GB2481986A

GB2481986A - Flexible partitioned bin with carry handles and resealable lid

Info

Publication number: GB2481986A
Application number: GB201011731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ayo Isinkaye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-12
Filing date: 2010-07-12
Publication date: 2012-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-12
Also published as: GB201011731D0; GB2481986B

Abstract

A recycling bin 1 partitioned 13 into multiple sections 5, 7, 9, 11 for separating refuse. The bin includes carrying handles 15, 17 and a lid 3 to seal and reseal the bins opening 19. The bin is at least partially flexible and includes attachment means for a support structure. The support structure may be an external frame. The attachment means can be pockets to retain support elements within the bins interior. The bin preferably includes waterproof liners having handles and a padded base. The seal is ideally be achieved by a zip 21. The flexible material may be polypropylene or woven rubber, and may be bio degradable. The compartments can be adjacent, and are ideally in a line. The handles are ideally attached at opposite side of the bin but can come together in the middle to be held by one hand. A cover can be placed over the bin including individual openings for each compartment, and possibly paper shredding and/or can crushing arrangements.

Description

Recycling Bin The present invention is concerned with the field of recycling bins. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a recycling bin which allows easy transportation of waste for recycling.

More and more people are encouraged to recycle their waste and there are many schemes in operation to help those who wish to recycle. For many people, it is often necessary to transport recycled waste from their home to a recycling centre. At the recycling centre, the waste must be divided into certain categories before it is left, for example paper, cans, plastic etc. To transport the waste, many use plastic bags where a plastic bag will be used for each type of waste. This has its difficulties in that it is difficult to transport multiple plastic bags to a recycling centre especially if the person who wishes to recycle does not drive and needs to rely on either walking or public transport. Further, multiple bags will need to be stored in the home as they are slowly filled up with the recycled rubbish.

This accumulation of many waste bags in the home has been shown to discourage recycling.

The present invention attempts to address the above problems and provides in a first aspect a bin for recycling rubbish, said bin comprising a body, a lid and handles to allow carrying of said bin, said body comprising a plurality of sections for holding said rubbish and an opening on the top of said body leading to said sections, said lid being configured to re-sealably close said opening, said body comprising a flexible material and means for attaching said flexible material to a support structure.

Thus, the bin of the present invention can be easily lifted using the handles and has a lid which can seal the bin once it is ready for transportation. The bin also has different sections so that the waste can be separated when the waste is put into the bin as opposed to at the recycling centre. These section may also have handles to facilitate removal and for carrying independent of the main bin.

The bin is made of a flexible material for example fabric such as Jute, ripstock polypropylene or woven runner so that it is easy to carry.

In one embodiment, the bin further comprises an internal support structure comprising support members. Such members may be provided in pockets in said flexible material.

The bin may be easily assembled by placing the internal support members in the pockets and the bin may be flat packed by removing the members from the pockets.

The sections may comprise removable liners.

In a further embodiment, the bin further comprises an external frame for supporting the bin. The bin is provided with attachment means, for example based on hook and loop fastener strips which allow the bin to be strapped or otherwise attached to the frame when it is positioned in a house or a flat such that it can be filled easily as the waste is generated. Then, once it is full and is ready to be taken to the recycling facility, they can be detached from the frame by pulling apart of the hook and loop fastener strips, the lid can be sealed to the top of the bin body using a zip and then the bin can be carried using its handles to the recycling facility.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid is re-sealably attached to the top of the bin, for example, using a zip which surrounds the opening of the body.

The flexible material may be polypropylene or woven rubber. In a further preferred embodiment, the flexible material is biodegradable.

The bin comprises a plurality of sections for holding rubbish. In order to maximise the amount of space used, the sections will preferably be adjacent to one another. Also, to aid ease of use, the sections will generally be arranged in a line.

In one embodment, at least one section of the bin comprises a waterproof lining material for example this would allow the bin to be suitable for containing food waste for composting.

In a yet further embodiment, the bin comprises a removable cover. This removable lid is in addition to the re-sealable lid. The cover is intended to be fixed over the bin body or the frame when the bin is being filled. The cover comprises a plurality of openings and covers for the openings, in position, each opening will lead to a section of the bin and there will be an opening for each section. Therefore, when one is filling the bin, one just needs to put the waste through the appropriate opening and then it will automatically drop to the relevant section.

This removable cover will be completely removed for transportation and not carried to the recycling facility.

In a further embodiment, the removable cover comprises a paper shredder located to receive rubbish provided through an opening of the removable cover and provide shredded paper to a section of said bin. A further embodiment, a can crusher is provided in the cover such that cans put into the can section of the cover will be crushed and fall through to the can containing section of the bin in order to conserve space in the bin.

