Multi-use container for differentiated waste collection

Abstract

 A multi-use container for differentiated waste collection comprising a supporting framework (12,112,212) for at least two containment elements (14,14',14") equipped with an upper opening (15) and each suitable for receiving a waste-collection bag, freely removable, there being at least one lighting element (19) associated with the at least two containment elements. Furthermore, in correspondence with the upper opening (15) there is a lid (16) and alternatively the at least one lighting element (19) corresponds to each of the at least two containment elements (14,14',14").

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a multiuse container for differentiated collection.

[0002] Suitable containers, for example, of the bell-shaped type, situated in specific positions of the urban territory are currently adopted for differentiated waste collection, particularly in urban areas.

[0003] In particular, bell-shaped containers having various forms and colours are used, which thus identify the material and/or waste to be received in the form of plastic, glass, metallic cans, paper, cardboard, and finally organic waste-products in general.

[0004] The presence of these specific containers makes it necessary to have sufficient space available for their positioning, for access on the part of means for removing their contents, and in any case their presence causes a negative environmental impact. Furthermore, it should be noted that the considerable size of these containers and the costs associated with their manufacturing and use negatively influence the quantity of available containers in urban districts.

[0005] Finally, it should be pointed out that these containers, especially if situated in places which are not clearly visible or in poorly lit areas at night, are not easy to find.

[0006] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide streets or other areas of the urban environment with an element which can solve the problem of differentiated collection, by raising the quality of the urban environment and taking into account the type of materials - the rubbish - to be treated.

[0007] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a container for differentiated collection which solves the drawbacks and problems described above.

[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a container for differentiated collection which is easy to install, also in a limited space, having a particular constructive simplicity and reduced costs.

[0009] These objectives, according to the present invention, are achieved by providing a multiuse container for differentiated collection as specified in claim 1.

[0010] Further claims define the additional characteristics of the present invention.

[0011] The characteristics and advantages of a multiuse container for differentiated collection according to the present invention will appear more evident from the following illustrative and non-limiting description, referring to the enclosed schematic drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a multiuse container for differentiated collection in a first embodiment,

figure 2 is a raised front view of the container shown in figure 1, without upper ashtrays,

figure 3 is a plan view from above of the container of figure 1, without upper ashtrays,

figures 4 to 10 show plan views from above of containers which apply the same innovative concept of the present invention.

[0012] With reference first of all to figures 1-3, these show a multiuse container for differentiated collection produced according to the present invention and indicated as a whole with 11.

[0013] The container 11 comprises a supporting framework 12 for constraint either to the ground 13, as shown in the figures, or possibly to a supporting wall (not shown). The framework 12 has a series of constrained containment elements 14, 14', 14", etc., which in the example are illustrated in a number of three and are parallelepiped-shaped. Each containment element 14, 14', 14" is fixed to the framework 12, has an upper opening 15, equipped with a hinged lid 16 which can be folded by means of a handle 17.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the containment elements 14, 14' and 14" are made of glass, or in another transparent material, for example with a glued stratified structure. In a lower area 18, for example ground or sandblasted, of each containment element 14, 14' and 14", a lighting element 19 is positioned for the illumination of the single containment element and/or the whole containment element. Said lighting element 19 can be single for illuminating the whole container or individually coupled with each containment element. Furthermore, its positioning can be externally associated with the container or inside its walls or even inside the container.

[0015] The stratified structure of the material forming the containment elements 14, 14' and 14", etc. can have from two to four layers connected with each other by glues which have a high pull resistance and resistance to high temperatures, particularly suitable also in the presence of wide fissures. A commercially available glue called Vitralit 6128 LV, can be used for example, on a chemical base of acrylic urethane with UVB-ray polymerization.

[0016] A bag (not shown) suitable for receiving the type of waste destined for said containment element, is inserted in each containment element 14, 14' and 14". In this respect, each containment element 14, 14' and 14" has an identification element 20, 20', 20" for showing which type of waste product is to be inserted in the respective containment element (for example bottles, plastic objects, paper, cardboard, organic waste products in general).

