Container for used oils or other liquids, granular solids and small objects

Abstract

 Container for oils, or other used liquids and granular solids, in particular for the domestic environment, comprising a containing body (11) defining a containing compartment (12) having an upper aperture (21), a filter element (20), a removable stopper (14) to selectively put said containing compartment (12) into communication with the outside of said container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention concerns a container for the temporary preservation, and the subsequent transport to suitable collection centers or points, the so-called recycling centers, or in specific dedicated garbage containers, of used oils or other liquids, granular solids and small objects, such as used batteries or medicines that are past their use-by date. The container of the present invention can be used, particularly but not exclusively, in the domestic environment.

[0002] The container to which the present invention is applied can be made of metal, plastic or any other material suitable for this specific use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the domestic environment and elsewhere the need to dispose of used liquids such as oils used in cooking foods in a pan and/or deep fryer is known.

[0004] For this purpose, containers to preserve the oil and transfer it to suitable tanks at collective collection points are used. The collection points may be situated along public roads or in special centers, the so-called re-cycling centers. The tanks are emptied periodically, in the same way as happens for normal bins for the collection of re-cycled garbage. In correspondence with their entrances, the tanks are usually provided with a filter, to retain possible solid parts, such as for example the remnants of food, that are present in the oil.

[0005] For the temporary preservation, transport and transfer of the used oils to the tanks, containers are known, which have different capacities and at least one entrance/exit channel. Among these known containers there are simple tanks provided with a handle and the entrance/exit channel that can be closed by a stopper. In this case, the oil is filtered at the collection center by the filter of the tank.

[0006] The collection tanks are emptied regularly, but at intervals that can vary from a few days to several weeks. Furthermore, since the tanks are used by many users and are emptied and cleaned only after a long time, the filters can become a source of accumulation of remnants of food, compromising the correct functioning and esthetic level thereof.

[0007] Containers are also known that are supplied in association with a filter that has a shape studied to be positioned in correspondence with the entrance/exit channel during the transfer of the oil from the deep-fat frier, or the pan, to the container. This has the double purpose of filtering the used oil and facilitating, thanks to its funnel shape, the filling of the container. In this case the oil is filtered mainly by the filter supplied with the container.

[0008] One disadvantage of these known containers is that the filter supplied is outside the container or, in the best case scenario, is attached thereto in the transport or inactive position. This makes it necessary, in order to fill the container, to detach the filter from its coupled position and then to position it in correspondence with the entrance/exit channel of the container.

[0009] Once it has been used, the filter must necessarily be washed carefully to be returned to the inactive position.

[0010] Normally the filter is studied to be positioned, in the inactive step, between the handle and the body of the container, thus causing inconvenience in transport, since this position between the handle and the body of the container determines a bulk that prevents the user from firmly gripping the handle.

[0011] The geometry of the entrance/exit channel of the containers as described above is such that, when they are emptied, part of the oil tends to adhere to the entrance/exit channel itself, with the risk of dirtying the external part of the container.

[0012] Furthermore, the geometry of the entrance/exit channel is such that, when they are emptied, there is a gurgling that occurs due to the difficulty that the air has in entering into the container. This entails an irregular flow of the liquid toward the outside.

[0013] Examples of containers for containing and transporting foodstuffs are shown in the prior art documents FR 1.155.188 A and US 200/035652 A1.

[0014] One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a container for used oils and other liquids, or also solids, for example of the granular type, or small objects such as used batteries or medicines past their use-by date, which is easy, convenient and quick to use during the filling, transport and emptying steps.

[0015] Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a container that guarantees considerable cleanliness in all the steps of its use.

[0016] The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

[0018] In accordance with the above purposes, a container according to the present invention which overcomes the limits of the state of the art and eliminates the defects therein, is suitable to temporarily preserve oils and other used liquids, in particular in the domestic environment, such as for example used oil from cooking, and to subsequently transport them to suitable collecting centers or points. The container according to the present invention can also be used for the temporary preservation for the storage and transport of solid materials, in particular granular or powdered solids, but also for used batteries and medicines past their use-by date or similar or comparable small objects.

