[0001] The present invention relates to a container particularly for sorted waste collection.
[0002] Containers designed specifically for sorted waste collection are currently in use
and are supplied to private users by public authorities in order to achieve direct
involvement of citizens in the waste recycling system.
[0003] However, a problem that occurs for citizens who are called to perform sorted waste
collection is the need to place, within the limited spaces of their own dwelling,
a number of containers for collecting waste.
[0004] In order to try to solve this problem at least partially, containers have been devised
which can be arranged not only side by side but also stacked one on top of the other,
thereby allowing to utilize vertically the available domestic space.
[0005] In particular, such containers are constituted by a containment body, which forms
internally a collection compartment which can be accessed through a first opening,
located in the upper part of the container and which can be closed by an upper closure
lid, and through a second opening, which is located in a front portion of the side
wall of the containment body and provided with a front closure flap, which is pivoted,
along its upper edge, to the containment body, so that it can be opened by pushing
directly toward the inside of the collection compartment in order to facilitate insertion
of waste by the user.
[0006] With this kind of containers, when the first opening is closed by the corresponding
lid, it is possible to stack a number of containers on top of each other, resting
each one on the lid of the lower one, although in any case their internal collection
compartment remains accessible by way of their second opening.
[0007] However, this solution suffers the drawback in that a considerable portion of the
useful volume of the collection compartment must remain empty in order to prevent
the material introduced in the compartment from being able to interfere with the free
opening or closing movement of the front flap.
[0008] Another drawback that can be ascribed to the conventional type of container described
above is its limited practicality during the unloading step of the waste contained
therein, since the front flap, by being free to rotate, can hinder the complete exit
of the waste from the collection compartment of the container when the container is
tipped in order to empty it, with evident drawbacks for the workers and with the clearly
related problems of cleanliness and hygiene.
[0009] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above by providing
a container particularly for sorted waste collection that allows efficient utilization
of the volumes available for waste collection in a domestic environment.
[0010] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a container that allows
to utilize completely the useful volume of its internal collection compartment, without
the need to leave empty space, and can be stacked with others of the same kind.
[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a container that has an ergonomic shape,
in order to allow its easy carrying, and can be emptied simply and rapidly by the
workers of the waste collection service.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a container that can offer great assurances
of cleanliness and hygiene.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container particularly for
sorted waste collection that is aesthetically pleasant, so that it harmonizes perfectly
with the requirements of urban tidiness when it is placed outdoor.
[0014] Still another object of the invention is to provide a container with a structure
that is extremely simple and has a low production cost.
[0015] This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter,
are achieved by a container particularly for sorted waste collection, according to
the invention, comprising a container body, which forms internally at least one collection
receptacle provided with at least one access opening located in the upper part of
said container body, and means for closing said at least one access opening, which
can move with respect to said container body in order to pass from a closed condition
to an open condition of said at least one access opening and vice versa, characterized
in that said closure means comprise at least one first closure element and at least
one second closure element, which are supported by said container body and are designed
to close respective portions of said at least one access opening, said at least one
first closure element being pivoted to said container body, said at least one second
closure element being pivoted to said at least one first closure element.
[0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent
from the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a container
particularly for sorted waste collection, illustrated by way of non-limiting example
in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention in the
closed condition;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention, taken
from a different angle with respect to Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic view of a possible method of use of the container according
to the invention;
Figure 4 is a side view of a stack of mutually superimposed containers;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container according to the invention, with the
second closure element in the open condition;
Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the container according to the invention, illustrating
the second closure element in the open condition;
Figures 7 and 8 are schematic views of a detail of the closure means of the container
according to the invention;
Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the container according to the invention.
[0017] In the exemplary of embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in
relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics
that exist in other exemplary embodiments.
[0018] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting
process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
[0019] With reference to the figures, the container particularly for sorted waste collection,
according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises
a container body 2, which forms internally at least one collection receptacle 3, which
is provided with at least one access opening 4 located in the upper part of the container
body 2.
[0020] The access opening 4 can be closed by way of closure means 5, which can move, with
respect to the container body 2, in order to be able to pass from a closed condition
to an open condition of the access opening 4 and vice versa.
