WO2009106604A1

WO2009106604A1 - Device for containing waste provided with compactor

Info

Publication number: WO2009106604A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/052351
Authority: WO
Inventors: Renato Papa; Antonio Pieriboni
Original assignee: Renato Papa; Antonio Pieriboni
Priority date: 2008-02-29
Filing date: 2009-02-27
Publication date: 2009-09-03
Also published as: ITVI20080051A1; EP2257484A1

Abstract

The invention is a device for containing waste (1; 30) comprising: a supporting case (2; 33) provided with a front opening (2a); a container (5; 34) on the top of which there is a waste loading mouth (5a) and which is removingly housed in the supporting case (2; 33) through connection means (7) suited to allow it to be extracted through the front opening (2a); a waste compacting plate (8; 32) associated with first guide means (9; 38); a grip (10; 31) for manoeuvring the compacting plate (8; 32); means (11; 41) for connecting the manoeuvring grip (10; 31) to the compacting plate (8; 32). The connection means (11; 41) are arranged in the air spaces (12, 13; 42, 43) delimited between the container (5; 34) and each one of the side walls (3, 4) of the supporting case (2; 33).

Description

"DEVICE FOR CONTAINING WASTE PROVIDED WITH COMPACTOR". DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns a device for containing waste particularly suited to be used in homes, offices or other public premises, especially for collecting light and bulky waste, like for example paper, cardboard, plastic, cans and the like.

As is known, waste of the above mentioned type is rather bulky and tends to rapidly fill the container in which it is collected, which therefore must be frequently emptied. In order to allow said containers to be emptied less frequently, many known types of containers have been provided with a compactor suited to compress the waste contained therein, which allows a more effective use of the container. The compactor generally comprises a moving plate arranged above the container, in which it can be thrusted using a manoeuvring grip that is accessible to a user and is connected to the compacting plate via a rod and/or lever mechanisms that push the plate towards the bottom of the container. According to a known embodiment of the invention, the compactor is associated with the cover that closes the upper loading mouth of the container. According to a different known embodiment of the invention, the compacting plate itself serves as a cover for the container.

In this last case, the plate is directly associated with the container by means of lever mechanisms that make it possible both to thrust the plate and compress the waste and to extract it from the container in order to clear its loading mouth, in such a way as to allow the waste to be delivered and the container to be emptied.

A drawback posed by both the embodiments described above is represented by the fact that they are not very practical, in fact it is necessary to lift the cover or plate in order to introduce the waste and to put it back when it is necessary to compress the waste.

Furthermore, the containers described above need some manoeuvring space above them, so that the cover or plate can be removed in the cases described above.

Consequently, they pose a further drawback which lies in that they cannot be positioned in places that would be particularly suitable for this purpose, like for example under sinks, desks or tables, where they wouldn't be visible while at the same time being easy to reach.

The drawbacks described above have been partially solved through the construction of the waste containing device described in the Italian Patent application VI2007A000178, filed in the name of the same applicant hereof.

In this device, the container is housed in a case and more precisely it is hinged to the base of said case, in such a way as to be able to be extracted laterally, according to a so-called "transom" movement that makes its upper loading mouth accessible, Furthermore, a compacting plate arranged in the case is also provided, more precisely above the container's loading mouth.

The plate is connected to a rod that is slidingly associated with the upper wall of the case and that at its upper end is provided with a manoeuvring grip that projects from the case itself. The device described above makes it possible to deliver the waste with no need to remove the compacting plate, since it is sufficient to extract the container from the side of the case.

However, also this embodiment poses a drawback, which is represented by the fact that it requires a manoeuvring space above the case for using the grip, and therefore the container cannot be arranged under a writing desk, a sink or in similar positions.

The present invention intends to overcome all the drawbacks of the known art as outlined above.

In particular, it is the main object of the invention to propose a waste containing device with compactor that, differently from the known devices described above, does not need a manoeuvring space above it.

It is another object of the invention to propose a waste containing device with compactor that is more comfortable to use than the containers of known type.

The objects described above are achieved by a waste containing device carried out according to the main claim.

Other details of the waste containing device that is the subject of the invention are described in the corresponding dependent claims.

Advantageously, since the waste containing device that is the subject of the invention does not require a manoeuvring space above it, it can be positioned in smaller spaces compared to the devices of known type. For example, advantageously, it can be fitted under a writing desk, table, sink or in other places where waste containers are usually positioned. In particular, advantageously, when the device is positioned under a writing desk the user can comfortably use it while he/she remains seated. Still advantageously, the upper wall of the device can be usefully exploited to place various objects thereon.