[0019] The container comprises a containing body, defining a containing compartment with an upper aperture, a first seating for the selective positioning of a possible filter element, and a removable stopper to put the containing compartment in communication with the outside of the container through an exit/entrance hole.

[0020] According to a main characteristic of the present invention, the first seating for the stable positioning of the possible filter element is made in proximity to the upper aperture in the containing body. The container also comprises a lid on which the exit/entrance hole is made, to cover the upper aperture, and disposed, in a closed position, above the first seating and therefore, during use, above the possible filter element present therein and in a second seating made in the containing body.

[0021] In the case where the filter element is not temporarily required, for example when the container is used for the preservation and transport of solid granular or powdered materials, or small objects, such as used batteries or medicines past their use-by date, the filter element can be easily removed from its first seating, and the lid can in any case be coupled in closing with the upper aperture to carry out its closing function. Moreover, by removing the removable stopper, the small objects can be introduced into the container whereas to empty the container it is necessary to remove the lid.

[0022] The combination of characteristics of the container according to the present invention allows to have the filter element, removable, in a position of use at any moment, without needing to intervene to dispose it in the specific position every time the container has to be emptied, and without needing to remove it and wash it each time the filtering is carried out.

[0023] Indeed, to fill the container it is enough to remove the lid from the second seating and insert the oil through the upper aperture, pouring it for example from the pan or deep fryer in which it is deposited, making it pass through the filter element.

[0024] In order to temporarily preserve the oil it is sufficient to replace the lid in correspondence to the second seating, without intervening on the second filter.

[0025] According to one feature of the present invention, the lid also comprises a first threading suitable to allow it to be screwed in correspondence to the upper aperture of the containing body, which comprises a mating second threading.

[0026] According to another feature of the present invention the first threading comprises a first upper end able to abut with a second upper end of the second threading.

[0027] The second upper end of the second threading acts as an end-of-travel that advantageously can be positioned so as to clamp the screwing operation in correspondence to a desired position.

[0028] According to another feature of the present invention, the lid comprises a gripping profile to facilitate the movement of the lid.

[0029] According to another feature of the present invention, the lid comprises an exit/entrance hole associated with a spout and a recovery channel to prevent drops of oil depositing on the lid or leaking along the containing body, thus guaranteeing considerable cleanliness.

[0030] According to a variant, the exit/entrance hole does not have a spout or a recovery channel, in particular in the case where the container is mainly used for the temporary preservation and storage of solid materials, for example granular or powdered materials, or used batteries or medicines past their use-by date.

[0031] According to another variant, the exit/entrance hole is associated only with the spout and does not have the recovery channel.

[0032] According to another variant, the spout and/or the recovery channel are elements that are selectively removable from their position in the container.

[0033] According to another feature of the present invention, the filter element is shaped so as to filter, or cover, only a portion of the area delimited by the upper aperture of the containing body. The remaining area has the exit/entrance hole of the lid positioned above it.

[0034] Therefore, with the filter element always in the same position, that is, interposed between the containing volume of the containing body and the lid, during filling the oil is filtered whereas during emptying the oil passes through the area not covered by the filter element.

[0035] According to another feature of the present invention, in its upper part and in a single piece, the containing body comprises a handle to transport the container.

[0036] According to another feature of the present invention, the containing body comprises a lower gripping profile.

[0037] The handle, combined with the lower gripping profile, guarantees considerable convenience when the container is emptied.

[0038] Advantageously, the end-of-travel defined by the second upper end can be positioned so that the exit/entrance hole, in the completely closed position, is at the opposite part of the handle.

[0039] According to another feature of the present invention, the lid has an auxiliary aperture communicating with the exit/entrance hole.

[0040] This allows the air to enter when the container is emptied, obtaining a regular and continuous exit of the oil, preventing the formation of gurgling.

