WO2013076664A1

WO2013076664A1 - Apparatus for holding household waste materials

Info

Publication number: WO2013076664A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/056596
Authority: WO
Inventors: Myles OSHAUGHNESSY
Original assignee: Oshaughnessy Myles
Priority date: 2011-11-21
Filing date: 2012-11-21
Publication date: 2013-05-30
Also published as: IE86119B1; IE20110507A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for holding household waste, comprising two principal compartments (15, 16). Each compartment (15, 16) is further divided into sub-compartments using compartmentalising inserts (8, 9, 19). Furthermore each compartment (15, 16) has an independently operated lid (7, 10) which covers the open mouths of the two compartments (15, 16) and any sub-compartments when in the closed position. The apparatus (1) has a handle (5), a pair of wheels (2) and a lifting lip (3).

Description

APPARATUS FOR HOLDING HOUSEHOLD WASTE MATERIALS

Introduction The present invention relates to a wheeled bin for example a refuse bin, and in particular it refers to wheeled bin which is capable of receiving a variety of non- recyclable wastes, recyclable wastes and other waste materials, in a segregated manner. Background to Problem Overcome

Refuse collection containers or 'wheelie-bins' are in common use to hold and transport waste materials from the household to the kerbside for collection. These wheeled bins are typically emptied by a truck with either an arm-like mechanism with jaws, or a comb-like apparatus with a clamp. The established waste management practice is to put mixed waste into one bin and then empty that unsegregated waste into one waste collection lorry.

In more recent times new environmental legislation has given rise to the requirement that all householders must segregate their waste into such categories as non-recyclable waste, organic waste and recyclable waste such as paper, glass, metal and plastic. As such the established practise of not segregating waste cannot continue.

This new reality has given rise to new methods for dealing with segregated household waste as follows:

• Use several wheelie bins

• Use a mix of bin(s) and bag(s)

• Use bin and Crates and/ or boxes

· Use several bins, each collected on a different week

This variety of options is of some value in that it allows for the segration of different waste materials. However, the resultant multiplicity of bags, boxes, crates and bins tends to clutter pavements and narrow streets, encumbering pedestrians, motorists and even the bin collection lorries. This clutter can be hazardous and a nuisance. A further hazard occurs when the refuse collectors have to manually lift the bags, crates and boxes of recyclables. These containers may be very light or very heavy - they are unspecified weights, and as such contravene current EU health and safety legislation regarding manual lifting.

Solution Offered

The object of the present invention is overcome the problems associated with the current system as given above.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention, given herein by was of non- limitative example, relates to a mobile receptacle, (commonly called a wheeled bin) for receiving segregated waste materials. Notably this wheeled bin consists of:

1 . A main body which is capable of being divided into compartments

2. Two lids, each of which pivots on its own independent hinge and is capable of covering one of more compartments

3. A handle which allows the wheeled bin to be moved and steered

4. Wheels which allow the wheeled bin to be moved without recourse to lifting

5. A lifting lip which allows the wheeled bin to be picked up by the lifting mechanism of a waste collection lorry

What the Invention Does

The present invention serves several explicit purposes:

1 . It allows for ease of separation of recyclables by the householder

2. It allows for ease of collection of recyclables by the waste collection service The Essential Features of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bin, and in particular it refers to a bin for waste material, for example a refuse bin. Moreover, the present invention relates to a compartmentalised wheeled container (Figures 1 & 2). Specifically, the present invention relates to a wheeled bin with two separate compartments, compartment A and 15 compartment B 1 6 (Figure 1 ). Either compartment may be further divided into sub-compartments.

Each compartment has a separate lid (Figures 2, 3 ) which operates independently of the other compartment and of the other compartments' lid. Compartment A, or compartment B or any of their sub-compartments may be used for holding general household waste, recyclable household materials or other waste materials.

The lid of either compartment 15 (A) or compartment 1 6 (B) may have a locking mechanism such as that shown in Figure 2,3.

