[0001] The invention relates to a collecting container comprising a supporting element intended
to be fixedly arranged, and a collecting chamber having, adjacent its upper side,
an insertion opening for introducing objects, and, adjacent its lower side, a bottom
on which the objects introduced are caught and collected, which collecting chamber
is pivotable relative to the supporting element about a substantially horizontally
directed pivot.
[0002] Such a collecting container is usable for collecting various types of objects. A
particularly useful application of such a collecting container is the collection of
refuse in publicly accessible places, and the invention will hereinafter be specifically
described for this use, while it is explicitly observed that the invention and the
protective scope are not limited to this use.
[0003] During normal usage, such a litter container is in an operating condition wherein
the collecting chamber is retained relative to the supporting element in a position
which will be referred to as "upright". The litter container is then ready for receiving
litter. The hinge mechanism is intended to bring the collecting chamber into an ejecting
position wherein the collecting chamber can be emptied.
[0004] With known collecting containers, the ejecting position of the collecting chamber
can be referred to as "inverted", i.e. the collecting chamber is rotated forwardly
about the above-mentioned pivot over more than 90°, as a result of which the insertion
opening is located at the lower side and the litter can leave the inverted collecting
chamber through the insertion opening. The litter can then be caught in a mobile tank
which is held under the collecting chamber.
[0005] In a first type of a known collecting container, the pivot is located adjacent the
lower side of the collecting chamber. A first drawback with this construction is that
in the inverted position, the insertion opening is at a lower level than the bottom
of the collecting chamber in the upright position. Consequently, the mobile tank must
be of a relatively low design, or the collecting chamber must be mounted at a relatively
high position. As for the sake of an easy usage of the collecting container, it is
desired that the insertion opening is not located at too high a level, this implies
a limitation of the height of the collecting chamber and hence a limitation of the
receiving capacity of the collecting container. In general, a result of this is that
the collecting chamber is filled relatively sickly and hence has to be emptied relatively
often, which increases the costs of operation, or that several collecting containers
have to be installed, which increases the investment costs, or that the litter will
be dumped next to the full collecting container, which is of course also undesirable.
[0006] In another known collecting container, the hinge is located approximately halfway
up the collecting chamber. It is true that this collecting container does not have
the height drawback described hereinabove, but this collecting container does have
the drawback that during pivoting, the insertion opening moves forewards and the bottom
moves backwards. This imposes restrictions on the installation possibilities of such
a collecting container, because it cannot for instance be disposed directly in front
of a wall or mounted on a lamppost. Installation of this known collecting container
on the ground requires two vertical poles, generally interconnected at their upper
ends to form an inverted U, with the collecting chamber disposed between those poles
and pivotally mounted thereon. Moreover, this construction is relatively expensive.
[0007] A further drawback of this known construction is that when the collecting chamber
is being pivoted, the bottom with the objects received thereon is to be moved upwards
to above the pivoting point. Depending on the nature and the amount of the objects
received, this requires relatively much effort.
[0008] As has already been mentioned, these known collecting containers have in common that
the emptying of the collecting chambers takes place via the insertion opening, by
inverting the collecting chambers. There are already some drawbacks attached to this
operating principle. A first drawback is that it is not possible to separate fluids,
such as leakage fluids that may leak from the litter (think of, for instance, lemonade,
melting ice-cream, and the like) or penetrating rain water from the solid substances.
[0009] A second drawback is that the egressive litter, and in particular the fluid portion
of the litter, causes the insertion opening to be fouled, which is undesirable from
an aesthetic and hygienic point of view. The cleaning of the insertion opening, after
the collecting chamber has been emptied, means an additional working operation with
the costs involved. In itself, litter bins are known that do not have that problem,
but a complicated construction is used therefor. Such a litter bin consists of three
components, viz. an outer bin that is completely closed at its lower side, an inner
bin or bag disposed therein, and a lid pivotally mounted on top of the outer bin,
in which lid the insertion opening is located. At its lower side, the outer bin is
pivotally connected to the supporting element, while the above-mentioned lid is also
pivotally connected to the supporting element. For emptying this litter bin, the outer
bin should be pivoted forwards and the lid should be pivoted backwards, the inner
bin should be lifted from the outer bin, and the inner bin should be inverted above
a collecting vehicle.
[0010] The object of the invention is to remove the above-mentioned drawbacks.
[0011] In particular, the object of the invention is to provide a collecting container which
is easy to manufacture, requires no inner bin, and imposes few requirements on the
location where the collecting container is to be installed.
[0012] More in particular, the object of the invention is to provide a collecting container
whose insertion opening is not fouled when the collecting chamber is emptied.
