GB2261096A - Waste receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

A waste bin comprising a base (10) and an inlet hood assembly (12) detects waste articles deposited therein, by means of detector means (22) including a sensor (30) and intermittently issues tickets, tokens or the like to persons depositing articles, which are redeemable for some form of prize, so as to encourage use of the bin. An inlet throat (20) inside the hood (12) is so configured and the sensor (30) so located therein that the sensor (30) cannot be triggered unless an article is released to fall into the base (10). The bin preferably includes a counter (24) incremented by the detector (22) and adapted to issue tickets in accordance with predetermined rules; eg when a randomly generated number is reached. <IMAGE>

Description

"Waste Receptacle" The present invention relates to waste receptacles for the deposit of litter or other waste, including recyclable waste articles such as bottles or cans.

Waste receptacles in accordance with the invention are intended to encourage the responsible disposal of litter and other waste by intermittently rewarding depositors with a ticket or the like which is redeemable for some type of prize.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a waste bin comprising container means for the receipt of waste articles, the container having an inlet aperture whereby articles may be deposited in the container, detector means for detecting articles entering said container via said inlet aperture, and dispenser means responsive to said detector means for issuing tickets, tokens or the like to depositors of waste articles in accordance with predetermined rules.

Preferably, said inlet aperture is formed in a hood assembly attached to said container means, said hood assembly including an inlet throat extending from said inlet aperture inside said hood such that articles deposited in said inlet aperture pass through said throat into said container means, said detector means being located in said throat.

Preferably also, said throat is so shaped and said detector means is so located in said throat that the detector means will not be triggered unless an article inserted into said inlet aperture is released to fall into said container means.

Preferably also, said throat has a generally serpentine configuration, said detector means being located at a point therein which cannot be reached by an article inserted into said inlet aperture unless said article is released to fall through the throat.

Preferably also, the serpentine configuration of throat is further adapted to direct articles passing therethrough towards said detector means Preferably also, said throat is provided with deflector means located opposite said detector means to deflect articles passing down said throat so as to trigger said detector means.

Preferably also, said dispenser means includes counter means adapted to be incremented by the detection of articles by said detector means.

Preferably also, said detector means includes trigger means responsive to articles passing down said throat so as to increment said counter means The trigger means may be mechanical or electronic, and may be triggered by contact, pressure, light, sound or a combination thereof.

The counter means may be mechanical, electronic or electro-mechanical, and the counter, the dispenser and/or the detector may be powered by a solar panel, a battery or by a mechanical clockwork mechanism.

Preferably, said dispenser means issues a ticket, token or the like when the number reached by said counter matches a predetermined, randomly generated number.

Preferably also, said dispenser means further includes audible alarm means adapted to sound when a ticket, token or the like is issued.

Preferably also, the dispenser means further includes second counter means adapted to be incremented whenever a ticket, token or the like is issued.

Preferably also, said container means includes a waste receptacle enclosed by a casing upon which said hood assembly is mounted.

Preferably also, said casing includes a door allowing access for emptying said waste receptacle. Where the mechanisms of the bin are of the clockwork type, mechanical linkages may be provided such that opening said door and/or removing the waste receptacle for emptying effects re-winding of the drive spring of the mechanisms.

The hood assembly may be hingeably attached to said casing such that the hood assembly comprises the access door of the casing.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a hood assembly including an inlet aperture, throat, detector means and dispenser means of any of the types defined above, adapted to be mounted on an existing waste bin of conventional type.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Fig. 1 is a schematic, sectional side view of a first waste bin embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of an inlet/dispenser of the embodiments of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of a second waste bin embodying the invention Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a first waste bin embodying the invention, comprising a base portion or container means 10 and a hood assembly 12 mounted thereon The base 10 comprises an outer casing 14 enclosing a waste receptacle 16, in the form of a basket or the like, which is open at its upper end for the receipt of waste articles.The hood assembly 12 includes an inlet aperture 18, from which a shaped throat 20 extends downwardly inside the hood 12, terminating above the open end of the waste receptacle 16 Waste articles deposited in the inlet aperture 18 thus fall down through the throat 20 into the receptable 16.

