GB2468473A

GB2468473A - Waste receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2468473A
Application number: GB0903957A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Adam Todd; Carl Richard Cotton
Original assignee: Personnel Hygiene Services Ltd
Current assignee: Personnel Hygiene Services Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-07
Filing date: 2009-03-07
Publication date: 2010-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2029-03-07
Also published as: GB2468473B; GB0903957D0

Abstract

A closure system for a waste bin receptacle comprises an opening 9 through which waste material can be deposited, and first and second tray flaps 20, 21. The first and second tray flaps 20, 21 are pivotally mounted with respect to the opening at opposed edges of the opening 9, and are pivotable between a closed configuration in which the tips of the flaps 20, 21 meet and an open orientation in which the flaps 20, 21 depend downwardly. The flaps 20, 21 are biased to the closed configuration. The tray flaps 20, 21 inhibit odours from leaving the bin. A further flap 6 is also provided which acts as a second barrier to prevent odours from leaving the interior of the bin 1.

Description

Waste Receptacle The present invention relates to waste receptacles, and in particular to waste receptacles or bins for sanitary purposes, particularly to such receptacles having an openable lid arrangement.

Sanitary waste receptacles frequently have an openable flap and or a drop flap arrangement closing an opening in a lid of the receptacle, the flaps being opened to dispose of waste through the opening into the interior of the container. Such arrangements may have manual means (such as a pedal) for opening the lid flap and or may have a powered opening system. In certain environments sanitary operatives are periodically responsible for service visits to an installation, in order to empty the bin and replace components such as power supply components such as batteries. It is beneficial to reduce the frequency that is required for such service visits, and also ensure that the waste receptacles are operable adequately during the time between service visits.

Developments have been made to improve such arrangements.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste receptacle (and/or a closure system for a waste receptacle) comprising: an opening through which waste material can be deposited into the receptacle; first and second tray flaps pivotally mounted with respect to the opening at opposed edges of the opening, and pivotable between a closed configuration in which the tips of the flaps meet and an open orientation in which the flaps depend downwardly into the container; wherein the flaps are biased to the closed configuration.

According to a second aspect the invention provides a lid structure for a waste receptacle, the lid structure including: an opening through which waste material can be deposited into the receptacle; first and second tray flaps pivotally mounted with respect to the opening at opposed edges of the opening, and pivotable between a closed configuration in which the tips of the flaps meet and an open orientation in which the flaps depend downwardly; wherein the flaps are biased to the closed configuration.

In a preferred embodiment, the tray flaps comprise a pair of tray flaps extending to meet at a join line midway across the opening when the tray flaps are orientated in the closed position.

The tray flaps are preferably biased to the closed configuration by means of a counterbalance structure provided for the respective tray flap. In one embodiment, the tray flaps may be of integrally moulded plastics construction having a flap portion positioned to one side of a pivot formation and a counterbalance structure positioned to the other side of the pivot formation. The counterbalance structure preferably extends away from the pivot mounting by a distance less than the flap extends away from the pivot mounting.

Alternatively or additionally, other biasing means (such as for example spring means) may be used.

In a preferred embodiment, the biasing means may act to bias the respective flaps upwardly to the closed configuration.

The receptacle (which may include the lid structure) is preferably provided with a stop formation against which one or both of the flaps are biased into engagement with, in the closed configuration.

It is preferred that the receptacle/lid structure is further provided with a cover closure element mounted to form a cover closure for the opening spaced from and above the position of the tray flaps.

The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front side perspective view of a waste receptacle in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the receptacle of figure 1 from the rear and below; Figure 3 is a view similar to the view of figure 2 but with the access flap in the open position; Figure 4 is a view corresponding to the view of figure 3 but from the front side; Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views showing the access into the receptacle with the access flap open; Figure 7 is a schematic view showing the tray flap construction; Figures 8 and 9 are perspective partial views showing the automatic powered operating mechanism for the receptacle; Figures 10 and 11 are schematic partial perspective views showing operation of the automatic powered operating mechanism for the receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a there is shown a waste bin receptacle I comprising a moulded plastics lower container 2 having an upstanding peripheral sidewalls 3 end walls 13 and a base 4. The spacing between the sidewalls 3 is substantially less than the spacing of the opposed end walls 13. The upper open end of the lower container 2 is closed by a removable lid structure 5 which rests on the upper rim of the lower container 2.

The removable lid structure 5 includes an openable flap 6 which in a closed position (as shown in figure 1) lies flush with the upper surface 7 of the removable lid structure 5 and in an open position (shown in figure 3 and 4) is hinged to be pivoted at hinges 8 to reveal an opening 9 through the removable lid structure 5.

