Abstract:
A waste disposal apparatus with a retractable drop chute for delivering waste to a waste container movably connected beneath a surface covering the entire waste container.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/390,686, filed Jun. 18, 2002, which is relied on and herein incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates to the disposal of sensitive documents in secure containers for use in integrated office furniture, including cubicles, desks, private offices, common-area receptacles and the like. 
   Presently, most disposal containers in an office environment are large, and located in a file room or photocopy room to accommodate the large containers. In instances where such containers are provided for the disposal of secure documents, most individuals do not know what such containers are used for, or will not undertake the inconvenience to go to the container location to dispose of the sensitive waste. Further, the waste deposited in these containers is typically not recycled and adds to environmental pollution. 
   Where individual waste receptacles are provided at individual office user stations, desks, and cubicles, such receptacles typically include wastebaskets inconveniently placed in the office space. These individual receptacles are not aesthetically pleasing to office personnel or visitors, and are unsecured. These individual receptacles also obstruct cleaning crews, who must move the wastebaskets to vacuum and clean the office space. 
   To answer these and other problems, the present invention provides an access-controlled apparatus for disposing of sensitive waste material at individual work stations in an environmentally-friendly manner that takes up less space in the office and improves user convenience and office aesthetics by integrating into existing office furniture. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a secure waste disposal apparatus comprising a drop chute and a removable disposal container integrated into office furniture for receiving sensitive waste material. 
   In an embodiment of the present invention, a container and chute system that includes glides and a lock adaptable to desks, cabinets, shelves and other office furniture is provided. It is thus an object of the present invention to permit existing office furniture to be retrofitted with the present invention. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention a bag, collar, and chute system that includes glides and a lock adaptable to desks, cabinets and other office furniture is provided for receiving sensitive waste material. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism so that the sensitive material waste may be collected only by authorized personnel. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention integrated in an office desk. 
       FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention integrated into an office desk. 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention integrated into an office desk. 
       FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a drop chute in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention including a drop chute and disposal bag. 
       FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a bag collar in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of a bag and bag collar in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of an open disposal bag in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of a sealed disposal bag in an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In current office environments, individuals must dispose of sensitive documents in a laminate container, dumpster or shredder, typically located in a copy area or other designated common area of an office. Because of the inconvenient location from employees&#39; personal work areas, employees often under-utilize the disposal containers. Sensitive materials thus have a greater risk of exposure to unauthorized personnel. Through an integrated furniture design, the present invention provides a more convenient and efficient disposal apparatus for collecting waste material in a secure and environmentally-friendly manner. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a waste container  1  is provided for collecting waste material. The waste container  1  may include wastebaskets, plastic and metal containers, bags, mesh containers, and like receptacles for recovering waste materials. In an embodiment of the invention, waste container  1  includes a surrounding lip  2  at the opening of the container  1 . 
   With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , and referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , a drop chute  5  is provided for holding waste container  1  to collect waste material deposited in drop chute  5 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , in an embodiment of the invention, lip  2  of waste container  1  slides onto holder rails  9  of drop chute  5 . A holder rail  9  is preferably provided on each of the left and right side of the drop chute  5  to hold the left and right sides of the lip  2  of waste container  1 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in an embodiment of the invention, drop chute  5  includes a container locking latch  12  to help hold container  1  in place in the drop chute  5 . The rotatable locking latch  12  is preferably affixed to the rear inside face of drop chute  5  to permit the latch  12  to swing upward to allow container  1  to be slid in place on rails  9 . After container  1  is slid into the drop chute  5  against the rear inside surface, latch  12  is turned downward to secure container  1  in drop chute  5  as shown in FIG.  2 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , drop chute  5  includes drop slot  3  for depositing waste material. In an embodiment of the invention, the drop chute  5  includes an incline sloping from drop slot  3  to the opening of waste container  1  to facilitate depositing the waste material into the waste container  1 . In embodiments of the invention, drop slot  3  is 1¾ inches wide to accommodate documents, folders, and binders (typically 1½ inches wide) for disposal. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that drop chute  5  and drop slot  3  may be constructed to such dimensions as may be necessary for collecting any desired materials to be deposited in the apparatus. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , in an embodiment of the invention, drop chute  5  includes accessibility opening  10  for authorized personnel to lock or unlock latch  12  for installing or removing container  1 . Further, opening  10  allows authorized personnel to dislodge any deposited materials that may not properly enter container  1 . 
