GB2435651A

GB2435651A - Manually foldable water permeable receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2435651A
Application number: GB0619125A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Farley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-09-28
Filing date: 2006-09-28
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-28
Also published as: GB2435651B; GB0619125D0

Abstract

A manually foldable water permeable receptacle 1 comprises a base portion 3 and walls 2 which project upwards from said base portion, wherein the receptacle walls project upwards to a limited height relative to its length in order to have the overall aspect of a shallow walled tray for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material. The receptacle may be filled from its top. The receptacle is characterised in that the base portion 3 incorporates substantially flat strips woven in a criss-cross pattern.

Description

MANUALLY FOLDABLE WATER PERMEABLE RECEPTACLE

::. Field of the Invention * *

*... 15 *:::: The invention relates to manually foldable water permeable receptacles. **

Review of Art known to the Applicant *** * * . *.: 20 The closest prior art known to the applicant is a flat ground/Lining sheet, which is used for landscape gardening where a ground/Lining sheet is laid on the ground prior to the Laying of stones or gravel in order to prevent weeds from growing amongst the stones or graveL.

Furthermore, the ground/Lining sheet does not enable the removal of the sheet with its entire stone or gravel covering. Therefore, once the stone or gravel has been laid it can neither be readily nor rapidly removed. It can certainly not be removed in one single block.

The ground/lining sheet does not on its own partition several types of stone and gravel when different types are placed side by side on a sheet. In these conventional conditions, neighbouring types of stone would simply tend to mix.

Summary of the Invention

In its broadest independent aspect, the invention provides a manually foldable water permeable receptacle suitable for filling wholly or partially with earth covering material and intended to remain in situ when so filled, comprising a base portion and walls 2..

projecting upwards from said base portion, wherein the receptacle's walls project upwards to a limited height relative to its length in order to have the overall aspect of a shallow walled plateau for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it allows earth covering material such as stones, earth, paving, biodegradable matter etc to be contained within a receptacle that can be placed on the ground or partially buried so that the receptacle's contents are level with the grounds top surface. Furthermore, the advantage of the receptacle's shallow walls is that the receptacle requires a relatively small quantity of material to fill it per surface area. This therefore renders the shallow walled receptacle particularly light and therefore able to be moved and adjusted even when it is filled with material. The shallow walled receptacle may have a thin layer of material or multiple layers of material to fill it.

* The shallow walled receptacle may be transported with its entire contents rendering it environmentally friendly because it ensures that the receptacle and its contents are S...

.... 15 sustainable for use in another application. *.

Another advantage of this configuration is that it improves the prevention of water S..

saturation within the receptacle. Water may be drained through the structured receptacle itself which is desirable when constructing "Soak Aways" and "Drains". 20 * . .

* In a subsidiary aspect in accordance with the invention's broadest independent aspect, each of at Least two opposite walls incorporates a respective tunnel extending along the length of said wall with at least one open end into which an appropriately sized supporting member may be inserted to hold the wall substantially upright in use.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because when supporting members are inserted into the receptacle, they may assist, for example, in keeping the receptacle's wall vertical and assist in keeping the receptacle open whilst being filled. The supporting members assist in containing the material fed in the receptacle and preventing spillages occurring over the sides of the receptacle.

The supporting members assist in keeping the integrity of the receptacle shape when being filled and emptied.

In a further subsidiary aspect, the receptacle is formed from a single sheet of woven strips of polypropylene with fold lines separating said base portion and said waLls.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the receptacle may be provided in a substantially flat form and then formed into the necessary receptacle shape. This single sheet also reduces the complexity of the receptacle, which makes it straightforward to manufacture.

Polypropylene is advantageous because it is endurable and hard wearing. Polypropylene enables the receptacle to be buried for a number of years without degradation of its functionality. Polypropylene is easily folded manually therefore efficiently enabling the creation of the base portion and side portion walls of the receptacle manually.

Polypropylene strips ensure that the material is permeable to water to allow drainage.

Polypropylene material enables a receptacle to contain for example approximately half a ton of earth covering material. S...

In a further subsidiary aspect, releasable attachment means are provided to attach said e.

walls to one or more of the walls of an adjacent receptacle. * S *

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it allows the receptacles to be attached together to form a modular system. This modular system allows the creation of any design by attaching receptacles of various shapes together.

In a further subsidiary aspect, said supporting member is a polypropylene rope.

