GB2251545A - Smoker's litter bin - Google Patents

Abstract

A smokers litter bin comprising two separate chambers, each with their own point of entry. One chamber 11 holds smokers litter such as cigarette ends and the other 10 holds litter. The 'smokers' chamber 11 is constructed from non-combustible material(s), and means may be provided, by way of a sealing flap, to exclude oxygen helping prevent combustion. Thus an ashtray and litter bin for indoor or outdoor use, are available together in one unit, with the facility of both chambers contents being separated but allowing their combined disposal when required. <IMAGE>

Description

SMOKERS LlTTJR BIN This invention relates to a smokers litter bin.

Litter bins are well known and used for the collection of litter, and are sited at numerous and appropiate locations, both indoors and outdoors.

Ashtrays are also well known and used for the collection of cigar butts, cigarette butts and spent matches. Ashtrays are almost exclusively sited indoors, but very occasionally they can be seen outdoors, usually as a tray combined with, and on top of, a litter bin. The ashtray and litter bin having to be emptied separately. Very rarely a sand bucket or similar is provided outdoors, for use as an ashtray and/or collection point for cigar butts, cigarette butts and spent matches.

Cigar and cigarette butts if discarded into a litter bin could cause a small fire by igniting the litter, which does occur albeit infrequently.

Because ashtrays are extremely rare outdoors, the majority of smokers discard their cigar butts, cigarette butts and spent matches on the ground, thus avoiding the risk of starting a fire in a litter bin. This constitutes litter, looks unsightly and makes their collection difficult for cleansing operatives, especially on grass. Additionally -they could present a heal-th hazard to small children and animals.

According to the present invention there is provided a smokers' litter bin comprising of a smokers' chamber to collect and hold cigar butts, cigarette butts and spent matches, being made from non-combustible materials(s), and a separate litter chamber for collecting and holding litter, thus an ashtray and litter bin are together in one unit,and means may be provided either manually or automatically allowing the contents of both chambers to be disposed of together into a refuse collection vehicle by an appropiate operative, the said smokers' litter bin being manufactured as such, or exis-ting litter bins in use being converted to a smokers' litter bin by the fitting of a two chamber arrangement.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a lift off litter bin.

Fig. 2 shows a cross section of a lift off smokers' litter bin.

Fig. 2a shows an enlarged view of the automatic flap from Fig.2.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional front elevation of a two section litter bin.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section of a two section smokers' litter bin.

Fig. 4a shows an enlarged view of the hinged flap, from Fig. 4.

Fig. 4b shows an enlarged view of release mechanism, from Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of a two section smokers' litter bin, with a different chamber arrangement from the one shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the smokers' litter bin comprises of two separate chambers, the first chamber 10, being for litter which is deposited through aperture 12. The cigar butts, cigarette butts and spent matches are deposited at 13 and contained in the second chamber 11, which is made from non-combustible material(s). Existing litter bins can be constructed from a variety of materials, but the majority of bins manufactured today are made from a plastic type material. They may have an inner bin, also of a plastic, although sometimes this may be made from a metal and occasionally it is made in a wire basket type construction. Broadly speaking there are three types of litter bin known, they are i) open topped bin, (not shown), ii) two section bin (Sig. 3) and iii) lift off bin (Fig. 1).The open topped bin with no lid or aperture, can be blown over or knocked over spilling its contents, which defeats the object of its purpose. It is very basic, with no design qualities, and because of its disadvantages it is seldom seen today. There are litter bins in vse which may appear different in design to the other two bin types, but closer examination would reveal they are only a variation on these two bin types. Accordingly, it is not necessary to illustrate all the variations possible, allowing the simplest forms of lift off bin and two section bin to be shown in the drawings.

Virtually every variation of these two bin types would allow a simple re-design to incorporate two chambers creating a smokers' litter bin,into their new manufacture, as well as allow an easy conversion of existing bins to smokers' litter bins. The lift off bin shom in Fig. 1 which is well kno.m and used, is shown again in Fig. 2 with a cigarette chamber 1, and a litter c'namber 10, in an inner and outer chamber arrangetrent. However an upper and lower chamber arrangement could have been shown.This bin type is emptied by releasing the locking device 15, which allows the outer casing 16, to be lifted off the base 14, revealing the inner bin 17. This action on the smokers' litter bin shown in Fig. 2, would cause the weight of cigarettes collected at 18, to open the flap 19, which is hinged at 20, allowing the cigarette chamber's contents to empty into the litter chamber. Thus both chambers' contents are together for convenient disposal into a refuse collection vehicle. The outer casing is then replaced onto the base, and since the cigarette chamber is now empty, the weight 21, closes the flap 19, automatically. Detail of the hinged flap which provides automatic emptying of the cigarette chamber is shown in Fig. 2a, which is an enlarged view from Fig. 2.The two section bin shown in Fig. 3 is also well known and used, and is shown again in Fig. 4 with a cigarette chamber 11, and a litter chamber 10, in an upper and lower chamber arrangement.

