The present invention relates to a container arrangement, a method of forming a post arrangement including a container arrangement and a kit of parts for use in forming a post arrangement.

Traffic bollards are often mounted to indicate where traffic should flow or to mark the entrance to temporary works for instance. It is often necessary to provide ear defenders to people entering a restricted site or to provide rubbish containers to keep the site clean. In addition, it can be necessary to add weights to traffic cones as, whilst they are portable, under strong winds they can blow over.

It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention a container arrangement comprises a container mouth and a mount for a container in which the mouth is arranged to be detachably mounted on a mounting location of the container mount. In one particular exemplary embodiment the container arrangement is a bin module.

Here the bin module comprises housing and a flexible bag, wherein the housing forms the mouth and the mounting location and the mouth is adapted to receive the flexible bag. Whilst the mount may be provided on a post, such as a pedestrian safety or pedestrian control post or the like, other mounts are envisaged. Particularly detachable mounts such as mounts secured to an anchor surface by a suction device or by a tourniquet device or the like. Consequently, a kit of parts is also provided comprising the container arrangement and additional mounts wherein each mount is adapted to be secured to a different anchor surface.

The mouth may be mounted at the mounting location by relative linear movement of the mouth and mount. For instance the mount may include a projection or recess that extends in the linear direction. Here, the mounting location includes a corresponding other projection or recess. Abutment of the corresponding projection and recess restricts relative movement of the container mouth and mount. In the exemplary embodiments, abutment restricts relative movement except in an uncoupling direction opposed to the linear direction.

The mouth may be arranged to bear against the mount at a location below where the mouth is detachably mounted to assist in resisting relative pivotal movement of the mouth relative to the mount. The mount may be arranged to be detachably mounted on an upwardly extending post. For instance, a pedestrian control or pedestrian safety post that may form part of a larger pedestrian safety or control system. Other examples of a post are considered and might be a traffic control cone or other known posts of that ilk. Here, in the exemplary embodiments, the mount is suitably attached to a mid-point of the post. The mid-point being spaced from a distal end of the post. In one exemplary embodiment, the mount surrounds in part the post so as to be secured thereto.

At least one pair of containers may be arranged to be mounted at mounting locations on opposite sides of a post. In the exemplary embodiment, first and second mounts are joined as a single part. Further mounts may be combined as is required.

The present invention also includes a post including a detachably mounted mount and a mouth detachably mounted on the mount.

With such an arrangement including the post the weight of the mount and mouth and container may assist in adding weight to the post to increase the stability of the post. In addition, no modification needs to be made to a post and the mount and mouth can be added to any post.

Accordingly any person entering a restricted site indicated by traffic bollards may be able to use ear defenders provided by a container on the bollard or, where there are two containers, may use a further container for rubbish. Thus no separately standing containers need be provided and the bollard can effect both the demarcation of a zone and a support for a container(s).

According to another aspect of the present invention a container mounting arrangement includes a mount having a plurality of mounting locations and a plurality of container mouths which are arranged, in use, to be detachably connected to the mounting locations.

With such an arrangement it is not necessary to provide separate mounts for separate containers.

According to another aspect of the present invention a container arrangement being a bin module includes a container mouth, a mount, a flexible container, a flexible container retaining member and a lid. Here the retaining member is moveable between a first position in which an upper region of a flexible container is arranged to be trapped between the retaining member and the mouth and a second position in which the flexible container is not so trapped and in which the lid is moveable between a first position in which the mouth is at least partially covered and a second position in which the mouth is open.

With such an arrangement an effective and hygienic way is provided in order to mount a flexible container such as a bag.

Other features of the invention are defined in the claims and elsewhere. It will be appreciated that any aspects of the invention or inventions may be combined.

The present invention can be carried into practice in various ways and several embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post with two containers attached;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a post with four containers attached;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a post with four containers attached; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a first type of container without a lid;

Figures 5 and 6 are an assembled view of the of the first type of container in a different configurations; Figure 6a is a detail of the part labelled VI-VI of the Figure 6; and

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views showing different types of mounts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a post 10 such as a bollard or cone or traffic bollard or cone. The post 10 may be portable. The post 10 may have a base 12 to provide stability and an upright 14.

The upright 14 may have one or two high visibility sections 16 which may be spaced from the top and bottom of the upright 14. The or each high visibility portion may include a surrounding projection 18 which may be elastomeric at the top of bottom region or both.

A mount 20 is detachably located on the upright 14. The mount may surround the upright. The mount may be slid over the top of the upright when locating the mount in position. A tape dispenser 21 located at the top of the post may be removed prior to locating the mount on the post. The mount may cooperate with a projection 18 such as by frictional cooperation to assist in maintaining the mount 20 in position on the upright. Alternatively or additionally means (not shown) may be provided to mechanically lock the mount in position. The mount 20 includes at least one mounting location 22. A mouth 34 of a container may be detachably mounted to the mounting location 22 and maybe directly detachably mounted at that location. The mounting location may include a recess 24 having an opening 26 at the top of the recess 24. The mouth 24 may include a projection 28 which may be able to slide down through the opening 26 and through an outwardly facing slit 30.

Outwards movement of the mouth away from the mounting location may be prevented by the projection 28 being of greater dimensions than the slit 30.