In a yet further embodiment, labelling means are provided to label the sections of the bin so that a user can easily see which waste should go into which section.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the following preferred non-limiting embodiments in which: Figure 1 is a schematic of a bin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in an "open" state; Figure 2 is a schematic of the bin of figure 1 in a "closed" state; Figure 3 is a schematic of the frame which is to be used with the bin of figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic of the corner sections of the frame of figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic of the bin of figure 1 located on the frame of figure 3; Figure 6 is a schematic of a bin in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic of a removable cover which may be fitted to the bin of figures 1 or6; Figure 8 is a schematic of a further example of a removable cover which may be used with the bin of figures 1 and 6; Figure 9a is a schematic of a bin in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, and figure 9b shows a liner of the bin; Figure lOis a cross section of the bin of figure 9; and Figure 11 is a view from the top of the bin of figure 9.

Figure 1 a schematic of a bin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The bin comprises a bin body 1 and a bin lid 3. Bin body 1 is generally cuboid in shape and comprises a flexible material. Bin body 1 is similar in shape to a bag. The bin comprises four sections 5, 7, 9, 11. In the embodiment of figure 1, the sections are arranged adjacent to each other. Each section is completely isolated in a lateral direction from each other. In the embodiment of figure 1, the sections are separated from each other by dividers 13.

First 15 and second 17 handles are provided to the upper edge of bin body 1. The handles will generally comprise flat webbing and will be stitched to the bin body 1. The handles are long enough such that they can be brought together to allow the bin to be carried as a bag.

At the top of the bin body I there is opening 19. Opening 19 extends in this embodiment across the whole of the top of the bin and the opening leads directly to each of sections 5, 7, 9 and 11. In use, each of the sections 5, 7, 9 and 11 will be used for a different type of waste e.g. glass, cans, plastic, paper. Large opening 19 allows a user to place rubbish directly into each of sections 5, 7, 9 and 11.

Along one edge of opening 19 is stitched lid 3. Lid 3 is also made of a flexible material and is sized such that it can extend over the whole of opening 19 when required. Lid 3 re-sealably closes opening 3. This may be achieved by providing a zip or the like around the edge 21 of lid 3. The zip can mate with a second part of the zip provided around the edge of opening 19. This allows the lid 3 to be zipped around the edge of opening 19 to firmly close the bin.

Figure 2 shows the bin 1 with the lid 3 closed. It can be seen that the bin can be easily transported via carrier handles 15 and 17. Carrier handles 15 and 17 are long enough to allow them to be in contact such that the bin may be carried one-handed.

The bin may then be transported in this condition either in a car or by walking to a recycling facility.

Although the material of the bin is made of a flexible material, it is made of a relatively strong material such that it can be reused and is also intended for reuse. Typical materials are ripstock, Jute or woven polypropylene.

It should be noted that figures 1 and 2 are not to scale. Further, although all sections have been shown at the same size in figure 1, they do not need to be the same size.

In one example, the bin has a capacity of approximately 50 litres, although other capacities are possible. The bin may be approximately 50cm high. The sections can be of equal length or there could be an arrangement where one or two of the sections are longer.

The handles will preferable be long enough to allow easy carrying.

As previously mentioned, the bin is made from a flexible material. Therefore, in an embodiment, when it is being loaded with rubbish, it will rest in a frame to give it rigidity. In use, the bin will rest in a frame when in a house and will be used as a conventional bin. It will be unhooked from the frame when it is to be taken from emptying.

A typical frame 21 is shown in figure 3.

In figure 1, the opening 19 of the bin is surrounded by hook and loop fastener 23. The hook and loop fastener 23 comprises a hook and loop fastener located on a flap. In use, the hook and loop fastener flaps are attached and stitched around the opening 19.

When the bin body 1 is placed in the frame 25 the free end of the hook and loop fastener flaps are looped around the frame such that the body 1 is held within the frame. The body can then be easily removed from the frame.

The frame 25 in a preferred embodiment comprises aluminium rods which form the edges of a cuboid. The rods are joined at their corners by corner pieces which may be 3 pronged plastic stabilisers of the type shown in figure 4.

Once the bin is in place on the bag, the structure is similar to that shown in figure 5 with the flaps 23 securing the bag to the frame 25.

Figure 6 shows a variation on the bin of figure 1. To avoid any unnecessary repetition, like reference numerals will be used to denote like features.

