A RECEPTACLE FOR STORING WASTE OIL OR FAT

Abstract: A receptacle for storing waste oil or fat comprises an outer container (1) containing an inner container (2). A filter arrangement (4) is provided in an opening (5) of the inner container to filter the material as it is poured through the opening into the inner container. The outer container has a lid arrangement (10) which is operable to allow material to be poured into the inner container.

Description: A RECEPTACLEFOR STORING WASTEOILOR FAT The present invention generally relates to a receptacle for storing a material and more specifically to a receptacle having an inner and outer container wherein the material is contained within the inner container and the outer container prevents spillage in the event of the inner container being damaged. There is a problem in today's society with disposal of waste oil, such as waste edible oil or fat which causes pollution. Waste edible oil or fat is the dirty oil or fat obtained from deep or shallow fat fryers and when grilling, frying or roasting meat. The waste edible oil or fat can be in liguid, semi- liquid or solid form. The disposal of waste edible oil or fat is a problem. Some catering premises disguise their waste oil or fat (so as to reduce refuse costs) and the waste oil or fat is thus collected by local authorities and mixed with other refuse. This refuse is then generally emptied into landfill sites and rain eventually washes the oil or fat into rivers and streams, thus causing pollution. Alternatively, the waste edible oil or fat is poured directly into the drainage system by catering and domestic users. This oil causes pollution and can solidify and eventually cause blockage. Even if the waste edible oil or fat is dutifully saved by the caters in the containers in which it was supplied, oil which inevitably finds its way onto the outside of the containers is washed by rain from the outside of the container and eventually enters the surface water. Further, the storage of containers containing the waste edible oil or fat causes unpleasant odours and can attract rodents who thrive on the waste cooking oil/fat, increase in number and spread disease. Although waste edible oil or fat does break down in water it uses up vast amounts of oxygen in the process, hence removing oxygen that would otherwise have remained in the waterways for wildlife. Thus due to the way waste edible oil or fat spreads, even a small quantity can cause a great deal of harm. It will be appreciated that similar problems may apply to the storage of other substances whose storage needs to be controlled, e.g. because of legislation, particularly controlled waste. The object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle for storing material which can receive and contain the material safely. A further object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle for oil or fat which can be provided for small scale domestic use and allow for the easy emptying of the oil or fat from the receptacle. According to one aspect, the present invention provides a receptacle for storing material comprising an outer container containing an inner container, and a filter arrangement in an opening of said inner container to filter the material as it is poured through said opening into said inner container, said outer container having a lid arrangement which is operable to allow the material to be introduced into said inner container. The inner container may be removable from the outer container with the lid arrangement being operable to allow for the removal of said inner container. In one embodiment the lid arrangement comprises an openable lid having an opening therein communicating with a chute to allow the material to be poured through the opening in the lid, and pass down the chute into the inner container, the opening in the lid having a removable and lockable cap. In another embodiment of the present invention the inner container has a stopper for the opening, and the lid arrangement comprises a lid which is openable to allow access to the stoppered opening in the inner container. According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a receptacle for holding material and allowing the easy emptying of the material, the receptacle comprising an outer container containing an inner container, at least a part of said outer container being removable to allow the material to be poured into and out of said inner container; and a piston arranged in said inner container and moveable from one end of said inner container to the other end of said inner container to expel the material present in said inner container. Preferably the inner container is sealed at one end and open at the other end and the piston comprises a disc which seals with the walls of the inner container. The face of the piston is pivotably connected to a first end of a link rod and the second end of the link rod is pivotably connected to a handle near a first end of the handle. The second end of the handle is pivotably mounted on the inner container at the top end and the piston is moveable between one end of the inner container and the other end of the inner container by the lifting of the handle at the first end. In order to limit the motion of the handle and prevent the piston from being pulled out of the inner container, the handle preferably has a protrusion extending from the handle adjacent to the position at which the link rod is pivotably connected to the handle. In an alternative embodiment the inner container includes restraining means to prevent the piston being pulled out of the inner container. In a further embodiment of the present invention a piston rod is provided connected at a first end thereof to the piston through the bottom end of the inner container, and a base plate is provided connected to a second end of the piston rod. The outer container is arranged to sit over the inner container, the piston rod and the base plate and to engage the base plate. The base plate is rotatable about the second end of the piston rod to disengage the base plate from the outer container and allow the removal of the outer container. