WO2006007644A1

WO2006007644A1 - Rotatable base assembly for waste containers

Info

Publication number: WO2006007644A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/001057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Sydney Lansdown
Original assignee: Roemay Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-23
Filing date: 2005-07-20
Publication date: 2006-01-26

Abstract

A rotatable base assembly (10) for a waste container (36) of the type having a waste chamber (37) and wheels (38) at the bottom of the chamber (37), the base assembly (10) comprising a platform (11) and a base (12) for the platform (11), the platform (11) being supported for rotational movement about a substantially vertical axis to the base (12) and the platform being tiltable about a substantially horizontal tilt axis (T) for movement of waste containers (36) onto or from the platform (11).

Description

ROTATABLE BASE ASSEMBLY FOR WASTE CONTAINERS Technical Field

This invention relates to a rotatable base assembly and in particular to a rotatable base assembly for supporting waste containers. Background Art

Containers for containing refuse or waste are in many different configurations. In one configuration, the containers are mobile containers provided on one side of their base with a pair of wheels and gripping handles above the wheels which enables a container to be gripped, tipped towards the wheels so as to be supported thereby and wheeled to a desired location where the container is usually stored or to a location where the container can be left to be engaged by a refuse or waste collection vehicle for elevation and tipping so that the contents of the container are discharged into a collection hopper. Containers of this type are also provided with a hinged lid with the hinge axis being located substantially parallel to the axis of the wheels and adjacent the gripping handles and with handles for the lid being provided on the side of the lid opposite the container gripping handles. Refuse or waste containers of this type are commonly known as "wheelie" bins.

Such bins provide a convenient means by which household refuse or the like can be deposited and then collected and removed from premises however they are relatively bulky and therefore they occupy a substantially space. In many occasions particularly where these bins are used in association with multi-unit dwellings or in other situations where only a limited space exists, access to the bins is often difficult. For example, where the bins are wheeled into a confined space such as against a wall where they are normally left, it is difficult for person wishing to deposit waste into the bins to reach the lid handles and lift the lid as the lid handles are on the far side of the bin. If the bin is to be positioned so that the lid is easily accessible, that is so that the lid handles are on the near side, it is often difficult to move and manipulate the bin into a convenient position whilst ensuring that refuse or waste does not spill from the bin or the bin does not tip over. This thus creates a hygiene and safety problem. Manipulation of the bin is particularly difficult where the texture of the surface on which the bin is located is loose such as a gravel or earth surface as the wheels tend to dig into the surface. Summary of the Invention

The present invention aims to provide in one aspect a rotatable base assembly for refuse or waste containers, which overcomes or alleviates one or more of the above disadvantages. The present invention in a further aspect aims to provide in combination a refuse or waste container and rotatable base assembly.

The present invention thus provides in a first aspect a rotatable base assembly for a waste container, said base assembly having a platform and a base, said platform being supported on said base for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, said platform being further capable of tilting relative to said base about a substantially horizontal tilt axis to facilitate movement of a said waste container onto or from said platform. Preferably the platform tilt axis is spaced laterally from the axis of rotation of the platform.

Most preferably, the waste containers for use with the rotatable base assembly are of the type having a pair of supporting wheels on one side of the base of the container such that when the container is tipped towards the wheels, it is supported on the wheels and may be wheeled to a desired location. The containers also have a chamber and manipulating handles located at an upper end of the chamber above the wheels. A lid is hinged to the chamber adjacent the manipulating handles for movement about an axis extending substantially parallel to the wheel axis and the lid is provided with handles remote from the hinge axis of the lid. The platform preferably includes an upper substantially planar surface to receive and support the base of a waste container. The platform may include one or more ribs or ridges at opposite sides of the platform and extending upwardly relative to the planar surface to constrain or locate the waste container on the platform.

The ribs or ridges may define recess into which the wheels of the container may be moved to locate the waste container on the platform. The rib or ridges may converge towards each other from the front to the rear of the platform. The front of the platform however most preferably is free of a rib or ridge to enable the waste container to be readily moved onto the platform. The ribs or ridges may define a platform area substantially complementary to the cross section of the container at and including the wheels. Preferably the platform is capable of tilting about the horizontal tilt axis to lower the container entry/exit region at the front of the platform to facilitate movement of a waste container onto or from the platform.

