WO1998049074A1

WO1998049074A1 - Wheeled waste receptacle (ii)

Info

Publication number: WO1998049074A1
Application number: PCT/SE1998/000737
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lee Hong
Original assignee: Perstorp Ab
Priority date: 1997-04-28
Filing date: 1998-04-23
Publication date: 1998-11-05
Also published as: SE9701575D0; AU7354098A; SE9701575L; SE509094C2

Abstract

Waste receptacle (1) comprising a base (2), a rear wall (3), two side walls (4 and 5 respectively) and a front wall (6). The walls (3, 4, 5, 6) are inclined so that the horizontal cross section is smaller at the base (2) than at the top of the receptacle (1). The receptacle (1) is further provided with wheels (7) arranged at the base of the receptacle (1), which wheels are used when moving said receptacle (1). The receptacle (1) is preferably also provided with a lid (8) which is homogeneous or parted into sections. The lid (8) is suitably arranged at the upper end (9) of the rear wall (3). The wheels (7) are detachably attached and can be moved from a temporary position to a regular, operative, position. The wheels are, when in the temporary position, retracted so that a receptacle (1) with the wheels (7) in said temporary position can be nested into a second receptacle (1). The receptacle (1) can be moved by being rolled on the wheels (7) when the wheels (7) are in the operative position, after being inclined somewhat.

Description

Wheeled waste receptacle (f II)

The present invention relates to a waste receptacle provided with wheels.

Waste receptacles provided with wheels, and made of thermoplastic material are commonly used nowadays. One common type of such receptacles is the type which has a principally rectangular cross-section as seen from above, and two or more wheels. The wheel axle is often arranged near the base and near one of the sides, which side can be named the rear side. A lid is often arranged in connection to the upper edge of the rear side. Such a receptacle is tilted backwards when it is to be moved, rolling on the wheels.

Receptacles as above is, however, very bulky which will obstruct transport. This is most often solved by nesting a number of receptacles in one another. One problem is that the wheels can not be assembled since they will obstruct the nesting. The user will normally have to assemble the wheels when such a receptacle is delivered. This assembly is normally more or less complicated which will lead to an incorrect assembly with a deteriorated function as a consequence. One solution to this problem could be to arrange the wheels on the inside of the walls, including the rear wall whereby they could be factory assembled. This would, however, cause a number of inconveniences since the support area in the bottom of the receptacle would be radically reduced whereby the risk that the receptacle could turn over in connection to windy conditions would increase significantly. One possible solution to this attendant problem could be to make the wheel diameter smaller. The receptacle would, however then be more difficult to move, especially in stairs, over thresholds and on soft and uneven ground. The lids of the receptacles also cause problems since they in a varying degree protrude from a stack. This will cause stacked receptacles with assembled lids to be more space consuming. The risk is furthermore great that the lids or the suspension of the lids are damaged during transport.

It has, through the present invention, been made possible to manufacture a receptacle where the above mentioned disadvantages are avoided. The invention relates to a waste receptacle comprising a base, a rear wall, two side walls and a front wall. The walls are inclined so that the horizontal cross-section is smaller at the base than at the top of the receptacle. The receptacle is furthermore provided with wheels arranged at the base, which wheels are used when moving said receptacle. The receptacle is preferably provided with a lid which is uniform or divided into sections and suitably arranged at the upper end of the rear wall. The invention is characterised in that the wheels are detachably attached and can be moved from a temporary position to a regular position which is operative. The wheels are located in a retracted position, when in the temporary position, so that a first receptacle, with the wheels in said temporary position can be nested into a second receptacle. The wheels are located in an operative location, when in the regular position, whereby the receptacle, by being inclined somewhat, can be moved by being rolled on the wheels. The wheels are preferably arranged at the rear wall when in the regular position

The rotation axle of the wheels is suitably parallel to the rear wall and the base when the wheels are located in both the temporary and the regular position.

The wheels are suitably placed inside the vertical extension of the side walls when in both temporary and regular position.

