GB2471728A

GB2471728A - Wall mounted rubbish compactor for wheelie bin

Info

Publication number: GB2471728A
Application number: GB0912097A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel James Rodda
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-11
Filing date: 2009-07-11
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Also published as: GB0912097D0

Abstract

A compacting device compacts material within a receptacle 33. The device comprises a plate 12 and a support arrangement 13. The device includes means for alignment of the receptacle 33, preferably guide arms 30a and 30b. Ideally the material is rubbish and the receptacle is a wheelie bin. The plate can be forced down by a ratchet mechanism 28 which pushes a toothed 26 ram 17b through a collar 24. Connections between the mounting 13, the supporting arm 17a and the collar 24 are pivotable, as are the connection between the ram and the plate to allow the device to fold for storage. The device is preferably mounted to a wall and can be clipped 21 in its folded position.

Description

Compacting Device The present invention relates to a compacting device and particularly, but not exclusively to a compacting device for compacting waste in a waste disposal bin.

It is known to provide waste disposal bins, such as the so-called wheelie bins outside properties for holding household waste, for example. However, as waste disposal bags, which have been filled with waste, are placed within a bin, it is found that a large portion of the volume of the bin remains unoccupied, despite the appearance that the bin is full. In these circumstances it is desirable to compress the bags within the bin, so that further bags can be placed therein.

In order to compress the bags within the bin, it is first necessary to suitably position the bin with respect to a compression device. However, due to the size and weight of the bin, it is found that it is difficult to manoeuvre the bin and thus suitably align the bin with respect to the compression device so that the device can move into the bin.

I have now devised a compacting device which alleviates the above mentioned problem.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a compacting device for compacting material within a receptacle, the device comprising a compacting member and a support arrangement that is arranged to support the member with respect to the receptacle and which permits the member to move into and out of the receptacle, the device further comprising alignment means for aligning the receptacle with respect to the member.

The alignment means enables wheelie bins and the like to be readily positioned with ----respect to thecompacting member and -further supports the-wheelie-bin during-the compacting process to prevent the wheelie bin from toppling over.

The support arrangement is preferably lockable in a storage configuration in which the plate is removed from the receptacle, and an operative configuration in which the plate is moveable into and out of the receptacle.

Preferably, the support arrangement comprises a first arm and a second arm that are coupled together.

A proximal end of the first arm is preferably hingedly coupled to a support mounting of the support arrangement and a distal end of the first arm is preferably hingedly coupled to a collar that is arranged to receive the second arm.

A proximal end of the second arm is preferably rotatably coupled to the compacting member and a distal end of the second arm is preferably arranged to pass within the collar.

The collar preferably comprises means for driving the second arm within the collar and thus moving the member into and out of the receptacle.

Preferably, the member comprises a plate.

Preferably, the alignment means comprises a first and second guide arm that form a channel for receiving the receptacle.

Preferably, the first and second guide arms are rigidly mounted with respect to the support arrangement.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the compacting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a storage configuration; Figure2isa perspectiveviewofihecompactingdeviceof figure-i-in a -configuration--_____ that is intermediate the storage and operative configuration; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the compacting device of figure 1 in an operative configuration; Figure 4 is a side view of the compacting device of figure 1, with the compacting member arranged to move into a waste disposal bin; Figure 5 is side view of the compacting device of figure 1, with the compacting member disposed within a waste disposal bin; and, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the compacting device of figure 1, with the compacting member disposed within a waste disposal bin.

Referring to figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a compacting device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, for compacting material within a receptacle, such as a wheelie bin 11. The device 10 comprises a compacting plate 12 that is dimensioned to pass within the bin 11, and which is coupled to a support plate 13 via a support arrangement 14.

The support plate 13 comprises a plurality of apertures 15 for receiving fasteners, such as screws and bolts (not shown), for mounting the support plate 13 to a wall 16 or the side of a house, for example. The support arrangement 14 comprises a first and second arm 17a, 17b that are hingedly coupled, such that the first arm 17a can pivot with respect to the second arm I 7b.

A proximal end of the first arm 17a is hingedly coupled to the support plate 13 via a coupling joint 18 that is disposed substantially at the centre of the support plate 13. The coupling joint 18 comprises a housing 19 having an aperture 20 through which the first arm 17a extends and which enables the arm 17a to move through an angular range of approximately 900 in a substantially vertical plane The first arm 1 7a is lockable in a storage configuration, in which it extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the support plate 13, and an operative configuration, in which it extends substantially endiilarlyiö the iupporfIate 13 The first arm 17a is lockable in the storage configuration by a latch 21 that is disposed substantially above the coupling joint 18, when the support plate 13 is mounted to a wall 16 or similar. The latch 21 comprises a pair of arms 22a, 22b that extend from the support plate 13, substantially perpendicularly thereto and which are orientated substantially parallel to each other. The arms 22a, 22b are spaced apart by a distance substantially corresponding to the width of the first arm 17a, such that the arms 22 of the latch 21 are arranged to receive the first arm 17a. Each arm 22 of the latch 21 comprises a barb 23 formed at a distal end thereof and which are orientated to face each other. The arms 22 are formed of a resiliently deformable material, such as a plastic, such that the arms 22 can be forced apart to receive the first arm 1 7a, but which move to their original configuration upon removing the force. Upon returning to their original configuration, the barbs 23 on the arms 22 of the latch 21 prevent the arm 17a from moving out from the latch 21 and thus the latch 21 is arranged to hold the first arm 17a in a substantially upright or storage configuration.

