BACKGROUND ART There is an increasing need to provide a suitable collection container for recyclable materials such as glass bottles, aluminium cans, plastics containers, and paper which will enable these materials to be sorted by the user at the point of collection and conveniently grouped together for removal by a suitable collection vehicle.

Proposals in the past for recycling bins have either called for all the recyclable material to be placed in a single bin, considerably increasing the time and effort needed for sorting, or alternatively separate discrete bins have been provided for different classes of recyclable material which provide difficulties in storage space in a domestic situation and which are unwieldy to locate at a convenient collection point, eg: at the kerbside.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention therefore provides a modular bin comprising a plurality of bin members of even height shaped to fit together as a cluster and a support frame adapted to hold the bin members in the cluster and allow the cluster to be moved as an entity, while allowing each bin member to be readily lifted from the support frame. Preferably the cluster has an overall circular, semi-circular, square or rectangular configuration in plan view.

Preferably the modular bin includes a single lid adapted to fit over the cluster of bin members. Preferably the support frame comprises a perimeter trame extending around the base of the cluster and a plurality of vertical webs extending inwardly and upwardly from the perimeter frame between the bin

members .

Preferably the support frame is moulded in one piece from a suitable plastics material.

In a second aspect the invention provides a modular bin comprising a plurality of bin members of even height shaped to fit together as a cluster and a support frame adapted to hold the bin members in the cluster and to be secured at a location at which the bin is to be used, while allowing each bin member to be readily lifted from the support frame.

Preferably the cluster has an overall circular, semi-circular, square or rectangular configuration in plan view.

Preferably the modular bin includes a single lid adapted to fit over the cluster of bin members.

Preferably the single lid has an aperture coincident with an open first end of each bin member.

Preferably the single lid is arranged so that it can be moved between a closed position covering the open first end of each bin member and an open position where it is locked above and away from the open first end of each bin member to permit each bin member to be lifted from the support frame.

Preferably the support frame comprises a pedestal and a foot which is adapted to be secured at a location at which the bin is to be used.

Preferably the pedestal of the support frame comprises a plurality of vertically inwardly and upwardly extending members from the perimeter of the pedestal and between the bin members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, one preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rectangular four part modular bin according to the invention incorporated in a wheeled trolley and with the lid raised;

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Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the trolley shown in Fig. 1, with the bin members removed for clarity;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative semi¬ circular configuration of modular bin according to the invention;

Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive are diagrammatic plan views of a number of alternative configurations of bin segments having an overall circular shape;

Figs. 8 to 11 are similar views to Figs. 4 to 7 showing different rectangular or geometric cluster configurations.

Fig. 12 shows a support frame for a modular bin of the second aspect of the invention in perspective view; and F g- 13 shows another support frame for a modular bin of the second aspect of the invention in perspective view.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The preferred form of the invention will firstly be described with reference to a rectangular or square configuration modular bin having four equal rectangular or square bin members as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The modular bin comprises a plurality of bin members

⁽ 1 ⁾ each being substantially square in plan view having side walls ⁽ 2 ⁾ which may be fluted for strength as shown.

Each bin member has an open upper end (4) and a closed lower end, and is typically provided with a flanged rim

(17) .

The bin members are shaped to fit together as a square cluster and are held and supported in that configuration by a support frame (18) which allows the cluster to be moved as an entity while also allowing each bin member to be readily lifted from the support frame.

To this end the support frame is typically moulded from plastics material to comprise a perimeter frame (5) located at the lower end of the support frame and a plurality of vertical webs (6) extending inwardly and upwardly from the perimeter frame (5) between the bin members. The bottom of the support frame underneath each

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bin member may be open as at (19) for drainage and hygiene and is typically provided with an inwardly extending flange (20) which serves to support and locate the lower end of each bin member. In the examples shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the support frame is provided with wheels (21) located at the base of a back portion (22) from which extend a handle (23) for the convenient manoeuvring of the bin cluster. In alternative forms of the invention, the wheels (21) and handle (23) may be omitted and the cluster simply provided with lifting handles to enable the entire module to be lifted and moved in that manner.

