Abstract:
An advertising display device usable for the collection and temporary retention of waste is defined by a hollow container having a movable front panel for accessing the interior. A frame in the interior provides for the emplacement of at least two trash bags to enable separable depositing of different sorts of waste thereinto to increase ease of recycling. At least one transparent layer mounted to the front panel cooperates therewith to define a pocket therebetween for removable emplacement of advertising media therewithin. The device is attachable to a post or other stanchion. In an alternate embodiment, the device is unitary in construction, a hinged top wall provides access to the interior, and multiple removable canisters in the interior enable separable depositing of different sorts of waste thereinto to increase ease of recycling. In the alternate embodiment, at least one divider may be used to separate the interior into multiple compartments.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/330,192, entitled “ADVERTISING DISPLAY DEVICE”, filed Oct. 27, 1994, and now abandoned, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention concerns advertising display devices. More particularly, the present invention concerns advertising display devices that, also, are useful for waste disposal. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The deployment of advertising media on waste collection devices is known. For example, it is commonly known to apply posters to the sides of waste collection bins. 
     Other devices provide for display of advertising cards. Such a waste collection apparatus employing advertising cards is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 1,511,982, issued Oct. 14, 1924 to Schilling and entitled “RUBBISH CAN.” Schilling teaches a container having a bottom hinged front panel disposed in front of a front wall. An advertising card is inserted and held between the front panel and the front wall. As useful as the Schilling apparatus is, Schilling presents problems to the user. In order to access the interior of the Schilling apparatus to remove waste and debris inserted therein, a separable hood with a flap must be entirely displaced from the apparatus. This removal of the hood is cumbersome and awkward at best. 
     Thus, an advertising display device that is deployed in conjunction with a device for collecting waste, the device being easily accessible for both the placement of waste thereinto and the removal of waste therefrom as well as the device enabling easy placement of advertising media, would provide an advance in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an advertising display device comprising: A hollow container comprising a front panel and a rear panel. The front panel includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall, the top, bottom, and side walls being, preferably, integrally formed. The top wall may also be hingedly attached to the side wall. The top wall has at least two openings formed therethrough through which waste may be deposited into the hollow container. A flap, hingedly secured to the top wall, may cover each opening in the top wall. The front panel is movably secured to the rear panel to enable access to the interior for removal of waste therefrom. A frame, either attached to the front or back panel or freestanding in the hollow interior, enables the removable emplacement of disposable waste containers such as plastic bags or similar devices for collection of waste deposited through the openings in the top wall. Means for displaying advertising media is located on the side wall. In a first embodiment, the means for displaying advertising comprises a clear plastic strip that is attached to the side wall by glue or a similar method of attachment to form a pocket. In a second embodiment, the means for displaying advertising comprises a clear plastic strip that is attached to the side panel by a magnetic strip that goes around the border of the clear plastic strip to form a pocket. 
     In a third embodiment, the hollow interior is divided into multiple compartments by at least one divider slidably engaging grooves in the panels to enable separable depositing of different sorts of waste into the device to increase ease of recycling. Removable canisters may be emplaced in the hollow interior of the device, one beneath each of the openings in the top wall, to collect waste deposited into the container. These dividers and canisters replace the frame of the first embodiment. At least one of the canisters may be fireproof, thereby enabling cigarettes and other flammable materials to be deposited thereinto. 
     In a fourth embodiment, removable canisters are used without the dividers of the second embodiment. 
     The container, the apertures in the top wall, and the canisters may take many shapes, some of these shapes being hexagonal, circular, and square. 
     In all embodiments, the device further includes means for mounting the device to a post or similar stanchion associated with the rear panel. 
     The advertising display device of the present invention allows display of advertising media while enabling convenient access to the interior thereof for insertion and removal of waste therefrom. 
     The present invention will be more completely described in the following detailed description, which can be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements and in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a first embodiment of the advertising display device of the present invention depicted as being attached to a pole; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with an advertisement partially attached thereto; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a canister used in a third embodiment of the advertising display device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an inside view of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the advertising display device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the third embodiment hereof; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the third embodiment hereof 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the third embodiment hereof; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the third embodiment hereof; 
     FIG. 14 is a top view of the third embodiment hereof; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a portion of the top of the third embodiment hereof and a canister used in the third embodiment hereof; 
     FIG. 16 is a partial side view of a divider and a pole used in the third embodiment hereof; and 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment hereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing and, in particular, to FIGS. 1-4, there is shown therein a first embodiment of the present invention, to wit, an advertising display device generally denoted as  10 . The device  10  includes a front panel  11  and a rear panel  13  which cooperate to define a container with a hollow interior  30  for receiving waste. Each of the front panel  11  and the rear panel  13  has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surfaces of the front panel and the rear panel facing the interior  30  of the hollow container. As shown, the front panel includes a top wall  12 , a side wall  14 , and a bottom wall  16 . The side wall  14  has a top edge  15 . The top wall  12 , side wall  14 , and bottom wall  16  are, preferably, integrally formed. The top wall  12  may also be hingedly attached to the top edge  15  of the side wall  14  in the well-known manner, thereby providing access to the interior  30  of the hollow container. 