However, an inner and outer chamber arrangement could have been shown. Fig.

4 shows the two section bin has a top section 23 with cigarette chamber,a and a base section 22, being the litter chamber. An inner bin which would then be the litter chamber, could be used inside the base section, although it is not shown in the drawings.The two chambers being separated by a flap 32, which is held against a deflector plate 27, fixed around the inside of the top section, to make a tight seal and prevent the cigarette chamber contents fouling the hinge 24 and retaining bolt 26.The flap,being retained by this bolt with a release device 25 which may be key operated, is dish shaped in the drawings which would help prevent cigarette butts collecting directly below the point of their deposit 13.The invention is not restricted to having a dish shaped flap, and it may be extended to the use of any shaped flap which may prove advantageous.An enlarged view of the hinged flap detail in Fig. 4 is shown in Fig. 4a and an enlarged view of the bolt detail in Fig. 4 is shown in Fig. 4b. This bin type is emptied by operation of the release device 25, which causes bolt 26 to withdraw allowing the flap 32 to drop, emptying the contents of the cigarette chamber into the litter chamber. The top section 23 is lifted off the base section 22, and the contents of both chambers are together in the litter chamber for convenient disposal into a refuse collection vehicle. The bolt 26 may be spring loaded having a latch operation, allowing the flap to be pushed back against deflector plate 27, and held in position by the bolt 26 springing back which would allow closure without the use of a key, should key operation be the means of activating the release device 25. The top section is then placed back onto the base section. The release device 25 could incorporate means of iocking the two sections together or independent means could be provided should it be required.The invention is not restricted to the designs of chambers, or method of combining the chambers' contents together for disposal, as shown in the drawings, as the invention may be extended to include any design of two chambered arrangement and/or means of emptying the chambers, which may prove advantageous. Some operators emptying bins use a plastic bin lining bag inside the base section (22, Fig. 3), or inside the inner bin (17, Fig. 1), or inside an inner bin if used inside the base section of a two section bin (not shown).This holds the litter, and allows the plastic bin lining bag to be removed for disposal into a refuse collection vehicle and replaced with another. The smokers' litter bins shown in Figs. 2 and 4 would allow this same facility should it be required.Fig. 5 shows a variation on the inner and outer chamber arrangement which was shown in Fig. 2, this time on a two section type bin, This variation would not allow the use of plastic bin lining bags but would be particularly useful where the bin is emptied directly into a refuse collection vehicle.Big. 5 shows a cigarette chamber in two sections the upper section 29 being fixed to the bin. top section 23, and slotting into the lower section 30 which is fixed to the bottom of the bin's base section 22. Obviously if an inner bin was used, the lower section 30 would be fixed to the inner bin, but this is not shown in -Fig. 5.It may be found advantageous to provide a sealing flap which could be activated by weight or any other means, inside the cigarette chamber to help prevent combustion of lighted cigarettes etc. by excluding oxygen from the cigarette chamber. Although such means is not shown in the drawings, a suggested point for such a device is indicated by double dotted lines 28. As the smokers1 litter bin is designed primarily for outdoor use, it would be open to the elements and consequently rain would enter the cigarette chamber periodically This in all but the longest dry spells, would help prevent the chambers contents from becoming tinder dry, ensuring most of the time the contents were damp, which would prevent combustion. Periodic sprays of water could be given into the cigarette chamber during prolonged hot and dry weather should the need be felt.The smokers litter bin may be used indoors, however, precautions should be taken to ensure safety, as the contents of both chambers would not be disposed of directly into a refuse collection vehicle. The contents of both chambers should not be combined immediately after, or during use of, the smokers' litter bin, as a lighted cigarette may ignite the litter. For example, a smokers' litter bin sited in a theatres foyer should not be emptied during the performance or after the performance, it should be emptied before the doors are opened to the public, thereby emptying the contents of the previous day. Again water spraying could be adopted if required or thought necessary.Combustion of the litter by a lighted cigarette would not be possible, since they are in separate chambers, the cigarette chamber being manufactured from non-combustible material(s) allowing the use of any material(s) for the rest of the smokers' litter bin. At the point of disposal into a refuse collection vehicle, the cigarette chambers contents are combined with the litter chambers contents by the cleansing operative. Should a cigarette tha-t is still smoking, from possibly being deposited immediatcly before the cigarette chambers contents were combined with the litter, the remote possibility of combustion may exist.

