Container assemblies capable of receiving and maintaining plural types of waste materials separated for separate disposal of each type of waste material

A container assembly capable of receiving and maintaining plural types of waste materials such as paper, cans, glass and plastic in a separated form for separate disposal of each type of waste material for recycling purposes. The container assembly has a first container comprising a given number of separate compartments and a satellite container and/or chute, each of which also has the same number of compartments as the first container. The satellite container and/or chute is capable of being positioned over the first container so that the specific type of waste material in a given compartment of the satellite container or chute is deposited in the compartment of the first container holding the same specific type of waste material. The material maintained in the first container is able to be transferred to a conveyance for transporting such materials.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to container assemblies capable of receiving and 
maintaining in a separated form plural types of waste materials for 
separate disposal of each type of waste material. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
For many years, the disposal of waste materials such as trash and garbage 
has been a major problem in many communities. To reduce this problem, many 
communities have required separation of certain waste materials such as 
newspapers, glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans for recycling 
purposes. As a result, people and businesses in such communities need to 
separate such waste materials and maintain said materials in a separated 
form until the community can collect them. 
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 617,445, 1,219,176, 3,720,346 and 4,739,894 
describe receptacles of waste materials having compartments or separate 
containers available to separate waste materials. The '346 patent also has 
a removable cover with an adjustable opening which permits such 
compartments to be emptied in succession into separate trash receivers 
whose contents are collected periodically. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,133,474 describes an apparatus for the handling and 
dispensing of a material such as a corrosive or caustic liquid in which 
the container is attached to the receiver by a hinge and is pivoted over 
the receiver resulting in liquid flowing from the container to the 
receiver. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to transfer plural types of Waste 
material to a first container comprising a given number of separate 
compartments from one or more satellite containers having the same given 
number of separate compartments to maintain the plural types of waste 
material separated in the first container to permit their individual 
collection. 
It is another object of this invention to enable transfer of such 
individual types of waste material from the compartments of said first 
container to conveyances, such as trucks, for transporting away such waste 
material. 
The invention provides for a container assembly capable of receiving and 
maintaining plural types of waste materials in separated form for separate 
disposal of each type of waste material. The assembly comprises in part a 
first container with a given number of separate compartments comprising 
separate units disposed in an array. The first container has an open top 
with a cover adapted to close said top. 
The assembly also has a satellite container smaller than the first 
container. The satellite container has a plurality of separate 
compartments in an array within that satellite container corresponding in 
number to said given number and means to permit displacement of the 
compartments. The satellite container has an open top with a cover adapted 
to close said top. 
The assembly also has means to guide and position the satellite container 
upside down over the first container so that each of the compartments of 
the satellite container can overlap a corresponding compartment of the 
first container. Upon displacement of a cover over the satellite 
container, the type of waste material in a given compartment of the 
satellite container is deposited into the corresponding compartment of the 
first container holding that same specific type of waste material. 
In place of or in addition to the satellite container, there can be a chute 
with a plurality of separate partitions corresponding in number to said 
given number and funnel means on the bottom of the chute to effect 
registry of each of said partitions with an inner side of a related 
compartment of the first container. 
Alternatively, the compartments in the satellite container may be of the 
same number as and overlap the partitions in the chute thus allowing the 
waste material in a given compartment of the satellite container to be 
deposited into a corresponding partition of the chute. 
The first and satellite containers and compartments within said containers 
may be constructed in any suitable geometric shape (i.e., circular, 
hexagonal, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or pie-shaped) that allows 
registry between the first container and the satellite container or chute. 
In another embodiment of the invention, the array of compartments in said 
first container has a recess affording access to the center of the first 
container.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates a container assembly 10. The container assembly has a 
first container 12 and a satellite container 14. 
The first container contains six compartments 16 designated as A, B, C, D, 
E and F. Each of these compartments is trapezoidal in shape. The 
compartments are arranged together in a circular array with each 
non-parallel side of each compartment next to a non-parallel side of 
another compartment. The shortest parallel side of each compartment is 
toward the center of the first container and may confront the shorter 
parallel sides of the other compartments. The other parallel side is on 
the circumference of said container. 
in FIG. 1, compartment A is smaller than the equally proportioned 
compartments B through F. The resulting first container has a circular 
array of compartments A through F that occupies less than 360.degree. of 
the circumference of the hexagon that will be formed if the compartment A 
were of the same size as compartments B through F. The array is in the 
shape of a hexagon except for a trapezoidal recess within the area of such 
a hexagon that is located next to compartments A, B and F. 
