AU2010201851A1 - An enclosure - Google Patents

Description

2 AN ENCLOSURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to an enclosure for refuse containers, such as large rubbish bins of the kind located in public spaces for general refuse. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 10 The following discussion of the background to the invention is included to explain the context of the invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia as at the priority date established by the present application. 15 Rubbish bins are regularly provided in public places, for the disposal of everyday rubbish, such as food, containers and wrapping, newspapers, drink containers etc. In some rubbish bin installations, the rubbish bin itself is on display. In other installations, the bin is enclosed within an enclosure and is removed from the enclosure periodically, for emptying the rubbish within it. 20 Enclosures provide distinct advantages in relation to rubbish bins. One advantage is that the enclosure can be fixed in place to securely enclose a mobile rubbish bin. That is, the enclosure can provide security for the rubbish bin against theft or tampering, if the rubbish bin is locked within the enclosure. Additionally, an enclosure 25 can be more aesthetically appealing than a rubbish bin, so that in shopping centres, sports venues and other public places in which aesthetic appearance is important, an improvement in the appearance of the rubbish bin installation can be achieved. Still further, it is difficult with a rubbish bin indicate to the public as to what rubbish the bin is intended to receive. In current times, there is an emphasis on recycling of various 30 recyclable rubbish, such as paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles etc., but typically, rubbish bins themselves do not include any marking in relation to the specific rubbish they are intended to collect, other than in some cases, a coloured lid. However, a coloured lid on its own is not generally sufficient to ensure that rubbish deposited within the bin is restricted to the type of rubbish intended for that bin to 3 collect. While some benefits of rubbish bin enclosures are outlined above, to date the enclosures which are available do not necessarily satisfy the requirements for 5 aesthetics, ease and cost of manufacture and ability to customize the enclosure for a particular use. In relation to manufacturing costs, many of the enclosures available to date are fabricated from sheet metal and this makes them expensive and relatively heavy and 10 while such enclosures are usually robust, they nevertheless are prone to deterioration through vandalism, by vandals that kick the enclosure. Such enclosures tend to be easily dented and scratched. In addition, the enclosures available to date typically are constructed in respect of a 15 particular form of rubbish, i.e. recycled rubbish or non-recycled rubbish, and interchangeability for those different types of rubbish is not available. It would be desirable to provide an enclosure for a refuse container, such as a rubbish bin, which overcomes or at least alleviates one or more of the foregoing drawbacks. 20 In particular, it would be desirable to provide an enclosure which is aesthetically pleasing, relatively cheap and easy to manufacture, and which has some interchangeability for different refuse types. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 25 According to the present invention there is provided an enclosure for enclosing a first refuse container, the enclosure including a primary aperture and a primary refuse inlet which is attached to the enclosure and associated with the primary aperture, the primary refuse inlet having an orifice through which refuse is insertable into the 30 enclosure for disposal into the first refuse container. An enclosure according to the present invention advantageously allows for the enclosure to be customized for particular refuse. For example, the primary refuse inlet can be marked in any suitable manner, to identify that the refuse suitable for the 4 refuse container enclosed within it, is of a recyclable or non-recyclable kind. If the intended refuse is recyclable refuse, then the refuse inlet can be marked further, to identify the type of recyclable refuse intended for disposal into the refuse container, i.e. cardboard, paper and the like, or plastic or glass bottles and the like. The 5 arrangement of the invention thus facilitates the manufacture of a single form of enclosure, and multiple forms of primary refuse inlet, with the particular refuse inlet required for the enclosure being selected prior to its attachment to the enclosure. Thus, any number of primary refuse inlets can be provided for use with a single enclosure body, so that the enclosure can be customized for the type of refuse it is 10 intended to collect. Customisation can be made at the place of manufacture depending on the order which has been made by the client, or the client can order a plurality of enclosures and refuse inlets and fit the refuse inlets according to its needs. The enclosure body is intended to be moulded in plastic, preferably rotationally 15 moulded, while the primary refuse inlet is also intended be moulded from plastic. This choice of manufacturing method provides significant cost savings in relation to the production of the enclosure, while it is also appropriate for recycled materials to be employed. By manufacturing the enclosure body and the primary refuse inlet from plastic, weight savings can be made also, while plastic tends to be resistant to 20 bending or denting under attack from vandals. Instead, while a blow from a vandal might cause the wall of the enclosure body to deflect inwardly, usually the wall will return to its position prior to the blow through plastic memory, thereby being unaffected by the blow. 25 Manufacture from plastic enables the enclosure to be aesthetically pleasing, by enabling a range of colours and different shapes and textures to be incorporated. Shapes and textures can in particular be used to highlight the type of refuse intended to be disposed within the enclosure, while the enclosure also advantageously, can be used for advertising purposes, public notices, or artistic or decorative works. 30 The primary refuse inlet preferably extends from inside the enclosure body, through the primary aperture to extend to outside the enclosure. The refuse inlet can be fixed to the periphery of the primary aperture and in some embodiments can be a snap fit to the periphery. For this, the refuse inlet can include a recess extending partly or 5 fully about its periphery, into which the periphery of the primary aperture can snap into. Other fixing arrangements between the primary refuse inlet and the primary aperture can be employed, such as adhesives, fasteners, slot and groove arrangements, etc. 5 While the enclosure can have any suitable shape, the enclosure body can be generally square in cross section and elongate in height. In one form, the dimensions of the enclosure are approximately 1350 mm in height, 780 mm in width and 855 mm in depth. An enclosure of these dimensions has the capacity to enclose a wheeled 10 rubbish bin of a 240 litre capacity. The enclosure can include any number of primary apertures, and it is envisaged that the enclosure could include a single primary aperture, a pair of primary apertures, or three or four primary apertures. In a generally square enclosure body, provision of 15 four primary apertures would have a single primary aperture formed on each of the four walls. Where three primary apertures are provided, one of the walls would be closed without an aperture. Where the enclosure includes two primary apertures, these can be positioned on opposite walls of the enclosure body, or on adjacent walls. 20 It is expected that the primary aperture will be located towards a top end of the enclosure body, and where multiple primary apertures are provided, these can be provided at the same height, or at different heights. To facilitate ingress and egress of the primary refuse container into and out of the 25 enclosure, the enclosure body can be formed with a door. The door can extend for substantially the full height of the enclosure, and the door can include a primary aperture if required. Preferably the door is rotatable through an angle of approximately 1200 between a fully opened and a fully closed position. 30 The orifice in the primary refuse inlet can be of any suitable shape, such as circular or generally rectangular. A circular form of orifice is intended to allow for the insertion of cylindrical bottles and cans, while the generally rectangular opening is intended to allow for the insertion of general rubbish.