The present invention may be made from a single material or any combination of materials that fulfil the necessary requirements and standards, including, though not limited to - aluminium, steel or other metal or metallic alloy, carbon fibre, graphite, polymer, thermo plastic or thermo-set plastic, fibre glass, composite material(s), timber or resin. In particular the present invention will have a fire- retardant aspect to whichever material it is made from.

The two main compartments, compartment A and compartment B are each provided with a separate, independently operated, hinged (Figure 2, 3). When the lids are closed and the bin is in the upright position the lids allow for water runoff thus, keeping the inside of the bin and any materials therein dry. This water- resistant affect is further achieved through the presence of a ridge around the mouth of each compartment.

How the Present Invention Works

The two main compartments and any sub-compartments are intended to allow for the efficient and uncomplex sorting of household waste, household recyclables and other waste in one unit. This one unit approach allows for the simplification of sorting of household recyclables by the householder, ease of movement of waste and recyclables from household to kerbside and the accessible collection of same by waste collection service providers. Furthermore, the present invention is a wheel-mounted (Figures 1 , 2,4 and 8) bin with a steering handle, (Figures 1 ), both of which allow for physical ease of movement of the bin. This allows the householder to wheel the bin to the kerbside, without any potentially injurious lifting. The present invention works in several ways to overcome problems inherent in current systems of the collection of general household waste and recyclable household waste and other waste. Principally, the present invention works by providing a purpose-built, wheeled bin which is comprised of two separate main compartments, and any sub-compartments, as given above.

When the householder wishes to dispose of household waste, recyclables or other waste, the material for disposal is brought to the bin. Depending on which type of waste the householder has for disposal at a particular moment, the householder should approach the bin and open the appropriate lid and place the waste matter inside in the appropriate compartment or sub-compartment. This compartmentalised bin design, as given by the present invention, allows the householder to sort recyclables and other household waste quite automatically by providing dedicated compartments, for particular types of waste. The present invention also works by allowing the waste collection service workers to easily move the recyclables, using the wheeled bin, from the kerbside to the waste collection lorry, without any manual lifting of unspecified weights, which potentially represent an lifting-injury hazard. At the waste collection lorry the bin, as given in the present invention, is then lifted using conventional lifting mechanisms, again allowing the waste collection personnel to forego potentially injurious lifting, otherwise endured when lifting or emptying the waste bags, boxes, crates or bins into the waste collection lorry. The rear lid will be held open during the lifting sequence through the use of a lid securing clasp. Brief Description of the Drawings

Drawing as following are given as a non-limitative embodiment of the invention to allow the invention to be more clearly understood Figure 1 is an isometric view of the of the compartmentalised wheeled bin according to the invention, highlighting the compartmentalisation of the bin Figure 2 illustrates the compartmentalised wheeled bin according to the present invention; highlighting the compartments' lids 7 and 10, lifting lip 3 and rear lid lock 4.

Figure 3 is a side view of the compartmentalised wheeled bin according to the invention, highlighting the compartments' lids, front lid lock 13 and 14.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the invention indicating in particular the rear lid hinge 12 and the tapered body design and the rear lid 7.

Figure 5 illustrates the upper portion of the invention, highlighting the front lid 10 and its hinge 1 1 and locking elements 13 and 14.

Figure 6 is an isometric view detailing the dividing insert 8, 9 and 19, and how it interlocks with the front lid 10, through the dividing insert assembly nut 18 and bolt 17.

Figure 7 shows dividing insert 9 and how it may be positioned in relation to the wheeled bin.

Figure 8 is a side view of the present invention. It shows, in particular, the rearmost lid 7 of the present invention in an open position and the clasping mechanism 21 which may be used to hold 7 open. 21 forms part of the outer side of the rear lid 7, and its counterpart component 22 which forms part of the rear of the body of the wheeled bin. These clasping mechanism components may be moulded into their respective wheeled bin parent components 1 , 7 or may be made separately and attached retrospectively.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to Figure 1 , a waste receptacle 1 is shown by way of non-limitative example. The receptacle 1 is substantially made up of a main body encapsulating a hollow interior with an upwardly facing, open mouth to the hollow interior region. The receptacle 1 , through the locating of a main dividing insert 9 is divided into two principal compartments, 15 (compartment A) positioned to the fore of the bin, and 1 6 (compartment B) positioned to the rear of the bin.

