WO2009013476A1

WO2009013476A1 - Bin container

Info

Publication number: WO2009013476A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/002494
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Robert Norton; Ian Andrew Williams
Original assignee: Tg Waste Management Limited
Priority date: 2007-07-20
Filing date: 2008-07-18
Publication date: 2009-01-29
Also published as: GB2451300A; GB0714215D0; GB2451300B; GB0721936D0

Abstract

A bin container comprises a hollow body (8) having a plurality of compartments (17a, b), each for receiving a waste collection bin (4a,4b). The body (8) is open on at least one side to allow bins to be inserted into and removed from the compartments. The body (8) is constructed and arranged to allow stacking with a similar body in a nested condition.

Description

Bin Container

The present invention relates to a bin container. In particular, but not exclusively, it relates to a container for storing a plurality of bins, boxes or other similar containers, such as waste collection bins for recyclable materials, and allowing them to be moved easily and with little effort.

In many places, members of the public are encouraged to collect recyclable materials and items (e.g. glass, plastics, paper, electrical batteries etc.) in their domestic refuse, so that those materials and items can be collected and recycled. Often, the public are provided with a number of waste collection bins, usually in the form of open-topped or lidded plastic boxes, in which the recyclable materials can be stored. These waste collection bins are emptied by a waste collection agency on a regular basis, for example every one or two weeks. The non- recyclable waste is usually stored in a separate waste refuse container, for example a large wheeled bin (or "wheelie bin").

One problem with the existing plastic collection bins is that they are quite large and can be heavy and difficult to lift when full, especially for the elderly and infirm. Also, if several waste collection bins are provided for collecting different recyclable materials they can take up a considerable amount of floor space and they can be difficult to stack, discouraging their use.

A solution to these problems is suggested in GB 2393104 A, which discloses an apparatus for storage and transportation of recyclable waste. The apparatus consists of a standard wheeled rubbish bin, which is modified to allow it to hold a number of recycling boxes. The modification consists of cutting away part of the front wall of the bin and introducing an insert to provide compartments for the recycling boxes. This process is however complex and adds to the cost and weight of the apparatus. Further, the walls of standard wheelie bins are not designed to be load-bearing and may not have sufficient strength to support a number of fully- loaded recycling boxes. Cutting away part of the front wall only weakens the apparatus further. Additional strengthening structures may therefore be required, further increasing the cost and weight of the apparatus. Furthermore, the assembled container cannot be stacked with other containers in a nested condition. Storing a large number of containers therefore requires a considerable storage volume, which can cause problems when manufacturing, shipping or storing the containers prior to distribution.

Another bin container is described in WO 2006/048592 A. In this apparatus the body of the container is manufactured a single moulding, which overcomes many of the problems associated with the apparatus described in GB 2393104 A. However, the moulded body of the container cannot be stacked with other moulded bodies in a nested condition with one body inserted partially into another one. Storing a large number of containers therefore requires a considerable storage volume, which can cause problems when manufacturing, shipping or storing the containers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bin container that mitigates at least some of the aforesaid disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a bin container including a hollow body having a plurality of compartments, each for receiving a bin, wherein the body is open on at least one side to allow bins to be inserted into and removed from the compartments and includes a support structure that interconnects and supports the compartments away from the open side, said body being constructed and arranged to allow stacking with a similar body in a nested condition.

The bin container is designed to allow a plurality of bodies to be stored conveniently with little wasted space. The provision of a support structure between the compartments means that the body is rigid and self-supporting, which avoids the need for an external shell. The support structure is designed so that it does not prevent nesting of the body. Advantageously, the compartments are defined by a plurality of walls that diverge towards the open side of the body, allowing one body to be nested within another.

Advantageously, adjacent compartments are separated by a shelf, which includes a recess adjacent the open side of the container to allow one body to be nested within another. Preferably, at least one recess is provided in a rear portion of the body, which is complementary to the shelf and is constructed and arranged to accommodate a portion of the shelf when two such bodies are nested.

Advantageously, the bin container includes a plurality of wheels, which are preferably located on an opposite side of the container to the open side. The wheels are preferably designed to be attached upon delivery of the bin container to an end user, so that until that point they do not obstruct nesting of the bodies.