6 It is appropriate that the primary refuse inlets be colour coded as necessary, for example to provide some form of indication as to the type of refuse intended to be received through the orifice. For recyclable refuse, the primary refuse inlet might be coloured green, whereas for non-recyclable refuse, a red colour might be employed. 5 The enclosure can include secondary apertures and secondary refuse inlets, for example, one secondary aperture and one secondary inlet, or multiple secondary apertures and inlets. These secondary apertures, like the primary aperture, are formed in the enclosure body, while the secondary refuse inlets are associated with 10 the secondary apertures. The secondary refuse inlet or inlets also have an orifice through which refuse is insertable into the enclosure. Such secondary apertures and refuse inlets are intended for a different type of refuse to the refuse described above in relation to the primary aperture and refuse inlets, and for example, the secondary apertures and inlets could be used for cigarette disposal, or other smaller refuse 15 types. The secondary refuse inlets preferably are arranged so that refuse which is inserted into the orifice of the inlet is disposed into either the first refuse container, or into a second refuse container which is separate from the first refuse container. The second refuse container can be a cigarette disposal container for example and for that type of refuse, the secondary refuse can include a surface on which cigarette can 20 be extinguished prior to disposal. In one form, a cigarette disposal container can be removably attached to one side of a door of the enclosure which faces into the enclosure when the door is closed. 25 The enclosure can also include a dispensing aperture for dispensing items which are stored within the enclosure. This is particularly suitable for the provision of litter bags, such as for collecting the faeces of animals. Advantageously, such litter bags once used, can be reinserted into the enclosure through the first refuse inlet for disposal into the first refuse container. 30 Enclosures according to the invention can include means for connecting one enclosure to another and can include means for fixing the enclosure body to the surface on which it is supported.

