Closure for a waste receptacle

Abstract

 Cover for a waste receptacle (1), which is completely open at the upper side, comprising two somewhat flexible plates (2,3) arranged above each other and each provided with radial slits (4), whereby the slits (4) in both plates (2,3) are staggered.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a closure for a waste receptacle provided with an opening at the upper side, consisting of a wall of somewhat flexible material which may close the opening of the waste receptacle and of an upstanding wall connected to the periphery of said wall, substantially engaging sealingly the upper part of the wall of the opening, which first-mentioned wall is formed by a plate of material, such as plastic, provided with radial cuts so that flexible triangular lips are formed.

[0002] Such a cover and waste receptacle are known from US-A-4,454,944 whereby in the upper side of the receptacle a rather small opening is present. This makes it rather difficult to throw in objects to be disposed. Moreover, the receptacle is rather complicated and thus expensive.

[0003] In practice waste receptacles are used which are completely open at the upper side, whereby without cover there is the possibility that waste matter is blown out of the receptacle or disappears in another way. This may the case for waste receptacles at petrol stations, on beaches, swimming pools and so on.

[0004] However, it is more objectional that completely open waste receptacles are also used in hospitals and laboratories and then may be a danger of contamination for the staff with pathogenic organism and the like.

[0005] For instance, after taking blood samples and testing the blood tubes filled with blood are thrown without more in such open waste receptacles.

[0006] These are mostly plastic receptacles open at the upper side.

[0007] These receptacles are open during the whole day and are permanently closed with a cover after the working day and destroyed completely.

[0008] During throwing in tubes filled with blood these tubes may break. It is clear that the staff can be contaminated with all kind of deseases. Moreover, the staff is present during the hours of duty over such open waste receptacles filled with blood or the like.

[0009] The invention aims to find a solution for this problem and according to the invention this is obtained, in that the first-mentioned wall of the cover extends above the at the upper side completely open waste receptacle and that said wall is formed by two of such plates arranged above each other, whereby the cuts of both plates are staggered.

[0010] Owing to the presence of staggered slit-shaped openings the objects to be thrown away disappear in the waste receptacle, without returning from the receptacle. Especially if the waste matter consists of tubes filled with blood or such material, it is prevented that blood can splash back or that contaminated blood is in free communication with the surroundings.

[0011] Since the wall of the cover extends now over a large area, since the waste receptacle is completely open at the upper side, both plates support each other in this way. One plate with slits would not satisfy for a large opening.

[0012] According to the invention a very simple structure is obtained which can be manufactured in a cheap way and which can be disposed after the working day.

[0013] The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawing for a preferred embodiment, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the closure according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section over de line II-II of fig. 1 with the lips closed; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section over the line II-II of fig. 1 with the lips opened.

[0014] In the drawing the upper part of the circumferential wall of the waste receptacle is indicated with 1.

[0015] On this circumferential wall the closure according to the invention is arranged.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment this cover consists of two plastic plates 2,3 in the form of regular octagonals.

[0017] From the center radial cuts 4 are extending, so that triangular lips are formed, owing to the fact that the cuts 4 do not extend to the angles of the octagonal.

[0018] The cuts 4 in the upper plate 2 are shown with drawn lines and are shown in the lower plate 3 with dotted lines.

[0019] By rotation of both plates 2, 3 over one sector the cuts 4 are staggered and also the lips.

[0020] The plates 2, 3 have for instance a thickness of 0,2 mm and are flexible. They consist preferably of plastic.

[0021] A foil edge 5 is connected to the periphery of the plates 2, 3. This foil edge 5 is fixed to the periphery of the plates 2, 3, for instance therebetween and contains at the lower side an elastic cord 6, so that the foil edge 5 engages sealingly the receptacle wall 1.

[0022] Of course, the circumferential edge 5 can also consist of somewhat stiffer plastic and can in cross section be adapted to the cross section of the receptacle. In this way the edge 5 fits slidingly on the receptacle 1.

[0023] The plates 2, 3 of course, need not be octagonal.

[0024] The lips need not be triangular, but this form is preferred.

[0025] By the staggered lips at a simple and cheap way a closure for a waste receptacle is obtained, whereby throwing in the objects is not hindered, but movement in opposite direction is prevented.

Claims

1. Closure for a waste receptacle provided with an opening at the upper side, consisting of a wall of somewhat flexible material which may close the opening of the waste receptacle and of an upstanding wall connected to the periphery of said wall, sub­stantially engaging sealingly the upper part of the wall of the opening, which first-mentioned wall is formed by a plate of material, such as plastic, provided with radial cuts so that flexible triangular lips are formed, characterized in that the first-mentioned wall of the cover extends above the at the upper side completely open waste receptacle and that said wall is formed by two of such plates arranged above each other, whereby the cuts of both plates are staggered.

2. Closure according to claim 1, character­ized in that each plate has the form of a regular polygon, that the cuts extend to the angles of the poly­gon but end at a distance thereof and that the polygon-­shaped plates are staggered over one sector.

3. Closure according to claim 1 or 2, charac­terized in that the upstanding wall of the cover is fixed to both plates.

Drawing