changed. The side wall of the additional container then only specifies the basic capacity of the additional container. It is also conceivable that bottom elements with other shapes and functions can be connected to the additional container side wall. Or bottom elements designed to hold certain waste fractions can be connected to the side wall of the additional container.
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The additional container is preferably made of plastic, for example HDPE. Preferably, the additional container is made of recycled plastic. The additional container can be manufactured using an injection moulding process, for example.
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According to the second aspect of the invention, an additional container device is provided which comprises the features of the independent patent claim 10.
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The additional container device is provided for arranging at least one additional container within a waste container.
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For this purpose, the additional container device comprises a holding device on or at which the at least one additional container is located. The holding device is provided for, in particular detachable, arrangement on/in the container body of the waste container. According to one embodiment, the holding device and the additional container can be made of the same or different materials. For example, they can be made of plastic materials.
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According to the invention, the additional container device is characterised in that the at least one additional container is designed according to the first aspect of the invention. In order to avoid repetition, reference is therefore also made here in full to the disclosure of the first aspect of the invention, as well as to the general description of the invention.
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In principle, it is sufficient if the additional container device comprises one single additional container. According to one embodiment, the additional container device comprises two or more additional containers, depending on how many waste fractions are to be collected in the waste container. According to a preferred embodiment, the additional container device comprises exactly two additional containers. If several additional containers are realised, these can either each have the same capacity or different capacities compared to each other. Furthermore, the additional containers can have the same or different shapes and/or functions.
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The design of the additional container device increases the modularity of the additional container device. For example, if the initial conditions change, the additional containers can be replaced accordingly. The additional containers are available as prefabricated modules.
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The additional containers are arranged on the holding device via their first handle element, for example attached to it. Since the holding device is located inside the body of the waste container, the additional containers are detachably arranged in the body of the waste container in this way. Due to the special design of the first handle element, however, it is also possible for the additional container to be arranged directly on the container body of the waste container, for example on its side wall, preferably the upper rim or edge thereof.
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According to one embodiment, the holding device is or comprises a holding profile element, a holding bar, or the like. For example, the holding device can be placed on or inserted into an upper edge or rim of the container body of the waste container.
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According to a preferred embodiment, the holding device is a partition device, for example a partition wall or a partition plate, by means of which the receiving space of the waste container is divided into several compartments. Such a partition device is also described above, so that full reference is made to the above explanations at this point in order to avoid repetition. When using such a partition device, the additional container is connected to the holding device by attaching the first handle element of the additional container to the partition device, preferably from above. To ensure that the additional container is positioned stably, the additional container body of the additional container is designed in particular in such a way that the additional container is supported against the partition device by its bottom area, i.e. in the area of the additional container bottom.
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The first handle element of the additional container, which is provided in the upper area of the additional container, creates a space between holding device, a partition device in particular, for example a partition wall, and handle device, to move the additional container outside of the waste container in a vertical direction. This procedure is supported, if the first handle device comprises a second profile leg haven at least partially a curved course, wherein the course of the curvature is directed away from the holding device. The engagement hole in the first handle element, for example in the first profile leg thereof, then allows the other hand of the operator to take over the first handle element, without placing the hand in the stream of the outgoing waste when emptied. This is also a safety aspect, as the waste can contain needles or infected material or just to prevent the hand from getting dirty. The hand that originally pulled the additional container in the vertical direction, now is placed in the second handle element in the bottom region of the additional container for efficient and ergonomic handling.
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According to one embodiment, the additional container device comprises two additional containers. These are arranged in a row on the holding device, for example next to each other or one behind the other. For example, the additional containers can be provided on the same side of the holding device, for example the partition device. According to a preferred embodiment, however, the additional containers are arranged on different sides of the holding device, for example the partition device, for example in an offset mirrored manner. In this way, four different waste fractions in particular can be collected in the waste container, whereby all insertion openings are equally easily accessible for the waste fractions.
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According to the third aspect of the invention, a waste container is provided which comprises the features of independent claim 13.
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This waste container is equipped with a container body, having a container bottom and a side wall projecting upwards from the container bottom, the container bottom and the side wall delimiting a receiving space of the waste container, the container body having an upper container rim at its end opposite the container bottom, which delimits an insertion opening. With regard to the basic structure of the waste container, full reference is also made to the general description of the invention above.
