GB2299746A - Theft-proof container for clothes to be recycled - Google Patents

Abstract

A container 1 for receiving used clothes comprises a housing 2 having an access door 11 with an inlet opening 20 for reception of cloth. Ramp means comprises a leading portion 23 extending upwardly from the inlet opening 20 to a trailing portion 24 which extends downwardly to guide the cloth into a cloth receiving space 10 in the housing 2. A hood is mounted above the inlet opening 20 to inhibit unauthorised access. As a further access deterrent, a plurality of spaced-apart hinged bars 35 extend downwardly from a cross bar 37 adjacent to the trailing portion 24 of the ramp means. Wall portions may also extend downwardly from the roof of the container to restrict the access path. There may be inlet openings in the side walls of the container. Hooks (38, 39, Figure 5) to support bags may be provided within the container.

Description

tA Container Introduction The invention relates ta a container for use in collecting cloth and clothes for recycling.

Various types of cloth collecting containers are known.

The primary problem associated with these type of containers is that of allowing cloths to be easily deposited in the container while preventing unwanted removal of the deposited cloth This invention is directed towards providing a container for collecting cloth which will overcome this problem.

Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a container for collecting cloth for recycling comprising a hou6ing having a base, a top, and sidewall means extending between the base and top to define an enclosed space for receiving cloth, the housing having an access opening closed by an access door, at least one inlet opening for reception of cloth, the inlet opening communicating with the cloth receiving space, and means to restrict access between the inlet opening and the cloth receiving space.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the access restriction means between the inlet opening and the cloth receiving space is a tortuous path between the inlet opening and the cloth receiving space.

Preferably the tortuous path is defined by ramp means between the inlet opening and the cloth receiving space. In one embodiment of the invention the ramp means has a leading portion extending from the inlet opening and a trailing portion preferably extending downwardly from the leading portion to direct cloth into the cloth receiving space Preferably the leading portion of the ramp means extends upwardly from the inlet opening. Ideally the ramp means includes a pair of side guide walls.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a hood projects downwardly over the inlet opening.

In one arrangement a plurality of bars extend downwardly into the passageway to provide an access deterrent.

Preferably at least some of the bars are hingedly mounted for free movement out of the path of the cloth as the cloth is delivered into the cloth receiving space.

In a preferred enibodiment of the invention the access prevention means includes restriction wall means extending downwardly from the top of the housing into the tortuous path. In this case, preferably the restriction wall means includes a rear portion and a pair of side portions extending forwardly of the rear portion.

Preferably the housing sidewall means comprises a rear wall, a pair of side walls and a front wall having an access opening.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the access door includes two inlet openings.

In a preferred arrangement at least one side wall has an inlet opening for reception of cloth. Preferably both side walls have inlet openings.

Ideally the inlet openings in the side walls are laterally offset for even spread of cloth being delivered into the container.

In one arrangement each side wall includes an upper outwardly inclined portion extending from the top wall of the housing for water run-off. Preferably the container top wall is inclined rearwardly fron the front wall to the rear wall for water run-off.

In another arrangement, bag holding means are provided in the housing. Preferably, the bag holding means include hook means on the sidewall means.

Most preferably, the hook means are mounted on a mounting bar.

Dtail d Description The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanylng drawings in which : Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the container with an access door open; Fig. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the container; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a detail of the container; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another container according to the invention with an access door open; Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a container according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the container of Fig.

7 with an access door open.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 4 thereof, there is illustrated a container according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1.

The container 1 comprises a housing 2 having a base 3, a top wall 4 and side wall means which in this case comprises a rear wall 5, a front wall 6 and a pair of sidewalls 7,8 extending between the rear wall 5 and the front wall 6 to define an enclosed space 10 for receiving cloth. The front wall 6 is partially defined by an access door 11 which is vertically hinged about two hinges 15 to the front wall 6 and is movable from the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1 to the open position illustrated in Fig. 2. The door 11 is provided with locks 13 which are covered by guards 14. A front drip lip 15 is provided over the door 11 to direct water away from the door.

An inlet opening 20 for reception of cloth is provided in an upper part of the door 11. The opening is divided by a partition wall 21. Side guide walls 26, 27 assists in guiding the cloth up the ramp means. To prevent unautharised access ranp means is provided between the inlet opening 20 and the cloth receiving space 10 to provide a tortuous path therebetween. The ramp means has a leading portion 23 extending upwardly from the inlet opening 20 to a trailing portion 24 which extends downwardly from the leading portion 23 for guiding the cloth into the cloth receiving space 10.

A hood 29 is mounted above the inlet opening 20 to substantially averhang the inlet opening 20. Effectively, the hood 29 assists in preventing unauthorised access and as a weather guard.

As a further access deterrent a plurality of spaced-apart bars 35 extend downwardly a from cross bar 37 towards the trailing portion 24 of each ramp means 22. The bars 35 are hingedly mounted for movement out of the path of the cloth as the cloth moves from the inlet opening 20 to the cloth receiving space 10 but are preventing from swinging forwardly.

It will be noted that the top 4 of the housing 2 is inclined rearwardly downwardly to deflect rain away from the front wall 6 of the container 1. Similarly, each container side wall 7,8 includes upper downwardly and outwardly inclined portions 7a,9a respectively to further assist water run-off. For ease of transport, the container may include top lifting lugs 50. The container may also include mounting means within the cloth receiving space for mounting a removable cloth receiving bag.

