GB2370974A

GB2370974A - Rubbish bin including a disposable bag, for use in a car

Info

Publication number: GB2370974A
Application number: GB0100730A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Debbie Anne Highfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-11
Filing date: 2001-01-11
Publication date: 2002-07-17
Also published as: GB0100730D0

Abstract

A rubbish bin for use in a car, comprising a rigid frame 6 with formations for removably receiving a disposable rubbish bag 8, and means 5 for fixing the frame to the interior of the car; the frame having an opening through which rubbish may enter the rubbish bag in use. A space lid 1 may be hinged at 4 to the frame 6. A suitable disposable rubbish bag 8 comprises a relatively rigid flat union 7, and a relatively flexible bag whose open end is sealed to a peripheral region of the union, the union having an opening for access into the open end of the bag. The frame 6 may comprise opposed channel-shaped flanges 2 in which the union 7 is a sliding fit. The frame 6 and union 7 may be square with aligned circular openings. The fixing means 5 may comprise a vertical plate to which the frame 6 is hinged at 4. Instead of the disposable bag 8, a re-usable bag (12) with a disposable liner (17) may be used, Figures 6-8.

Description

Rubbish Bin and Disposable Rubbish Baa

This invention relates to a rubbish bin and a disposable rubbish bag for use with such a bin, and is particularly useful in vehicles such as passenger cars.

Whilst some cars have pockets or ashtrays for receiving rubbish, these have been found inadequate and generally too small for the volumes of rubbish which are often required to be disposed of. Examples of the rubbish which it is difficult to dispose of in a car are drinks bottles and cans, tissues, sweet wrappers and banana skins.

Accordingly, the invention provides a rubbish bin for use in a car, comprising a rigid frame with formations for removably receiving a disposable rubbish bag, and means for fixing the frame to the interior of the car; the frame having an opening through which rubbish may enter the rubbish bag in use.

A further invention provides a disposable rubbish bag for use with such a rubbish bin, the bag comprising a disposable rubbish bag comprising a relatively rigid flat union for connection to the frame of a rubbish bin, and a relatively flexible bag whose open end is sealed to a peripheral region of the union, the union having an opening for access into the open end of the bag.

There is a still further invention in the combination of the first and second inventions in a rubbish bin kit comprising the bin and at least one of the disposable bags, in which the bin frame and the rubbish bag union are of generally the same size and shape so that, in use, the union fits into the frame, with their respective openings in register.

In order that the inventions may be better understood, a preferred example of each will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from above, with the lid open, of a rubbish bin embodying the first invention ; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the rubbish bin of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a disposable rubbish bag embodying the second invention and suitable for the rubbish bin of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view from one side and from the open end of the disposable bag of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 2 and further including the disposable bag of Figure 3 connected in use; Figure 6 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 3, of an alternative, reusable bag; Figure 7 is a side elevation of a disposable liner for the bag of Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a side elevation showing the liner of Figure 7 mounted in place in the bag of Figure 7.

The car rubbish bin has a square frame 6 in the form of a flat plate with a central circular opening 3 through which rubbish may enter the rubbish bag, in use.

A square lid 1 is hinged at 4 to one edge of the frame 6, and is the same shape and size as the frame 6 so as to fold over it and to close the opening 3. The lid 1 is preferably provided with a clasp or other formation (not shown), preferably on its edge remote from the hinge 4, for securing the lid to the frame 6 when in the closed position. It may be secured with a push fit. The lid 1 may also be provided with some means for holding it open, in the position shown in Figure 2, for example by a torsion spring along the hinge 4, biasing the lid to its open position. This would be useful to give the rubbish bin the capability of use at a different orientation, for example with the frame 6 vertical or at 450 to the vertical.

Channel-shaped flanges 2 are formed along opposed edges of the frame 6, one of those edges being the one which is hinged to the lid 1. A fixing plate 5 of rectangular shape is hinged at 4 along another edge of the frame 6. The fixing plate 5 is intended to be secured permanently to a fascia panel or other appropriate surface of the interior of the car, preferably with the hinge horizontal and the fixing plate vertical. This secures the bin, but allows the frame 6 of the bin to be inclined to the horizontal on occasions for example to insert or remove a disposable bag, as described below. The fixing plate 5 is formed with appropriate apertures or fixing formations (not shown).

The frame 6, which may alternatively be rectangular, is preferably a plastics moulding, as is the lid 1. The hinges 4 may be integrally moulded if the components of the bin are of an appropriate polymer. The fixing plate 5 is also preferably a plastics moulding, and it may be moulded integrally with the frame 6.