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According to the invention, the waste container comprises at least one additional container according to the first aspect of the invention, which is or can be detachably arranged on the container body. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore also made at this point in full to the disclosure relating to the first and second aspect of the invention, as well as to the general description of the invention.
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Alternatively, or additionally, the waste container comprises an additional container device according to the second aspect of the invention, which is or can be arranged within the container body. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore also made at this point in full to the disclosure relating to the first and second aspects of the invention, as well as to the general description of the invention.
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According to one embodiment, the waste container comprises a lid device for closing the insertion opening, the lid device being designed in particular as a split lid consisting of two or more lid elements.
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As described above, the waste container should be used as modularly as possible. For this reason, it is advantageous if the lid device is detachably arranged on the waste container, in particular on the container body, which makes it easy to replace the lid device. In addition, the individual components can be easily assembled on site. This also improves transport options.
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In one embodiment, the lid device consists of a single lid element that spans and closes the entire insertion opening of the waste collection container and, at the same time, additional containers located in the container body. If required, at least one additional container can also have its own lid element.
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In another preferred embodiment, the lid device is a split lid device formed from at least two lid elements. Each lid element covers a part of the insertion opening, but the lid elements together close the entire insertion opening. Each lid element can be opened and closed individually. In principle, the invention is not limited to a specific number of lid elements per lid device. In one embodiment, the lid device is constructed in two parts and consists of two independent lid elements.
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The lid elements of the divided lid device, or of the lid device in undivided form, is/are in particular arranged to be pivotable in relation to the container body of the waste container, for example by means of at least one fastening device, such as a hinge connection or an articulated connection. For this purpose, the lid elements can be arranged on the container body of the waste container. Preferably, the lid elements are articulated laterally in relation to the container body. That means that the lid elements are arranged at the upper ends of the transverse sides, id the container body has a rectangular shape as described further above.
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Furthermore, it is preferably realised that each lid element of the lid device is arranged or hinged with a swivel direction in the opposite direction to one another. Each lid element can be actuated separately and independently of the other lid elements.
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According to one embodiment, when the lid device is in the closed operating state, the lid elements are composed to form a contour that corresponds to the contour of the insertion opening of the waste container, for example to form a rectangle or an approximated rectangle, for example with rounded corners. This means that all lid elements together, when they are in the closed operating state, cover the area of a rectangle or an approximated rectangle. Such a design of the lid device is realised in particular if the container body and in particular the insertion opening in the container body of the waste container also has such a rectangular or approximately rectangular shape.
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Usually, if such a waste container is a mobile waste container, the operator moves it from a location where the container is usually positioned and filled with waste to an emptying location. To do this, the operator usually pushes the container from behind. This means that the operator is located at the rear of the waste container. The waste container is therefore located between the operator and a waste collection device, for example a lifting device of a waste collection vehicle, when the waste container gets emptied.
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If the lid elements of a split lid are arranged on the side of the container body of the waste container, the operator can easily remove the additional containers from the rear of the container body without the lid device being in the way when open. This would be the case, for example, if the lid device was hinged to the rear of the container body as an undivided lid that could be swivelled.
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The different aspects of the invention perfectly fulfil the ergonomic requirements.
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The waste container and the additional containers are thus accessible to an operator from the rear position and can be lifted out of the container body of the waste container from behind, for example manually, by the operator before the waste container is brought into contact with a lifting device of a waste collection device. At any time, in particular during am discharge procedure, the operator is able to stand behand the waste container, away from the lifter danger zone and with one hand taking out the container from the back, due to the acces created by the lid device, which is preferably provided as a divided lid device. With the other free hand, the operator still being able to insert the waste container into the lifter device, without the need to place the waste container on the ground. In conjunction with a split lid device, there is no need to rotate the waste container or for the operator to change their position in relation to the waste container, for example by moving from the rear of the container to the front of the waste container.
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According to one embodiment, the container body of the waste container comprises at least one upper container edge at the upper rim of the container, and/or the container body comprises at least one handle element at the upper edge or rim of the container, by means of which the waste container can be handled by the user, and/or at least one partition device is arranged in the container body, in particular detachably, which divides the receiving space of the waste container into two or more compartments. Due to the special design of the additional container, in particular due to its first handle element, the upper edge or rim of the container and/or the handle element and/or the partition device can be provided as a holding device for the at least one additional container. The additional container can thus be arranged inside the container body and/or outside the container body.
