GB2388013A

GB2388013A - A bin with a decorative liner

Info

Publication number: GB2388013A
Application number: GB0305109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Joseph Green; Gordon Fraser Cook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-04
Filing date: 2003-03-06
Publication date: 2003-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-06
Also published as: GB2388013B; GB0305109D0

Abstract

A hygienic refuse bin assembly comprises a bin 10 having a transparent or translucent outer wall 10A and a decorative liner means 12 visible though that wall. The liner means 12 may be a bendable sheet (shown partially inserted) to snap fit inside the outer wall or may be a tube located within a cavity wall. A bag such as a decorated grocery carrier bag may serve as the decorative liner means or as a bin liner within the decorative liner means. Alternatively, an inner bin of bucket shape may have a decorated surface to serve as the decorative liner means or the decorative liner means may be in a pouch. The decoration may comprise advertising. The bin may have a pedal-operated lid. The bin may be triangular or oval in cross section. The bin assembly may be provided in a self-assembly form.

Description

A BIN This invention relates to bins.

Bins of various types are known. These include household refuse bins, laundry baskets, small paper bins and bins in commercial situations as in banks and medical surgeries.

Hygienic bins are characterized in that they are preferably made from non porous and surface cleanable material. They may be made from a material impervious to fluid, such as plastic and are preferably designed to limit egress of the contents. They are known to have various forms of decoration applied to them or have posters in glazing attached to the walls. Some bins are translucent and have decorative shapes. There are also some bins that have lights shining through them and some with liners to enable bags to be withdrawn from undercut inside areas generated by an irregular shape. There has been for many years a lot of activity in the design of these objects at both the cheap and dear end of the market. Adding appeal to these items usually adds significant cost. Open construction baskets with changeable decorative option are also known. Multi-walled advertising units with bins inside them are known.

An object of the present invention is to provided low cost means to produce a hygienic bin with substantially improved cosmetic appeal. Another object of the invention is to improve consumer choice.

According to the present invention there is provided a hygienic bin assembly having a transparent outer wall and a decorative liner means located within the outer wall and visible there-through. Thus the liner functions as decorative means preferably inside the bin, the liner providing decorative elements. The bin assembly may be provided as a flat pack. In the context of this patent the words 'translucent' and 'transparent are interchangeable used to indicate both light and detail being visible through a structure. The decorative elements are preferably printed on the liner and may be suitable for commercial or household use.

The liner is preferably a plastic laminated paper that is preferably sized to fit inside a particular bin either by the user or at manufacture. The liner is preferably a bendable structure that may snap fit into places not necessarily pre -adapted to the bin shape and thus has a multi fit capability. The liner

l may be inserted at manufacture as an integral part of the structure or preferably is changeable by the user.

The bin bag fits inside in the normal manner. In some cases the liner may rise and tall to aid bin bag removal by reducing direct contact with the bin wall and preferably opens to aid bin bag removal. There may be internal means in the bin wall against which the liner edge can rest. The liner may be a snap fit and not move in function but be changeable by the user who can easily choose various decorative options. In the commercial version this would allow rapid change of advertising message.

The decorative element may be placed in clear reusable protective pouches thus reducing servicing costs.

Alternative decorative options are therefore available in store or by post.

The liner may be an open bendable sheet or constructed as a tube preferably with holding means at the top that enable removal of the bag and liner together with the tube being pulled off over the bag on removal from the bin thus avoiding the bag tearing. The tube preferably has the means to have the printed area on its outside surface changed.

While this invention is seen to relate to a single walled bin it is also seen as possible that the tube element may be more fixed in nature and act to form a cavity wall thus allowing the liner to be made of paper.

The product as described is preferably plastic and confers the decorative values on an otherwise useful item in a cost effective manner.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bin may be sold as a flat pack, a translucent bendable sheet cooperating to fit a formed base and a top provided separately, all to be user fitted. The decorative appeal of the wall of the bin is enhanced by having it bounded by a base and top of solid colour and this is economically produced by the providing the assembly as a flat pack. To the writers knowledge refuse bins are not till now produced in this way. The bin top and a rim to hold the wall together may be produced as one moulded piece.

Where the bin has a base section a flat area on that section may be provided for foot contact to stabilize the bin during use.

A pedal bin may have a translucent outer casing with a decorative element on the outer bin surface showing through the casing. The decorative means and translucent casing being directly associated with the bin assembly unlike an advertising column.

A further means of manufacture may be that of blow moulding or otherwise forming the single walled bin and the factory or user fitting of a decorative liner adding strength to the structure.

Bins may be triangular or oval in shape to provide maximum visible surface to the onlooker.

Bins made from flexible material and textiles, such as gardening bins, are known, as are bins with opening bottoms. if such a bin is hygienic, and is constructed to conform to the size of and contain a grocery carrier and also have a translucent wall it may provide a grocery carrier with a second function as a liner for such a bin. The bin preferably has an opening base with a controllable release. The grocery bag may preferably be of paper and used as a disposable liner and have advertising or decorative print that shows through the translucent wall. Such a flexible bin may have stiffening means in its top opening and have attachment means such as hooks or handles to attach to convenient places. D Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I shows a liner made from sheet material flee to rise and fall in a bin.

Figure 2 shows a pedal bin assembly.

Figure 3 shows a translucent bin with tubular liner forming a cavity wall.

Figure 4 shows a translucent walled refuse bag for a grocery carrier.

Figure 5 shows a triangular bin. D Figure 6 shows a pouch system.