[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide a collecting container which enables
fluids to be discharged separately from solid substances.
[0014] In accordance with an important aspect, a collecting container of the above-mentioned
type according to the invention is characterized in that the bottom is fixedly mounted
on the supporting element, and extends forwards and upwards from that supporting element
according to a portion of a circular arc, the center of that circular arc lying at
least substantially on the above-mentioned pivot.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom is at its deepest point provided with an outlet
opening, connected to an outlet pipe.
[0016] Hereinafter, the invention will be further explained through a description of a preferred
embodiment of the collecting container according to the invention, with reference
to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a collecting container according to
the invention;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the collecting container shown in
Fig. 1 in the operating position;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation comparable with Fig. 2, of the collecting container in
an emptying position;
Fig. 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, a detail of a preferred embodiment of the collecting
container; and
Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the detail illustrated in Fig. 4 taken on the line V-V
in Fig. 4.
[0017] The embodiment of a collecting container 1 illustrated in the Figures is intended
for collecting litter, and can also be referred to by the term "waste basket". In
the embodiment shown, the collecting container 1 comprises a supporting element 2
in the form of a pole with a foot 3, intended to be fixedly arranged by mounting the
foot, by means of screws 4, on a base, for instance a concrete block to be anchored
in the ground. Adjacent its upper end 5, the supporting element 2 comprises a hinge
element 6 having a substantially horizontally directed pivot. The collecting container
1 further comprises a collecting chamber 10 having, adjacent its upper side 11, an
insertion opening 12 for receiving litter and, adjacent its lower side 13, a bottom
14 on which the litter is caught and collected. Adjacent its upper side 11, the collecting
chamber 10 is attached to the hinge element 6, permitting the collecting chamber 10
to pivot about the above-mentioned pivot relative to the supporting element 2.
[0018] Because the nature and construction of the hinge element do not constitute a subject
of the present invention, and for a proper understanding of the present invention
it is not necessary for anyone skilled in the art to have knowledge thereof, they
will not be further described. It suffices to observe that standard hinge constructions
known in the art, such as are known to skilled persons, can be employed for this purpose.
[0019] The collecting chamber 10 is laterally bounded by a wall construction comprising
side walls 15, a front wall 16 and a rear wall 17. In the embodiment shown, these
walls are straight, and are positioned against one another in such a manner that the
cross section of the collecting chamber 10 has a trapezoidal shape. However, these
walls can also have a bent shape. During the normal operating position of the collecting
chamber 10, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the walls 15-17 are directed substantially vertically.
If so desired, the walls 15-17 can be positioned slightly obliquely, so that the cross
dimensions of the collecting chamber 10 at the lower side are larger than at the upper
side.
[0020] Unlike conventional collecting containers, in the collecting container 1 according
to the invention the bottom 14 is not fixedly connected to the walls 15-17 to form
one container therewith, closed at the lower side. In accordance with an important
aspect of the present invention, the bottom 14 of the collecting chamber 10 is fixedly
attached to the supporting element 2, for instance through welding, while the walls
15-17 define a substantially vertical tube which is open at the lower side. In the
normal operating position, the rear wall 17 of the collecting chamber 10 extends downwards
to be in close proximity to the top side of the bottom 14, or , as in the embodiment
shown, the rear wall 17 of the collecting chamber 10 has an elongated slot 18 adjacent
its lower side, through which slot the bottom 14 extends with little or no play into
the interior of the collecting chamber 10. The bottom 14 has a bent shape, which bent
shape, in section, substantially corresponds to a portion of a circular arc, the center
of that circle lying substantially at the above-mentioned pivot of the hinge 6. The
bottom 14 is attached to the supporting element 2 so that at the location of the point
of attachment 14A, i.e. at the rear wall 17 of the collecting chamber 10 in its normal
operating position illustrated in Fig. 2, the bottom 14 is directed substantially
horizontally. From that point of attachment 14A, the bottom 14 extends forwards up
to the front wall 15, and reaches this front wall at a point higher than the point
of attachment 14A. The dimensions of the bottom 14 are chosen so that in the normal
operating position of the collecting chamber 10, illustrated in Fig. 2, the bottom
14 is always in contact with the front wall 16 and the side walls 15.
[0021] The walls 15-17 and the bottom 14 can be made from any material that can be considered
suitable, such as for instance synthetic material or steel plate. As is shown in the
Figures, the edges of that plate may be flanged. If so desired, the edges of the bottom
14 and/or the inner side of the front wall 16 and the side walls 15 can be provided
with means such as an elastic sealing strip, for instance made of rubber, to ensure,
in the normal operating position of the collecting chamber 10, a proper sealing between
the bottom 14 and the front wall 16 and the side walls 15. For the sake of simplicity,
such sealing means are not shown separately in the Figures.