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The following describes a specific embodiment example of what a waste container could look like, without the invention being limited to this specific example. According to this embodiment example, the waste container is a two-wheeled container with a capacity of 140 litres. By means of a partition wall, the receiving space delimited by the container body is divided into two compartments, each with a capacity of 70 litres, in order to receive different waste fractions. One or two additional containers with a capacity of 12.5 litres each are provided, which are arranged in a line one behind the other or next to each other in the container body of the waste container via a holding device, which is implemented here by the partition wall. The two additional containers are located on different sides of the partition wall. The container body is closed by a lid device in the form of a split lid with two lid elements, which are arranged on the transverse sides of the container body of the waste container.
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The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows
- Figures 1 to 6
- different vies of an additional container according to the invention; and
- Figures 7 to 12
- different views of a waste container according to the invention, which incorporates an additional container device according to the invention, which, in turn comprises at least one additional container according to the invention.
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Figures 1 to 6 depict several views of an additional container 40, which is used in combination with a waste container 10, that is depicted in Figures 7 to 12. The additional container 40 vis provided for arrangement on or in a waste container.
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As evident from Figures 1 to 6, the additional container 40 comprises an additional container body 41, which in turn comprises an additional container bottom 42 and an additional container side wall 43 projecting upwards from the additional container bottom 42. The additional container bottom 42 and the additional container side wall 43 delimit a receiving space 45 of the additional container 40, into which the waste is filled and at least temporarily stored. For this purpose, the additional container body 41 has an upper additional container rim 44 at its end opposite the additional container bottom 41, which also defines the upper edge 47 of the additional container body 41 and which delimits an additional container insertion opening 46.
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The additional container body 41 has a rectangular shape or a shape approximating a rectangle. Thus, the additional container side wall 43 has four wall segments, abutting each other at their edges. The edges are preferably designed as rounded edges. In this case, the additional container side wall 43 consists of a front side 43b, a rear side 43a and two transverse sides 43c, 43d, which extend between the front side 43b and rear side 43. These wall
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According to some embodiments, the additional container body 41, i.e. its receiving space 45, is closed by means of a lid device 48. Hanle elements 49 are provided to open and close the lid device 48. According to one embodiment, the additional container 40, in particular the lid device 48 comprises an indicator element 50.
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According to one embodiment, the additional container has a capacity of up to 20 litres, for example 10 litres to 20 litres, 12 litres to 15 litres for example.
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The additional container 40 comprises a first handle element 60 in the region of the upper rim 44 or edge 47 of the additional container 40. The first handle element 60 is designed as an angled profile element 61. The angled profile element 61 comprises a first profile leg 62 and a second profile leg 63. The first handle element 60 is connected to the additional container body 41 via the first profile leg 62. The first profile leg 62 comprises an engagement opening 65 for a user's hand. The first profile leg 62 is also connected to the second profile leg 63, for example at a second end of the first profile leg, which is opposite the first end of the profile leg. The distance of the second profile leg 63 from the additional container 40 side wall 43, for example the rear side 43a, is determined by the width 62a of the first profile leg 62, which is best shown in Figure 4. The width 62a of the first profile leg 62 is selected in particular so that the user can later reach into the area between the second profile leg 63 and the additional container side wall43, 43a with his hand. At least one section of the second profile leg 63 has a curved course 63a to facilitate engagement.
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As evident from Figure 4, the second profile leg 43 protrudes from the first profile leg 62 at a defined angle 64 in the direction of the additional container bottom 42. According to one embodiment, the second profile leg 63 protrudes at least partially from the first profile leg 62 at a defined angle 64 of between 40 degrees and 50 degrees.
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The first profile leg 62 and the second profile leg 63 define an attachment space 66a which forms the attachment device 66, which will be described in combination with Figures 7 to 12 below.
