GB2127278A - Garbage containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Garbage containers for use in storing domestic refuse can be positioned on the edge of the pavement in the street in residential areas so as to do away with door-to-door collection. This provides a 24-hour collection service for use by residents and passers-by. The container (1) has an upper closure means (12) openable by means of handle- lever mechanism (14), a lower closure means (13) for allowing rubbish to be removed, a draining board (114) for seepage from the rubbish and a recessed portion (111) so that it can be located adjacent a longitudinal support, which may be pre-existing such as a tree, a lamp post or a telegraph pole. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Garbage containers This invention relates to garbage containers and particularly those for use in residential areas.

Currently, collecting garbage from people is usually done by means of a garbage wagon driven around from house to house in an area. This puts the garbage man to inconvenience and may annoy the inhabitants of the area.

An object of this invention is to obviate the need for door-to-door collection in collecting garbage from people in residential areas.

According to this invention we propose a garbage container comprising a container body, an upper cover for closing an upper aperture via which garbage may be deposited into the container body, an upper lid-opening mechanism, a lower cover for closing a lower aperture via which garbage in the container body may be removed and means for locating the container body in the street in order to collect domestic refuse as well as rubbish from passers-by.

This invention provides a garbage container, for people in a residential area, which is designed to be installed in the street, usually at the kerb edge of the pavement. The present invention is useful particularly in towns and cities for providing a convenient 24 hour refuse collection service, promoting a neat, tidy appearance in the street and thus improving the environment.

This invention is particularly suitable for use in urban areas. In a preferred embodiment two garbage container bodies are linked together and are installed in the street, for instance around a tree, a lamp post or a telegraph pole so as to avoid taking up unnecessary space and to avoid affecting the appearance of the area by many garbage containers being randomly arranged, and to fulfil the purpose of economically and practically utilizing the space available.

One advantage of the present invention is that it allows people in residential areas to dispose of their garbage anywhere and at any time without storing the garbage in the house or waiting for a dustcart to call, which can be inconvenient.

Another advantage is that the upper aperture may be opened in accordance with the size of the garbage to be dropped in, such as a large bag of garbage, or a small waste paper ball, a fruit rind, or a cigarette butt, etc.

An embodiment of the invention is described by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the garbage container opened; Figure3 is a partial sectional view of the embodiment; Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention installed around a street tree; Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention installed around a street lamp post; and Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention installed around a telegraph pole.

In more detail, a garbage container, shown in Figure 1, comprises two sub-containers (1), and each of said containers (1) includes a container body (11), a lid (12), a lower door (13), and a lid-opening mechanism (14).

Each back surface of the container body (11) has a semi-circular concave face (111) or other geometric-shaped concave face so as to be able to join two of the sub-containers together around for example a street tree, a lamp post or telegraph pole. The two sub-containers are joined together by means of a hook (112) on one sub-container inserted into a hook socket (113) on the other. Thus, the garbage container may be installed in the street round any longitudinal support, such as the pre-existing supports already mentioned. Usually, the container will be on the pavement. Use of the space can therefore be maximised.

The present invention is useful to residents and passers-by and dustcarts can collect the rubbish in the containers at the sides of roads efficiently.

The bottom of the container body (11) houses a sloping board member (114) forthe purpose of draining water of garbage through a draining hole (115). Since the containers (1) are installed in convenient places in the street such as near or round a street tree, a street lamp or a telegraph line pole, the seepage out of the garbage will easily flow into the soil round the tree or drain into the gutter in the road. The garbage container (1) has a large sealable openings and it can accommodate larger garbage which is good for maintaining a good general environmental state and neatness.

The lid (12), shown in Figure 3, has a triangular cross-section with hollow interior. Upon the lid (12) being opened (as shown in Figure 2), the container will have a large slanting opening. If garbage is dropped onto the lid (12), the garbage can be tipped into the container when the lid (12) is closed.

As shown in Figure 3, the lid-opening mechanism (14) is designed and installed in a discrete box-shaped space, being separate from the garbage containing space so as to prevent its mechanism being caught up with garbage. The lid-opening mechanism (14) essentially comprises a handle (141), a connecting rod (142), an L-shaped piece (143) and a tension spring (144). The operation of the mechanism (14) is based on a lever and a parallel crank mechanism and this saves effort in use and reduces the height of the handle (141). In operation, the handle (141) is pressed downwards to overcome the tension force of the tension spring (144) so as to turn the L-shaped piece (143) via the connecting rod (142). Since said L-shaped piece (143) is fixedly attached to the lid (12), the lid (12) will be opened upon turning the L-shaped piece (143) downwardly.

To hold the lid (12) open by the largest amount the handle (141) may be pressed all the way into the catch recess (145) so as to fully open the lid for depositing large pieces of garbage. To close the lid after depositing the garbage the handle (141) is moved out of the catch recess (145) and the handle (141) will return upwardly to its original position as a result of the pulling force of said tension spring (144), as shown in Figure 3. The lid (12) will be shut completely as a result of the force of said tension spring (144).

