GB2131679A - Waste disposal apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for waste disposal comprises an inclined chute 26 for guiding waste through a wall 12 to drop into a bag 20 suspended below the chute. The bag 20 is suspended on a rim by means of a resilient collar assembly 44 which grips the mouth of the bag against the rim. A cover covers the bag 20, the support 22 for the bag and the end of the chute, which projects beyond the wall. The cover comprises a hood 16 and a body 18 and can be opened (Figure 2 not shown) for removal of the bag and for cleaning, the bag 20 being supported in the body 18 when released from the support 22 and then slid out past the support. The upper end of the chute 26 accommodates a backless drawer 42 having a flap 38 in its front face. <IMAGE>

Description

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GB 2 131 679 A 1

SPECIFICATION Waste disposal apparatus

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for the disposal of waste.

5 Domestic rubbish is usually thrown into small bins located around the home, which are then emptied into dustbins. Dustbins are normally freestanding and remain outside the home. Waste bins for use inside the home are generally small so 10 as to be unobtrusive, and consequently have a small capacity and require emptying frequently.

Bins in domestic kitchens, where a large proportion of domestic waste is generated, are small for reasons of hygiene, and may need to be 15 emptied several times a day. Bins in commercial kitchens present a health hazard which may be reduced by frequent emptying.

The present invention is defined in its various aspects in the appended claims to which reference 20 should now be made.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:—

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first 25 embodiment of the waste disposal apparatus seen from the outside of the house;

Figure 2 shows the apparatus open for removal of the waste receptacle and for cleaning;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the 30 apparatus;

Figures 4 and 5 shows a preferred form of structure for the chute inlet;

Figures 6 and 7 show an alternative form of structure for the chute inlet;

35 Figure 8 shows the bag collar assembly;

Figure 9 is an exploded view of part of the collar assembly in more detail;

Figure 10 is an interrupted sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention for use inside 40 the house;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the waste disposal apparatus seen from the ouside of the home;

Figure 12 shows the apparatus of Fig. 9 open 45 for removal of the waste receptacle and for cleaning;

Figure 13 is a sectional view through the apparatus of Fig. 9;

Figures 14, 15 and 16 are perspective view of a 50 further embodiment with the housing closed and open;

Figures 17 to 20 and Figure 22 are perspective views of two free-standing embodiments of the invention, and 55 Figure 21 is a perspective view of a wall-

mounted embodiment of the invention which does not use the chute assembly.

Figures 1 to 3 show a rubbish disposal unit 10 installed for use on a wall 12 of a building such as 60 a house. The wall 12 is an exterior wall of the house and the outer face of the wall is seen in Figure 1. When the unit is installed for use, only a housing or cover 14 is visible from outside the building. The cover 14 comprises a hood 16 and a body 18, which define together with an area of the wail a region large enough to accommodate a waste receptacle 20 of generous proportions, typically of the size of a dustbin liner. The receptacle 20, shown in Figure 2 as a disposable bag, is, in use, hung from a support 22 which is fixed to the wall. At least the cover 16 and preferably also the body 18 is provided with a handle 19.

The term 'bag' is used in this specification to include a sack or similar container.

The support 22 holds the mouth of the bag 20 open and below the outlet 24, in the outer face of the wall 12, of a sloping chute 26 which guides waste to the outlet 24. The chute lies in a hole 27 found in the wall. The mouth of the bag 20 is positioned beneath the outlet 24 so as to catch waste falling from the shute 26.

The inner end of the chute 26 lies against the inner face of the wall, a flange 28 bearing against the wall around the inner end of the hole 27. The chute inlet is higher in the wall 12 than the outlet 24, so that the chute slopes downwardly from the inlet to the outlet 24, causing waste on the chute 26 to move towards the lower end of the chute 26 and into the bag 20. The lowermost edge 30 of the chute 26 projects beyond the outer face of the wall 12 to reduce the likelihood of waste fouling the wall 12 above the bag.

