GB2446065A

GB2446065A - Waste disposal bins

Info

Publication number: GB2446065A
Application number: GB0801374A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Sullivan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-25
Filing date: 2008-01-25
Publication date: 2008-07-30
Also published as: GB0801374D0; GB0701382D0

Abstract

A waste disposal bin consists of a container 32 with a removable liner bag 42 tamed of flexible heat resistant material, such as self-supporting metal foil, to receive chewing gum, cigarette and cigar ends. The container has photo-electric means 54 to 60 for sensing when the bin is full and mobile phone type of communication means 62 to transmit this fact to a remote location. There may be a time delay to avoid actuation by waste passing through the light beam during insertion. The bin may have a hinged lid 34 with apertures 48, 50, 52 leading to compartments 42 as above, 44 for general waste and 46 for drinking cups. The lid may be of heat resistant material so that cigarettes can be stubbed out on it.

Description

"An Improved Waste Disposal Bin" This invention relates to a waste

disposal bin for use in an outdoor location and more particularly, but not exclusively to a bin which is emptied periodically by a waste collection organisation.

Such bins in an outdoor public location have waste products inserted therein which axe difficult to hygienically collect and remove from a conventional bin when it is emptied and thus results in the disadvantage that additional time and expense is caused to the collection organisation.

In addition, where bins are emptied by a waste collection organisation, usually on a weekly basis, a conventional bin suffers from the disadvantage that the bin is often emptied before it is full which wastes the time of :.:: the collection organisation and causes unnecessary expense. S...

Alternatively, a conventional bin may become full * . S...

* before it is due to be emptied by the collection *:::: 20 organisation and suffers from the disadvantage that the bin unusable or is overloaded resulting in the waste products being discharged into the environment causing additional expense in collecting them.

The object of the invention is to provide a waste disposal bin which enables one or more of the above disadvantages to be alleviated According to one aspect of the invention, a waste disposal bin comprises a container which is openable to allow a liner to be inserted into and removed from the container when full and has an aperture formed in the upper portion of the container to allow the insertion of waste matter in the form of chewing gum, cigarette or cigar ends into the liner within the container wherein the liner in the form of an open topped bag is formed of a flexible heat resistant material.

Preferably, the liner formed of the flexible heat resistant material is self-supporting.

Preferably, also, the flexible heat resistant material is a metal foil.

The aperture in the upper portion of the container is, preferably, provided with a flap for closing the aperture * S. which is normally in the closed position but which can be *.*.

opened to allow the insertion of the waste matter into the *:: liner.

Preferably, the container comprises an openable lid which is pivotally connected to th. lower portion of the container.

Preferably, also, the aperture is provided in the lid.

At least the lid of the container is, preferably, formed of heat resistant material to allow cigarette or cigar ends to be stubbed out on its surface although this is not necessary.

According to another aspect of the invention, a waste disposal bin for waste material comprises a container which can be emptied, wherein the container is provided with sensing means for sensing the level of the waste material therein and ccunicatjon means for sending a signal to a remote location when the bin is full.

Preferably, the sensing means comprises a photo-electric sensing means mounted in the upper portion of the container which is activated when a light beam is interrupted by the waste material collected in the Container.

Preferably, also, a delay means is incorporated into the photo-electric sensing means so that it is only activated after a predetermned time delay to avoid activation when waste material inserted into the container * .* passes through the light beam.

***-" The communication means for sending a signal to a remote location, preferably, comprises a mobile phone type of means which when activated by the sensing means :::: 20 telephones the remote location and transmits a code giving ***, an indication that the bin is full and /cr the location of the bin which is full and requires emptying.

Preferably, the container is provided with one or more partition or partitions to form two or more separate comparente in the container for different types of waste material to be inserted through appropriately shaped apertures in the lid which are each vertically aligned with the associated compartment.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will, now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: -Figure 1 is a plan view of a waste disposal bin; Figure 2 is a front view of the bin; Figure 3 is a front view of the bin; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the bin with part of the side broken away to show part of the interior of the bin; and Figure 5 which is a perspective view of an alternative bin.

