GB2242349A

GB2242349A - Rubbish container

Info

Publication number: GB2242349A
Application number: GB9105524A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Graham Cowan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-03-27
Filing date: 1991-03-15
Publication date: 1991-10-02
Also published as: GB9105524D0

Abstract

A container comprises a receptacle (1) which is disengageably mounted into a base unit (2). In one form the base unit (2) is of the same general size and shape as the receptacle (1) but is slightly larger so that the receptacle (1) can slide inside and be effectively surrounded by the base unit (2). Rubbish generated during a meal can be placed in the container and the container can be removed from the base and disposed of when full. <IMAGE>

Description

NOVEL CONTAINERS Description The present invention relates to novel containers for holding rubbish generated during a meal and in particular to a novel container, comprising a receptacle and a base unit the receptacle being designed to hold rubbish.

Conventionally rubbish generated during the eating of a meal for example butter wrappings, used salt and sugar sachets, sauce cartons etc is either left to one side of a persons plate which is messy, untidy and soiling of the table covering or they are placed in an ashtray which is provided essentially to hold cigarette ash and is not adapted to hold the large quantity of rubbish that can be generated during a meal. Furthermore ashtrays are generally constructed of durable materials and are intended for re-use and therefore they need to have the rubbish cleaned out frequently which is labour intensive and expensive. Equally clearing loose rubbish from beside each persons' plate is labour intensive, expensive and the rubbish soils table covering which has to be replaced.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome all the disadvantages associated with such methods if any which there may be of dealing with rubbish generated during a meal.

According to the present invention there is provided a novel container, said container comprising a receptacle which is disengageably mounted into a base unit whereby in use the base unit remains on a surface where a meal is being eaten whilst the said receptacle can, when full of rubbish, be removed and replaced by an empty container.

Referring now to the receptacle this can be any suitable shape including for example a round or, square receptacle. A suitable receptacle will include for example a round top, the top having a greater diameter than the bottom to facilitate stacking for purposes of packaging, obviously different size receptacles can be used to cope with different amounts of rubbish from different sizes of table. Suitably the receptacles will be made of light inexpensive materials such as plastics or cardboard which will mean that the receptacle is both lightweight, disposable, and cheap to manufacture.

Preferably the receptacles will be suitably tapered so as to allow them to be stacked or "nested" inside each other to facilitate delivery to and storage in the restaurant, cafe etc where they are to be used.

Indeed it is to be expected that advertisers may well provide both receptacles and containers, suitably printed with advertising material, without charge to the user be this a fast food chain, hotel, restaurant, cafe, public house or any other place where food and beverages are served. The free replacement of the receptacles would ensure that the advertisers name and products were brought instantly and continuously to the attention of the public.

It is common in restaurant chains and the like to run short-term promotions offering competitions, free holidays, etc and these promotions typically take the form of cardboard self-standing printed cubes or pyramids which occupy table space which already can be at a premium and which serve no purpose other than these promotions. This invention provides opportunity for such short-term promotions while at the same time having the useful function of collection and disposal of table rubbish.

In one embodiment of the present invention the bottom of the said receptacle will be adapted to be disengageably mounted within a base unit. This is achieved in this design by the bottom of the said receptacle being inserted into a suitable aperture in the base unit. The dimensions of the said aperture being slightly larger than the dimensions of the bottom of the receptacle such that the receptacle can be readily inserted into and removed from the base unit whilst at the same time being held upright and stable in the base unit when in use.

In this particular embodiment the base unit is preferably manufactured of metal or dense plastic material or wood and is positioned on the surface but not attached to it. Its purpose is loosely to embrace the receptacle and to give it such support as to ensure that it is kept upright while being filled and--when filled. Preferably the base unit will have printing or labels applied to it for advertising purposes.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the base unit is of the same general size and shape as the receptacle but is slightly larger so that the receptacle can slide inside the base unit, the base unit effectively surrounding the said receptacle. Thus if the receptacle were square the base unit in this embodiment would be square with internal dimensions slightly larger than the outer dimensions of the receptacle. In this embodiment the base unit will preferably be manufactured of a material of sufficient density to prevent it being accidentally knocked over.

Suitably the receptacle should have a lip around the outside of its upper surface to provide rigidity to the structure of the receptacle.

It will be appreciated that the same receptacle could advantageously be placed in either of the two embodiments of the base units described above. Furthermore the second embodiment of the base unit described above can have promotional material such as advertising placed on its sides.

Furthermore the receptacle of the present invention is preferably made of a fireproof or flame retardant material.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings wherein Figure 1 shows a side and plan view of a receptacle of round section of the present invention, Figure 2 shows a side and plan view of the one embodiment of a base unit of the present invention suitable to accommodate the receptacle illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 3 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a base unit of the present invention and Figure 4 shows a side view of a further embodiment of a base unit and receptacle of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 this shows a side and plan view of a receptacle 1 of the present invention. In this particular embodiment the receptacle 1 is a round plastic disposable cup having a bottom 2 which is adapted to be put into a base unit (shown in Figure 2).

Ref erring now to Figure 2 this shows a side view and a plan view of a base unit 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment the base unit is made of a durable heavy material such as dense plastic or metal. The base unit has an aperture, 4, which in this particular embodiment is wider, by about 4 mm, than the bottom, 2, of the receptacle 1 thus allowing the receptacle 1 to be easily placed into and removed from the base unit 3.

Referring now to Figure 3 this shows an alternative embodiment of a base unit 3 wherein the base unit 3 is square and tall and will nearly envelope a receptacle (not shown) placed inside it. The outer dimensions of the said receptacle being slightly less than the inner dimensions of the base unit 3. Promotional material can be displayed on the side 6 of the base unit 3. It will be appreciated that the base units of this particular embodiment, and indeed of any embodiment of the present invention can be of any suitable cross-section including squares, triangles and circles.

Referring now to Figure 4 this shows a base unit 3 enclosing a receptacle 1 which is square in cross sections and slightly smaller than the base unit 3 which it fits. In this embodiment the receptacle has a stiffening ring 41 applied to the outer surface of the receptacle.

Claims

1. Novel container, said container comprising, a receptacle which is disengageably mounted into a base unit whereby in use the base unit remains on a surface where a meal is being eaten whilst the said receptacle can, when full of rubbish, be removed and replaced by an empty container.

2. A container according to Claim 1, wherein the receptacle is tapered so as to allow it to be stacked or "nested" with other similar receptacles to facilitate delivery and storage.

3. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the receptacle is adapted for its bottom to be inserted into an aperture in the base unit.

4. A container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the base unit is of the same general size and shaped as the receptacle but is slightly larger so that the receptacle can slide inside the base unit, the base unit effectively surrounding the receptacle.

5. A container substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

6. A container substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.