[0017] Additionally, either the bag or at least the front part of the single containment element 14, 14' and 14" can have personalized wording 21, 21', 21" or various types of messages and/or illustrations.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment, on the upper structure of the framework 12, there can be various forms of ashtrays 22 when the container 11 of the present invention is situated in a particularly delicate or refined environment.

[0019] Figures 4 to 10 show how the form of the containment elements 14, 14' and 14" can vary becoming prismatic with an octagonal base (figure 4), a hexagonal base (figure 5) and a circular base (figure 6). In these illustrations as also in the illustration of figures 1-3, the containment elements are arranged adjacent and aligned with the framework 12 positioned between two successive containment elements.

[0020] In the subsequent illustrations the same innovative concept is applied to a multiuse container 11 with containment elements having a circular base arranged radially inside a central star-shaped framework 112 (figure 7), hexagonally inside a central star-shaped framework 112 (figure 8), with circular segments inside a central star-shaped framework 112 (figure 9).

[0021] Finally, figure 10 shows how a framework with a triangular section 212 can be envisaged associated with single containment elements 14, 14' and 14" illustrated in the example with a triangular section, but optionally also having a rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, circular form, etc.

[0022] A container according to the present invention therefore solves problems of encumbrance and difficult positioning as a result of its reduced dimensions and compact arrangement of the various containment elements for the collection of different kinds of waste products.

[0023] It can also be seen how said container is contemporaneously used for the illumination of both its component parts and also the area surrounding its positioning site. Said illumination is not only beneficial for the urban area of interest, but also immediately identifies the positioning of the container itself thus facilitating the deposition of waste products and also the removal of bags on the part of operators.

[0024] The particular simplicity of the container reduces the production costs and also allows a simplified removal, without the need for auxiliary machines or devices, as occurs for the lifting and emptying of the bells.

[0025] The possibility of producing the multiuse container with various forms of container elements and framework, advantageously allows its selection and adaptation to the urban and/or private environment where it is positioned.

[0026] A container according to the invention advantageously proposes an aid which in itself represents the idea of a container which becomes a lamp, street furniture and means of advertising, which is part of the visual perception and reflects the contemporaneous culture of the image.

[0027] A multiuse container for differentiated collection thus conceived can undergo numerous modifications and variants, all included in the present invention; furthermore, all the details can be substituted with technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as also the dimensions, can vary according to technical demands.

Claims

1. A multiuse container for differentiated collection, characterized in that it comprises a supporting framework (12, 112, 212) for at least two containment elements (14, 14', 14") equipped with an upper opening (15) and each suitable for receiving a waste-collection bag, freely removable, there being at least one lighting element (19) associated with the at least two containment elements.

2. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that in correspondence with said upper opening (15), there is a lid (16).

3. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one lighting element (19) is envisaged in correspondence with each of at least two containment elements (14, 14', 14").

4. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least two containment elements (14, 14', 14") are made of a transparent material.

5. The container according to claim 4, characterized in that said transparent material is arranged in several layers forming a stratified structure.

6. The container according to claim 5, characterized in that between said layers there is a glue with a high pull resistance and a resistance to high temperatures.

7. The container according to claim 6, characterized in that said glue is on a chemical base of acrylic urethane with UVB-ray polymerization.

8. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said at least two containment elements (14, 14', 14") has an identification element (20, 20', 20") of the waste-product to be inserted.

9. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said at least two containment elements (14, 14', 14") has personalized wording, messages and/or various types of illustrations (21, 21', 21").

10. The container according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said at least two containment elements (14, 14', 14") have a polygonal and/or circular-shaped section.

11. The container according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said at least two containment elements (14, 14', 14") are adjacent and aligned with each other with the interposition of the supporting framework (12).

12. The container according to any of the claims from 1 to 10, characterized in that said at least two containment elements (14, 14', 14") are arranged radially with a central star-shaped framework (112, 212).

13. The container according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that above said framework (12, 112, 212) there are ashtray elements (22).

Drawing