7 For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be performed, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure according to the invention. Figure 2 is a view of the enclosure of Figure 1 with a door of the enclosure in an open 10 position. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a further enclosure according to the invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further enclosure according to the invention. 15 Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further enclosure according to the invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view of an enclosure according to the invention, with the door in a partly open position. 20 Figure 7 is a perspective view of the enclosure of Figure 7 with the door in a fully open position and showing a refuse container being wheeled out of the enclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 Figure 1 illustrates an enclosure 10 which is of generally square cross section, and which is elongate in height. Enclosure 10 includes an enclosure body 11, which has a pair of opposed side walls 12, only one of which is visible in Figure 1, a rear wall 13, a top wall 14 and a front wall 15, which in the embodiment of enclosure 10 is a door. 30 Figure 2 illustrates the enclosure 10 with the door 15 shown in an open position. A primary aperture 16 is formed in the door 15 and within the primary aperture 16 is fixed a primary refuse inlet 17. The refuse inlet 17 is fixed to the aperture 16, by a 8 snap fit arrangement, in which the periphery of the aperture 16 snaps into a circumferential or peripheral recess formed in the refuse inlet 17. The refuse inlet 17 extends from inside the enclosure body 11 to outside the enclosure 10. 5 The refuse inlet 17 includes a guiding surface 18 along which refuse to be inserted into the enclosure 10 can be guided. The refuse inlet 17 thus includes a depth that extends into the enclosure 10 to ensure that refuse that is inserted into the inlet 17, is correctly inserted for deposit into a refuse container within the enclosure 10. 10 While the enclosure 10 includes a top wall 14, it does not include an opposed bottom wall. Thus, the enclosure body 11 is open at the bottom and as will become apparent later on, this facilitates insertion and removal of a wheeled refuse container into the interior of the enclosure 10. In an alternative arrangement, the enclosure 10 could include a base wall opposite the top wall. 15 The door 15 is hingedly connected to one of the side walls 12 and can be opened through 1200 so that clear access to the interior of the enclosure body 11 is provided. Along the edge 20 of the door 15, opposite the hinged edge 21, a locking arrangement is provided so that the door 15 can be locked shut when desired. Figure 20 1 illustrates a key lock 22 which is operable to lock and unlock the lock arrangement on the door edge 20. Figures 1 and 2 also illustrate a secondary aperture 23 within which is disposed a secondary refuse container 24 in the form of a cigarette refuse container. The refuse 25 container 24 includes a front face shown in Figure 1 having a plurality of small circular openings sufficient to receive therethrough a cigarette, while Figure 2 illustrates the actual container into which cigarettes are disposed. The container 24 can be slid downwardly in the direction shown by the arrow A to release the container from the door 15 for emptying. The front face of the cigarette refuse container shown in Figure 30 1 includes indicia to indicate the purpose of the container, and includes a surface for butting out a lit cigarette prior to disposal through the inlet. It will be appreciated from Figures 1 and 2, that a refuse container 26 can be inserted into the interior of the enclosure 10 by opening the door 15. Once the refuse 9 container 26 has been properly positioned within the enclosure 10, the door 15 can be shut and locked, and thereafter refuse which is inserted through the refuse inlet 17 is deposed into the refuse container 26. Periodically, the door 15 can be opened and the refuse containers 24 and 26 removed from within the enclosure 10 for emptying. 5 Referring now to Figure 3, this shows a similar arrangement to the enclosure 10 of Figures 1 and 2, but in the enclosure 30 of Figure 3, four primary apertures 31 are provided, within which four primary refuse inlets are inserted. Only two of the primary apertures 31 and the primary refuse inlets 32 are entirely visible in Figure 3, but it is 10 the case that the arrangement of aperture and inlet occurs on each of the four walls of the enclosure body 33. The enclosure 30 thus provides access to the interior of the enclosure 30, and thus to a refuse container within the enclosure 30 from all four sides of the enclosure 30. 15 In addition to the primary refuse inlets 32, the enclosure 30 also includes secondary aperture 34 which is the same as the secondary aperture 23 for cigarettes shown in Figure 1. 20 Likewise, the enclosure 30 includes a hinged door 38 which operates in the manner of the door 15 of the enclosure 10. In addition to the primary and secondary apertures of the enclosure 30, a dispensing aperture 35 is provided in the side wall 36 within which is disposed a container of 25 items to be dispensed. In the present example, the container is within the enclosure 30 and therefore not visible in Figure 3, but it includes litter bags for the collection of animal faeces. The front face 37 of the container within the enclosure 30 is shown in Figure 3 and this depicts a dog to indicate the provision of litter bags within the enclosure 30. 30 Users of litter bags from the enclosure 30 can deposit the litter bags back into the enclosure 30 through the primary refuse inlets 32 once the litter has been collected. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate enclosures 40 and 50 which are substantially identical to the enclosures 10 and 30 of Figures 1 and 3. Accordingly, discussion relating to the 10 enclosures 40 and 50 will be limited to only those features which differ from the earlier enclosures. Referring to Figure 4, the enclosure 40 includes a primary refuse inlet 41 which has 5 an orifice of a shape different to the orifice shown in the earlier figures. Returning to Figures 1 to 3, the orifice 25 of the primary refuse inlets 17 and 32, is generally rectangular. However, in the enclosure 40 of Figure 4, the orifice 42 of the primary refuse inlet 41 is circular. The different shaped orifices 25 and 42 are to encourage the insertion of different forms of refuse. The circular orifice 42 is intended to 10 encourage the disposal of cylindrical bottles and cans for recycling, whereas the orifice 25 is intended to encourage the deposit of general refuse. In the alternative, the orifice 25 could be intended to encourage the disposal of recyclable refuse, such as paper and cardboard. 15 With reference to Figure 5, the enclosure 50 is substantially the same as the enclosure 30 of Figure 3, but with the same primary refuse inlet 41 and orifice 42 of Figure 4. Thus, the enclosure 50 includes four primary refuse inlets 41 inserted through each wall of the enclosure 50. 20 It is to be noted that in relation to the enclosures 30 and 50, that the respective primary apertures and primary refuse inlets are all disposed at about the same height of the enclosure. While this is not essential, it is likely to be appropriate in most circumstances. 25 Referring to Figures 2 and 6, these show the enclosure 10 during loading and unloading of a refuse container from within the enclosure. In Figure 2, the door 15 is shown in an open condition at about 120* from the closed position shown in Figure 1. Within the enclosure body 11, the refuse container 26 is disposed. It can be seen that the refuse container 26 includes a lid 27 which is open, and a pair of wheels 28 on 30 which the container 26 is wheeled. With reference to Figure 6, the refuse container 26 has been tilted on the wheels 28 so that the container can be removed from the enclosure 10. For that, the door 15 remains in the fully open position of Figure 2.

