Deposit and collection receptacles – Separate inlet and outlet openings
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-09
2004-04-13
Miller, William (Department: 3677)
Deposit and collection receptacles
Separate inlet and outlet openings
C232S043300, C053S567000, C053S576000, C220S263000, C220S908100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06719194
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a waste storage device and a method of operation of such a device.
One known waste storage device is disclosed in GB Patent No. 2206094 (incorporated herein by reference) and described here with reference to FIG.
1
. The device is particularly useful for the storage for subsequent disposal of waste such as babies' nappies or other personal waste material. A plastics container
21
is formed with an internal flange
22
from which a cylinder
23
extends upwards. A pack consisting of a tubular core
1
inside a profusely circumferentially pleated length of flexible tubing
2
is located in the container
21
with the core
1
resting on the flange
22
and rotatable on the cylinder
23
. To begin using the pack to form a series of packages of objects, which in this particular example will be considered to be babies' disposable nappies, the top of the flexible tubing
2
is pulled upwards and tied into a knot
24
. This closed end can then form the bottom of a package to be formed along the length of part of the tubing. This is effected by pushing the closed end downwards inside the core
1
and cylinder
23
by the object to be packaged. As this is being done the flexible tubing
2
from the pleated length slides over the top edge
25
(
FIG. 1
) of the core
1
which is made sufficiently smooth to prevent the flexible tubing from being damaged. The core
1
may be approximately four inches (10.16 cm) diameter but, of course, the diameter of the flexible tubing
2
is substantially more Man this.
When the object has been thrust well into the concentric core
1
and cylinder
23
, the package is closed by twisting the flexible tubing
2
above the object as at
30
(FIG.
1
). This is done by turning the core
1
with remaining pleated tubing thereon about the core axis. A unit
31
is formed for this purpose in that it has a depending annular flange
50
formed with an outer surface that is a taper fit in a frusto-conical inner surface
51
at the top of the core
1
. The package is prevented from turning about the axis of the core during this manual twisting action by springs
52
fixed to the container
21
and projecting radially inwards to engage the package. These springs are equidistantly spaced round the container
21
. Shallow, grooves dividing upwardly extending ridges are formed on the frusto-conical inner surface
51
to stop slippage of the flexible tubing during the twisting operating.
By the aforesaid means, a series of connected closed packages
35
are formed and this can be continued until the pleated tubing
2
is exhausted. In the arrangement of
FIG. 1
the packages collect in a bin portion
36
of the container closed at the bottom by a hinged base
53
normally held closed by a manually operable catch of suitable type. When it is desired to remove the packages from the bin portion
36
for transport to a waste disposal facility, the uppermost package is severed above its upper twisted closure
30
and the hinged base
53
opened for the removal of the packages through the end of the bin portion. Even if the twisted seals between the packages become loosened, the lid and the newly formed topmost twisted seal with prevent the escape of odours, vapours and gases to the ambient atmosphere. However, it has been found that when the tubing
2
is made of high density polyethylene the twisted joints remain remarkably tight.
A development of this arrangement is disclosed in GB 2292725 (incorporated herein by reference) and described here with reference to FIG.
2
. It will be seen that an outwardly flared funnel
12
having an inlet edge
15
is detachably connected to the top of the core
1
by a taper joint
16
. The funnel improves the hygiene of the device yet further because the flexib drawn from the pack as an object is pushed down, over the inlet edge
15
of the funnel
12
to present a fresh and hygienic layer of tubing in the flared part of the funnel. The funnel
12
is twisted to obtain the twisted closure
30
. An alternative spring arrangement
14
is shown in FIG.
2
and described fully in GB 2292725. GB 2206094 and GB2292725 both additionally disclose a cutting arrangement for severing the tubing when it is desired to remove the packages for disposal. A farther improved cutting arrangement is described in International Patent Application No. GB99/00243 which is incorporated by reference herein.
These known systems allow a simple and hygienic method of storing a large number of sanitary objects or packages such as diapers for disposal in an odour-free environment. However a certain amount of manual intervention is required for example opening lid, pushing the package through the Jaws and twisting the tubing above it. In particular in some commercial applications the user may wish to perform the operation with minimum intervention in particular to minimise contact with an apparatus containing waste from different origins.
The invention is set out in the claims. The invention provides a simple, low intervention, hygienic pedal operated system. The invention can be used without the need for twisting in one embodiment, a pair of rollers pinching a storage bag to prevent escape of odours, and the rollers may be symmetrically driven to rotate, improving the operation of the system. Alternatively a pair of paddle rollers allow the waste to be drawn down between successive pinch points. Provision of sensors allows the operation to be automated.
References herein to a storage bag or bag relate also to the flexible tubing discussed above having a knotted or otherwise closed end, or in its open configuration but acting as a bag.
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Cardona, Esq. Victor A.
Heslin Rothenberg Farley & & Mesiti P.C.
Melrose Products Limited
Miller William
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