MODULAR TRASH BIN ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular trash bin assembly. More specifically a modular trash bin assembly typically for (but not limited to) small storage-volumes, with simple to assemble and disassemble components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Trash bins of various kinds are well known in the prior art, and are used in public places and places of business. Public use oriented trash bins usually comprise an outer structure having some ornamental design and an inner space populated by either a disposable receptacle such as a nylon bag, or a reusable inner container that is emptied from time to time and requires periodical rinsing.

[0003] Preformed containers, rigid or semi rigid, are commonly used. The main disadvantage of such containers is the fact that while in storage or in transit they are space consuming. Such containers has been disclosed for instance in US 5,662,235 (Nieto), in this case as a receptacle for recyclable materials. The bin is made of one solid boxy shaped unit covered by a cover. The disadvantage of this invention is that the bin and the cover bare substantial volume and thus even when stacked, need substantial storage volume.

[0004] US 6,076,694 (Ragot) discloses a trash receptacle including outer container, said trash receptacle comprises an outer container and an inner trash can. The outer container is mounted on a pedestal is provided with a lockable closure and the trash is being introduced through the doors of the closure and fall into the trash can. Vertical side wall assemblies are removably mounted to the container by way of extruded posts provided at the corners of the container and adapted to slidably receive the side wall assemblies.

[0005] The present invention proposes improvements to the disclosed prior art in that a fairly small number of components are easily integrated to assemble a trash bin in-place of use. In transporting and in assembling in-place of trash bins in accordance with the present invention, the need to deal with bulky elements is eliminated by the use of loose panels as the side-panels that are lateral connected to form surfaces between posts; it

allows for the use of curved structure posts and results in an improved ornamental design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] There is thus provided, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, a modular trash bin assembly comprising:

[0007] a plurality of side panels, each panel provided with longitudinal connectors along two opposite rims of the panel;

[0008] a plurality of connecting bent panels, each connecting panel provided with longitudinal connectors along two opposite rims of the panel, the connectors of the connecting panels being intertwinable with the connectors of the side panels so as to define a tube;

[0009] a bottom plate engageable with the tube so that when the bottom plate is engaged with the tube a tubular volume closed at a bottom end is defined forming the bin.

[0010] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the side panels and the connecting panels comprise extruded panels.

[0011] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the bin assembly is further provided with a top plate having a bore defining a top opening for the bin.

[0012] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the top plate is pivotally connected to the bin.

[0013] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the top plate is pivotally connected to the bin by a hinge limiting the top cover to open up to a desired angle.

[0014] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the bin assembly is further provided with a plurality of foot support members.

[0015] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, each foot support member comprises a block and a recess for supporting the

bottom plate, the block insertable into a matching channel provided on one of the panels.

[0016] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the connecting plates comprise polygonal plates.

[0017] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the connecting plates comprise curved plates.

[0018] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the formed bin comprises s a polygonal bin.

[0019] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the formed bin comprises s a rectangular bin.

[0020] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the formed bin comprises s a triangular bin.

[0021] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the formed bin comprises s an elliptical bin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] hi order to better understand the present invention, and appreciate its practical applications, the following Figures are provided and referenced hereafter. It should be noted that the Figures are given as examples only and in no way limit the scope of the invention. Like components are denoted by like reference numerals.

[0023] Fig. 1 is an illustration of a square top surface plate trash bin in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 2a is an illustration of the top surface plate of the trash bin shown in Fig. 1. [0025] Fig. 2b is an illustration of a garbage-bag support ring in the trash bin, shown in Fig. 1.

[0026] Fig. 2c is an illustration of a bottom surface plate of the trash bin shown in Fig. 1.

[0027] Fig. 2d is an illustration of a foot-support member of the trash bin shown in Fig. 1.

[0028] Fig 3 a is an illustration of the inward width side view of a side-panel of the trash bin shown in Fig. 1.

[0029] Fig 3b is an illustration of the external width side view of a side-panel of the trash bin shown in Fig. 1.

[0030] Fig 3 c is an illustration of the longitudinal side profile view of a side-panel of the trash bin shown in Fig. 1.

[0031] Fig. 4 is an illustration profile of a connecting panel plate (CPP) of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 5a is a view from above of a detailed illustration of a side-panel of a trash bin.

[0033] Fig. 5b is a view from above of an illustration of a side-panel of a trash bin connected to a CPP.

[0034] Fig. 5c is a view from above of a detailed illustration of a connection of a side- panel to a CPP in a trash bin in accordance to the present invention.

[0035] Fig. 6 is an illustration of the upper section of the inward side of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention.

[0036] Fig. 7 is a crosscut illustration of the lower section of a trash bin in accordance to the present invention.

[0037] Fig. 8a is an illustration of the bottom-side view of the foot-support members of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention.

[0038] Fig. 8b is an illustration of the bottom-side view of the bottom surface plate of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention, framed by the foot-support members.

