GB2417411A

GB2417411A - Tipping of waste receptacle

Info

Publication number: GB2417411A
Application number: GB0418842A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dewi Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-24
Filing date: 2004-08-24
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Also published as: GB0418842D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a waste disposal arrangement, which comprises a receptacle 2 mounted or otherwise disposed on a support member 12. A motive means 16, 18 is arranged and configured to effect tipping of the receptacle relative to the support member. Waste may therefore be able to be tipped from the receptacle without a user having to carry out the work. Tipping may be about a hinge 10 and accompanied by pivotal opening of a lid 4 about a hinge 6 caused by a tether 26 connecting the lid 4 to the support member 12 becoming taut. The motive means may comprise an electric motor and rechargeable battery 16 and a hydraulic strut 18. Wheels 22 may also be driven.

Description

Waste Receptacle The present invention relates to a receptacle that

permits automated emptying of the contents at a desired location.

recent years it has become common that household waste is removed by the local council in wheelie bins, which are designed such that they may be lifted by a specially designed dustbin truck, removing the need of the council worker to lift bags thereby avoiding the potential for injury and the bin bags being damaged. However, for garden or building waste, 0 for example, which is not collected by the local council, and is often heavy, there is no such device available. Often, building waste must be manually lifted into lorries or skips to be taken away, or garden refuse must be lifted into a compost heap. This involves a strain on the user, and is an inefficient way of moving the waste. The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the problem of lifting, in particular, waste into or over a raised section, such as the side portions of a skip.

According to the present invention, there is provided a waste disposal arrangement comprising a receptacle mounted or otherwise provided in or on a support member, further comprising a motive means arranged and configured to effect tipping of said receptacle relative to said support member.

The receptacle is preferably tipped relative to the support member via a pivot means. The motive means is preferably a hydraulic extending arm, arranged and configured to provide a force on a wall portion of said receptacle, and is preferably actuated by an electric motor.

The support member preferably comprises a frame, beneficially comprising a front, back and side and base members. The frame is preferably moveable on wheel means, the wheel means being preferably located at each vertex of the base members of the frame. A control means is preferablyprovided to actuate the motor, and is beneficially located adjacent a handle on the frame.

The apparatus preferably further comprises a lid, wherein said lid is connected via a tether to the support member, such that when the receptacle is rotated into the tilt position, the tether tensions causing pivoting of the lid to an open position.

The present invention further comprises means to drive at least one of the wheel means.

Preferably, the means to drive at least one wheel means is an electric motor, actuable via the control means.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may be used for various other functions than lo waste relocation, such as, for example, food stuffs in a factory wherein loose particles must be transported from one location to another, and in particular must be raised from a low level to a higher level.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the neutral position.

Figure 2 is a schematic side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in the tip position.

The present invention enables a receptacle to be tipped from a neutral position in which contents ofthe receptacle are retained within the receptacle to a second tilted position wherein the contents are tipped from the receptacle.

Referring to Figure 1, a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in a neutral position in which contents can be introduced into the receptacle 2 and are retained within the receptacle 2. The receptacle 2 is shown with the lid 4 in the closed position. The lid is pivoted at a hinge 6, and may be raised by lifting on handle 8. The lid 4 then rotates in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1, such that refuse may be dropped into the receptacle 2. The receptacle 2 is attached via a second hinge 10 to a primary support member 12 which is integral to the frame 14. A base member 15 provides support for the base of the receptacle. Wheels 22 are provided adjacent each vertex of the base section of the support frame 14, with the wheels at the opposing end to the hinge 10 being castors enabling easy manoeuverability of the arrangement. The arrangement may be pushed by a handle section 24 of the frame 14 into the required location. Alternatively, wheels 22 may be provided at the vertex opposing the handle section 24 such that the arrangement is relocated by the action of rotating the arrangement to pivot on the wheels 22 whilst being counterbalanced by the user grasping the handle section 24, as in a wheelbarrow type arrangement.

In use in the simplest embodiment, the receptacle may be rotated about the hinge 10 and the contents ejected by the force of a user. In a preferred embodiment, a means to actuate rotation of the receptacle 2 is provided located adjacent the inside of the frame 14, and comprises a 12V electric motor and rechargeable battery 16 and a hydraulic strut 18. The motor 16 is actuated by a control panel 20 which activates the motor and causes the hydraulic strut 18 to extend (as described in more detail later).