In use, clothes are inserted under a hood 29, through an inlet opening 20 and then pushed up and over the leading portion 23 of the ramp means. The downwardly projecting trailing portion 24 of the ramp means direct the clothes into the cloth receiving space 10, pushing the hinged bars 35 out of the way as they fall. Although not illustrated the clothes may be directed into a bag which is held open by mounting hooks. When full, the bag may be removed through the access door 11. As the hinged bars 35 will only pivot away from the inlet opening 20, any attempt to remove cloth from the cloth receiving space 10 via the inlet opening 20 will result in the cloth becoming jagged on the apparently immobile bars 35.

When the container 1 is full the access door 11 is opened by releasing the locks 13 allowing the clothes to be removed for sorting, sterilisation and onward use.

The clothes receiving container is of relatively simple construction and it has been found to be very effective in use in preventing unauthorised access to the collected clothes.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 there is illustrated a container 50 according to another embodiment of the invention. The container 50 is similar to the container described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals.

In this case inlet openings 20 are also provided in the upper part of each side wall 7, 8. The provision of laterally offset inlet openings 20 on opposite side walls 7,8 allows the inserted clothes to be spread more evenly in the housing 2. Indeed, the use of three inlet openings 20 allows for the uniform and even build up of clothes within the cloth receiving space 10.

Further access prevention means is provided by a blocking wall 42 extending downwardly from the top 4 of the housing 2 and a pair of forwardly extending side blocking walls 43, which, together with the side guide walls 26,27 of the ramp means 22 restrict access between the inlet opening 20 and the cloth receiving space 10.

Bag holding means, in this case a plurality of hooks 38, are provided on an interior of the housing. Further hooks 39 are provided along a mounting bar 40 extending between the sidewalls 7,8 adjacent the front wall 6.

Referring now to Pigs. 6 and 7, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the container indicated generally by the reference numeral 60 in which parts similar to those described and with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 are identified by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the container 60 is wider and the access door 11 has two inlet openings 61,62 with associated access restriction means (not shown). The mounting bar 65 is in this case generally T-shaped for mounting two bags (not shown), one associated with each inlet opening 61,62.

It will be appreciated that at least a portion of the top of the housing may be movable or removable to allow cloth to be removed from the container for recycling. The container may have a receiving bag which is removed through the top. The housing may have internal mounting points to which such a bag may be mounted.

It will also be appreciated that the container may have any number and/or arrangement of inlet openings.

Eany variations on the specific embodiment of the invention described may be readily apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims (24)

1. A container for collecting cloth for recycling comprising a housing having a base, a top, and sidewall means extending between the base and top to define an enclosed space for receiving cloth, the housing having an access opening closed by an access door, at least one inlet opening for reception of cloth, the inlet opening communicating with the cloth receiving space, and means to restrict access between the inlet opening and the cloth receiving space.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which the access restriction means between the inlet opening and the cloth receiving space is a tortuous path between the inlet opening and the cloth receiving space.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 in n which the tortuous path is defined by ramp means between the inlet opening and the cloth receiving space.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 in which the ramp means has a leading portion extending from the inlet opening and a trailing portion extending from the leading portion to direct cloth into the cloth receiving space.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4 in which the leading portion of the ramp means extends upwardly from the inlet opening.

6. A container as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the trailing portion extends downwardly fron the leading portion of the ramp means 7. A container as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 in which the ramp means includes a pair of side guide walls.

7. A container as claimed in any of clams 1 to 6 in which a hood projects downwardly over the inlet opening.

8 A container as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7 wherein a plurality of bars extend into the path to provide an access deterrent.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8 wherein at least some of the bars are hingedly mounted for free movement out of the path of the cloth as the cloth is delivered into the cloth receiving space.

10. X container as claimed in any of clams 1 to 9 wherein the access prevention means includes restriction wall means extending downwardly into the tortuous path.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10 wherein the restriction wall means include, a rear portion and a pair of side portions extending forwardly of the rear portion.

12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim in which the housing sidewall means comprises a rear wall, a pair of side walls and a front wall having at least one access opening.

13. A container as claimed in claim 12 in which the access door includes two inlet openings.

14. A container as claimed in claim 12 in which at least one side wall has an inlet opening for reception of cloth.

15. A container as claimed in claim 13 in which both side walls have inlet openings.

16. A container as claimed in claim IS wherein the inlet openings in the side walls are laterally offset for even spread of cloth being delivered into the container.

17. A container as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16 wherein each side wall includes an upper outwardly inclined portion extending from the top wall of the housing for water run-off.

18. A container as claimed in any of claims 13 to 17 wherein the container top wall is inclined rearwardly from the front wall to the rear wall for water run-off.

19. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein at least portion of the top wall is movable or removable for removing cloth from the container.

20. A container as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the housing is provided with lifting lugs.

21. A container as claimed in any preceding claim. in which bag holding means are provided in the housing.

22. A container as claimed in claim 21 in which the bag holding means includes hook means on the sidewall means.

23. A container as claimed in claims 21 or 22 in which the hook means are mounted on a mounting bar, in the housing.

24. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.