GB2525390A - Bin - Google Patents

Abstract

A bin 1 for chewing gum having a sleeve 2 with a flexible sidewall arranged between two end caps 3, 4 and a bracket with base ledge 9 and jaws 7 at respective ends of a mounting bar 10. The base ledge and jaw accommodate the sleeve by engaging the end caps. The jaw is arranged to generate lateral flex in the side wall by compression around the mounting bar, so that in use the side wall of the sleeve bulges as a tube against the constraint of a peripheral edge or retainers of each end cap. The upper cap may be engaged by a hinge 8. The bin sleeve may have an oval cross section. The side wall may be formed from cardboard or paper and be rendered waterproof. The jaw may be biased towards downward engagement with an end cap. The mounting bar may have adhesive patches 11 for mounting on a surface.

Description

BIN

This invention relates generally to bins and more particularly to bins used for chewing gum and the like.

Bins are provided for convenient disposal of waste but by their nature normal bins are relatively large and cumbersome to accommodate the range and volume of waste and rubbish which may fill them. Such limitations tend to mean that bins can be spaced out and not provided in confined spaces with relatively high pedestrian traffic such as corridors. Bins in public places tend to be made of metal so this too can add to costs.

One form of waste which can be particularly problematic is chewing gum. Once used or when chewing gum is not allowed for social reasons/rules it must be disposed of quickly but a bin might not be readily available and if dropped chewing gums sticks to surfaces requiring more intense cleaning. Chewing gum is a relatively low volume waste but as it is associated with saliva there is some resistance to dealing with its disposal and the gum may contaminate otherwise recyclable paper and plastics. A convenient bin is required for chewing gum.

In accordance with aspects of the present invention there is provided a bin arrangement for chewing gum, the arrangement comprising a bin sleeve having a relatively flexible side wall between end caps and a bracket with a base ledge and a jaw at respective ends of a mounting bar, the base ledge and the jaw arranged to accommodate the bin sleeve by engaging the end caps, the jaw arranged to generate lateral flex in the side wall by compression around the mounting bar whereby in use the side wall of the sleeve bulges as a tube against the constraint of a peripheral edge and/or retainers of each end cap.

The end caps may include retainers for the side wall to utilise the lateral flex provided by the jaw engagement in use with the end caps. The bin sleeve may generally have an oval cross-section. The lateral flex in the side wall may provide a curved arch in the side wall around and across the mounting bar. The mounting bar may be configured to have a width less than to about the width of the lateral flex in the side wall.

The side wall may be formed from cardboard or paper. The cardboard or paper may be rendered waterproof.

The end caps may have grip elements. The base ledge and the jaw may be spaced upon the mounting bar whereby the bin sleeve can be removed from the bracket by a forward tilt or pivot about the base ledge. The jaw may include a bias to downward engagement with an opposed end cap. The base ledge and/or the jaw may have a lateral width substantially equivalent to the width of the lateral flex of the side wall.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a bin in accordance with aspects of the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the bin illustrated in figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the bin depicted in figure 1 and figure 2; Figure 4 is a base view of the bin depicted in figures ito 3; and, Figure 5 is a top view of the bin depicted in figures ito 4.

As indicated above chewing gum presents particular problems as a waste. Ideally, disposal of chewing gum should be convenient and easy so provision of a cartridge based arrangement would be helpful to ready removal of the bin and gum waste. Such replaceable cartridges may be of a fill and throw away nature or at least easily emptied or removed for emptying. If the whole unit is to be replaced then it must be cheap and reliable or the bin part removable but again light weight. Such attributes tend to suggest that cheaper flexible materials will be used such as cardboard, paper and plastics materials and this will allow use of printed advertising to be included in a bin arrangement for sponsorship or information.

Such flexible materials tend not to be that suitable for robust structures but with chewing gums the weight of the waste is not too great so only a relatively small improvement in structural strength may be sufficient.

Figure 1 illustrates a bin arrangement 1 in accordance with aspects of the present invention with a sleeve 2 between a top end cap 3 and a bottom end cap 4. The end caps 3, 4 have grips 5, 6 used as described later to allow assembly and dis-assembly of the bin arrangement. The sleeve 2 has a relatively flexible side wall, typically made of paper, cardboard or a plastics material, which may be rendered water proofed and/or have printed images on its seen surface. In accordance with aspects of the present invention the end cap 3 presses down upon the sleeve 2 and in particular the side wall to flex that wall. The end cap 3 is engaged as will be described later by a jaw or jaw elements (not shown in figure 1) so that the sleeve 2 is flexed between that end cap 3 and the base end cap 4 sitting upon a fixed base ledge (not shown).