Each compartment defines a hollow interior region, these hollow interior regions forming the two main compartments. Either compartment, 15 or 16, may be sub- divided by additional dividing inserts. In one embodiment of the present invention compartment at 1 6 is divided by sub-divider 8.

The open mouth to compartment 1 6 has an independently hinged lid 7. The lid 7 closes the open mouth of 16 and any sub-compartments therein. The lid 7 is outwardly convex such as to allow water runoff when closed (assuming the receptacle to be in an upright position).

The lid 7 opens toward the front face of the bin (the front face being the face opposite to the wheeled bin handle 5), and has a hinged section at its proximal end through which its hinge 12 (Figure 3) is threaded. The hinge 12 allows the rotation of its lid, the hinge forming the axis about which the lid rotates.

The lid 7 is intended to be secured by an independently operated lock component 4 at its distal end. This lock component 4 is received by 6 (is an element within 7).

Referring to Figure 5, the open mouth to compartment 15 has an independently hinged lid 10. The lid 10 closes the open mouth of 15 and any sub-compartments therein. The lid 10 is outwardly convex such as to allow water runoff when closed (assuming the receptacle to be in an upright position).

The lid 10 opens toward the front face of the bin (the front face being the face opposite to the handle), and has a hinged section at its proximal end through which its hinge 1 1 (Figure 3, 5) is threaded. The hinge 1 1 allows the rotation of its lid, the hinge forming the axis about which the lid rotates.

The lid 10 is intended to be secured by an independently operated lock component 14 at its distal end. This lock component 1 4 is received by 13 (is an element within 10).

Referring to Figure 4 the receptacle 1 , as a whole, comprises a main body with a hollow interior. This body and hollow interior is intended to be tapered in such a manner as to allow several bins to be stacked, one atop the other. Stacking would lend itself to a certain ease of storage and transport.

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the receptacle further comprises a lifting-lip 3 which allows the present invention to be lifted by conventional wheeled bin lifting equipment. The receptacle further comprises a steering handle 5 positioned to the rear of the receptacle; the steering handle 5 allows the present invention to be steered wheeled by the householder and the waste material collection service worker. Furthermore, the present invention has two wheels 2 mounted just above the base at the rear or handled face of the bin. The wheels are secured to the bin with an axle which is threaded through moulded housings in the floor of the bin and runs the width of the bin base. The wheels 2 allow the receptacle to be moved without recourse to lifting.

Referring to Figure 6, lid 10, main dividing insert 9, main dividing insert bolt 17 and nut 18 are collectively held in place by two main dividing insert anchors 20 (Figure 5) located at either side of the hinged end of the lid 10. The present invention comprises a waste receptacle 1 divided into two main compartments 15 and 1 6 as given above. Either or both of these compartments may be divided into sub-compartments using compartmentalised inserts such as 8, and 19 (Figure 6), which can be slotted, bolted, screwed, welded or glued into receiving-ridges, or other slots, positioned appropriately inside the hollow interior region of either compartment.

It is intended that these compartmentalising inserts will extend from the open mouth of receptacle 1 to its base such that the division of the receptacle 1 or the sub-division of its compartments 15 and 1 6 is a complete separation and not partial. The compartmentalising inserts as given in the example of 8, 9 and 19 are tapered to match the taper of the main body of the receptacle 1 . In one expression of the present invention the compartment 1 6 is sub-divided using rear compartment sub-divider 8, thus creating two sub-compartments under lid 7, which are provided for different types of recyclable waste or non-recyclable waste, (Figure 1 , Figure 5 and Figure 6). In another expression of the present invention the compartment 1 6 is sub-divided using two rear compartment sub-dividers such as 8. These two rear compartment sub-dividers are intended to run parallel to each other thus creating three sub- compartments under lid 7, which are provided for different types of recyclable waste or non-recyclable waste.