[0041] The stopper is the known type and the type that cannot be easily unscrewed, preventing an accidental aperture of the container and guaranteeing a good level of safety, for example if a child tries to open the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of one form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

• fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention in a closed configuration;
• fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container in fig. 1;
• fig. 3 is a perspective view of the container in fig. 1 in the filling configuration;
• fig. 4 is a perspective view of the container in fig. 1 in the emptying configuration;
• fig. 5 is a plan view of an element in fig. 2;
• fig. 6 is a part of a longitudinal section of the container in fig.1;
• fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of fig. 2;
• fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of a part of the container in fig. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE FORM OF EMBODIMENT

[0043] With reference to fig. 1, a container 10 according to the present invention is suitable to preserve, particularly in a domestic environment, used oils from cooking and to subsequently transport them to collection points where there are suitable tanks.

[0044] In the attached drawings and in the following description, we shall mainly refer to a container for used oils or other similar or comparable liquids. However, it is clear that by removing the filter element and other removable elements with specific functions, for example the spout, the container 10 can also be used to preserve solid materials, for example in granular or powder form, or small objects in general, such as for example, but not only, used batteries or medicines past their use-by date.

[0045] The container 10 shown in the attached drawings provides to assume at least one closed configuration (fig. 1), to preserve and transport used oil inside it, a filling configuration (fig. 3), to fill the container 10, and an emptying configuration (fig. 4) to empty the container 10 into suitable collection tanks.

[0046] In the case where the container is used for solid objects, the configurations of figs. 3 and 4 are inverted, so that fig. 4 becomes the one used for filling the small objects through the exit/entrance hole 47 after the removal of the stopper 14, as described hereafter, whereas the one in fig. 3 becomes the emptying configuration to discharge the solid objects contained in the container 10.

[0047] The container 10 comprises, in the case shown here, a containing body 11, a filter 20, a lid 13 and a stopper 14 (fig. 2).

[0048] The containing body 11, substantially cylindrical in shape, defines a containing volume 12 and comprises, in a single body, an upper part 17 provided with a hole 19, in this case substantially rectangular in shape, which defines a handle 18 to transport the container 10 by hand. Moreover, in correspondence to its lower part, the containing body 11 comprises a lower gripping profile 51 that, in combination with the handle 18, guarantees convenience when the container 10 is emptied.

[0049] In this case, the filter 20 has a substantially circular shape and comprises a grid 27 (fig.5) on its entire horizontal development. A lateral wall 28 defines an internal surface 31 and an external surface 32, following a profile of an arc of a circumference. The lateral wall 28 has a recessed segment 33, which also follows an arc of a circumference that delimits an area through which the oil passes during the emptying of the container 10.

[0050] The lid 13 in this case has an external diameter a little bigger than that of the filter 20 and is shaped so as to define two lower surfaces 34 and a gripping profile, in this case a central radial element 35 laterally delimited by two internal surfaces 36 for the movement of the lid 13.

[0051] On its external perimeter the lid 13 also has a first threading 38 to screw it to the containing body 11.

[0052] The containing body 11 has an upper aperture 21 shaped so as to comprise a first seating 24 (fig. 6), for the stable positioning of the filter 20, when its use is required for the specific and momentary use of the container 10, and a second seating 25, to position the lid 13. From the drawing it can be seen that the lid 13 practically overlaps the filter 20, with the lower surfaces 34, that is, the bottom of the lid 13, almost in contact with the grid 27. The first seating 24 and the second seating 25 develop concentrically along the periphery of the upper aperture 21 and are separated by a protuberance 26, disposed vertically and also defining a circumference. When the lid 13 is attached, the protuberance 26 substantially abuts on one side with the external surface 32 of the filter 20, and on the other side with the internal surface of the lid 13.

[0053] Moreover, on its internal perimeter and above the first seating 24, the upper aperture 21 has a second threading 39 that allows the lid 13 to be screwed with the first threading 38.

[0054] A first upper end 40 of the first threading 38 (fig. 3) is shaped so as to abut, when the lid 13 is screwed, against a second upper end 41 of the second threading 39 (fig. 7), which acts as an end-of-travel.

[0055] The lid 13 comprises a cylindrical surface 42 (fig. 8) on which a threading 45 is made to screw the stopper 14, which is of the known type that cannot be easily unscrewed, to avoid accidental aperture thereof. An exit hole 47, through which the oil is made to exit during the emptying of the container 10, cooperates with a spout 46, made in a single body with the lid 13, to prevent the accidental spilling of possible drops of oil onto part of the lid 13. An auxiliary hole 48 is made communicating with the exit hole 47 to allow the entrance of air during emptying, and thus to allow the oil to exit regularly.