Alternatively, for extra strength, one or more of the components of the rubbish bin may be of metal, in which case the metal is preferably coated with an appropriate paint or plastics coating.

An appropriate new form of disposable rubbish bag for use with the bin is shown in Figures 3,4 and 5. This comprises a relatively flexible bag 8 with expandable side walls 10 whose folds are illustrated : this structure allows the bag to be folded flat to allow for easy packing of a multiplicity of such bags. The open end of the flexible bag, which is preferably made of paper or card, or plastics-reinforced paper, or plastics material of an appropriate gauge, is sealed to the square peripheral region of a square union 7, in the form of a plate, which is relatively rigid. The union 7 may be of card or plastics material. The union 7 is intended to slide with a close fit into the frame 6 of the bin, with its edges engaging and sliding along the opposed channel formations 2. Thus it has preferably generally the same size

and shape as the frame 6, and it may be rectangular if the frame 6 is rectangular. The union 7 is preformed with a circular opening 11 which is preferably the same diameter as the opening 3 in the car bin, and is preferably positioned so that, when the bag is inserted in the bin in use, the openings 3,11 are in register. This allows access through both openings for rubbish to be disposed of in the bag.

An alternative to the disposable bag 8 is shown in Figures 6 to 8. A plastics film disposable liner 17 with a drawstring or elasticated top 15 has a long neck 16 to allow the liner to fold over the projecting edge 9 of the union (or collar) 7 of a reuseable bag 12 of expanding material, which is formed with a side opening 14 for insertion and removal of the liner. The opening 14 may be re-sealable, e. g. with Velcro (Registered Trade Mark) hook-and-loop fabric edges, and it may alternatively be on the base of the bag.

It will be appreciated that the rubbish bin may be supplied as a kit of parts, for example consisting of the rubbish bin, one or several disposable bags, and any appropriate screws and washers for fitting the bin to a vehicle. The disposable bags would generally be sold in replacement packs, singly or in multiples, and such packs would be sized so as to be capable of storage in the glove compartment or door pocket or other suitable location in the vehicle.

The rubbish bin could be used in vehicles other than cars, or indeed anywhere, particularly in places where it does not need to be obviously visible, and places where space is limited, taking advantage of the ability of the bin to be folded flat when not in use (and not containing a bag).

The diameter of the aperture 3 may be typically 80mm, with the outer dimensions of the frame 90mm x 100mm, and the fixing plate 25mm wide. The flanges would then be about 10mm deep. However, the shape and size of each component could be greater or less than in this example. The dimensions of the frame are still preferably from 80mm to 300mm.

Claims

1. A rubbish bin for use in a car, comprising a rigid frame with formations for removably receiving a disposable rubbish bag, and means for fixing the frame to the interior of the car; the frame having an opening through which rubbish may enter the rubbish bag in use.

2. A bin according to Claim 1, comprising a lid hinged to the frame for covering the opening.

3. A bin according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the fixing means comprises a plate attached to an edge of the frame.

4. A bin according to Claim 3, in which the fixing plate is hinged to the edge of the frame.

5. A bin according to any preceding claim, in which the bag-receiving formations comprise channel formations along opposed straight edges of the frame.

6. A bin according to any preceding claim, in which the frame is rectangular or square and comprises a plate formed with the said opening.

7. A bin according to Claim 6, in which the lid is a plate of similar size and shape to the frame plate, hinged to an edge thereof.

8. A bin according to any preceding claim, in which the opening is circular.

9. A bin according to any preceding claim, in which the frame and the fixing means are plastics moulding.

10. A disposable rubbish bag comprising a relatively rigid flat union for connection to the frame of a rubbish bin, and a relatively flexible bag whose open end is sealed to a peripheral region of the union, the union having an opening for access into the open end of the bag.

11. A bag according to Claim 10, in which the union is rectangular or square and comprises a plate formed with the said opening.

12. A bag according to Claim 10 or 11, in which the opening is circular.

13. A bag according to Claim 10, 11 or 12, in which the union is formed of card.

14. A bag according to any of Claims 10 to 13, in which the flexible bag is formed of paper.

15. A car rubbish bin kit, comprising a bin according to any of Claims 1 to 9, and at least one disposable rubbish bag according to any of Claims 10 to 14, in which the bin frame and the rubbish bag union are of generally the same size and shape so that, in use, the union fits into the frame, with their respective openings in register.

16. A kit according to Claim 15, in which the openings are of generally the same size and shape.

17. A rubbish bin for use in a car, substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1,2 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A disposable rubbish bag, substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 3,4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A disposable rubbish bag, substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 6,7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.