In another expression of the present invention the compartment 1 6 is sub-divided using two rear compartment sub-dividers such as 8. These two rear compartment sub-dividers are intended to run at right angles to each other thus creating four sub-compartments under lid 7, which are provided for different types of recyclable waste or non-recyclable waste.

In another expression of the present invention two main compartments 15 and 16 are each divided in two sub-compartments using sub-compartmentalising inserts such as 8 and 19 (Figure 6), thus creating four sub-compartments, two under lid 10 and two under lid 7. These four sub-compartments are provided for different types of recyclable waste or non-recyclable waste. In another expression of the present invention the main compartment 15 is divided into two sub-compartments using a sub-compartmentalising inserts such as 19 (Figure 6), thus creating two sub-compartments under lid 10. Simultaneously, compartment 16 is sub-divided using two rear compartment sub-dividers such as 8, running parallel to each other thus creating three sub-compartments under lid 7. These five sub-compartments are provided for different types of recyclable waste or non-recyclable waste.

In another expression of the present invention the main compartment 15 is divided into two sub-compartments using a sub-compartmentalising inserts such as 19 (Figure 6), thus creating two sub-compartments under lid 10. Simultaneously, compartment 1 6 is sub-divided using two rear compartment sub-dividers such as 8, running at right angles to each other thus creating four sub-compartments under lid 7. These six sub-compartments are provided for different types of recyclable waste or non-recyclable waste.

In a further expression of the invention the compartments 15 and 1 6 and any sub- compartments may be differentiated by colour coding and / or appropriate graphic images or symbols indicating different types of recyclable wastes or non- recyclable waste.

In another expression of the inventions the compartment 15 and 16 and any sub- compartments are labelled in brail appropriate to the respective different types of recyclable wastes or non-recyclable waste.

Construction Materials

The present invention may be made from a single material or any combination of materials that fulfil the necessary requirements and standards in any jurisdiction where it is built, tested, marketed or sold, including, though not limited to - aluminium, steel or other metal or metallic alloy, carbon fibre, graphite, polymer, thermo plastic or thermo-set plastic, fibre glass, composite material(s), timber or resin. In particular the present invention will have a fire-retardant nature.

Claims

Claims (5)

1 . An apparatus for holding household waste materials comprising: i. A receptacle with a tapered body encompassing a hollow interior region and having an upward facing open top; ii. a main dividing insert which divides hollow interior into two distinct main compartments; iii. a rear compartment sub-divider which divides the rear main compartment into two distinct sub-compartments; iv. a front compartment sub-divider which divides the forward main compartment into two distinct sub-compartments; v. an independently hinged lid with our without a locking element which covers the rear main compartment and any sub-compartments to keep waste in and rain and foraging animals out; vi. an independently hinged lid with or without a locking element which covers the front main compartment and any sub-compartments to keep waste in and rain and foraging animals out; vii. wheels to allow the receptacle to be moved without recourse to lifting; viii. a handle to allow the receptacle to be moved and steered by hand; ix. a lifting lip on the side opposite the to the steering handle, which allows the apparatus to be lifted by the waste collection lorry using the conventional wheelie bin lifting equipment.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which compartmentalising inserts, used to divide the two main compartments of the receptacle into sub- compartments are manufactured as a part of the bin, as a single item, rather than as items added to the bin after its manufacture.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 where the rearmost lid will have on its outer face, at its distal end a clasping mechanism which will attach to a counterpart clasp receiving mechanism on the rear face of the wheeled bin.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 where the clasping mechanism may be of the a magnetic, spring loaded, hook, latch, bolt or lever based clasp, and may be moulded as a part of their parent components or may be made as individual items and attached to their parent components thereafter.

5. A container according to claim 1 further comprising a housing to accommodate a computer chip for the tracking and weighing of the contents of said container.