GB2551448A

GB2551448A - Container build structure for increased efficiency recycling

Info

Publication number: GB2551448A
Application number: GB1710270.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Puchianu Silviu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-28
Filing date: 2017-06-28
Publication date: 2017-12-20
Also published as: GB201710270D0

Abstract

Containers comprising two parts 2, 5, at least one of which is or a conical, frusto-conical or tapering profile. Preferably, the parts may have a cross-section of any shape. The two parts are joined in such a way that their ends with the largest cross section are adjacent. They are joined such that they may be separated by way of a tear-off strip 3. This separation may also be achieved by using threaded sections (11, fig 3) that can be unscrewed. When separated the parts from several such containers can be stacked with little interstitial space 6, 7. The individual parts may be further dismantled by way of a further join perpendicular to the first join.

Description

1. BACKGROUND

The activity of recycling disposable containers like plastic bottles, tin cans, cardboard containers, tetra-packs, Etc., is hindered by the fact that their storage at home, at recycling centres, during transportation, Etc., is highly inefficient because more than 90% of the volume is taken by the air inside the container and very little volume is actually taken by the actual solid materials meant for recycling like plastics, metal, cardboard, Etc.

At home is difficult and time consuming to attempt to reduce the volume of such recyclable items; disposing of the bulky garbage bags is a constant nuisance. The garbage bags are used very inefficiently, more that 90% of a content of a bag containing plastic bottles, tin cans and milk or juice cardboard containers is just air.

The local collection centres are filling very quickly and local councils are spending significant time and money transporting garbage that contains mostly air every week or every two weeks and emptying and cleaning the recycling centres regularly.

For a local council garbage truck transporting such item as described above, if the volume of recyclable material (plastic, metal, cardboard, Etc) can be increased to the detriment of the air volume contained by such containers, then the economic effect would be significant in terms of fuel consumption, population servicing time, not to mention the positive impact on road occupancy and pollution.

2. THE PROBLEM

The main reason for the situation described above is that the recyclable containers (plastic bottles, tin cans, cardboard containers, tetra-packs, Etc) are not designed to be stackable in such a way as to reduce the interstitial air.

3. DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The principle of this invention is to build the recyclable containers in such a way as to offer a simple and efficient way of stacking them in a volume efficient manner prior to disposing for recycling.

The proposed construction of the recyclable container is as follows:

The container shall be built of two parts, as follows: 1. Both parts are conical in shape, as to allow for stacking. The two parts are kept together by a "ring" (or "belt") that can be "peeled off' when disposing of the container.

OR 2. At least one part is conical in shape, as to allow for stacking. The other part is small enough as not to occupy too much space. The two parts are kept together also by a "ring" (or "belt") that can be "peeled off" when disposing of the container. NOTE: Another solution is to keep the two parts together by screwing one part of the container to the other part. This solution is less practical due to eventually large friction force that makes difficult the un-screwing of the two parts.

3.1 EMBODIMENT 1: SMALL PLASTIC BOTTLE

Such a construction is shown in Figures 1 and 2, for a relatively smaller plastic bottle. During normal use of the bottle, ring (3) keeps the two parts (2) and © together (Fig la). When the bottle is empty and ready for disposal, tag (4) is pulled by hand in order to "peel off" ring © (Fig lb).

Conical part © is stackable (stack © in Fig lc), while the other part @ is small and quasi-stackable as well (stack © in Fig lc).

In Figure 2, another solution is envisaged, where the ring is mounted at the bottom of the plastic bottle.

This construction solution can be easily extrapolated to plastic bottles that are rectangular in section (or of any other section shape).

3.2 EMBODIMENT 2: LARGE PLASTIC BOTTLE

Such a construction is shown in Figure 3, for a relatively larger plastic bottle. During normal use of the bottle, a centrally located ring © keeps the two parts @ and @ together. When the bottle is empty and ready for disposal, tag © is used to pull by hand and "peel off" ring©.

Conical parts © and © are stackable.

In Fig 3b, another solution is described, where parts © and @ are kept together by screwing one art to the other. This solution is less practical due to eventually large friction forces that makes difficult the un-screwing of the two parts.

This construction solution can be easily extrapolated to bottles that are rectangular in section (or of any other section shape). 3.3 EMBODIMENT 3: CARDBOARD CONTAINER OR TEAR ABACK (FOR MILK, JUICE,

... .>*· V

Such a construction is shown in Figure 4. During normal use of the container, belt © keeps parts © and © together. When the container is empty and ready for disposal, tag @ is pulled by hand in order to "peel off' belt ©.

Conical parts © and © are stackable. 3.4 EMBODIMENT 4: TIN CAN (BEER, JUICES, ETC.)

Such a construction is shown in Figure 5. During normal use of the can, belt © keeps parts © and ® together. When the can is empty and ready for disposal, tag ® is used to peel off" the ring ©.