The support 22 for the bag 20 is integral with a frame 32 which is mounted against the outer face of the wall. The frame 32 is attached to the wall 12 (by means described below) and includes an upper horizontal portion 34 above the chute outlet 24. The hood 16 is pivotally mounted on this horizontal frame portion 34. The hood can be lifted from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 using the handle 19, to allow access to the upper part of the unit and particularly to the bag clamp for changing the bag and to the chute 26 for cleaning. The pivotal connection is provided by means of suitable lockable hinges (not shown) which are arranged to hold the hood 16 in the raised position.

The body 18 of the cover 14 is pivotally mounted directly on the wall 12 so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis at the bottom of the body 18. The body 18 and a hood 16 meet when the cover is shut at a horizontal plane in the region of the support 22. Two ties 36 connected between the frame 32 and the body 18, at the two opposed sides of the frame and body, limit the range of angles through which the body portion 18 can pivot. The bag 20 can be removed, for instance when it is full of waste, by releasing it from the support 22 (as will be described later) and allowing it to drop into the body 18. The body 18 is tilted back to the position shown in Figure 2 which allows the bag 20 to be tied and then removed between the upper edge of the body 18 and the support 22, by sliding it out on the smooth inner surface of the body 18. A new bag can be hung on the support 22 before the cover 14 is closed. The body 18 is retained by a detent 58 engaging the support 22.

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The ties 36 are shown fixed to the frame and the body 18. Alternatively, the ties may be fixed to the frame, extended through a hole in the body 18 and terminate in a toggle. A jamming cleat for instance, of the type used in boats, may be provided to grip the ties to hold the body open at angles intermediate in the range of possible angles.

To secure the frame 32 against the wall and also retain the chute 26 in the hole 27 in the wall, four long bolts 58 extend from an apertured flange 60 around the central part of the chute 26 outwardly through selected ones of sets of apertures 62 in the frame 32. Nuts 64 on the outer ends of the bolts are tightened both to mount the frame 32 securely on the wall and also to pull the chute outwardly so that the flange 28 is pulled firmly against the inner face of the wall 12.

Wall thicknesses vary, and to accommodate for this the chute 26 and bolts 58 are supplied sufficiently long to cover all possibilities and are then cut down on site to the required length. The other components are unaffected by variations (between limits) in the wall thickness.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a flap 38 may be mounted in the front 40 of a backless drawer 42 accommodated in the chute 26. The drawer 42 is slidably mounted in the chute 26 on longitudinal notched flanges 41 (see Fig. 3) which act as runners, so that it may be drawn out of the chute inlet by hand (see hand A, Fig. 4) using the integral handle 43 below the flap. The drawer may be drawn to a position such that it tips slightly backwards into the room. Large objects which cannot conveniently be pushed through the "letter-box" aperture in the front 40 of the drawer and which is covered by the flap 38, may be placed in the drawer 42 from above. When the drawer 42 is pushed back into the chute 26,

waste in the drawer 42 tumbles over the backless edge of the drawer, down the chute and into the bag. The planes of the front 40 and the drawer base 42 are so angled that when the drawer 42 is pushed into the chute, the front 40 lies against the flange 28. In this position, the flap 38 can be pushed away to allow waste to be deposited on the chute, as shown by hand B in Fig. 4. Alternatively, the backless drawer may be dispensed with and the flap hung directly in the chute inlet, where it may be used as described above.

When rubbish is being pushed through the flap 38, there is a danger of a hand becoming trapped between the bottom of the flap and the chute. The danger may be reduced by forming the lower peripheral of the flap 38 of a flexible material, for instance natural or a synthetic rubber.

Figures 6 and 7 show an alternative drawer and flap for use in the inlet end of the chute. The drawer is the drawer shown in Figures 4 and 5, adapted to accommodate the different flap. The flap 250 comprises a rectangular sheet 251 fixed along its top edge to a rod 252. The rod has a circular cross-section and is longer than the longest dimension of the sheet 251, so that it projects beyond the sheet 250 at each end.

Figure 7 is a perspective view from inside the drawer towards the corner righthand most in Figure 6. At each front corner of the drawer is a rest 260 into which the projecting ends of the rod 252 may be placed. The bar 256 across the top of the drawer front is shaped to allow the rod 252 to rest and to turn in the rests 260. With the rod 252 in the rests 260, the sheet 251 hangs down closing the opening 258 in the drawer front. The sheet 251 is oversize for the opening 258 and so cannot be pulled through the opening 258, but can be pushed into the drawer, pivoting about the axis of the rod 252.

