EP0592270B1 - Container, holder for the container and refuse receptacle, such as a paperbasket, made of these pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

This is a refuse receptacle comprising a removable container (1) articulated on a fixed container holder (5) and locked to it in a vertical use position. According to the invention, the container holder has the form of a hollow, enveloping shell in which the container is received over a part of its depth. This container is equipped at the top rear part with a band (33) which has to interact with an inner wall (44a) of the container holder. As for the container holder, it preferably carries at its base articulation means for the container consisting of a beam connecting together its two lateral flanks and from which two vertical ribs (41), laterally limiting a space reserved for the means (13) for vertically holding the container holder, rise up. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a tank and a tank holder intended to constitute a waste receptacle such as a wastepaper basket intended to be used at a fixed station, in particular in an urban environment, to receive the waste thrown away by passers-by.

More specifically, the invention relates to a waste receptacle according to the preamble of claim 1.

An example of a receptacle or basket of this type can be found in European patent EP-A-219,385 or in its corresponding American patent US-A-4,776,480.

• un manque d'efficacité face à des actes de vandalisme commis par des vandales déterminés, la résistance et la protection assurées par les joues latérales du couvre-cuve étant considérées comme insuffisantes, de même que la protection des zones d'articulation de la cuve par rapport au porte-cuve (accès relativement aisé à ces zones compte-tenu de la forme en poteau à base évasée du porte-cuve, résistance limitée du bas de cuve contre les coups de pied) ;
• quelques problèmes de rigidité d'ensemble, une fois la cuve en position sur le porte-cuve,
• et enfin, certains problèmes de guidage apparaissant lors du retrait et surtout de la remise en place des cuves avec verrouillage au porte-cuve, ces problèmes paraissant liés à la conception même de la corbeille.

Despite the successive improvements made to the basket in question, it was judged that it continued to have certain drawbacks, and in particular:

• a lack of effectiveness in the face of acts of vandalism committed by determined vandals, the resistance and protection provided by the side cheeks of the tank cover being considered to be insufficient, as well as the protection of the articulation areas of the tank by relation to the tank holder (relatively easy access to these areas taking into account the flared base shape of the tank holder, limited resistance of the tank bottom against kicking);
• some problems of overall rigidity, once the tank in position on the tank holder,
• and finally, certain guide problems appearing during the removal and especially of the reinsertion of the tanks with locking to the tank holder, these problems appearing linked to the very design of the basket.

The object of the present invention is in particular to provide satisfactory solutions to the drawbacks noted on this trash can of the prior art, so as to provide an improved basket including the operation of the tank, both in engagement and in release by compared to the cell holder, either very easy and reliable, even if carried out by unskilled maintenance personnel, the basket must also have increased resistance against vandalism, with enhanced protection of its sensitive areas (areas of 'articulation and locking in particular), this with improved production costs.

Since the Applicant has not found a satisfactory solution among the waste baskets of the known prior art, (such as in particular those described in the publications EP-A-0 060 794 or DE-U-7 330 880) , it is therefore proposed in the present case a new receptacle of the aforementioned general type, characterized in particular in that its cell holder is presented as a shell or a hollow, enveloping bowl, with a front opening of dimensions greater than those of '' at least part of the tank, said lateral flanks extending over the entire height of the tank, including at the location of said articulation means, so that said tank is engaged, on at least one part of its depth and over its entire height, in the cell holder, in a substantially vertical position of use.

• sa cuve et son porte-cuve réalisés en matière plastique moulée auront des formes polyèdriques,
• l'ouverture du porte-cuve occupera avantageusement sensiblement toute la surface de l'une seulement de ses faces et présentera une section uniquement légèrement supérieure à une section verticale de la cuve, vers son côté arrière faisant face au porte-cuve,
• et les moyens précités d'articulation portés par le porte-cuve seront de préférence situés à l'intérieur de celui-ci, suivant un axe transversal situé en retrait de son ouverture, tandis que ceux portés par la cuve seront avantageusement situés vers ledit côté arrière de celle-ci, de telle manière qu'en position sensiblement verticale d'utilisation, la cuve pénètre intégralement et relativement étroitement, dans le porte-cuve, sur une partie seulement de sa profondeur.

