BULK REFUSE CONTAINER WITH LIFTING PINS WHICH CAN BE MANUALLY MOUNTED

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a bulk refuse container according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] There are currently known various types of bulk refuse containers made of plastic material provided with two lifting pins arranged on two opposite sides and positioned at heights and distances which are regulated by very precise standards, such as for example Standard EN 840, according to which the bin lifting system is to consist of a pair of pins, each of which has an diameter of about 40 mm, with predetermined length and volume.

[0003] Each lifting pin in such bulk refuse containers of known type usually is integrated in a support base having thickness and sizes such to position the pin itself within the required tolerances.

[0004] The support base which comprises each pin, hereinafter also simply indicated as "support", has various shapes and forms from one bin to the next bin and according to the manufacturer, and usually is fastened to the side wall of the bulk refuse container by means of shear and/or expansion rivets if the support is made of plastic/metal. In certain cases in which the support to be fastened is made of plastic, the securing occurs by means of a congruous number of self-tapping screws, preferably (but not exclusively) at least 4.

[0005] The shapes of these supports generally tend to be roundish and wide in order to best distribute the thrust caused by the weight of the material contained inside the bin that is lifted. As separate bodies are involved: bin and respective pins integrated in their own supports, the stress mainly is supported by the elements with which each support is fastened to the side wall of the bin, that is by the screw heads.

[0006] It is important to note that usually the bins are always shipped with the supports and therefore with the related pins already assembled because the securing of such supports is carried out using electric or pneumatic screwdrivers or with riveting machines, they also being electric or pneumatic. All these tools obviously may be used only with electric and/or pneumatic systems, while almost always the deliveries are made at yards not provided with such services.

[0007] It is therefore apparent that the presence of the support (and of the related lifting pin) induces an increase of the plan volumes of each bin or bulk refuse container and this results in the fact that a smaller number of items may be loaded in a same loading space, which means increased transport expenses.

[0008] Another problem of a known container, such as for example the one described in US-A-1929607, is given by the fact that in this document, which discloses a bulk refuse container according to the preamble of claim 1, each lifting pin is fastened to a backplate which is made integral with the body of the container and therefore in case of damage, in addition to the pin and the backplate, also the bulk refuse container itself is damaged, which is the most costly/expensive part to replace. Moreover, US-A-1929607 describes a bulk refuse container with reinforcements fastened to the wall with peened bolts, in which among other things, the parts assembled are fastened by means of welding to make them unremovable, while as is better seen below, lifting pins and respective backplates are provided in the present invention, which are intentionally removable in order to easily replace them in case of breaking, without the body of the bulk refuse container being damaged.

[0009] Furthermore, it is also known, from FR 2850639, a waste collection bin comprising on each of its lateral faces a fixing assembly of a pin, wherein at least one fixing assembly and the corresponding pin are arranged to allow the fixing of the pin on a side wall of the bin in a removable or retractable manner. A drawback of such known waste collection bins is that the lateral fixing assembly of the pins are made of metal and have to be rigidly and irremovably fixed to the side walls of the bulk refuse container. FR2850639 neither discloses nor suggests any reinforced area of the side wall itself.

[0010] It is the main object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid problems by providing a lifting pin for bulk refuse containers or bins which can be fastened manually and directly to the bulk refuse container without the need for tools, in which said bulk refuse container is provided with respective side seats or holes provided with corresponding reinforcement areas for distributing the mechanical stresses caused by lifting the bulk refuse container by means of the pins themselves.

[0011] This is obtained by making a bulk refuse container provided with at least one seat or hole made at the position of each lifting pin, in which seat or hole the respective pin can be fastened by using a respective backplate (or shield) onto which said pin can be directly manually screwed by the operator without the aid of any tools. The invention provides a bulk refuse container according to claim 1.

[0012] A better comprehension of the invention is possible with the following detailed description and with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment by way of nonlimiting example.

[0013] In the drawings:

figure 1 is a partial 3D view of the external lifting area of a bulk refuse container provided with lifting pins according to the present invention;

figure 2 is an exploded view corresponding to fig. 1;

figure 3 is a partial 3D view of the internal lifting area of a bulk refuse container provided with lifting pins according to the present invention;

figure 4 is an exploded view corresponding to fig. 3;

figure 5 is an image of a whole bin, in which a "detail A" is noted which corresponds to fig. 1.