According to a first embodiment of the invention the wheels are provided with a first and a second axle member, placed in the rotation centre of the wheels. The axle members are moveable along the rotation axis of the wheels. A pressure coil spring is arranged between the axle members so that an outer spring back home position is obtained. The axle members are used for keeping the wheels in at least the regular position. The axle members of course also constitute the rotation axle of the wheels when they are in the regular, operative position. The receptacle is furthermore provided with receiving members at the base, which receiving members are in form of holes, pockets, recesses or the like, intended to receive the axle members. The wheel is surrounded by walls on at least two sides, on which sides the receiving members are arranged. The receiving members are intended to hold the axle members, and thereby the wheel, in position. The receiving members for the regular, operative, position of the wheels are shaped so that the axle members will have to be forced towards each other in order to remove a wheel. The receiving members for the temporary position are preferably shaped so that the wheels can be removed without having to force the axle members towards each other. The installation of the wheels is hereby considerably facilitated.

According to a second embodiment of the invention the wheels are attached, in at least the regular position, by means of one axle for each wheel. The axle is slideable in its longitudinal extension, which direction coincides with the rotation axis of the wheels. The axle is hereby forced through a clearance hole in the rotation centre of the wheel when the wheel has been placed in position. The wheel is then surrounded by walls on at least two sides, which sides are provided with receiving members in the form of holes, pockets, recesses or the like. The receiving means are intended to hold the axle and thereby the wheel in place. The receptacle is preferably also provided with a lid which is provided with operative and stow-away suspension means at the rear end of the lid The operative suspension means is intended for a moveable attachment of the lid onto pivot axles at the upper end when the receptacle is used in a normal way The lid can hereby be opened and closed The stow-away suspension means is used for attaching a lid onto the pivot axles when a number of receptacles are nested in one-another The suspension means are suitably of a snap-on type which considerably facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the lid The lid can hereby easily be attached in both transport/storage position as well as in the use position where the lid can be opened and closed

The invention is further illustrated by means of the enclosed figures showing different embodiments of the invention wherein,

-figure 1 shows, in perspective, a receptacle 1 according to the invention

-figure 2 shows, in perspective, two receptacles 1 which correspond two the one shown i figure 1 A second receptacle 1 has been nested into a first receptacle 1 A part of the first receptacle has been cut away in order to show the function

-the figures 3 1 - 3 3 show, in perspective, the lower part of a receptacle 1 around the wheel attachment Some parts have been cut away in order to show the function Figure 3 1 corresponds to figure 3 3, however, the latter shows an alternative embodiment of a wheel axle

-figure 4 shows, in perspective, a wheel 7 according to the invention The wheel has been cut through in order to show the function

-the figures 5 1 and 5 2 show, in perspective, the upper parts of a receptacle 1 seen from the rear with parts of a lid 7 in exploded view Figure 5 2 corresponds principally to figure 5 1 , however, parts of the lid have been cut away i order to show the function

Figure 1 shows a receptacle 1 for waste comprising a base 2, a rear wall 3 , two side walls 4 and 5 respectively and a front wall 6 The walls 3 , 4, 5, 6 are inclined so that a cross-section close to the base 2 is smaller than at the top of the receptacle 1 The receptacle 1 is furthermore provided with wheels 7 in the transition between the base 2 and the rear wall 3, which wheels 7 are used when moving the receptacle 1 The receptacle 1 is also provided with a lid 8 arranged at the upper end 9 of the rear wall 3 The wheels 7 are detachably attached and can be moved from a temporary position (fig 2) to a regular position The wheels 7 are located in an operative location, when in the regular position, whereby the receptacle 1 by being tilted somewhat can be moved by being rolled on the wheels 7 The wheels 7 are located in a retracted position, when in the temporary position (fig. 2), so that a first receptacle 1 , with the wheels 7 in said temporary position as illustrated by the upper receptacle 1 in figure 2 A second receptacle 1 with the wheels 7 in said temporary position can hereby be nested into a first receptacle 1 The rotation axis of the wheels 7 is parallel to the rear wall 3 and the base 2 when the wheels 7 are placed in the regular position The wheels 7 are placed inside the vertical extension of the side walls 4 and 5 respectively when in the regular position