The danger of a hand being trapped is removed in this embodiment, because in the event of trapped, the rod 252 can move up out of the rests 260, as shown in Figure 6, thereby freeing the hand.

The backless drawer described above may be drawn entirely out of the chute to enable the chute and the drawer to be cleaned. Moreover, when the drawer is out of the chute, it may be used as a dustpan, which is emptied by replacing the drawer in the chute. Conveniently, the integral handle 43 may be replaced by a handle or a pair of handles which may be oriented horizontally, for drawing the drawer, or vertically for holding the drawer when it is being used as a dustpan. A further handle can be provided in the form of a bar attached to the drawer side and extending across the top of the drawer at the end remote from the flap. The further handle will also function as a bracing bar between the two sides of the backless drawer. The mounting of the handle could include a locking mechanism which, when the handle is vertical, prevents the drawer moving in the chute. The lock avoids the dangers which the chute might otherwise present to young children or domestic animals.

Referring now to Figures 2, 8 and 9, the bag support 22 comprises a rim 23 having the shape of a closed curve defining a substantially horizontal plane. The rim 23 is above the body of the support 22. To hang the bag 20 from the support 22, the neck of the bag 20 is passed upwardly through the rim. The mouth portion of the bag, that is, the material adjacent the mouth of the bag, is folded back to lie over and around the rim, so that the inside and outside vertical faces and the top of the rim are covered by the material of the bag 20. A resilient collar assembly 44 holds the material of the bag 20 against the outer vertical surface of the rim, 'to prevent the mouth of the bag slipping back through the rim.

The rim 23 is shaped with a "hockey-stick" section so that the collar assembly 44 engages the bag 20 under the hook thus formed at the top edge of the rim, providing substantially resistance to pulling through of the bag.

The collar assembly comprises a flexible strip 46 whose ends 46a, 46b overlap. Four lugs 48 integral with the inner end 46a of the strip 46 hold the inner and outer ends 46a, 46b of the strip together and constrain the ends to move relatively

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to each other longitudinally of the strip. The strip 46 has a longitudinal slot 50 adjacent the outer end. A first stud 52a is provided on the outer end 46b of the strip 46 to which a loop or band 54 of 5 resilient material may be attached. A second stud 52b is provided on the inner end 46a of the strip 46 and projects through the slot 50. The loop 54 of resilient material is also attached to the second stud 52b, having passed substantially entirely 10 around the periphery of the collar assembly 44. The loop 54 thus urges the studs 52 apart,

causing the collar to contact and grip the mouth of the bag against the rim. Two grips 56 are provided, one adjacent each stud 52. The grips 15 may be used manually to expand the collar against the resilience of the loop 54, to allow the bag to be removed from the rim.

In the embodiment described above, the hood 16 and the body 18 of the cover 14 are identically 20 formed. They may be moulded in a plastics material or manufactured from metal for instance. Similarly, many materials can be used in the manufacture of the other integers of the apparatus. The materials are chosen according to 25 the environment in which the apparatus is to be used and the type of waste which it is required to handle. When used on an exterior wall, the cover provides substantially weatherproof protection for the bag and the chute.

30 In order to be able to tell from inside the house that the bag 20 is nearly full, a mirror 66 may be mounted on the inside of the hood 16, as shown in Figure 3. Alternatively, a light source may be provided to generate a horizontal beam of light 35 directed across the mouth of the bag to a light sensitive element. Electrical circuitry connected to the light sensitive element detects when the beam is broken by rubbish which projects above the mouth of the bag, and generates a warning signal 40 to indicate that the bag is full.

In order to prevent unpleasant smells entering the building, through the chute, a second flap may be provided which covers the outlet of the chute. The flap may be light enough to be opened by 45 impact of rubbish or may be manually openable from within the building by means of a lever arrangement. In addition, a tablet of air-freshener may be mounted inside the housing 14.

For convenience, brackets may be provided 50 inside the hood 16 to support a roll of replacement bags and a set of ties for tying the bags when full. Mounts may be provided adjacent the inlet of the chute for a roll of absorbent paper towelling in which rubbish may be wrapped, if desired, or on 55 which hands may be cleaned.