     As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the rear panel  13  has a plurality of spaced apart apertures  18  formed therethrough. Means  19  for mounting the device  10  to a structure  20 , such as a post  22 , is deployable through the apertures  18 . As shown, the means  19  comprises a strapping  24  or the like, which is routed through the apertures  18  and tightened about the post  22  to retain the device  10  thereto. Other means for mounting include, for example, suitable fasteners such as nails, screws, hooks, etc., all of which are well known to the skilled artisan. If not mounted on a pole, the device  10  may also be bolted to the ground via an aperture  17  formed through the bottom wall, or left free-standing, at the option of each user. 
     As shown, the front panel  11  is movably secured to the rear panel  13 , preferably, by a pair of first hinge members  42  vertically disposed along an edge of the front panel  11  and a pair of second hinge members  43  vertically disposed along a corresponding edge of the rear panel  13  in the well-known manner However, the front and rear panels may be welded together or otherwise formed as an integral unit, such as by injection mold, when made of plastic, etc. If the front panel  11  and the rear panel  13  are welded together or otherwise integrally formed, the top wall  12  of the front panel is hingedly attached to the top edge  15  of the side wall  14 , in a manner similar to that described hereinabove, in order to provide access to the interior  30  of the hollow container. 
     As shown, the top wall  12  has a recess  32  formed therein which may have any suitable advertising media  34  or like printed matter emplaced thereon. The media  34  are removably emplaced in the recess  32  by any suitable means, such as glue, paste, or the like. 
     At least two openings  36 ,  36 ′ are formed through the top wall  12 , through which waste is emplaced into the interior  30 . Gaskets  37 ,  37 ′ surround the openings  36 ,  36 ′ to cover any sharp edges, thereby preventing cuts or abrasions to a user. The openings  36 ,  36 ′ are advantageously angularly offset, as shown, to facilitate emplacement of waste and to limit the intrusion of unwanted materials, such as rain water if the device is used outdoors, thereinto. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a hinged flap  35  integrally formed with the top wall  12  may project over each corresponding opening  36 ,  36 ′ to keep unwanted materials, such as rain water if the device is used outdoors, from entering through the openings  36  or  36 ′. The apertures  36  and hinged flaps  35  need not all be the same shape. 
     The front panel  11  hingedly opens from the rear panel  13  as described hereinabove, thereby enabling access to the interior  30 . 
     A latch  48 , such as a rotatable bracket  50 , is disposed on the front panel  11  and engages the interior wall of the rear panel  13  to keep the device  10  closed. A key operated cylinder may be connected to the latch to prevent unauthorized entry to the interior  30 , in the well-known manner. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a frame  52  may be secured to the inside of the front panel  11 . At least one disposable receptacle  54  such as a garbage bag  56  may be removably mounted on the frame member  52  to removably store any waste deposited through the openings  36 ,  36 ′. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the frame  52  may be affixed to the rear panel  13 , or may even be free-standing and emplaced in the hollow interior  30  atop the bottom wall  16 . The frame  52  shown in FIG. 8 has a top portion  76 , a base portion  80 , and a support portion  78  extending from the base portion to the top portion. As shown, the top portion  76  is configured to support two bags, though it may be configure to support any convenient number of bags, one below each of the openings formed through the top wall. 
     The device  10  also includes means  58  for displaying advertising indicia provided on the front panel  11 . The means  58  comprises a transparent member  62  which surmounts the front panel  11 . The transparent member  62  may be attached to the front panel  11  by a variety of means, including glue or tape or the like. The space between the member  62  and the front panel  11  forms a pocket  64 . The pocket  64  has an open top  66 , through which advertising media  60  can be inserted into the pocket  64 . The open top  66  can be sealed by any suitable means, such as tape, to protect the advertising media  60  from damage by the elements. Additionally, there may be multiple such means  58  for displaying advertising media, such as is shown in FIG.  9 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is depicted therein a second embodiment of the present invention. In accordance herewith, a container  110  includes means  158  for displaying advertising. The means  158  comprises means  159  for connecting a transparent layer  162  to a front panel  114 . 