The configuration is particularly advantageous because the polypropylene rope allows the shape of the receptacle to be manually adjusted. Manual adjustment of the receptacle shape with conventional rigid supporting members would be difficult. It would also allow the supporting members to have the same properties as the rest of the receptacle when it is also of polypropylene. The supporting members and the receptacle itself could therefore straightforwardly be recycled without having to separate one from the other. Furthermore, the polypropylene rope would be able to support its contents whilst also alternatively or simultaneous being placed under tension. If

In a further subsidiary aspect, the receptacle incorporates no handles which protrude beyond the upper rim of the receptacle.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because it eliminates the need of either cutting off protruding handles or burying handles. The upper edge of the receptacle can therefore be immediately placed flush against its surroundings. Furthermore, it eliminates the likeLihood of another person getting caught up in a protruding handle and injuring themselves.

Jo In a further aspect, the invention also provides a sheet of material comprising a central portion and a plurality of wings extending from said central portion; whereby when said wings are folded inwards relative to said central portion and neighbouring wings are sown together, a receptacle having the features of the broadest independent aspect is formed. S...

is In a subsidiary aspect, one or more of the wings are folded on each other to form one or more walls with two or more layers of sheet.

This configuration is particularly advantageous because the walled portions of the : receptacle are created without the need for further components whilst being able to achieve improved structural strength when compared to an arrangement with only one layer of sheet.

Brief description of the figures

Figure la shows a perspective view of a rectangular shaped receptacle along with two supporting members.

Figure lb shows a perspective view of a rectangular shaped receptacLe along with four supporting members.

Figure ic shows a top view of a criss-cross "Chequer board" weave pattern.

Figure 2a shows a perspective view of two quadrant shaped receptacle. S.

Figure 2b shows a top view of four quadrant shaped receptacles attached together to form a circle.

Figure 3a shows a perspective view of two rectangular shaped receptacLes.

Figure 3b shows a top view of two rectangular shaped receptacles attached together.

Figure 4a shows a perspective view of an additionaL embodiment of the rectangular shaped receptacle.

Figure 4b shows a top view of an additional embodiment of the rectangular shaped receptacle.

Figure 5a shows a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the rectangular shaped is receptacle shown in Figure la with four lifting attachments.

Figure Sb shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the rectangular shaped receptacle shown in Figure 4a with four lifting attachments. 4. .

20 Detailed Description of the Figures

Earth covering material" may be defined as stones, earth, paving, concrete, self-levelling compounds, and resin or the like. It also includes within its scope biodegradabLe material including animal or human bodies if the receptacle is used as a coffin.

Figure 1 shows a manually foldable water permeable receptacle 1 in the form of a shallow walled pLateau. In one preferred embodiment, whilst being removable from site to site, it is of a material which lends itself to remain in situ for extended periods of time, such as for example 10 years when filed with earth covering material. Its primary function is to remain in position rather than like a skip which is lifted and dropped repeatedly from site to site.

However, as a subsidiary function it can be removed from site to site when for example the operator moves domicile.

The plateau shown in the figure has a length of 15 times its height. It is preferable for the length to be at least 10 times the height. The receptacle incorporates an enclosing wall portion 2 which is substantially vertical along axis AA. The waLled portion 2 is attached to a base portion 3 which is substantially horizontal along axis BB. The base portion is substantially rectangular in shape.

The faces of the shallow receptacle 1 are entirely constructed from a woven material 4.

The woven material 4 incorporates a criss-cross chequerboard pattern (see Figure ic) that incorporates flat strips 5 and 6 which would be preferably of polypropylene. The thickness of the strips is preferably comprised between 10 and 100 microns.

Shallow receptacle 1 incorporates elongated side members 7 and 8, which are folded along fold lines 11 and 12 substantially along axis BB. The side members 7 and 8 are then folded back along fold lines 9 and 10 onto themselves along axis BB. The side members 7 and 8 I..

... 15 are then stitched along stitch lines 23 and 24. This creates side-tunnelled cavities 13 and 14. Receptacle 1 incorporates shallow elongate end members 15 and 16 which are folded substantially vertically along fold tines 17 and 18 about axis CC. End members 15 and 16 I..

are permanently attached to the side members 7 and 8, the members are preferably stitched together along lines 19, 20, 21 and 22 with monofilament or multifilament material. One preferred material is polypropylene. It appears advantageous for the receptacle to be white.