Figure 2 shows in perspective two receptacles 1 which correspond to the one shown in figure 1 A second receptacle 1 has been nested into a first receptacle 1 A part of the first receptacle 1 has been cut away in order to show the function The wheels 7 are detachably attached and can be moved from a temporary to a regular position, in which regular position the wheels 7 are located in an operative position whereby the receptacle 1 , by being tilted somewhat, can be moved, rolling on the wheels 7 The wheels 7 are located in a retracted position, when in the temporary position, so that the second receptacle 1 , with the wheels 7 in said temporary position can be nested into the first receptacle 1 The rotation axis of the wheels 7 are parallel to the rear wall 3 and the base 2 when the wheels are arranged in both the temporary and the regular position The wheels 7 are furthermore placed inside the vertical extension of the side walls 4 and 5 respectively in both the temporary and the regular position The receptacle 1 is provided with a lid 8 which is provided with a stow-away and an operative suspension arrangement (fig 5.2) The stow-away suspension arrangement is intended to be used for attaching the lid 8 to the receptacle 1 when a number of receptacles are nested into one another as shown in the figure

Figures 3 1 - 3 3 show in perspective seen from the rear the lower part of a receptacle 1 around the wheel attachment Some parts have been cut away in order to show the function The receptacle 1 is, at the base 2, provided with receiving means 10' and 10" respectively in the shape of a holes and bowl shaped recesses which are intended to receive the axle parts 71 ' and 71 " respectively (fig 4) The receiving means 10' for the regular position is shaped so that the axle members 71 ' and 71 " will have to be forced towards each other in order to remove a wheel 7 while the receiving means 1 0" for the temporary position is shaped so that wheels 7 can be removed without having to force the axle members 71 ' and 71 " towards each other Both positions are further provided with guiding profiles 1 1 ' and 1 1 " which guide the wheels 7 into the correct position in connection to the assembly The guiding profiles 1 1 " for the temporary position will furthermore force the axle members 71 ' and 71 " (fig 4) together in connection to the assembly Figure 3 1 corresponds to figure 3 3 , the latter however shows an alternative embodiment of a wheel axle The wheels 7 are attached in the regular position by means of an axle 73 for each wheel 7 The axle 73 is slidable in its longitudinal direction, which direction coincides with the rotational axis of the wheels 7 The axle 73 will replace the parts 71 ', 71 " and 72 (fig 4) which will be left out in this embodiment The bowl shaped receiving means 10" are replaced by spherical protrusions in this embodiment

-Figure 4 shows in perspective a wheel 7 which has been cut through in order to show the function The wheels 7 are provided with a first and a second axle member 71 ' and 71 " placed in the rotation centre of the wheel 7 These are movable along the rotation axis of the wheel 7 A pressure coil spring 72 is furthermore arranged between the axle members 71 ' and 71 " so that an outer spring back home position is obtained The axle parts 71 ' and 71 " are used for keeping the wheels 7 in the temporary and regular position respectively by being brought into action with the receiving means 10' and 10" respectively (fig 3 1 and 3 2) The axle members 71 ' and 71 " will have to forced towards each other in order to remove a wheel 7 from the regular position The wheels 7 furthermore comprise a rim part 75, an elastic tire 74 and a fitting piece 76 The rim part 75 as well as the axle members 71 ' and 71 " are suitable made of thermoplastic material but can also be made of metal The elastic tire 74 is suitably made of a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer The fitting piece 76 is used for keeping the axle parts 71 ' and 71 " and the pressure coil spring 72 in place and are therefore assembled when these have been brought into position The fitting piece 76 is suitably made of the same material as the rim part 75

