WO2005044697A1

WO2005044697A1 - Recycling bin

Info

Publication number: WO2005044697A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/012614
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Algar; Alastair Moore; Adam Lloyd; David Cocks
Original assignee: Knowing Doing Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-11
Filing date: 2004-11-08
Publication date: 2005-05-19
Also published as: GB0609003D0; GB2422530A

Abstract

There is provided a multi-drawer recycling bin comprising a housing (10); provided to said housing, plural drawers (20a, 20b, 20c) arranged in stacked configuration; and provided to one or more drawers, liner bag positioning means for positioning a liner bag within each said one or more drawers such that material for recycling is readily receivable by a liner bag positioned in the one or more drawers. In one embodiment, the one or more drawers are provided with a bag feeder for feeding a liner bag into the drawer, suitably located at the rear of the drawer.

Description

Recycling bin

The present invention relates to a multi-drawer bin for use in recycling and suitable for domestic or commercial use. One or more drawers of the bin are provided with a replaceable bag liner.

Bins for use in the stowage of domestic and commercial refuse are well known. It is also known to use bins for stowing recyclable domestic refuse (e.g. paper, glass, plastic materials) for collection by a recycling service or delivery to a recycling centre. In practice, it is desirable, and in particular to assist the recycling process by pre-sorting, if a separate bin is employed for each type of recyclable material. Thus, for example a first bin may be employed for paper, another for glass and a third for plastic polymers.

The use of such separate bins can take up a significant amount of floor space, which may present a problem to the user if used in a confined kitchen area. The Applicant has now realised that this problem may be addressed if the separate bins are replaced by drawers in a stacked multi-drawer type apparatus, wherein each drawer is individually accessible to enable ready stowage of each separate type of recycling material.

The Applicant has also appreciated that whilst such a stacked multi-drawer apparatus offers the advantage of space saving it presents a challenge as to how the contents of each drawer may be conveniently emptied of its contents. One approach would be to make each drawer separately removable such that the contents of each drawer may be separately emptied (e.g. by a doorstep recycling service collection). This approach however, presents potential problems if the drawer and its contents are heavy to lift and/or messy or smelly. This latter concern is particularly relevant where the recyclable material originates from a kitchen and is therefore likely to have at least, remnants of food waste remaining thereon.

To address these problems, the Applicant now provides a solution in which each drawer of the multi-drawer apparatus is provided with a bag liner for ready receipt of (separated) recycling material contents. The bag liner is generally arranged to lie in the drawer such that it may be sealed (e.g. by tying) before the liner and its contents are removed, thereby providing a more hygienic system for the user.

In one aspect, one or more drawers is provided with a bag feeder that receives a plurality of replacement bag liners and enables the ready provision of a replacement empty liner bag on removal of a filled bag from the drawer.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a multi-drawer recycling bin comprising

a housing;

provided to said housing, plural drawers arranged in stacked configuration; and

provided to one or more drawers, liner bag positioning means for positioning a liner bag within each said one or more drawers such that material for recycling is readily receivable by a liner bag positioned in the one or more drawers.

The invention provides a multi-drawer recycling bin apparatus, that is to say apparatus suitable for use in recycling having a multi-drawer arrangement as described in more detail below. The apparatus may be arranged for either commercial or domestic use. The apparatus comprises a housing, which may be of any suitable form and shape to perform the function of the present invention. Suitably, the housing is constructed from a plastic polymeric material.

The housing is provided with plural drawers arranged in stacked configuration. The inner part of the housing may be shaped to provide runners upon which each drawer is slidable, in use.

Typically, from two to five drawers, more preferably three or four drawers are provided. The stacking configuration of the drawers is typically determined by the shape and configuration of the housing. Embodiments are envisaged in which the drawers are arranged in single stacked configuration and also in which plural stacks of drawers are arranged side-by-side.

In one aspect, the housing is shaped to provide an opening with a reversible closure generally located at its top surface and arranged to provide access to the top drawer of the (or each) stack. Suitably, the reversible closure comprises a flip-top lid. This top access opening to the top drawer is particularly convenient where recyclable food waste (e.g. vegetable trimmings) is to be scraped into the liner bag within the drawer.

In aspects, the housing is provided in modular, stackable form. Suitably, plural stackable box units, each of which may be open-ended, define the housing.

In one aspect, the housing is defined by plural stackable drawer-receiving box units, each shaped for receipt of a drawer; and a lid unit.

Suitably, the lid unit is provided with an opening having a reversible closure and said opening is arranged to provide access to the top drawer of the stack. Preferably, the reversible closure comprises a flip-top lid. Suitably, each drawer-receiving box unit has a fascia provided thereto.

