GB2214492A - Receptacles - Google Patents

Abstract

A receptacle for collecting and transporting materials such as tools, garden and household waste materials includes a generally flat floor section 1, a pair of sides 2 each of whose height increases from the open front of the receptacle towards the rear thereof, and a rear wall 3 which extends upwardly from the receptacle floor 1 to close off the rear of the receptacle. The receptacle also includes means 6 by which it can be supported at two or more different heights above ground level on an elongate support. <IMAGE>

Description

Inprovements in and relating to Receptacles This invention relates to receptacles for collecting and transporting, for example, tools, debris and/or waste materials and more especially, but not exclusively, to receptacles for collecting for disposal waste vegetation such as grass cuttings, prunings, hedge clippings and other waste products. The invention also has application to receptacles for collecting other disposable materials that may be produced during, for example, house improvements and decoration.

It is customary for gardeners to dispose of waste vegetation such as grass cuttings, prunings and hedge trimmings in plastic sacks or the like. Whilst the use of such sacks may be practicable when collecting and removing debris present on the ground, there are many other occasions where the use of sacks and the like is impracticable. In particular, there are few collection receptacles which can be used effectively when working up ladders; for example during hedge trimming or house exterior decoration or modernisation.

At the present time, it is customary for gardeners to allow trimmed hedge cuttings to fall onto the ground for collection at a later time or to collect such debris on plastic sheets placed on the ground below where they are working. Whereas, the presence of such a sheet eases, to a large extent, the problem of collecting debris from, for example, a flower bed, the presence of a sheet can, in itself, be disadvantageous in that its weight can damage plants and flowers over which the sheet lies.

The present invention sets out to provide a receptacle which at least alleviates the problems referred to above.

According to the present invention, there is provided a receptacle for collecting and transporting materials such as tools, garden and household waste materials, which receptacle includes a generally flat floor section, a pair of sides each of whose height increases from the open front of the receptacle towards the rear thereof, and a rear wall which extends upwardly from the receptacle floor to close off the rear of the receptacle, the receptacle including means for connection to an elongate support by which the receptacle can be supported at two or more different heights above ground level.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a receptacle in accordance with the invention; Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a plan view from above and a rear view of the receptacle illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the receptacle illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 when mounted on an elongate support member; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a receptacle mounted upon an elongate support member.

The receptacle illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 includes a generally flat floor surface 1, two sides 2 each of whose height increases from the front towards the rear of the receptacle and a generally curvilinear rear wall 3 which extends upwardly from the receptacle floor to close off the rear of the receptacle. As will be seen from Figure 1, in side elevation, the receptacle is of generally triangular configuration with the flat floor section 1 capable of engaging the ground or other generally flat surface when the receptacle is used at ground level.

In plan view, the receptacle is generally of rectangular configuration and, as will be seen from Figure 3, the side walls 2 taper inwardly to enable several receptacles to be stacked for display purposes.

The upper surface of the receptacle is preferably open but can, if required, either be partially or fully closed by a fixed or removable lid when transporting collected debris from the point of collection to the point of disposal. In addition, the receptacle may be provided with a spanning tray or ledge 4 to carry tools and the like (e.g. hedge clippers).

The receptacle includes a handle 5 which, in its lowered position, may define the tray 4 referred to above.

The shape of the receptacle described is such that, when used at ground level, it seats in a stable manner on the ground with its flat floor surface 1 and the lip 5 thereof in contact with the ground and its rear wall upstanding. When so sited, garden refuse, plants and the like can readily be introduced into the receptacle from above or can be swept into the receptacle over the lip 5.

As will be seen from Figure 1, the two side walls 2 of the receptacle are formed with recessed lugs 6 capable of receiving the upper ends of a support member 8. The lugs may be formed integrally with the receptacle sides; or may be connected to the side walls for relative angular movement thereto. Thus the lugs may be carried by spindles passing through apertures formed in the receptacle side walls; the degree of such relative movement may be controlled by rachet mechanisms associated with each spindle.

The member 8 forms an extension of a telescopic pole member 9 whose length can be varied by sliding an inner pole member 10 within an outer pole member 11 and positioning a peg 12 through complementary holes formed in the two pole members. The upper end of the pole member 9 is shaped to define upwardly extending arms 13 which cooperate with the lugs 6 to support the receptacle. These arms 13 may be integral with the outer pole member 10, or may be separable therefrom. Thus, the arms may at their lower ends form a sliding fit into the upper open end of the pole. The arms 13 may be formed in two separable pieces or as one unit.

The inner member 10 has a splayed foot 14 which, in use, engages the ground. Thus, the length of the pole and, consequently, the height of the receptacle when carried by the hole can be varied to suit any given working height.

Thus, the receptacle described can be used either at ground level or at heights above ground level depending upon the particular circumstances involved.

Wheels or skids may be carried on the underside of the foot 14 for ease of movement. Similarly, wheels or skids may be mounted on the underside of the flat floor surface 1 of the receptacle.

Thus, when a gardener needs to trim a hedge, the height of the receptacle can be raised by mounting it on the extendable pole so that hedge trimmings can fall directly into the open top of the receptacle thereby obviating the need to clear these trimmings from flower beds etc. once the task has been completed. When full, the receptacle is merely either lifted off from the elongate pole (or carried with the pole) and transported to the waste disposal point.

In use, as will be seen from Figure 5, the pole mounted receptacle is inclined against, for example, a hedge with its front lip engaging and possibly encroaching into the hedge for ease of loading. When working at ground level, the receptacle is placed on the ground with its lip 5 protruding into the base of the hedge. One or more side walls 2 may be selectively removable for ease of emptying the receptacle.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is merely exemplary of one receptacle in accordance with the present invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention. Thus, the shaping of the receptacle can be varied, the important criteria being the presence of a flat floor which when sited on the ground gives stability to the receptacle, and some means by which the receptacle can be supported above ground level by an extendable or variable length support member.

Thus, in an unillustrated embodiment, the elongate support member merely comprises a series of elongate members which can selectively be joined to produce an integral member of differing heights. Also, the manner by which the receptacle is supported on the elongate member can take a variety of forms. Thus, it might be supported from below instead of from its sides.

Furthermore, the length and/or breadth of the receptacle may be variable by providing add-on sections or permitting relative sliding movement between the respective walls which define the receptacle.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. A receptacle for collecting and transporting materials such as tools, garden and household waste materials, which receptacle includes a generally flat floor section, a pair of sides each of whose height increases from the open front of the receptacle towards the rear thereof, and a rear wall which extends upwardly from the receptacle floor to close off the rear of the receptacle, the receptacle including means for connection to an elongate support by which the receptacle can be supported at two or more different heights above ground level.

2. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the side walls are of generally traiangular configuration and wherein the rear wall is generally curvilinear.

3. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the side walls taper inwardly to enable the receptacle to be stacked above another such receptacle.

4. A receptacle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 further comprising a removable lid for selectively closing off the open top of the receptacle.

5. A receptacle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the connection means comprises recessed lugs located on the outer face of each side wall.

6. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the lugs are carried by spindles which pass through apertures formed in the receptacle side walls, the angular setting of the spindles being adjustable with respect to the receptacle side walls.

7. A receptacle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 further comprising a pole whose length can selectively be varied, the upper end of the pole including a pair of outwardly diverging arms whose ends co-operate with the recessed lugs to support the receptacle above ground level.

8. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the pole comprises at least two telescopically mounted pole sections.

9. A receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.