GB1578350A - Refuse-containers - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO REFUSE-CONTAINERS (71) We, GPG INTERNATIqNAL LIMI TED, of Cranford, Blackdown, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, a British Company, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a refuse-container.

Conventional refuse-containers for domestic use comprise a tubular structure, usually with a lid and bottom (possibly intended to receive d sack or bag for refuse). Such containers occupy considerable space, which is disadvantageous for marketing purposes from the points of view of storage and transport and it is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby the aforementioned disadvantage' can be alleviated.

According to the invention there is provided a kit of parts constituting a substantially flat package for self-assembly to form a refusecontainer, said kit comprising: an array of wall parts capable, of being assembled and interlocked together to form a tubular structure which predominantly -forms the refuse-containing portion 6f the container, a frame adapted to fit over the upper edge of the tubular structure, and a pivoted- cldsure,.

the frame and he closure being adapted to be or being hingedly attached together.

The tubular structure will usually be of rounded or prismatic section.

The wall parts may interlock together to form the tubular structure by at least one projection on each wall part interengaging with a corresponding aperture in an adjacent wall part of the tubular structure.

Retaining means for holding a bag or sack may be provided on the wall parts or a bag or sack may be held with its mouth open by clamping between the tubular structure and the frame which is fitted thereto as above mentioned.

All components may be moulded of suitable plastics material.

The refuse-containing portion need not necessarily be rounded or prismatic in section, but could be, for example, of truncated pyra midal shape.

The invention will be further described with reference to the drawings, which illust rate diagrammatically an embodiment of it, given by way of example only.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of two walls as used in the structure of a refuse container having four such walls; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing a refuse-container with a tubular structure assembled from four walls such as those shown in Figure 1 and complete except for a lid; FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of a lid suitable for use with the container of Figure 2; and FIGURE 4 is a side view of the lid of Figure 3; Figure 1 shows two walls 1 and 2 of' a refuse-containing portion.The wall 1 'is shaped as a flat rectangular plate or sheet; Its left vertical edge (in the drawing) is provided, about half-way down, with a projection 3 which is T-shaped in side view, the stem 4 of the 'T' being a portion of the projection of lessee width than the head 5 of the projec tion 3 and serving to connect the head 5 to the rest of the wall 1. The thickness of the projection 3 is the same as that of the part of the wall 1 from which it extends. Near the vertical edge of the wall 1 opposite to the projection 3 are provided two colinear ribs 6 and 7 of rectangular section. The gap between facing ends of ribs 6 and 7 is of the same dimensions as the head 5 of the projection 3.A rectangular hole 8, of the same dimensions as or a little larger than the stem 4 of the projection 3, is formed in the side 1 between the ribs 6, 7.

The wall 2 has the same shape and dimen sions as wall 1, and for convenience the cor responding parts of side 2 to those of side 1 will be referred to by the same reference numerals with the addition of a dash.

Both walls 1 and 2 are formed of resilient, e.g. plastics, material and the dimensions are such that a user can insert the head 5' of projection 3' of wall 2 through the hole 8 of wall 1 to fill the gap between the ribs 6, 7, so that the walls 1 and 2 effectively interlock.

Four such walls 1, 2, 9 and 10 constituting part of a flat package of a kit of parts for the refuse container may be fitted together as shown in Figure 2 to form a tubular structure comprising an open-ended rectangular prism with two ribs at each vertical edge. Such a tubular structure is used as the refuse-containing portion. In Figure 2 a sack, shown in dotted lines is inserted into the refuse-containing portion. The refusecontaining portion may be provided with hooks or other retaining means to hold the edges of the sack. Additionally, the bottom of the refuse-containing portion may be closed by a bottom member secured by a snap-in inter-locking arrangement such as that described above with reference to the walls, or by other means.

The refuse-containing portion of Figure 2 is provided with a lid assembly 11 (Figures 3 and 4) which also constitutes part of the aforementioned flat package. This lid assembly consists of a closure member or lid 12 hinged to an edge of an opening 13, this opening being square, with rounded corners, and provided in a frame which is in this case formed as a skirt 14. The skirt 14 is square with bulbous corners 15 for fitting over the ribs of the refuse-containing portion of Figure 2, the periphery of the skirt depending over the upper edge of the refuse-containing portion of Figure 2 when it is fitted. The bulbous corners 15 may be so dimensioned as to grip the upper corners of the refusecontaining portion. The rim of the sack may be gripped between the skirt 14 and walls 1, 2, 9 and 10.

The tubular refuse-containing portion, while being assembled in a similar manner to that above described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, need not necessarily be a rectangular prism but can be modified to have, for example, the shape of a truncated pyramid. The refuse-containing portion could be provided with a bottom which could be removed to remove the sack.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A kit of parts constituting a substantially flat package to form a refusecontainer, said kit comprising: an array of wall parts capable of being assembled and interlocked together to form a tubular structure which predominantly forms the refuse-containing portion of the container, a frame adapted to fit over the upper edge of the tubular structure, and a pivoted closure, the frame and the closure being adapted to be or being hingedly attached together.

2. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the wall parts are interlocked together by at least one projection on each wall part interengaging with a corresponding aperture in an adjacent wall part of the tubular structure.

3. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

4. A refuse-container assembled from a kit of parts as claimed in any preceding claim.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. projection 3' of wall 2 through the hole 8 of wall 1 to fill the gap between the ribs 6, 7, so that the walls 1 and 2 effectively interlock. Four such walls 1, 2, 9 and 10 constituting part of a flat package of a kit of parts for the refuse container may be fitted together as shown in Figure 2 to form a tubular structure comprising an open-ended rectangular prism with two ribs at each vertical edge. Such a tubular structure is used as the refuse-containing portion. In Figure 2 a sack, shown in dotted lines is inserted into the refuse-containing portion. The refusecontaining portion may be provided with hooks or other retaining means to hold the edges of the sack. Additionally, the bottom of the refuse-containing portion may be closed by a bottom member secured by a snap-in inter-locking arrangement such as that described above with reference to the walls, or by other means. The refuse-containing portion of Figure 2 is provided with a lid assembly 11 (Figures 3 and 4) which also constitutes part of the aforementioned flat package. This lid assembly consists of a closure member or lid 12 hinged to an edge of an opening 13, this opening being square, with rounded corners, and provided in a frame which is in this case formed as a skirt 14. The skirt 14 is square with bulbous corners 15 for fitting over the ribs of the refuse-containing portion of Figure 2, the periphery of the skirt depending over the upper edge of the refuse-containing portion of Figure 2 when it is fitted. The bulbous corners 15 may be so dimensioned as to grip the upper corners of the refusecontaining portion. The rim of the sack may be gripped between the skirt 14 and walls 1, 2, 9 and 10. The tubular refuse-containing portion, while being assembled in a similar manner to that above described with reference to Figures 1 to 4, need not necessarily be a rectangular prism but can be modified to have, for example, the shape of a truncated pyramid. The refuse-containing portion could be provided with a bottom which could be removed to remove the sack. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A kit of parts constituting a substantially flat package to form a refusecontainer, said kit comprising: an array of wall parts capable of being assembled and interlocked together to form a tubular structure which predominantly forms the refuse-containing portion of the container, a frame adapted to fit over the upper edge of the tubular structure, and a pivoted closure, the frame and the closure being adapted to be or being hingedly attached together.

2. A kit of parts as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the wall parts are interlocked together by at least one projection on each wall part interengaging with a corresponding aperture in an adjacent wall part of the tubular structure.

3. A kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

4. A refuse-container assembled from a kit of parts as claimed in any preceding claim.