The present invention relates generally to refuse collection bins, and more particularly to an accumulation/disposal bin that may be suitable for safely collecting paper destined for secure disposal. One embodiment is particularly well suited for the collection of paper to be shredded from an office environment.
Garbage and recycling bins formed of plastic are generally known. Bins used in the collection of paper to be shredded or recycled, however, are typically formed of more rigid materials such as wood or particle board. Typically, the choice of materials is based on a desire to keep such bins aesthetically pleasing and generally tamperproof.
Unfortunately, wood or particle board bins are cumbersome to access. They typically cannot be moved once full, and are thus usually emptied in situ. Moreover, the bins are costly to manufacture, deliver, and store, and are often not particularly pleasing to the eye.
As such, there remains a need for accumulation/disposal bins suitable for safely collecting paper and the like destined for secure disposal that are inexpensively produced, yet aesthetically pleasing, and moderately secure.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an accumulation/disposal bin includes a container body with an upper opening. A lid covers the upper opening. The lid is mounted on a hinge on the forward wall of the body, to pivot about an axis proximate the upper opening. The lid thus pivots about the forward edge of the opening, allowing a lock to be formed on the rear edge of the lid. Edge mounted wheels may further be located proximate the rear bottom of the container, diagonally across from the hinge. The bin may further include a lifting slot on the rear wall. In this way, lock, wheels, and lifting slot may be generally hidden when the bin is in-situ, providing a relatively clean outward appearance. The rear of the bin may further include a lifting skirt. As well, a handle may be formed proximate the upper opening on the rear the bin
The lid may comprise a downwardly sloped ramp extending from an opening in a horizontal plane to beneath a portion of the lid that at least partially covers this horizontal plane. The ramp and the covering portion of the lid define first and second slots each in a generally vertical plane. The second slot provides an entrance to an interior of the container body.
Conveniently, the covering portion and ramp, and the first and second generally vertical slots may be spaced to prevent access by hand through the slots in the container body.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bin. The bin comprises a container body defining an opening, a generally planar lid closing the opening. The lid comprises a downwardly sloped ramp extending from an opening in a horizontal plane to beneath a portion of the lid at least partially covering the horizontal plane. The ramp and the portion of the lid defining first and second slots each in a generally vertical plane, the second slot providing an entrance to an interior of the container body.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bin. The bin comprises a container body having upstanding front, rear and side walls extending from a base. The walls define an upper opening to a container, a lid covering the upper opening, a hinge on the front wall, proximate the upper opening, mounting the lid to the container body to pivot about an axis proximate the front wall of the container body; and two opposing wheels, mounted for rotation about an axis that is fixed relative to the body. One of the opposing wheels extends from each of the side walls proximate the rear bottom of the container.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bin. The bin comprises a container body defining an opening, a generally planar lid closing the opening. The lid comprises a downwardly sloped ramp extending from an opening in a horizontal plane to beneath a portion of the lid at least partially covering the horizontal plane. The ramp and the portion of the lid define first and second slots each in a generally vertical plane, the second slot providing an entrance to an interior of the container body. The first and second slots and the ramp and the portion of the lid spaced to allow insertion of sheets of paper into the container, while preventing insertion of a human hand into the container through the slot.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bin. The bin comprises a container body having upstanding front, rear and side walls extending from a base. The walls define an upper opening to a container; a lid covering the upper opening; a hinge on the front wall, proximate the upper opening, mounting the lid to the container body to pivot about an axis proximate said front wall of the container body. The rear wall comprises an indentation extending from the base, and defining a lifting slot; two opposing wheels to support the base; a handle formed proximate the upper opening on the rear of the bin, generally opposite the hinge.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
In the figures which illustrate by way of example only, embodiments of the present invention,
As illustrated in
Two wheel wells 24a, 24b for receiving wheels 26a, 26b making bin 10 generally movable, are formed at rear bottom of bin 10, proximate the intersection of side and rear walls at base 22. In the depicted embodiment, wheel wells 24a and 24b are formed predominantly in side walls 20b and 20c of container body 12. Each wheel well 24a and 24b is generally disk shaped, having a diameter and height sized to accommodate a complementary wheel 26a/26b. Wheels 26a, 26b may be conventional, formed of rubber, plastic or other suitable material. They may be hollow or solid.
Container body 12 further includes a lifting skirt 27 and a bottom lift slot 28, formed on rear wall 20d. Slot 28 and skirt 27 may be engaged by a complimentary lift extending from a trolley, mechanical mover, or the like.