The modular bin is provided with a single rectangular lid (9) adapted to fit over the cluster of bin members and typically provided with a downwardly extending flange (10) to locate the upper ends of the bin members.

In alternative forms of the invention the lid may be simply placed over the cluster of bin members (1) without being hinged to the support frame (5) .

The bin members are typically moulded from a suitable semi-flexible plastics material and the support frame (5) is preferably moulded in one piece from a suitable plastics material such as a glass reinforced plastic or a structural foamed plastics material. The support frame may however be fabricated from other materials such as steel or aluminium.

Although the invention has been described thus far as a rectangular four segment bin, other forms of bin may be provided for particular locations. For example, the bin may be circular with four pie-shaped segments or a semi-circular bin (14) may be provided as shown in Fig. 3 having a semi-circular lid (15) hinged to the support frame along its straight edge (16) and being suitable for mounting behind cupboard doors or against walls on bench tops.

Further configurations of circular bin members may be provided wherein either three, four or five bin

members of shapes shown at (24) , (25) and (26) respectively in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 may be provided in a single cluster.

The rectangular or square configuration is particularly suitable for inside domestic use where it is required to fit a bin of this nature into a cupboard or other small space. The bin may then be formed into either four or five bin members in configurations shown at (27) and (28) respectively in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11. In this manner a modular bin is provided which enables the user to readily sort refuse and recyclable material into a number of different classifications. For example refuse may be placed in one bin member, glass in another, aluminium cans in another and paper in a fourth bin member. Where desired either three or five bin members may be provided as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 11 respectively.

It is a simple matter for the user to lift or wheel the entire modular bin and transport it to a collection point, eg: at the kerbside. The operator of a collection vehicle can then easily remove the lid from the modular bin and individually lift the bin members for emptying into different compartments in a collection vehicle.

As an alternative to a domestic mobile modular bin the present invention also provides modular bins suitable for use in, for instance, shopping malls, parks and along roads.

The bin members useable in such bins are essentially the same as those which can be used in the mobile modular bins although for some applications it may be desirable to manufacture the bins from, for instance, stainless steel.

The bin members are held in a cluster on a support frame such as those illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.

The support frame (30) of Fig. 12 comprises a foot (31) which is adapted to be secured at the location at which the bin is to be used by, for instance, bolting the foot to a paved surface. The foot (31) has a support

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member (32) mounted on it or integral with it and together the foot (31) and support member (32) support the pedestal (33) . The pedestal (33) comprises a base portion (35) which supports the bin members from beneath and a plurality of flange members (36) to hold the bin members inwardly onto the support frame. The bin members are further held and separated by a plurality of web members (34) which converge at a central post member (37) . The post member (37) can be hollow to receive a lid arranged with a downwardly depending member or it can be solid and receive a lid having an aperture arranged to fit over the post member (37) .

The support frame (40) of Fig. 13 comprises a foot (41) a support member (42) and a pedestal (43) having a base portion (45) a plurality of flange members (46) and a central post member (47) . The central post member (47) additionally comprises a slot (48) having an elbow portion (49) . The slot (48) is adapted to receive a locking pin projecting from lid mounting member (50) . Lid mounting member (50) has a lid supporting member (51) mounted on it. Lid supporting member (51) in use has a horizontally extending lid attached to it.

Slot (48) allows lid mounting member (50) to be moved vertically between a closed position in which the lid is directly over the bin members and an open position in which the lid is raised. The lid is locked in the open position by rotating the lid mounting member (50) to locate the locking pin in the elbow portion (49) . The bin members can readily be removed with the lid in this position.

The pedestal (43) has a plurality of vertically upwardly and inwardly extending members (44) which converge at the central post member (47) .

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