Referring now to the drawings, a waste disposal bin indicated generally at 10 comprises a container 12 * I. including a lid 14 pivotaLuy connected by a hinge 16 on one S... * S *

edge to the lower part of the container 12. The lid 14 is proviej with a circular aperture is to allow the insertion of waste, Particularly chewing gum and cigarette or cigar ende into th. container 12. A spring-loa flap (not shown) covers the internal face of the aperture 18 and is urged into a normally Closed position but can be moved against the action of the spring-loading to allow insertion of the waste into the container 12. A self supporting open topped liner 20 is inserteci into the container 12 through the lid 14 and when full of waste can be removed from the container 12 through the opened lid 14 to either be emptied and reinserted or disposed of with the waste therein. The liner 20 is formed of metal foil so that hot cigarette or cigar ends do not compromise the integrity of the liner 20 so that the waste is retained in the liner 20 to enable it to be hygienically disposed of by the person emptying the bin 10. The lid 14 can also be formed of heat resistant material such as metal to allow the cigarette or cigar ends to be stubbed out on the surface of the lid 14 without daging the lid 14 even though such stubbing out of the cigarette or cigar ends is not necessary.

The bin 10 can be a free-standing unit or can be mounted on a wall or the like by means of connectors 22 provided on the rear face of the container 12. The connectors 22 being in the form of elongated U-shaped I ** members adapted to hang on wall mounted brackets (not * * shown).

Although the waste disposal bin 10 is particularly suitable for the disposal of chewing gum and cigarette or cigar ends, it will be appreciated it can be used for the hygienic disposal of other types of hot or sticky waste products.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, an alternative waste disposal bin indicated generally at 30 comprises a container 32 having a lid 34 pivotally connected by a hinge 36 on one edge to the upper part of the container 32. The container 32 is provided with partitions 38 and 40 each extending vertically downwards from the upper open end of the container to form compartments 42, 44, and 46. Different forms of waste material can be disposed of in each compartment such as in compartment 42 cigarette ends, cigar butts and chewing gum, in compartment 44 paper and food waste and in compartment 46 drinking cups or the like. The lid 34 is provided with apertures 48 for the waste material to be inserted in compartment 42, apertures 50 for the waste material to be inserted into compartment 44 and an aperture 52 for the waste material to be inserted into comparlment 46. A photo-electic waste level detecting device is mounted in the container 32 and comprises a light source 54 which emits from one side of the container 32 a beam of light 56.

directed towards the other side of the container 32 at a * ** full level height. The beam 56 passes through openings 58 * **.

in the partitions 38 and 40 to a photo-electrjc cell 60 on * * the interior of said other side of the container 32. The photo-elecic waste level detecting device is activated **..

when the level of waste in the container 32 pe'nanentxy interrupts the beam 56 and sends a signal to a communication device 62. A time delay is incorporated in the photo-elecic device or in the communication device 62 so that the communication device 62 is not activated by a temporary interruption of the beam 56 when waste dropping into the container 32 passes through the beam 56.

On activation the communication device 62 sends a coded signal telephonically direct to a receiver at a waste collection organisation or to a receiver carried by an ind.ividual operative responsible for emptying the particular bin to give them information that the bin is full and requires emptying. Other information can be incorporated into the coded message to identify the particular bin and indicate the location of said particular bin. It will be appreciated this information enables the waste collection organisation or the individual operative to only empty bins when they are full giving a cost saving to them.