[0014] According to the present invention and with reference to the aforesaid figures, there is provided a bin body C which has, on each side, a hole F to which the lifting pin PS can be fastened by means of screwing on a specific backplate CP which thus is firmly restrained to the body of the bulk refuse container, thus providing a valid lifting means of the bulk refuse container for the emptying operations of the content thereof.

[0015] According to a peculiar feature of the embodiment, the area of the side wall of the bulk refuse container C about hole F is conveniently reinforced and sized so that once pin PS is fastened with the related backplate CP, pin PS is positioned in the position desired, for example the one conforming with the heights 1 and 33 of the standard mentioned above.

[0016] In the embodiment shown by mere way of example, the securing of pin PS occurs by means of a female thread FF on pin PS and a male thread FM on backplate CP, so that these two elements at least partly interpenetrate each other.

[0017] It is worth noting that said "female/male" threads may also be "male/female", that is male on pin PS and female on backplate CP.

[0018] A further peculiar feature consists of the fact that the locking of pin PS on backplate CP at the end of the screwing is carried out by means of a specific retaining system. For example, a crown of serrated front teeth could conveniently be provided on pin PS and on backplate CP so that once they are completely screwed onto one another, said respective front toothed crowns mutually engage, thus hindering the undesired unscrewing thereof.

[0019] Alternatively, the securing of pin PS on backplate CP may be of the "bayonet" or coupling type or of any type of thread or by means of a metal or non-metal middle pin, etc.

[0020] It is also preferable to provide, inside the lifting pin PS, a reinforcing coaxial cylindrical element, preferably (but not exclusively) tubular, made of metal or plastic material or material of other kind.

[0021] A first advantage of the embodiment consists of the fact that the product recyclability is promoted by eliminating metal securing systems known to date because the physical separation of the components of the item at the end of its life is no longer required. In other words, the latter may be regenerated without having to provide any disassembly activity as instead currently is required to avoid polluting the raw material recovered.

[0022] It is worth noting that where the connection in current systems between bin body and pin support is carried out by means of metal screws, the screws may cause such conditions whereby the main component (which is the most costly) of the assembly - and that is the body of the bulk refuse container - is damaged in the case of anomalous thrust. A second advantage of the present invention is that the new system which is described is studied in order to discharge such anomalous thrusts and therefore possible damage only onto the added component - that is mounted on the body of the bulk refuse container - thus protecting the main component. Moreover, the replacement cost would have less impact due to the reduced weight of the components according to the invention, which are to be replaced in these cases.

[0023] Another advantage is given by the fact that, also in the case of presence of metal screws in the securing system according to the present invention, these screws would damage only backplate CP and never the bin body which, as mentioned, is the most costly part.

[0024] It is also worth noting that in order to best distribute the stresses between bulk refuse container support and body, the supports currently known are usually quite large. However, it is also well known that the production of large items requires the use of larger systems and therefore with an increased energy consumption. A further advantage of the invention is that the innovative solution described hereto allows the use of smaller systems with lower energy consumption.

[0025] The invention also permanently resolves the problem of distributing/transmitting the mechanical thrusts onto the structure of the body of the bulk refuse container C. Indeed, such a problem substantially is resolved, there being provided a reinforced area about each hole F on the side walls of the bulk refuse container C.

[0026] Due to the assembly/securing simplicity, the present invention does not require electric or pneumatic tools, rather possibly a simple face spanner wrench.

[0027] Advantageously, the aforesaid assembly/securing simplicity allows the transport of the bins C with the pins PS disassembled, thus obtaining an apparent reduction of the total volume of the bin and the subsequent increase of the load capacity. This also results in the reduction of the number of transport trips to be carried out over an average period of time.

[0028] Finally, backplate CP preferably is provided with one or more protruding notches which, during the assembly on bin C, are adapted to be inserted into corresponding housings in the bin itself to prevent undesired rotations of the backplate during the screwing of the lifting pin PS on the male thread FM.