The bin of figure 6 differs from that of figure 1 in that it has a display section 51 which is stitched to the top of opening 19. Display section 51 comprises label holders 53 for placing labels therein to indicate the desired rubbish content of each of the sections 5 to 11.

Label section 51 is supported by right-angled triangle sections 55 and 57 which have their right-angled edges lying along the side of labelled section 55 and along the top of opening 19. Lid 3 attaches to the top of label section 51. Lid 3 closes along the front edge of opening 19 and along the hypotenuse of triangular sections 55 and 57. As in figure 1, this is sealable via a zip which extends around the free edges of lid 3 so that it can be re-sealably closed to cover the top of the bin body I to avoid smells escaping.

The floor 61 of the body is covered with a plastic sheet attached to the bottom to waterproof the base 61 of the bin. A plastic sheet is also attached around the inside of the labelling area including triangles 55 and 57 to allow the area to be easily wiped. A plastic sheet may also be provided in one or more of the sections 5, 7, 9 and 11 to allow the sections to be waterproofed.

For example, if one of the sections is used for compostable waste, this section may be lined.

Figure 7 shows a removable cover 71. Removable cover 71 is designed to fit over the bin of figures 1 or 6 and is ideally intended for use with the frame 25. The removable cover 71 is rigid and has, in this embodiment three covered openings 73, 75 and 77.

Each of these three openings communicate directly into a section 7, etc so that when waste such as plastic, cans or paper is pushed through an opening, it falls directly into the correct section.

In figure 7, opening 77 is for paper. In this particular embodiment, a shredder (not shown) is provided underneath the opening such that paper pushed through the opening of 77 is pushed directly into shredder. The output of shredder (not shown) then directs waste shredded paper into a waste shredded paper section of the bin 1.

The opening 73, 75 and 77 are covered with, for example spring loaded plastic covers so that they remain closed unless a user is attempting to place waste into the bin.

In figure 8, shows a solid cover 81 which is similar to that described with reference to figure 7. Solid cover 81 comprises four openings 81, 83, 85 and 87 which are in this example for plastic, paper, glass and tin cans respectively. The cover 81 is provided with a can crusher provided underneath the opening for cans 87 such that cans inserted into this opening will be crushed before they fall into the relevant section of the bin 1. In Figure 8, the bin 1 is shown provided on the frame.

Figures 9 to 11 show a bin in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bin is in the form of a bag. The bag has a lining which can accommodate rigid inserts such that the bag can have rigid sides. The bag also has plurality of removable compartments.

In figure 9, the bin 101 is generally cuboid with a lower surface to be placed on the floor, four side surfaces 121, 123, 125 and 127 and a lid 103 which is arranged to close over upper surface 105. The lid when closed can be secured by zip 107 which extends around three edges of the upper surface 105. The bin 101 in this example is divided into three sections 109, 110 and 113.

In this particular embodiment, a compartment liner 115 may be provided for each compartment 109, 111 and 113. The bin may comprise dividers for the compartments such that the compartment liners fit between the dividers. In a further arrangement, there are no compartment dividers and the compartment liners are placed into the space defined by the four sidewalls of the bin 101 such that the compartments are defined by the compartment liners alone. In figure 9a, there are three compartment liners 114, 115 and 116.

Figure 9b shows a compartment liner on its own. The compartment liner 115 is also generally cuboid in shape and is open at its upper surface 117. The liner 115 may also comprise handles 119 which may be provided on opposing side surfaces of said liner 115. This allows the liner to be individually carried.

In this embodiment, the bin 101 is not provided in a frame. The bin 101 is made from a flexible material such as PP (polypropylene). The four sides 121, 123, 125 and 127 comprise two layers of material and a zip is provided in one of the layers or at the join of the two layers. This allows a rigid member, for example, a hard plastic member to be inserted between the two layers of material to support the sides of the bin 101.

However, removal of the rigid member will allow the bin to be flat packed. In an embodiment, the rigid member is flat and has a square or rectangular shape and is sized to be slightly smaller than the surface which it is required to support such that it can be inserted between the two layers of material.

Compartment liner 115 also comprises sides which have two layers which allow the insertion of rigid members in order to provide some rigidity. In liner 115, there are two pairs of opposing side surfaces, a first pair of sides 131 and 135 and a second pair of sides 141 and 143. The second pair of sides 141 and 143 form the front and back surfaces of the liner and when placed in bin 101, these surfaces touch the front and back surfaces of the bin 101. The first pair of sides 131 and 135 are provided with a double layer structure for insertion of a rigid member. When liner 115 is placed into bin 101, it is placed so that the rigid sides 131 and 133 are provided perpendicular to the front and back surfaces. The liner sides 131 and 133 are not supported by the sides of thebinlOl.

