GB2310995A

GB2310995A - Cupboard mounted waste bin

Info

Publication number: GB2310995A
Application number: GB9605521A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Geoffrey Green
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-03-15
Filing date: 1996-03-15
Publication date: 1997-09-17
Also published as: GB9605521D0

Abstract

A waste bin is mounted on a cupboard door, the door being attached at its lower edge by a horizontal hinge, so that the bin is accessible by normal tilting open of the door. The bin is removably attached to the door by a bracket so that the bin rests on the floor of the cupboard when the door is closed, thus relieving the hinges of the weight of the bin. The fully open position may be adjustably defined by a hook member, the end of which inside the cupboard is threaded to take a nut acting as an adjustable stop as shown. The bin may take liners of various sizes, optionally having a series of slots towards the rear of the top edge of its side walls to accommodate the different sizes. A lid for the bin may be mounted within the cupboard so that it is left behind when the door is opened and automatically re-engaged when the door is closed.

Description

CUPBOARD MOUNTED WASTE BIN This invention relates to the mounting of a waste bin inside a cupboard.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of mounting a waste bin onto a cupboard door in such a way that it is very easily accessible, does not put undue strain on the hinges, has very few moving parts and is very simple to manufacture.

A full embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective a cupboard with the bin attached.

Figure 2 shows the same in side view.

Figure 3 shows the detail of a sample bracket for fixing the waste bin to the cupboard door.

Figure 4 shows the detail of a sample means of allowing the bin to accept bin liners of varying sizes.

Figure 5 shows a sample device for holding the cupboard in the fully open position.

Figure 6 shows a sample means of incorporating a self opening and closing lid to the bin.

The main feature of the design is that it can be mounted on the inside of a normal cupboard door which is attached to the carcass of the cupboard by hinges placed at its bottom edge. In all other respects this door can be completely standard, including its external appearance and means of opening.

The bin can be of any suitable material, such as wood, metal or plastic. It can be permanently fixed by the use of screws or bolts (not illustrated) or can be mounted onto a bracket in such a way that it can simply be lifted off. Figure 3 shows an example of such a bracket and detail of the part of the bin which would fit onto it. If necessary, two such brackets could be fitted, one above the other, for greater stability.

The bin can be fitted at such a height on the rear of the door that as the door returns to its fully closed position the weight of the bin rests on the floor of the cupboard, thereby removing any strain from the hinges and other fittings. This is particularly simple if a fitting bracket similar to that shown in Figure 3 is adopted.. As the door closes and the bin touches the base of the cupboard it rises slightly from the fitting bracket, thereby ensuring that none of its weight remains borne by the door, hinges or other fittings.

The bin can be made to such a size that its rim is the correct dimension for a specific size of bin liner to be stretched over it. Alternatively, it can be designed in such a way that it can take bin liners of different sizes. Figure 4 shows an example of how this could be achieved.

As the cupboard door is pulled open the weight of the bin will automatically return it to the normal, closed position and keep it there. When pulled forwards beyond its point of balance the weight of the door and the bin act so as to open it further. The point of balance can be altered by considering the relative weight of the various components and the addition of extra weight where necessary. To prevent the door falling open completely it is necessary to fit a restraining device to stop it at a chosen point. This can take any suitable form, such as a simple piece of string or cord fitted between the back of the door and the carcass of the cupboard (not illustrated).

Figure 5 shows an alternative device which takes the form of a rigid hook attached to a loop on the back of the door and passed through a hole in a plate attached to the edge of the carcass of the cupboard. The end of the hook inside the cupboard is threaded to take a nut or other device to act as an adjustable stop preventing the door from opening beyond a chosen point. Horizontal Section Sample A in Figure 5 shows the mounting where there is little overlap between the edge of the door and the inside edge of the carcass of the cupboard. Horizontal Section Sample B in Figure 5 shows an alternative fitting of the same item where there is greater overlap between the same two items and therefore the hook can pass directly through the carcass of the cupboard.

Whatever form of restraint is used should be adjustable to allow for the use of different sizes of bin liner. For larger bin liners the door would be allowed to open further, allowing access to the rear edge of the bin liner for removal and replacement. For smaller bin liners the door would be allowed to open less, ensuring that there is no gap between the rear of the bin liner and the edge of the cupboard into which waste could fall.

The restraint must also be easily detachable. This allows the door to be opened completely for the bin to be removed for cleaning.

Because the whole of the cupboard is used to contain the bin the cupboard door performs a similar function to the lid of a normal waste bin; namely keeping the contents out of sight, providing a level of security and preventing odours from escaping. As an alternative it is possible to provide for a lid which fits directly onto the bin itself and is opened and closed automatically by the action of opening and closing the cupboard door.

Figure 6 illustrates an example of such a lid. It is held in place by a horizontal hinged arm and as the cupboard is opened the profiled upper edge of the bin raises the lid. The supporting arm can be made in such a way that its length can be adjusted to allow for cupboards of different depths. The lid can be kept closed either by its own weight or by fitting a spring to the hinge in such a way that it pushes the lid downwards.

Claims

1 A waste bin which can be mounted directly onto a cupboard.door, which door is attached at its lower edge by the use of normal hinges, in such a way that it is very easily accessible by the normal operation of the door without requiring additional brackets, levers or other mechanisms.

2 A waste bin as claimed in Claim 1 wherein it may be mounted onto a cupboard door in such a way that its weight is not borne by the hinges of the door when not in use.

3 A waste bin as claimed in Claim 1 wherein it may be used with bin liners of different sizes.

4 A waste bin as claimed in Claim 1 wherein it may be provided with an adjustable device to hold it in any desired position when open without requiring the use of a hand to hold it.

5 A waste bin as claimed in Claim 1 wherein it may be provided with a lid which opens automatically when the bin is in use and closes automatically when the bin is not in use.