Figure 10 is an interrupted sectional view through a second embodiment 70 of the invention designed for use wholly inside the building.

Similar corresponding parts are given the same 60 reference numerals and these parts will not be described again in detail. The body 18 forming the lower part of the unit as well as the bag supporting structure are the same as in the previous embodiment, but in this case a simple 65 lift-up cover 72 is provided which can be lifted up to permit waste material to be put into the bag. Alternatively, or additionally, a flap may be provided in the cover 72 through which waste may be pushed. The frame 74, which takes the place of the frame 32 in supporting the unit against the wall, need not be so tall as in the first embodiment but must of course be securely fixed to the wall by screws or other suitable fasteners.

This unit 70 uses the collar assembly 44 of Figures 8 and 9. To replace a bag, the collar is released allowing the bag to fall into the body 18. The body 18 is then tipped back, as shown for the first embodiment in Figure 2, until held by the ties 36, and the bag can be tied while the weight is taken by the body 18. The bag can then be slid out of the unit and a new bag put in.

Various features of the two embodiments may be of more general application. In particular, the bag clamping assembly, and the chute inlet drawer with a flap in its front may be used for other unrelated purposes.

It will be realised that means for suspending the bag, other than those described above, are known and are equally applicable in the apparatus. Similarly, a variety of types of cover may be used, depending on factors such as the overall size of the apparatus.

Figures 11 to 13 show a third embodiment of a rubbish disposal unit, which is for use on a wall 112 of a building such as a house. For clarity, the hood 116 is not shown in Fig. 12. The unit incorporates a chute, a backless drawer and flap which are indentical to those of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 5. The wall 112 is an exterior wall of the house and the outer face of the wall is seen in Figure 11. When the unit is installed for use,

only the cover 114 is visible from outside the building. The cover 114 comprises a hood 116 and a body 118, which define together with an area of the wall a region large enough to accommodate a waste receptacle 120 of generous proportions, typically of the size of a dustbin liner. The receptacle 120, for instance a disposable bag, is, in use, hung from a supporting rim 122. At least the cover 116 and preferably also the body 118 is provided with a handle 119.

The mouth of a bag 120 is, in use, held open and below the outlet 124, in the outer face of the wall 112, of a sloping chute 126 which guides waste to the outlet 124. The chute lies in a hole 127 found in the wall. The mouth of the bag is positioned beneath the outlet 124 so as to catch waste falling from the chute 126.

The inner end of the chute 126 lies against the inner face of the wall, a flange 128 bearing against the wall around the inner end of the hole 127. The chute inlet is higher in the wall 112 than the outlet 124, so that the chute slopes downwardly from the inlet to the outlet 124, causing waste on the chute 126 to move towards the lower end of the chute 126 and into the bag 120. The lowermost edge 130 of the chute 126 projects beyond the outer face of the wall 112 to reduce the likelihood of waste fouling the wall 112 above the bag.

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A frame 132 is mounted against the outer face of the wall 112 and includes an upper horizontal portion 134 above the chute outlet 124. The hood 116 is pivotally mounted on this horizontal frame 5 portion 134. The hood can be lifted from the position shown in Figure 9 to a raised position, using the handle 119, to allow access to the upper part of the unit and particularly to the bag support for changing the bag and to the chute 126 for 10 cleaning. The pivotal connection is provided by means of suitable lockable hinges (not shown) which are arranged to hold the hood 116 in the raised position.

