A LITTER BIN

Abstract: A litter bin has a container entry opening closeable by a horizontal cover (18). The cover (18) is connected to an upwardly projecting access panel (16) with closes a housing side openin. The access panel (16) is displaceable to move the cover (18) between open and closed positions of the container (8). In the closed position the cover (18) is in sealing contact with the container opening and/or the access panel (16) is in sealing contact with the side opening to prevent entry of oxygen into the container thus preventing the propagation of fire. The access panel (16) allows an open topped container (8) to be closed by a flat cover and be operable by a single hand.

Description: A LITTER BIN This invention relates to a litter bin or other receptacle hereinafter referred to for the sake of convenience simply as a litter bin. It is well known for litter bins to comprise an open topped container closed by a pivoted lid which may be flat or of inverted V- shape. It is also known for the container to be concealed behind a wall having an access flap above the level of the open top of the container. The container may be rigid in which case it is preferably lined with a disposable refuse bag. Alternatively, the container may be provided by a disposable refuse bag suspended from a frame defining an entry opening for the container. A flat lid for the container is an advantage in reducing fire risk by limiting the free space above the contents of the full container. However, a flat lid makes the container more difficult to access as compared to the other designs mentioned above, particularly in the case of single-handed operation when rubbish is held in the same hand that is used to open the bin. US Patent No. 4212407 discloses a fire extinguishing waste receptacle cover having a swinging top which covers the top of the waste receptacle. The swinging top is of triangular frame in section and is pivotable about the apex of the triangle. The horizontal base of the top seals the volume of the swinging top from the receptacle. Enough clearance is provided between the bottom edges of the angled side walls and the opening to the receptacle to allow the top to swing. The provision of the clearance permits oxygen to enter the receptacle between the top and the opening when the receptacle is closed. Hence effective fireproof sealing is not provided. It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the aforesaid disadvantages. According to the present invention there is provided a litter bin or other receptacle comprising a container entry opening closeable by a cover connected to an access panel projecting upwardly from the cover, the access panel being displaceable to move the cover between open and closed positions, the access panel closing a side opening in a housing above the container entry opening characterised in that the closed position is defined by the access panel contacting the side opening and/or the cover contacting the container opening in a sealing relationship. The inventive design enables an open-topped container to be closed by a flat cover which can nevertheless be operated by a single hand acting on the access panel. Furthermore, the access flap and the cover in their closed positions provide a double barrier to entry of pests into and egress of odours from the container. The container entry opening closeable by said cover may be defined either by the open top of a rigid container, which is preferably lined with a disposable refuse bag, or by a frame from which such a bag is suspended. The access panel is preferably pivotally mounted at an upper edge thereof so as to provide a flap which swings with the cover between open and closed positions. The flap may be biased to the closed position by virtue of the position of its centre of gravity. This provides resistance against wind pressure etc. If fire prevention is particularly important, the container entry opening is defined by a rigid container made of fire resistant material, e.g. sheet steel, with the flap being made of similar material. When the flap is closed, the contents of the container are effectively contained in a sealed fireproof box in which the propagation of fire will be prevented by oxygen starvation. The invention will now be further described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of litter bin according to the invention, in the closed position; Fig. 2 is a corresponding vipw of the bin in the open position; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line HI-HI of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line IV-IV of Fig. 2. Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated litter bin comprises a housing 1 of vertically elongated rectangular box shape with top and bottom walls 2, 3, front and rear walls 4, 5 and side walls 6, 7. The housing 1 can be opened in some suitable way (not shown), for example by removal of one of the walls, to give access to the interior of the housing. A container 8 stands in the housing 1 on the bottom wall 3 adjacent the front wall 4. The container 8 is also of vertically elongate rectangular box shape with a floor 9 resting on the bottom wall 3 of the housing 1, front and rear walls 10, 11, respectively close to the front wall 4 and spaced from the rear wall 5 of the housing 1, and side walls 12, 13 closely adjacent the corresponding walls 6, 7 of the housing 1. The upper edges of the container walls 10, 11, 12 and 13 define an open top of rectangular shape disposed in a horizontal plane parallel to the top housing wall 2. The front wall 4 of the housing 1 has an access opening 14 adjacent its upper end. The access opening 14 is of rectangular shape with a lower edge above or in contact with the open top of the container 8. The access opening 14 has an inturned lip 15 and is normally closed by a flap 16 pivotal about an axis 17 above and inside the upper edge of the opening 14. The flap 16 is of rectangular shape slightly larger than the access opening 14 such that it extends beyond the limits of the opening 14 on all sides. The lower edge of the flap remote from the pivoted upper edge is integral with a cover 18 for the open top of the container 8. The access flap 16 and the cover 18 are mutually perpendicular such that in the rest position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 the flap 16 closes the access opening 14 and the cover 18 closes the container 8. The closed position may be defined by the flap 16 making contact with the inturned lip 15 of the access opening 14 and/or by the cover 18 contacting the open top of the container 8. The cover 18 is larger than the container opening such that in the closed position it extends beyond the edges of the container 8 opening on all sides. The access flap 16 may be pushed inwardly by hand into the open position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. Opening of the access flap 16 is limited by contact between the cover 18 and the housing 1. In its fully open position the access flap 16 defines a chute surface for directing inserted material into the container. When hand pressure is removed the access flap 16 and cover 18 swing back into their closed positions by gravity. The centre of gravity of the flap is positioned such that the flap is biased towards the closed position and in addition provides a force to maintain it in the closed position against wind pressure etc. Return springs (not shown) may be provided to assist the gravitational force. The container 8 and cover 18 may be made of sheet steel or other fire resistant material so that in the closed condition the container 8 is effectively a sealed fireproof box in which the propagation of fire is prevented by oxygen starvation. Alternatively, the litter bin components may be made of synthetic plastics material. In either case the egress of unpleasant odours from the container 8 is reduced by the closely fitting cover 18 and the additional closure provided by the access flap 16. It will be appreciated that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the housing need not fully enclose the inner container. Thus the housing may be open-fronted to facilitate removal of the inner container or, alternatively, may be in the form of a hood located on and supported by the inner container which would therefore be largely exposed. If the housing is entire as illustrated it may be separable into two or more pieces to facilitate removal, emptying and replacement of the inner container. The inner container opening may be defined by a frame from which a plastics refuse bag may be suspended in use. The cover connected to the access flap will then overlie the frame in the closed condition.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A litter bin or other receptacle comprising a container entry opening closeable by a cover connected to an access panel projecting upwardly from the cover, the access panel being displaceable to move the cover between open and closed positions, the access panel closing a side opening in a housing above the container entry opening characterised in that the closed position is defined by the access panel contacting the side opening and/or the cover contacting the container opening in a sealing relationship. 2. A litter bin according to claim 1 wherein the access panel is pivotally mounted at an upper edge thereof so as to provide a flap which swings with the cover between open and closed positions. 3. A litter bin according to claim 2 wherein the flap is biased to the closed position. 4. A litter bin according to claim 3 wherein the flap is biased by virtue of the position of its centre of gravity. 5. A litter bin according to any preceding claim wherein the cover is larger than the container opening such that it extends beyond the limits of the opening. 6. A litter bin according to any preceding claim wherein the access panel is larger than the side opening such that it extends beyond the limits of the opening. 7. A litter bin according to any preceding claim wherein the container entry opening closeable by said cover is defined either by the open top of a rigid container, which is lined with a disposable refuse bag, or by a frame from which such a bag is suspended.

Inventors: LYNCH JONATHAN, PALMER RICHARD, LYNCH, JONATHAN, PALMER, RICHARD
Applicants: GLASDON LTD, GLASDON GROUP LIMITED
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65F1
IPC codes: B65F1