In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle of the invention will be such that:

• its tank and its tank-holder made of molded plastic will have polyhedral shapes,
• the opening of the cell holder will advantageously occupy substantially the entire surface of only one of its faces and will have a section only slightly greater than a vertical section of the tank, towards its rear side facing the tank holder,
• and the aforementioned means of articulation carried by the cell holder will preferably be located inside the latter, along a transverse axis located back from its opening, while those carried by the cell will advantageously be situated towards said side rear of the latter, so that in a substantially vertical position of use, the tank penetrates integrally and relatively closely, into the tank holder, over only part of its depth.

• la cuve présentera avantageusement une paroi arrière sensiblement plane extérieurement, s'étendant sensiblement verticalement dans le porte-cuve en position verticale d'utilisation de la cuve,
• tandis que le porte-cuve présentera de préférence, dans le sens de sa hauteur, une paroi latérale arrière galbée, convexe vers l'extérieur, et comportant intérieurement au moins deux "premières" nervures sensiblement verticales se terminant frontalement dans un même plan vertical, lequel sera avantageusement parallèle ou sensiblement confondu avec celui de la paroi arrière de la cuve dans sa position verticale d'utilisation, pour pouvoir constituer notamment butée arrière de cuve.

According to another characteristic of the invention:

• the tank will advantageously have a rear wall which is substantially planar on the outside, extending substantially vertically in the tank holder in the vertical position of use of the tank,
• while the cell holder will preferably have, in the direction of its height, a curved rear side wall, convex towards the outside, and internally comprising at least two "first" substantially vertical ribs ending frontally in the same vertical plane, which will advantageously be parallel or substantially coincident with that of the rear wall of the tank in its vertical position of use, in order to be able to constitute in particular rear tank stop.

Still with the aim of improving the protection against vandalism and the overall rigidity of the container once the tank is blocked on the tank holder, another characteristic of the invention provides that the tank holder may comprise, projecting internally at its said rear side wall, second horizontal ribs and tubular protuberances, also horizontal, less deep than the first two ribs and extending between them, in the middle part of the cell holder, so as to delimit between them and said two first vertical ribs, a free volume reserved for the installation of fixing means, such as screws or the like, linking together the cell holder and its aforementioned means for maintaining the vertical position, the fixing means in question then being inaccessible from the front of the cell, when the latter is engaged in the holder tank in vertical position of use.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe du réceptacle ou container de l'invention avec sa cuve et son porte-cuve, selon la ligne de coupe I-I de la figure 2,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe complètée de la corbeille de la figure 1, selon la ligne générale de coupe repérée II-II sur cette même figure 1,
• la figure 3 montre, suivant la même vue, le porte-cuve de la figure 1, représenté ici seul,
• la figure 4 est une vue complète de face du même porte-cuve représenté seul, dans le sens de la flèche IV de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne de coupe V-V de la figure 4,
• la figure 6 est toujours une vue en coupe du porte-cuve, selon la ligne de coupe VI-VI de la figure 4,
• la figure 7 montre une vue arrière de la cuve,
• et la figure 8 est une vue en coupe de cette même cuve selon la ligne de coupe VIII-VIII de la figure 7.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear further in the more detailed description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings given solely by way of example of embodiment of the invention and in which:

• FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the receptacle or container of the invention with its tank and its tank holder, along the section line II of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 2 is a complete sectional view of the basket of FIG. 1, along the general line of section marked II-II in this same FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 shows, in the same view, the cell holder of FIG. 1, represented here alone,
• FIG. 4 is a complete front view of the same cell holder shown alone, in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the section line VV of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is still a sectional view of the cell holder, along the section line VI-VI of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 7 shows a rear view of the tank,
• and FIG. 8 is a sectional view of this same tank along the section line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

As can be seen in the figures, the basket of the invention, shown in the normal position of use, essentially comprises a removable tank 1 having a large upper opening 3 for receiving waste, and cooperating with a tank holder 5 intended for retain and keep the tank vertical, forming a compact unit with it.