Pivot means between the platform and base suitably define the vertical axis about which the platform may rotate relative to the base. The pivot means however suitably comprises a relatively loose pivot connection so as to permit the tilting movement of the platform. The pivot means may comprise a pivot pin formed integrally with the platform and arranged to extend into an aperture arranged centrally in the base. The pivot pin may be hollow and retained positively to the base by a clip such as a circlip or the like at the free end of the pin and located on the underside of the base. A collar may surround the aperture in the base and the platform may include means on its underside for engagement with the collar to support the platform centrally on the base. The means on the underside of the platform may include a further collar or a plurality of ribs extending radially from the platform which seat on the base collar and effectively form a bearing therewith. Alternatively the pivot means may comprise a separate pivot pin adapted to be located in aligned apertures arranged centrally in the platform and base. Preferably, bearing means are provided between the platform and base to support the platform on the base. The bearing means are preferably located at a radial spacing from the centre of the platform and base. Preferably the bearing means are supported on one of the platform and base and cooperate with an annular track on the other of the platform or base. Most preferably, the bearing means are supported on the platform and cooperate with an annular track provided on the base. The bearing means suitably comprise first and second pairs of bearing means towards the front and rear of the platform respectively relative to the vertical axis of rotation of the platform. The bearing means are suitably provided at a common radial spacing from the axis of rotation of the platform. The bearing means of each pair are suitably arranged equidistantly from and opposite sides of the axis of symmetry of the platform.

Preferably the first pair of bearing means define the tilt axis about which the platform can pivot. Thus when the center of gravity of the container is moved over the first pair of bearing means, the container is substantially supported by the first bearing means and may tilted with the platform and relative to the base about the tilt axis. The perpendicular distance between the line joining the first pair of bearing means (the tilt axis) and the axis of rotation of the platform is suitably less than the perpendicular distance between the line joining the second pair of bearing means and axis of rotation of the platform. The bearing means are suitably arranged such that when the waste container is on the platform, the load bearing area of the container is supported substantially over the first and second pairs of bearing means. The bearing means may in one form comprise rollers mounted for rotation about axes extending radially from the centre of the platform or base. The rollers may have axles which engage with axle holders on the underside of the platform.

In another arrangement, the bearings may comprise ball bearings. The ball bearings may be supported in complementary part spherical recesses in the platform or base for cooperation with a track in the base or platform respectively.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a rotatable base assembly for a waste container of the type having a waste chamber, wheels at the bottom of said chamber and a lid hinged to said chamber for movement about a hinge axis on said one side of said chamber and above said wheels, said base assembly comprising a platform and a base for said platform, said platform being supported for rotational movement about a substantially vertical axis to said base, said platform being rotatable between a first position in which said waste container may be moved onto or from said platform and a second position in which said container is constrained from movement to or from said platform and wherein said platform is tiltable about a substantially horizontal tilt axis for movement of said waste containers onto or from said platform.

The platform is suitably supported on the base via a plurality of rollers and the horizontal tilt axis of the platform is suitably defined by a pair of spaced apart rollers. Most preferably, the second position is approximately 180° from the first position however the second position may be at any angular position relative to the first position. The second position may also be in either rotational direction from the first position.

The waste container may be guided in movement to or from the platfoπn by ribs or ridges on the platform. The platform however may be alternatively formed to constrain movement of the waste container from the platform. Most preferably, the platform includes an entry/exit region which facilitates loading of a waste container onto or unloading a waste container from the platform. The entry/exit region may be bounded at least on opposite sides by the ribs or ridges. Preferably the platform may be tilted about the horizontal axis to lower the entry region of the platform. The horizontal tilt axis is suitably spaced from the vertical axis of rotation. Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rotatable base assembly for refuse or waste containers;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rotatable base assembly of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rotatable base assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along line A-A of Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the platform and base of the base assembly respectively; and

Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate the manner in which the rotatable base assembly may be used in combination with a waste container;

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 to 6, there is illustrated a rotatable base assembly 10 for refuse or waste containers according to an embodiment of the present invention, the rotatable base assembly 10 having a platform 11 on which a refuse container may seat and a base 12 upon which the platform 11 is supported for rotation about a substantially vertical axis.