The underside of the access flap 6 is provided at its rear edge, between the hinges 8, with an integrally moulded abutment wedge 10, which is acted on by an actuator arrangement to open the lid. This will be described in detail later.

The bin I is provided at opposed ends 11, 12 with separate actuator pedals 14 15. The actuator pedals comprise foot pads 14a 1 5a connected at respective proximal ends of respective lever extensions 1 4b 1 5b which are pivotably mounted in receiving channels 16 17 provided on the underside of the base 4 of the lower container 3. Fulcrum formations 19 are formed in the structure of the bin base 4 to aid in retaining the lever extensions 14b I Sb and provide a fulcrum therefor. The distal terminal ends 14c I 5c of the lever extensions are positioned directly below an actuator plate 16 which is mounted to the lower end of an elongate actuator blade 17 which extends upwardly in a receiving recess provided on the rear of the container 2. Activation of one of the foot pedals 14, 15 causes the actuator blade 17 to be levered to move translationaly upwardly in the longitudinal direction, moving in the recess provided on the rear of the container 2.

The uppermost end 1 7a of the actuator blade 17 is positioned so as to be capable of extending, when raised upwardly to its maximum extent, to extend through an opening slot 18 in the removable lid structure 5 on the internal wall at the location of the access opening 9 which is closed by the flap 6. In so doing the uppermost end 17a of the actuator blade 17 moves into engagement with the abutment wedge 10 and forces the access flap to move on the hinge mounting to open upwardly. When the downward pressure on the relevant pedal 14 15 is removed, the pedal pivots about fulcrum structure 19 back to its neutral (at rest position) under the weight of the actuator blade 17 which moves downwardly under its own weight and under the weight of the flap 6, as the flap 6 lowers to its closed position.

Either pedal 14 or 15 maybe used independently of the other in order to effect lever actuation of the actuator blade 17 to open the flap 6. This enables the bin 1 to be positioned at either side of a location (for example toilet for seated use) and enable one of the pedals to be at a forward location and the flap 6 hinges 8 to be on the side of the bin remote from the toilet location. This permits the pedal to be at the front end of the bin and the hinge 8 to be positioned to enable the flap 6 to open away from the toilet location whichever side of the toilet the bin is positioned. The bin simply needs to be positioned to ensure that the flap 6 opens the appropriate way and it is guaranteed that one of the pedals 14, 15 will be accessible at the front of the bin.

As can be seen most clearly in figures 5 and 6, the opening 9 in the removable lid structure in addition to being closed by the flap 6 is also closed by a pair of pivoting tray flaps 20, 21 which are each pivotally mounted at respective edges 9a 9b of the opening 9 at a level below the lid 6. The tray flaps 20 2lare biased to a closed position as shown in figure 5 in which the opening 9 is closed. In the closed position the tray flaps are inclined downwardly from the edges 9a 9b to meet at a join line 22 midway across the opening. The lid includes wedge shaped side panels 23 having a lower peripheral edge 23a against which the tray flaps 20 21 are upwardly biased to stay in the closed position. The biasing of the tray flaps 20 21 can be achieved by the provision of a counterbalance extension 24 moulded integrally with the flap (21 as shown in figure 7) to ensure that the tray flap is biased about pivot structure 25 to the closed position.

When disposing of waste into the bin 1, the flap 6 is raised and the waste item is placed on the tray flaps 6 which are in their neutral at rest position closing the opening 9. Under the weight of the waste item, the flaps pivot downwardly to their open configuration (as shown in figure 6) in which the opening 9 provides a complete passage into the interior of the bin 1. Following disposal of the item into the interior of the bin, the counter balance structure 24 of the tray flaps 20 21 acts to restore the flaps 20 21 to the closed position. In this way the tray flaps abut along the join line 22 inhibiting odours from leaving the bin. The flap 6, when reverting to its closed position also acts as a double barrier to prevent odours from leaving the interior of the bin.

Because a pair of tray flaps 2021 are provided that in the closed position meet at a join line 22 midway across the opening, the maximum distance that either tray flap 20 21 projects downwardly into the interior of the bin is a distance one width of the flap (in the maximum open configuration) which corresponds to a distance approximately one half the width of the opening. This is in contrast to known prior art systems which have a single tray flap extending across an opening and which extend downwardly into the bin by a greater proportion when in the maximum open position. It is therefore possible to fill a bin having a dual tray flap arrangement to a greater extent (depth) than one not having such arrangement. Consequently it is possible to reduce the frequency with which bins need to be emptied which is an important commercial consideration.

