GB2340731A - Attaching an auxiliary bin to a wheelie bin - Google Patents

Abstract

A refuse bin assembly comprises a plastics container 1, having a hinged lid 2 and a handle 5, and a "S" shaped clip-hook 9 to enable the container 1 to be attached to a wheelie bin 8. One end of the "S" shaped clip-hook 9 defines a clip (11, figure 4) which is adapted to snap onto the, preferably cylindrical, handle 5 so as to be retained thereon and the other end defines a hook by means of which the container 1 can be hung from the edge of a wheelie bin 8. Preferably, the clip-hook 9, which can be arranged to fold away against a side of the container 1 when not in use, is fabricated from corrosion protected sheet steel and comprises three straight portions of flat sheet material (13,14,15) which in combination define the hook and which are formed integrally with the clip (11), which can be a spring clip and generally "C" shaped.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO REFUSE COLLECTION APPARATUS -!'his

invention relates to refuse collection apparatus arid. more especially but not exclusive it relates to household refuse collection bins.

fhe collection and disposal of household refuse is posing every increasing problems to those responsi ble for ii s Collection. One particular problem is a requirement that a predetermined percentage of certain specified recyclable maierials, such as p apeland plastics material, for example, should be separated from other household waste material and recycled. in order lo do this efficiently, it isvery- important if not essential, to have the co- 1 - operation and assistance of householders in separating specified materials from the other household waste material, so that it can be collected and thereafter processed to be re-used.

Various research studies into this general problem indicate that unless a system for collection is adopted which appeals to householders it is doomed to failure because it \iil not be used b-,.enough householders to make it an economic proposiiion.

For example, if plastic bags are made available which householders are encouraged to use in addixion tothe usual wheelie bin, the bags being pimided for the storage of paper and plastics mat erial, for example, it has been found tha! oni,% a relatively small percentage of householders involved conscientiously use the bags for -the purpose intended. Conscientious users of btags, -,end to be 'green minded' people with a social, conscience and mosi oi'- these wiP in anv case (iciiera-i'ik-2prefer to use recycling systems and xill need little encouragemew Z to develop the recycling habit.

it is an important object of i this invention to pro-\-ide for householders a refuse collection systein -x\-hicli encourages the z> separation of the recyclable maiterials by a large percentage o--. those using the system.

According to the present invention a refuse bin assemblY comprises a plastics container hak-ing a hinged lid, a handle, and an 'S' shaped cliphook, one end of which defines a dip which is 1 adapted to snap onto +the haridle so as to be re?i-jied thereon ank-i he orher end ol -k\,hich defines a hook by means of -i-!ich the container can be hung from the edge of a w-heelie 'bin.

When not ser,ing for this purpose, the clip-hook is preferable arranged to swing down so as to fold neazily By pro-\idinG a container of pleasing appearance whicIll (-an normallIV be kept conveniently to hand in Che klitchen, or alternativeh- -hung I - roin a wheelie bin, the user its therebv encouraged to use -khe container for the pu:-pose intended., --.e.

the storage of specified recyclathle wasie material until, refuse collection dav. On collection dav it s a simple matter for a nousehoider to hang +the filled container from ihe front edce,')i':"

their wheelie bin by the hook (if it is not normall-ly stored in Clis posii-ion),\--ni--is-. it is -\,heeled into position so as to be ready for emptx-iiig, biv a refuse collection opera-(,^-\-e, a si--)eciali compartment provided on a refuse colleciion vehicle for rec.-c'iabic.iale.-rial on-1V.

i he cli-p-hoo'-KI may be s'-iieet steel maierial.

The havidie may be genera'-,]--\- c-\,-!ridrica" and -ihe c!!p be fornieci soas ko define a generally shaped pornon deforms under pressure as it is pushed firnily against the handle so as to be a snap fit thereon and be firmly retained.

The clip-hook may, comprise three straigh! portions of flat sheet material which in combination define the hook and which are formed integrally,\i-,th the clip.

The hook may comprise a first portion, a second portion which extends approximately- at. right angles from ti-le 'Firsi portion, a third portion which is bent to form an angle \ith the second portion and which extends to 10 f rm a leg is approximatelil- parallel with the said first portion, the leg being formed, a! the end thereof to define -the clip.

One embodiment of the invention \vill no-w be described by way of example only with reference to the -.ccc)iiip,-tl,-ing drawings, wherein corresponding parts of the various Figures bear the same numerical designailons, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side -xiex. of a refuse bin asseniblv, FIGURE 2 is a front view of the bin assenibly in Fig-Lire 1 as vilewed from the direction indicated by an arro\-.-\:

FIGUIRE 3 is a side view of the refuse bin assenibiv as showii in Figure 1. hooked to a side of a wheelie bin:

FTIGURE7 4 is a side vIew of a clip-hook \-'-il-ich tornis a Par-, oi the assembh. as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and, FIGURE -5 is a front view of the cl.1p-hook s!,-io\-n in Figure -4.

-Referring no-s\- to the drawings, a refuse bin assemblycomprises a plastics con-tainer 1, having a plastics hinged which in Figure 1 is shox\Ti in an open position.-,,wid which in Figures 2 and 3 is shown iina closed posiiion.

in order to provide for hinging of the lid 2, the container i is fi-tted.,,-l-h a Iiandle assembly a p---:- of upsvanding - C- - 1 lugs 3, which are lockingliv ^fitted to and arranged to project in spaced apart relationship from an upper surface 4, of the container 1, the lugs 3 having integrally formed there\ith a tubular cylindrical plastics handle -5 which is supported between them.