[0021] According to the invention, the closure means 5 are formed by at least one first
closure element 5a and by at least one second closure element 5b, which are supported
by the container body 2 and are designed to close respective portions of the access
opening 4.
[0022] In particular, the first closure element 5a can move with respect to the container
body 2, while the second closure element 5b can move with respect to the first closure
element 5a, so that the second closure element 5b can be moved from its closed position
to the position for opening the respective portion of the access opening 4 and vice
versa even when the first closure element is in the position for closing the corresponding
portion of the access opening 4.
[0023] With this structure it is therefore possible to access the receptacle 3 through the
portion of the access opening 4 that is controlled by the second closure element 5b,
regardless of the position of the first closure element 5a.
[0024] An important aspect of the invention resides in that the first closure element 5a
is pivoted to the container body 2, preferably at an edge region 4a of the access
opening 4, while the second closure element 5b is pivoted to the first closure element
5a, advantageously at the end of said element that lies opposite the end connected
by means of a hinge to the container body 2.
[0025] It should be noted that the position of the closure means 5 in the upper part of
the body of the container 2 and the possibility to move by pivoting the first and
second closure elements 5a and 5b toward the outside of the receptacle 3, in order
to open the access opening 4, allow to facilitate the operations for filling and emptying
the receptacle 3 and to have the entire volume of the receptacle 3 available for waste
collection, without having to leave some space unused in order to avoid hindering
the movement of the first and second closure elements 5a, 5b.
[0026] Conveniently, the first closure element 5a forms in an upward region, on its side
designed to remain outside the collection receptacle 3, a resting region 10 for another
superimposed container, so as to offer the possibility to stack a plurality of containers
and allow efficient utilization of the volumes available for the placement of the
containers meant to collect waste.
[0027] As can be seen clearly in Figure 4, even with a number of containers stacked one
on top of the other, the collection receptacle 3 of each of said container can in
any case be accessed in order to introduce waste by way of the portion of the access
opening 4 that can be closed by the second closure element 5b.
[0028] Again in order to facilitate the use of the container according to the invention
in the usual places where it is located, the container body 2 has conveniently a first
end with an outer face 11, which can be arranged adjacent to the wall of a building,
and a second end, which is arranged opposite the first one and proximate to which
the second closure element 5b is located.
[0029] Conveniently, substantially at its end that can be arranged adjacent to a wall, the
container body 2 is provided with a slotted seat 30 for engagement with an engagement
element 31, which protrudes from the structure of a building 32 and is designed to
allow the container body 2 to be anchored to the wall when, in particular, the container
according to the invention is positioned by users outdoor in order to allow waste
collection.
[0030] Advantageously, as a completion of the closure means 5 of the access opening 4, there
are also removable locking means, which allow to keep the second closure element 5b
locked in at least one open position.
[0031] In detail, the removable locking means comprise conveniently at least one locking
element 20, which is elastically flexible and is associated with the second closure
element 5b. In particular, the locking element 20 can engage in at least one locking
seat 21 formed on the lateral surface of an enlarged edge 22, which is provided on
the first closure element 5a and is provided with rotation seats 23, which rotatably
accommodate respective rotation pivots 24, which are rigidly connected to the second
closure element 5b and provide the hinge for connection between the first closure
element 5a and the second closure element 5b.
[0032] In the illustrated example of embodiment, the locking element 20 is constituted by
a tooth 25, which is supported by a raised border 26, which is provided on the second
closure element 5b and faces a rounded portion of the outer lateral surface of the
enlarged edge 22, from which one or more complementary engagement teeth 27 protrude,
such teeth providing the locking seats 21 and being mutually spaced around the pivoting
axis 24a formed by the rotation pivots 24. More particularly, the raised border 26
is flexible in order to keep the tooth 25 in contact with the outer lateral surface
of the enlarged edge 22 and in order to allow the tooth 25 to engage detachably the
complementary engagement teeth 27 following the rotation of the second closure element
5b with respect to the first closure element 5a, so as to provide the removable locking
of the second closure element 5b with respect to the first closure element 5a in different
open positions.
