GB2460145A

GB2460145A - Waste compactor

Info

Publication number: GB2460145A
Application number: GB0906652A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Lloyd Bird
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-18
Filing date: 2009-04-17
Publication date: 2009-11-25
Also published as: GB0807112D0; GB0906652D0

Abstract

A device (1) for compacting waste within a wheelie-bin (15) or refuse container comprises a lever arm (2) and a ram (3). The lever arm (2) has a hook (4) that fits over a handle of the bin, and several recesses or notches (5) on its underside. The lever arm (2) extends through an aperture at an upper end of the ram (3), with a lower lip (14) of the aperture (13) being received in one of the recesses (5). A pressure pad (10) at a lower end of the ram (3) contacts the waste within the bin (15), and pulling down on a hand-grip (7) of the lever arm (2) compresses waste beneath the pressure pad (10). The hook (4) may be moved along the handle of the bin (15), the ram (3) may be connected to different recesses (5) on the lever arm (2), and the ram (3) may be placed against the waste at various angles to the vertical, so as to compress selectively different zones of the waste. The lever arm (2) may be stored within the hollow shaft (9) of the rain (3) when not in use.

Description

WASTE COMPACTOR

The present invention relates to apparatus for compacting refuse within a refuse container.

More particularly but not exclusively, it relates to apparatus mountable to a domestic refuse container to compact refuse therein and increase its useful capacity.

Domestic refuse disposal is increasingly often carried out by means of collections from wheeled containers provided with hinged lids, known as "wheelie-bins". Frequently, waste * S..

:: ::. will be collected within the home in plastic sacks and bags, and then transferred to a wheelie-S.. S bin kept outside the home. Unfortunately, most rubbish does not pack efficiently into such *5 SS * S...

* sacks, and such sacks tend not to pack efficiently within substantially rectangular-section S..

S

wheelie-bins leaving many voids. As a result, many users find that they are unable to fit all S.....

of the household waste generated in the period between collections into their assigned wheelie-bin. However, many local authorities refuse to collect rubbish that is not within a bin, even if the rubbish is well wrapped within a plastic sack. It is also becoming increasingly common that waste collectors will refuse to empty wheelie-bins unless their lids are fully closed. It is hence important to use as much as possible of the internal volume of a wheelie-bin, for example by compacting material held therein.

Compressing waste by hand is unpleasant, unlikely to be very effective and could be dangerous in the presence of certain types of waste. People have reportedly even resorted to jumping on waste within a bin, despite the danger involved. Attempts have been made to design devices for permanent or temporary attachment to a wheelie-bin or the like, to compress waste therein, but none appears to have achieved widespread acceptance.

In particular, it appears that many of these devices are designed to produce a downwardly directed compressive force, usually through a pressure plate having a large area, extending substantially across an interior of the wheelie-bin. Often, however, this will be of little benefit, where the problem is peripheral voids between bags in the bin. It would then be preferable to rearrange the contents of the bin, rather than attempt simply to compress them.

Also, exerting pressure with such a pressure plate having a large area means that very high forces are needed to produce the required pressures. Other issues with such existing devices include that they appear to be bulky and awkward to store when not in use, and that they appear complex and expensive to manufacture. S...

S *I*5

Wheelie-bins are produced in a small range of standardised sizes, usually having a standard height to facilitate emptying by automatic apparatus. Almost all wheelie bins are provided with an elongate hinge arrangement along one side of their rim by which their lid is attached.

This usually doubles as a handle for pushing the bin.

It is hence an object of the present invention to provide apparatus mountable to a wheelie-bin or the like and operable to compress andlor rearrange waste held therein, which obviates the above disadvantages and permits a user rapidly and conveniently to release inefficiently-used volume within the wheelie-bin to receive further waste.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for compacting waste material within a waste container having handle means extending adjacent a rim thereof, said apparatus comprising elongate lever arm means detachably pivotably mountable adjacent a distal end to said handle means of the waste container, and elongate ram means so detachably pivotably mountable adjacent its proximal end to any of a plurality of points on the lever arm means as to extend generally downwardly to contact said waste material.

Preferably, the lever arm means is provided with a longitudinally spaced plurality of notch means each adapted removably to receive the ram means. *S..

Advantageously, each said notch means is configured to receive a bearing surface located *.. . adjacent the proximal end of the ram means.

I S..

The ram means may thus be selectably articulated to the lever arm means at a plurality of points therealong.

Preferably, the ram means comprises elongate shaft means having transverse pressure plate means mounted to a distal end thereof.