The said objects and advantages, and others which are better highlighted below, will be illustrated in detail in the description of two preferred embodiments of the invention which is provided by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows an axonomethc view of the waste containing device that is the subject of the invention;

- Figure 2 shows an axonomethc view of the device shown in Figure 1 , in a different operating configuration; - Figure 3 shows an exploded axonomethc view of the device shown in Figure 1 ;

- Figures from 4 to 8 show cross-sectional side views of the device shown in Figure 1 , in different operating conditions;

- Figure 9 shows an assembly comprising several devices of Figure 1 , stacked on one another;

- Figures from 10 to 12 show cross-sectional side views of a different embodiment of the device that is the subject of the invention, in different operating configurations.

The waste containing device that is the subject of the invention is shown in Figure 1 , where it is indicated as a whole by 1.

It comprises a waste container 5, provided at the top with a loading mouth 5a, and a supporting case 2 provided with a front opening 2a defined between two opposing side walls 3, 4.

The container 5 is rotatingly connected to the case 2 via hinge means 7a that define, for the container 5, a horizontal rotation axis Y arranged at the level of the base B of the case 2.

Therefore, the user can rotate the container 5 to extract it from the case 2 through the above mentioned front opening 2a, in such a way as to make its loading mouth 5a accessible, as shown in Figure 2. The hinge means 7a preferably but not necessarily comprise pins belonging to the container 5, associated with seats created in the base B of the case 2. The seats are preferably open at the top, in such a way as to allow the removal of the container 5 from the case 2, in order to advantageously allow it to be emptied. Obviously, in different construction variants of the invention the container 5 may also be connected to the supporting case 2 through sliding guides or any other connection means 7 instead of through hinge means 7a, provided that they make it possible to extract the container 5 from the case 2 in order to make its loading mouth 5a accessible. As shown in Figure 3, the waste containing device 1 also comprises a compacting plate 8 associated with first guide means 9 that define a mainly vertical shifting direction X of the plate 8 in relation to the container 5. The invention also comprises a manoeuvring grip 10 that can be reached by a user and is operatively associated with the compacting plate 8 via connection means 11 , in order to allow the user to thrust the plate 8 into the container 5 when it is necessary to compress the waste contained therein. According to the invention, the above mentioned connection means 11 are arranged in the air spaces 12, 13 between the container 5 and each one of the two above mentioned side walls 3 and 4 of the case. The arrangement described above allows the connection means 11 to move at the sides of the container 5 and not above it.

Therefore, to move the compacting plate 8 it is not necessary to have a manoeuvring space above the case 2, and thus the main object of the invention is achieved. The connection means 11 comprise two shaped bodies 14 connected to the compacting plate 8, each one of which is arranged in one of said corresponding air space 12, 13 and cooperates with a corresponding extension 15 of the manoeuvring grip 10. Obviously, the shaped bodies 14 and the extensions 15 connect the manoeuvring grip 10 to the compacting plate 8, so that the vertical movement of the grip 10 shifts the plate 8 in the above mentioned shifting direction X. Advantageously, the presence of two shaped bodies 14 and of two corresponding extensions 15 on opposite sides of the case 2 makes it possible to exert a considerable force on the compacting plate 8, thus favouring the compressing action. It is evident, however, that in the cases where a reduced compression force is sufficient, construction variants of the invention may include a single shaped body 14 arranged in one of the air spaces 12 or 13 and associated with a corresponding extension 15 of the manoeuvring grip 10. As far as the shaped bodies 14 are concerned, each one of them comprises two first projecting cores 14a, 14b that slidingly cooperate with a first reference profile 15a and a second reference profile 15b defined on the opposite upper and lower sides of the corresponding extension 15.

In this way, the vertical movement of the manoeuvring grip 10 drives the compacting plate 8 along the above mentioned shifting direction X.

The above mentioned movement of the plate 8 is illustrated in Figures from 4 to 6, which show a see-through view of the case 2 where the container 5 is visible.

The figures show that the first reference profile 15a has a groove 23 at one end, suited to house the corresponding first projecting core 14a in order to push it during the downward movement of the grip 10.

In this way, advantageously, both the first projecting cores 14a, 14b take part in the thrusting action of the compacting plate 8, thus allowing a particularly high compacting force to be exerted. As regards the first guide means 9 of the compacting plate 8, they comprise a second projecting core 14c belonging to each shaped body 14, sliding in a corresponding first guide groove 16 belonging to the side wall 3, 4 of the supporting case 2 facing said shaped body 14.

The first guide means 9 also comprise a third projecting core 14d, visible in Figure 3, which belongs to the shaped body 14 and is slidingly housed in a second guide groove 20 created in the container 5.