To deposit small pieces of garbage e.g. by pedestrians, the handle (141) may be just slightly depressed to open the lid (12) at a small angle, and the garbage may be dropped in. Then the handle (141) may be released to let the lid (12) close automatically. A handle (131) on the lower lid (13) is used for opening the toner lid by turning so as to enable removal of the garbage from the container by the garbage collector.

The garbage container is made of F.R.P. (fibre glass reinforced plastic). Its structure is simple, and its manufacturing cost is low and it wears well in use.

The outwardly-openable lid-opening mechanism is not interfered with by garbage inside the container.

Since the handle is very easy to operate, and is installed at a position low down, it may conveniently be operated by persons of all ages.

Disadvantages of the existing door-todoor collecting method 1. Residents have to wait for the dustcartl garbage wagon to call. This can be annoying because of irregularity of visits, delays and so on.

2. Problems arise in high-rised buildings, in particular if the dustcart's visit is missed for some reason or other. Sometimes people leave their garbage outside which badly affects the environment and health.

3. The garbage wagon has to go around from one building to another to pick up garbage. This is not only expends more energy but also shortens the serviceable life of the garbage wagon.

4. The dustman has to go around every dwelling to pick up the garbage which wastes a lot of time and manpower.

5. The garbage wagon may come to pick up the garbage at best every day or usually every few days. In the latter case, the garbage may become deteriorated to affect people's health if is not stored properly. It is worst if the garbage is left outdoors.

6. A randomly discarded garbage bag might be broken by an animal, such as a cat or a dog, to cause the garbage to be scattered over the ground. Aside from the bad smell and the sanitation problem, this would add more difficulties to the garbageman in cleaning it up.

7. Randomly discarding garbage will jeopardize the appearance of a residential area. This could do harm to a tourist industry and the level of civilization of a developing country.

8. If garbage is piled up, many insects will fly around near the garbage, which could give contagious disease to the passer-by.

Advantages of the Present Invention 1. Garbage may be deposited into a nearby garbage container any time.

2. Garbage may be dropped into nearby garbage containers whenever there is any occasion to go thereby.

3. The garbage wagon can pick up the garbage by merely parking beside the fixed garbage container positions which saves energy and reduces the wear and tear to the garbage wagon.

4. The garbage is stored and picked up from a fixed spot. This saves a lot of time and manpower.

5. The garbage may be dropped into the container any time and properly sealed in the container without affecting environmental health.

6. As the garbage may be dropped into an adjacent garbage container any time and the container may be made of F.R.P.

(fibreglass reinforced plastic) and be completely sealed, so that it will not adversely affect the environmental sanitation.

7. Universally furnishing the garbage container of the invention, taking little space, would not affect the appearance of a city and environmental health and will surely provide the city people with more convenience and beautify a city.

8. Since the garbage container is a closed device, the insects will be unable to enter.

therefore, no health sanitation problems arise.

9. If the dustcart calls at an inconvenient time and the dustbin has not been put out e.g. during cooking, bathing, or being in the washroom, the dustcart may be missed leading to more inconvenience.

10. When all family members go out of the house during the day and if it is omitted to put out the dustbin, the garbage in the house will not be collected.

11. In house to house collection, in handling garbage the dustman could get injured by rubbish e.g. metal wire, glass, a needle, or a blade, etc.

12. In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, environmental health can be difficutt to maintain.

9. The garbage wagon will automatically park beside the public garbage container to pick up garbage without being any bother to residents.

10. Residents may carry their garbage out to the said container whenever they have time to do so or are on their way somewhere else.

11. By the garbage wagon picking up garbage at a fixed spot, the dustman will use a suitable tool to remove the garbage from the container, and the chance of being injured by sharp articles will be reduced considerably.

12. It might be said that garbage is the source of dirt and disorder. The present invention can help residents, especially town and city dwellers, solve the problem without having disadvantages. The present invention can help in keeping the environment in good order.

Claims (8)

1. A garbage container comprising a container body, an upper cover for closing an upper aperture via which garbage may be deposited into the container body, an upper lid-opening mechanism, a lower cover for closing a lower aperture via which garbage in the container body may be removed and means for locating the container body in the street in order to collect domestic refuse as well as rubbish from passers-by.

2. A garbage container according to claim 1, wherein the rear face of the container has a recess for location around a pre-existing structure in a street.

3. A garbage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid-opening mechanism is housed in an enclosed space in the container body and includes a handle, an L-shaped member connected to the upper cover, a tension spring and a connecting rod for connecting the handle to the L-shaped member so that when the handle is moved downwardly the cover is opened and when the handle is released the tension spring returns the cover into the closing position.

4. A garbage container according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the cover can be opened to a range of angles and it can be held open at the widest angle when the handle is removably placed in a catching recess.

5. A garbage container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the base of the container body houses a draining board and a drain hole by which seepage can be allowed to escape.

6. A garbage container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the container body has means for attaching it to another container body.

7. A garbage container constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to any of the Figures of the drawings.

8. A garbage container substantially as herein described.