Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a holding device, specifically a device for holding a collection receptacle in a waste container. The invention also embraces a waste container including such a holding device.

Background of the invention

[0002] A waste container is a container for temporarily storing waste, usually made out of metal or plastic. Some waste containers are intended to receive specific types of waste, and this is often designated by the colour of the waste container (or parts of the container, such as the lid), or by other indicia displayed on the waste container. For example, in relation to conventional residential garbage bins, the lid of the bin may be red, whilst the residential recycling bin may have a yellow lid.

[0003] At some point in time, for example, when the waste container is full or on a designated day of the week, the contents of the waste container are emptied by lifting and inverting the waste container in order for the contents therein to be emptied into a larger collection receptacle. One example of this in practice is in relation to waste collection from residential wheelie bins, whereby the gripper end of a lifting arm of a refuse vehicle lifts the bin off the ground and inverts the bin in order to empty the waste into the hopper of the refuse vehicle under the force of gravity. The waste is then taken to a landfill and discharged from the vehicle. For recyclable materials, the matter is then segregated based on the nature of the waste. For example, items made from glass are separated from items made of aluminium to provide separate input streams for subsequent recycling processes.

[0004] There are problems associated with the need to segregate the waste at the material recovery facility or landfill. Some of these problems include the burden and complexity of sorting through large volumes of waste, the cost associated with equipment and workers required to segregate the waste, and the hygiene issues related to interacting with the waste. [0005] It would be desirable to provide a device for improving waste segregation such as by alleviating one or more of the problems outlined above. Alternatively or in addition, it would be desirable to provide a useful alternative to known prior art devices in this area.

[0006] Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be combined with any other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

Summary of the invention

[0007] In an aspect, the present invention provides a device for holding a collection receptacle in the waste container, the waste container including a container body having a rim defining an open upper end and a lid mounted to swing open around a first pivot to the rear of the waste container, wherein the device is configured for mounting to pivot around a second pivot at or adjacent a first part of the rim to the rear of the waste container, and includes a portion configured to be supported by or at one or more further parts of the rim distant from said first part when the waste container is in an upright position, the device having at least one aperture therethrough and having a form to support a collection receptacle within the waste container at the or each aperture, to allow access to the interior of the receptacle through the aperture; the device shrouding only a portion of the open upper end of the waste container when the waste container is in said upright position, thereby allowing waste items to be selectively placed into the collection receptacle through the aperture, while other waste items can be deposited into a remainder of the waste container; and wherein, once the collection receptacle has been removed from the device, during emptying of the waste container by inversion of the waste container the device pivots away from the open upper end of the waste container to allow contents of the waste container to exit therefrom.

[0008] By means of the invention, a user (for example at the end of the week and in anticipation of waste collection) simply needs to close up and release the collection receptacle (or receptacles) from the holding device into the body of the waste container. On inverting the waste container over the hopper of a refuse vehicle, the holding device simply pivots away from the open upper end of the waste container, thus allowing the contents of the waste container (including the closed collection receptacle) to be emptied into the vehicle hopper vehicle. At a material recovery or landfill site, the segregation of the waste is greatly aided by the fact that, for example, a particular type of plastic waste is already gathered in a collection receptacle. Hence the receptacle and its contents can be immediately directed to a location intended for processing that particular plastic waste, without the need for an initial sorting stage.

[0009] Advantageously, the device is configured to support two or more receptacles, which may be of varying size or shape dependent on the intended use and/or the dimensions of the waste container.

[0010] A further advantage of the present invention is that it may be configured to be retrofitted to a conventional bin, such as a conventional wheelie bin. As will be appreciated, no modifications to the bin itself are required in order to accommodate the device of the invention.

[0011] Preferably, the device is supported at substantially opposed portions of the rim when the container is in the upright position. This enables the device to reliably and robustly support the mass of the receptacles (and contents therein) when the container is in a filling position. For example, the device may be supported at or by the first part of the rim to the rear of the waste container, with additional support provided at or by a front portion of the rim. In another example, the device is configured to be supported at or by opposed lateral parts of the rim. By way of such an arrangement the device is supported at three points - the rear of the container, and at or by the opposed lateral edges of the rim.

[0012] In a preferred form, the device includes shaped edge portions to engage with one or more parts of the rim of the waste container. This provides location assistance as well as additional support for the device and its contents.

