SCOOP FOR COLLECTING LOOSE MATERIAL, IN PARTICULAR GARBAGE

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a scoop (1) for collecting loose material, in particular garbage. The scoop (1) according to the invention comprises a rim-shaped supporting element (3), on which the mouth of a bag or similar container can be fitted and held, and a flap (9) which is movable between two stable positions: in a first position it covers the rim, as well as the mouth of the bag fitted on said rim; in a second position it forms a pilot surface towards the mouth of the bag for the loose material to be collected and introduced into the bag itself. Thanks to the invention, said loose material can be collected and directly introduced into the bag carried by the scoop (1), with no intermediate step.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a scoop for collecting loose material, in particular garbage, from the ground.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a scoop for collecting garbage which can be used as supporting device for bags for collecting garbage.

Prior art

[0003] Scoops for collecting garbage from the ground, namely for collecting dust, dirt and other garbage with small size, are known.

[0004] Supporting devices for bags for collecting garbage that allow to keep the bag mouth well open are also known.

[0005] Such supporting devices are particularly used in the case of large bags used for collecting garbage in public areas (such as schools, stations, hospitals) or in large offices.

[0006] Said supporting devices generally comprise a rim having substantially the same size as the mouth of the used bag and retaining elements for retaining the edge of the bag on the rim so that the mouth of said bag is kept well open.

[0007] Said supporting devices may optionally comprise a cover, for hygienic purposes or merely for appearance reasons.

[0008] Said supporting devices can be fastened or fastenable to a wall, or they can be mounted on a bearing structure with wheels so as to be transportable around the environment where the garbage is to be collected.

[0009] Therefore, according to prior art, the user gathers the garbage which is on the floor of the environment to be cleaned with a broom or the like, collects said garbage with a scoop for collecting garbage and transfer it from the scoop to the collecting bag, which is kept open thanks to the supporting device of the type described above

[0010] The above-described operation has several drawbacks.

[0011] First of all, the garbage - once gathered - has to be transferred at first to the scoop and then from said scoop to the collecting bag. This double step is uncomfortable and - especially in the case of dust and other light and small garbage - involves the risk that some of the garbage will not be properly collected and transferred to the bag. This risk is increased by the need to lift the scoop from the floor up to the height of the mouth of the bag, which is usually kept upright.

[0012] Secondly, in the case of supporting devices fastened to walls or otherwise mounted in a fixed position, it is necessary each time - even from the farthest points of the environment to be cleaned - to bring the gathered garbage to the location of the supporting device and of the collecting bag mounted on it. The operation of being forced to carry the garbage each time to the location of the bag and its support also involves the risk that some of the garbage is not properly collected, especially in the case of dust and other light and small garbage.

[0013] If the supporting device is provided with a cover, there is a further drawback, as the user will have to keep said cover open with one hand and to lift the scoop from the floor and transfer the garbage from the scoop to the bag with the other hand. Also during this operation, the risk that the garbage falls on the floor and has to be collected again is high. Such drawbacks are not limited to the case of garbage collection, but they also occur in all those applications in which a loose material is intended to be transferred into a bag or the like.

[0014] US 2013/0221694 discloses a supporting device for bags or the like which comprises a rim, bag retaining elements and a telescopic stick handle and which can be used to collect loose material directly from the ground.

[0015] The disclosed device has severe drawbacks, since the rim of the device is circular and therefore inefficient to collect the garbage, especially small garbage. Although said rim is made of flexible material and can be deformed for fitting the ground onto which it lies, it is evident that the need for applying a continuous force for performing a proper collection is not convenient to the operator and can damage the floor in case of use in closed environments. Furthermore, the device does not provide any pilot surface for the material to be collected.

[0016] US 2006/0118203 discloses a supporting device for bags or the like which comprises a supporting structure for the bag provided with a plurality of vertical legs and transverse stiffening elements as well as a cover pivotally connected to said structure; said device can be laid down on a side thereof and the cover can act as a scoop for collecting loose material directly from the ground.