     The means  159  includes a magnetic border  168  disposed around the perimeter  170  of the transparent layer  162 . Thus, the transparent layer  162  may be magnetically secured to the front panel  114 . In this manner, advertising media  140  are retained in a pocket  164  formed between the transparent layer  162  and the front panel  114 , with the pocket  164  being closed by virtue of the magnetic attraction between the perimetral magnetic border  168  and the front panel  114 . In all other respects, the device is similar to that of the first embodiment. 
     In a third embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 13, the device  10  is unitarily formed, rather than consisting of a front panel and a rear panel. The device has a side wall  14  with an interior surface  88  and an exterior surface  90 ; a top wall  12  that is hingedly secured to the side wall; a bottom wall  16  that has an interior surface  92  and an exterior surface  94 ; and a hollow interior. The top wall may be either substantially flat or peaked. The peaked top design is preferred for outdoor use, as a peaked top will allow rainwater to run off, while either the peaked top design or the substantially flat top design is efficacious for indoor use. 
     It is to be appreciated that the third embodiment may be configured in any convenient form, for instance with a cross-section of a hexagon, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10; a circle, as shown in FIG. 11; a square, as shown in FIG. 12; etc. Multiple openings  36  may be formed through the top wall  12 , as shown in FIGS. 9,  10 , and  14 . 
     As shown in FIG. 13, at least one longitudinal groove  27  is formed in the interior surface  88  of the side wall  14 . A retention means  41  is formed substantially in the center of the interior surface  92  of the bottom wall  16 . The retention means may be an upwardly projecting retaining wall  43  formed integrally with the bottom wall, or an aperture (not shown), or any other retention means known to the skilled artisan. A pole  45  removably fits into the retention means  41 , thereby projecting upwardly from the bottom wall  16 . At least one longitudinal groove  47  is formed in the pole  45 , the number of grooves  47  in the pole  45  corresponding to the number of grooves  27  in the interior wall. The grooves  47  are disposed about the pole  45  such that each groove  47  in the pole faces a corresponding groove  27  in the interior wall when the pole is slid into the retention means  41 . 
     At least one substantially planar divider  29  is removably attached to the device by slidably engaging the at least one longitudinal groove  27  in the interior surface  88  of the side wall  14  and the corresponding at least one longitudinal groove  47  in the pole  45 , thereby dividing the hollow interior of the container into at least two compartments. Alternately, and as shown in FIG. 16, a tubular portion  96  of the divider  29  may slide over the pole  45  to removably attach the divider  29  to the pole  45 . Multiple dividers  29  may be attached to the interior surface of the side wall to divide the hollow interior into multiple sections, depending on the number of openings  36  in the top wall. 
     At least two removable canisters  70  may be emplaced within the hollow interior, one in each of the compartments formed in the hollow interior by the dividers  29  below each of the openings formed through the top wall. These canisters  70  replace the frame of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the canisters  70  may have handles  72 ,  72 ′ integrally formed therewith or attached thereto to enable ease of handling. The canisters  70  need not all be the same shape, and, preferably, correspond to the shapes of the apertures  36  in the top wall  12 . Each canister  70  may contain an aperture  74  formed therethrough to allow runoff of rain water or other liquids from the interior thereof that might have entered through the apertures  36  in the top wall. In this way, several types of waste may be separably deposited in, and collected from, the device to increase ease of recycling. For instance, one of the openings may be for paper; another for aluminum; another for plastic; etc. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, at least one additional aperture  82  may be formed through the top wall  12 . As shown in FIG. 15, disposed in the hollow interior  30  beneath each aperture  82  is a fireproof canister  84 . The canister  84  may have a bladder-like top  86 , as shown in FIG. 15, or may simply have an open top (not shown). The at least one aperture  82  and corresponding fireproof canister  84  are designed for the deposit of cigarettes and similar flammable materials. The apertures  82  need not all be the same shape as each other or as the apertures  36 . 
     In all other respects, the third embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment. 
     In a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 17, a pole and dividers are not be used to separate the hollow interior into compartments. As in the third embodiment, at least two, and preferably at least three, flaps  35  cover at least two, and preferably three, openings  36  in the top wall  12 , one flap per opening, and a canister  70  sits in the hollow interior beneath each of the openings  36  in the top wall  12 . In all other respects, the fourth embodiment is similar to the third embodiment. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described fully and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.