   With continuing reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and referring to  FIG. 3 , in embodiments of the present invention, the disposal chute  5  includes left and right glides  8 . Left and right glide rails  7  attach with brackets  6  to office furniture, such as desks  20 . Glide rails  7  are connected by preferably four brackets  6  to the underside of the top of desk  20 . Glides  8  are affixed to drop chute  5 , and glides  8  are extendably secured within glide rails  7  to permit drop chute  5  to be extended inward and outward from beneath desk  20 . It will be appreciated that glides  8  and glide rail  7  may include any glide systems well-known in cabinetry, file systems, and the like. It will further be appreciated that glides  8  may include one or more stoppers to prevent drop chute  5  from being extended too far forward out of glide rails  7 . Alternatively, glide rails  7  may include one or more stoppers to prevent glides  8  (and drop chute  5 ) from extending out of the slide rails  7 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in one embodiment of the invention, drop chute  5  and installed container  1  are positioned between top-surface  22  of desk  20  just above the floor, and far enough toward the back inside surface of desk  20  so that drop slot  3  is conveniently located near a user at the desk  20  without the drop chute  5  and waste container  1  interfering with the knee and foot clearance of an individual when seated at desk  20 . Further, drop chute  5  and container  1  when positioned beneath desk  20  discourage unauthorized users from attempting to access waste material deposited in container  1 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , a lock  30  is preferably provided for controlling access to container  1 . In the depicted embodiments, lock  30  includes a lock and key locking mechanism; however, it will be appreciated that padlocks, electronic locks, code panels, and similar access control mechanisms may be used in the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment of the present invention, lock  30 A is secured to glide rails  7  so that a key turns a locking bar to block at least one glide  8  from being able to slide forward from under the desk  20 . When lock  30 A is unlocked with a key the glide block is removed to permit glides  8  and drop chute  5  to slide forward for accessing waste container  1 . 
   In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , lock  30 B may be attached to glide rail  8  such that a key locking lock  30 B causes glide bar  31  to lock behind a portion of a locking receiver connected to glide rail  7  (see FIG.  2 ), a roller, or a lock receiver connected directly to desk  20 . It will be appreciated from  FIG. 6 , with reference to  FIG. 2 , that the structure and function of glide  8  and glide rail  7  may be reversed so that glide  7  may include a bracketed bar onto which glide  8  extendably surrounds (as in  FIG. 6 ) or glide rail  7  may be bracketed to provide a surrounding piece into which glide  8  extendably inserts (FIG.  2 ). 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the waste container  1  may include a bag  35  and collar  33  (FIG.  8 ). 
   Referring to  FIG. 8 , bag collar  33  is inserted into opening  10  of drop chute  5  such that the bag collar  33  rests on an inner rim (not shown) within opening  10  of chute  5 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9-11 , disposal bag  35  includes a right and left pair of bag flaps  37  and front and back pair of bag flaps  39  for engaging bag collar  33  to hold the bag in place for receiving discarded waste as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 . In an embodiment of the invention, flaps  39  are sealable so that an authorized personnel unlocking the waste container system, and retrieving disposal bag  35 , can remove peels  38 , fold flaps  37  into the bag, and seal flaps  39  together as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . 
   It will be appreciated that drop slot  3  should be small enough to prevent unauthorized access to dropped material. Alternatively, drop slot  3  may be designed as in a standard mailbox dropping mechanism to permit deposit of sensitive waste, while preventing unauthorized access to the dropped material. In alternative embodiments, drop slot  3  may be positioned a distance above and/or away from disposal container  1  or disposal bag  35  so that an individual may not reach deposited disposal material through the drop slot  3 . 
   In embodiments of the present invention only authorized personnel, such as a designated office person or a collection and recycling service are provided access to lock  30 . 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , it will be appreciated that authorized personnel removing waste material unlock lock  30  (FIG.  4 ), pull the drop chute  5  forward from the office furniture, turn latch  12  to permit container  1  to be pulled forward and emptied, replace container  1  onto rail holders  9  and turn latch  12  back to securely hold container  1 , and slide drop chute  5  and container  1  forward back beneath the office furniture to lock drop chute  5  in place. Similarly, when a bag  35  and bag collar  33  are used (FIGS.  6 - 9 ), drop chute  5  is slid forward, the bag  35  removed from opening  10 , a new bag  35  is placed on bag collar  33 , and the drop chute  5  is returned and locked into place. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, collected waste, including metal staples, clips, paper, and the like, is all recycled to provide an environmentally-friendly solution for disposing of the waste materials. 
   It will further be appreciated that the present invention does not require a lock  30 , and may be used as a general waste collection apparatus within an office environment to provide a more efficient and aesthetic means of collecting waste. In addition, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to integration into existing furniture, but may include a stand-alone housing or customized cabinet for use as an independent apparatus. 
   Accordingly, while the invention has been described with reference to the structures and processes disclosed, it is not intended to be confined to the details set forth, but is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may fall within the scope of the following claims.