Handles 55 are formed at the top rear of bin 10, and allow bin 10 to be pulled or pushed. Conveniently, handles 55 may be used to pull bin 10 on wheels 26a, 26b as bin 10 is tilted rearward. A hinge 25 for pivoting lid 14 between open and closed positions is formed on the front of bin 10, generally opposite handles 55.
Lifting slot 28 is formed as a generally rectangular indentation on rear wall 20d, extending upward from the bottom of rear wall 20d. As illustrated, lift slot 28 is laterally centered on rear wall 20d, and has a width of about ⅓ of rear wall 20d. Lifting slot 28 tapers slights as it extends upwardly. Lifting slot 28 further includes a laterally extending bar 30 located about ⅘ of the way upwardly along slot 28. A gap is formed behind bar 30 and slot 28, as shown in the enlarged view of
A lock 75 may secure lid 14 to bin 12, as detailed below.
The bottom of bin 10 is more particularly illustrated in
A third wheel (visible in
The interior of container body 12 may be better appreciated with reference to
A rim 44 extends around the upper periphery of container 12 as illustrated in
Rear rim portion 46d has three segments: a center segment 48a is generally flat and extends outwardly from the edge of the top opening of container 12. Center segment 48a includes a lock opening 52. Left and right rear rim segments 48b and 48c, extend from center segment 48a to rim portions 46b and 46c, respectively, and are formed as concave half cylinders. Left and right rear segments 48b, 48c each define an opening 54a, 54b between the top edge of rear wall 20d, and left and right rear rim segments 48b, 48c.
Further, a plurality of generally hooked shaped hinge portions 56 (also shown in enlarged view in
Container body 12 (excluding wheels 26a, 26b and accompanying axle 40 and caster 32) may be integrally formed, using a suitable injection mould. A suitable plastic appreciated by those of ordinary skill, such as poly-ethylene or the like, may be used to form container body 12, with walls 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d, base 22, as well as rim 44, and skirt 50 having thicknesses of between 2 and 8 mm, or greater. Conveniently, an appropriate choice of thickness may make bin 10 suitable from holding 130 kg or more of refuse/paper, without placing undue stress on bin 10.
Lid 14 is more particularly illustrated in
Lock 75 includes a pin 72 that extends toward the center of lid 14. Pin 72 may be retracted by a key (not shown) that may be inserted and removed in a key hole on the side of lock 75, opposite of pin 72, and exterior to lid 14. Suitable locks may be available from Hettich International of Germany, under part number 356300. Pin 72 is aligned with lock opening 52 of rear rim portion 46d. Lock opening 52 lies in a vertical plane, pin 72 extends into and out of lock opening 52. As such, lid 14 may be locked to cover opening 19, using a key to extend and retract pin 72.
Formed on front skirt portion 64a of lid 14 is a hinge portion 74, including a plurality of laterally extending hinge pins 76, complementary to the hooked hinge portions 56 (
Now, when lid 14 is atop container 12, as illustrated in
Accordingly, handles 55 are formed by overlapping portions of lid 14 and container body 12. Handles 55, have an opening (defined by overlapping opening 54a, 54b and opening 65a, 65b) next to a grip 55, on the rear side of opening 19 to container body 12. Handles 55 are on one side of opening 19, while hinge 25 is on the opposite side.
Conveniently, hinge 25 is mounted on the front wall 20a of bin 10. As such, wheels 26a, 26b, lock 75, skirt 27, and lifting slot 28 are on the same rear side of bin 10, and are obstructed from view, when bin 10 is viewed from the front (as best seen in
As shown in
Conveniently ramp 80 and slots 88 and 90 may be formed wide enough to accept standard size paper to be collected in bin 10. As such the width of slots 88 and 90 may typically be in excess of 8.5″, and may for example have a width of between 8.5″ and 12″, or larger.
In use, bin 10 is typically placed in a location where refuse, and particularly paper is to be collected. Typically, bin 10 is placed in an office environment. Wheels 26a, 26b and 34 allow bin 10 to be pushed into place. Preferably, rear wall 20d is pushed into close proximity or even abutment with a wall making access to lock 75 difficult.
Once in place, end users place paper for disposal into bin 10, by sliding the paper on ramp 80 from slot 88 to slot 90, and into the interior of container body 12. The distance between slot 88 and slot 90, and the height of slots 88 and 90, allows the insertion of paper into bin 10, but prevents its easy removal, by hand or simple instrument. The downward tilt of ramp 80 facilitates the sliding insertion of paper into bin 10. Depending on the height of slots 88 and 90 many stacked sheets may be concurrently passed through slots 88 and 90.
