GB2419804A

GB2419804A - Recycling bin

Info

Publication number: GB2419804A
Application number: GB0522536A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Albert Nicholson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-04
Filing date: 2005-11-04
Publication date: 2006-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-04
Also published as: GB2419804B; GB0424374D0; GB0522536D0

Abstract

A multistorage refuse bin 1 having an elongate body 2 is divided into three or more storage areas, in which the bin is supported on at least two wheels 8. This provides a convenient waste sorting system for the household rubbish since the items for disposal can each be placed in an appropriate storage area and thus be instantly sorted as they leave the hand of the householder. The body may be divided by providing hinged support frames 12 for retaining refuse bags, or by fixed partitions (4, Figure 1) or by the fitting of removable storage containers. The bin may have a hinged lid 6.

Description

RECYCLING BIN

This invention relates to a recycling bin. It relates particularly to a bin that can be used to sort and store refuse items so that they can be disposed of appropriately when an opportunity for recycling these items occurs.

In the collection and removal of domestic and like rubbish, the district refuse disposal service asks householders to keep food waste separate from metal containers, plastics containers, paper and glass waste. This enables the different kinds of waste to be easily sorted by the service so that the separate waste types can be collected together for eventual bulk delivery to a recycling operator for the relevant waste material. The need for separating and recycling these materials becomes more urgent with the passage of time since it is necessary to try to reduce the volume of material being added to landfill sites as the available ground space becomes used up.

At present, the conscientious householder has to use a variety of methods to dispose of the family refuse. Paper, glass and metal tins can be taken to communal waste bins that may be available in nearby car park areas. This method is only convenient for those households that have a family car. Paper may be sorted into a special bin for periodic collection by the refuse service. Garden waste may he collected by the refuse service or it may have to be taken to a communal refuse centre. Plastics containers do not appear to be provided with any generally available sorting and recycling system in this country.

There is thus a need to have a convenient waste sorting system for the home that can be used to separate the different kinds of waste as soon as these items are produced.

The present invention was devised in an attempt to provide such a system that would encourage the householder to instantly sort the waste items. The waste item can thus be sorted immediately as it leaves the hand of the householder. No further thought about the item will be necessary until the sorted waste material is placed for removal.

According to the invention, there is provided a multistorage refuse bin having an elongate body that is divided into three or more storage areas, in which the bin is supported on at least two wheels. The division of the body may be made by the provision of partitions or of support frames for retaining refuse bags. Alternatively, the division may he made by the fitting of removable containers. One or more castor wheels may additionally be provided. The bin may include a handle located at one end. A hinged lid may be provided to cover over all of the storage areas. The lid may he provided with a support strut. A wheel brake may be fitted to one of the support wheels. The brake may have a pedal operable brake mechanism.

The bin may have four storage areas separated by the divider members where the areas are located in a side-by-side arrangement.

A mounting for a separate bottle container may be positioned on an end or side wall of the refuse bin. l'he bottle container may be capable of being mounted on an outside wall of the bin.

The refuse bin may include a separable inner bin which is accommodated in each one of the storage areas of the device. The inner bin may include a suitable support frame for holding open the top of a flexible plastics refuse bag when such a bag is supported in this bin. The support frame may thus have one or more retaining clips for enabling the top of the refuse hag to be attached.

The multistorage refuse bin with the elongate body may be formed as a single plastics moulding.

By way of example, some particular embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the refuse bin with the lid in the open condition, Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the bin which is carried on two fixed wheels and two wheels with castor action, Figure 3 is a third embodiment showing the refuse bin with hinged support frames arranged for securing refuse bags, Figure 4 in a partial view of the third embodiment showing the support frames positioned in a raised condition, Figure 5 is a plan view of the third embodiment, Figure 6 shows side and end views, and, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the closed refuse bin.

As depicted in Figure 1, the multistorage waste bin I is shown having a body 2 formed as a single plastics moulding. The body 2 is made with four compartments 3 which are separated by fixed partitions 4. A hinged lid 6 is provided to cover over all the compartments when in the closed condition.