[0017] However, the disclosed device has considerable drawbacks. First of all, the complex structure of the supporting arrangement causes a poor manoeuvrability of said device during the collecting operation: it can be tilted, but it cannot be carried around in the environment to be cleaned. As a consequence, it will still be necessary to bring the gathered garbage to the location of the device, with the risk that some of the garbage is not properly collected, especially in the case of dust and other light and small garbage. Moreover, since the cover is not blocked with respect to the supporting surface, it may move during the collecting operation, thus making this operation uncomfortable and ineffective.

[0018] The main object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a scoop for collecting loose material that allows to effectively collect loose material (for example, garbage) from the ground into a bag or similar container without the risk that some of the material is dispersed and has to be collected again.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to make the operation of transferring the loose material into the bag or similar container more comfortable for the user.

[0020] These and other objects are achieved by the scoop for collecting loose material, in particular garbage, as claimed in the appended claims.

Summary of the invention

[0021] According to the invention, the scoop for collecting loose material is designed so as to be able to directly support and retain a bag or similar container.

[0022] The scoop for collecting garbage according to the invention comprises a supporting element shaped as a substantially flat rim and having a size substantially similar to that of the mouth of the bag to be supported and retaining elements for retaining the edge of the bag on said supporting element, and it further comprises a flap connected to said rim.

[0023] Herein, "substantially flat" means that the overall thickness of the rim is considerably lower, preferably much lower, than the width and the height of said rim.

[0024] According to the invention, said flap is movable between two stable positions, namely a first position in which it covers the rim - and also the mouth of the bag carried by the supporting element - and a second position in which it forms a pilot surface towards the mouth of the bag. Advantageously, the scoop according to the invention does not comprise any rigid elements of large size, such as supporting legs or a housing for the bag, and can therefore be easily carried to the location where the garbage is to be collected.

[0025] According to the invention, at least the side of the rim to which the flap is connected and the side of the rim opposite thereto are straight and, correspondingly, the side of the flap connected to the rim and the side of the flap opposite thereto are straight.

[0026] As a result, when the flap is used for collecting the garbage from the ground, the pilot surface for the collected material is maximized and a continuous surface without any gaps is formed between said flap and the mouth of the bag retained by the rim, thus preventing said material from falling during the collecting operation.

[0027] Still according to the invention, the rim-shaped supporting element comprises connecting means for being removably mounted on a bearing structure. Said bearing structure can be a wall or a self-standing structure, preferably movable (e.g. mounted on wheels).

[0028] In this way, when the bag is not used, it can be stored, preferably so that the bag is held upright and at a certain distance from the underlying floor. In this configuration, the flap is in its first position, in which it acts as a cover for the mouth of the bag.

[0029] Conversely, when the bag is to be used for collecting loose material (for example, garbage), the supporting element is removed from the bearing structure and the flap is brought to its second position: in this way, the scoop according to the invention and the bag associated thereto can be carried around the surrounding environment and loose material (for instance, garbage) can be directly collected into the bag, by using the flap which is in its second position (in which it acts as a pilot surface for the material to be collected) and with no intermediate step.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the scoop according to the invention comprises means for blocking in a stable position the flap at least when it is in its second position, and preferably when it is either in its first or in its second position. Advantageously, the possibility of blocking the flap when it is in said second position gives the flap the necessary stiffness for effectively collecting the loose material from the ground.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said flap has, on the side opposite to the side at which it is connected to the supporting element, a seal, such as a rubber lip.

[0032] This seal further facilitates the effective collection of loose material, even if small, from the ground.

[0033] Due to the structure and the mode of use of the scoop according to the invention, the risk of not properly collecting all the loose material is completely eliminated.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the scoop comprises a stick handle associated with the rim-shaped supporting element.

[0035] Thanks to the presence of this stick handle, the user can use the scoop for directly collecting the loose material into the bag while standing upright, without having to bend to the level of the plane (e.g. the floor) on which the material to be collected is.