The waste bin is adapted to detect articles deposited therein and to issue tickets, tokens or the like (hereinafter referred to simply as tickets) to persons depositing articles in the bin. For this purpose, detector means 22 are located in the throat 20 to detect articles passing through the throat after being deposited in the inlet aperture 18, and dispensing means 24 are provided (suitably located adjacent the inlet aperture 18), being responsive to the detector means to issue tickets to depositors in accordance with predetermined rules. The tickets (not shown) are issued from a slot 26 which might suitably be formed in a flange 28 surrounding the inlet aperture 30, by means of which the throat is fastened to the hood assembly (see Fig. 2).

The detector means 22 includes at least one sensor or trigger element 30 for detecting the articles passing through the throat 18, and may be of any suitable type capable of detecting the type(s) of article which the bin is intended to receive. The detector means 22 may be mechanical, electronic or electro-mechanical and may be responsive to contact, pressure, light or sound, or a combination thereof. The dispensing means 24 may include a counter (not shown) adapted to be incremented in response to the detection of an article by the detector means 22, and a ticket is issued when, for example, the value of the counter matches a previously selected random number. The counter may be of any suitable mechanical, electronic or electro-mechanical type, and the dispenser means may be mechanically or electrically driven.The rules determining how and when tickets are issued may be varied widely according to circumstances and will not be described in greater detail herein.

The configuration of the throat 20 and the location of the detector means 22 therein are selected so as to ensure the free passage of articles, to maximise the probability that articles deposited will trigger the detector means 22, and to minimise the possibility of the detector means 22 being tampered with (for example, being repeatedly triggered by an object inserted into the inlet aperture 18). These aspects will now be discussed in greater detail.

In the present example, the throat 20 extends downwardly and rearwardly from the inlet aperture, gradually widening prior to a constriction 32 formed in its rearward surface, whereafter it widens again to form a bell-shaped outlet 34 above the receptacle 16.

The sensor or trigger 30 of the detector means 22 is located on the forward surface of the bell-shaped outlet 34 below the constriction 32, where'it cannot be reached by a stick or the like inserted into the inlet aperture 18. The bulge formed by the constriction 32 serves to deflect articles towards the trigger 30, as does a further deflection plate or ring 36 located below the constriction 32 and above the level of the trigger 30. It is not necessary that the detector be triggered by every article deposited in the bin; however it is preferred that the configuration of the throat and detector means be optimised to detect as high a proportion of articles as possible.

In order to minimise the possibility of articles becoming stuck in the throat 20, the diameter of the throat (b) at the constriction 32 is not less (and preferably greater) than the diameter (a) at the inlet 18, and the diameter (c) at the deflector plate 36 is not less (and preferably greater) than diameter (b).

The initial slope of the throat 20 is also made sufficiently steep to ensure that all articles slide down to drop into the receptacle 16.

As previously noted, the dispenser means 24 is responsive to the detector means 22, the two being operatively connected by a suitable mechanical, electrical or optical linkage, indicated schematically by broken line 38.

Where the detector 22 and dispenser 24 are electrically powered, the power source is preferably a battery or solar panel (not shown), in order to make the unit independent of the mains power supply.

Where the apparatus is mechanically driven, the power source may be in the form of a suitable clockwork escapment driven by a spring (not shown).

The lower casing 14 of the bin is further provided with a door 40 or the like, allowing access for emptying the receptacle 16. Where the apparatus is of a mechanical type, a suitable linkage (not shown) may operatively connect the door 40 or the receptacle 16 to the clockwork escapment such that opening the door or removing the receptacle causes the drive spring to be rewound.

The dispenser means 24 may also include an audible alarm to attract the attention of the depositor when a ticket is issued. The bin might further be provided with audible or visual signalling means (not shown) to indicate when the bin requires emptying.

Since the bin must contain a supply of tickets and since the tickets must necessarily be of some value, access to the tickets should be adequately secured.

The flange 28 may be mounted using round or snap-headed bolts and any suitable lock fitted to control access for replenishing the ticket supply, and suitable auditing practices applied to the handling of tickets.

The dispenser 24 may also be provided with a further counter (not shown) which is incremented whenever a ticket is issued, so that the number of tickets remaining in the bin can be tallied. This counter would be non-resettable and tamper proof, and would be checked and logged each time the tickets are replaced.