Suitably, each said fascia defines a handle-receiving aperture for receipt of a handle of a drawer such that the drawer handle protrudes through the aperture. The use of such a drawer handle protruding through the aperture of the fascia can improve robustness, and in particular prevents too much strain being placed on the fascia, which may otherwise be susceptible to breaking off during use.

Suitably, each said fascia defines a cavity adjacent to said handle-receiving aperture such that said protruding drawer handle is readily graspable by the hand of a user.

One or more drawers is provided with liner bag positioning means for positioning a liner bag within that drawer or drawers such that the material for recycling is readily receivable by a liner bag positioned therein. Thus, a liner bag received within the drawer is subject to a positioning means provided to the drawer, which ensures that the liner bag adopts a configuration that enables ready loading of recyclable material. Typically, the liner bag is held open with its open 'gaping mouth' directed towards the drawer opening. That is to say, in use, a user slides open a drawer and is presented with the 'gaping mouth' of the liner bag into which recyclable material may be readily deposited.

Preferably, each drawer of the apparatus is provided with liner bag positioning means for positioning a liner bag within each drawer such that material for recycling is readily receivable by a liner bag positioned in the drawer.

Suitably, the liner bag positioning means comprises a lip (or rim) provided at part or all, preferably substantially all, of the periphery (i.e. top edge) of a drawer. The lip is arranged to receive the corresponding peripheral part of the liner bag such that when received the liner bag is held open and has the form of its 'gaping mouth' essentially defined by the periphery of the drawer. Suitably, the liner bag positioning means further comprises one or more attachment means, for example tabs or hooks. Suitably, plural attachment means are located in spaced configuration at the periphery of the drawer. Preferably, attachment means (e.g. tab form) are provided at each corner of the periphery of the drawer, thereby providing four attachment points where the drawer is a standard 'box-shaped' drawer.

Suitably, the liner bag positioning means further comprises one or more liner bag retaining means for retaining the bag within the drawer. Preferably, the retaining means comprises one or more grips for engagedly gripping the lip (or rim) of the drawer and the liner bag positioned thereon. That is to say, the peripheral part of the liner bag is received around the lip (or rim) of the drawer and the one or more grips is applied to retain the liner bag at the lip (or rim). In essence, the gripped part of the liner bag is therefore sandwiched between the lip (or rim) and grip parts.

Preferably, a single retaining means is employed for each drawer and comprises a grip element having a shape and form (e.g. mirroring that of the lip (or rim) of the drawer) arranged for gripping engagement with substantially all of the lip (or rim) of the drawer. In one aspect, the single retaining means is comprised of rubber or polymeric material.

Suitably, one or more drawers is provided with liner bag feed means for feeding a liner bag into the one or more drawers for positioning the liner bag into a position where it may readily receive recyclable material. Preferably, the liner bag feed means is provided to the rear wall of a drawer, for an example an inset thereto or protruding part thereof. The term rear wall is used in the context of a conventional 'box-shaped' drawer that has a base, a front wall (i.e. that wall that faces forwards when the drawer is within the housing), a rear wall (i.e. that wall that faces rearwards when the drawer is within the housing) and two side walls. In variations, the bag feed means may be located at other parts of the drawer, but for aesthetic and child safety reasons, it is suitably hidden when the apparatus is in normal use. Suitably, the liner bag feed means comprises a holder for holding plural empty liner bags (e.g. in stacked or preferably, in rolled up configuration) and communicates with a feed aperture provided to the drawer (e.g. at its rear) to enable an empty liner bag to be fed from the holder to the inner part of the drawer.

Preferably, the liner bag feed means is arranged for sequential feeding of liner bags supplied on a continuous roll or cassette. One suitable continuous roll comprises a rolled up arrangement of plural liner bags arranged sequentially, in end-to-end configuration, each bag lightly joined to its neighbour(s) (e.g. by a perforated seal) such that each liner bag may, in sequence, be readily torn off from the roll.

The roll may be provided as is, or may be encased in a cassette housing. Suitably, the form of that cassette housing is readily receivable (e.g. in mating configuration) by a holder of the bag feed means. Suitably, the cassette housing is provided with a slot shaped and sized for feeding of liner bag roll therethrough.

In one aspect, the holder is arranged to comprise a lid, wherein suitably on receipt of the cassette within the holder the lid is moveable to snugly engage the uppermost part of the cassette housing. Suitably, the lid is provided with a slot positioned to align with the feed slot of the cassette housing such that when so aligned liner bag is feedable through both the slots of the cassette housing and the lid of the holder. Any slot may be provided with tear assisting means (e.g. a serrated or bevelled edge) to assist in tearing off of a liner bag (e.g. at a perforated tear point therein) at the slot(s).