[0036] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the stick handle is associated with the supporting element in a removable manner so that it can be removed when the scoop and the bag associated therewith are stored.

[0037] In another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the stick handle has a telescopic or retractable structure so that it can be retracted when the scoop and the bag associated thereto are stored.

Brief description of the drawings

[0038] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more evident from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows, in a view from above, the scoop for collecting loose material according to the invention, shown in a first configuration;

Figure 2 shows, in a view from below, the scoop of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows, in a side view, the scoop of Figure 1, shown while switching from said first configuration to a second configuration;

Figure 4 shows the scoop of Figure 3 in a particularly preferred embodiment variant.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0039] In the following description, reference will be made to an application of the scoop for collecting loose material according to the invention for the collection of garbage, namely for the collection of garbage in large environments.

[0040] However, such application should not be construed as limiting and the invention may also be applied to other uses.

[0041] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, a scoop for collecting loose material according to an embodiment of the invention is schematically shown, said scoop being indicated as a whole by reference 1.

[0042] Said scoop 1 comprises a supporting element 3 shaped as a rim, substantially flat and having a size substantially similar to that of the mouth of a bag (not shown in the figures) to be supported, so that the edge of the bag at its mouth can be folded and fitted onto said rim. According to the invention, the scoop 1 further comprises a flap 9 which has a shape and size substantially equal to those of the rim 3 and is movable relative to said rim 3 so as to be able to assume two different stable positions.

[0043] In the illustrated embodiment, the flap 9 is hinged along one of its sides 9c so that it can pivot about an axis which is parallel to said side and to the corresponding side 3c of the rim 3.

[0044] As can be seen in the Figures, at least said side 9c of the flap and the side 9a of the flap opposite thereto and at least said side 3c of the rim 3 and the side 3a of the rim opposite thereto are straight, for the reasons that will be explained in detail below.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the rim 3 has a substantially rectangular shape and has two pairs of sides 3a, 3c, 3b, 3d substantially equal and parallel two by two. Correspondingly, the flap 9 has a substantially rectangular shape and has two pairs of sides 9a, 9c, 9b, 9d substantially equal and parallel two by two.

[0046] The rim 3 (as well as the flap 9) could also have other shapes; however, as mentioned above, it is necessary - or at least appropriate - that it has a pair of straight sides 3a, 3c.

[0047] The scoop 1 further comprises one or more retaining elements for retaining the edge of said bag on or against the rim 3. In the illustrated embodiment, two retaining elements 5a, 5b made as U-shaped brackets are provided, which retaining elements are hinged at the middle portion of a pair of opposite sides 3b, 3d of the rim 3 and extend each up to a corresponding end of said sides and along a respective other side 3a, 3c of the rim, respectively, flush with said rim and on its outside. The retaining elements 5a, 5b can be rotated so as to be moved away from the rim 3 for allowing the bag to be applied, and then they can be rotated back so as to overlap the rim 3 and block the bag edge against said rim.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, the flap 9 is not directly hinged on the rim 3; on the contrary, it is pivotally mounted on a rotation pin 11 which is mounted on one of the retaining elements 5b and extends parallel to said side 3c of said rim (see Figure 3). In this way, advantageously, when the retaining elements 5a, 5b are moved away from the rim 3, the flap 9 is also moved away from said rim, so as not to interfere with the application / removal operations of the bag.

[0049] The solution described above shall not be construed as limiting, and the flap 9 could also pivot in another way or even move from its first to its second stable position by translation.

[0050] The scoop 1 further comprises connecting means for removably connecting the rim 3 to a bearing structure. Said connecting means comprise a first connecting element 7 connected to the rim 3, and preferably integral thereto, and a second connecting element (not shown) suitable for be connected or fastened to said bearing structure, said first and said second connecting elements cooperating with each other for achieving a removable connection between the rim of the supporting element and the bearing structure.

[0051] Said bearing structure can be a wall or a self-standing structure, preferably movable, for instance mounted on wheels.