The invention may be applied to numerous types of private or public bins and waste receptacles, including general litter bins, skips, bottle banks and other receptacles for recyclable waste articles (in which case the detector means might be selected to respond preferentially to particular types of material). The receptacles might be purpose built to incorporate the invention, or else hoods may be constructed for retro-fitting to existing types of receptable, as is shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 3 a conventional bin 50 is fitted with a hood assembly 52 of suitable size and shape which includes an inlet aperture 54, throat 56, detector 58, dispenser 60, deflector 62 etc. as in the previous example. In this case the hood 52 might suitably be hinged to the basic bin 50 at 64 and secured closed by any suitable lock 66. Again, if the hood mechanisms are of the clockwork type then the drive spring might be rewound by the action of opening the hood 52 for access to the waste basket 68.

Waste units in accordance with the invention may be of a semi-portable nature for use at sporting and public events or in any area where there is a sufficient gathering of people to create excessive litter.

The tickets may be issued in accordance with any appropriate, predetermined rules, and may be redeemable for any type of prize or reward from the owner or operator of the bin, who might be a private trader or a local authority. The tickets may be of varying denominations with higher denominations being rarer and a single winning ticket being provided for a well-publicised jackpot prize. In the case of a municipally operated bin the tickets might provide credits for local council taxes or other prizes.

Privately operated bins might offer prizes in the form of free tickets for events at the premises where the bin is located (such as a sports stadium) or for discounts on goods or services. Independent operators might also co-operate in a jackpot scheme on a regional or national basis.

Waste bins in accordance with the invention thus encourage tidiness and the recycling of waste by offering an incentive for the public to dispose of the litter and recyclable waste responsibly.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (21)

1. A waste bin comprising container means for the receipt of waste articles, the container having an inlet aperture whereby articles may be deposited in the container, detector means for detecting articles entering said container via said inlet aperture, and dispenser means responsive to said detector means for issuing tickets, tokens or the like to depositors of waste articles in accordance with predetermined rules.

2. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said inlet aperture is formed in a hood assembly attached to said container means, said hood assembly including an inlet throat extending from said inlet aperture inside said hood such that articles deposited in said inlet aperture pass through said throat into said container means, said detector means being located in said throat.

3. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said throat is so shaped and said detector means is so located in said throat that the detector means will not be triggered unless an article inserted into said inlet aperture is released to fall into said container means

4 A waste bin as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said throat has a generally serpentine configuration, said detector means being located at a point therein which cannot be reached by an article inserted into said inlet aperture unless said article is released to fall through the throat.

5. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the serpentine configuration of said throat is further adapted to direct articles passing therethrough towards said detector means.

6. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said throat is provided with deflector means located opposite said detector means to deflect articles passing down said throat so as to trigger said detector means.

7. A waste bin as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6 wherein said container means includes a waste receptacle enclosed by a casing upon which said hood assembly is mounted.

8. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said casing includes a door allowing access for emptying said waste receptacle.

9. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the hood assembly is hingeably attached to said casing such that the hood assembly comprises the access door of the casing.

10. A waste bin as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein said dispenser means includes counter means adapted to be incremented by the detection of articles by said detector means.

11. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said detector means includes trigger means responsive to articles deposited in said bin so as to increment said counter means.

12. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 11, wherein said trigger means is mechanical or electronic, and is triggered by contact, pressure, light, sound or a combination thereof.

13. A waste bin as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 12, wherein said counter means is mechanical, electronic or electro-mechanical.

14 o A waste bin as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the counter, the dispenser and/or the detector are powered by a solar panel, a battery or by a mechanical clockwork mechanism.

15. A waste bin as claimed in Claim 14, including at least one clockwork powered mechanism, wherein mechanical linkages are provided such that opening an access door and/or removing the waste receptacle effects re-winding of a drive spring of the or each mechanism.

16. A waste bin as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 15, wherein said dispenser means issues a ticket, token or the like when the number reached by said counter matches a predetermined, randomly generated number.

190 A waste bin as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 16, wherein said dispenser means further includes audible or visual alarm means adapted to sound when a ticket, token or the like is issued.

18. A waste bin as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 13, wherein the dispenser means further includes second counter means adapted to be incremented whenever a ticket, token or the like is issued

19. A hood assembly as defined in any one Claims 2 to 6 adapted to be mounted on an existing waste bin so as to provide a waste bin as Claimed in any preceding Claim.

20. A waste bin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A waste bin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.