GB2171290A

GB2171290A - Containers for rubbish

Info

Publication number: GB2171290A
Application number: GB08604109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Spencer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-02-27
Filing date: 1986-02-19
Publication date: 1986-08-28
Also published as: GB8604109D0; GB2171290B; GB8505085D0

Abstract

A table top rubbish container has an upper rubbish receiving aperture which is closed or partially closed by hinged segments biassed to the closed position to compress rubbish supplied to the container and prevent it from springing out of the container. The container may have a removable disposable lining which is attached to a disposable lid including the aperture or may be unlined and disposable in its entirety.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to containers for rubbish, etc.

The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to containers for rubbish, especially but not exclusively discarded food packages, cigarette ends and ash, etc. accumulated at tables.

Many foods etc. are now dispensed to the purchaser at the table in disposable containers and the storage and disposal of discarded containers presents problems as they are often manufactured from plastics material which will not readily compress into a small volume when unrestrained.

Similary, the neat, safe, hygenic and efficient disposal of cigarette ends and cigarette ash has proved to be a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided a rubbish container including a casing having a lid with an aperture therein which is closable or partly closable by at least one segment hingedly mounted to the container and resiliently biassed towards the closed position.

Preferably the rubbish container includes an outside casing having a removable lid with an aperture therein and a removable lining member within the container adapted to receive rubbish passed through said aperture.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional elevation of one form of rubbish container; Figure 2 shows a plan of a container of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a sectional eleveation of a second form of rubbish container; Figure 4 shows a plan of the container of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an arrangement combining the rubbish container of Figures 1 and 3 in a single assembly; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a modified rubbish container; Figure 7 is an exploded view of a container of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a sectional elevation of another form of rubbish container; and Figure 9 shows a plan view of the container of Figure 8.

The rubbish container shown in Figures 1 and 2 is intended for the reception of wrapping papers, cigarette packets, bags and other packaging materials and comprises a plastics outer container 10 having an annular snap-on lid 12 provided with a circular aperture in which rests a closure assembly 14 comprising a rim 16 from which projects inwardly directed segments 18, which may be formed from resilient plastics material formed integrally with the rim 16.

A disposable plastics lining bag 20 is fixed to the rim 16 by any suitable means, preferably by welding or any other permanent attachment.

In operation the container is placed on a table and any used packaging materials are stored in the lining bag 20 by introducing them through the resilient segments 18 which, on being pressed downwardly, deflect to the side to allow the rubbish to pass therethrough. As more rubbish is introduced into the container it becomes compressed and a relatively large amount of rubbish can be contained in a container of small dimensions.

Figure 3 shows a modified container suitable for use as an ashtray. It has an outer container 10 which is of similar shape and design to the container 10 shown in Figure 1. In addition it has a lid 12 similar to that of the Figure 1 embodiment, but in the aperture of the lid there is placed a cigarette holding rim 22 having indentations 24 for cigarettes and a relatively large central aperture 26 leading into a downwardly converging cone 28 which projects into the bag 20.

To ensure that cigarette ends inserted into the container by way of the cone 28 are extinguished a layer 30 of an extinguishing material, for example water, is provided in the base of the bag.

It will be realised that with both the embodiments illustrated with respect to Figures 1 and 3, when the bag becomes full or it is required to dispose of it, all that is necessary is to lift the bag with the upper assembly 14 (22) through the aperture in the lid 12 and dispose of the whole assembly. The container can be made ready for use again by fitting a replacement assembly.

In a modification shown in Figure 5 a combined lid 32 for both containers 10 is provided so that a rubbish container and ashtray can be mounted in side-by-side relationship on a table or bar top.

Figures 6 and 7 show a further combined ashtray and rubbish container. In this embodiment the rubbish container is similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and as a result similar reference numerals will be used for corresponding components. It will be noticed that the lid 12' is of a modified form, but the assembly of closure 14 and bag 20 remains the same. The base of the container 10 is provided with an inwardly directed circular recess which accommodates the upper end of the pillar member 34, the lower end being accommodated in a corresponding recess 36 and in a boss 38 formed from the base of the standard ashtray 40 on which the rubbish container is mounted.

The modified rubbish container shown in Figures 8 and 9 has an inverted frusto-conical casing 50 formed from coated card or thin semi-rigid plastics material. It has an open base and a lid 52 fixed to its top by adhesive, or in the case of the plastics material container the lid is formed integrally with the remainder of the casing. The lid 52 has a circular opening 54 of relatively small diameter from which extend radial slots 56 each of which terminates in a circular extension 58 thereby defining four segments 60 which, due to the inherent resilience of the material forming the lid, are biassed to the closed position shown in the drawings. The shape of the casing is such that it can be nested within other similar casings for storage and transportation.

In use each has a base fitted thereto. The base 62 is formed from a thermoplastic and has an upper opening corresponding to the base opening of the casing 50. Suitable corresponding joint structures 64,66 are formed on the casing and base so that the base can be fitted to the casing to form an enclosed structure. It is desirable that the joint is of the "self-destruct" type so that if the base 62 is removed from the casing, the base, the casing or both are damaged thus preventing re-use.

In certain instances an outer nestable ceramic or other material cover 68 can be used to surround the container, the cover having an open top 70 and a flanged base 72.

Various other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, for example in the Figures 1 to 7 embodiments alternative means can be used for mounting the disposable bag. Modified means can be provided for supporting the closure members and the closure members need not be of the form shown in Figures 1 and 3, for example a hinged flap could be provided in place of the hinged segments 18 and an arrangement other than the cone 28, for example spring urged flaps, may be provided in the ashtray.

Claims

1. A rubbish container including a casing having a lid with an aperture therein which is closable or partly closable by at least one segment hingedly mounted to the container and resiliently biassed towards the closed position.

2. A rubbish container as claimed in claim 1, including an outside casing having a removable lid and a removable lining member within the container adapted to receive rubbish passed through said aperture.

3. A rubbish container as claimed in claim 2, in which the removable lining has its mouth or opening attached to the lid around said aperture.

4. A rubbish container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a pluraiity of inwardly directed segments are hinged to the periphery of the lid.

5. A rubbish container as claimed in claim 1, in which the casing is frusto-conical.

6. A rubbish container as claimed in claim 5, in which the lid is a separately formed member permanently fixed to the casing.

7. A rubbish container as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which the casing and/or the lid is formed from coated card.

8. A rubbish container as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, in which an open-topped base is provided to close off the open bottom of the casing.

9. A rubbish container as claimed in claim 8, in which the base is formed from thin plastics material by thermoforming.

10. A rubbish container including an outside casing having a removable lid with an aperture therein and a removable lining member within the container adapted to receive rubbish passed through said aperture.

11. A rubbish container as claimed in claim 10, in which the removable lining has its mouth or opening attached to the lid around said aperture.

12. A rubbish container as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which a downwardly directed conical member is fitted in the aperture and projects downwardly into the container.

13. A rubbish container as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, including an extinguishing layer in the base of the lining.

14. A rubbish container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4, or Figure 5, or Figures 6 and 7 or Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.

15. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.