[0022] When it is desired to empty the collecting chamber 10, a receiving bag (refuse bag)
or receiving bin is first placed under the collecting chamber 10. Then, the collecting
chamber 10 is pivoted forwards about the pivot of the hinge 6, while it is the lower
side of the collecting chamber 10 that moves forwards and upwards, as indicated by
the arrow P1 in Fig. 2, until the emptying position illustrated in Fig. 3 is reached.
In that emptying position, the bottom 14 is withdrawn from the collecting chamber
10, as a result of which the tubular collecting chamber 10 is entirely open at its
lower side, so that the objects collected in the collecting chamber 10 fall from the
collecting chamber 10 to be received by the above-mentioned receiving bag or receiving
bin, as indicated by the arrow P2 in Fig. 3. During the pivotal movement of the collecting
chamber 10, the lower edge 21 of the rear wall 17 moves across the bottom 14 so that
all objects collected on the bottom 14 are taken along. If so desired, that lower
edge 21 may be provided with stripping means such as a rubber edge, as will be apparent
to a skilled person and is not shown for the sake of simplicity.
[0023] An important advantage is that the objects falling from the collecting chamber 10
do so at the lower side of the collecting chamber 10, i.e. not via the insertion opening
12, so that the edge of the insertion opening 12 is not fouled by egressive litter.
[0024] In principle, the collecting chamber 10 can pivot further than the emptying position
illustrated in Fig. 3. If this is considered undesirable, and it is desired to limit
the pivotal movement of the collecting chamber 10 to that emptying position, this
can readily be effected by providing the bottom 14 at its free edge, directed to the
front wall 16, with a downwardly extending edge portion 19, for instance by bending
the edge of the bottom 14 downwards. In the embodiment illustrated, wherein the bottom
14 extends through a slot 18 in the rear wall 17, that downwardly extending edge portion
19 then acts as a stop for the lower edge 20 of the collecting chamber 10, as is clearly
demonstrated in Fig. 3. In an embodiment wherein the rear wall 17 only extends to
above the bottom 14, a pin or lip mounted on the lower edge 21 of the rear wall 17
or on the side walls 15 and embracing the bottom 14 can abut against this downwardly
extending edge portion 19 of the bottom 14.
[0025] When the collecting chamber 10 has been emptied, it is returned into its normal operating
position by pivoting it backwards again, as indicated by the arrow P3 in Fig. 3. If
it is desired that the collecting chamber 10 is blocked in this operating position
against pivoting, this can readily be established by providing the above-mentioned
edge portion 19 of the bottom 14 with a lip 22 which extends forwards and upwards
and fits in a recess 23 in the front wall 16, and which, in the operating position,
embraces the front wall 16. When the collecting chamber 10 is to be emptied, that
blocking can readily be removed by pressing this lip 22 downwards, as indicated by
the arrow P4 in Fig. 2.
[0026] If it is desired that this blocking is locked, preventing unauthorized pivoting of
the collecting chamber 10, that can readily be established by providing a padlock
(not shown for the sake of simplicity) on this lip 22.
[0027] During the use of a collecting container, fluids may end up in the collecting chamber
thereof. An important source therefor is rain water when used outdoors. But also when
used in covered places or in buildings, fluid may leak from the disposed litter itself,
for instance coffee from coffee cups or soft drink from cans. With known litter bins
whose lower sides are provided with discharge openings, for the very purpose of offering
an outlet for rain water, the fouling liquid ends up on the ground right away. Litter
bins which are closed at the lower side are also known. For outdoor usage, those litter
bins should always be provided with a roof construction to prevent raining in, which
limits the dimension of the insertion opening and renders the insertion of in particular
larger pieces of litter more difficult. At any rate, whether rain water can enter
the collecting chamber or not, more often than not a muck will be formed at the bottom,
consisting of dust and leakage fluids and/or rain water. When the litter bin is being
emptied, this muck may end up on the ground, for instance because the refuse bags
used for the receiving the litter may have a leak. If one is not prepared for this
and no adequate measures are taken, the environment of the litter bin may become dirty,
which is unacceptable in particular within buildings.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 4, the invention disposes of this
drawback of the conventional litter bins as well. For that purpose, efficient use
is made of the fact that the bottom 14 is fixedly connected to the supporting element
2, while it is an additional advantage that owing to its bent shape, the bottom 14
has a lowest point adjacent the supporting element 2. Fig. 4 shows that at that lowest
point, the bottom 14 is provided with an outlet opening 30, optionally provided with
a sieve 31, to which an outlet pipe 32 is connected. At the location of that outlet
pipe 32, the lower edge 20 of the collecting chamber 10 may have been broken away,
as is clarified in the bottom view of Fig. 5, so that the pivotal movement of the
collecting chamber 10 is not hindered by that outlet pipe 32. The outlet pipe 32 may
be directed straight downwards, and/or be concealed in the supporting pole 2 for protection.