In its preferred form the communication device 62 is a mobile phone device and the receiver at the waste * ** * * * * collection organisatjon or carried by the individual * S operative responsible for emptying the particular bin is *S*S*I * . also a mobile phone or a device using mobile phone technology which Particularly in the case where it is * * . * * *:*. carried by an individual operative who operates in the zone of the bin location, improves the process of communication as the coded message in the form of a text message is sent direct to the operative. The operative who services bins in a compact area can service the bin on foot with a cart without the need for transportation within minutes of receiving the coded message without any third party communication which would involve a central communication centre, which organises schedules and logistics for collection, and can be a significant distance away from the full bin. Without using mobile phone technology it is difficult to avoid having to use a central communication centre which would suffer from the disadvantage of involving transportation and labour costs whilst undertaking the task which adds no value to the operation in hand and would make the process non-viable. In addition, the use of a central communication centre suffer from the additional disadvantage that the bin would not be serviced quickly enough to avoid the bin overflowing and the follow on costs of cleaning the area surrounding the bin. A further disadvantage avoided by the simplicity of direct communication utilising mobile phone technology is * *.

: that the costs involved in using a central communication * S..

centre with its laboured communication Ip4 n are high and S....

* involves a high risk of failure as the communication chain involve5 a number of coende to be acted upon. S... * S *

S In a city centre the operation of the bins are * S * * S. dependent on a rapid response which only an on site direct communicaljou system can provide to a cleaning operative to ensure the bin emptying and cleaning process is effective, workable and cost effective for the bin owner.

Although the waste disposal bins 10 and 30 are particularly suitable for use in public areas, it will be appreciated they can be used in a dcinestic envirozunent, where they can be configured as so-called "Wheely Bins", without departing from the scope of the invention. * I. *. * * *. **** * **..

*... 0S * I.., * S a a. * S. * * Sa S *

Claims

V

-

Claims: - 1. A waste disposal bin comprising a container which is openable to allow a liner to be inserted into and removed from the container when full and has an aperture formed in the upper portion of the container to allow the insertion of waste matter in the form of chewing gum, cigarette or cigar ends into the liner within the container wherein the liner in the form of an open topped bag is formed of a flexible heat resistant material.
2. A waste disposal bin according to claim 1, wherein the liner formed of the flexible heat resistant material is self-supporting.
3. A waste disposal bin according to claim 2, wherein the * ** flexible heat resistant material is a metal foil. * . * * S
4. A waste disposal bin according to any one of the S...

* :*. preceding claims, wherein the aperture in the upper portion of the container is, provided with a flap for closing the aperture which is normally in the closed position but which S..

can be opened to allow the insertion of the waste matter into the liner.
5. A waste disposal bin according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container comprises an openable lid which is pivotally connected to the lower portion of the container.
6. A waste disposal bin according to claim 5, wherein the aperture is provided in the lid.
7. A waste disposal bin according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein at least the lid of the container is formed of heat resistant material to allow cigarette or cigar ends to be stubbed out on its surface although this is not necessary.
8. A waste disposal bin comprising a container which can be emptied, wherein the container is provided with sensing means for sensing the level of waste material therein and cunicatjon means for sending a signal to a remote location when the bin is full.
9. A waste disposal bin according to claim 8, wherein the sensing means comprises a photo-electric sensing means mounted in the upper portion of the container which is activated when a light beam is interrupted by the waste material collected in the container.
10. A waste disposal bin according to claim 9, wherein a delay means is incorporated into the photo-electric sensing * Is :f means so that it is only activated after a predetermined p.-.

time delay to avoid activation when waste material inserted

S

* into the container passes through the light beam.
11. A waste disposal bin according to any one of clitns 8 *5s5 *::; to 10, wherein the communication means for sending a signal to a remot, location comprises a mobile phone type of means which when activated by the sensing means telephones the remote location and transmits a code giving an indication that the bin is full and for the location of the bin which is full and requires emptying.
12. A waste disposal bin according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container is provided with one or more partition or partitions to form two or more separate compartments in the container for different types of waste material to be inserted through appropriately shaped apertures in the lid which are each vertically aligned with the associated compartment.

13, A waste disposal bin constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, the accompanying drawings. * .* * * * * S. S... * . * SI. * . * . * * .. *

S * * S...

I * . S

I II