Advantageously, said pressure plate means has an area substantially less than a cross-sectional area of the waste container, optionally less than a quarter thereof.

Preferably, the lever arm means is provided at its distal end with hook means adapted substantially to encircle the handle means of the waste container.

Advantageously, said hook means is adapted to encircle the handle means at a single point thereon.

The lever arm means may be provided adjacent its proximal end with a manually graspable handle portion.

The lever arm means may comprise a curved portion, optionally disposed between the notch means and the handle portion thereof The lever arms means may comprise an intermediate portion in which the notch means are located and stop means, optionally protrusion means, adapted to obviate movement of the * *** * proximal end of the ram means away from said intermediate portion of the lever arm means. * ** *

S

Preferably, the ram means is so mountable to the lever arm means as to extend at a selectable 55...,

S

angle to the vertical, in use.

The ram means may be provided with a graspable region to facilitate manual selection of said angle.

Preferably, the shaft means of the ram means comprises a generally hollow body.

Advantageously, an interior of said hollow body is adapted to receive a substantial part of the lever arm means in a storage configuration of the apparatus.

In said storage configuration, the apparatus may be standable on a distal end of the ram means with the lever arm means extending generally upwardly out of proximal end of the shaft means.

The lever arm means may be provided with locating stud means so cooperable with slot means provided in the shaft means as to locate the lever arm means securely within the shaft means in said storage configuration.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for reducing the volume occupied by waste within a waste container having handle means * :. extending adjacent a rim thereof, comprising the steps of providing compacting apparatus as described in the first aspect above, engaging lever arm means of the apparatus with the handle means of the container, engaging ram means of the apparatus with a selected one of * the notch means of the lever arm means, contacting a selected zone of the waste with a distal *** end of the ram means, and so displacing a proximal end of the lever arm means that the ram ****..

means urges the waste towards a desired configuration within the container.

Preferably, the method comprises the additional steps of disengaging the ram means from a first said notch means, re-engaging it with a second notch means, and repeating the displacement of the lever arm means.

One may thus contact a further zone of the waste, or contact said selected zone of waste in a different direction.

Advantageously, the method comprises the step of aligning the elongate ram means at a desired angle to the vertical before displacing the lever arm means.

The method may comprise the further step of so displacing the lever arm means laterally along the handle means of the container as to contact an alternative zone of waste.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a waste compaction device embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of a lever arm of the device shown in Figure 1; * * . Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the lever arm of the device shown in Figure 1 **..

articulated to a ram element thereof *I*. * *...

* Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 in use on a wheelie-bin; *....S Figure 5 is a frontal elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 in use on a wheelie-bin; Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 in a storage configuration; Figure 7A is a scrap side elevation of a locating mechanism of the device shown in Figure 1; and Figure 7B is a scrap side elevation of the locating mechanism shown in Figure 7A, in a storage configuration.

Referring now to the Figures and to Figure 1 in particular, a waste compaction device I embodying the present invention comprises an elongate lever arm 2 detachably mounted to a ram element 3.

The lever arm 2 is provided at a distal end with a hook portion 4 adapted to receive a handle of a wheelie-bin or similar waste container (see below) such that the handle may act as a pivot for the lever arm 2. Three recesses 5 are provided in an intermediate portion of the lever arm 2, on a lower, in use, face thereof. (Only one recess 5 is fully visible and one partially visible in this view). A protmsion 6 is located immediately proximally of the most proximally-located recess 5, the function of which is described below. The lever arm 2 is provided at its proximal end with a hand-grip 7. In this embodiment, the lever arm 2 has a * * * curved portion 8 disposed between the recesses 5 and the hand-grip 7. *S.. *.**

S

*S*5 - * The ram element 3 comprises a generally cylindrical shaft portion 9 with a pressure pad 10 at its distal (lower, in use) end, extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the shaft *.**S *.. portion 9. A distal surface of the pressure pad 10 is substantially flat. The shaft portion 9 is provided with a manually-graspable grip zone 11 to aid handling thereof.

Figure 2 shows the lever arm 2 in isolation. In this view, all three recesses 5 are visible, spaced along an intermediate portion of the lever arm 2, on its generally concave underside (in use).

In use, the lever arm 2 is mounted adjacent a proximal (upper, in use) end of the ram element 3, as shown in Figure 3. The shaft portion 9 of the ram element 3 is hollow. Its thick walls define an axial chamber 12 which opens laterally of the shaft portion 9. The axial chamber 12 leads to an aperture 13 adjacent its proximal end through which the lever arm 2 extends.