The first arm 17a is lockable in the operative configuration by a pin (not shown) that is arranged to pass though an aperture (not shown) formed in a housing 19 of the coupling joint 18 and an aperture (not shown) formed within the first arm 17a.

The distal end of the first arm 17a is hingedly coupled to an elongate collar 24 that is substantially square in cross-section and which is dimensioned to receive a distal end of the second arm 17b of the support arrangement 14. A proximal end of the second arm 1 7b is rotatably coupled to a rear surface of the compacting plate 12 via a ball and socket type coupling joint 25, for example. The second arm 17b is similarly substantially square in cross-section, and comprises a plurality of serrations 26 formed along the arm 17b upon one side face thereof. The serrations 26 on the arm 17b are exposed through a slot 27 formed within the collar 24 and are arranged to engage with teeth (not shown) of a ratchet mechanism 28 that is disposed on the collar 24.

The ratchet mechanism 28 comprises a handle 29, such that rocking the handle to and fro within the mechanism causes the second arm 17b to advance along the collar 24, and by reversing the position of a toggle switch (not shown) disposed upon the mechanism 28, the arm 1 7b is caused to advance in the opposite direction.

The compacting device 10 further comprises a first and second bin alignment arm 30a 30b that are arranged to extend from opposite sides of the support plate 13 at the lower side edge thereof. The first and second alignment arm 30a, 30b are separated by a distance substantially corresponding to the width of the wheelie bin 11, but are arranged to diverge slightly away from each other, away from the support plate 13, such that upon pushing the bin 11 toward the support plate 13, the bin 11 becomes progressively aligned to the compacting device 11 and thus the plate 12.

In use, a wheelie bin 11 is positioned between the alignment arms 30a, 30b of the compacting device 10 such that a lid 31 of the bin 11 is arranged to rotate away from the device 10. The bin 11 is then filled with waste bags 32 for example, and when it is desired to compress the bags 32 within the bin 11, the lid 31 of the bin 11 is rotated away from the device 10 to open the bin 11. The first arm 1 7a of the support arrangement 14 is then unlocked from the latch 21 and pivoted away from the storage configuration until it comes to rest upon the housing 19 of the coupling joint 18, and thus extends substantially perpendicularly to the support plate 13 in an operative configuration. The first arm I 7a is then locked in the operative configuration by passing the pin (not shown) through aligned apertures (not shown) disposed on the first arm 17a and housing 19.

As the first arm 17a is moved from the storage configuration to the operative configuration, the second arm 17b is pivoted away from the first arm 17a and the compacting plate 12 is pivoted into a substantially horizontal configuration, substantially within the opening to the bin 11. In the operative configuration, the first and second arms 17a, 17b of the support arrangement 14 extend substantially perpendicularly to each other. The ratchet handle 29 is then rocked to and fro to drive the plate 12 into the bin 11 and thus compress the contents. The alignment arms 30a, 30b support the bin 11 as the contents are compressed and thus serve to minimise any toppling of the bin 11. In addition, the arms 30a, 30b preserve the alignment of the bin 11, and thus preserve the movement of the plate 12, with respect to the bin 11, in a direction substantially along a central axis of the bin 11. This alignment prevents the plate 12 from otherwise driving against a side wall 33 of the bin 11 and thus potentially damaging the bin 11.

Once the contents to the bin 11 have been compressed, the toggle switch (not shown) is repositioned and the handle 29 rocked again to drive the plate 12 from within the bin 11 The pin (not shown) is then removed from within the aligned apertures (not shown) on the first arm 1 7a and the housing 19 of the coupling joint 18, and the first arm 17a is pivoted upwardly until the first arm 17a engages within the latch. The second arm 17b may then be rotated downwardly to the first arm 17a and the plate 12 pivoted about the ball and socket joint 25 to extend in a substantially vertical plane for storage. If required, the second arm 17b may also be positioned within the latch 21 to lock the second arm 17b to the first arm 17a and hold the support arrangement 14 in a more compact storage configuration, close to the support plate 13.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the compacting device of the present invention provides a simple yet effective means of compacting material within a receptacle, such as a wheelie bin.

Claims

Claims 1. A compacting device for compacting material within a receptacle, the device comprising a compacting member and a support arrangement that is arranged to support the member with respect to the receptacle and which permits the member to move into and out of the receptacle, the device further comprising alignment means for aligning the receptacle with respect to the member.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the support arrangement is lockable in a storage configuration in which the plate is removed from the receptacle, and an operative configuration in which the plate is moveable into and out of the receptacle.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support arrangement comprises a first arm and a second arm that are coupled together.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein a proximal end of the first arm is hingedly coupled to a support mounting of the support arrangement and a distal end of the first arm is hingedly coupled to a collar that is arranged to receive the second arm.
5. A device according to claim 4, wherein a proximal end of the second arm is rotatably coupled to the compacting member and a distal end of the second arm is preferably arranged to pass within the collar.
6. A device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the collar comprises means for driving the second arm within the collar and thus moving the member into and out of *s..the receptacle.

* ***** * *
7. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the member comprises a plate. 30
8. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the alignment means * comprises a first and second guide arm that form a channel for receiving the *.SSSS * * receptacle.
9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the first and second guide arms are rigidly mounted with respect to the support arrangement. * * *** *S..... * . S. * * S S * S.SSS5* r *5. * *S*SS *S.S S