The body 118 of the cover 114 is pivotally 15 mounted on the frame 132 so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis at the bottom of the body 118. Two ties 136 connected between the frame 132 and the body 118, at the two opposed sides of • the frame and body, limit the range of angles through 20 which the body portion 118 can pivot. The bag 120 can be removed, for instance when it is full of waste, by releasing it from the supporting rim 122 (as will be described later) and allowing it to drop into the body 118. The body 118 is tilted back to 25 the position shown in Figure 10 which supports the bag 120 while it is tied, before being removed from the housing, by sliding it out on thQ smooth inner surface of the body 118. A new bag can be hung on the supporting rim 122 after the cover 30 114 has been closed. The toggled ties and jamming cleat described above may be used in this embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 12 the supporting rim 122 comprises a first rim portion 122a mounted 35 on the frame 132 and a second rim portion 122b which is integral with the body 118, and which forms the upper periphery of the body 118. When' the body 118 is closed, the two rim portions meet at a vertical plane substantially parallel to 40 the plane of the frame 132, to form a rim 122 having the shape of a closed curve defining a substantially horizontal plane. The circumference of the rim so formed is the same as or slightly less than the circumference of the mouth of the bag to 45 be used. To hang a bag from the supporting rim 122, the neck of a bag is held between the rim portions 122a, 122b while the body 118 is closed to form the rim 122 about the neck of the bag. The mouth portion of the bag, that is, the material 50 adjacent the mouth of the bag, is folded back to lie over and around the rim, so that the inside and outside vertical faces and the top of the rim are covered by the material of the bag. The distance by which the rim 122 upwardly extends is such 55 that when the housing 114 is closed, the mouth portion of a bag hung from the rim 122 as described above is pinched between the rim and the inside surface of the hood 116 along a substantial length of the rim 122 of the rim 60 portion 122b. The pinching action prevents the mouth of the bag slipping back through the rim 122. Because of the pinching action, the bag is held adequately securely without using the collar of Figs. 6 and 7. However, the collar may be used 65 for extra security, in which case, the distance by which the studs 52, and the grips 56 project horizontally, in use, should be so small that they do not prevent the hood 116 closing. In common with the other embodiments, if the bag is deep 70 enough, it will rest on the bottom surface of the body, which will support some of the weight.

To secure the frame 132 against the wall and also retain the chute 126 in the hole 127 in the wall, four long bolts 158 (see Fig. 11) extend from 75 an apertured flange 160 around the central part of the chute 126 outwardly through selected ones of sets of apertures 162 in the frame 132. Nuts 164 *on the outer ends of the bolts are tightened both to mount the frame 132 securely on the wall and 80 also to pull the chute outwardly so that the flange 128 is pulled firmly against the inner face of the wall 112.

Wall thicknesses vary, and to accommodate for this the chute 126 and bolts 158 are supplied 85 sufficiently long to cover all possibilities and are then cut down on site to the required length. The other components are unaffected by variations (within limits) in the wall thickness.

In order to be able to tell from inside the house 90 that the bag 120 is nearly full, a mirror 166 may be mounted on the inside of the hood 116, as shown in Fig. 3.

A fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 14 to 16. This embodiment of a rubbish 95 disposal unit is for use on a wall 212 of a building such as a house, and can be positioned beneath a window as shown in the drawings. The unit incorporates a chute, a backless drawer and a flap which are identical to those of the embodiment of 100 Figures 1 to 5. The wall 212 is an exterior wall of the house and the outer face of the wall is seen in Figure 12. When the unit is installed for use, only the cover 214 is visible from outside the building. The cover 214 comprises a hood 216, a 105 rear housing 217 and a body 218, which define a region large enough to accommodate a waste receptacle 220 of generous proportions, typically of the size of a dustbin liner. The receptacle 220, for instance a disposable bag, is, in use, hung from 110 a supporting rim 22. In this Embodiment, waste may be deposited in the receptacle 220 either along the chute, from inside the building, or by lifting the hood 216 which is pivotally mounted on the rear housing 217. A handle 219 on the hood 115 216 enables a person to open the hood to the position shown in Fig. 15, exposing the mouth of the bag 220, into which waste can be dropped. Preferably the hood 216 can be locked in this position by means of suitable catches (not shown), 120 and when in this position covers the outlet 224 of the chute to prevent the hand of an outside user being fouled by waste leaving the chute.

The mouth of the bag 220 is, in use, held open and below the outlet 224, in the outer face of the 125 wall 212, of the sloping chute 226 which guides waste to the outlet 224. The chute lies in a hole found in the wall. The mouth of the bag is positioned beneath the outlet 224 so as to catch waste falling from the chute 226.

130 The sloping chute 226 may be identical to the

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chute 126 described above, and may be mounted in the wall by means described above. Preferably the lowermost edge 230 of the chute 226 projects beyond the outer face of the wall 212 to reduce 5 the likelihood of waste fouling the wall 212 above the bag.