A lower lip 14 of the aperture 13 comprises a rounded bearing surface which is insertable into any one of the recesses 5 of the lever arm 2. It is straightforward to move the lip 14 between recesses 5 as desired; the protrusion 6 helps to prevent the lip 14 being moved away from the recesses 5, further along the lever arm 2.

The lever arm 2 is thus pivotably articulated to the ram element 3, the profiles of the recesses and the lip 14 allowing considerable freedom of pivoting motion, as well as freedom to move the lip 14 to a selected recess 5, as described above. * * S *. S **I. * * *Sj*

Figure 4 shows the compaction device I in use, attached to an upper portion of a *S** * *S..

conventional wheelie-bin 15. As is conventional, a horizontal cylindrical hinge 16 extends generally adjacent an edge of an upper rim 19 of the wheelie-bin 15. The hinge 16 provides a * point of attachment for a lid (not shown) of the wheelie-bin iS, and also acts as a convenient handle for a user to grasp to manoeuvre the wheelie-bin 15. As shown, it is also an excellent temporary attachment point for the compaction device 1.

In use, the hook portion 4 of the lever arm 2 is located around the hinge/handle 16 of the wheelie-bin, with the lever arm 2 extending in an arc above the rim 19 and interior of the bin 15. The lip 14 of the ram element 3 is engaged with a selected recess 5 of the lever arm 2, and the pressure plate 10 of the ram element 3 is brought into contact with a selected region of waste to be compressed or displaced (not shown). The user then urges the proximal end of the lever arm 2 downwardly, the lever arm 2 pivots about the bin hinge/handle 16, and the pressure plate 10 compresses the waste andlor urges it into a void. (The curved portion 8 of the lever arm 2 improves the ergonomics of this action for the user).

The pressure plate 10 has an area substantially smaller than an internal cross-section of the bin 15; in this particular embodiment, it has a length and breadth each approximately 40% of the corresponding dimension of the interior of the bin 15. This allows the compacting device I to be used in conjunction with smaller models of wheelie bin 15 or such other waste container. By concentrating the force exerted by the lever arm 2 into a smaller area, the pressures exerted on the selected region of waste contacted by the pressure plate 10 are proportionally greater. Furthermore, it allows a user to manoeuvre the pressure plate 10 *... * II

around the interior of the bin 15 and pick out selected regions of waste for compression or displacement. (Existing compacting devices only allow the exertion of an undifferentiated l.a*

I S..

* downwardly pressure across substantially the entire interior of the bin).

I

The device 1 is also not limited to pressing downwardly on the waste, as demonstrated by the alternative angled dispositions shown for the ram element 3, 3A. This is particularly useful to urge waste into peripheral voids. One may also move the lip 14 to a different recess 5 and change the angle of the ram element 3 so as to contact the same region of waste from a different direction and angle. One may thus tamp down the waste in the most effective maimer, rather than merely indiscriminately crushing everything in the bin.

Not only do the multiple recesses 5 allow the user to move the ram element 3 about the interior of the bin, but moving the lip 14 from recess to recess 5 changes the lever ratio of the device 1. The closer the lip 14 of the ram element 3 is to the hook portion 4, the greater the force that is transmitted to the ram element 3. This gives the user yet another additional degree of freedom of action.

A further degree of freedom is shown in Figure 5. The hook portion 4 of the lever arm 2 grasps the hinge/handle 16 of the bin 15 at a single point. Since the pressure plate 10 is considerably smaller than the interior of the bin 15, one may move the hook portion 4 horizontally along the hinge/handle 16, so as to access different regions of the bin 15. The loose fit of the hook portion 4 about the hinge/handle 16 (see Figure 4) also allows the whole device I to be tilted, as shown in Figure 5. Thus, the user may angle the ram element 3 and pressure pad 10 as desired in either of two perpendicular planes, or in both at once. a... * . . S. 5 51-05 * S

The compaction device I may conveniently be stored in a compact configuration as shown in 0q**

S $S0S

Figure 6. A distal portion of the lever arm 2, including the hook portion 4, may be received within the axial chamber 12 of the shaft portion 9 of the ram element 3. The remainder of the 5* *.S0 lever arm 2 still extends through the aperture 13, but now generally vertically. The width of the pressure plate.10 is sufficient to ensure that the device I may be stably stood thereon in this storage configuration. The device I is hence easy to store when not in use.