[0013] In one embodiment, the second pivot is provided by a handle of the waste container. Preferably, the first pivot and the second pivot may be coaxial, and may be provided by a handle of the waste container. A waste container such as a conventional wheelie bin includes a handle mounted to the rear of the container body, whereby the lid is mounted to rotate about the handle. In accordance with this embodiment, the device is also arranged for pivotal mounting to the handle. As will be understood, when the waste container is inverted for emptying, the device of the invention pivots away from the mouth of the waste container under the force of gravity in just the same way as the lid does.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the device is of substantially planar form to lie in a substantially horizontal orientation when the waste container is in an upright position. This facilitates the emptying of the waste container without any impedance from the holding device. Further, when the waste container is in the upright position, such a device will not substantially interfere with the closing of a lid of the waste container. For example, the planar form means that the device can maintain a relatively low profile when the container is in the upright position, whereby all or a substantial portion of the device is aligned with or positioned below the open upper end of the container.

[0015] Preferably, the or each aperture of the device may be associated with one or more suitable formations, such as one or more upwardly extending lips, for engaging an upper end of a collection receptacle. For example, the collection receptacle may be a bag, the upper edge of which is folded over the lip for supporting of the bag. A suitable securement means such as a drawstring may be used for this engagement. In another embodiment, the collection receptacle may be a rigid or semi-rigid container that passes through the aperture and is supported by the device.

[0016] In an embodiment, an inwardly sloping skirt extends from an underside of the device, at or adjacent the at least one aperture, the skirt configured to deflect waste items from the device when the waste container is inverted during emptying.

[0017] In a further form, the invention provides a waste container to which is mounted the device described above.

[0018] The present invention thus provides a device for holding one or more collection receptacles in a waste container, the waste container including a container body with an open upper end for receiving waste items, the device having a generally planar form and arranged to be positioned horizontally in the open upper end of the waste container when the latter is in an upright position, the device having at least one aperture therethrough to support a collection receptacle within the waste container at the or each aperture, to allow access to the interior of the collection receptacle through the aperture for selected waste items, wherein the device is pivotally attached to the waste container in such a way that, once the collection receptacle has been removed from the device, during emptying of the waste container by inversion of the waste container, the device pivots away from the open upper end of the waste container to allow contents of the waste container to exit therefrom, the planar form of the device precluding any substantial interference by the device to the passage of material out of the waste container.

[0019] As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term

"comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and

"comprised", are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.

[0020] Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Figure 1 illustrates a holding device, in the filling position, connected to a waste container;

[0022] Figure 2A is a sectional view of section A-A of Figure 1 ;

[0023] Figure 2B is a detail view of a portion of Figure 2A;

[0024] Figure 3 illustrates the holding device of Figure 1 with collection receptacles supported thereto.

Detailed description of the embodiments

[0025] With reference to Figure 1 , there is provided a holding device, in the form of an insert 10 mounted to a conventional wheelie bin 1. The wheelie bin 1 includes a bin body 2 having a greater height dimension than width dimension. Bin body 2 comprises a front wall 3, a pair of opposed side walls 4 extending in a rearward direction from front wall 3, a rear wall 5 extending between the side walls 4 and parallel to the front wall 3, and a base (not visible in Figure 1 ) connecting the four walls. Walls 3, 4, 5 thus provide an open upper end 6 into which waste can be dropped. Bin body 2 is generally moulded as an integral structure, with the four walls meeting at rounded corners.

[0026] The open upper end 6 is defined by a rim 7, which projects above and is surrounded by a flange 8 extending outwardly around the entire periphery of an upper portion of bin 1. Extending rearward from rear wall 5 are four lateral handle mounts 44 to which a tubular handle 9 is fixedly mounted, as shown in Figure 1. It will be

appreciated that bin 1 can have more or less handle mounts. A bin lid 40 (partially shown in Figure 1 in the open position), is pivotally mounted to handle 9 by way of two hinges 42, handle 9 thus serving a dual purpose (affording manoeuvring of the bin and providing a secure pivot for lid 40). When lid 40 is closed it seats over rim 7 and rests on flange 8, thus covering the bin opening from ingress of rain, flies, etc. When bin 1 is inverted for discharge of its contents, lid 40 readily falls away around its pivot mounting to hang clear of the bin open upper end 6, this avoiding any impedance to complete emptying of the bin.