[0029] Owing to this discharge construction according to the invention, it is possible to
collect and discharge fluids separately, so that fouling of the environment by fluids
is avoided to a significant extent. Preferably, the outlet pipe 32 debouches directly
into a sewage pipe. Alternatively, it is possible that the outlet pipe debouches into
a receiving container disposed below the floor surface, which container can be emptied
from time to time by a fluid suction apparatus known per se.
[0030] In the embodiment shown, the collecting container 1 has its foot 3 mounted on a grating
34, which may also provide access to the above-mentioned sewage pipe. This offers
advantages for instance during the cleaning of the collecting container. When it is
desired to clean the collecting chamber 10 internally, this may readily be carried
out by rinsing out the inner sides of the walls 15-17, in the emptying position, with
a jet of water from the upper side, the used rinsing water draining off directly at
the lower side while entraining dirt residues and finding its way into the sewer via
the grating 34.
[0031] It will be clear to anyone skilled in the art that it is possible to alter or modify
the embodiment shown of the apparatus according to the invention without departing
from the inventive concept or the protective scope. For instance, it is possible that
instead of the trapezoidal shape shown, the cross section of the collecting chamber
10 has a different shape which is considered suitable for whatever reason, for instance
the shape of a rectangle or a semicircle. In a particular design, the cross section
of the collecting chamber 10 extends alongside the pole 2 on both sides. This enables
two collecting chambers to be disposed against each other, back to back, on both sides
of a suppport element such as a lamppost, the two collecting chambers tightly abutting
against that lamppost while the combined outside contour of the two collecting chambers
forms a cylinder.
[0032] It is further possible that the walls of the collecting chamber are provided with
reinforcement ridges and/or ventilating openings of any form considered suitable,
as is illustrated in Fig. 1.
[0033] Further, if desired, the collecting chamber may at its upper side be closed by a
roof construction to prevent raining in, the insertion opening then being located
in the upper side of the front wall and/or the side walls.
[0034] Further, it is possible that the collecting chamber has its lower side provided with
a lock operable by a key, such as for instance a triangular or square key, with a
lock catch engaging behind a fixed portion of the collecting container, for instance
behind an edge portion of the bottom, which lock catch, in the opened position of
the lock, being clear of the fixed portion of the collecting container.
[0035] Alternatively, it is possible that the collecting chamber is internally provided
with resilient lips embracing the end edge of the bottom. It is also possible that
the rear wall of the collecting chamber is provided with a backwardly extending eye,
located, in the operating position, next to the supporting pole, while that support
pole is provided with an opening at the location of that eye, permitting a locking
pin to be fitted through that opening and the eye. In this case, too, instead of an
eye and a locking pin, a lock can be used whose locking pin, in the locking position,
engages with the opening in the supporting pole. Such locking constructions are known
per se.
1. A collecting container (1), comprising a supporting element (2) intended to be fixedly
arranged, and a collecting chamber (10) with side walls (15), a front wall (16) and
a rear wall (17), having, adjacent the upper side (11) of the collecting chamber (10)
an insertion opening (12) for introducing objects and, adjacent the lower side thereof,
a bottom (14) on which the objects introduced are caught and collected, said collecting
chamber (10) being pivotable relative to the supporting element (2) about a substantially
horizontally directed pivot (6);
characterized in that:
the bottom (14) is fixedly mounted on the supporting element (2), and extends forwards
and upwards from said supporting element (2) according to a portion of a circular
arc, the center of said circular arc lying at least substantially on said pivot (6).
2. A collecting container according to claim 1, wherein said pivot (6) is located adjacent
the upper side (11) of the collecting chamber (10).
3. A collecting container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom (14) has a free
edge portion (19) which extends downwards.
4. A collecting container according to claim 3, wherein said free edge portion (19) comprises
a lip (22) extending forwards and upwards.
5. A collecting container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom
(14) extends forwards from the supporting element (2) through a slot (18) in the rear
wall (17) of the collecting chamber (10).
6. A collecting container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom
(14) is at its lowest point provided with an outlet opening (30), optionally provided
with a sieve (31).
7. A collecting container according to claim 6, wherein an outlet pipe (32) is connected
to said outlet opening (30).