In the embodiment shown in figures 8 to 11, the waste bin 1 is provided with a power unit 30 which is mounted in the removable lid structure 5. The power unit 30 is intended to permit powered operation to lift the openable access flap 6. The power unit includes a replaceable electric battery and motor arranged to drive a shaft 31 which exits the housing of the power unit 30 and carries a gear pinion wheel 32. The pinion wheel 32 meshes with a gear tooth rack 34 which is attached to a drive arm 35, such that rotary driving of the pinion wheel 32 causes linear movement of the drive arm 35. The drive arm 35 is provided with a longitudinally running slot 36 within which are positioned guide rollers 37 arranged to guide the linear motion of the drive arm 35. At the distal end of the drive arm is mounted a scissors linkage actuator which has a pivot point 38 which moves in unison with the drive arm 35 and link elements 39 40 which are connected to the pivot point 38 at one end and at the other end carry projecting spigots 41 42 which are constrained to move in a guide slot 44 provided towards the upper end 17a of the elongate actuator blade 17. The drive arm 35, pinion wheel 32 and scissors linkage mechanism are mounted on a support wall 45 extending from the side of the unit. The support wall lies adjacent the internal surface of the wall of the lower bin receptacle 2.

In the rest position the upper spigot 41 rests at the top of the guide channel 44 in the lifter blade 17. This is the configuration shown in figure 10. When the open' actuator switch is pressed on the power unit, the pinion wheel 32 is turned by the motor shaft 31 to drive the drive arm away from the unit 30 expanding the scissors linkage and driving the spigots 41 and 42 apart in the guide channel 44 in the lifter blade 17. This causes the lifter blade 17 to move upwardly from the rest position shown in figure 10 to the lifting position shown in figure 11 in which the lifter blade 10 is raised to its maximum height. In so doing the uppermost end I 7a of the lifter blade 17 moves into engagement with the abutment wedge 10 and forces the access flap 6 to move on the hinge mounting 8 to open upwardly. After a predetermined time the pinion wheel is driven to rotate to a predetermined degree in the reverse direction and the drive arm 35 moves in the reverse direction collapsing the scissors linkage and allowing the lifter blade to lower under gravity causing the flap 6 to close. In this embodiment, the power unit and opening mechanism may importantly be provided in addition to and independently operable with respect to one or more foot pedal or other manually actuatable lifter arrangements for the access flap 6. The lifter blade 17 is capable of being manually raised upwardly (for example by means of the foot pedal 14, 15) even though the mechanical connections to the powered lifter mechanism are in place. Movement of the lifter blade upwardly does not require the components of the mechanical powered drive mechanism necessarily to move and there is no significant reaction force to overcome. Thus if the power unit fails (for example because the battery becomes discharged) the manual actuator can be used in order to effect opening of the flap via the lifter actuator blade 17.

It should be appreciated that alternative powered mechanisms could be utilised provided the facility to enable operation of the lifter actuator independently manually is maintained.

Claims

Claims: 1. A closure system for a waste receptacle comprising: an opening through which waste material can be deposited; first and second tray flaps pivotally mounted with respect to the opening at opposed edges of the opening, and pivotable between a closed configuration in which the tips of the flaps meet and an open orientation in which the flaps depend downwardly; wherein the flaps are biased to the closed configuration.
2. A closure system for a waste receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the tray flaps comprise a pair of tray flaps extending to meet at a join line midway across the opening when the tray flaps are orientated in the closed position.
3. A closure system for a waste receptacle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tray flaps are biased to the closed configuration by means of a counterbalance structure provided for the respective tray flap.
4. A closure system for a waste receptacle according to claim 3, wherein the tray flaps are of integrally moulded plastics construction having a flap portion positioned to one side of a pivot formation and a counterbalance structure positioned to the other side of the pivot formation.
5. A closure system for a waste receptacle according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the counterbalance structure extends away from the pivot mounting by a distance less than the flap extends away from the pivot mounting.
6. A closure system for a waste receptacle according to any preceding claim, wherein the biasing means acts to bias the respective flaps upwardly to the closed configuration.
7. A closure system for a waste receptacle according to any preceding claim wherein the receptacle is provided with a stop formation against which one or both of the flaps are biased into engagement with, in the closed configuration.
8. A closure system for a waste receptacle according to claim 7 including a lid structure for mounting on a container, the lid structure including the stop formation.
9. A closure system for a waste receptacle according to any preceding claim including a cover closure element mounted to form a cover closure for the opening spaced from and above the position of the tray flaps.
10. A lid structure for a waste receptacle including a closure system according to any preceding claim.
11. A waste receptacle including a closure system according to any preceding claim.