2 In order to facilitate hinging of the lid 2, so that it pivots a-bout the handle 55, the lid 2 is provided -x\,-.,th a pair of spaced apart integrally formed hinge lugs () having holes formed therein It) ly ZY for receh-ing pivot inserts 7, which are anchored in the tubular handle 5, and on wItch the lid 2 is hinaed.

he container 11 is provided to-l-the collecti.on oi?--ec,,-ciane material such as paper and plastics and a householder \111 norrnally store the container 1 in a convenienz locatio-rl, per'-iia,-,--)s n the kitchen using it in addition to a wheelie bin 8 as shown in Figure 3, which is used for non-recyclablelhousehold waste material. On refuse collection da', ine wheelie bin 8 is placed bythe householder in a posizion convenient io reluse collection operatives.\ho call to enipty the wheelie bin 8.

In order to facilitate the transfer ofthe coniainer i along with the wheelie bin 8, a clip-hook 9 is provided attached to the container 1 bv means ol which it can be hunc, from the fron-, edoe y n, Sa of the wheelie bin 8 as shown in Figure 3. The clip-hook c) is fabricated from sheet steel material and formed at one end \i-vh a hook W and at the other end with a spring clip 1L 1_. In order to protect the clip-hook 9 against corrosion it Is gin-en a suitable t:- - C) proteciive coating and may be painted if so desired to match the colour of the container 1.

T is f i he spring clip 1 -itted to ihe container -1, by p-..ishincy ii agai.l--,-si the tubuiar hand e 5 so -kha,,, li de: S rmly retained thereon. It will to snap onto the handle 5 and be fi.. be readily appreciated that the dimensions of the spring clip I I must be carefulIv controlled having regard to the diameter ol the handle 5 so that snap fit assembly of the clip I I onto the tubular handle 5 is facilitated and so that the fit is such that the clip-hook 9 is firmly retained on the handle 5 whils-t being free to pivot thereon so as to fold neatly away against a rear side 12 of t-he container I when not in use.

Although various coni iguraTions for the shape of the c lip- hook 9 are possible, one particularly convenient Inook shape comprises straight portions 13, 14 and as shown in I-Figure 4, wherein the portions 13 and 14 are bent so as to subtend between them an angle of approxii-nately ninety degrees, and wherein the angle bet-ween the portions 14 and 15 is such as to facilitate the provision of a leg I () on The end ol \.vhich the clip 11 is I I-on.ned, tile leg 16 and the portion 13 of the hook beincy appro\imately mutually parallel. it N\Ili be appreciated that although ihe -leg 16 and the portion L3 are described as being approximately parallel, it may generally be preferable for them to tend to slightiv converge and similarly although the angle between the portions I Z:2 13 and 14 is described as being approximately ninety degrees, this is intended to include small angular dexiations as shown in Figure 4, wherein the angle between the portions 13 and 14 is somewhat less than a right angle.

It wih be appreciated that i-I, is desirable that the containe.- 1 should be fonned to have a generallY aesthetically pleasing appearance as shm\-n, so that at the option of a householder it mav either be left permanently hung from the front of a wheelie bin, or alternatively nioved for convenience into --he-kichen and positioned either inside a cupboard or standing on its base in a convenient position.

By introducing a system which includes the pro-Osion of a refuse bin assembly as just before described for use in association with a wheelie bin, householders are encouraged to recycle and the collection of normal household waste and rec-x-clable househotd waste b-x- those responsible is facilitated.

Various modification may be made to the arrangement jusi before described without departing from the scope of the invention, and for example smaIll changes may be made to the shape of the spring clip, the shape of the container lid or the shape of the container itself.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMIS

   L A refuse bin asserably comprising a plastics container having a hinged lid, a handle, and an 'S' shaped clip-hook, one end of which defines a clip which is adapted to snap onto the handle so as to be retained thereon and the other end of which delfines a hook by means of which the container can be hung from the edge of a wheelie bin.

   2. A refuse bin assembly as claimed in Claim I, wherein the clip-hook is arrancred to fold away agains- a side of the container when not in use.

   3. A refuse bin assernblv as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the clip-hook is fabricated from sheet steel material.

   4. A refuse bin assembly as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, or Claim 3, wherein the handle is generally cylindrical and the clip I formed so as to be generally 'C' shaped so as to deform under pressure as it is pushed firmly against the handle and be a snap I fit thereon and be firmlv retained.

   1 5. A refuse bin assembly as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the dip-hook comprises three straight portions of Fiat I sheet material which in combination define the hook and which are formed integrally i\ith the clip.

   I - 6. A refuse bin assembly as clainieci -in any preceding Cia-im, \vherein the hook comprises a first porTion, a second portion 1 -8N,\7hich extends approximately at right angles to the first portion, a third portion which is bent to form an angle with the second portion and which extends to form a leg k,\,hich is approximately parallel \ith the said first portion, the leg being formed at the en thereof to define the clip.

   1. A refuse bin assembh- substantially- as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.