The platform 11 has a broad T-shaped recess in plan view which matches generally the shape of the base of a standard waste container and the supporting wheels thereof. The platform 11 includes a substantially planar upper surface 13 and upstanding ribs or ridges 14 extending along opposite sides 15 of the platform 11. The front 17 of the platform 11 however is free or ribs or ridges 14 and thus is open to define and entry/exit to enable a waste or refuse container to be placed onto or removed from the platform 11 as described further below. The ribs or ridges 14 extending along the opposite sides of the platform 11 define opposite locating recesses 18 in which the wheels of a waste container may locate.

The surface 13 of the platform 11 is supported on its underside by a series of stiffening ribs or flanges 19. Supporting wheels 21 and 21' are mounted to the underside of the platform 11, the axes 22 of the wheels 21 and 21' lying along lines extending radially from the centre of the platform 11. The wheels 21 and 21' are provided with axles 23, the ends of which extend from opposite ends of the wheels 21 and 21'. Two pairs of forked ribs 24 and 24' are provided on the underside of the platform 11 to act as axle holders to receive opposite ends of the axles 23 in a snap-engaging manner such that the wheels 21 and 21' are secured releasably to the underside of the platform 11. The ribs of each pair 24 and 24' are equi-spaced from and arranged on opposite side of the axis of symmetry X-X of the platform 11. One pair of ribs 24' however is located adjacent the front 17 of the platform 11 and the other pair of ribs 24 are located adjacent the rear of the platform 11. The pair of ribs 24' and thus the wheels 21' supported thereby which are adjacent the front 17 of the platform are arranged however such that the line joining them is positioned closer to the axis of rotation of the platform 11 than the corresponding line joining the ribs 24 and wheels 21. The line T-T between the wheels 21' defines a transverse tilt axis T-T about which the platform 11 may tilt for loading and unloading refuse bins as described further below.

The platform 11 is further provided at its centre with a downwardly extending hollow axle pin 25, the shank of which has at its leading end a groove 26 for receiving a clip 27 such as a circlip to secure the platform 11 to the base 12. The base 12 is of a circular configuration in plan view and includes on its upper side an outer annular substantially planar track 28 supported by integrally formed radially extending ribs 29 to a central hub 30. A series of stiffening ribs or flanges 32 are provided on the underside of the track 28, ribs 39 and hub 30 to provide sufficient stiffness to the base 12 to resist loadings applied by a waste container supported on the platform 11 and through the wheels 21 and 21' onto the base 12.

The hub 30 is centrally apertured at 33 to receive the axle pin 25 with the clip 27 applied to the pin 25 on the underside of the platform positively retaining the platform 11 to the base 12 but permitting rotational movement of the platform 11 relative to the base 12 about a substantially vertical axis defined by the axle pin 25. The pivot connection between the platform 11 and base 12 provided by the axle pin 25 and aperture 33 however provides a loose pivotal connection between the platform 11 and base 12 so as to permit the platform 11 to tilt about the axis T-T whilst the base 12 remains on the ground.

When the platform 11 is secured to the base 12, the wheels 21 and 21' are aligned with and supported on the track 28 to provide support to the platform 11 from the underside with the wheels 21 and 21' running along the track 28 with rotation of the platform 11 relative to the base 12 in opposite directions.

To prevent or reduce the risks of dirt and dust reaching the axle pin 26 and thereby restricting rotation of the platform 11 relative to the base 12, the platform 11 may be provided with a downwardly extending annular rib 34 coaxial with the pin 25 and the platform 11 is provided with an upwardly extending annular rib 35 coaxial with the opening 33 (see Fig. 4). When the platform 11 is supported to the base 12, the rib 34 extends downwardly to be located on the outside of the upwardly extending rib 35 to minimise the risks of dust, dirt or other materials fouling the axle pin 26. A collar 33' is provided around the aperture 33 and radially extending ribs 25' are provided around the pin 25 and seat on the collar 33' in a bearing-like manner to support the center of the platform 11 on the base 12.