[0027] Insert 10 includes a substantially planar body 12 pivotally mounted to the handle 9 by a pair of pivot arms 14, which extend rearward from body 12 and are shaped to securely mount to the external contour of handle 9. The pivot arms 14 comprise a vertical portion 11 extending upwardly from the rear edge of body 12 and in close proximity to the rear wall 5 of the bin 1. A curved intermediate portion 13 extends from the top of the vertical portion 11 and is shaped in a manner complementary to the rim 7 for seating thereupon. Intermediate portions 13 form downwardly facing channels extending along a portion of the length of the rear side of insert 10. Thus, when bin 1 is in an upright position, the rear portion of rim 7 provides support for the insert 10.

Extending rearward from intermediate portion 13 is a mounting portion 15 which is configured to bear on and be supported by the rear part of flange 8, mounting portion 15 terminating in a hooked connection portion 17 which pivotally mounts the pivot arms 14 to the handle 9.

[0028] The skilled reader will appreciate that body 12 can be structurally reinforced (eg. with ribbing, gussets, etc.) to withstand the load experienced during operation. One example of this is best shown in Figure 2A, which illustrates strengthening rib 35 extending circumferentially around a substantive portion of body 12. [0029] As best shown in Figures 2A and 2B, arms 14 are secured to handle 9 by the combination of hooked connecting portion 17 and a retaining clip 27. The retaining clip 27 includes a central portion 28 of part cylindrical form, configured to bear against the external contour of handle 9 in opposed relation to connecting portion 17, and front and rear resilient wing portions 29 extending away from the central contoured portion 28 and configured to be received in apertures 23 of arms 14. The ends 25 of wing portions 29 are hooked to engage against abutment surfaces 21 of arms 14 in order to secure insert 10 to handle 9. Retaining clips 27 are thus provided as separate components which can be applied to secure arms 14 to handle 9, allowing disassembly at a later time if desired. Alternatively retaining clips 27 may be designed as an integral part of arms 14 (e.g. pivotally connected to the rear end of connecting portion 17).

[0030] As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, the mounting of the arms 14 to the handle 9 may be achieved in any other suitable manner. For example, a snap- fit connection may be used, with the rear portion of each pivot arm 14 having a hook shape, the open part of the hook shaping allowing resilient engagement over handle 9 (e.g. without the need for a retaining clip). Alternatively, the rear portion of each pivot arm 14 may have a cylindrical bore therethrough, which may be passed over handle 9.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1 , body 12 includes a pair of lateral support elements 24 each comprising a vertical portion 26 extending upwardly from the lateral sides of body 12 and in close proximity to the side walls 4 of the bin 1. An intermediate portion 16 extends laterally from the top of the vertical portion 26, the end of which is then angled in the downward direction as shown. Lateral support elements 24 thus form downwardly facing channels extending along a portion of the length of each lateral side of insert 10, shaped to closely fit over rim 7 for seating on and support by the side parts thereof. In this embodiment, body 12 is supported by rim 7 and (at the rear) by flange 8 of the bin 1 , with further support provided for the insert 10 by vertical portions 26, 11 abutting against the inside of walls 4 and 5, providing a very robust support system suitable for heavier applications, such as glass recycling loads. It will be appreciated that the depicted embodiment provides one example of how insert 10 can be supported to bin 1 , but that insert 10 can be configured to be supported at more or fewer parts of the bin 1 , selected to ensure it can perform its desired function. [0032] The insert 10 further includes two bag holders 20. The bag holders are each defined by an upwardly extending lip 22 surrounding a circular opening 18, 18’ in the insert body 12. As will be understood, the opening can be any suitable shape, such as oval, rectangular, etc. A bag 30 (see Figures 2A and 3) can be passed through opening 18, 18’ and its mouth portion opened and folded outwardly and downwardly over lip 22 in order to hold the bag in place within the bin (in the same way as a conventional bin liner is placed in a household bin). A plurality of circumferentially equispaced hook portions 31 extend radially from upper extremities of lip 22, said hook portions 31 configured to assist in retention of bag 30 to lip 22. The described holding mechanism is only an example of a suitable holding mechanism, with other suitable holding

mechanisms envisaged. Two bags (and their contents) are thus supported by insert 10.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1 , the insert body 12 is recessed into the bin opening, thereby providing a low profile, with only intermediate portions 16 and bag holder lips 22 extending above the upper level of rim 7. This ensures that the bin lid 40 can be closed in the normal way, without any adverse interaction with insert 10.

