GB2228400A

GB2228400A - Receptacle for litter

Info

Publication number: GB2228400A
Application number: GB8827454A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Mortimer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-11-24
Filing date: 1988-11-24
Publication date: 1990-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-24
Also published as: GB2228400B; GB8827454D0

Abstract

A litter receptacle (10) may be in the shape of an animal and has a rubbish collector (12) and a chute (14) extending from the animal's mouth to the bin, an LED emitter (16) and a protodiode receiver to detect the passage of the litter through the mouth of the receptacle (10) and activate a voice circuit (24) which indicates that the litter has been received in the bin. <IMAGE>

Description

RECEPTACLE FOR LITTER The present invention relates to a receptacle for litter. In particular it relates to a receptacle for litter which reacts to litter which is placed within the receptacle. The purpose of the present invention is to encourage litter to be placed in receptacles According to the present invention there is provided a bin for receiving litter. a chute for transferring litter to the bin from a person depositing the litter, a sensor for detecting the passage of litter into the receptacle and a circuit which is activated thereby capable of indicating receipt of the litter.

The recptacle may be made of any suitable material e.g. metal. wood. plastics. glass reinforced plastic [CRP.

Similarly the bin may be made of any suitable material, either the same as or different from the receptacle.

The present invention will be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a general representation of the present invention in partial cross-section.

Figure 2 shows the circuit diagram showing the operation of the voice circuit.

Referring to Figure 1 a litter receptacle generally designated as 10-which may be in the shape of an animal to make the receptacle more attractive in appearance, has a rubbish collector 12 in the form of a bin which may be one metre in height and three-quarters of a metre in diameter, although the size is not important.

Positioned above the bin 12 is a chute 14 having at least one detector in the form of, for example, an LED emitter 16 and a photodiode receiver 18. Optionally the chute 14 may include a second LED emitter 20 and photodiode 22. The LED 16 and photodiode 18 [as well as the LED 20 and photodiode 22. if fitted] are connected to a voice circuit 24 by means of conductors 26. The voice circuit transmits sould via speaker 25. The voice circuit 24 is powered by a battery pack 28 connected to the voice circuit 24 by means of conductors 30. In the alternative, the battery pack 28 may be replaced by a mains transformed unit to provide the necessary low voltage to the voice circuit 24.

The rubbish bin 12 is generally situated on a metal base 32 which is preferably bolted to the floor or ground. The bin 12 is preferably made of mild steel which may be galvanised. The base may also be made of plastics.

wood etc. as required.

The litter receptacle 10 may be in the form of, for example. a GRP animal e.g. a hippo or an elephant which is capable of being closed by means of a rear door 34 in order that the relatively unsightly rubbish. bin 12 may not be seen. The door 34 is hinged [not shown] and is locked by a removable lock handle 36 activating a lock 38 [to prevent vandalism].

The door 34 when opened on its hinges also is connected by a guide 40 mounted on a castor wheel 42 to take the weight of the door 34.

In the alternative the door 34 may be mounted within its opening as a close fit without use of hinges.

The door may be locked in place by means of, for example, a shoot bolt. locking for example the top and bottom of the door 34.

In use, the present invention operates as follows. The litter receptacle 10 has an empty bin 12 placed within it and the door 34 is closed and locked by means of the removable lock key 36 operating on the lock 38. The bin when placed within the litter receptacle 10 is beneath the chute 14. Litter is deposited in the mouth of the receptacle 10, i.e. the chute 14 the beam of light transmitted by the LED 16 to the photodiode 18 is broken.

This causes activation of the voice circuit 24 such that a message is passed through speaker 25, for example, thanking the litter depositor for placing the litter in the bin. In an optional embodiment, in order to prevent the litter depositor merely from placing an arm within the chute to break the circuit, the litter may need to pass both beams 16 and 20 i.e. break both beams before the voice circuit 24 is operated in this instance the LEDs 16 and 20 and the associated photodiodes 18 and 22 are sufficiently separated to prevent operation by for example the arm of the litter depositor.

In a further alternative embodiment the voice circuit 24 may have a timing mechanism therein in which a message may be passed through the speaker 25 to passing public e.g. "Please place litter in me" or "Welcome to Weymouth".

Once the bin 12 is full, the door 34 can be opened, the bin removed and emptied and replaced, with subsequent closing of the door.

Referring to Figure 2 the circuit diagram shows the operation of the voice circuit and the means to activate it. An LED 202 connected in a 6 volt circuit, is positioned opposite a photodiode 204 connected in a 24 volt circuit. A comparator 206 compares the electrical signal from the photodiode 204 such that any reduction in the signal when the beam from the LED 202 is broken, is detected. The comparator 206 triggers transistor 208 which in turn activates a rely 210 to operate a voice unit [VU].

In the alternative, the comparator 206 could trigger an electronic voice unit VU directly.

Claims

1. A bin for receiving litter, comprising a chute for transferring litter to the bin from a person depositing the litter, a sensor detecting the passage of the litter into the receptacle and a circuit which is activated thereby capable of indicating the receipt of the litter.

2. A bin as claimed in claim 1, made of metal, wood, plastics, GRP.

3. A bin as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the activated circuit causes an audible message to be transmitted from the bin.

4. A bin as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a first sensor detects the passage of litter into the receptacle and a second sensor activates a circuit to provide an audible indication that the litter has been received in the bin.

5. A bin as claimed in claim 1 which is surrounded by a GRP shape to provide a housing for the bin and the chute for transferring the litter to the bin.

6. A bin as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.