The rotatable base assembly 10 is particularly suited to use with a waste container 36 (see Figs. 7 to 10) of the type known as a wheelie bin which is formed of plastics and which has a generally rectangular elongated chamber 37 provided with a pair of wheels 38 mounted on a horizontal axle 39 extending along one side of the bottom of the chamber 37 and manipulating handles 40 at the upper end of the chamber 37 above the wheels 38. The container 36 additionally includes a lid 41 which is hingedly connected to top of the chamber 37 at or adjacent the handles 40 for movement about an axis extending substantially parallel to wheel axle 39. The lid 41 additionally include a pair of integrally formed handles 42 which facilitate lifting of the lid 41 and deposit of waste into the chamber 37, the handles 42 being located on the side of the lid 41 opposite its hinge axis.

As shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the assembled rotatable base assembly 10 is positioned in a substantially horizontal attitude on the ground where the waste container 36 is usually located. Where the waste container 36 is to be placed onto the platform 11 of the base assembly 10, the platform 11 is rotated such that the open front 17 thereof is directed outwardly. The waste container 36 is then wheeled into a position in alignment with the base assembly 10 and tipped rearwardly about its wheel axle 39 such that its leading end is raised and can be moved through the open front 17 and placed onto the platform 11 as illustrated in Fig. 7. The weight of the container 36 and the contents thereof applied to the front 17 of the platform 11 will cause the platform 11 to tilt downwardly about the tilt axis T-T defined by the front wheels 21'. This therefore effectively defines a ramp to facilitate sliding of the container 36 onto the platform 11. Forward force applied to the container 36 in the direction B will cause the bottom 43 of the container 36 to slide forwardly to the position of Fig. 8 in which the container 36 is fully supported on the platform 11 with the wheels 38 locating within the recesses 18 which prevents further forward movement of the container 36. The container 36 may be guided onto the platform 11 by contacting the ribs or ridges 14. When the container 36 is supported on the base 12, the bottom 43 of the container 36 is supported substantially directly over the wheels 21 and 21'. The container 36 and platform 11 may then be rotated relative to the base 12 (in this case clockwise) from the position of Fig. 8, through the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 10 where the container 36 and platform 11 are in a position approximately 180° from the position of Fig. 8. In the Fig. 10 position, the handles 42 of the lid 41 are located on the near side adjacent to the user and are thus readily accessible enabling them to be grasped to lift the lid 41 for deposit of waste 44 into the chamber 37 as shown.

When the container 36 is full and heavy and/or it is time to place the container 36 out for emptying, the container 36 and platform 11 are rotated back to the position of Fig. 8 where the gripping handles 40 are adjacent the user. The gripping handles 40 may then be grasped by the user, the container 36 slid rearwardly in the direction C in Fig. 8 to move the center of gravity of the container 36 over the wheels 24' thus causing the platform 11 to tilt or pivot downwardly about the tilt axis T-T defined by the wheels 21' to the position of Fig. 7 such that the container 36 can be easily slid from the platform 11 and supported on its wheels 38. The container 36 may then be wheeled to a position for collection.

The rotatable base assembly may be formed of plastics suitably injection moulded plastic typically recycled plastics but may be formed of metals or other materials. The base assembly being relatively thin may be easily stacked flat for shipping and handling thereby saving costs.

The rotatable base assembly allows the consumer to rotate a waste container supported thereon with little effort using just one hand and consumers are not required to touch the bin in any area that might be unhygienic. No change is required in the design of conventional "wheelie" bins which are commonly in use as waste containers.

Whilst the base assemblies 10 are most suited for use with containers 36 of a size which will neatly locate on the platforms 11, they may be used with smaller size containers which will simply sit on top of the platforms 11.

In the embodiment described, the bases 12 are of a generally circular configuration however they may be of square configuration in plan view or of any other shape.

In some cases also, a bearing or bush may be provided between the platform 11 and base 12 and around the pin 25.

The platform in the described embodiment is supported by rollers to the base which effectively act as bearings transferring load from the platform to the base. The rollers may be in other forms that than illustrated such as in the form of spherical rollers located within part spherical recesses on the under side of the platform. In another arrangement, the rollers or other bearings may be supported in a fixed position on the base and cooperate with an annular track provided on the underside of the platform.

The terms "comprising" or "comprises" or derivates thereof as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A rotatable base assembly for a waste container, said base assembly having a platform and a base, said platform being supported on said base for rotation about a substantially vertical axis, said platform being further capable of tilting relative to said base about a substantially horizontal tilt axis to facilitate movement of a said waste container onto or from said platform.

2. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said platform tilt axis is spaced laterally from the axis of rotation of the platform.

3. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said waste container has a base and pair of supporting wheels on one side of the base whereby when the container is tipped towards the wheels, it is supported on the wheels and may be wheeled to a desired location and wherein said platform includes an upper substantially planar surface to receive and support the base of the waste container.

4. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said platform includes one or more ribs or ridges at opposite sides of the platform and extending upwardly relative to the planar surface to constrain or locate the waste container on the platform.

5. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said ribs or ridges define recesses into which the wheels of the container may be moved to locate the waste container on the platform.

6. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein said rib or ridges converge towards each other from the front to the rear of the platform.

7. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein said ribs or ridges define a platform area substantially complementary to the cross section of the container base and said wheels.

8. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said platform has an entry/exit region and wherein said platform is capable of tilting about the horizontal tilt axis to lower the entry/exit region of the platform

9. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including pivot means between the platform and base, said pivot means defining the vertical axis about which the platform may rotate relative to the base.

10. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pivot means comprise a pivot pin formed integrally with the platform and arranged to extend into an aperture arranged centrally in the base.

11. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pivot pin is retained positively to the base by retaining means at the free end of the pin and located on the underside of the base.

12. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 11 and including a collar surrounding the aperture in the base and wherein the platform includes means on its underside for engagement with the collar to support the platform centrally on the base.

13. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means on the underside of the platform comprises a plurality of ribs extending radially from the platform which seat on the collar.

14. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and including bearing means between the platform and base to support the platform on the base for rotation.

15. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein said bearing means are located at a radial spacing from the centre of the platform and base.

16. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 15 wherein said bearing means are supported on one of the platform and base and cooperate with an annular track on the other of the platform or base.

17. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein said bearing means are supported on the platform and cooperate with an annular track provided on the base.

18. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein said bearing means comprise first and second pairs of bearing means towards the front and rear of the platform respectively relative to the vertical axis of rotation of the platform.

19. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 18 wherein said bearing means are provided at a common radial spacing from the axis of rotation of the platform.

20. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein said bearing means of each pair are arranged equidistantly from and opposite sides of the axis of symmetry of the platform.

21. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20 wherein the first pair of bearing means define the tilt axis about which the platform can pivot.

22. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 21 wherein the perpendicular distance between the line joining the first pair of bearing means and the axis of rotation of the platform is less than the perpendicular distance between the line joining the second pair of bearing means and rotational axis of the platform.

23. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 22 wherein said bearing means are arranged such that when the waste container is on the platform, the load bearing area of the container is supported substantially over the first and second pairs of bearing means.

24. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 23 wherein said bearing means comprise rollers mounted for rotation about axes extending radially from the centre of the platform or base.

25. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 22 wherein said rollers have axles which engage with axle holders on the underside of the platform.

26. A rotatable base assembly for a waste container of the type having a waste chamber, wheels at the bottom of said chamber and a lid hinged to said chamber for movement about a hinge axis on said one side of said chamber and above said wheels, said base assembly comprising a platform and a base for said platform, said platform being supported for rotational movement about a substantially vertical axis to said base, said platform being rotatable between a first position in which said waste container may be moved onto or from said platform and a second position in which said container is constrained from movement to or from said platform and wherein said platform is tiltable about a substantially horizontal tilt axis for movement of said waste containers onto or from said platform.

27. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 26 wherein said platform is supported on the base via a plurality of rollers and wherein the horizontal tilt axis of the platform is defined by a pair of spaced apart rollers.

28. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 26 or claim 27 wherein said second position is approximately 180° from the first position.

29. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in any one of claims 26 to 28 wherein said container is guided in movement to or from the platform by ribs or ridges on the platform.

30. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein said platform includes an entry/exit region for loading of a waste container onto or unloading a waste container from the platform, said entry/exit region being bounded at least on opposite sides by said ribs or ridges.

31. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 30 wherein said platform may be tilted about the horizontal axis to lower the entry/exit region of the platform.

32. A rotatable base assembly as claimed in claim 31 wherein said horizontal tilt axis is spaced from the vertical axis of rotation.