The liner bags may have any suitable form for co-operation with elements of the apparatus. In particular, the mouth of the liner bag is suitably sized and shaped for ready receipt by the positioning means. Suitably, the liner bag is shaped for interaction with any attachment means (e.g. tabs or hooks) provided to a drawer. In one aspect, each liner bag is provided with ears, which are spaced for ready interaction with the attachment means. In one aspect, the liner bag has four ears arranged to co-operate with tabs located at each of the four top corners of a drawer.

The liner bags are generally formed from a plastic polymeric material. Suitably, this material is selected for biodegradability, although this is not essential.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a drawer suitable for use with the multi-drawer recycling bin herein, and comprising liner bag positioning means for positioning a liner bag within said drawer such that material for recycling is readily receivable by a liner bag positioned in the drawer.

Preferably, the drawer is provided with any of the features described hereinbefore such as liner bag feed means for feeding a liner bag into the drawer.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first recycling bin in accord with the present invention in an all drawers closed configuration;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second recycling bin in accord with the present invention in a top drawer and flip-top lid open configuration;

Figure 3 is a perspective, part exploded view of a drawer for use with a recycling bin in accord with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a liner bag cassette and liner bag roll being pulled out thereof for use with a recycling bin in accord with the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective detail view of the rear of a drawer with holder for liner bag cassette for use with a recycling bin in accord with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective detail view of the rear of a drawer with holder for liner bag cassette as shown in Figure 5 loaded with a liner bag cassette and bag roll as shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third recycling bin in accord with the present invention in a flip-top lid open configuration;

Figure 8 is an exploded view in perspective of the third recycling bin of Figure 7 in accord with the present invention shown with all drawers open;

Figure 9 is an exploded view in perspective of a drawer and fascia of the third recycling bin of Figures 7 and 8;

Figure 10a is a sectional view from the side of a drawer for use with a recycling bin in accord with the present invention; and

Figure 10b is a sectional view from the side of the circled area of Figure 10a showing details of the rear of the drawer with holder for liner bags loaded with a roll of liner bags.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a first recycling bin herein comprising housing 10 with feet 11 and provided in stacked configuration thereto, three drawers 20a, 20b, 20c. It will be appreciated that, as with a conventional chest of drawers, each drawer 20a, 20b, 20c may be slidably withdrawn from the housing 10 to enable access thereto. The top part of the housing 10 is also provided with a flip-top lid 12 to enable a second means of accessing the top-drawer 20a. Operation of the recycling bin may be better understood by reference to Figure 2, which shows a second recycling bin similar in form to that of Figure 1 except that handles 122a-c are provided to each drawer 120a-c. The housing 110 with feet 111 is provided with a flip-top lid 112. As shown, the top drawer 120a is withdrawn from the housing 110 and flip-top lid 112 opened up to allow ready access to the interior of the top drawer 120a (e.g. for placing recyclables therein).

Figure 3 shows a drawer 220 suitable for use with a recycling bin such as shown in Figures 1 or 2. In more detail, the drawer comprises a base 224, front 225, rear 226 and side 227a, 227b walls and frontispiece 228 whose function is largely aesthetic. The top edges of the walls 225-8 in combination define the peripheral top edge 230 of the drawer 220, to which retaining lip 232 is provided. Additionally, at each top corner (only three clearly visible) is provided an attachment tab 234a-c. It may be appreciated that in use, a liner bag (not shown) is placed into the drawer 220 with the top edge of the liner bag, which defines its open mouth pulled down around the lip 232. Four 'corners' of the liner bag are then attached to the drawer at the corner tabs 234a-c. Finally, rectangular retainer 240 is pushed down over the lip 232 and into snap-fit configuration therewith thereby with the liner bag sandwiched in- between (the lip 232 and retainer 240).

The drawer 220 is also provided at the outer part of its rear wall 226 with a holder 250, which protrudes therefrom, and shaped feed slot 260. The holder 250 is shaped for receipt of a liner bag roll cassette, and the feed slot 260 shaped for feeding of a liner bag from the received cassette to the interior of the drawer 220, as will become apparent from the description of Figures 4 to 6 that follows.