This recess provides access close to the center of the first container. In 
FIG. 1, a satellite container 14, shown in phantom lines, is brought 
within the recess to a designated position at 14a. The satellite container 
shown herein, like the first container, has six compartments 18 designated 
as A', B', C', D', E' and F'. The satellite container's compartments are 
separate trapezoidal or pie shaped compartments extending radially from 
the center to the outer wall of said container. The satellite container 
compartments form a circular array in which each side of each compartment 
(other than the wall side) is adjacent or coincident with a side (other 
than a wall side) of an adjacent compartment. The six compartments of the 
satellite container may be formed by partitions 24 inside the container. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the satellite container 14 may be mounted in a base 42. 
The compartments of the satellite container illustrated in FIG. 2 share a 
common peripheral wall and floor that are respectively separate from and 
within the upstanding wall 44 of the base 42 for the satellite container. 
This common floor rests on and has wheels or coasters that engage in the 
base of the satellite container, thereby allowing the compartments to be 
rotated. A central axle 46 may be mounted in said common base 42 that is 
capable of being rotated. The axle 46 has a keyed connection to the bottom 
29a of a handle 29 that is mounted on top of the satellite container. By 
rotation of the handle 29 and thereby of the axle 46, the compartments of 
the satellite container are rotated, allowing easier access to specified 
compartments. In addition, wheels, coasters or other means of assisting in 
guiding the satellite container to a desired location may be attached 
underneath the base of the satellite container. Receptacle 54 is provided 
for connection to a rod and handle to facilitate the transfer of the 
satellite container. 
In a preferred form, as shown in FIG. 2, the satellite container's cover 26 
includes a single opening 28 adapted to be aligned with any selected one 
of the compartments 18 of the satellite container. The cover 26 is mounted 
for rotation in relation to said compartments 18 to sequentially register 
the single 28 opening with each of said compartments in said array. 
The satellite container is guided and positioned from the designated 
position 14a to a designated position 14b shown in FIG. 1 in which the 
satellite container, shown in full lines, is upside down on top of the 
first container. Each of the satellite container's compartments is in 
registry with a selected compartment of the first container (i.e., 
compartment A' with A). In a preferred embodiment, each of the 
compartments of the first container has a funnel 20 connecting the 
inverted open tops of each satellite compartment 18 with the open top of 
each container compartment 16. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the first container is substantially larger than the 
satellite container. A container assembly that is not used heavily (e.g., 
for a family) may have a first container that is less than six times 
larger than the satellite container. The total capacity of such a first 
container is preferably equivalent to about 40 gallons of waste material. 
A container assembly for a large complex may have a first container 
greater than ten times or even greater than one hundred times the storage 
capacity of the satellite container. 
FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate form of container assembly 110 with a first 
container 112 and a satellite container 114. .The first container has a 
square cross-section and comprises four compartments designated as G, H, 
I, and J, with each compartment having a square cross section. The 
satellite container 114 also has four compartments designated as G', H', 
L', and J', with each compartment having a square cross-section. In FIG. 
3, the satellite container 114 is positioned upside down over the first 
container 112 so that each compartment 118 of the satellite container is 
in registry with a selected associated compartment 116 of the first 
container (i.e. G' to G). 
In a preferred form, the registry between the compartments of the first and 
satellite containers is supported by a keyed connection between the 
satellite and first container. 
The first and satellite containers 112 and 114 and compartments 116 and 118 
of such containers having square horizontal cross-sections, may be 
substituted with first and satellite containers and compartments having 
rectangular shapes in that such rectangular shaped containers and 
compartments are capable of having each compartment of the satellite 
container in registry with a selected associated compartment of the first 
container. The containers and compartments may be made of many shapes 
(i.e., circular, hexagonal, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or 
pie-shaped) as illustrated by the FIG. 1 illustration of a hexagon shaped 
container with pie shaped compartments and a first container with 
trapezoidal shaped compartments and the FIG. 3 illustration of square 
compartments, as long as the shape of the compartments and containers 
permit each of such compartments of the satellite container to be in 
registry with a selected associated compartment of the first container. 
The satellite container 114 illustrated in FIG. 3 may comprise the end part 
of a chute having four partitions from the compartments G', H', 1' and J', 
which correspond in number to the four compartments of the first 
container. At the bottom of said chute, there are funnels (not shown) to 
effect registry of each of said partitions with an inner side of a 
selected associated compartment of the first container. 
