Receptacles – Receptacle having flexible – removable inner liner – Removable bag liner
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2001-05-01
Pollard, S M (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Receptacle having flexible, removable inner liner
Removable bag liner
C220S908100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223927
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a container, and in particular to a container for use in the collection and storage of materials.
A major problem facing most communities is the problem of waste disposal. Each day vast quantities of waste are created, and such waste must be removed and processed in a safe and hygienic manner.
For waste materials storage and collection, the main choices open other than disposal of the waste are either incineration to generate energy, or separation of the waste material into fractions for recycling or composting or anaerobic digestion. In order to help encourage the co-operation of householders and other generators of waste materials to separate waste at source in a way which helps the processor of the waste to produce what the market demands, many local authorities now provide outside waste material collection bins.
Organic waste presents particular problems due in large part to the high moisture content of the waste. In warmer weather conditions, unless the waste is adequately vented, unpleasant odours can build up quickly as anaerobic conditions are set up in the waste collection bins.
The cost of collection of waste materials can be significant and one option open to waste collection authorities to reduce the cost of collections is to reduce the frequency of the collections. However, it will be appreciated that if the waste is left for longer periods, odour levels can become unacceptably high.
In addition to the problem of anaerobic decomposition, a further problem facing the collector of waste materials is the problem of infestation by vermin, insects and other small creatures.
There have been a number of disclosures by others relating to waste collection or storage bins providing an aerobic environment but such bins are considered to have significant limitations as to their usefulness and effectiveness.
European Patent Application No. 92610025 discloses a rubbish bag holder which requires a specially designed cart to transport the holder to a collection vehicle for emptying. One consequence of this is that the bag cannot be used with existing collection vehicle lifting gear generally in use in many areas. Moreover, the time taken for a contractor to empty the bag holder and move onto the next is greater than if the bag holder has its own wheels.
WO-A-95/01294 discloses a rather complicated arrangement which consists of an outer receptacle, an inner perforated supporting bag, and, within the supporting bag, an inner paper bag. In the more complex, and seemingly preferred, arrangements disclosed in WO-A-95/01294, there is additionally an inner insert container in the form of a laundry-basket like arrangement thus making a total of four nested containers in total.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,796 discloses a ventilated waste container, containing several relatively small arrays of vent holes at the upper and lower ends of the container. The container has vertical ribs which protrude inwardly from the walls of the container to function as spacers, the intention being that the spacers should prevent waste within the container coming into close contact with walls. However, the container of U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,796 is not specifically designed for use with inner liner bags, and as a consequence, the spacers would only be of value for a narrow range of materials. Along with the spacers, the use of a grate on which the material is to be disposed also limits the range of material which can be deposited in the container, requiring the avoidance of cooked food and other material reduced to small fragments. The aim is only to deposit material which will not fall through the grate or prevent/limit the migration of air through or round the material, thus encouraging the development of anaerobic conditions.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an outer receptacle or container which can be used to contain an air permeable inner liner, such as a paper sack, in a manner which provides for effective venting and air circulation between the outer container and the inner liner.
it is a further object of the invention to provide a container which is of relatively simple construction and is therefore relatively inexpensive and easy to fabricate.
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention provides a container comprising an outer receptacle and, disposed therein, an inner receptacle in the form of a bag, the bag being permeable to gases, the outer receptacle having a plurality of spacers extending inwardly from an inner surface thereof, and a plurality of vents in the side walls and/or the base of the outer receptacle, the spacers serving to support the inner bag such that it is spaced apart from the inner surface of the outer receptacle, and the vents serving to allow air to circulate between the bag and outer receptacle.
The container can be a container intended for use in the temporary storage of waste materials, such as household, domestic, business or industrial waste, but it can also be used for the storage of other materials which would benefit from the improved ventilation properties of the invention.
The purpose of the vents and spacers inter alia is to ensure that there is sufficient air movement between the outer and inner receptacles to avoid setting up anaerobic conditions. The shape, configuration, frequency and dimensions of the spacers and vents can vary according to the particular circumstances in which the container is to be used, and can depend for example on the number of air changes required for a given set of temperature assumptions, the nature of the material or product contained in the bag, and the specification of the bag.
The vents typically are provided adjacent at least 10% and more usually at least 25% of the spacers, and preferably are provided adjacent at least 30%, for example at least 50%, and most preferably at least 75%, e.g. up to 100% of the spacers.
The vents typically are elongate in form and can be, for example, arranged in a plurality of substantially horizontal or vertical rows around the outer receptacle. Advantageously there are at least two and preferably at least three such rows. The rows can be parallel with respect to each other, and can be disposed such that the vents are in substantially vertical or horizontal alignment. Alternatively, the rows can be staggered.
Horizontally adjacent spacers can have a single vent therebetween, or a plurality of vents, for example two, three or four vents. The number of vents disposed between the pairs of adjacent spacers around the wall of the outer receptacle can the same for all spacers, or can differ.
In one embodiment, the side walls have no vents, but instead the vents are located at the base of the outer receptacle, as described below.
In another embodiment, the vents are arranged in rows at regular spacings down the height of the outer receptacle.
In a still further embodiment, vents are located only on the base and at the upper end of the side walls of the receptacle.
In each of the aforesaid embodiments, the numbers and positions of the vents, as well as their shape and size, are typically chosen so as to permit free flow of air, by convection currents, from the bottom of the container to the top. Thus, although it is preferred that the side wall should contain vents, it is possible to omit vents from at least the lower ends of the side walls provided that the base is adequately vented and vents are provided at the upper end of the side wall and/or on any lid. It is most preferred however that any vents at the upper end of the container are on the side wall rather than on the lid, so at reduce the opportunities for ingress of rain water and pests such as flies.
The vertical distance between rows of vents can be, for example, between 0.1 and 3 times (for example from 0.25 to 2 times) the height of each vent in a pair of vertically adjacent rows. Where the vents in vertically adjacent rows are of differing height, the vertical distance between them, as defined above, refers to the average height of the vents.
The horizontal distance between adjacent vents in a row of
Lahive & Cockfield LLP
Pollard S M
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