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2a is a schematic drawing of a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2b is a schematic drawing of the inner container of the embodiment of Figure 2a; Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a further illustration of the embodiment of Figure 3 with the lid of the outer container removed and the piston pulled into the extended position by the handle; and Figure 5 is a schematic drawing of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 shows a modification of a lid arrangement for use with the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a receptacle for oil or fat in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The receptacle comprises an outer container 1 having a lid 3 containing an inner container 2. The outer container 1 is closed at a lower end thereof and open at an upper end thereof onto which fits the lid 3. The lid 3 is hinged on the outer container 1 to allow access to the inner container 2. In order to support the lid 3 in the open position there are provided telescopic supports 6. The inner container 2 has a closed lower end and an upper end which is open and to which is fitted a lid 10. Within the lid 10 there is provided a stoppered opening 5 which can be opened to allow waste oil or fat to be poured into the inner container 2. Within the inner container 2 there is provided a filter 4 to filter the waste oil or fat as it is poured through the opening 5 into the inner container 2. The filter 4 can be removable to allow the cleaning thereof. The inner container 2 is also provided with a heater 8 to allow the heating of the waste oil or fat to facilitate the removal of the waste oil or fat from the inner container. In a side wall of the inner container 2, in an upper position thereof, there is provided a transparent arm 7 and in the outer container 1, in an adjacent position, there is provided a window 9 to allow the level of the oil or fat within the inner container 2 to be inspected. Thus this embodiment of the present invention provides an environmentally sound receptacle for waste oil or fat. The shape of the outer container 1 can be chosen to be aesthetically pleasing and such a receptacle can be provided in public places such as amenity sites, car parks, shopping precincts, supermarkets and schools. The public will be encouraged to bring their waste oil or fat to be recycled. The receptacle of this embodiment of the present invention provides for an environmentally safe recycling system since, if the inner container 2 were to leak, the oil would be contained within the outer container 1. The volume of the space between the inner and outer containers is 110% of the volume of the inner container. Once the inner container 2 is full, the oil or fat can be removed from the inner container 2 either by syphoning or sucking the oil or fat out or by removing the inner container 2 from within the outer container 1. Once the inner container 2 has been removed this can either be emptied into a container on a lorry or the inner container 2 can be replaced. The heater 8 can facilitate the emptying of the oil or fat within the container 2 since raising the temperature of the oil or fat will reduce its viscosity. In order to facilitate the removal of the inner container 2 from within the outer container 1, the inner container 2 can be provided with a handle (not shown) . Also, the electrical connections to the heater within the inner container can either comprise pins and sockets in the bases of the inner and outer containers 1 and 2, or electrical wires can be provided from positions on the side of the inner and outer containers 1 and 2 which are disconnectable as the inner container 2 is extracted from the outer container 1. Referring now to Figure 2, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the present invention for receiving waste oil or fat. The receptacle comprises an outer container 11 having a lid 12 and an inner container 13 contained within the outer container 11. The inner container 13 comprises a cylinder closed at its lower end. The upper end of the inner container 13 is open and is provided with a filter 14 to filter the waste oil or fat as it is poured into the inner container 13. The inner container 13 is also provided with a handle 15 attached to the upper end to allow the removal of the inner container 13 from within the outer container 11. The lid 12 of the outer container 11 has an aperture 16 in the side thereof which communicates with a chute 17 to allow the waste oil or fat to be poured through the aperture 16 down the chute 17 and into the inner container 13. The aperture 16 in the lid 12 is provided with a lockable stopper 18 to seal the aperture 16. The lockable stopper 18 may be a screw cap or may be a lockable self-closing flap with appropriate seals. Also within the lid 12 of the outer container 11, there is provided a dipstick 19 which extends from a lock spring 20 into the inner container 13. By releasing the lock spring 20 the dipstick 19 can be retracted from the inner container 13 and out of the lid 12 to allow the determination of the level of the waste oil or fat within the inner container 13 without having to remove the lid 12. The outer container 11 is designed to be of an aesthetically pleasing shape and the lid 12 is attached to the outer container 11 by locks 21 on either side. Alternatively, both the outer container and the lid 12 may be provided with protrusions which co-operate with indentations in a lockable metal band to lock the lid to the outer container. When the lid 12 is unlocked it can be removed from the outer container 11 to allow access to the inner container 13. The inner container 13 can be withdrawn through the open upper part of the outer container 11 to allow the removal of the waste oil or fat therefrom. Alternatively, the oil or fat can be removed by syphoning or by suction using a vacuum pump. The outer container 11 is arranged to be lockable to a base 22 which itself can be secured to the floor or ground e.g. using bolts. This provides for a secure fixing arrangement to prevent removal of the receptacle. Thus Figures 1 and 2 provide alternative arrangements for a Waste Oil Bank to which commercial or domestic users can bring waste oil or fat. In order to encourage the recycling of waste oil or fat it is desirable to provide a convenient and clean receptacle for domestic use or for use by a small caterer. Such a receptacle will need to be of a suitable size and easily portable to the Waste Oil Banks where it can be emptied. Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate two different embodiments of such receptacles. Referring first to Figure 3, there is disclosed a receptacle comprising an outer container 30 which is of an aesthetically pleasing shape and which has a handle 31 and a removable lid 32. Within the outer container 30 there is provided an inner container 33 for containing the waste oil or fat. The inner container 33 comprises a cylinder which is closed at a lower end thereof and open at an upper end thereof. Within the inner container 33 there is provided a piston 34 which is of disc shape. On an upper face of the piston 34 there is provided a pivot arm 35 having a pivot 36. Within the container 33 there is provided a link rod 36a which is pivotably attached to the piston 34 by the pivot 36. The link 36a extends the length of the inner container 33 and is pivotably attached to a handle 37 at the other end thereof. The handle 37 comprises an elongate member extending across the circumference of the open end of the inner container 33. The handle 37 is pivotably attached to one side of the open end of the inner container 33 by a pivot 38. Extending from a lower face of the handle 37 there is provided a pivot member 39 having therein a pivot 40. The pivot 40 provides the pivotal connection between the handle 37 and the link rod 36. Also provided on the lower face of the handle 37 there is provided a protrusion 41 to limit the movement of the piston 34 up the inner container 33. Thus as can be seen in Figure 3 , the receptacle provides a safe container for waste oil or fat since if the inner container 33 leaks the oil or fat is contained within the outer container 30. Waste oil or fat can be poured into the inner container 33 by removal of the lid 32 from the outer container 30. Also, when the inner container 33 is full, the waste oil or fat can be emptied from the inner container 33 once the lid 32 is removed. If the waste oil or fat is of low viscosity, it can simply be poured out. If on the other hand the viscosity is high, the removal of the waste oil or fat from within the inner container 33 can be facilitated by the action of the piston 34 travelling the length of the inner container 33 from the closed end to the open end of the inner container 33. Figure 3 shows the piston residing at the closed end of the inner container 33 which is the position it will assume during the filling of the inner container 33. Figure 4 illustrates the piston once it has reached the open end of the inner container 33. The piston 34 is moveable by the lifting of the handle 37 such that it pivots about the pivot 38. The lifting of the handle 37 causes the link rod 36 to urge the piston 34 upwards. Once the piston 34 has reached a position near the open end of the inner container 33, the link rod 36 contacts the protrusion 41 on the lower face of the handle 37 thus preventing further motion of the handle 37, link rod 36 and piston 34. This prevents the withdrawal of the piston from within the container 33. The piston 34 is thus able to extract waste oil or fat from within the inner container even if the viscosity of the waste oil or fat is quite high. The handle can be used to extract the waste oil or fat as the receptacle is tipped. Thus as the piston 34 extracts the waste oil or fat it can be poured out of the inner container 33. Figure 5 illustrates an alternative arrangement for domestic or small catering use. The receptacle comprises an outer container 50 having a handle 51 and an open end 52. Within the outer container 50 there is provided an inner container 53. The inner container is provided at a lower end thereof with a piston 54 which seals with the walls of the inner container 53. The piston 54 is connected by a piston rod 55 to a base plate 56 on which the receptacle stands. The inner container 53 is also provided with a cap 57 which is removable. The cap 57 can be removed by unscrewing it and to aid this action there are provided indents 58 for fingers. Around the open end 52 of the outer container 50 there is provided a locking flange 59 which locks to - l i ¬ the base plate 56 in order to lock the outer container 50 to contain the inner container 53. The outer container 50 can be removed to expose the inner container 53 by rotating the base plate 56 to disengage the base plate 56 from the locking flange 59 of the outer container 50. The outer container 50 can then be lifted by its handle 51 from covering the inner container 53. In order then to pour waste oil or fat into the inner container 53, the cap 57 must be unscrewed. When the inner container 53 is full, the waste oil or fat can be poured out and in order to facilitate the removal of more viscous oil or fat which has solidified within the inner container 53, the piston 54 can be urged from the lower end of the inner container 53 to the open upper end of the inner container 53 by the application of pressure on the base plate 56 which is transmitted by the piston rod 55 to the piston 54. As can be seen from Figures 3, 4 and 5, these embodiments of the present invention provide convenient and clean receptacles for waste oil or fat for use at home to allow the transfer of the waste oil or fat to the recycling banks. As an alternative to providing a piston arrangement as shown with the embodiments of Figures 3, 4 and 5, it is envisaged that a piston arrangement may be attached to the lid arrangement of a receptacle according to the first aspect of the present invention. The inner container of the receptacle for domestic use may therefore be simplified. Figure 7 shows a side view of a flap 60 for use in a lid arrangement for a waste oil bank. Attached to the flap 60 by a pivotal connection 61 is a link arm 62 which is itself attached to a disc-shaped piston 63 by another pivotal connection 64. The disc¬ shaped piston 63 is sized for a suitable portable container (not shown) such as may be supplied with a receptacle for domestic use. The portable container includes an open end and a removable closed end. In use, the piston 63 is caused to travel the length of the portable container to remove any semi-solid waste oil contained in the container. The inner container of the waste oil bank includes an opening with a chute onto which the portable container may be placed during use of the piston to empty the contents of the portable container into the inner container.