The tank and the tank holder are here made of molded plastic, such as injected high density polyethylene, essentially in one piece.

In accordance with the invention, the cell holder 5 is presented as a (half) shell or a essentially monobloc hollow shell, of enveloping shape, comprising a large front opening 7 occupying substantially all of its front face (AVT) so as to allow, from the front, to the one-piece tank 1 to be housed there, in its substantially vertical position ready for use.

Even if it will preferably be carried out only over part of its depth (the entire dorsal surface of the tank penetrating into the tank holder), this complete dorsal engagement of the tank in the interior volume of the tank holder, will promote both the overall rigidity of the container and resistance to vandalism, the shell shape, in this case with enveloping curves, of the cell holder further reinforcing this as well as the impression of "cohesion" of the whole .

As illustrated, the tank and the tank holder will preferably have polyhedral shapes, the opening 7 which occupies almost all of its front front surface of the tank holder, being in this case limited, in the height direction, by the two rectilinear walls respectively from above 5a (forming partial tank cover) and from below (protecting the articulation zone 9) inclined towards one another in the direction of the front of the container so as to thus tighten the space around the tank two complementary sidewalls 5c, 5d vertical with curved front edge also joining together the walls 5a, 5b, laterally closing the tank holder.

To allow the engagement of the tank with effective guidance, the dimensions in front section, L (width) and H (height), of the opening 7 will advantageously only be slightly greater than the vertical dorsal or rear section of the tank ( side marked ARR in Figure 1).

In FIG. 2, it will be noted that it is in particular in the direction of the width L that the clearance between the tank and the lateral sides 5c, 5d will be fairly tight, thus avoiding that a vandal can take advantage of a clearance important to try to spread outwards said flanks.

To keep it in the vertical position, the tank will also be supported at its base at the location of a horizontal axis of rotation 9 and retained at the top, via locking means 11. Complementary means identified as a whole 13, will also ensure the vertical positioning of the cell holder.

For its articulation, the tank has here been equipped at its base with vertical protuberances or claws 15 distributed near its rear vertical wall 1a, along the axis 9 and internally delimiting half-bearings open downwards. In this case, two large half-bearings have been provided (Figures 7 and 8 in particular). In correspondence, the cell holder will advantageously include at its base, and approximately half of its depth P, a horizontal bar shape 17, extending transversely and continuously, between the two lateral flanks 5c, 5d, (FIGS. 3 and 4 in particular). We could also have located the shaft 17 at the front of the cell holder and the means of rotation of the cell at mid-depth thereof.

As for the locking means 11, it can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2 that they will advantageously be arranged so that a horizontal rib 21 formed in the upper rear part of the tank constitutes a finger with which a hook 23 will cooperate. formed on a sleeve 25 arranged to be locked around a control shaft 27. This shaft, pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis 29 is here carried by the vessel holder, being for this purpose held axially through orifices 30 formed in ribs 31 connected internally to the rear wall 5e of the cell holder. Laterally, the shaft 27 opens on the outside at 32 through the side wall 5d of the cell holder where it is retained. To operate the locking system, the shaft 27 has at this open end a square 34 maneuverable by a suitable key (which will have maintenance agents), thus allowing the unlocking of the tank and its removal, this by rotation of the shaft, for example a quarter turn upwards, a return spring 36 which can replace the hook 23 in the engagement position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In particular, to ensure good resistance to this locking zone, the tank will preferably include other ribs around the finger 21, and in particular two horizontal ribs 33 joined by a vertical rib 35 defining an upper reinforcing strip extending partially above the tank of which it surmounts the rear vertical wall 1a, which will preferably be flat over the vast majority of its surface.

With such a flat wall, we will be able to effectively reconcile the locking in the vertical position of the tank with an optimal placement of the means 13 for holding the container, and in particular the vertical beam 37 illustrated in FIG. 1, here engaged in the median space 19 which has been reserved for it behind the tank.

This space has been defined in this case by providing on the cell holder two series of horizontal and vertical ribs, 39 and 41 projecting towards the inside of the cell holder, from its back wall 5e, which is in this case doubly curved (horizontally and vertically) with a convexity facing outwards and can also be ribbed outside.