The first lower projecting core 14b and the third projecting core 14d preferably but not necessarily develop on opposite sides of the shaped body 14 and are aligned with each other. It is clear that the presence of the first upper projecting core 14a, of the second projecting core 14c and of the third projecting core 14d hold the plate 8 correctly oriented while it shifts vertically.

The manoeuvring grip 10 is preferably associated also with the container 5 through second guide means 17 which, though constraining it to the container 5, allow it to slide vertically and to operate the compacting plate 8. In particular, the second guide means 17 comprise a guide profile 18 obtained on each side of the container 5, which cooperates with a corresponding counterprofile 19 created in the manoeuvring grip 10 and whose section matches the guide profile 19. Since the grip 10 is constrained to the container 5, it also serves to extract the container 5 from the case 2, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Advantageously, the above mentioned double function of the grip 10 makes the device 1 extremely compact. Preferably, the grip 10 also comprises an end-of-stroke profile 24 which advantageously prevents it from lowering during the rotation of the container 5. Preferably, but not necessarily, the manoeuvring grip 10 is slidingly associated also with the supporting case 2 through third guide means 21. The third guide means 21 work only when the manoeuvring grip 10 is lowered to operate the compacting plate 8, while when the grip 10 is pushed upwards it is released from the case 2, thus allowing the extraction of the container 5.

Advantageously, the third guide means 21 prevent the container 5 from being inadvertently extracted from the case 2 during the movement of the plate 8. The first guide groove 16 on the compacting plate 8 comprises two sections 16a and 16b that are joined to each other, as shown in detail in Figure 4. During the vertical shifting of the compacting plate 8, the second projecting core 14c slides in the first section 16a, which develops mainly in the vertical direction.

In addition to the second projecting core 14c, the second section 16b, which develops mainly horizontally, houses also the first upper projecting core 14a. During the extraction of the container 5 from the supporting case 2, the two above mentioned projecting cores 14a and 14c slide inside the second section 16b of the first guide groove 16, advantageously maintaining the compacting plate 8 lifted, so that it does not interfere with the movement of the container 5. The second section 16b of the first guide groove 16, however, is provided with a lower opening 25 to allow the first projecting core 14a to be lowered when the container 5 is positioned in the case 2, in such a way as to operate the compacting plate 8.

The second section 16b, furthermore, has a curved configuration that determines the rotation of the compacting plate 8 during the extraction of the container 5, according to the explanation given below. As can be observed in Figures 5 and 6, during the extraction of the container 5 the first reference profile 15a of the manoeuvring grip 10 lifts the corresponding first projecting core 14a.

In fact, the first reference profile 15a has such a shape that the contact point P between the first reference profile 15a and the first projecting core 14a is at a minimum distance from the base B of the case 2 when the container 5 is arranged inside the case 2 itself, while this distance increases as the container

5 is extracted.

When lifted, the first projecting core 14a is guided in the second section 16b of the first groove 16 towards the front opening 2a of the case 2.

At the same time, the second projecting core 14c, which also slides in the second section 16b, lowers down due to the curvature described above.

It is clear, therefore, that during the extraction of the container 2 from the case 5, the compacting plate 8 rotates so that its edge 8a arranged at the level of the front opening 2a of the case 2 lifts up.

This lifting action offers the advantage of clearing the loading mouth 5a of the container 5 completely, in such a way as to favour the delivery of the waste contained therein.

Advantageously, the above mentioned rotation is allowed and made very precise by the second guide groove 20 in which the third projecting core 14d slides.

Still advantageously, the second guide groove 20 ensures the return of the plate 8 to its initial position during the insertion of the container 5 in the case 2.

The invention preferably but not necessarily includes also through slits 22 in the walls of the container 5, each one of which faces a corresponding side wall 3, 4 of the supporting case 2.

The above mentioned through slits 22 allow the corresponding shaped bodies 14 to slide during the vertical shifting of the compacting plate 8.

More precisely, each shaped body 14 is connected to the compacting plate 8 through a connection element that, during the above mentioned vertical shifting, slides in the corresponding through slit 22.

This advantageously makes it possible to reduce the vertical dimensions of the device 1 due to the compacting plate 8.

In fact, if the above mentioned slits 22 were not present, the connection elements between the shaped bodies 14 and the compacting plate 8 should be arranged at a sufficient distance from the upper edge of the container 5 to allow the complete shifting of the plate 8 along the shifting direction X. In the embodiment of the invention described herein the projecting cores 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d preferably have circular cross section. The circular cross section advantageously allows the projecting cores to slide more effectively inside the corresponding grooves.