[0039] Fig. 9 is a detailed illustration of a "support shelf for a trash-bag holder-ring, on the upper inner side of a side-panel.

[0040] Fig. 10 is an illustration of a hinge connecting the upper surface plate to a side in a side-panel in a trash bin in accordance to the present invention.

[0041] Fig. 11 is a view from above of an assembly of components of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention.

[0042] Fig. 12 is an illustration of a triangle configuration trash bin in accordance with the present invention.

[0043] Fig 13 is an illustration of an elliptical configuration trash bin in accordance with the present invention, with a side door.

[0044] Fig. 14 is an illustration of a foot-support member for an elliptical trash bin, illustrated in Fig, 13.

[0045] Fig. 15 illustrates a possible attachment arrangement for a cover plate of a trash bin in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0046] The trash bin in accordance with the present invention comprises a structure suitable preferably, but not necessarily for use with a disposable trash bag or a reusable inner container as the trash receptacle. The outer bin assembly includes housing, the housing created by the joining of at least two preformed profiles and at least two preformed rigid or semi rigid side-panels interconnecting the profiles, wherein the assembly of the profiles and the panels form the bin's inner space, said space having a top and a bottom ends. Said top end is caped by a cover, hinged onto one of the side- panels. The cover consists of an opening; via said opening the garbage is introduced. The side-panels are typically mounted on foot-support members having functional value of stability as well as ornamental design value.

[0047] The advantage of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention is ease and simplicity in which the structure of the trash bin can be assembled and disassembled and the small volume and space the component of the trash bin require when in storage or in transport before or after use.

[0048] Another advantage of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention is the ability to inexpensively mass produce the side-panels compromising the outer walls of the trash bin by extrusion.

[0049] Given below is an elaboration of a preferable embodiment of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention, illustrated in detail in the figures above.

[0050] Fig. 1 illustrates a general view of a modular rectangle trash bin in accordance with the present invention. Trash bin 10 is composed of a top cover plate 12 having an

opening or bore for deposition of garbage into the trash bin, seen in Fig. 2a, a bottom surface plate 16 seen in Fig. 2c (not seen in Fig. 1), an inner garbage-bag support ring 14, seen in Fig. 2b and four foot-support members 18 each with a protruding rectangular block 19 at its center, as seen in Fig. 2d. The foot-support members are arced shaped with an inward-facing recess or "step" 21 on both sides of the block. The walls of the trash bin 10 are composed of side-panel plates 20 and 22 bent connecting panel plates (CPP) 22. Each panel 20 is provided with longitudinal connectors along two opposite rims of the panel.

Each connecting panel plate provided with longitudinal connectors along two opposite rims of the panel, the connectors of the connecting panels being intertwinable with the connectors of the side panels so as to define a tube.

[0051] Fig 3a, Fig. 3b and Fig. 3c are detailed side view illustrations of a single side- panel 20 of the trash bin, illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0052] Fig. 3 a illustrates the width inward facing surface of the side-panel, designated 20a. A "support shelf 24 is located on the inner upper margin of the side-panel. A detailed illustration of the "support shelf is given in Fig. 9.

[0053] Fig 3b is an illustration of the outward facing side of a side-panel of the trash bin, designated 20b.

[0054] Fig 3 c is an illustration of the longitudinal side profile of a side-panel of the trash bin 10, designated 20c. The "support shelf 24 is illustrated on the upper margin of the side-panel.

[0055] Fig. 4 is a profile of a connecting panel plate (CPP) 22 of trash bin 10 illustrated in Fig. 1. The CPP is composed of a curved rectangular plate having on both longitudinal sides open rectangular connecting channels 26 with two protruding brackets 27 in the inward direction and a hollow rectangle channel 28 running longitudinally along the inward facing surface of the CPP.

[0056] Fig. 5a is a view from above of a detailed illustration of a side-panel 20 of a trash bin with the inward facing side designated 20a and the outward facing side 20b. On both longitudinal margins of the rectangle along the side-panel 30 have U shaped connector channels with an outward facing opening. The "support shelf 24 is illustrated on the inward facing side of the trash bin.

[0057] Fig. 5b is a view from above of an illustration of side-panel 20 connected to CPP 22 by connecting connector channel 30 to connector 26, elaborated in detail in Fig. 5c.

[0058] Fig. 5c is a view from above of a detailed illustration of a connection of side- panel 20 to CPP 22. More specifically, a longitudinal connector 30 of a side-plate 20 is shown intertwined with the connector 26 of a CPP 22, having the protruding brackets 27 engulfed by the connector 30 to from a longitudinal connection tube between the panels.

[0059] Fig. 6 is an illustration of the inward facing, upper section of a trash bin 10. The side-panels 20 are connected to the CPPs 22 and the garbage-bag support ring 14 is illustrated placed on the "support shelf 24, as shown in Fig. 3 a and Fig. 3 c. The garbage-bag support ring keeps the garbage bag wide opened while maintaining the rim- margin of the bag around the circumference of the trash bin. Two hinges, 32 and 34, on the upper rim of one of the side-panels 20, connect the top cover plate 12, seen in Fig. 1 and Fig.2a, to the trash bin 10 and cover its upper opening.