[0034] When insert 10 is seated on rim 7, insert 10 shrouds a portion of the bin opening (in the example illustrated, a little less than the rear half of the bin opening). This allows both for waste items to be selectively placed directly into the bags held by insert 10, while other items can be deposited into the remainder of bin 1. This is further assisted by the form of front edge 19 of body 12, which is inwardly curved to improve accessibility to the inside of bin body 2. In alternative embodiments, insert 10 may cover a substantial portion of the bin opening. In the limit, insert 10 may cover the entire mouth of bin 1 , thereby allowing contents to be placed only into the bags 30 supported by insert 10.

[0035] Any suitable form of bag or other receptacle may be used with the insert 10. Some examples of suitable bags or receptacles include conventional garbage bags, plastic containers, perforated (meshed) woven sacks, etc. The example shown in Figures 2A and 3 is a perforated bag 30 which includes a drawstring 32 provided in a hem around the mouth of the bag, which can be used to secure the mouth of bag 30 around lip 22. As an alternative (or addition) to hook portions 31 , the upper part of lip 22 may feature an outwardly and downwardly directed skirt, assisting retention of drawstring 32 and thus bag 30. Depending on the nature of waste items to be deposited into bin 1 , a user can decide whether to direct an item into a bag 30 (and choose which opening 18, 18’ if multiple bags are in place). Once the time comes for bin collection, a user simply releases and closes the bag by means of drawstring 32, and drops it through opening 18, 18’ into bin 1.

[0036] The design of device 10 and its mounting to bin 1 avoids the need to remove insert 10 when the bin is to be emptied. Instead, when bin 1 is inverted into in an emptying position (eg. by the lifting arm of a refuse vehicle), insert 10 pivots about handle 9 in a similar manner to the bin lid, thereby allowing the contents to drop therefrom without interference by the insert 10. This can be further assisted by a depending, inwardly sloping skirt (not shown in the drawings), which can extend from an underside of the insert 10 around a part of the periphery of each opening 18, 18’ towards the rear of the opening. Said skirt can assist in preventing any stray contents of the bin 1 passing into, or being caught by the periphery of, openings 18, 18’ when the bin 1 is inverted during the emptying process. Said skirt serves to deflect any items (items that might otherwise meet the discontinuous surface provided by openings 18, 18’) away from insert 10.

[0037] If bag 30 is of polypropylene, it may be used solely for depositing polypropylene items. At the recycling centre the bagged unit may thus be directed straight into a polypropylene recycling stream, without the need even to open bag 30.

[0038] Figure 3 depicts the insert 10 with bags 30 attached thereto. As will be appreciated from the figures, when bin 1 is inverted for emptying insert 10 is received within the recess provided by the concave inner side of lid 40, so that is does not impede the discharge of waste items.

[0039] One example of a suitable use for the described embodiments is in relation to waste that is to be recycled. For example, with an insert having two openings for receiving a bag each, a bin user may place plastic waste in one bag (such as a recyclable woven polypropylene or polyethylene bag), and aluminium in another bag, with other recyclable materials placed outside the bags, by accessing the interior of the bin via the part of the mouth of the bin not shrouded by insert 10 (ie, in the embodiment illustrated, the part of the bin mouth anterior to insert 10). Once the waste arrives at a material recovery facility or landfill, the plastics bag can be relatively easily identified and separated from the remaining waste for placement with the other plastic waste, whilst the aluminium waste can be similarly separated from the remaining waste and placed with the other aluminium waste (such a scenario would require the aluminium content to then be removed from the bag for processing). Thus, segregation of the recycled waste is more efficiently achieved, which can reduce the usual problems associated with segregating such waste.

[0040] The insert 10 can be made from moulded plastic, e.g. high-density polyethylene or polypropylene, but could also be made from a suitable metal, e.g. aluminium. Whilst having insert 10 pivoting from handle 9 is a very simple, convenient and practical form of the present invention, this is not essential. The insert may instead, for example, be mounted to a pivot on or within the rear of the rim of the bin.

[0041] Further, while the insert is described and illustrated as being supported by the rim 7 (and/or flange 8) of bin 1 , it may instead be supported in another way which achieves the benefit of the present invention. For example, insert 10 may be supported by projections from the inside walls 4, those projections serving to hold the insert adjacent to but somewhat below the lateral parts of rim 7.

[0042] Whilst the embodiments of the holding device described above are in the form of an insert for attachment to a conventional wheelie bin, it will be appreciated that it need not be retrofitted in this way, but may instead be part of the bin as manufactured or assembled. For example, the insert may be assembled in the bin in a similar manner to the bin lid. Further, the waste container need not be a wheelie bin, but the invention can be used with any other suitable waste container that can take advantage of at least one of the benefits provided by the present invention.

[0043] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.