Compared to the containers of known type, the device 1 that is the subject of the invention offers the further advantage that the upper wall of the case 2 can be used as a supporting surface, since the manoeuvring grip 10 and the connection means 11 are arranged at the front and not on top of the case 2. Therefore, advantageously the upper wall of the device 1 can be provided with compartments 27, visible in Figures 1 -3 and 9, suited to accommodate various objects. Furthermore, another waste containing device of similar type can be positioned on the upper wall.

In particular, it is possible to stack any number of devices, thus advantageously creating a separate waste collection unit that occupies a limited surface on the ground. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 9 which shows, by way of example, an assembly 50 comprising three stacked waste containing devices 1.

To ensure the stability of the stacked assembly, the waste containing device 1 of the invention preferably but not necessarily comprises joining means 26 arranged on the base B and on top of each supporting case 2. The above mentioned joining means 26, partially visible in Figure 3, can be constituted, for example, by shaped profiles that are coupled with counterprofiles present on the opposite side of a second case 2. A second embodiment of the waste containing device that is the subject of the invention, which is simpler to carry out than the previous embodiment, is shown in Figure 10 and indicated as a whole by 30.

According to this embodiment, the manoeuvring grip 31 is connected only to the compacting plate 32 but not to the container 34, which therefore is provided with a grip profile 34a for the extraction of the case 33. In this embodiment of the invention, the connection means 41 between the manoeuvring grip 31 and the compacting plate 32 comprise two shaped bodies 35 belonging to the plate 32, each one of which is provided with two first projecting cores 35a, 35b that define a guide channel 37. A corresponding extension 36 of the manoeuvring grip 31 slides in the guide channel 37 and its cross section matches said guide channel 37. The manoeuvring grip 31 can, therefore, be extracted from the case 33 independently of the container 34, according to a direction Z incident on the shifting direction X of the compacting plate 32.

The manoeuvring grip 31 can then be shifted vertically, thus allowing the compacting plate 32 to be lowered and lifted inside the container 34. Advantageously, as the grip 31 is extracted, it is easier to handle, thus making the compression operation more comfortable to carry out. The compacting plate 32 is associated with first guide means 38 that comprise two second projecting cores 35c, 35d on each shaped body 35, each one of which is slidingly connected to a corresponding first guide groove 39, 40 created in the supporting case 33.

One of the first guide grooves 40 has a curvilinear profile which makes the corresponding second projecting core 35d slide according to a curvilinear trajectory.

Advantageously, the curvilinear trajectory makes it possible to rotate the compacting plate 32 when it is in the upper position, in order to reduce its vertical dimensions.

Still advantageously, the rotation of the plate 32 makes it possible to exert a greater compacting force due to the effect of the considerable lever arm defined by the grip 31 when extracted, thus contributing to the achievement of the aim to make the device 30 of the invention more comfortable to use.

In practice, the user extracts the container 5, 34 from the case 2, 33 in order to deliver the waste, as exemplified in Figures 7, 8 and 12. After reintroducing the container 5, 34, the user can operate the compacting plate 8, 32 acting on the manoeuvring grip 10, 31 , as can be observed in Figures 5, 6 and 1 1.

As the grip is positioned and moved before the case, all the operations are carried out with no need to access the upper part of the device, thus achieving the main object of the invention. It is also clear that, since the removal of the compacting plate is not necessary in order to be able to deliver the waste, the device that is the subject of the invention is more comfortable to use than the waste containers of known type, thus achieving another object of the invention.

The above clearly shows that the invention achieves all the set objects.

In the construction stage, the waste containing device that is the subject of the invention may undergo further changes or modifications concerning, for example, the geometry, arrangement and number of the guide grooves provided in the device.

In any case, the above mentioned modifications or variants, even if they are neither described herein nor illustrated in the drawings, must all be considered protected by the present patent, provided that they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference sings have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1 ) Waste containing device (1 ; 30) comprising:

- a supporting case (2; 33) provided with a front opening (2a) defined between two opposing side walls (3, 4) of said supporting case (2; 33); - a container (5; 34) on the top of which there is a waste loading mouth (5a) and which is removingly housed in said supporting case (2; 33) through connection means (7) suited to allow it to be extracted through said front opening (2a) in order to make said loading mouth accessible (5a);

- a waste compacting plate (8; 32) associated with first guide means (9; 38) that define at least one mainly vertical shifting direction (X) of said compacting plate (8; 32);

- a grip (10; 31 ) for manoeuvring said compacting plate (8; 32), accessible to a user;

- means (1 1 ; 41 ) for connecting said manoeuvring grip (10; 31 ) to said compacting plate (8; 32); characterized in that said connection means (1 1 ; 41 ) are arranged in the air spaces (12, 13; 42, 43) delimited between said container (5; 34) and each one of said side walls (3, 4) of said supporting case (2; 33).