[0060] Fig. 7 is a crosscut illustration of the lower section of trash bin 10. The bottom surface plate 16 is placed over the recess 21 of a foot-support member 18 and the rectangular block 19 of the foot-support member inserted into the hollow channel 28 of the CPP 22. The insertion of the block into the hollow frame maintains the plate in a fixed position.

[0061] Fig. 8a is an illustration of the bottom-side view of the positioning of the foot- support members of trash binlO and Fig. 8b is a crosscut illustration of the bottom-side view of the bottom surface plate 16 of trash bin 10, framed by the foot-support members 18 and illustrating the connection of the side-panels 20 to the CPP 22.

[0062] Fig. 9 is a detailed illustration of a "support shelf 24 for a trash-bag holder-ring 14 protruding from the inward facing side of the side panel 20a , as shown in Fig. 3 a, Fig. 3 c and Fig. 6. The "support shelf has a ground-parallel surface 33 and an angular surface 35, extending from the wall of the side-panel upwards. The garbage-bag support ring 14, as shown in Fig. 6, rests on surface 33. The slant of the angular surface 35 is meant to protect inserted garbage bags from tearing and ripping when pulled up and removed from the trash bin.

[0063] Fig. 10 is a detailed illustration of a hinge 32 (one of two such hinges) connecting the upper surface plate 12 to the upper rim of a side-panel 20 in a trash bin 10, as shown in Fig. 6.

[0064] Fig. 11 is a view from above of an assembly of components of a trash bin 10. The figure specifically relates to Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 and clarifies the assembling and disassembling procedure of the trash bin in accordance with the present invention.

[0065] Fig. 12 is an illustration of another embodiment of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention, having a triangle configuration. The trash bin 52 has the same structural principals of trash bin 10 illustrated in Fig. 1, comprising side-panels 20, connecting-panel plates (CPP) members, foot-support members 18 and triangle-shaped top surface plate, designated 54.

[0066] Fig. 13 an illustration of yet another embodiment of a trash bin in accordance with the present invention, having an elliptical configuration, with a side door. The trash bin 52 has the same structural principals of trash bin 10 illustrated in Fig. 1, comprising one or more side-panels 20, connecting-panel plates (CPP) members 22, foot-support member 100 and an elliptical -shaped top surface plate 102, with top-opening 114. The foot-support member 100 of the elliptical configuration trash bin is different than foot- support member 18 and is illustrated in Fig. 13. The side door 110 is in fact a side panel provided with one or more hinges 112. Here the side panels are slightly curved (the side panels in the configuration shown in Fig. 1 are planar).

[0067] Fig. 14 is an illustration of a foot-support member 100 for an elliptical trash bin, illustrated in Fig, 13. The foot support member 100 comprises an annular base 104, a structural enforcement cross 106, blocks 108 (similar to block 19 in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2d).

[0068] Fig. 15 illustrates a possible attachment arrangement for a cover plate of a trash bin in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Hinge 132 is provided, aimed at facilitating pivotally opening of the cover plate, while limiting the motion of the cover plate up to a desired opening angle. For that aim hinge 132 comprises plate 120 attached to cover plate 12, plate 120 provided with side rims 121, a portion of which is pivotally engaged to the side panel of the bin at the groove defined by the connector channels 26, 30, of the connecting panels and the side panels,

respectively (see also Fig. 5c). Plate 120 is provided with tongue 125, ^' pivotally connected to plate 120 by hinge 128 (about axis 130), and its free end is inserted through opening 124 in shelf 122, provided on the inside of the bin, near the top. Tongue 125 has some freedom of motion inside opening 124, yet when cover plate 12 reaches the maximal predetermined open angle, the tongue — specifically its rim 126 - experiences restricting force from the rim of opening 124, preventing further motion.

[0069] In another embodiment of the present invention the trash bin has the same structural principals of the trash bin given above and having a round circumference.

[0070] hi another embodiment of the present invention the trash bin has the same structural principals of the trash bin given above and having an elliptical circumference.

[0071] In another embodiment of the present invention the trash bin has the same structural principals of the trash bin given above and having a polygonal circumference.

[0072] hi another embodiment of the present invention the trash bin has an internal collecting garbage-container (rather than a garbage bag).

[0073] hi yet another embodiment of the present invention a side-opening or side-door is placed in one or more of the side panels, as illustrated in Fig. 1 designated 50.

[0074] hi another embodiment of the present invention, the components of the trash bin are composed of various materials, or their combination, such as metal, plastics or wood.

[0075] It should be clear that the description of the embodiments and attached Figures set forth in this specification serves only for a better understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope.

[0076] It should also be clear that a person skilled in the art, after reading the present specification could make adjustments or amendments to the attached Figures and above described embodiments that would still be covered by the present invention.