It will be noted that the above-mentioned ribs 39, 41, called "first ribs", end substantially in the same vertical plane (shown in FIG. 3 by the line of axis 43). This plane will be substantially parallel, or even at the limit coincident with that of the rear wall of the tank placed in a vertical position, in order to be able to form more or less rear tank stop.

In the illustrated embodiment, we do not actually that a horizontal rib 39 and two vertical ribs 41 extending near and on either side of the median vertical axis 5f of the vessel holder.

It will be noted that for the sake of rigidity, the ribs 41 will preferably be connected in the lower part to the pivot shaft 17.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, it will also be noted that towards the upper part of the tank holder, these ribs 41 are connected to the above-mentioned ribs 31 which have a shallower depth, in particular to allow the accommodation of the ribs 33 of the rear strip of the tank. . At the location of this strip, the tank is further provided to abut against the tank holder, at the location of the fallen edge 44a of an angle iron 44 provided in correspondence, towards the top of the tank holder. This angle can be constituted by an insert engaged by force or mounted "by clipping" under the top wall 5a. In this way, it will also be avoided that waste can fall behind the tank, the walls 44a, 44b of the angle iron and the ribs 33 and 35 which locally extend the tank slightly upwards, making obstacles.

In addition to said first abutment ribs 39, 41, the cell holder also comprises, always projecting internally from its curved rear wall 5e, two "second" horizontal ribs 45, ending substantially in the same vertical plane shown by the reference 47 on Figure 3. In practice, this plane 47 will be parallel to the plane 43 but will be located closer than it to the wall 5e.

The tank being normally engaged obliquely in the tank holder, this will facilitate its installation, limiting the possibilities of jamming the claws 15 in the ribs.

In addition, the planes 43, 47 will make it possible to delimit in depth the abovementioned free vertical volume 19 reserved for the beam 37, which will preferably be linked to the tank holder via tubular protrusions 49 horizontal having the same depth as the ribs 45 to open at the location of the space 19.

If the holding of the cell holder must be obtained via the beam 37, it will of course be chosen so that its horizontal section is less than that of the volume 19, so that the beam, preferably metallic of rectangular section, can be introduced therein through an orifice 51 then formed through the inclined bottom wall 5b of the cell holder behind the central portion of the shaft 17, the beam being able, furthermore, at the bottom and for its stability on the ground, to be either connected to a support base (not shown), or be for example sealed in the ground, via a concrete pad.

Once engaged vertically inside the vessel holder up to the upper abutment rib 39, the pre-drilled post will be linked to the latter by suitable fixing means, such as screws marked 53 in FIG. 1 penetrating in the tapped tubular protrusions 49.

It will be noted that the fixing means 53 engaged from the inside of the cell holder in place, thus further strengthening the resistance against vandalism.

Of course, other types of holding means could be used for the vertical positioning of the cell holder, such as in particular fixing flanges, and for example those described in the aforementioned patents EP-A-219 385 and US -A-4,776,480. In this case, the orifices of the tubular protrusions 49 could then pass through the dorsal wall 5e so that the body of the said flanges can be fixed to the cell holder, and this preferably from the inside of this last.

In practice, the operation of the tank, both in engagement and in clearance relative to the tank holder, will be very easy.

For this purpose, the container being assumed ready for use, the tank may first of all have a bottom bottom wall, generally directed substantially parallel to the bottom wall 5b of the cell holder, that is to say inclined upwards towards the front of the container. And a transverse recess 55 may be formed in this bottom wall to facilitate handling, the other hand of the maintenance agent being able to grasp the tank in the upper front part, at the place of a "high" handle. "57 (see Figure 1).

In particular, this handle 57 could be made as a long bead, projecting outwards and internally hollow, formed in one piece with the plastic material of the tank to which it will be connected.

Still on FIG. 1, it will be noted that the transverse bead 57 will improve the high frontal rigidity of the tank, taking into account its arrangement at the location of the connection between the front wall 1c of the tank, in this case vertical and slightly curved outwards, and two upper lateral sections inclined downward, one of which has been identified 59 in this same figure 1.