Parts © and ® are stackable.

Another solution is also envisaged, where the two parts © and ® are kept together by screwing one part to the other. This solution is less practical due to eventually large friction forces that makes difficult the un-screwing of the two parts. 3.5 EMBODIMENT 5: FURTHER SEPARATION OF CONICAL PARTS Further separation of the conical parts can be achieved, if each resulting conical part is further equipped with a "peeling belt" placed longitudinally (vertically), as to separate the part in two identical sub-parts.

4. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Construction of disposable stackable recyclable relatively small plastic bottles, top separation.

Figure 2: Construction of disposable stackable recyclable relatively small plastic bottles, bottom separation.

Figure 3: Construction of disposable stackable recyclable relatively large plastic bottles.

Figure 4: Construction of disposable stackable recyclable cardboard containers and tetrapack for milk, juices, Etc.

Figure 5: Construction of disposable stackable recyclable tin cans for beer, juices, Etc.

6, ADVANTAGES

The new build of commercially available containers presented here has the potential to save the government and local councils very large amounts of time and monies.

The solutions presented here have the potential to massively reduce the volume of recyclable materials from a variety of commercially available containers and this has positive impact on local councils' expenditure.

It is estimated that the result of reducing the recyclables' volume by a factor of only two may result in billions of Pounds saved every year in UK by government and local councils. Actually, much larger volume reducing factors can be envisaged.

Claims

1. A novel construction structure for commercially available recyclable containers in such a way as to offer a simple and efficient method of stacking them prior to disposing of them for recycling. The proposed construction of the recyclable container is as follows: The container shall be built of two parts, as follows: a. Both parts shall be conical in shape, as to allow for stacking. The two parts are kept together by a "ring" (or a "belt") that can be "peeled off" to separate the two parts when disposing of the container. OR b. At least one part shall be conical in shape, as to allow for stacking. The other part shall be small enough as not to occupy too much space. The two parts are kept together also by a ring (or a "belt") that can be "peeled off" to separate the two parts when disposing of the container. Once the ring/belt is detached from the two parts (using a "peel-off" action) the two parts are stackable and the volume of the material disposed for recycling is massively reduced (no more or very little left interstitial air). Another solution is to keep the two parts together by screwing one part to the other part. This solution is less practical due to eventually large friction forces that makes difficult the un-screwing of the two parts.

2. EMBODIMENT 1: SMALL PLASTIC BOTTLE Such a construction is shown in Figures 1 and 2, for a relatively smaller plastic bottle. During normal use of the bottle, ring (3) keeps the two parts (2) and (S) together (Fig la). When the bottle is empty and ready for disposal, tag (4) is used to pull by hand and "peel off" ring (3) (Fig lb). The conical part © is stackable (stack © in Fig lc), while the other part @ is small and quasi-stackable as well (stack © in Fig lc). In Figure 2, another solution is envisaged, where the ring is mounted at the bottom of the plastic bottle. This construction solution can be easily extrapolated to bottles that are rectangular in section (or of any other shape in section).

3. EMBODIMENT 2: LARGE PLASTIC BOTTLE Such a construction is shown in Figure 3, for a relatively larger plastic bottle. During normal use of the bottle, ring @ keeps the two parts @ and © together. When the bottle is empty and ready for disposal, tag (4) is used to pull by hand in order to "peel off" the ring (3). The conical parts @ and @ are stackable. In Fig 3b, another solution is described, where the two parts @ and @ are kept together by screwing one part to the other. This solution is less practical due to eventually large friction forces that makes difficult the un-screwing of the two parts. This construction solution can be easily extrapolated to bottles that are rectangular in section (or of any other shape in section).

4. EMBODIMENT 3: CARDBOARD CONTAINER OR TERAPACK (FOR MILK, JUICE, ETC.) Such a construction is shown in Figure 4. During normal use of the container, belt © keeps the two parts © and © together. When the container is empty and ready for disposal, tag @ is used to pull by hand in order to "peel off" the belt ©. The conical parts © and © are stackable.

5. EMBODIMENT 4: TIN CAN (BEER, JUICES, ETC.) Such a construction is shown in Figure 5. During normal use of the can, belt @ keeps the two parts © and @ together. When the can is empty and ready for disposal, tag @ is used to pull by hand and "peel off" the ring ©. Parts © and @ are stackable. Another solution is envisaged, where the two parts © and @ are kept together by screwing one to another. This solution is less practical due to eventually large friction forces that makes difficult the un-screwing of the two parts.

6. EMBODIMENT 5: FURTHER SEPARATION OF CONICAL PARTS Further separation of the conical parts can be achieved, if each resulting conical part is further equipped with a belt placed longitudinally (vertically), as to separate the part in two identical sub-parts.