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The additional container 40 further comprises a second handle element 70, which is arranged or formed on/in a region of the additional container bottom 42. As can be seen best from Figure 5 and 6, the second handle element 70 is designed as a recessed grip 71 or notch. The second handle element 70 comprises an engagement opening 72 which faces the additional container bottom 42, i.e. which is orientated in the direction of the additional container bottom. For handling, the user's hand engages the second handle element 70 via the engagement opening 72 from below in the direction of the container bottom 42. The second handle element 70 comprises a handle element side wall 43. A first side wall segment 73a is at least partially formed by the additional container side wall 43, 43a. A second side wall segment 73b is formed as a component protruding from the additional container side wall 43, 43a, having a curved course for example.
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As can be seen best from Figures 4 and 5, the first handle element 60 and the second handle element 70 are provided one below the other on the additional container body 41. This means that they lie in an imaginary straight line 52 and are provided in particular in alignment with one another.
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One example of the functionality of an additional container 40 having a first handle element 60 and a second handle element 70 being arranged as described above, can be described as follows:
The first handle element 60 of the additional container 40, which is provided in the upper area 44, 47 of the additional container 40, creates a space between a holding device, a partition device in particular, for example a partition wall, and the first handle device 60, to move the additional container 40 outside of a waste container in a vertical direction. This procedure is supported, if the first handle device 60 comprises a second profile leg 63 having at least partially a curved course 63a, wherein the course 63a of the curvature is directed away from the holding device, or from the side wall 43 of the additional container 40, for example from its rear side 43a. The engagement hole 65in the first handle element 60, for example in the first profile leg 62 thereof, then allows the other hand of the operator to take over the first handle element 60, without placing the hand in the stream of the outgoing waste when emptied. This is also a safety aspect. The hand that originally pulled the additional container 40 in the vertical direction, now is placed in the second handle element 70 in the bottom 42 region of the additional container 40 for efficient and ergonomic handling.
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As evident from Figure 6, which shows a view onto the bottom 42 of the additional container 40, the additional container 40 is manufactured by use of an injection molding process. Figure 6 schematically depicts an injection point 51.
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As now will be explained in connection with Figures 7 to 12, the additional container 40 shown and described in connection with Figures 1 to 6 is used with a waste container 10 which is provided for receiving and at least temporarily storing waste.
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This waste container 10 comprises a container body 11, having a container bottom 12 and a side wall 13 projecting upwards from the container bottom 12. The side wall 13 comprises four side wall segments, one being a rear side 13a, a front sided 13b and two being transverse sides 13c, 13d. The waste container 10 has a rectangular or almost rectangular shape, wherein the side wall segments abutting each other at the edges, which for example are rounded edges. The container bottom 11 and the side wall 13 delimit a receiving space 15 of the waste container 10. For storing different fractions of waste at the same time, the receiving space 15 is divided into two individual compartments 15a, which are separated from each other by means of a partition device 24, a partition wall in the present embodiment. The container body 11 comprises an upper container rim 14 at its end opposite the container bottom 12, which also defines the upper edge 17 of the waste container 10, and which delimits an insertion opening 16. The waste container 10 is a two-wheeled waste container 10 and comprises two wheel devices 19. The waste container 10 comprises a lid device 21 for closing the insertion opening 16, the lid device 21 being designed in particular as a split lid consisting of two or more lid elements 22, 23. The lid elements 22, 23 are pivotably arranged on the container body 11 by means of suitable fastening devices 20. For handling the waste container 10, a handle element 18 is provided which is attached to the container body 11 on the side wall 43, the rear side 13a in the embodiment shown.
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In order to further increase the number of compartments, the waste container comprises an additional container device 30, which can be seen best in Figures 8 to 10, and which comprises a number of additional containers 40 as described in Figures 1 to 6 above, as well as a holding device 30 for holding the additional containers 40 inside the waste container 10. In the present embodiment, the holding device 31 is provided as the partition device 24, in particular the partition wall inside the waste container receiving space 15.
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The additional container device 30 is provided for arranging at least one additional container 40 within the waste container 10. For this purpose, the additional container device 30 comprises the holding device 31, on or at which the at least one additional container 40 is located.
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In principle, it is sufficient if the additional container device 30 comprises one single additional container 40. However, the additional container device 30 may comprise two or more such additional containers 40, depending on how many waste fractions are to be collected in the waste container 10. In the embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 10, two such additional containers 40 are provided.