Referring to Figure 2, the arrangement is shown schematically in a tipping position, in which the contents of the receptacle 2 are tipped into the desired location. The receptacle 2 may be tilted to a greater degree if required, the degree of tilt selectable on the control panel 20 by the user. The motor 16 is actuated by a user through the control panel 20 which is connected to a 1 2V electric motor 16. The motor 16 actuates a hydraulic mechanism which is attached to the same face of the receptacle 2 as the hinge 10. The extending hydraulic strut 18 forces against the receptacle 2, causing rotational movement about the pivot, thereby causing tilting of the receptacle 2. It will be appreciated that any receptacle shape may be utilised according to aesthetics or function, and as such the hydraulic strut can be attached to the receptacle at any particular required location to utilise a beneficial moment of force. In the embodiment shown, placing the hydraulic strut 18 to force against the receptacle 2 away from the hinge 10 reduces the force required to pivot the receptacle 2. Once the receptacle 2 is rotated past a certain degree, then the contents will slide out. The receptacle 2 shown in the present embodiment reduces the degree of rotation required by producing the left side portion of the receptacle angled (when in the neutral position as shown in Figure 1) substantially in an eleven-o-clock position.

The lid 4 is enabled to pivot open via a hinge 6. A tether 26 such as a thin chain connects the horizontal beam of the frame onto which the control panel 20 is mounted, adjacent the end of the lid 4 nearest the hinge 6. As the hydraulic strut 18 forces against the receptacle and the receptacle rotates about the hinge 10, then the tether 26 becomes taught due to the distance between either tethered end increasing. This has the effect that the lid 4 is opened automatically as the receptacle rotates, and the contents are tipped out. A portion of the lid 4 lo extends beyond the hinge 6 and overlaps with the receptacle as the lid 4 is opened, thereby reducing the force required to open the lid 4. As the receptacle 2 returns to the original neutral position the distance between the tether 26 ends decreases such that the lid 4 is replaced. If it is desired that the lid 4 is opened further, a user may manually pull the tether 26 against the lid 4 thereby increasing the open area of the receptacle 2.

The hydraulic strut 18 maybe reduced in length by actuation ofthe control panel 20, such that the receptacle 2 returns to the original neutral position. Handles 8 on the lid 4 are provided such that the lid 4 can be opened and contents added to the receptacle 2. It is envisaged that the hydraulic strut 1 8 maybe replaced by any suitable means to effect rotation ofthe receptacle 2 about the support frame, such as a rotational device integral with the hinge 6.

It is further envisaged that a second motor, or potentially the motor 16 used to actuate the hydraulic strut 18, may be provided in connection with one or more ofthe wheels 22, such that the arrangement is easily relocatable around, for example, a user's garden. This has the added advantage that, for example, an elderly or infirm person is able to use the present invention, the only requirement being that they can initially place the contents into the receptacle.

A specific example of the present invention has been described by way of example only, and it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that alterations and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A waste disposal arrangement comprising a receptacle, mounted

or otherwise provided in or on a support member, further comprising a motive means arranged and configured to effect tipping of said receptacle relative to said support member.
2. A receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle is tipped relative to said support member via a pivoting means.

lo
3. A receptacle according to claim 2 wherein said pivoting means is a hinge.
4. A receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said motive means comprises a hydraulic extending arm, arranged and configured to provide a force on a wall portion of said receptacle.
5. A receptacle according to claim for claim 4 wherein said motive means is actuated by an electric motor.
6. A receptacle according to claim 1 wherein said support member comprises a frame comprising a front, back, side and base members.
7. A receptacle according to claim 6 wherein the frame is mounted on wheel means.
8. A receptacle according to claims 5 and 6 wherein a control means is provided to actuate the motor.
9. A receptacle according to claim 1 further comprising a lid, wherein said lid is connected via a tether to the support member, such that when the receptacle is rotated into the tilt position, the tether tensions causing pivoting of the lid to an open position.
10. A receptacle according to claim 1 wherein means are provided to drive at least one of the wheels.

1 1. A receptacle according to claim l O wherein the means to drive at least one wheel is s an electric motors 12. A receptacle according to claim I I wherein said at least one wheel is actuable via the control means.

o 13. A receptacle as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.