The two supporting members 25 and 26 are substantially rectangular and preferably of wood or polypropylene material. The two supporting members 25 and 26 are inserted into the side tunnel cavities 13 and 14 as indicated by arrows 27 and 28. The two supporting members 25 and 26 support the elongated side members 7 and 8, therefore opening the receptacle 1 to enable its filling. These are optional since the receptacle may be an open shallow walled plateau with or without the supporting members. In addition, the end of the tunnels may be shut by an additional stitch lines as appropriate. One end of the tunneLs may be left open whilst the opposite is shut.

The two supporting members 25 and 26 maybe a rope of polypropylene such as rope sold under the trade name (CORDEX). The receptacle 1 may be lifted by its supporting members 25 and 26, along with its contents. The closing wall portion 2 contains the recepatcle'sl content and prevents any spiUages which may contaminate the immediate area around the receptacle 1.

Figure lb shows an alternative embodiment of the shallow receptacle 32 which s incorporates end sections 33 and 34 which are double layer walls with stitch lines 39 and to form elongated end tunneLs 35 and 36.

Two supporting members 30 and 31, which are substantially rectangular, are inserted into end tunneLs 35 and 36 as indicated by arrows 37 and 38.

Figure 2a shows two quadrant shaped shallow receptacles 41 and 42, which are attachable, preferably a "touch to close" surface or a filamentary hook and eye surface 45 such as a VELCRO (registered trademark), as indicated by arrows 43 and 44. The quadrant shaped receptacle 41 has another attachable surface 4, which is preferably "Velcro" that enables ::::* 15 another receptacle to be attached. This may be another quadrant shaped receptacle or a rectangular shaped receptacle or any other shape. The quadrant shaped receptacle 42 has another attachable surface 47, which is also preferably a "Velcro" surface that enabLes S., * another receptacle to be attached. This may be another quadrant shaped receptacle or a * rectangular shaped receptacle. 20 * I.

Figure 2b shows the two quadrant shaped receptacles 41 and 42 attached to another two quadrant shaped receptacles 49 and 50 to form a circular receptacle generally referenced 50. This attachment of quadrant shallow receptacles may be used as a module for building paths, patios and speciaList flooring by planning and laying out the receptacles required for the design and then attaching the receptacles prior to filling them.

The quadrant shallow receptacle is an example of another type of shallow receptacle.

Further shapes are envisaged by the invention which may be formed by an association of modules or by an individuaL moduLe having appropriate compartments of a variety of shapes. The shapes may be triangLes, four sided hubs and curvatures etc. Figure 3a shows two rectangular shaped shallow receptacles 52 and 53, which are attachable preferably by a Velcro surface 54, as indicated by arrows 55 and 56.

Rectangular shaped receptacle 52 has another attachabLe surface 58, which is outward

S

facing. The attachable surface 58 is preferably of Velcro that enables another receptacle to be attached. This may be another rectangular shaped receptacle or a quadrant shaped receptacle. Rectangular shaped receptacle 53 has another attachable surface 57, which is preferably Velcro that enables another receptacle to be attached. This maybe another rectangular shaped receptacle or a quadrant shaped receptacle.

Figure 3b shows two rectangular shaped receptacles 52 and 53 attached to each other to form a larger rectangular receptacle overall 59. This attachment of rectangular shallow receptacles may be used as a modular system for building paths, drives and specialist flooring by planning and laying out the receptacles required for the design and then attaching the receptacles prior to filling them. This will give an indication of the size and impact your design may have, therefore giving option for adjustment or modification before the receptacles are filled with material which may make adjustment impossible at a later date. For example, concrete or self-leveLling resin flooring. S... * I

Figure 4a shows an additional embodiment of the invention in the form of a body bag which has been folded into two equally sized portions 60 and 61 along axis DD. The two *.

equally sized portions are attached together at the sides 62 and 63 and preferably stitched : together 64 and 65 with monofilament or multifilament material, preferably polypropylene. The two attached portions 60 and 61 create a pocket / pouch 66 overall in shape, with an aperture 67 at the upper most portion of the pocket/pouch 66 whereby the bag can fulfil the function of a coffin.

Figure 4b shows a top view of the pocket/pouch 66, with the aperture 67 at the upper most portion of the pocket/pouch.

Figure Sa shows the rectangular walled plateau receptacle 1 (as shown in Figure la) with four lifting attachments in the form of handles 71, 72, 73 and 74. PreferabLy, each attachment is of a loop configuration (as shown), which is stitched to the side sections 7 and 8 of the receptacle 1.

This embodiment will increase the lifting efficiency of the receptacle filled or not filled keeping the shape integrity of the receptacle without spilling its contents.