Figure 2 illustrates the rear of the bin arrangement 1 as depicted in figure 1 so the sleeve 2 extends between end caps 3, 4 with these end caps 3, 4 engaged respectively by jaws 7 upon an integrated bar hinge 8 and a fixed base ledge 9. The jaws 7 and ledge 9 in combination with a mounting bar 10 provide a bracket for the sleeve 2 and end caps 3, 4 as a formed combination or loosely assembled. The bracket is secured to a mounting surface in the plane of the page by screws through drill holes or by adhesive patches 11 or other

suitable means.

The jaws 7 present a down ward pressure in the direction of arrowheads 12 inward of the back of the cap 3 such that rearward part or portion 2a, 2b of the rear side of the sleeve 2 is flexed about the bar 10. This flex will engage the bar and may positively abut the mounting surface either side of the bar to provide enhanced structural stability. However, due to the flex provides an outward compression bulge of the front, rear and side portions of the sleeve into robust engagement with retainers and overlaying lip peripheral edges of the end caps 3, 4 to secure the side wall and so the sleeve 2. The sleeve 2 with the end caps 3, 4 defines a closed box structure sufficient for transport of disposed chewing gum within and when assembled with the end caps 3, 4 an even more robust box is stressed' but action of the jaws 7 to bulge the side wall for substantially consistent presentation of the side wall in use. Such consistent present of the side wall will provide a better bin arrangement for waste disposal and also a stable surface for the printed matter/images upon it.

Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation of the bin arrangement as depicted in figure 1 and figure 2 so the jaw 7 engages top cap end 3 and the base cap end 4 engages the base ledge 9 so that the sleeve 2 is outward facing from the bracket formed by the jaw 7, ledge 9 and mounting bar 10. The sleeve 2 and end caps 3, 4 create a robust box as a cartridge which can be self-contained or one of the end caps 3, 4 (most normally the top end cap 3) may be removed to allow a bag or the sleeve simply to be inserted and emptied when required.

The sleeve 2 and end caps 3, 4 generally provide an oval or kidney cross-section for the void space in side to accept waste chewing gum. Such a configuration will provide storage volume in use but is flatter against the mounting wall upon which the cartridge provided by the sleeve 2 and end caps 3, 4 is secured.

It is envisaged that the bracket comprising the jaw 7, ledge 9 and bar 10 may be a permanent or semi-permanent or temporary mounting dependent upon environmental and/or operational requirements, However, use of the bin arrangement will be such that a disposable supply of sleeves to be associated with re used cap ends or sleeves and cap ends provided as kits to be made up as cartridges as required or ready-made cartridges can be provided in a stack for use as required. It will also be appreciated that a bin arrangement in accordance with aspects of the present invention may be supplied by a manufacturer/supplier of chewing gum as a promotional device with advertising or with a certain number of packets of chewing gum as part of a programme in respect of socially responsible disposal of chewing gum.

The sleeve 2 will generally be water proof to allow outdoor mounting but also to limit degradation by the water and saliva associated with chewing gum. If paper or cardboard are used for the sleeve 2 such water proofing may be a surface coating at least to the inner surface of the sleeve 2, the side in contact with the gum. The cartridge formed by the sleeve 2 and end caps 3, 4 may include talc or other moisture absorbent materials along with de-odourising and fragrant elements. The sleeve 2 may be transparent or at least include a transparent window portion so that an exterior inspection can confirm how full the bin arrangement is.

Figure 4 provides a view of the base end cap 4 from below. Thus, the cap 4 has the grip 6 extending down on the side farthest from a mounting surface and a base ledge 9 to be secured to that mounting surface. The cap 4 has slotted vents 13 to allow some air flow in the bin arrangement so that the chewing gum will set and dry but also to reduce air stagnation which may lead to foul odours also allows water drainage if situated outside or in wet environments. Within the cap 4 it will be noted that inner clips or retainers 14 are provided which will act with the upstanding lip periphery or skirt 4a extending up from the substantially flat or domed end closure section of the cap 4. The skirt 4a and retainers 14 will act together to engage the sleeve 2 so that the flexibility of the side wall is gripped robustly in use by the clamping action of the jaw 7 downwards into the gap between or in the clip itself.

In such circumstances a bin arrangement can be made in which the cartridge' of the end caps 3, 4 and the sleeve 2 is readily made without the complexities of gluing and so that if necessary for recycling/emptying the end caps 3, 4 can be readily separated i.e. plastic material end caps 3, 4 from paper/cardboard materials sleeve 2. Such an approach will reduce manufacturing costs, installation/maintenance costs and allow greater flexibility with regard to recycling.