Advantageously, the bin container includes a handle, which is preferably located on an opposite side of the container to the open side. The handle is preferably designed to be attached upon delivery of the bin container to an end user, so that until that point it does not obstruct nesting of the bodies. Alternatively, the handle may be omitted.

Advantageously, the body comprises a plastics moulding. The bin container advantageously has two or three compartments. Advantageously, the compartments are arranged vertically, one above another.

Advantageously, the walls are tapered and/or include outwardly-curved upper portions, and/or include an outwardly-extending flange at the open side of the container, for increased strength and rigidity.

Advantageously, the hollow body includes a drawer for receiving individual waste items, for example electrical batteries.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a waste container system, including a plurality of waste collection bins and a bin container according to any one of the preceding claims, for storing the waste collection bins. Advantageously, each waste collection bin comprises an open-topped box having a base and an upstanding wall.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure Ia is an isometric view showing a bin container according to the invention, and Figure Ib is an isometric view showing a waste collection bin for use with the container;

Figure 2 is a side view of the bin container;

Figure 3 is a rear view of a bin container;

Figure 4 is a front view of the bin container;

Figure 5 is a top view of the bin container;

Figure 6 is an isometric view showing two moulded bodies in a nested condition;

Figure 7 is a side view of the two moulded bodies in a nested condition;

Figure 8 is a front view of a moulded body;

Figure 9 is a cross section on line A-A of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an isometric view showing a moulded body from the front;

Figure 11 is an isometric view showing a moulded body from the rear;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a bin container from the front, together with a number of waste collection bins, and

Figure 13 is perspective view showing the bin container from the rear.

Figures 1 to 13 show a bin container 2 and two waste collection bins 4a,b. One of the waste collection bins 4a is shown inside the bin container 2 and the second bin 4b is shown outside the container. Each waste collection bin 4a,b has a substantially rectangular base, four inclined walls 5 with an outwardly-protruding rim 6 at the upper edge of each wall, and optionally a removable lid 7.

The bin container 2 comprises a body 8, preferably formed as a single integral plastics moulding, which has two side walls 9, a rear wall 10, a top plate 12 and a base 14. The front face of the moulded body 8 is open. A shelf 16 extends across the interior of the body 8, dividing it into two compartments 17a,b, each of which is shaped to receive a waste collection bin 4. Each compartment 17a,b includes outwardly inclined side walls 18 and an enlarged upper section 20, which accommodates the rim of the bin 4a,b. The side walls 18 of the upper compartment 17b are connected directly to the enlarged upper section 20 of the lower compartment 17a, providing a support structure that interconnects and supports the compartments 17a,b and extends rearwards from the open front face of the body 8.

The front edge of the base 14, the top plate 12 and the base 14 include an integral outwardly- extending flange 21 and may be ribbed or corrugated for strength and rigidity. The inclined walls 18 and the enlarged upper sections 20 of the compartments also add strength and rigidity to the body, allowing it to support two fully-loaded waste collection bins 4a,b. The height of each compartment 17a,b is sufficient to allow small recyclable items (e.g. newspapers and flattened bottles/cans) to be placed in the bin without having to remove the bin from the compartment. The bins 4a,b are however protected from the elements by the top plate 12 and the shelf 16, which prevent rain water from falling into the bins 4a,b (if lids are not provided)

A pair of wheels 22 are mounted on an axle 23, which is mounted within lower and upper mounting elements 24,25 formed as integral parts of the moulded body 8 on the rear wall 10. The wheels 22 are located at or just above ground level when the container is standing upright on the base 14, and so that when the container is tipped backwards the wheels engage the ground, lifting the base 14 clear of the ground.

A handle 30 is attached to the rear wall 10, which can be used to tip the container backwards onto the wheels, so that it can be easily moved. The handle 30 consists of an inverted U- shaped metal tube, comprising two straight sections 30a that are joined at their upper ends by a curved section 30b. The two straight sections 30a pass through moulded retaining loops 25 formed on the rear part of the enlarged section 20 of the upper compartment 17b and are secured at their lower ends by the wheel axle 24, which passes through aligned holes in the lower ends of the straight sections 30a.

