GB2154549A - Container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container 1 for use in collecting garden waste for composting comprises four side panels 2 releasably assembled together to form a rectangular enclosure 3 whereby the container 1 may be disassembled without disturbing the contents and re-assembled for further use. Each two adjacent panels 2 at each corner of the enclosure 3 are located relative to one another by abutting the end of one panel against the interior side of a vertical end post 5 on the other panel and are releasably secured by rope to produce a rigid and robust construction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container This invention relates to containers and in particular, though not exclusively, to a container in which garden waste, e.g. grass cuttings, weeds etc, is collected for producing compost.

In one known construction of container for producing compost, wooden panels are assembled together to make a bin in which the corner joints are formed by nailing the ends of adjacent panels to an internal corner post separate from the panels. A disadvantage of this construction is that the frame cannot be easily disassembled. Consequently, when the container has been filled with garden waste it cannot be removed and re-used but has to remain in position until the compost has been formed and used. This can take a considerable length of time, e.g. several years, with the result that a separate container is required for each batch of compost to be produced.

In another known construction of container for producing compost, plastics panels are assembled together to make a bin in which adjacent panels are joined by the interengagement of complementary ribs and grooves provided on the edges of the panels. Although this construction allows the panels to be slid apart to disassemble the bin, the panels are relatively expensive to produce both in terms of the plastics materials involved and the complex moulds required to produce the edge formations on the panels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container suitable for collecting garden waste for composting which is inexpensive to make and is easily assembled and disassembled.

According to the present invention there is provided a container having four side panels for assembly together on the ground or a suitable base, the panels being disposed to define an enclosure of rectangular shape in plan view with each two adjacent panels located relative to one another at each corner of the enclosure by locating means on the inwardly facing side of one panel against which the outwardly facing side of the other panel abuts, and means to hold the assembled panels together.

By the present invention assembly of the container is simplified by the locating means which locates the ends of adjacent panels relative to one another and enables a robust and rigid construction to be produced simply by lashing the assembled panels together without the use of nails or the like so that the container can be easily disassembled when required.

The panels are preferably of similar construction comprising a plurality of horizontal rails extending between vertical end posts. The end posts are attached to the sides of the rails at or adjacent to the ends of the panel and the locating means at each corner is provided by the inner side edge of the guide post on one of the two adjacent panels.

Preferably each panel has two opposed end posts at each end between which the ends of the rails are secured. With this arrangement the panels are reversible and the end edges are strengthened.

The rails are conveniently spaced apart to provide narrow elongate slots for air and moisture to pass through to promote compost formation.

The rails and posts are provided by pieces of timber, e.g. planks, cut to length and fastened together, e.g. by nails, to form the panels. The panels may all be of the same length or there may be two pairs of panels of different length, each pair being positioned on opposite sides of the container.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of one corner of the container shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are plan views of two alternative corner constructions for the container shown in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a plan view showing the connection between a side panel of the container shown in Figure I and an internal partition panel.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, a container 1 for collecting garden waste, e.g. grass cuttings, weeds, for composting is shown comprising four similar side panels 2 of timber construction assembled to form a square enclosure 3.

Each side panel 2 comprises a plurality of horizontal rails 4 extending between vertical end posts 5 of which there are two at each end on opposite sides of the rails. The rails 4 and end posts 5 are of rectangular cross-section and are fastened together by nails with the rails 4 slightly spaced apart to provide elongate narrow slots 6 therebetween through which air and moisture may pass to promote compost production.

To assemble the panels 2 to form the enclosure 3, each two adjacent panels are located relative to one another at each corner 7 of the enclosure 3 by the end post 5 on the outwardly facing side of one panel locating against the vertical inner side edge 8 of the end post 5 on the inwardly facing side of the other panel. Once assembled, the abutting ends of each two adjacent panels are lashed together, e.g. by rope or the like, to produce a rigid and robust construction. The enclosure 3 may be provided with a base (not shown) or it may stand directly on the ground. Additionally, a removable cover (not shown) may be provided if required.

In use, garden waste, e.g. grass cuttings, weeds, may be collected in the container until it is filled whereupon the container may be easily disassembled simply by unlashing and removing the panels individually to leave intact a batch of collected garden waste which can be left to produce compost while the container can be re assembled to collect and form a further batch of garden waste.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the present invention provides an extremely simple construction of container which is cheap to make, for example timber off cuts may be used, is easy to assemble, is rigid and robust and can be easily disassembled in situ without disturbing the collected garden waste.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, two alternative corner constructions are shown in which like reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts. In both these constructions the abutting ends of each two adjacent panels 2 have a single end post 5 only and the ends of the rails 4 on one panel abut against the vertical inner side edge 8 of the end post 5 on the other panel to locate the panels relative to one another.

In each of the corner constructions shown in Figures 2,3 and 4, the ends of the panels are of similar construction so that either panel can be abutted against the guide post on the other panel thereby facilitating assembly. Additionally, in the corner construction shown in Figure 2 the panels are also reversible and the edges are stronger by virtue of the ends of the panels having two posts on opposite sides thereof.

Figure 5 shows a modification to the container of Figure I in which a removable partition panel 9 is provided to sub-divide the container into two compartments. The partition panel 9 is of similar construction to the side panels 2 and each end is slidably received in a respective groove 10 provided by two vertical posts 11,12 fastened to the inwardly facing side of each of two opposed side panels 2 (one only shown) forming the enclosure.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments above-described, for example, the panels may all be of the same length as shown in Figure I to form a square frame or there may be two pairs of opposed panels of different length to form an oblong frame.

The panels may be of any height and, depending on the length and height, the panels may be reinforced by one or more vertical posts intermediate the ends thereof.

The panels may be constructed from horizontal rails as described, of which there may be any number having any cross-section, or the panels may be formed from sheet material to which the end posts are fastened.

The locating means at each corner of the enclosure may be provided by the inner side edge of a vertical post of substantially the same height as the panel but this is not essential and it would be possible for the locating means to be provided by vertically spaced apart wooden blocks or like formations fastened to the side of the panel at or adjacent to the end thereof.

Each two adjacent panels forming a corner of the enclosure may be provided with locating means for locating either panel relative to the other or the locating means may be provided on one of the panels only.

Finally whilst the invention has been described with particular reference to a container for collecting garden waste to produce compost it will be understood that the container may be used for other purposes where it is desirable to provide an enclosure which can be easily assembled and disassembled.

Claims (14)

1. A container having four side panels for assembly together on the ground or a suitable base, the panels being disposed to define an enclosure of rectangular shape in plan view with each two adjacent panels located relative to one another at each corner of the enclosure by locating means on the inwardly facing side of one panel against which the outwardly facing side of the other panel abuts, and fastening means to hold the assembled panels together.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein each panel comprises a plurality of horizontal rails extending between vertical end posts at or adjacent to the ends of the panel.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein each panel has two opposed end posts at each end between which the ends of the rails are secured.

4. A container according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the locating means at each corner comprises the inner side edge of the end post on the inwardly facing side of said one panel.

5. A container according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the rails are spaced apart.

6. A container according to any of the preceding claims wherein the fastening means is releasable.

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein said releasable fastening means comprises rope or the like.

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims including internal partition means for sub dividing the enclosure into compartments.

9. A container according to claim 8 wherein the partition means comprises a removable partition panel extending between two opposed side panels.

10. A container according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the panels are of timber construction.

11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims including a removable cover.

12. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.

13. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures I and 2 of the accompanying drawing as modified by any one of Figures 3,4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing.

14. A container according to any of the preceding claims for use in collecting garden waste for composting.