Once bin 10 is substantially full, bin 10 may be wheeled away for emptying. Specifically, bin 10 may be tilted so that its only point of contact to the ground is wheels 26a, 26b that act as load bearing wheels. So tilted, bin 10 may be pulled by handles 55 and wheeled to an exit or elevator and transported to transport apparatus that engages slot 28, bar 30 and skirt 27. Prior to emptying bin 10, the lock may be opened. Bin 10 may be tilted backward, and ultimately turned upside down. As bin 10 is tilted, lid 14 pivots open about hinge pins 76, with the rear edge of lid 14 swinging toward the front of bin 10.
Conveniently, as handles 55 are formed apart from hinge 25, handles 55 and wheels 26a and 26b, as well as lift slot 28 and lift skirt 27 may be formed at the rear of bin 10, while hinge 55 is formed at the front of bin 10. Thus, as best viewed in
When not in use, several bins of the form of bin 10 may be stacked or nested, as illustrated in
Of course, the above described embodiments, are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting. The described embodiments of carrying out the invention, are susceptible to many modifications of form, arrangement of parts, details and order of operation. The invention, rather, is intended to encompass all such modification within its scope, as defined by the claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 613795 | Costello | Nov 1898 | A |
| D226328 | Patton et al. | Feb 1973 | S |
| D257550 | Holcroft | Nov 1980 | S |
| 4315592 | Smith | Feb 1982 | A |
| 4749101 | Durkan, Jr. | Jun 1988 | A |
| 4836394 | Glomski | Jun 1989 | A |
| 4917257 | Edelhoff | Apr 1990 | A |
| 4930649 | Moser | Jun 1990 | A |
| D313491 | Edelhoff et al. | Jan 1991 | S |
| 5071024 | Delmerico et al. | Dec 1991 | A |
| 5088750 | Beese et al. | Feb 1992 | A |
| D328170 | Juergens | Jul 1992 | S |
| 5141124 | Smith et al. | Aug 1992 | A |
| 5150806 | Glomski | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5165564 | Prout et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
| 5167351 | Prout et al. | Dec 1992 | A |
| 5193708 | Prout et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
| D335564 | Delmerico | May 1993 | S |
| 5217135 | Smith et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5217136 | Sanden, Jr. | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5224744 | Michelutti | Jul 1993 | A |
| 5251779 | Schmidt | Oct 1993 | A |
| 5261562 | Prout et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
| D345837 | Bean | Apr 1994 | S |
| D347095 | Apps et al. | May 1994 | S |
| 5323923 | Schauer | Jun 1994 | A |
| 5356027 | Craft et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
| D355741 | Craft et al. | Feb 1995 | S |
| D360512 | McKenna | Jul 1995 | S |
| D365428 | Prout et al. | Dec 1995 | S |
| D365901 | Kowalski et al. | Jan 1996 | S |
| 5538158 | Prout et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5547104 | Parker | Aug 1996 | A |
| 5582322 | Prout et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
| D381163 | Lee | Jul 1997 | S |
| 5647502 | Marsh | Jul 1997 | A |
| D388577 | Rehrig et al. | Dec 1997 | S |
| 5738395 | Probst | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5743542 | Mast et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
| 5776405 | Prout et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| D398120 | Rehrig et al. | Sep 1998 | S |
| D400332 | Sanden, Jr. | Oct 1998 | S |
| 5816591 | Parker et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
| D410125 | Rehrig et al. | May 1999 | S |
| D429398 | Wysocki | Aug 2000 | S |
| D445228 | Apps et al. | Jul 2001 | S |
| 6276557 | Wysocki | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6280001 | Parker et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
| 6283909 | Sharp | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6290093 | Obriot et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
| 6328320 | Walski et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
| D461291 | Kaminski et al. | Aug 2002 | S |
| D470989 | Tuduri | Feb 2003 | S |
| D471336 | Tuduri | Mar 2003 | S |
| D474317 | Tuduri | May 2003 | S |
| D474319 | Tuduri | May 2003 | S |