To ensure that the device I remains in this compact storage configuration, a locating arrangement may be provided as shown in Figures 7A and 7B. A locating stud 17 extends laterally from the lever arm 2, as shown in Figure 7A. An angled locating slot 18 is formed in an inner face of the axial chamber 12 of the shaft portion 9 of the ram element 3. The locating slot 18 is configured to receive the locating stud 17 in the storage configuration of the device I (Figure 7B). Since the locating slot 18 extends at a slight upwardly angle, the lever arm 2 must be slightly raised to free the locating stud 17. Accidental displacement of the lever arm 2 from its storage disposition is hence obviated.

A further optional feature, not illustrated, is the presence of a knuckle guard or ioop around the hand-grip 7 of the lever arm 2. This protects the user's fingers and knuckles while operating the lever arm 2 (much like a hilt-bow of a sword). it also acts as a convenient stop to prevent excessive travel of the lever arm 2.

The device 1 may be made from a range of materials, but it is believed that a plastics moulding or casting will be preferable, for ease of manufacture, for durability, and for * *i* lightness. Reinforced thermoplastics, such as reinforced ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) or reinforced thermosets are believed to be sufficiently strong, tough and light for *U.

S

this purpose. S..

S

S. -*S*

S

The device 1 needs no small parts (such as nuts, bolts, bearings, etc) and no complex or time-consuming assembly steps during production or use. it should be both more effective than existing compaction devices and more economical to produce.

Claims

-12 -CLAIMS1. Apparatus for compacting waste material within a waste container having handle means extending adjacent a rim thereof, said apparatus comprising elongate lever arm means detachably pivotably mountable adjacent its distal end to said handle means of the waste container, and elongate ram means detachably pivotably mountable adjacent its proximal end to any one of a plurality of points on the lever arm means so as to extend generally downwardly to contact said waste material within the waste container.
2. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lever arm means is provided with a longitudinally spaced plurality of notch means each adapted removably to receive the ram means.
3. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said notch means is configured to receive a bearing surface located adjacent the proximal ... endoftherammeans. S.. * S..S
4. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ram means comprises elongate shaft means having transverse *:*. pressure plate means mounted to a distal end thereof. -13-
5. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in claim 4, wherein said pressure plate means has an area substantially less than a cross-sectional area of the waste container, optionally less than a quarter thereof.
6. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever arm means is provided at its distal end with hook means adapted substantially to encircle the handle means of the waste container.
7. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever arm means is provided adjacent its proximal end with a manually graspable handle portion.
8. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lever arm means comprises a curved portion, optionally disposed between the notch means and the handle portion thereof.
9. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever arm means comprises an intermediate portion in which the S...notch means are located and stop means, optionally comprising protrusion means, S...:. adapted to obviate movement of the proximal end of the ram means away from said intermediate portion of the lever arm means.S..... * . * S *S
10. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ram means is so mountable to the lever arm means as to extend in use at a selectable angle to the vertical. -14-
11. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein shaft means of the ram means comprises a generally hollow body, an interior of which is adapted to receive a substantial part of the lever arm means in a storage configuration of the apparatus.
12. Apparatus for compacting waste material as claimed in claim 11, wherein in said storage configuration, the apparatus is standable on a distal end of the ram means with the lever arm means extending generally upwardly out of a proximal end of the shaft means.
13. Apparatus for compacting waste material substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings.
14. A method for reducing the volume occupied by waste within a waste container having handle means extending adjacent a rim thereof, comprising the steps of providing *: :: . compacting apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, engaging lever arm means of the apparatus with the handle means of the container, engaging ram * S..means of the apparatus with a selected one of the notch means of the lever arm **..* . means, contacting a selected zone of waste within the container with a distal end of the ram means, and so displacing a proximal end of the lever arm means that the ram means urges the waste towards a desired configuration within the container. -15-
15. A method as claimed in claim 14, comprising the additional steps of disengaging the ram means from a first said notch means, re-engaging it with a second notch means, and repeating the displacement of the lever arm means.
16. A method as claimed in either claim 14 or claim 15, comprising the step of aligning the elongate ram means at a desired angle to the vertical before displacing the lever arm means.
17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, comprising the further step of so displacing the lever arm means laterally along the handle means of the container as to contact an alternative zone of waste.
18. A method for reducing the volume occupied by waste within a container substantially as described herein and with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings. S... * S* S. S * S S... S...S S... S..S*.SS.* * . * . S * S **