WASTE-RECEIVING RECEPTACLE
This invention relates to a receptacle to receive waste, especially litter such as chewing gum and cigarette ends .
According to the present invention, there is provided a receptacle to receive waste, especially litter such as chewing gum, the receptacle comprising a part by which the receptacle may be mounted to an upright, a housing and a liner within the housing, the liner having an inner surface defining the volume within which the waste is to be temporarily stored, the inner surface being of a low-friction material to inhibit adhesion of used chewing gum, and the housing having an opening to receive the waste, the opening leading into the lined volume .
The part by which the receptacle may be mounted to an upright may comprise at least one mounting plate.
The housing and liner may be separate integers. In the latter case, the opening in the housing is aligned with an opening in the liner.
The housing may be provided with a door to gain access to the liner in order to empty the liner. A lock may be provided to lock the door closed. The door may be shaped so as to provide the opening in the housing.
The at least one mounting plate may constitute one part of the housing.
A series of mounting elements may be provided, each of reducing size so that a choice of element can be made as desired, in order to allow the receptacle to fit different diameters or profiles of uprights such as lamp posts .
The material of the liner may be fire-proof in order safely to receive cigarette ends.
The mounting part of the receptacle may be provided with means other than screw fixings in the upright itself to secure the receptacle to the upright. This means could be a releasable clamping mechanism and may include an elastomeric sheet, collar or pad which is arranged to grip the upright to hold the receptacle in position when clamped around it .
The upright can be any form of post, such as a lamp post or traffic light post. The receptacle may be in the form of a stand-alone device for use, for example, in retail premises and public parks, etc.
The upright could be a wall or fencing.
The inner surface of the liner may be of a flexible or semi-rigid material such as silicon, or of a rigid material which is coated with a non-stick coating such as silicon or the material known and sold under the Registered Trade Mark "Teflon" .
The housing may be provided with more than one opening if desired.
The receptacle can be provided with a region such as a plate for stubbing out cigarettes. This region can be in the form of a replaceable part .
This region may be placed in an area such that the ash, etc. falls directly through the opening into the liner.
The receptacle may incorporate means to allow it to fluoresce or glow, so as to be visible in the dark.
The receptacle may be constructed in order substantially to completely surround the upright.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: -
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a receptacle to receive waste,
Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic front view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a sectional-side view taken on the line A-A of Fig. 2, and
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the receptacle.
The drawings show a receptacle to receive waste, especially litter such as chewing gum and cigarette ends, the receptacle being in the form of a bin 1 comprising a
part by which the bin may be mounted to an upright such as a lamp post or a wall or fencing (not shown) , the part in the embodiment shown being in the form of a back plate 2 securable to the upright. In the particular form of bin adapted for mounting on a lamp post or the like, the back plate is part-circular or is provided with a shape to match the profile of the lamp post or the like. Instead of traditional clamping means, the back plate 2 may be arranged to be sufficiently flexible as to be itself clampable about the upright to maintain the bin in position on the upright . The bin could be formed so as to sit on a flared, lower portion of the upright such as a lamp post or the like.
The bin also includes a main body housing 3 provided with an opening 4 to receive an inner liner 5, the liner having any of the preferred attributes discussed above.
The liner 5 may be shut in by a lockable door 6 mounted on a hinge pin 7.
The door is provided with a cut-away portion 8, thereby to define the opening 4 through which the litter can be placed into the inner volume of the liner 5.
A lock set 9 is provided to secure the door 6 in its closed position.
A recessed area 10 may be provided in the front of the body housing 3 to form a cigarette stubbing-out portion. As can clearly be seen from Figs. 1 and 4, the recessed area 10 allows the stubbed-out material to drop freely into the liner 5 within. The area 10 can be in the form of a replaceable plate.
Where the bin is formed to embrace the post entirely, it may be constructed symmetrically so as to comprise two diametrically opposed liners and doors.
It will be appreciated that the present construction allows the bin to be easily emptied by simply turning the contents upside down, thereby readily releasing material such as chewing gum, without requiring the need for replacement internal bags or the like, as is common practice at present in street furniture.
It will be further appreciated that many different designs of this type of street furniture can be envisaged in order to meet the individual desires and requests of the territory in which the bins are to be supplied.