The figures 5 1 and 5 2 show in perspective the upper parts of a receptacle 1 seen from the rear with a lid 8 in exploded view The receptacle 1 is provided with a lid 8 which at its rear end 8' is provided with an operative suspension means 8 1 ' and a stow-away suspension means 81 " (fig 5 2) The operative suspension means 8 1 ' is intended for a moveable attachment of the lid 8 onto pivot axles 82 at the upper end 9 when the receptacle 1 is used in a normal way The lid 8 can hereby be opened and closed The stow-away suspension means 8 1 " (fig 5 2) is used for attaching a lid 8 onto the pivot axles 82 when a number of receptacles 1 are nested in one-another as shown in figure 2 Figure 5 2 corresponds in the main with figure 5 1 , however, parts of the lid have been cut away in order to show the function The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown since these can be varied in different ways within the scope of the invention. The lid 8 can for example be parted into two halves which can be opened separately. The lid 8 can furthermore be movably attached to the receptacle 1 via other sides than the rear wall 3. The length of the axle 73 can also be adapted to the width of the receptacle 1 so that one axle 73 is used for both wheels 7. Such an axle 73 is slided into position from one side of the receptacle 1 .

Claims

1 Waste receptacle (1) comprising a base (2), a rear wall (3), two side walls (4 and 5 respectively) and a front wall (6), which walls (3, 4, 5, 6) are inclined so that the horizontal cross-section is smaller at the base (2) than at the top of the receptacle (1), that the receptacle (1) is provided with wheels (7) arranged at the base (2), which wheels (7) are used when moving said receptacle (1) and preferably a lid (8) which is uniform or divided into sections and suitably arranged at the upper end (9) of the rear wall (3), c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the wheels (7) are detachably attached and can be moved from a temporary position to a regular position which is operative, in which temporary position the wheels (7) are located in a retracted position so that a first receptacle (1), with the wheels (7) in said temporary position can be nested into a second receptacle (1) and in which regular position the wheels (7) are located in a operative location whereby the receptacle (1) by being inclined somewhat can be moved by being rolled on the wheels (7)

2. Receptacle (1) according to claim 1 ch a r act eri s e d in that the wheels (7) are arranged at the rear wall (3) when in the regular position

3 Receptacle (1) according to claim 1 or 2 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the rotation axle of the wheels (7) is parallel to the rear wall (3) and the base (2) when the wheels (7) are located in both the temporary and the regular position

4. Receptacle (1) according to any of the claims 1 - 3 c h ar a c t e r i s e d in that the wheels (7) are placed inside the vertical extension of the side walls (4 and 5 respectively) when situated in both temporary and regular position

5. Receptacle (1) according to any of the claims 1 - 4 c h ara c t e r i s ed in that the wheels are provided with a first and a second axle member (71' and 71") placed in the rotation centre of the wheels (7) and which are moveable along the rotation axis of the wheels (7) and that a pressure coil spring (72) is arranged between the axle members (71' and 71") so that an outer spring back home position is obtained, and that the axle members (71' and 71") are used for keeping the wheels (7) in at least the regular position Receptacle (1) according to claim 5 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the receptacle (1) is provided with receiving members (10) at the base (3) which receiving members (10) are in form of holes, pockets, recesses or the like which are intended to receive the axle members (71' and 71"), that the receiving members (10) for the regular position is shaped so that the axle members (71' and 71") will have to be forced towards each other in order to remove a wheel (7) while the receiving members (1) for the temporary position preferably are shaped so that the wheels (7) can be removed without having to force the axle members (71' and 71") towards each other Receptacle (1) according to any of the claims 1 - 3 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the wheels (7) are attached, in at least the regular position, by means of one axle (73) for each wheel (7) and that the axle (73) is slideable in its longitudinal extension, which direction coincides with the rotation axis of the wheels (7) Receptacle (1) according to any of the claims 1 - 7 c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the receptacle (1) is provided with a lid (8) which is provided with an operative and a stow-away suspension means (8T and 81" respectively) at the rear end (8') of the lid (8), which operative suspension means (81') is intended for a moveable attachment of the lid (8) onto pivot axles (82) at the upper end (9) when the receptacle (1) is used in a normal way, whereby the lid (8) can be opened and closed, and that the stow-away suspension means (81") is used for attaching a lid (8) onto the pivot axles (82) when a number of receptacles (1) are nested in one-another