8. A collecting container according to claim 7, wherein said outlet pipe (32) debouches
into a sewage pipe.
9. A collecting container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the walls
(15, 16, 17) of the collecting chamber (10) define a tube whose outer ends (11, 13)
are substantially entirely open.
1. Sammelbehälter (1) mit einem zur festen Anbringung vorgesehenen Halteelement (2) und
einer Sammelkammer (10) mit Seitenwänden (15), einer Vorderwand (16) und einer Rückwand
(17), mit einer nahe der Oberseite (11) der Sammelkammer (10) vorgesehenen Einwurföffnung
(12) zum Einwerfen von Gegenständen und einem nahe der unteren Seite der Sammelkammer
(10) vorgesehenen Boden (14), an dem die eingeworfenen Gegenstände aufgefangen und
gesammelt werden, wobei die Sammelkammer (10) relativ zu dem Halteelement (2) um einen
im wesentlichen horizontal ausgerichteten Stift (6) schwenkbar ist;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß:
der Boden (14) fest an dem Halteelement (2) angebracht ist und ausgehend von dem Halteelement
(2) entsprechend einem Abschnitt eines Kreisbogens nach vorne und oben absteht, wobei
der Mittelpunkt des Kreisbogens mindestens im wesentlichen an dem Stift (6) liegt.
2. Sammelbehälter nach Anspruch 1, bei dem der Stift (6) nahe der Oberseite (11) der
Sammelkammer (10) angeordnet ist.
3. Sammelbehälter nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, bei dem der Boden (14) einen freien Randabschnitt
(19) hat, der nach unten absteht.
4. Sammelbehälter nach Anspruch 3, bei dem der freie Randabschnitt (19) eine Lippe (22)
aufweist, die nach vorne und oben absteht.
5. Sammelbehälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei der der Boden (14) ausgehend
von dem Halteelement (2) nach vorne durch einen Schlitz (18) in der Rückwand (17)
der Sammelkammer (10) hindurchragt.
6. Sammelbehälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem der Boden (14) an
seinem untersten Punkt mit einer Auslaßöffnung (30) versehen ist, die wahlweise mit
einem Sieb (31) versehen ist.
7. Sammelbehälter nach Anspruch 6, bei dem ein Auslaßrohr (32) mit der Auslaßöffnung
(30) verbunden ist.
8. Sammelbehälter nach Anspruch 7, bei dem das Auslaßrohr (32) in ein Abwasserrohr ausmündet.
9. Sammelbehälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Wände (15,16,17)
der Sammelkammer (10) ein Rohr bilden, dessen äußere Enden (11,13) im wesentlichen
vollständig offen sind.
1. Récipient collecteur (1) qui comporte un élément de support (2) destiné à être disposé
en position fixe, et une chambre collectrice (10) ayant des parois latérales (15),
une paroi avant (16) et une paroi arrière (17) ayant, près du côté supérieur (11)
de la chambre collectrice (10), une ouverture d'introduction (12) permettant l'introduction
d'objets et, près de sa face inférieure, un fond (14) sur lequel les objets introduits
sont retenus et collectés, la chambre collectrice (10) pouvant pivoter par rapport
à l'élément de support (2) autour d'un pivot pratiquement horizontal (6),
caractérisé en ce que
le fond (14) est monté à demeure sur l'élément de support (2) et s'étend vers l'avant
et vers le haut depuis l'élément de support (2) suivant une partie d'arc de cercle,
le centre de l'arc de cercle se trouvant au moins pratiquement sur le pivot (6).
2. Récipient collecteur selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le pivot (6) est adjacent
à la face supérieure (11) de la chambre collectrice (10).
3. Récipient collecteur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le fond (14) a une
partie de bord libre (19) qui s'étend vers le bas.
4. Récipient collecteur selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la partie de bord libre
(19) possède une lèvre (22) qui s'étend vers l'avant et vers le haut.
5. Récipient collecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
le fond (14) s'étend vers l'avant de l'élément de support (2) et passe dans une fente
(18) de la paroi arrière (17) de la chambre collectrice (10).
6. Récipient collecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
le fond (14) possède, à son point le plus bas, une ouverture de sortie (30), éventuellement
munie d'une grille (31).
7. Récipient collecteur selon la revendication 6, dans lequel un tube de sortie (32)
est raccordé à l'ouverture de sortie (30).
8. Récipient collecteur selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le tube de sortie (32)
débouche dans un tuyau d'égout.
9. Récipient collecteur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel
les parois (15, 16, 17) de la chambre collectrice (10) délimitent un tube dont les
extrémités externes (11, 13) sont pratiquement entièrement ouvertes.