2) Waste containing device (1 ; 30) according to claim 1 ), characterized in that said connection means (1 1 ; 41 ) comprise at least one shaped body

(14; 35) connected to said compacting plate (8; 32) and cooperating with a corresponding extension (15; 36) of said manoeuvring grip (10; 31 ) during the movement of said compacting plate (8; 32) according to said shifting direction (X). 3) Waste containing device (1 ; 30) according to claim 2), characterized in that said shaped body (14; 35) is provided with one or more first projecting cores (14a, 14b; 35a, 35b), each one slidingly cooperating with a corresponding reference profile (15a, 15b) defined on said extension (15; 36).

4) Waste containing device (1 ; 30) according to claim 3), characterized in that said first projecting cores (14a, 14b; 35a, 35b) are two, one of which

(14a; 35a) is associated with a first reference profile (15a) while the other one (14b; 35b) is associated with a second reference profile (15b), defined on opposite sides of said extension (15; 36).

5) Waste containing device (1 ; 30) according to claim 4), characterized in that said first guide means (9; 38) comprise one or more second projecting cores (14c; 35c, 35d) belonging to said shaped body (14; 35), each one of which is slidingly associated with a first guide groove (16; 39, 40) belonging to the corresponding side wall (3, 4) of said supporting case (2; 33).

6) Waste containing device (30) according to claim 5), characterized in that said shaped body (35) comprises two of said second projecting cores

(35c, 35d), each one of which is slidingly associated with a corresponding first guide groove (39, 40).

7) Waste containing device (30) according to claim 6), characterized in that at least one of said first guide grooves (40) has a curved profile suited to define a curvilinear trajectory for the corresponding second projecting core (35d) during the shifting movement.

8) Waste containing device (30) according to any one of the claims 6) or 7), characterized in that said two first projecting cores (35a, 35b) define a guide channel (37) where said extension (36) slides according to a direction (Z) incident on said shifting direction (X).

9) Waste containing device (1 ) according to claim 5), characterized in that said manoeuvring grip (10) is slidingly associated with said container (5) through second guide means (17).

10) Waste containing device (1 ) according to claim 9), characterized in that said second guide means (17) comprise at least one guide profile (18) belonging to said container (5) and a corresponding counterprofile (19) belonging to said manoeuvring grip (10) with mutually matching cross sections.

11 ) Waste containing device (1 ) according to any one of the claims 9) or 10), characterized in that said first guide means (9) comprise also at least one second guide groove (20) belonging to said container (5) and a third projecting core (14d) belonging to said shaped body (14) slidingly housed in said second guide groove (20).

12) Waste containing device (1 ) according to claim 1 1 ), characterized in that said first guide groove (16) comprises a first section (16a) with mainly vertical development and a second section (16b) with mainly horizontal development, joined to each other.

13) Waste containing device (1 ) according to claim 12), characterized in that said second section (16b) houses one of said first projecting cores (14a) during the extraction of said container (5) from said supporting core (2). 14) Waste containing device (1 ) according to claim 13), characterized in that said first reference profile (15a) and said first projecting core (14a) define a mutual contact point (P) whose distance from the base (B) of said supporting case (2) is reduced to a minimum when said container (5) is arranged inside said supporting case (2). 15) Waste containing device (1 ) according to any one of the claims from 9) to 14), characterized in that said manoeuvring grip (10) is slidingly associated with said supporting case (2) via third guide means (21 ) at least during the movement of said compacting plate (8) according to said shifting direction (X). 16) Waste containing device (1 ; 30) according to any one of the claims from 2) to 15), characterized in that said compacting plate (8; 32) comprises two of said shaped bodies (14; 35), each one of which is arranged in a corresponding one of said air spaces (12, 13; 42, 43) and cooperates with a corresponding extension (15; 36) of said manoeuvring grip (10; 31 ). 17) Waste containing device (1 ) according to any one of the claims from 2) to 16), characterized in that said first guide means (9) comprise a through slit (22) defined in at least one wall of said container (5) and facing the corresponding side wall (3, 4) of said supporting case (2) with which said shaped body (14) is slidingly associated. 18) Waste containing device (1 ; 30) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection means (7) are hinge means (7a) that define a horizontal rotation axis (Y) arranged at the level of the base of said container (5).

19) Waste containing device (1 ; 30) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (B) and the top of said supporting case (2; 33) are provided with means (26) for joining them to other said waste containing devices (1 ; 30) when they are stacked.