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A receptacle for storing material comprising an outer container containing an inner container and a filter arrangement in an opening of said inner container to filter the material as it is poured through said opening into said inner container, said outer container having a lid arrangement which is operable to allow the material to be poured into said inner container. 2. A receptacle according to claim 1 wherein the inner container is removable from the outer container, the lid arrangement being operable to allow for the removal of said inner container. 3. A receptacle as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherein said lid arrangement comprises an openable lid having an opening therein communicating with a chute to allow oil or fat to be poured through the opening in the lid, and to pass down the chute into said inner container, said opening in said lid having a removable and lockable cap. 4. A receptacle as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherein said inner container has a stopper for said opening, and said lid arrangement comprises a lid which is openable to allow access to the stoppered opening in said inner container. 5. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said lid arrangement is removable and is held on said outer container by fastening means. 6. A receptacle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein said lid arrangement is hingedly attached to said outer container. 7. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 6 further including at least one telescopic support to support said lid arrangement in an open position. 8. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a piston arrangement for expelling material from a portable container to be poured into the inner container. 9. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim including a heating element within said inner container. 10. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said inner and outer containers have a transparent portion near the top thereof to allow inspection of the level of material in said inner container. 11. A receptacle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 including a dip stick extending into said inner container to allow the measurement of the level of material in said inner container. 12. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 3 in including a dip stick extending through said outer container into said inner container to allow the measurement of the level of material in said inner container. 13. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim including a base adapted for fixing to the ground, wherein said outer container includes locking means for locking said outer container to said base. 14. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said filter is removable from said inner container. 15. A receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said inner container has a handle to facilitate the removal of said inner container from within said outer container. 16. A receptacle for holding material and allowing the easy emptying of the material, the receptacle comprising an outer container containing an inner container, at least a part of said outer container being removable to allow material to be poured into and out of said inner container; and a piston arranged in said inner container and moveable from one end of said inner container to the other end of said inner container to expel the material present in said inner container. 17. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 16 wherein said inner container is sealed at said one end and open at said other end, said piston comprising a disk which seals with the inner walls of said inner container, a face of said piston being pivotably connected to a first end of a link rod, a second end of said link rod being pivotably connected to a handle near a first end thereof, a second end of the handle being pivotably mounted on said inner container at said other end, wherein said piston is moveable between said one end of said inner container and said other end of said inner container by the lifting of said handle at said first end. 18. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 17 wherein said handle has a protrusion extending from said handle adjacent to the position at which said link rod is pivotably connected to said handle, said protrusion serving to limit the motion of said handle, said link rod and said piston to prevent said piston from being pulled out of said inner container. 19. A receptacle as claimed in claim 17 wherein said inner container includes restraining means to prevent said piston from being pulled out of said inner container. 20. A receptacle as claimed in any one of Claims 15 to 19 wherein said outer container includes a lid which is removable to allow access to said inner container and said handle. 21. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 16 including a piston rod connected at a first end thereof to said piston through said one end of said inner container, and a base plate connected to a second end of said piston rod, said outer container being arranged to sit over said inner container, said piston rod and said base plate, and to engage said base plate, said base plate being rotatable about said second end of said piston rod to disengage said base plate from said outer container and allow the removal of said outer container. 22. A receptacle as claimed in Claim 21 including a removable cover to cover said other end of said inner container. 23. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims for storing or holding oil or fat. 24. A receptacle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the space between the inner and outer containers has a volume which is 110% of the volume of the inner container.

Inventors: HOWELL STELLA HERMOINE, HOWELL, STELLA, HERMOINE
Applicants: HOWELL STELLA HERMOINE, HOWELL, STELLA, HERMOINE
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65F1
IPC codes: B65F1