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As evident from Figures 8 to 10, the additional containers 40 are arranged on the holding device 31, a partition device 24, a partition wall for example, in the present case, via their first handle element 60. When using such a partition device 24 as the holding device 31, the additional containers 40 are connected to the holding device 31 by attaching the first handle element 60 of the additional container 40 to the partition device 24, preferably from above. To ensure that the additional container 40 is positioned stably, the additional container body 41 of the additional container 40 is designed in particular in such a way that the additional container 40 is supported against the partition device 24 by its bottom area, i.e. in the area of the additional container bottom 42. Since the holding device 31 is located inside the body 11 of the waste container 10, the additional containers 40 are detachably arranged in the body 11 of the waste container 10 in this way. Due to the special design of the first handle element 60, however, it is also possible for the additional container 40 to be arranged directly on the container body 11 of the waste container 10, for example on its side wall 13, preferably the upper rim 14 or edge 17 thereof. The additional container 40 can thus be arranged inside the container body 11 and/or outside the container body 11 of the waste container 10. This is shown in Figures 11 and 12.
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In the embodiment shown, the additional container device 30 comprises two additional containers 40. These are arranged in a row 32 on the holding device 31, for example next to each other or one behind the other. This is shown in Figure 9. According to this embodiment, the additional containers 40 are arranged on different sides of the holding device 31, here in an offset mirrored manner 33. In this way, four different waste fractions in particular can be collected in the waste container 10, whereby all insertion openings are equally easily accessible for the waste fractions.
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Usually, if such a waste container 10 is a mobile waste container, the operator moves it from a location where the waste container 10 is usually positioned and filled with waste to an emptying location. To do this, the operator usually pushes the container 10 from behind by using handle element 18. This means that the operator is located at the rear of the waste container 10. The waste container 10 is therefore located between the operator and a waste collection device (not shown), for example a lifting device of a waste collection vehicle, when the waste container gets emptied.
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If the lid elements 22, 23 of lid device 21 are arranged on the side of the container body 11 of the waste container 10, the operator can easily remove the additional containers 40 from the rear side 13a of the container body 11 without the lid device 21 being in the way when open. The waste container 10 and the additional containers 40 are thus accessible to an operator from this rear position and can be lifted out of the container body 11 of the waste container 10, for example manually, by the operator before the waste container 10 is brought into contact with a lifting device of a waste collection device.
List of reference numerals
-
- 10
- Waste container
- 11
- Container body of the waste container
- 12
- Container bottom of the waste container
- 13
- Side wall of the waste container
- 13a
- Rear side of the waste container
- 13b
- Front side of the waste container
- 13c
- Transverse side of the waste container
- 13d
- Transverse side of the waste container
- 14
- Upper rim of the waste container
- 15
- Receiving space of the waste container
- 15a
- Compartment
- 16
- Insertion opening of the waste container
- 17
- Upper edge of the waste container
- 18
- Handle element of the waste container
- 19
- Wheel device of the waste container
- 20
- Fastening device for a lid device
- 21
- Lid device of the waste container
- 22
- Lid element
- 23
- Lid element
- 24
- Partition device (partition wall)
- 30
- Additional container device
- 31
- Holding device of the additional container device
- 32
- Arrangement in a row
- 33
- Arrangement in an offset mirrored manner
- 40
- Additional container
- 41
- Additional container body
- 42
- Additional container bottom
- 43
- Additional container side wall
- 43a
- Rear side of the additional container
- 43b
- Front side of the additional container
- 43c
- Transverse side of the additional container
- 43d
- Transverse side of the additional container
- 44
- Upper rim of the additional container
- 45
- Receiving space of the additional container
- 46
- Insertion opening of the additional container
- 47
- Upper edge of the additional container
- 48
- Lid device of the additional container
- 49
- Handle element of the additional container
- 50
- Indicator element
- 51
- Injection point
- 52
- Line of arrangement
- 60
- First handle element
- 61
- Angle profile element
- 62
- First profile leg
- 62a
- Width of the first handle element
- 63
- Second profile leg
- 63a
- Curved course of the second profile leg
- 64
- Angle
- 65
- Engagement opening
- 66
- Attachment device
- 66a
- Attachment space
- 70
- Second handle element
- 71
- Recessed grip
- 72
- Engagement opening
- 73
- Side wall
- 73a
- First side wall segment
- 73b
- Second side wall segment