The rear housing 217 is mounted against the outer face of the wall 212. The hood 216 is pivotally mounted on the rear housing 217 and 10 can be lifted from the position shown in Fig. 14 to a raised position shown in Fig. 15, using the handle 219, to allow access to the upper part of the unit for waste disposal from outside the building, to the bag support for changing the bag 15 and to the chute 226 for cleaning. The pivotal connection is provided by means of a simple stud and socket arrangement. If, as is preferred, the rear housing is a plastics or fibre glass moulding, the hood may be removed for cleaning by 20 deforming the rear housing 217.

The body 218 of the cover 214 is pivotally mounted on the rear housing 217 so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis at the bottom of the body 218. Two ties 236 connected between 25 the rear housing 217 and the body 218, at the two opposed sides of the rear housing and body, limit the range of angles through which the portion 218 can pivot. The bag 220 can be removed, for instance when it is full of waste, by 30 releasing it from the supporting rim 222 (as will be described later) and allowing it to drop into the body 218. The body 218 is tilted back to the position shown in Fig. 16 which supports the bag 220 while it is tied, before being removed from 35 the housing, by sliding it out on the smooth inner surface of the body 218. A new bag can be hung on the supporting rim 222 after the cover 214 has been closed. The body 218 may be held closed by any convenient type of catch. If the body 218 and 40 rear housing 217 are made of a pliable material, the catches may comprise studs on one member and mating sockets in the other, so that the body 218 is slammed shut to engage the catches. The toggled ties and jamming cleat described above 45 may be used in this embodiment.

Referring now to Fig. 16, the supporting rim 222 comprises a first rim portion 222a mounted on the rear housing 217 and a second rim portion 222b which is integral with the body 218. When 50 the body 218 is closed, the two rim portions meet at a vertical plane substantially parallel to the plane of the wall 212, to form a rim 222 having the shape of a closed curve defining a substantially horizontal plane. The circumference 55 of the rim so formed is the same as or slightly less than the circumference of the mouth of the bag to be used. To hang a bag from the supporting rim 222, the neck of a bag is held between the rim portions 222a, 222b while the body 218 is closed 60 to form the rim 222 about the neck of the bag. The mouth portion of the bag, that is, the material adjacent the mouth of the bag, is folded back to lie over and around the rim, so that the inside and outside vertical faces and the top of the rim are 65 covered by the material of the bag. A tight-fitting,

resilient band (not shown), for instance a loop of rubber tubing, may then be placed around the rim and bag to secure the bag in position. In common with the other embodiments, if the bag is deep enough, it will rest on the bottom surface of the body, which will support some of the weight.

To secure the unit to the wall and also retain the chute 226 in the hole 227 in the wall, four long bolts may be used as described with reference to Fig. 13.

This embodiment can also be used without a chute as a waste receptacle suitable for mounting on any fixed support.

Free-standing apparatus for the disposal of waste is a fourth embodiment of the invention and is shown in Figs. 17 to 20 and Fig. 22. The apparatus may be used in public places, for instances on a pavement or in a park. The embodiment is an adaptation of the embodiment of either Fig. 2 or Fig. 12. The vertical members of the frame 32 or 132 extend down to the ground and support the apparatus. The lower ends of the vertical members may be concreted into the ground for instance. The chute arrangement is not used in this embodiment. Instead, the hood of the casing has a hole, 200, high in the front through which waste may be dropped into the bag. The face of the frame which is normally attached to the wall is covered with a board, the visible face of which may be used to carry advertisements or other information, (see Fig. 19). Provision may be made for the advertisement to be back-illuminated, (see Fig. 20), for instance by providing a number of fluorescent tubes 202 over which the transparent advertisement may be held by a sheet of glass, in an arrangement which is well-known. Alternatively, the board may support display shelves. The apparatus may be located on the forecourt of a petrol station, when the board may support a variety of ancillary equipment, for instance a water hose or a compressed air line. The frame may extend above the housing to provide an additional region 204 on which advertisements may be displayed (see Fig. 18) which is visible to a person depositing waste. The means for supporting the bag may be that of any of the other embodiments described above.