Figure 4 shows a liner bag cassette 370 that is suitable for use with the drawer of Figure 3. The cassette housing 370 is shaped to receive a continuous roll 380 of liner bags and provided with a slot 372 for feeding liner bag 382a, 382b therethrough. In more detail, the continuous roll comprises a rolled up arrangement of plural liner bags 382a, 382b arranged sequentially, in end-to-end configuration, each bag 382a lightly joined to its neighbour 382b by a perforated seal 384 such that the leading liner bag 382a may readily be torn off from the roll 380. Each liner bag 382b may be seen to comprise ears 386a, 386b, which are arranged to co-operate with attachment means (e.g. the tabs 234a-c of Figure 3) of a drawer. The ears 5 386a, 386b may also later be looped for tying up of a filled bag 382b after use.

Figure 5 shows the rear part of a drawer 420 that has slightly adapted form compared to that of the drawer of Figure 3. The drawer 420 has a retainer element 440 for retaining the liner bag in place. In common with the drawer of Figure 3, the 10 drawer 420 is also provided at the outer part of its rear wall 426 with a holder 450 and shaped feed slot 460. The holder 450 is shaped for receipt of a liner bag roll cassette (e.g. as shown in Figure 4), and the feed slot 460 shaped for feeding of a liner bag to the interior of the drawer 420. The holder 450 is however also provided with a lid 452 having a lid slot 454 provided thereto. The lid 452 is slidably moveable

15 upwards and downwards on the rear wall 426 to enable initial placing of a cassette within the holder 450 and then (as the lid 454 is moved down) snug engagement of the received cassette.

Figure 6 shows a detailed view of the rear of the drawer 520 of Figure 5 loaded with 20 a liner bag cassette and bag roll (both enclosed by holder 550) as shown in Figure 4. Liner bag 582 is drawn out of the lid slot 554 of the lid 552 of the holder and feeds through the feed slot 560 provided to the rear wall 526 of the drawer 520. Feeding of the ears 586a, 586b of the bag 582 is assisted by the circular shaping of the ends 561 a, 561 b of the feed slot 560. 25 Figures 7 and 8 show a third recycling bin herein comprising housing 610 defined by stackable box units 691a, 691 b, 691c, each defining a drawer-receiving cavity and each provided with a fascia 692a, 692b, 692c. Lid unit 693 having pivotally mounted flip-top lid 612 is further provided to upper box unit 691a. Each box unit 691a, 691 b, 30 691c receives a single drawer 620a, 620b, 620c having a handle 622a, 622b, 622c provided thereto. It will be appreciated that, as with a conventional chest of drawers, each drawer 620a, 620b, 620c may be slidably withdrawn from the housing 610 to enable access thereto (e.g. for placing recyclables therein). The flip-top lid 612 provides a second means of accessing the top-drawer 620a.

As best seen by reference to Figure 9, which shows lower drawer 620c, the fascia 692c fixes to the each drawer 620c at fixing points 623a, 623b, 623c (fourth fixing point not visible). In use, each drawer handle 622c protrudes through a handle- shaped aperture 621c within its fascia 692c. The fascia 692c is also provided with a cavity 694c provided just below the handle-receiving aperture 621c such that the hand of a user may readily grasp a drawer handle 622c. The user may thereby, pull the drawer 620c and its fascia 692c away from its box unit 691c to allow access to the inner of the drawer 620c.

The rear wall 626c of the drawer 620c is provided with shaped feed slot 660c for feeding liner bags from a bag feed mechanism. The technical details of the bag feed mechanism correspond to those previously described with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

Whilst drawer features of the third recycling bin have only been described in detail with reference to the lower drawer 620c they are replicated by the other drawers 620a, 620b.

Figure 10a shows a drawer 720 herein having a form that is a variation of that of the drawer of Figure 9. Figure 10b shows details of the rear of the drawer 720 including holder 760 for liner bags loaded with a roll 780 of liner bags.

In more detail, the drawer 720 is provided at its front wall with fascia 792 that fixes thereto. Drawer handle 722 protrudes through a handle-shaped aperture 721 within the fascia 792 and (as in earlier Figure 9) the fascia 792 is also provided with a cavity 794 provided just below the handle-receiving aperture 721 such that the hand of a user may readily grasp a drawer handle 722. In use, the user may thereby, pull the drawer 720 and its fascia 792 away from a bin housing (not shown) to allow access to the inner of the drawer 720.

A retaining lip 732 is provided to the peripheral top edge 730 of the drawer 720. In use, a liner bag is positioned within the drawer 720 with the top edge of the liner bag, which is pulled securely down around the lip 732 to define an 'open mouth' configuration. Optionally, a snap-fit rectangular retainer (as in Figure 3) is pushed down over the lip 732 and into snap-fit configuration therewith to retain the 'mouth' of the liner bag therebetween.

