GB2131281A - Garbage tin container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for a garbage bin 12 comprises a casing 10 having a closed top 16, an opening 20 in each of two opposed side walls, a door 22 for removal etc of the bin 12, and a constant cross-section from its upper to its lower edge. A chute 30 guides litter into the bin. A concrete base 26 forms a weighted base for the container and is provided with a depression 28 which receives the base of the bin. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Garbage bin container This invention relates to garbage bin containers.

This invention is concerned with a garbage bin container of the kind comprising an outer casing adapted to contain therein a garbage bin, and having (a) an openable door that is movable from a closed position into an open position in which latter it permits the introduction of a garbage bin into the casing or the removal of such a bin therefrom and (b) at least one garbage opening through which litter and other garbage may be thrown into a garbage bin located within the casing. Such a garbage bin container is hereinafter referred to as "a container of the kind set forth".

Containers of the kind set forth are most usually employed in public places such as on the pavements of streets and in public areas where it is necessary to provide a facility for the disposal of litter and other garbage and where the rather sordid appearance of normal garbage bins needs to be hidden. Known containers of the kind set forth include a container that is in the shape of an inverted frustum of a four sided pyramid having enlarged feet protruding from the lower end and an opening at the upper end which is covered by a cap to prevent the ingress of rain water. One of the sides of the frustum forms the door. The panels of this container carry advertising material. This container contains, in all forms of which lam aware, a circular section garbage bin.

Another known container of the kind set forth is of a complex irregular shape which is distinctive and which has come to be recognised as that of a garbage bin container.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a container of the kind set forth which is closed at the top and of a constant cross-section from its upper to its lower edge. Such cross-section is preferably rectangular, square or circular.

Thus the container may be formed into the same shape as a product pack and may have printed thereon matter so that it, the container, has an appearance which is substantially identical to an enlarged version of the product pack. By the term "product pack" is meant herein the package in which any product is sold. Thus typically, a product pack may comprise a cigarette package, a cardboard pack in which sweets are sold, and a can for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or food-stuffs.

The container preferably has internal weighting means so as to be stable. Such weighting means may preferably include means to locate the bin.

Preferably also, the garbage opening is provided in the side of the container. Internal chutes are preferably provided to guide matter introduced through the garbage openings into the bin. The bin is preferably of square or rectangular section.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the acompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure lisa plan of a square garbage bin container of the invention, Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan partially in section of a rectangular section garbage bin container of the invention, and Figure 4 is a plan of a circular section garbage bin container of the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1,2 and 3 there is shown a garbage bin container comprising a casing 10 containing a garbage bin 12 of square cross-section.

The casing 10 comprises plastics material impregnated and re-inforced with glass fibres. It is of the shape of a right angled parallelipiped being square in horizontal cross-section. It is approximately one metre in height and its side panels 14 have a width of 0,6 metre side dimension. The upper end of the casing 10 is closed by an integral top panel 16. The lower end of the casing 10 is open and is provided with a timber base 18 extending thereacross and whollytherewithin (see Figure 2).

A rectangular opening 20 is provided in each of two opposite sides 14a and 14b located approximately 850 mm above the lower edge of the base 18 and extending about one half of the width of the side. A rectangular door 22 which comprises the same material as the container 10 is provided in a panel 14e of the co ntainer being hinged thereto by means of metal hinges 24 running along one side.

When in a closed position, the door 22 lies flush with the panel 14e whilst when in an open position exposes the interior of the container so that the bin 12 can be introduced into the casing or removed therefrom. A lock (not shown) is provided to maintain the door locked in its closed position.

Wholly within the casing 10 is a pre-cast concrete base 26 which fits quite closely within the casing.

The base 26 has a central depression 28 within which the base of the bin 12 is received and located. In addition to serving this locating function, the concrete base 26 serves to weight the container 10.

Internally below the openings 20, the container 10 has a pair of downwardly inclined chutes 30 respectively. These chutes 30 overlap the edges of the bin and serve to guide any litter or garbage inserted into the openings 20 towards and into the bin 12.

The material of which the container 10 is formed is such that matter can be silkscreen printed thereon.

The container has silk-screen printed thereon matter similar to that appearing on a product pack.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 wherein is shown a garbage bin container having a right angles parallelipipedical casing 40 of rectangular crosssection and containing a rectangular bin 42. Openings, similar two openings 20, are located in the narrow sides of the casing and the door is located in one of the smaller sides directly below the garbage opening. In all other respects, the casing 40 is identical to the casing 10 and for ease of identification of various parts in Figure 3, these have applied to them the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts of the container 10 but having the prefix "2".

Reference is now made to Figure 4 wherein is shown a garbage bin container comprising a cylindrical casing 50. This casing 50 contains a rectangu lar bin 52. The garbage openings 54 are located at diametrically opposed locations. Otherwise the container is identical with the container 10 with the only differences being dictated by the shape of the container. For ease of identification of the various parts in Figure 5 there have applied to them the same reference numerals as the corresponding parts of the container 10 by having the prefix "3".

The bins in all the embodiments herein described and illustrated in the drawings when contained in their respective casings are effectively screened from public view and cannot be seen from outside the casing when the door is closed.

I have found that the containers 10,40 and 50 serve as particularly dramatic and eye catching advertising units, containers 10 and 40 being printed to have the appearance of product packs such as cigarette or sweet packages and the containers 50 being printed to have the appearance of beverage cans, cans of canned vegetables or fruits. The fact that the cross-section of the containers is constant ensures that the container more closely approximates in appearance to the original product pack.

By having the pre-cast concrete bases, the containers are very stable. Additionally, the bins are accurately located within the containers so that there is a minimum of spillage within the container of matter introduced through the garbage openings. Additionally by having these concrete bases separate of the containers when the latter is properly located. It facilitates the handling of the containers.

By having the garbage openings in the sides of the containers, the possibility of rain water entering the containers is minimised. However, if desired, drain openings may be provided at the lower ends of the container walls to permit any water that may have entered the container to drain away.

I have also found that by using bins of rectangular quadrilateral (ie. square or rectangular) section the space within the casing is more completely filled.

The invention is not limited to the precise constructional details hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the container may take other shapes. The dimensions mentioned above may be varied as desired. Instead of the advertising matter being printed on to the containers by silkscreen printing, this can be applied by sign writing or other suitable printing operations. Yet again, the matter may be applied by means of pre-printed posters.

Claims (10)

1. A garbage bin container of the kind set forth which is closed at the top and of a constant cross-section from its upper to its lower edge.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 having at least one garbage opening through which litter and other garbage may be thrown into a garbage bin located within the casing.

3. A container as claimed in claims 1 or 2 having printed thereon matter so that it has an appearance which is substantially identical to an enlarged version of the product pack.

4. A container as claimed in claims 1,2 or 3 further comprising internal weighting means wholly contained within the casing so as to stabilize the casing.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4 in which the said weighting means includes means to locate a bin placed within the container.

6. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the garbage opening is provided in the said side wall means.

7. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising internal chutes to guide matter introduced through the garbage opening into a bin when located within the container.

8. A container as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further containing a garbage bin therein.

9. A container as claimed in claim 8 in which the garbage bin is of rectangular quadrilateral shape in cross-section and in which the bin is of rectangular quadrilateral section.

10. A garbage bin container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.