The free-standing apparatus can be adapted for use on a wall through which it is indesirable to make a hole for a chute. The frame is mounted on the wall with a bag suspended within the housing, so that waste may be dropped through the hole 200 in the top of the housing (see Fig. 21). This adaptation of the free-standing apparatus may be used in cinema or theatre foyers, for instance, or mounted on a bus shelter.

Preferably, when the free-standing apparatus or the above adaptation is used outdoors, the housing comprises a lip 206 (see Fig. 17) above the hole 200 in the front of the casing, to shield the interior of the casing from precipitation. Further, when used in public places, the casing is preferably provided with a lock 207.

The capacity of the free-standing apparatus can be increased by mounting a housing and bag

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support on each side of the frame. Alternatively, the capacity may be increased by mounting a one piece housing 208 on one side of the frame and a two piece housing as descrbed above on the other 5 (see Fig. 22). The means for supporting the bag described above are enlarged to a size commensurate with the increased size of the apparatus, to enable a larger bag to be used. One or both of the housings may have a hole 200 10 through which waste may be dropped. Preferably, the dimensions of the one piece housing 208 are those of the two-piece housing when shut, to facilitate moulding of the housing.

The frames of the embodiments described 15 above may be constructed from tubular metal, in which case, counter-weights may be suspended inside the tubes to counter-balance the weight of the hood and body. The counter-weight attached to the body may be large enough to counter-20 balance the weight of a full bag. Alternatively, springs may replace the weights.

It will be seen that a number of features of the embodiments described above may be used with any of the embodiments, for instance the use of a 25 tablet of air freshener.

Claims (8)

1. A rubbish receptacle for mounting on a fixed structure, comprising a releasable support for supporting a bag with its mouth open, and a

30 pivotable cover member which when in its normal cover position forms part of a structure which surrounds the bag, wherein the support comprises a first rim portion carried by the fixed structure and a second rim portion carried by the cover member, 35 the first and second rim portions meeting at a substantially vertical plane when the cover member is in its normal cover position to define a rim having the shape of a closed curve in a substantially horizontal plane which may surround 40 the neck of the bag and over and around which the mouth of the bag may be folded back, and wherein when a bag is released from the support it falls into the cover member, and the cover member can be pivoted to an offset position where the bag can 45 be slid out of the cover member.

2. Apparatus for waste disposal comprising an inclined chute for guiding waste material from an inlet in a first face of a wall of a building through an outlet to the second face of the wall, and

50 supporting means adapted to be capable of so supporting a waste receptacle below the outlet that, in use of the apparatus, waste deposited in the inlet passes along the chute and falls into the receptacle, the apparatus further comprises

55 covering means which define together with an area of the second face of the wall a region substantially entirely surrounding the receptacle, with which region the chute communicates through its outlet.

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3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the covering means comprises a hood and a body portion which meet at a substantially horizontal plane, the hood and the body portion being pivotally connected to the supporting means or to

65 the wall, the body portion being pivotable such that when the receptacle is released from the supporting means it falls into the body portion, and the body portion can be pivoted away from the wall to a position where the receptacle can be

70 slid out of the cover past the supporting means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the supporting means comprises a first rim portion carried by the second face of the wall, a second rim portion carried by the body portion, the first

75 and second rim portions meeting at a substantially vertical plane when the body portion is against the wall, to define a rim having the shape of a closed curve in a substantially horizontal plane which may surround the neck of a bag and over and

80 around which the mouth of the bag may be folded back.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2,3 or 4, in which the inlet end of the chute is provided with a backless drawer, whereby material may be put

85 into the chute by withdrawing the drawer, placing the material in the drawer from above and closing the drawer.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 5, in which a portion of the covering means may be

90 opened from outside the building, to allow waste to be deposited in the waste receptacle.

7. Apparatus for waste disposal comprising an inclined chute for guiding waste material away from an inlet, and a backless drawer slidably

95 mounted in the inlet end of the chute, whereby material may be put into the chute by withdrawing the drawer, placing the material in the drawer from above and closing the drawer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 8, further 100 comprising a flap mounted in the front of the drawer, whereby material may be put into the chute either by depressing the flap or by withdrawing the drawers, placing the material in the drawer from above and closing the drawer.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1984. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.