[0052] Said connecting means are preferably designed so that when the rim 3 of the scoop 1 is connected to the bearing structure, the rim 3 lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to the underlying floor and, accordingly, the bag carried by the scoop 1 extends in a substantially vertical direction; said connecting means are preferably arranged so that when the rim 3 is connected to the bearing structure, it is at a height from the underlying floor that is greater than the length of the bag.

[0053] In Figure 1, the flap 9 is shown in its first stable position. In said first position, the flap 9 extends over the rim 3 and covers the mouth of the bag fitted on said rim.

[0054] In order to stably keep the flap 9 in said first position, said flap 9 and said rim 3 are preferably provided with respective locking elements (not shown) cooperating with each other. For instance, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the sides 3a, 9a of the rim and of the flap, opposite to the side 9c of the flap along which it is hinged, may be provided with respective locking elements cooperating with each other.

[0055] Alternatively, if the rim 3 lies in a substantially horizontal plane when it is connected to the bearing structure, the flap 9 might be stably kept in said first position by gravity only.

[0056] The flap 9 can move - in this embodiment, pivot - for switching from said first stable position to a second stable position.

[0057] In Figure 3, the scoop 1 is shown in an intermediate situation, while the flap 9 is switching from the first to the second stable position.

[0058] When material has to be collected into the bag, the rim 3 is removed from its bearing structure by disconnecting the connecting element 7 from the corresponding connecting element fastened to said bearing structure, and the scoop 1 is directly brought, together with the bag mounted on it, to the location of use.

[0059] The possibility of carrying the scoop 1 directly to the location of use is allowed by the fact that the supporting element 3 is in the form of a substantially flat rim and is free from bulky rigid elements such as supporting legs, bag housing, and the like. Thanks to this arrangement, the scoop 1 is light and easy to transport and can be carried even in hardly accessible environments.

[0060] The flap 9 is pivoted about its rotation pin 11 in the direction of the arrow F until its upper surface 9' abuts against the rim 3, namely against the side 3c of said rim 3.

[0061] It is evident that the flap 9 could switch from the first to the second position in another way; for instance it could slide parallel to the rim 3 until the mouth of the bag is completely uncovered.

[0062] In this second position, the flap 9 acts as a pilot surface for the material to be introduced into the bag carried by the scoop, allowing the material to be transferred directly from the surface on which it lies into the bag with no intermediate step.

[0063] From the above, it is also evident that thanks to the fact that the side 9a of the flap 9 is straight, the surface provided to the material to be collected is maximized. Furthermore, due to the fact that the side 9c of the flap and the corresponding side 3c of the rim 3 are also straight, the scoop 1 provides a continuous surface to the material to be collected, with no gaps through which the material could fall back to the ground.

[0064] In case of material having a small size, the side of the flap 9 which first comes into contact with the material to be collected - in the illustrated example, the side 9a opposite to the side 9c along which the flap is hinged - can be advantageously provided with a seal, for instance a rubber lip 15 extending along the whole length of said side 9a.

[0065] Preferably, the scoop 1 comprises means for blocking the flap 9 in this second position; for example, the upper surface 9' and the rim 3 - in particular its side 3c - are provided with respective locking elements (not shown) cooperating with each other.

[0066] By means of said locking elements, the flap 9 is stably kept in this second position during the collection of material from the ground, even if it is subject to stresses, for instance when the material is pushed against the flap by means of a broom or the like.

[0067] As mentioned above, the scoop 1 according to the invention can advantageously be used for collecting garbage, particularly in public areas or other large areas.

[0068] With the flap 9 in its second stable position, the scoop 1 can be carried around the environment to be cleaned and the garbage and dirt can be directly introduced from the floor into the collecting bag carried by said scoop, with no intermediate step.

[0069] Thanks to the pilot surface formed by the flap 9, even dust and other small garbage can be efficiently and quickly collected into the bag.

