(19)
(11) EP 0 339 729 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
29.07.1992 Bulletin 1992/31

(21) Application number: 89201034.9

(22) Date of filing: 20.04.1989
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5B65F 1/16

(54)

Closure for a waste receptacle

Verschluss für einen Abfallbehälter

Fermeture pour un récipient à ordures


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

(30) Priority: 29.04.1988 NL 8801133

(43) Date of publication of application:
02.11.1989 Bulletin 1989/44

(73) Proprietor: Borgerding-Krijger, Elisabeth Josephine
NL-2312 BR Leiden (NL)

(72) Inventor:
  • Borgerding-Krijger, Elisabeth Josephine
    NL-2312 BR Leiden (NL)

(74) Representative: de Bruijn, Leendert C. et al
Nederlandsch Octrooibureau P.O. Box 29720
2502 LS Den Haag
2502 LS Den Haag (NL)


(56) References cited: : 
DE-A- 2 820 566
US-A- 3 762 627
US-A- 3 381 814
US-A- 4 454 944
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description


    [0001] The invention relates to a closure for a waste receptacle provided with an opening at the upper side, the closure consisting of a layer of somewhat flexible material which may close the opening of the waste receptacle and of an upstanding wall connected to the periphery of said layer, substantially engaging sealingly the upper part of the wall surrounding the opening, which layer is formed by plate 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 where 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 and without cover waste matter may be blown out of the receptacle. This happens with 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 source of 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 away into 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 in the vicinnity of 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 layer is formed by two of such plates arranged one above the other, the cuts of both plates being staggered rotationally.

    [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 surrounding.

    [0011] Since the wall of the cover extends over a large area, because the waste receptacle is completely open at the upper side, both plates support each other. 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 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 fully drawn lines and are shown in the lower plate 3 with dotted lines.

    [0019] By rotation of both plates 2, 3 over half a 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 in a simple and cheap way a closure for a waste receptacle is obtained, by which throwing in of objects is not hindered but getting out in opposite direction is prevented.


    Claims

    1. Closure for a waste receptacle (1) provided with an opening at the upper side, the closure consisting of a layer of somewhat flexible material which may close the opening of the waste receptacle (1) and of an upstanding wall connected to the periphery of said layer, substantially sealingly engaging the upper part of the wall around the opening, which layer is formed by plate material, such as plastic, provided with radial cuts (4) so that flexible triangular lips are formed, characterized in that the said layer is formed by two of such plates (2, 3) arranged one above the other, the cuts of both plates being staggered rotationally.
     
    2. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that each plate has the form of a regular polygon, that the cuts (4) extend to the angles of the polygon but end at a distance there from and that the polygon-shaped plates (2,3) are staggered by half of one sector.
     
    3. Closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upstanding wall (5) of the cover is fixed to both plates (2,3).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verschluss für einen Abfallbehälter (1), der an seinem oberen Ende mit einer Öffnung versehen ist, dieser Verschluss bestehend aud einer Schicht aus einem ziemlich biegsamen Material, welche Schicht fähig ist, die Öffnung des Abfallbehälters (1) zu verschliessen, und aus einer aufrechten Wandung, die mit dem Umfang dieser Schicht, die im wesentlichen abdichtend mit dem oberen Teil der Wandung um die Öffnung herum zusammenwirkt, verbunden ist, wobei diese Schicht aus Plattenmaterial wie Kunststoff gebildet und zur Bildung von dreieckigen Lippen mit radialen Schitten (4) versehen ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass diese Schicht aus zwei übereinander angeordneten solchen Platten (2, 3) gebildet ist, wobei die Schnitte der beiden Platten rotationsmässig versetzt sind.
     
    2. Verschluss nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede Platte die Form eines regelmässigen Vielecks aufweist, dass die Schnitte (4) sich zu den Ecken des Vielecks hin erstrecken, jedoch im Abstand davon enden, und dass die vieleckförmigen Platten (2, 3) um einen halben Sektor versetzt sind.
     
    3. Verschluss nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die aufrechte Wandung (5) des Deckels an den Beiden Platten (2, 3) befestigt ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Fermeture pour un récipient à ordures (1) pourvu d'une ouverture en son extrémité supérieure, la fermeture consistant en une couche de matériau assez flexible qui est capable de fermer l'ouverture du récipient à ordures (1) et en une paroi dressée reliée à la périphérie de ladite couche qui coopère de manière essentiellement étanche avec la partie supérieure de la paroi autour de l'ouverture, ladite couche étant formée de matériau en plaque tel que du plastique et pourvu de découpes radiales (4) de façon à former des lèvres triangulaires, caractérisée en ce que ladite couche est formée de deux telles plaques (2, 3) disposées l'une au-dessus de l'autre, les découpes des deux plaques étant échelonnées en rotation.
     
    2. Fermeture selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que chaque plaque présente la forme d'un polygone régulier, en ce que les découpes (4) s'étendent vers les angles du polygone mais se terminent à distance de ceux-ci et en ce que les plaques en forme de polygone (2, 3) sont échelonnées de la moitié d'un secteur.
     
    3. Fermeture selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que la paroi dressée (5) du couvercle est fixée aux deux plaques (2, 3).
     




    Drawing