Claims

1. A bulk refuse container (C) with lifting pins (PS) which are fastened on the side of the body of said bulk refuse container (C), comprising a body, said body being provided with at least one hole or seat (F) prepared at the position of each lifting pin (PS), wherein in said hole or seat (F) the respective pin (PS) is fastened by means of a respective backplate (CP) of the bulk refuse container (C); said pin (PS) and said respective backplate (CP) being made of plastic material as the bulk refuse container (C), or being made of any other material suitable for the purpose; wherein said pin (PS) is fastened on the side of the body of the bulk refuse container (C) and wherein said pin (P) and backplate (CP) are fastened to each other to be tightened on a respective wall of the bulk refuse container so as to avoid damaging it in the event of knocks or breaks of the pin (PS) and/or of the backplate (CP); wherein the area of the side wall of the bulk refuse container about each hole (F) is reinforced and sized so that once the pin (PS) is fastened with the related backplate (CP), the pin (PS) is positioned in the position desired,

characterized in that said pin (PS) is manually screwable on the respective backplate (CP) and screwed on the respective backplate (CP)

or alternatively, the fastening of the pin (PS) on the backplate (CP) being of the bayonet or plug-in type or by means of a metal or non-metal middle pin;

and in that the body made of plastic material and said backplate (CP) is fastened inside the bulk refuse container (C), wherein the pin (PS) can be unfastened from the backplate (CP).

2. The bulk refuse container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the pin (PS) is fastenable by means of a female thread (FF) on the pin (PS) and a male thread (FM) on the backplate (CP), or vice versa; wherein said threads are coaxial to each other so that said pin (PS) and said backplate (CP) at least partly penetrate each other.

3. The bulk refuse container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided a self-locking retaining system for locking the pin (PS) at the end of the screwing thereof on the backplate (CP).

4. The bulk refuse container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said retaining system comprises a crown of serrated front teeth provided on the pin (PS) and on the backplate (CP), so that once they are completely screwed onto one another, said respective front toothed crowns mutually engage, thus hindering the undesired unscrewing.

5. The bulk refuse container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a reinforcing coaxial cylindrical element is provided inside the lifting pin (PS).

6. The bulk refuse container according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said reinforcing coaxial cylindrical element is tubular.

Ansprüche

1. Großmüllbehälter (C) mit Hebezapfen (PS), die an der Seite des Körpers des genannten Großmüllbehälters (C) befestigt sind, umfassend einen Körper, wobei der genannte Körper mit mindestens einem Loch oder Sitz (F) versehen ist, das oder der in der Position jedes Hebezapfens (PS) ausgebildet ist, wobei in dem genannten Loch oder Sitz (F) der jeweilige Zapfen (PS) mittels einer jeweiligen Rückplatte (CP) des Großmüllbehälters (C) befestigt ist; wobei der genannte Zapfen (PS) und die genannte jeweilige Rückplatte (CP) aus Kunststoffmaterial wie der Großmüllbehälter (C) bestehen, oder aus irgendeinem anderen Material bestehen, das für den Zweck geeignet ist; wobei der genannte Zapfen (PS) an der Seite des Körpers des Großmüllbehälters (C) befestigt ist, und wobei der genannte Zapfen (PS) und die Rückplatte (CP) aneinander befestigt sind, um an einer jeweiligen Wand des Großmüllbehälters angebracht zu werden, um so zu vermeiden, dass er im Fall von Schlägen oder Brüchen des Zapfens (PS) und/oder der Rückplatte (CP) beschädigt wird; wobei der Bereich der Seitenwand des Großmüllbehälters um jedes Loch (F) verstärkt und derart bemessen ist, dass, sobald der Zapfen (PS) mit der zugehörigen Rückplatte (CP) befestigt ist, der Zapfen (PS) in der gewünschten Position positioniert wird,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der genannte Zapfen (PS) manuell an der jeweiligen Rückplatte (CP) angeschraubt werden kann und an der jeweiligen Rückplatte (CP) angeschraubt wird,

oder alternativ dazu die Befestigung des Zapfens (PS) an der Rückplatte (CP) vom Bajonett- oder Einsteck-Typ oder mittels eines Metall- oder Nicht-Metall-Mittelzapfens ist;

und dadurch, dass der Körper, der aus Kunststoffmaterial besteht, und die genannte Rückplatte (CP) innerhalb des Großmüllbehälters (C) befestigt sind, wobei der Zapfen (PS) von der Rückplatte (CP) gelöst werden kann.

2. Großmüllbehälter nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Zapfen (PS) mittels eines Innengewindes (FF) an dem Zapfen (PS) und eines Außengewindes (FM) an der Rückplatte (CP) befestigt werden kann, oder umgekehrt; wobei die genannten Gewinde zueinander koaxial sind, so dass der genannte Zapfen (PS) und die genannte Rückplatte (CP) einander mindestens teilweise penetrieren.

3. Großmüllbehälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er mit einem selbstverriegelnden Haltesystem zum Verriegeln des Zapfens (PS) am Ende des Anschraubens davon an der Rückplatte (CP) versehen ist.

4. Großmüllbehälter nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das genannte Haltesystem eine Krone aus gezahnten vorderen Zähnen umfasst, die an dem Zapfen (PS) und an der Rückplatte (CP) bereitgestellt sind, so dass, sobald sie vollständig aufeinander geschraubt sind, die jeweiligen vorderen gezahnten Kronen ineinander eingreifen, wodurch das unerwünschte Losschrauben behindert wird.

5. Großmüllbehälter nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein verstärkendes koaxiales zylindrisches Element innerhalb des Hebezapfens (PS) bereitgestellt ist.

6. Großmüllbehälter nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das genannte verstärkende koaxiale zylindrische Element rohrförmig ist.

Revendications

1. Conteneur à ordures en vrac (C) avec des tourillons de levage (PS) qui sont fixés sur le côté du corps dudit conteneur à ordures en vrac (C), comprenant un corps, ledit corps étant muni d'au moins un trou ou siège (F) préparé à la position de chaque tourillon de levage (PS), dans lequel dans ledit trou ou siège (F), le tourillon (PS) respectif est fixé au moyen d'une plaque arrière (CP) respective du conteneur à ordures en vrac (C) ; ledit tourillon (PS) et ladite plaque arrière (CP) respective étant faits de matière plastique comme le conteneur à ordures en vrac (C), ou étant faits de tout autre matériau convenable à cet effet ; dans lequel ledit tourillon (PS) est fixé sur le côté du corps du conteneur à ordures en vrac (C) et dans lequel ledit tourillon (PS) et ladite plaque arrière (CP) sont fixés l'un à l'autre pour être serrés sur une paroi respective du conteneur à ordures en vrac de façon à éviter de l'endommager en cas de chocs ou de cassures du tourillon (PS) et/ou de la plaque arrière (CP) ; dans lequel la zone de la paroi latérale du conteneur à ordures en vrac autour de chaque trou (F) est renforcée et dimensionnée de sorte qu'une fois que le tourillon (PS) est fixé avec la plaque arrière (CP) correspondante, le tourillon (PS) est positionné dans la position souhaitée,

caractérisé en ce que ledit tourillon (PS) peut être vissé manuellement sur la plaque arrière (CP) respective et vissé sur la plaque arrière (CP) respective

ou en variante, la fixation du tourillon (PS) sur la plaque arrière (CP) étant du type à baïonnette ou enfichable ou se faisant au moyen d'un tourillon central métallique ou non métallique ;

et en ce que le corps en matière plastique et ladite plaque arrière (CP) sont fixés à l'intérieur du conteneur à ordures en vrac (C), le tourillon (PS) pouvant être détaché de la plaque arrière (CP).

2. Conteneur à ordures en vrac selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que le tourillon (PS) peut être fixé au moyen d'un filet femelle (FF) sur le tourillon (PS) et d'un filet mâle (FM) sur la plaque arrière (CP), ou vice versa ; dans lequel lesdits filets sont coaxiaux l'un à l'autre de sorte que ledit tourillon (PS) et ladite plaque arrière (CP) se pénètrent au moins partiellement l'un l'autre.

3. Conteneur à ordures en vrac selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'un système de retenue autobloquant est prévu pour bloquer le tourillon (PS) à la fin de son vissage sur la plaque arrière (CP).

4. Conteneur à ordures en vrac selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que ledit système de retenue comprend une couronne de dents frontales dentelées prévue sur le tourillon (PS) et sur la plaque arrière (CP), de sorte qu'une fois qu'ils sont complètement vissés l'un sur l'autre, lesdites couronnes dentées frontales respectives s'engagent mutuellement, empêchant ainsi le dévissage non souhaité.

5. Conteneur à ordures en vrac selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'un élément cylindrique coaxial de renforcement est prévu à l'intérieur du tourillon de levage (PS).

6. Conteneur à ordures en vrac selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que ledit élément cylindrique coaxial de renforcement est tubulaire.

Drawing