The front and back surfaces 141 and 143 of liner 115 have hook and loop fastener strip 145. When liner 115 is inserted into bin 101 the hook and loop fastener strip 145 are placed against the front surface 121 and back surface 125 of bin 101. Front surface 121 and back surface 125 have receiving hook and loop fastener strips which engage with hook and loop fastener strips 145 to secure liner 115 in position. As hook and loop fastener straps 145 secure liner 115 in position against the front 121 and back surfaces 125, there is no need for front 141 and back 143 surfaces of liner 115 to be rigid since they are held rigid by the front 121 and back 125 surfaces of bin 101.

Figure 10 shows a further view of bin 101 of figure 9. Here, a cross-section is shown through line A-A' to avoid any unnecessary repetition, like reference numerals will be used to denote like features.

In this particular example, the central compartment is intended for use with glass.

Therefore, the bottom of compartment liner 115 is padded. This means that when glass is dropped into lino 115, it should not automatically break if it hits the floor of the bin 101. Also, when glass is dropped into liner 115, the padding reduces noise.

In figure 10, unlike figure 9, the compartments 109 and 113 on either side of compartment 111 have no liner. Further liners will be provided in these compartments.

The liners can be fixed to the inside of the compartments via hook and loop fastener strips 161 and 163. As each of these compartments is now bounded by rigid side walls, there is no need for liners placed in compartments 109 and 113 to have rigid side walls themselves. However, rigid side walls may be provided if desired.

Figure 11 shows the bin of figures 9 and 10 from the top surface, The zip 127 is seen extending round three sides of the top surface and the lid 171 in this figure is folded back so that it hangs over the back surface. In this figure, the three liners are provided in the bin 101 to provide three lined compartments.

The bin as shown in figure 9 may then be carried to the recycling by closing the lid 103 using zip 127 and the bin may be carefully transported.

When it is desired not to use the bin, it may be flat packed. This may be done by removing the rigid inserts which have been zipped into sides 121, 123 and 125 and removing the liners 114, 115 and 116. In one embodiment, a zip with two zippers is provided so that lid 103 may be half closed across the upper surface 105. By ha'f closing the lid, the half which is adjacent to the back surface may be fixed closed and the half which is adjacent the front surface is loose so that this may be lifted and dropped easily to insert items into the bin.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A bin for recycling rubbish, said bin comprising a body, a lid and handles to allow carrying of said bin, said body comprising a plurality of sections for holding said rubbish and an opening on the top of said body leading to said sections, said lid being configured to re-sealably close said opening, said body comprising a flexible material and means for attaching said flexible material to a support structure.
2. A bin according to claim 1, further comprising a support structure, and wherein said support structure is an internal support structure comprising removable internal support members.
3. A bin according to claim 2, wherein said attaching means comprises pockets provided in said flexible material to receive said internal support members.
4. A bin according to claim 1, further comprising a support structure and where said support structure is an external frame.
5. A bin according to any preceding claim, wherein said sections comprise removable liners.
6. A bin according to claim 5, wherein said removable liners have handles.
7. A bin according to either of claims 5 or 6, wherein at least one removable liner has a padded base.
8. A bin according to any preceding claim, further comprising a zip positioned such that the lid re-sealably closes said opening using said zip.
9. A bin according to any preceding claim, wherein said flexible material comprises polypropylene or woven rubber.
A bin according to any preceding claim, wherein said flexible material is a biodegradable material.
11. A bin according to any preceding claim, wherein said sections for holding rubbish are adjacent to one another.
12. A bin according to any preceding claim, wherein said sections for holding rubbish are arranged in a line.
13. A bin according to any preceding claim, wherein a handle' is provided on each side of the bin, said handles being large enough to be brought into contact with one another such that the bin can be carried using one hand.
14. A bin according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one section of said bin comprises a waterproof lining material.
15. A bin according to any preceding claim, further comprising a removable cover, said cover comprising a plurality of openings and covers for said openings, each opening leading to a section of said bin when said removable cover is provided on the body of the bin.
16. A bin according to claim 15, wherein said removable cover further comprises a paper shredder located to receive rubbish provided through an opening of said removable cover, and provide shredded paper to a section of said bin.
17. A bin according to either of claims 15 or 16, wherein said removable cover further comprises a can crusher located to receive rubbish provided through an opening of said removable cover, and provide crushed cans to a section of said bin.
18. A bin according to any preceding claim, further comprising label attaching means to label the sections of the bin.
19. A bin as substantially herein described with reference to the accompanying figures.