The rear wall 726 of the drawer 720 is provided with an inset defining a holder cavity 750, to which shaped feed slot 760 is provided. The holder cavity 750 is provided with cover 752, which mounts by way of living hinge 753 to the rear wall 726 of the drawer. The forward end of the cover 752 includes snap-fit feature 756 for engagement with corresponding snap-fit feature 757 provided to the inner holder wall 758. Bag roll 780 is received within the holder cavity 750 and retained therein when the cover 752 is closed. It will be appreciated that in use, liner bag 782 feeds out through the feed slot 760 of the holder 750 and into the drawer 720.

Claims

1. A multi-drawer recycling bin comprising

a housing;

provided to said housing, plural drawers arranged in stacked configuration; and

2. A recycling bin according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is provided with runners upon which each drawer is slidable, in use.

3. A recycling bin according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the housing is provided with an opening having a reversible closure and said opening is arranged to provide access to the top drawer of the stack.

4. A recycling bin according to claim 3, wherein said reversible closure comprises a flip-top lid.

5. A recycling bin according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said liner bag positioning means acts such as to position a liner bag within the drawer in an open mouth configuration.

6. A recycling bin according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein each drawer is provided with a liner bag positioning means for positioning a liner bag within each drawer.

7. A recycling bin according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liner bag positioning means comprises a rim provided to part or all the periphery of a drawer.

8. A recycling bin according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the liner bag positioning means further comprises one or more attachment means for attaching a liner bag thereto.

9. A recycling bin according to claim 8, wherein plural attachment means are located in spaced configuration at the periphery of a drawer.

10. A recycling bin according to either of claims 8 or 9, wherein attachment means are provided at each corner of the periphery of a drawer.

11. A recycling bin according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the liner bag positioning means further comprises one or more liner bag retaining means for retaining the bag within the drawer.

12. A recycling bin according to claim 11 , wherein said retaining means comprises one or more grips for gripping the rim of a drawer and a liner bag positioned thereat.

13. A recycling bin according to claim 12, wherein a single retaining means is provided to a drawer comprising a grip element shaped for gripping engagement substantially all of the rim of said drawer.

14. A recycling bin according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the one or more drawers is provided with liner bag feed means for feeding a liner bag there into.

15. A recycling bin according to claim 14, wherein said liner bag feed means is provided to the rear wall of a drawer.

16. A recycling bin according to either of claims 14 or 15, wherein the liner bag feed means comprises a holder for holding plural empty liner bags and said holder communicates with a feed aperture provided to the drawer to enable an empty liner bag to be fed from the holder to the inner part of the drawer. 5

17. A recycling bin according to claim 16, wherein the holder is arranged for sequential feeding of liner bags to the feed aperture, wherein the liner bags are supplied as a continuous roll.

10 18. A recycling bin according to claim 17, wherein said continuous roll is encased in a cassette housing, and the cassette housing is provided with a feed slot for feeding of liner bag therethrough.

19. A recycling bin according to claim 18, wherein the holder comprises a lid

15 having a lid slot provided thereto, wherein on receipt of the cassette within the holder the lid slot of the holder and feed slot of the cassette are in alignment.

20. A recycling bin according to claim 19, wherein either or both of the lid slot and feed slot is provided with tear assisting means to assist in tearing of a liner bag. 0

21. A recycling bin according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein plural stackable box units define the housing.

22. A recycling bin according to claim 21 , wherein the housing is defined by plural 5 stackable drawer-receiving box units, each shaped for receipt of a drawer; and a lid unit.

23. A recycling bin according to claim 22, wherein said lid unit is provided with an opening having a reversible closure and said opening is arranged to provide access0 to the top drawer of the stack.

24. A recycling bin according to claim 23, wherein said reversible closure comprises a flip-top lid.

25. A recycling bin according to any of claims 22 to 24, wherein each drawer- 5 receiving box unit has a fascia provided thereto.

26. A recycling bin according to claim 25, wherein each said fascia defines a handle-receiving aperture for receipt of a handle of a drawer such that the drawer handle protrudes through the aperture.

10 27. A recycling bin according to claim 26, wherein each said fascia defines a cavity adjacent to said handle-receiving aperture such that said protruding drawer handle is readily graspable by the hand of a user.

15 28. A recycling bin substantially as described in the accompanying description and drawings.

29. A drawer suitable for use with a recycling bin according to any of claims 1 to 28.

20 30. A drawer according to claim 29, comprising liner bag positioning means for positioning a liner bag within said drawer such that material for recycling is readily receivable by a liner bag positioned in the drawer.

25 31. A drawer substantially as described in the accompanying description and drawings.