Claims (9)

1. Receptacle for rubbish comprising:

   - a bin (1) having an upper opening (3) for receiving rubbish,

   - a fixed bin-holder (5) from which the bin can be separated, the said bin-holder comprising side walls separated by a distance sufficient to allow the bin to be engaged between the said walls,

   - fixed articulation means (15, 17) carried by the bin and the bin-holder, respectively, for allowing the bin to rotate relative to the bin holder about a horizontal axis (9) situated towards the base of the said bin,

   - means (11, 21, 23, 25, 27) for locking and releasing the bin relative to the bin-holder, in order to lock the bin relative to the bin-holder in a substantially vertical position of use, or to allow the said bin to swing relative to the bin-holder by rotation about the said horizontal axis (9),

   - and support means (13, 37) for supporting the bin-holder substantially vertically,
   characterized in that the bin-holder (5) is formed as a hollow wrap-around shell having a front opening (7) with dimensions larger than those of at least a portion of the bin (1), the said side walls (5c, 5d) extending throughout the height of the bin, including the location of the said articulation means (15, 17), so that the said bin is engaged in the bin-holder for at least a portion of its depth and throughout its height in a substantially vertical position of use.
2. Receptacle according to Claim 1, characterized in that:

   - the bin (1) and the bin-holder (5) are essentially one-piece polyhedrons of plastics material,

   - the said opening (7) of the bin-holder occupies substantially the entire area of one of its faces and has a profile only slightly larger than a vertical profile of the bin, and

   - the bin and the bin-holder having a certain depth in the direction of the engagement of the said bin in the bin-holder, the articulation means (17) occupy offset relative positions on the bin and on the bin-holder so that, in the substantially vertical position of use, the bin (1) penetrates the bin-holder fully and relatively tightly for only a portion of its depth.
3. Receptacle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the bin-holder (5) is delimited by a top wall (5a) and by a bottom wall (5b) which are inclined to the vertical along two axes and which converge towards the said front opening (7) of the bin-holder.
4. Receptacle according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bin-holder (5) has, in the direction of its height, a rear wall (5e) which is convex towards the exterior and to the inside of which at least two first ribs (41) are connected, the two first ribs terminating at the front in the same vertical plane (43) which coincides substantially with the flattened rear wall (1a) of the bin which faces the bin-holder in its vertical position of use.
5. Receptacle according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said bin-holder (5) comprises horizontal tubular protuberances (49) connected internally to its said rear wall (5e) and opening into an internal space (19) bounded laterally by the said first ribs (41) and reserved for the positioning, by means of the protuberances, of fixing means (53) for interconnecting the bin-holder (5) and its said support means (13, 37), the said fixing means being inaccessible from the front of the bin when it is engaged in the bin-holder in the vertical position of use.
6. Receptacle according to Claim 5, characterized in that the said support means (13, 37) comprise a substantially vertical post (37) suitable for being supported on the ground, the horizontal section of this post being smaller than that of the said reserved internal space (19) so that the said post can be engaged therein through a hole (51) arranged in the lower portion of the bin-holder.
7. Receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bin (1) comprises, externally, in the upper portion of its flattened rear wall (1a) which faces the bin-holder in the position of use of the said bin, a band (33, 35) which projects partially above the bin in order to cooperate with an abutment wall (44a) of the bin-holder so as to prevent rubbish from falling behind the bin.
8. Receptacle according to Claim 7, characterized in that, under the said band, the bin has a finger (21) which can cooperate with a hook (23) connected to an operating shaft (27) carried by the bin-holder and mounted for rotating about a horizontal axis (19), the said shaft (27) emerging to the exterior on one side of the bin-holder through a hole (32) formed in its wall, the shaft having, at its emerging end, an operating means (34) which can be operated by a spanner suitable for releasing the bin.
9. Receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bin comprises, along the upper portion of its front side (1c), a hollow rim (57) projecting towards the exterior and formed in a single piece with the plastics material constituting the bin, to which it is connected in order to constitute an operating handle.

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