[0033] Conveniently, a grip handle 35 is fitted to the container body 2 so that it can oscillate.
In a per se known manner, removable retention means (not shown) are associated with
the handle 35 and allow to keep the first closure element 5a locked in the position
in which it closes the corresponding portion of the access opening 4. The removable
retention means- can be activated by rotation of the handle 35 and are constituted
advantageously by at least one toothed protrusion, which is rigidly coupled to the
handle 35 and can be engaged detachably with a wing that is supported by the first
closure element 5a.
[0034] The removable retention means described above are particularly useful when the container
according to the invention is arranged in the street for waste collection, since they
prevent the opening of the first closure element 5a in case of accidental tipping
of the container body 2 or if stray animals try to enter the receptacle 3, and this
helps to maintain urban decor.
[0035] For the sake of completeness, it should also be noted that the container body 2 has
a bottom with a contour which forms, on the outer side, a grip recess 40, which facilitates
manual grip of the container body 2 by the operators during the emptying of its contents.
[0036] From what has been described above, it can be understood that the container according
to the invention is particularly adapted to be used for sorted waste collection, since
it can be conveniently placed in dwellings, together with others of the same kind,
without entailing excessive space occupation, and can be placed in the street without
compromising urban decor.
[0037] In practice it has been found that the container according to the invention fully
achieves the intended aim, since it is capable of meeting the needs of users, of sorted
waste collection workers and of government bodies.
[0038] All the characteristics of the invention described above as advantageous, convenient
or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.
[0039] The individual characteristics described with reference to general teachings or to
particular embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may replace characteristics
in these embodiments.
[0040] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations,
all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
[0041] All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
[0042] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions,
may be any according to requirements.
[0044] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs,
those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility
of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect
on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference
signs.
1. A container particularly for sorted waste collection, comprising a container body,
which forms internally at least one collection receptacle provided with at least one
access opening located in the upper part of said container body, and means for closing
said at least one access opening, which can move with respect to said container body
in order to pass from a closed condition to an open condition of said at least one
access opening and vice versa, characterized in that said closure means comprise at least one first closure element and at least one second
closure element, which are supported by said container body and are designed to close
respective portions of said at least one access opening, said at least one first closure
element being pivoted to said container body, said at least one second closure element
being pivoted to said at least one first closure element.
2. The container according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one first closure element is connected to said at least one second
closure element on the opposite side with respect to its region for connection to
said container body.
3. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one first closure element is pivoted to said container body substantially
at an edge region of said at least one access opening.
4. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one first closure element forms, on its outer side with respect to
said at least one receptacle, a resting region for the coupling of a superimposed
container.
5. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said container body has, at a first end, an outer face which can be arranged adjacent
to the wall of a building, said at least one second closure element being arranged
proximate to the end that lies opposite said first end of said container body.
6. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for the removable locking of said at least one second closure
element in at least one open position.
7. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said removable locking means comprise at least one elastically flexible locking element
associated with said at least one second closure element, said at least one locking
element being engageable in at least one respective locking seat formed on the lateral
surface of an enlarged edge provided on said at least one first closure element, said
enlarged edge forming at least one rotation seat which accommodates rotatably a respective
rotation pivot, which is rigidly coupled to said at least one second closure element
and is adapted to provide the hinge for connection between said at least one first
closure element and said at least one second closure element.
8. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one locking element comprises a tooth supported by a raised border,
which is formed on said at least one second closure element and faces the outer lateral
surface of said enlarged edge, said raised border being elastically flexible in order
to keep said tooth in contact with the outer lateral surface of said enlarged edge,
said at least one respective locking seat being formed by complementary teeth, which
protrude from the outer lateral surface of said enlarged edge and are mutually spaced
around the pivoting axis formed by said rotation pivot.
9. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a handle, which is connected so that it can oscillate to said container
body, and means for the removable retention of said at least one first closure element
in the locked position for closure, which can be activated by turning said handle.
10. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, proximate to said first end of said container body, a slotted seat
which can be engaged by an engagement element for fixing said container body to a
wall.
11. The container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a grip recess on the outer side of the bottom of said container body.