[0070] Once the garbage collecting operation is completed, the flap 9 can be switched to its first stable position so as to cover the rim 3 and the mouth of the bag and the rim can be mounted again on the bearing structure until its next use.

[0071] With reference to the embodiment variant of Figure 4, in order to make the garbage collection more comfortable to the user, the rim 3 can be provided with a stick handle 17. Said stick handle will have an adequate height so as to allow the user to accomplish the garbage collection while standing upright, without the need of bending. To this aim, a stick handle carrying block 13 (which can also be seen in Figures 2 and 3) provided with a seat 3a for the lower end of said stick handle is associated with the rim 3.

[0072] In the illustrated embodiment variant, the rim is provided with a telescopic or retractable stick handle 17, so that the space occupied by the scoop 1 when it is not being used is limited.

[0073] In an alternative embodiment variant, the rim 3 could be provided with a removable stick handle, so that said stick handle can be removed from the rim when the scoop 1 is not in use.

[0074] The scoop 1 and its components can be made of any suitable material. More particularly, it can be made of any plastic material, which makes the manufacturing of said scoop extremely easy and inexpensive.

[0075] The advantages of the invention will be immediately evident to the person skilled in the art, as it allows to collect the garbage effectively, quickly and comfortably.

[0076] It will be also evident to the person skilled in the art that the above detailed description has been provided by way of non-limiting example and several modifications and variants are possible, without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Scoop (1) for collecting loose material, in particular garbage, which scoop comprises:

- a rim-shaped supporting element (3), substantially flat, provided with one or more retaining elements (5a, 5b), intended to retain the mouth of a bag against said rim (3);

characterized in that it further comprises a flap (9) which, at one of its sides (9c), is movably connected, either directly or indirectly, to said rim (3) at one of the sides of said rim (3) and which is switchable from a first stable position to a second stable position, and vice versa, at least the side (9c) of said flap at which said flap is connected to said rim and the side (9a) of said flap opposite thereto being straight and at least the side (3c) of said rim at which said flap is connected to said rim and the side (3a) of said rim opposite thereto being straight, wherein in said first stable position said flap (9) covers said rim (3) and said mouth of said bag and in said second stable position it leaves said rim (3) and said mouth of said bag uncovered and forms a pilot surface for said loose material.

2. Scoop (1) according to claim 1, wherein said flap (9) is indirectly connected to said rim (3), said flap being mounted on one of said retaining elements (5a, 5b).

3. Scoop (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said flap (9) is pivotally movable for switching from said first stable position to said second stable position and vice versa.

4. Scoop (1) according to claim 2, wherein said flap (9) is pivotally mounted on a rotation pin (11) which is mounted on one (5b) of said retaining elements for switching from said first stable position to said second stable position and vice versa.

5. Scoop (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said flap (9) is translationally movable for switching from said first stable position to said second stable position and vice versa.

6. Scoop (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said flap (9) and said rim (3) are provided with respective locking elements cooperating with each other for blocking said flap relative to said rim in said second stable position of said flap (9).

7. Scoop (1) according to claim 6, wherein said flap (9) and said rim (3) are provided with respective locking elements cooperating with each other for blocking said flap relative to said rim in said first stable position of said flap (9).

8. Scoop (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said flap (9) is provided with a seal (15) arranged along the side (9a) of said flap (9) opposite to the side (9c) of said flap at which said flap is connected to said rim.

9. Scoop (1) according to claim 8, wherein said seal is a rubber lip (15).

10. Scoop (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said rim (3) has a substantially rectangular shape and said flap (9) correspondingly has a substantially rectangular shape.

11. Scoop (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said rim (3) further comprises a connecting element (7) for the removable connection to a bearing structure.

12. Scoop (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a stick handle (17) connected or connectable to said rim (3).

13. Scoop (1) according to claim 12, wherein said stick handle (17) is removably connected to said rim (3).

14. Scoop (1) according to claim 12, wherein said stick handle (17) is telescopic or retractable.

Drawing