The body 2 is provided with a push handle 7 at one end and it is mounted on a fixed pair of wheels 8 located about the bin centre. A pair of feet 9 at the bin front end serve to hold the bin level and stationary when it is in the rest position. When it is required to move the bin, this may be done by applying a downward pressure on the handle 7 and this will serve to lift the feet 9 from the ground surface so the bin may be wheeled to a suitable unloading position.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment, in which the bin wheels 8 have been moved to a position near the handle 7 end of the bin. The bin front end is supported on a pair of second wheels 11 having castor action. The bin may then be moved easily when required without any downward pressure needing to be applied to the bin handle 7. A wheel brake (not shown) is connected to one wheel to restrain movement of the wheel when the bin is at rest. The wheel brake is able to he applied by a pedal operated mechanism.

Figures 3 and 4 show the third embodiment where the refuse bin 1 is provided with hinged support frames 12 to which suitable refuse bags can be secured. The support frames 12 are hinged individually so that any one frame can be raised without the other frames being affected.

The bin body 2 is seen to be provided with a strut 13 which is a freely pivoted arm which is lifted when the lid 6 is raised. A lower end of the arm is able to be retained in a notch when this is done. The strut will then serve to hold the lid 6 in a partially open condition to enable the refuse bags to be removed from the bin and replaced when necessary.

The bin body 2 is supported on wheels 8 which are located at about the midpoint of the body length. There are also four pivoted castor wheels 14 mounted one at each corner of the body 2. One or more of the castor wheels is provided with a brake device.

A push handle 7 is located at the right hand end of the body 2. At the opposite end there is a bracket 16 to which an externally mounted container (not shown) can be attached, if required. This external container could he used for glass or plastics bottle items intended for recycling.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the multistorage bin with the lid 6 in the fully open condition. Figures 6 and 7 are further views of the construction.

In use of the refuse bin, this may be kept at the rear of the house where it may be easily reached when there is household waste material to be deposited. The waste items may he put straight into the most suitable one of the compartments in the multistorage bin.

If plastics rubbish bags are being used to line the internal bins of the construction, it may be necessary to tie the tops of these bags when they have been filled. When the date for collection of the refuse falls due, the multistorage bin may be wheeled to the front of the house so the disposal service workers can carry out their work.

The refuse bin of the invention has been found to be easy to use since any item of rubbish can be immediately disposed of in the most suitable compartment for that particular kind of refuse. I'he added convenience of using this system ensures that a householder will become more aware that different kinds of refuse need to be kept separate from one another. The householder will find the recycling of the household refuse can be made very much easier than before and this task will be done in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way. This will ensure that everyone will be conscious of the need to recycle all refuse materials whenever this action is possible. The recycling bin of the invention is suitable for waste from both commercial and residential properties.

At the present time, some local council refuse services have chosen to supply householders with up to fOUr wheelie bins at a substantial purchasing cost which bins can take up a great deal of garden space. I'he bin of the invention oflers an alternative solution to this problem. It is expected that the recycling of household waste will become more tightly controlled by the year 2010 and the use of the recycling binì can help a council to meet a predetermined target for this operation.

The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention has been given by way of example only and a number of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For instance, it is not essential that there should he four compartments in the bin. In a different construction, there could be more or less than this number of compartments. Instead of having just two castor wheels, all four of the bin wheels could be of this type. One of these wheels could be provided with a lock to enable the bin to he secured in a fixed position.

Claims

Claims A multistorage refuse bin having an elongate body that is divided

into three or more storage areas, in which the bin is supported on at least two wheels,
2 A refuse bin as claimed in Claim 1, in which the division of the body is provided by support frames for retaining refuse bags.
3 A refuse bin as claimed in Claim 1, in which the division of the body is effected by the fitting of removable storage containers.
4 A refuse bin as claimed in any one of Claims I to 3, in which the bin includes a hinged lid arranged to cover the storage areas therein.

A multistorage refuse bin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.