As the combined contents of both chambers are about to be disposed of into the refuse collection vehicle, any smoking cigarette and/or litter begining combustion would be extinguished by the crushing and compressing actions of the refuse collection vehicle. This action would also exclude oxygen which is vital for combustion. It should be noted that all the designs of chamber arrangements shown in the drawings. are capable of being fitted to existing bins of both types and virtually all variations of both types with little difficulty. It is thought the lift off bin would accept the inner and outer chamber arrangement most easily. This could be achieved by cutting out a hole in the top of the outer casing, inserting the inner chamber assembly and securing by pop rivet 31 or other means.The two section bin could be converted by replacement of the top section shown in Fig. 3 with the top section assembly shown in Fig. 4. It is for these reasons that the drawings show Figs. 1 and 2 together on the same page, and Figs. 3 and 4 together on another page. But the invention is not restricted to such chamber arrangements being exclusively with the litter bin types as shown, for new manufacture or conversion as they are inter-changeable. The invention may be extended to include, any two chamber arrangement incorporated into any litter bin type, design or variation, be it for new manufacture or conversion of an existing bin.For example, the two section bin shown in Fig. 3 could be converted to a smokers litter bin by cutting a hole in the top section, inserting the cigarette inner chamber assembly (as in Fig. 2) and securing by pop rivet or other means. Also a top section containing cigarette upper chamber (as in Fig. 4) could be fitted on top of a lif-t off bin (Fig. 1 type), having cut a hole in the top of the outer casing, to allow the cigarette chamber flap to drop dotdn when required.

Again, it could be secured by pop rivet or any other means. These conversions which are not shotm in the drawings, together with those shown in the drawings, would not present difficulty since all on-site work would be minimal and would not require the use of power tools. It is envisaged that -the smokers' litter bin would only replace existing litter bins ( be it by replacement new or conversion) at appropiate locations, as there are many no smoking areas which would benefit by having a litter bin. However, there are many locations where a smokers' litter b-in could provide a point for collection of cigar butts, cigarette butts and spent matches as an alternative to the current widespread practice of discarding -them anywhere and everywhere. A smokers' litter bin would be environmentally fricndly and may offer financial savings to the cleansing budgets of local authorities as well as public and private enterprises. Such locations include outside entrances of underground tube stations, shops and cffice complexes which operate a no smoking policy. High streets, out of tom shopping areas, public recreation areas, holiday centres, seaside esplanades, theme parks and tourist attractions in general are some of the many locations which would also benefit from the facility a smokers' litter bin would offer.

Claims (1)

1) A smokers litter bin comprising of a smokers chamber to collect and hold cigar butts, cigarette ends and spent matches, being made from non-combustible material(s), and a separate litter chamber for c@llecting an holding litter, thus an ashtray and litter bin are t@gether in me unit, and means may be provided either manually or automatically allowin.; the contents of both chambers to be disposed of together.

2) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the two chambers are in an inner and outer chamber arrangement.

3) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the two chambers are in an upper and lower chamber arrangement.

4) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the bin design is of a lift off bn type.

5) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the design ii of e two section bi typed ) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 3 wherein the design is of a two section bin type.

7) @smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1 end Claim 3 wherein the design is of a lift off bin type.

8) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 and Claim 4 wherein Z locking device is used securing the outer case section to the base secti n.

9) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 4 and Claim .

wherein automatic means is provided to release the contents of the inner sm@kers chamberinto the outer litter chamber when required for combined disp@sal.

10) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 3, Claim 6 and Clai@ 7 wherein a release device is provided to allow the upper smokers chamber contents to drop into the lower litter chamber for combined disposal.

11) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1,Claim 2, Claim 4 and Claim 8 wherein the smokers chamber is in two sections, with the lower section fixed to the bins base and the upper section fixed to the bins top. The upper section slotting into the lower section to complete the smokers chamber.

12) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, and Claim 5 wherein the smokers chamber is in two sections with the lower section fixed to the bins base and the upper section fixed to the bins top. The upper seci slotting into the lower section to complete the smokers chamber; 13) A sm@kers litter bin as cl@imed in Claim 2, Claim 3, Claim 6, Claim 7 and Claim 10 wherein the release device, allowing the upper smokers chaber contents to drop into the lower litter chamber, incorporates a l@cking device to secure the bin sections together.

14) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 3, Claim (, Claim 7 and Claim 10 rherein independent means is provided to look the bin sections together.

15) A smokers litter bin es claimed in any preceding claim wherein a flap is provided in the smokers chamber to exclude oxygen and help prevent combustion.

16) A smokers litter bin as claimed in Claim 15 wherein the sealing flap is activated by weight or any other means.

17) A smokers litter bin as clairnea in any preceding claim wherein a two chamber arrangement is available as a conversion kit for fitment to existing litter bins allowing them to become smokers litter bins.

18) A smokers litter bin substantially as described herein with reference t:- Figures 1-5 of the accompanging drawings