Figure 7 shows an oval bin.

Figure 8 shows components of a flat pack assembly.

Referring to the drawings.

In figure I A hygienic bin assembly comprises a bin 10 and a liner 12 and a D bin bag (not shown) located within the liner. The liner 12 is shown having risen up the inside of bin 10 so that the bin bag can be removed. Bin 10 preferably has a single transparent wall 1 OA and the liner is shown open at 16 to allow egress of the bin bag. The liner has decoration 1 I that shows through the transparent wall I OA of the bin 10. The bin 10 has extension means 14 that prevent it from fully exiting the bin. A catch 13, for example in the shape of a rivet, stabilises the shape of the liner.

In figure 2 The bin is a pedal bin 10 with translucent wall IDA and pedal 15 is shown. An internal hygienic liner in the form of a bucket 17 is located

within the pedal bin.The bucket 17 is provided with decoration 1 1 that may be removably applied to the outside surface of bucket 17 by a changeable liner 12.

In figure 3 A bin 10 with translucent or transparent wall I OA is shown. A tubular liner 12, placed inside it, may be fixed in position or removable using handles 19 located on the liner. The liner 12 forms a cavity 10B with wall 1 OA and a decorative element either paper or laminate I OC may be placed in the cavity or on the outer surface of the liner 12. A closure such as a U ring 24 is preferably removable and is located on top of the cavity 1 OB, In figure 4 The bin 1 OD is preferably in the form of a translucent hygienic preferably flexible refuse bag with transparent wall 1 OA. It has a fixed handle 19 and a movable handle 20 that connects to a moveable base 21. On release of the movable handle 20 the base 21 of the bag opens to allow egress of a grocery sack 22 that forms a liner 12 that has decoration 1 1.

This grocery sack 22 is preferably paper and preferably has a dual purpose as a grocery carrier and a disposable decorated liner 12 for a refuse bin.

Refuse bin 10 preferably has a stitlened rim 18 and means such as handles or hooks 19 to attach to convenient household points such as the handle of a door although it may be free standing.

Figure 5 shows a triangular clear walled transparent bin 10. This has base 25 and internal extensions 23. These internal extensions 23 serve to locate an internally placed decorative liner (not shown) that may also be held by means 24 such as the U ring in fig. 3.

In figure 6 A liner 12 is in the form of a transparent pouch 1 2A. This functions as a carrier for decorative means 1 2B that shows through the pouch 12A. The pouch 12 may have divisions 30 and the individual decorative elements are placed inside through an opening 31. This pouch allows normal poster paper to be used.

In figure 7 an oval bin 29 is shown. This has a translucent or transparent wall IDA and liner 12 with decorative text held in position by extensions 23 provided internally. The triangular and especially the oval shape of bin, as in figures 5 and 7, allow maximum surface presentation to the observer.

In figure 8 components of a flat pack transparent bin assembly are shown.

A bendable transparent wall IDA has locking means 33 at one end that enables the wall to be formed as a tube. This tube is then located in a channel 26 of base 25. A laminated liner 12 with decoration I I is then placed inside the tube and a base tray 27 is placed inside at the base preferably to hold the liner in place. Top closure 28 hinges at 32 and fits over the wall I OA by virtue of a frictional engagement 24.

Claims

1) A hygienic refuse bin assembly comprising abin,having a translucent outer wall and a decorative liner means located within the outer wall and visible there-through.

2) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in claim I where the liner comprises an inner bin and the decorative means is on the outside of the inner bin and shows through the transparent outer wall.

3) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in I or 2 where the decorative liner means is located inside a cavity wall.

4) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in 1,2 or 3 where the decorative liner means is moveable relative to the bin assembly.

5) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in 1, where the decorative liner means opens to aid bin bag removal.

6) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in 1,2,3,4,5 where the bin has internal means to locate the decorative liner means against the wall of the bin.

7) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in 1,3,4,5, where the decorative liner means is in a pouch.

8) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in 1-7 that is essentially oval in cross sectional shape.

9) A hygienic bin assembly substantially as described herein,with reference to the drawings figures from 1---6.

9) A hygienic refuse bin assembly as in 1-7 that is essentially triangular in cross sectional shape.

10) A hygienic bin assembly as in 1,5,6,S,9 that has an opening base and is sized to function as a grocery bag carrier.

I I) A hygienic bin assembly as in 1,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 that is manufactured to be assembled by the user.

1 2)A hygienic bin assembly substantially as described herein,with reference to the drawings figures from 1---8.

( Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1) A single walled hygienic refuse bin comprises a bin, having a transparent wall' a decorative liner means located within the outer wall and visible therethrough' the decorative liner means providing separation from the transparent bin wall, for a refuse sack placed internally to the decorative liner means 2) A hygienic refuse bin as claimed in claim 1, where the decorative liner means is moveable relative to the bin assembly.

3) A hygienic refuse bin as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, where the decorative liner means opens to aid bin bag removal.

4) A hygienic refuse bin as claimed in claims 1-3 where the bin has internal means to locate the decorative liner means against the wall of the bin.

5) A hygienic refuse bin as claimed in claims 1--4 where the decorative liner means is in a pouch.

6) A hygienic refuse bin as claimed in claims 1--5 that is essentially oval in cross sectional shape.

7) A hygienic refuse bin as claimed in claims 1-6 that is essentially triangular in cross sectional shape.

8) A hygienic bin as claimed in claims 1--7 that is manufactured to be assembled by the user.