Downwards movement of the mouth relative to the mounting location may be inhibited by abutment of the projection 28 with the bottom of the opening 26 or by abutment of a part of the mouth (not shown) with a platform 32 adjacent to the opening 26 or both.

Pivotal movement of the mouth 34 relative to the mounting location may be inhibited by abutment of the projection with the sides of the opening. Alternatively or additionally pivotal movement of the mouth 34 relative to the mounting location may be inhibited by abutment of an inner face 36 of a flange 38 with a face 40 of the mounting location 22 which face 40 defines the outer ends of the slit 30 and which face 40 may extend below the bottom of the slit 30. Whilst the mouth has been described as having the projection 28 and the mounting location has been described as having the recess 24 it will be appreciated that mouth could have the recess 24 which could cooperate with a projection 28 on the mounting location.

The mount 20 shown in Figures 1 to 3 has four mounting locations 22. It will be appreciated that any number of mounting locations may be provided such as more or less than four. Preferably at least two and preferably all mounting locations are provided in at least one pair whereby the mouth of one container is able to be mounted on substantially and preferably exactly opposite to the mouths of another container. In this way the stability of the post 10 is maintained and may even be enhanced.

Figure 1 shows a first type of container 42, shown in greater detail in Figures 4 to 6.

The mouth 34 may include an upwardly projecting edge 42 which may extend around a complete perimeter and which may be annular. The edge 42 may be located inwardly of an outer upwardly projecting edge 44 which may extend around a complete perimeter and which may be annular. A downwardly extending well 46 may be provided between the edges 42 and 44.

A flexible container which may be a bag 48 may be arranged to hold articles located in the container. The top region 50 of the bag may extend upwardly over the interior surface of the edge 42 and then outwardly over the edge 42. The top region 50 may be trapped by a bag retaining member 52 which may completely retain the top region of the bag.

As shown in Figure 6a the bag retaining member 52 may have an inner or an outer downwardly extending edge 54 and 56 or both. Where both edges 54 and 56 are provided they may be connected by a face 58 at a greater height than the edges 54 and 56.

With the bag located over the edge 42 the retaining member can be located over the edge 42 to trap the bag either by abutment of the face 58 against the bag extending over the top of the edge 42 or by the trapping of the bag between adjacent coextensive surfaces of the edge 54 and the edge 42 or by trapping this bag between adjacent coextensive surfaces of the edge 56 and the edge 42 or by any combination thereof.

The bag retaining member 52 may trap the bag around the complete periphery of the bag.

The bag retaining member 52 may be connected to the mouth 34 and may be pivotally connected thereto. As shown in Figure 4 the mouth 34 may include a pair of axially aligned openings 60 and the retaining member may include a pair of outwardly extending spigots 62 arranged to extend into the openings to provide the pivot. The retaining member 52 may be a snap fit into the openings 60 for instance by the parts defining the openings 60 flexing away from each other before flexing back to trap the spigots.

When the retaining member 52 traps a bag the retaining member 52 may be a snap fit with the mouth. A handle 64 is provided to raise the retaining member.

A lid 66 may cover the part of or all of the opening leading to the bag and may cover the retaining member and may also cover the mouth. The lid 66 may include a pair of inwardly facing axially aligned spigots (not shown) which may extend into the outwardly facing portions of the openings 60. The spigots of the lid may be flexed apart in order to snap fit the spigots into the outwardly facing portions of the openings 60. The spigots of the lid may be flexed apart in order to snap fit the spigots into the openings 60. A second type of container 68 may be provided in addition to or as an alternative to the first type 42. The second type of container 68 may be provided in addition to or as an alternative to the first type 42. The second type of container may include the mouth having the construction described previously. The container 68 in the second type may be able to support articles without flexing. The container 68 may be fast with or integrally formed with the mouth. Alternatively the container 68 may include a downwardly extending rim that allows the container to be fed down past the edge 42 until the rim of the container extends down over the outer surface of the edge 42 to trap the container and to prevent further downwardly movement.

A lid 66 may be attached to the mouth as previously described.

As shown in Figure 7 the mount 20 has been modified to include at least one suction sucker 70. In this embodiment the mount can be attached to a flat surface. Before or after attachment the mouth can be attached to the mount as previously described.

As shown in Figure 8 the mount 20 has been modified such that at least one band 72 can surround an upright to trap the mount on the upright. The band 20 may pass over the mount or may pass through at least one opening (not shown) in the mount. Before or after attachment the mouth can be attached to the mount as previously described.

The container or containers may be arranged to contain rubbish or may contain safety equipment such as ear defenders.

The containers can be easily and quickly mounted at any location and may also be easily and quickly removed from any location. Thus they afford an easy solution to the containment of rubbish or the provision of safety equipment that is particularly useful when the work is undertaken at a site at short notice or for a temporary duration.

The mount shown in Figures 1 to 6 may be able to support a plurality of containers. Accordingly separate mounts for each container are not required.

The mount provides an easy method of causing relative movement between the mouth and mount to effect the support of the mouth. Further, quick and easy removal may also be effected.

The mounts and mouths can be attached to existing traffic bollards for instance and it is not necessary for containers to be provided separate from the bollards. The mouth or mouths and, alternatively or additionally the mount or mounts may be moulded. The mouths and, alternatively or additionally the mounts of Figures 1 to 6 may be integrally formed.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.