11 Once the refuse container 26 has been emptied, it can be returned to the position inside the enclosure 10 as shown in Figure 2. 5 The enclosures shown in the figures are formed from rotationally moulded plastic and are easy to manufacture and assemble. The enclosures are generally vandal proof, and can be aesthetically pleasing and advantageously, can include artwork, advertising or public announcements, on any of the side or top panels. 10 Additionally, strengthening ribs can be formed in the moulded shape of the enclosures. The enclosures can include arrangements to fix themselves to the surface on which they are supported, such as by including tabs at the bottom ends 60 (Figure 6) thereof 15 and they can also include arrangements to connect one enclosure to another. In this manner, a variety of different configurations, with refuse inlets disposed at various positions, can be made. The advantage of connecting a plurality of enclosures together is that the various enclosures can be employed to receive a plurality of different kinds of refuse, i.e. recyclable refuse and non-recyclable refuse. 20 The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

Claims (18)

1. An enclosure for enclosing a first refuse container, the enclosure having an enclosure body with a primary aperture and a primary refuse inlet which is attached to 5 the enclosure body and associated with the primary aperture, the primary refuse inlet having an orifice through which refuse is insertable into the enclosure for disposal into the first refuse container.

2. An enclosure according to claim 1, the primary refuse inlet extending from 10 inside the enclosure body through the primary aperture to extend to the outside of the enclosure.

3. An enclosure according to claim 1 or 2, the primary refuse inlet being fixed to the periphery of the primary aperture. 15

4. An enclosure according to claim 3, the primary refuse inlet being snap fit to the primary aperture.

5. An enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the enclosure body being 20 generally square in cross section and elongate in height.

6. An enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including at least a second primary aperture, with a primary refuse inlet being associated with each of the primary apertures. 25

7. An enclosure according to claim 6, wherein the primary apertures are positioned at substantially the same height across the enclosure body.

8. An enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the enclosure body having 30 a door to facilitate access to the interior of the enclosure body for insertion and removal of the first refuse container.

9. An enclosure according to claim 8, the door extending for substantially the full height of the enclosure. 13

10. An enclosure according to claim 9, the door including a primary aperture and a primary refuse inlet. 5

11. An enclosure according to any one of claims 8 to 10, the door being rotatable through an angle of approximately 120 degrees between a fully open position and a closed position.

12. An enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the at least one orifice of 10 the primary refuse inlet being circular.

13. An enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the at least one orifice of the primary refuse inlet being generally rectangular. 15

14. An enclosure according to any one of claims 1 to 13, the enclosure body including a secondary aperture and a secondary refuse inlet which is attached to the enclosure body and associated with the secondary aperture, the secondary refuse inlet having an orifice through which refuse is insertable into the enclosure. 20

15. An enclosure according to claim 14, the orifice of the secondary refuse inlet being arranged so that refuse which is inserted into the enclosure through the secondary refuse inlet is disposed into the first refuse container.

16. An enclosure according to claim 14, the orifice of the secondary refuse inlet 25 being arranged so that refuse which is inserted into the enclosure through the secondary refuse inlet is disposed into a second refuse container.

17. An enclosure according to claim 16, the secondary refuse container being a cigarette disposal container and the secondary refuse inlet being arranged so that 30 cigarettes can be extinguished thereon prior to disposal into the cigarette disposal container.

18. An enclosure according to claim 17 when dependent on any one of claims 8 to 11, the cigarette disposal container being removably attached to a side of the door