Figure Sb shows an additional embodiment of a receptacle, which is formed into a pocket I pouch 66 (shown in Figure 4a) with four lifting attachments 74, 75, 76 and 77. Preferably each attachment is of a loop configuration (as shown), which is stitched to the side sections 60 and 61 of the pocket/pouch 66.

This embodiment will increase Lifting efficiency of the receptacle, which maybe used to lift temporary or permanent soak away units, drains units or containing biological material for burial The decomposition rate of buried biologicaL matter is reduced by placing the receptacle containing the biological matter within another identical receptacle. The outer receptacle provides a second barrier to resist penetration from external organisms and matter which contribute to decomposition of buried biological matter.

The invention also envisaged that the body bag may be formed from two receptacles of : *. the kind shown in figures 1 where one is inserted into the other to form a box. S...

The receptacle5 which have been (aid with a hardened material, such as concrete or resin flooring are easily removed. The hardened material may also be broken up within the receptacle without contaminating the immediate area about the receptacle. The receptacle is lifted and removed whilst containing the material debris. S.. * S S ** S

The receptacles may be laid on the ground and have the base portion slit to allow a plant to grow through the receptacle, whilst at the same time containing earth covering materiaL

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A manually foldable water permeable receptacLe suitable for filling wholly or partially with earth covering material and intended to remain in situ when so filled, comprising a base portion and walls projecting upwards from said base portion, wherein the receptacle's walls project upwards to a limited height relative to its length in order to have the overalL aspect of a shallow walled plateau for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material.
2. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein each of at least two opposite walls incorporates a respective tunnel extending along the length of said wall with at Least one : ** open end into which an appropriately sized supporting member may be inserted to hold :::: 15 the wall substantially upright in use.
3. A receptacle according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle is formed from a single sheet of woven strips of polypropylene with fold lines separating said base portion and said walls. S.. * *5 S. *
4. A receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein releasable attachment means are provided to attach said walls to one or more of the walls of an adjacent receptade.
5. A receptacle according to any of claim 2 to 4, wherein said supporting member is a polypropylene rope.
6. A receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle incorporates no handles, which protrude beyond the upper rim of the receptacle.
7. A sheet of material comprising a central portion and a plurality of wings extending from said central portion; whereby when said wings are folded inwards relative to said central portion and neighbouring wing portions are sewn together, a receptacle having the features of cLaim 1 is formed.

U

8. A sheet according to cLaim 7, wherein one or more of the wings are folded on each other to form one or more waLls with two or more layers of sheet.

9. A receptacle and/or a sheet substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated with reference to any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures. * *. * . I I... S.. * * I... S... * S * S. I

I *S.

S S. * S * S. S S. I * . S S. * lb

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS hAVE BEEN FJLED AS FOLLOWS

CLAIMS

1. A manually foldable water permeable receptacle, comprising a base portion and walls projecting upwards from said base portion, wherein the receptacle's walls project * upwards to a limited height relative to its Length in order to have the overall aspect of a shallow walled plateau for containing a relatively thin layer or layers of material; and said receptacle is fillable from its top; characterised in that said base portion incorporates substantially flat strips woven in a criss-cross pattern.

2. A receptacle according to claim 1, wherein each of at [east two opposite walls incorporates a respective tunnel extending along the length of said wall with a least one open end into which an appropriately sized supporting member may be inserted to hold the wall substantially upright in use. S. * S..

3. A receptacle according to either of the preceding claims, wherein said strips are of S...

polypropylene.

4. A receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle is formed from a single sheet of woven strips of polypropylene with fold lines separating said base portion and said walls. *.

S

5. A receptacle according to any of the preceding claims, wherein releasable attachment means are provided to attach said walls to one or more of the walls of an adjacent receptacle.

6. A receptacle according to claim 2, wherein said supporting member is a polypropylene rope.

7. A manually foldable water permeable sheet of material comprising a central portion and a pLurality of wings extending from said central portion; wherein said central portion incorporates substantially flat strips woven in a criss-cross pattern; whereby when said wings are folded inwards relative to said centraL portion and neighbouring wing portions are sewn together, a receptacle having the features of claim 1 is formed as the central portion translates into the base portion and the wings into the walls.

* lsrd.* .
8. A sheet according to cLaim 7, wherein one or more of the wings are folded on each other to form one or more walls with two or more layers of sheet.

9. A receptacle and/or a sheet substantially as hereinbefore described and/or illustrated with reference to any appropriate combination of the accompanying text and/or figures. S. * S * S.. S... * * *IS* S. * *..

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