Figure 5 shows the end cap 4 shown in figure 4 from above with the sleeve 2 removed. Thus, as can be seen the base ledge 9 is below the cap 4 to support it in use with the cap 4 and so sleeve 2 taking a substantially oval or kidney shaped cross-section. The clips or retainers 14 extend upward as if out of the page so that as described previously they can retain the sleeve with the peripheral skirt 4a (figure 2) sufficiently to act as a storage box for waste chewing gum when not in association with the bracket and robustly as a bin in use under the clamping and compressive effects of the jaw 7.

Figure 6 shows one example of use of clips or retainers 114 adjacent to a peripheral skirt or lip edge 104a extending upward from a closure end 104. An end of a sleeve 102 is caught between the skirt 104a and the retainer 114 so that the sleeve 102 is retained to form a box cartridge for waste chewing gum in use. It will be appreciated that initially the sleeve 102 will be simply pushed into the gap between the retainer 114 and the skirt 104a which may also taper only sufficiently for the top end cap to be secured to the other end of the sleeve 102 (not shown). This will create a box cartridge sufficient to allow installation then the action of the jaw 7 will ensure robust association in a duty period when the bin arrangement is filled with waste chewing gum. Once full the cartridge of sleeve 102 and cap ends can be removed from the bracket (not shown) and the whole pulled apart or end parts 11 4a of the retainers 114 to be knocked off so allow release them and so the end cap 104 to separate the paper/cardboard sleeve 102 form a plastics material end cap for easier recycling.

An alternative as illustrated in figure 7 for clips or retainers 214 is to provide a fork recess 200 again which may taper to increase retention of a sleeve 202 with compression but also so that with greater depth of engagement 210 the greater alignment of the sleeve provides a more robust structure. There is still a skirt 214 to provide a cartridge box for gum and as previously the retainer 214 can be released by breaking off an end 214a so that the parts can be separated.

The top end cap 3 will include an aperture so that waste chewing gum can be dropped into the aperture. The aperture may initially be formed with the end cap 3 or initially provided a perforation which can be pressed out to form an aperture as required.

In terms of removing the sleeve 2 with end caps 3, 4 after use it will be understood that the grips 5, 6 will be gripped possibly between fingers and a thumb across the palm of a hand then the combination prised by tilting forwards about base ledge 9 so releasing the clamp formed by the jaw 7. The jaw 7 and a part of the top cap 3 may have reciprocal elements such as a tooth and recess to provide some interference location but this will be such that resistance is easily overcome by the tilting or pivoting action as described.

A menace with small bin arrangements as with aspects of the present invention is that some people may aftempt to use them as an impromptu ash tray for cigarettes. This is a particular problem if the bin arrangement is made of metal which people may believe resistant to heat and fire but as such can also provide a seat for a fire. With a paper/cardboard bin arrangement it is hoped that such anti-social activity will diminish and in any event there is less likelihood that a fire will smoulder rather than more immediately catch fire when the culprit will be more readily apparent.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any number of combinations of the aforementioned features and/or those shown in the appended drawings provide clear advantages over the prior art and are therefore within the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims (12)

1. Claims 1. A bin arrangement for chewing gum, the arrangement comprising a bin sleeve having a relatively flexible side wall between end caps and a bracket with a base ledge and a jaw at respective ends of a mounting bar, the base ledge and the jaw arranged to accommodate the bin sleeve by engaging the end caps, the jaw arranged to generate lateral flex in the side wall by compression around the mounting bar whereby in use the side wall of the sleeve bulges as a tube against the constraint of a peripheral edge and/or retainers of each end cap.
2. 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end caps include retainers for the side wall to utilise the lateral flex provided by the jaw engagement in use with the end caps.
3. 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the bin sleeve has a substantially oval cross-section.
4. 4. An arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the lateral flex in the side wall is arranged to provide a curved arch in the side wall around and across the mounting bar.
5. 5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting bar is configured to have a width less than the width of the lateral flex in the side wall. * **

   :.: *
6. 6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the side wall is formed from cardboard or paper.
7. 7. An arrangement as claimed in cLaim S wherein the cardboard or paper is rendered waterproof.
8. 8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the end caps have grip * . 3® elements.
9. 9. Ah arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the base ledge and the jaw is spaced upon the mounting bar whereby the bin sleeve can be removed from the bracket by a forward tilt or pivot about the base ledge. * 35S
10. 10. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the jaw includes a bias to downward engagement with an opposed end cap.
11. 11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim the base ledge and/or the jaw have a lateral width substanlially equivalent to the width of the lateral flex of the side wall.
12. 12. A bin arrangement for chewing gum substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * * S* .* S S.SS *55 * S S... * S