| D477899 | Tuduri | Jul 2003 | S |
| D478197 | Raghunathan | Aug 2003 | S |
| 6733053 | Hodge et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
| D491328 | Aiken et al. | Jun 2004 | S |
| D491329 | Taylor | Jun 2004 | S |
| D491708 | Taylor | Jun 2004 | S |
| 6758366 | Bourgund et al. | Jul 2004 | B2 |
| 6880717 | O'Conor | Apr 2005 | B1 |
| 6902080 | Busch | Jun 2005 | B2 |
| D509335 | Tuduri | Sep 2005 | S |
| 6968972 | Taylor | Nov 2005 | B2 |
| 7086557 | Miller et al. | Aug 2006 | B2 |
| 7100791 | Berger | Sep 2006 | B2 |
| 7114631 | Aiken et al. | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| 7121564 | Hassell | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| D532173 | Aiken et al. | Nov 2006 | S |
| D535448 | Kilduff et al. | Jan 2007 | S |
| 7172088 | McDade et al. | Feb 2007 | B2 |
| 20030213808 | Berger | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| 20040108666 | Lauer | Jun 2004 | A1 |
| 20060081642 | Taylor | Apr 2006 | A1 |
| 20060191949 | Miller et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
| 20060232029 | Parker et al. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
| 20060273097 | Taylor | Dec 2006 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1268153 | Apr 1990 | CA |
| 1269051 | May 1990 | CA |
| 2008581 | Jul 1990 | CA |
| 2038705 | Sep 1991 | CA |
| 1296691 | Mar 1992 | CA |
| 1298561 | Apr 1992 | CA |
| 2058195 | Jun 1992 | CA |
| 2061276 | Aug 1992 | CA |
| 1315754 | Apr 1993 | CA |
| 1316124 | Apr 1993 | CA |
| 1327765 | Mar 1994 | CA |
| 2147719 | Oct 1995 | CA |
| 2109868 | Jan 1999 | CA |
| 2273901 | Feb 2000 | CA |
| 2133310 | Apr 2000 | CA |
| 2321454 | Mar 2001 | CA |
| 2313847 | May 2001 | CA |
| 2324855 | May 2001 | CA |
| 2305909 | Oct 2001 | CA |
| 2351056 | Dec 2001 | CA |
| 2413005 | Jan 2002 | CA |
| 2372465 | Aug 2003 | CA |
| 2418583 | Aug 2003 | CA |
| 2080206 | Dec 2003 | CA |
| 2524776 | Jan 2004 | CA |
| 2507873 | Jun 2004 | CA |
| 2524895 | Dec 2004 | CA |
| 2213422 | Oct 2007 | CA |
| 2243868 | Nov 1991 | GB |
| WO 9849073 | Nov 1908 | WO |
| WO 9308104 | Apr 1993 | WO |
| WO 9401349 | Jan 1994 | WO |
| WO 9615918 | May 1996 | WO |
| WO 9732799 | Sep 1997 | WO |
| WO 9738924 | Oct 1997 | WO |
| WO 9746468 | Dec 1997 | WO |
| WO 9849074 | Nov 1998 | WO |
| WO 9911525 | Mar 1999 | WO |
| WO 9926867 | Jun 1999 | WO |
| WO 0009410 | Feb 2000 | WO |
| WO 0044648 | Aug 2000 | WO |
| WO 0053515 | Sep 2000 | WO |
| WO 0160719 | Aug 2001 | WO |
| WO 0226596 | Apr 2002 | WO |
| WO 03050017 | Jun 2003 | WO |
| WO 2004013021 | Feb 2004 | WO |
| WO 2004094268 | Nov 2004 | WO |
| WO 2006007644 | Jan 2006 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| “American National Standard Equipment Technology and Operations for Wastes and Recyclable Materials: Waste Containers—Compatibility Dimensions”, American National Standard: ANSI Z245.60-2006, 2006, (WASTEC) Waste Eqthpment Technology Association, Washington, DC. |
| “American National Standard Equipment Technology and Operations for Wastes and Recyclable Materials; Waste Containers—Safety Requirements”, American National Standard: ANSI Z245.30-2006, 2006. (WASTEC) Waste Equipment Technology Association, Washington, DC. |
| Canadian Industrial Design Registration No. 97480, “Rollout Cart Lid”, registered on Sep. 30, 2002, to Cascade Engineering, Inc. |
| Canadian Industrial Design Registration No. 99947, “Refuse Container”, registered on Jul. 30, 2003, to Norseman Plastics Limited. |
| Canadian Industrial Design Registration No. 104750, “Waste Container”, registered on Nov. 17, 2005, to Rehrig Pacific Company, Inc. |
| International Search Report for International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2008/000613, Filed Apr. 4, 2008, Form PCT/ISA/210, ISA/CA, Gatineau, Quebec. |
| Great Britain Patent Office Communication issued Feb. 18, 2011 in relation to Great Britain Patent Application GB0919103.2, filed Apr. 4, 2008. |
| Office Action for Canadian Application No. 2,682,837, filed Apr. 4, 2008, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Office Action issued Aug. 31, 2011. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080246239 A1 | Oct 2008 | US |