The waste collection bins 4a,b can be slotted into the compartments 17a,b of the body 8, so that they stand on the shelf 16 or the base 14. Each waste bin 4a,b can therefore be removed or replaced in the container 2 as required. They can be stored vertically within the container 2, so reducing the amount of floor space they occupy. Because the container 2 is provided with wheels 22, the container 2 and the waste collection bins 4a,b can be moved easily from one location to another, for example so that the waste collection bins can be conveniently emptied.

As shown in figures 6 to 9, the body 8 is designed to allow it to be stacked with a similar body 8' in a nested condition prior to attaching the wheels 22 and the handle 30. To permit nesting, the walls 18, the base 14 and the top plate 12 diverge away from one another towards the open side of the body 8, and the shelf 16 includes a recess 32 in its front edge, in the form of a tapered slot. In addition, a pair of recesses 34 are provided in the rear of the body member, which are complementary to the shelf 16 and accommodate the front portion of the shelf of a second body 8¹ in which the first body 8 is nested. These rear recesses 34 are located beneath the base of the upper compartment 17b and above the lower compartment 17a, the rear portion of the upper compartment 17b being supported by two vertical ribs 36 located between the two rear recesses 34. The ribs 36 form part of the support structure that interconnects and supports the compartments 17a,b.

The recesses 32,34 and the divergent walls 18, base 14 and top plate 12 allow two or more bodies to be stacked in a nested condition, thereby significantly reducing the space occupied by the stacked bodies. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, each body 8 has an overall length of 584mm and can be stacked so that when nested the inner body extends only 300mm beyond the outer body. In this condition, it is possible to ship 567 such bodies in a 8ft x 8ft x 45ft (2.44m x 2.44m x 13.7m) shipping container in stacks of seven bodies, each stack having a height of 2.38m.

A drawer 132 for small individual waste items such as electrical batteries is located within the space in the upper compartment 17b of the hollow body 8 between the top of the upper bin 4b and the top plate 12. The drawer 132 is supported on runners 134 that are moulded on the lower surface of the top plate 12, allowing it to be pulled out for filling or emptying.

Various modifications of the container are of course possible. For example, the container may have more than two compartments and its shape and construction may be adapted to suit the shape of the bins. It may be made of various different plastics materials or of other suitable materials, such as metal. The handle may also take different forms and the wheels may if necessary be replaced by a kerb-climber device, for example of the type described in WO2006/048592A.

Claims

1. A bin container including a hollow body having a plurality of compartments, each for receiving a bin, wherein the body is open on at least one side to allow bins to be inserted into and removed from the compartments and includes a support structure that interconnects and supports the compartments away from the open side, said body being constructed and arranged to allow stacking with a similar body in a nested condition.

2. A bin container according to claim 1, wherein the compartments are defined by a plurality of walls that diverge at the open side of the body, allowing one body to be nested within another.

3. A bin container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein adjacent compartments are separated by a shelf, which includes a recess adjacent the open side of the container to allow one body to be nested within another.

4. A bin container according to claim 3, wherein at least one recess is provided in a rear portion of the body, which is complementary to the shelf and is constructed and arranged to accommodate a portion of the shelf when two such bodies are nested.

5. A bin container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bin container includes a plurality of wheels.

6. A bin container according to claim 5, wherein the wheels are located on an opposite side of the container to the open side.

7. A bin container according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the body includes a mounting element for the wheels that is formed integrally with the body.

8. A bin container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bin container includes a handle.

9. A bin container according to claim 8, wherein the handle is located on an opposite side of the container to the open side.

10. A bin container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body comprises an integral plastics moulding.

11. A bin container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compartments are arranged vertically, one above another.

12. A bin container according to any one of the preceding claims, including a drawer for receiving individual waste items.

13. A bin container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walls are tapered and/or include outwardly-curved upper portions, and/or include an outwardly- extending flange at the open side of the container, for increased strength and rigidity.

14. A waste container system, including a plurality of waste collection bins and a bin container according to any one of the preceding claims, for storing the waste collection bins.

15. A waste container system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each waste collection bin comprises an open-topped box having a base and an upstanding wall.