[0056] The cylindrical surfaces 42 delimit a recovery channel 49 that has the function of containing possible drops of oil that remain adherent to the spout 46, avoiding dirtying the lid 13.

[0057] The second upper end 41 of the second threading 39, which acts as end-of-travel, is positioned so that the lid 13, when it is completely screwed on, has the exit hole 47 always on the opposite side of the handle 18, facilitating the emptying of the container 10.

[0058] Moreover, in order to allow, during screwing, a solid movement of the lid 13 and the filter 20, and therefore to position the exit hole 47 above the portion of area of the upper aperture 21 not covered by the filter 20, the walls defined by the internal surfaces 36 of the lid 13 are in contact with the lateral wall 28 of the recessed segment 33 of the filter 20.

[0059] The configuration of the container 10 according to the present invention has the advantage of always disposing the filter 20 in a position of use. In fact, to fill the container 10, it is enough to remove the lid 13 (fig. 3).

[0060] On the other hand, to empty the container 10 it is enough to unscrew the stopper 14 (fig. 4).

[0061] As said before, in the case where the container 10 is used for the temporary preservation and subsequent transfer and discharge of solid objects, for example material in granular or powder form, used batteries or medicines past their sell-by date or similar, the functions of the stopper 14 and the lid 13 are inverted. Indeed, removing the stopper gives access to the exit hole 47, which in this case assumes the function of entrance hole 47, without either spout 46 or recovery channel 49 in this case, in order to unload into the container 10 the solid objects that have to be temporarily preserved. When the container 10 is filled and the disposal location, for example the recycling site or garbage bin has been reached, the whole lid 13 is removed and the container 10 is emptied.

[0062] It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the container 10 as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.

[0063] It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of container, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.

Claims

1. Container for used oils or other liquids and granular solids, in particular for the domestic environment, comprising a containing body (11) defining a containing compartment (12) having an upper aperture (21), a removable stopper (14) to selectively put said containing compartment (12) into communication with the outside of said container through an exit/entrance hole (47), characterized in that in proximity to said upper aperture (21) at least a first seating (24) is made in the containing body (11), for the stable positioning, in the position of use, of a possible filter element (20), selectively positionable and removable, and in that it also comprises a covering lid (13) to cover said upper aperture (21), on which said exit/entrance hole (47) is made, disposed, in the closed position, above said first seating (24) and in a second seating (25) made in the containing body (11).

2. Container as in claim 1, characterized in that said lid (13) also comprises, on its external perimeter, a first threading (38) suitable to allow the containing body (11) to be screwed in, in correspondence with said upper aperture (21), said upper aperture (21) being provided, on its internal perimeter and above said first seating (24), with a mating second threading (39).

3. Container as in claim 2, characterized in that said first threading (38) comprises a first upper end (40) able to abut with a second upper end (41) of said second threading (39).

4. Container as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said exit/entrance hole (47) is associated with a spout (46).

5. Container as in claim 4, characterized in that said exit/entrance hole (47) is associated with a recovery channel (49).

6. Container as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said filter element (20) is shaped so as to cover a portion of the area delimited by said upper aperture (21), the remaining portion of area having said exit/entrance hole (47) positioned above it.

7. Container as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said lid (13) comprises a gripping profile (35) to facilitate its movement.

8. Container as in claim 1, characterized in that said containing body (11) comprises, in a single piece, a handle (18) in order to transport it and to move it.

9. Container as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that said containing body (11) comprises a lower gripping profile (51).

10. Container as in claim 4, characterized in that said lid (13) has an auxiliary aperture (48) communicating with said exit/entrance hole (47), so that the oil exits regularly.

11. Container as in claim 4, characterized in that said spout (46) is selectively removable from the exit/entrance hole (47).

12. Container as in claim 4, characterized in that said recovery channel (49) is selectively removable from the exit/entrance hole (47).

Drawing