In a preferred form, the first container 112 has compartments 116 which 
comprise separate units 122 contained on the outer side by at least one 
column 124 and a peripheral wall 126 with said peripheral wall preferably 
being lower than the upper sides of the compartment units 122 contained 
therein. 
FIG. 4 illustrates a container assembly 210 with a satellite container 214 
having a displaceable cover 226 being guided and positioned upside down 
over a first container 212 also having a displaceable cover 228 With 
central openings which conform to and may register with the open tops of 
the compartments in the satellite container 214. 
In a designated position shown in broken lines at 2l4a in FIG. 4, a 
satellite container 214 is resting on a support 230 within a recess in the 
first container 212. The satellite container is lifted and rotated on a 
fitting 232 mounted above the cover 228 of the first, passing through a 
designated intermediate position 214b in which the covered satellite 
container, again shown in phantom lines, is substantially upside down. In 
a designated position at 214c, the satellite container 214 shown in full 
lines is positioned upside down over the first container 212, with each 
compartment of the satellite container in registry with a specified 
compartment of the first container. 
By displacement of the cover of the satellite container, the waste material 
in each given compartment of the satellite container is deposited into the 
corresponding compartment of the first container holding that same 
specific type of waste material. 
FIG. 5 illustrates the removal of individual compartments 322 of a first 
container 312 to a conveyance 342. The separate compartments are nested 
together within base 326 and have a handle 334. 
In a designated position at 312a, the first container 312 is normally 
closed by a cover 328, in a position shown in phantom lines. The cover 328 
is displaced, to the side of the first container 3)2 where the cover is 
shown in full lines in a designated position at 328b. 
After the cover has been displaced, a handle 334 on a compartment 322 in 
the first container 312 is grabbed by a hook 336, said hook being 
supported on a crane arm 337 by a cable 338 and pulley 340 mounted on the 
conveyance 342. The crane 337 from the rope and pulley is shown in phantom 
lines, for attachment of the hook to the handle 334. After the hook has 
engaged the handle, the crane arm 337 is raised to the full line position 
and the separate compartment 322 is lifted away from the first container 
and tipped into the back of the conveyance used to transport said waste 
material away from the container assembly. 
Alternately, waste material may be removed from each compartment of the 
first container to the conveyance by a vacuum means contained on the 
conveyance. To accomplish this result, the first container is positioned 
adjacent to the conveyance, and coupling means in the form of a hollow 
flexible tubular member is inserted into a selected one of the 
compartments of the first container holding waste material. The conveyance 
vacuum means withdraws the waste material in the selected one of the 
compartments from the compartment through the member and into said 
conveyance. As part of such a vacuum transfer, the conveyance may 
conveniently have an array of receivers each adapted to receive waste 
material from a different compartment of said first container. 
In a preferred alternative in which all of the compartments are emptied at 
the same time into selected receivers of an array of receivers on the 
conveyance, the first container comprises the array of receivers and the 
satellite container comprises the last referenced compartments. 
The conveyance shown in FIG. 5 in the form of a vehicle may be replaced by 
other forms such as a conveyor belt having different compartments or 
receiving areas for the different types of waste material. 
FIG. 6 illustrates another suitable means of guiding and positioning of a 
satellite container upside down over a first container. In this case a 
satellite container 414 has shoes 444 which permit the container to travel 
on a track 442 leading from the satellite container's place of use to the 
first container. 
As shown, a satellite container, shown in phantom lines at 414a, travels 
the tracks 442 which comprises two parallel rails by means of the shoes 
444 which are attached at opposite sides of the satellite container 414. 
At the end of the tracks 442, a pair of swinging rails 446 are aligned 
with the rails of the track as shown in phantom lines 446b. The satellite 
container is guided from the rails 442 onto the swinging rails 446 so that 
the satellite container, shown in phantom lines at 414b, is carried by the 
two swinging rails 446. The swinging rails 446 are then rotated 
180.degree. by means of an axle 448 whereby the satellite container, shown 
in full lines, is in a designated position at 414c upside down over the 
first container 412. The first container has a removable cover 424 that 
may be associated with the axle 448 to cooperate with the satellite 
container to prevent waste material from falling out of that container 
prematurely. 
While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been herein 
illustrated and described, it is not intended to limit the invention to 
such disclosure, but changes and modifications may be made therein and 
thereto within the scope of the following claims.