WO2003007249A2

WO2003007249A2 - Refuse receptacle

Info

Publication number: WO2003007249A2
Application number: PCT/GB2002/003087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ricky Keith Lloyd
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-07
Filing date: 2002-07-04
Publication date: 2003-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2004-01-07
Also published as: GB0116663D0; WO2003007249A3

Abstract

A refuse collection apparatus comprises a receptacle 15 into which articles of refuse can be deposited via a chute 13. Sensors 2a, 4a, 2b, 4b detect when an article is deposited and activate a display 3 so as to display a game, either by displaying the results of the game or by displaying a game which can be interacted with. The result of the game determines whether a prize has been won which is indicated to the user. Further screens 11 are provided on the apparatus to provide advertising space, the screens 11 being interactive and providing access to information about the products and services advertised.

Description

REFUSE RECEPTACLE

This invention relates to a refuse receptacle for the disposal of litter and other waste. Refuse receptacles of the type with which the present invention is concerned are particularly intended for use in public places and especially, but not exclusively, as items of street furniture.

Waste is generated daily in very large quantities. Currently, litter is partly disposed of in litter bins in public areas such as streets and parks, but often it is simply casually dropped. This is unsightly, unhygienic and it encourages rodents and other scavengers which can then give rise to a serious public health hazard. It is expensive for public authorities to clean up this street litter.

It is known to provide a litter bin which gives an incentive to passers by to deposit litter therein by occasionally dispensing tickets which are redeemable for prizes. Thus, Patent Specification No. GB 2 261 096 discloses a waste bin comprising a base and an inlet hood assembly which detects wastes articles deposited therein by means of detector means including a sensor, and intermittently issues, to persons depositing articles, tickets, tokens or the like which are redeemable for some sort of prize so as to encourage use of the bin. An inlet throat inside a hood is so configured, and a sensor so located therein, that the sensor cannot be triggered unless an article is released to fall into the base. The bin suitably includes a counter incremented by the detector and is adapted to issue tickets when a randomly generated number is reached.

A problem with this type of litter bin is as follows: either the machine dispenses tickets to "losers" or it does not. If losing tickets are issued, any such losing ticket is likely to be discarded thus adding to the problem of street litter. If no ticket is issued to a non-winner, this is likely to cause puzzlement or frustration and possibly even anger to the litter depositor. This is in turn likely either to discourage potential use of the litter bin, or to provoke a vandalistic attack on the bin.

Neither of these outcomes is to be desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refuse receptacle which encourages the deposition of litter and in which these problems are alleviated.

Accordingly the present invention provides a refuse collection apparatus comprising a receptacle for receiving refuse, entertainment means including display means, and sensing means for sensing the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle, wherein the display means is arranged to be actuated in response to the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle.

The display means may be arranged to display the outcome of a game in response to the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle. For example the game may be a form of lottery wherein the outcome is determined by the following a sequence of outcomes in successive detections of items deposited in the apparatus.

Alternatively the display means may be arranged to provide access to a game in response to the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle. In this case, the display means is preferably arranged to display the outcome so as to indicate whether the game has been won or lost.

The display means is preferably further arranged to display information. This can be simultaneously with the game .Alternatively the display may be arranged to display the information, and to be actuated to displaying the game in response to the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle. The apparatus preferably further comprises a telecommunications link arranged to provide information for the display, for example by means of an internet connection.

Preferably the apparatus has an aperture through which refuse may be deposited, and a chute which leads from the aperture to the receptacle. The sensing means may be arranged to sense the passage of an article of refuse down the chute. Preferably the apparatus further comprises baffle means arranged to inhibit spurious activation of the entertainment apparatus. The baffle means may comprise a pivoting baffle plate.

Preferably the sensing means comprises at least two sensors arranged to be activated in sequence by an article of refuse passing into the receptacle. In this case the sensors are preferably spaced apart along the path of the refuse into the receptacle. Preferably the apparatus further comprises control means adapted to receive signals from sensors and to activate the entertainment apparatus only when both of the sensors have been triggered. More preferably the control means is arranged to activate the entertainment apparatus only when the sensors have been triggered in a correct sequence.

Preferably the apparatus includes input means to enable a user to interact with the display. The input means may enable the user to interact with the game. This will obviously be necessary if the game is a game of skill rather than one of pure luck. Preferably the input means enables the user to influence what information is displayed, for example so as to enable interaction with the display to obtain further information about goods or services advertised in the display. Conveniently the input means comprises the display which is in the form of a touch sensitive screen.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises output means for outputting a record of the outcome of the game, for example in the form of a ticket. More preferably the output means is arranged to output the record only if the game has been won. Alternatively, or in addition, the apparatus may include means arranged to allow a user to input data identifying the user. This could be used to avoid the need for providing the record in the form of a ticket and could for example allow the user to enter his name and address so that a prize could be sent to him.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises a refuse level sensor arranged to sense when the level of refuse in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level and to provide an indication that said level has been reached. This can be used to ensure that the apparatus does not become unusable due to the amount of refuse it contains.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front view of an embodiment of refuse receptacle which incorporates entertainment apparatus, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a side view in cross section of the embodiment of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Referring to the Figures a refuse collecting apparatus 1 according to the invention comprises an entertainment apparatus display section 3, a waste aperture 5, a ticket dispenser 7, a waste emptying door 9 and various display elements 11. The display section 3 includes four windows 21 , each displaying one symbol 22 of the entertainment apparatus 3. The door 9 is provided with a lock 29.

The waste aperture 5 is provided in the front of the apparatus, and is closable by a pivoting flap 8 and leads into a chute 13 down which defines a path down which refuse items may travel to the waste collecting receptacle, which in this case is a drawer 15 lined with a removable waste collecting sack 25. The drawer 15 can be removed by unlocking and opening a door 9 on the front of the apparatus 1 and pulling the drawer 15 out. The waste bag 25 can then be removed and sealed to be taken away for incineration, landfill, recycling, or other processing, and a new bag secured in its place before pushing the drawer 15 back into the receptacle 1 and locking the door 9. The door 9 may alternatively be located at a side or the rear of the apparatus. It will be appreciated than any suitable container, either rigid or flexible, can be used in place of the sack 25.

The use of the pivoting flap 8, which acts as a baffle plate, offers several advantages: it inhibits multiple actuation of the entertainment apparatus using a single refuse item; it provides a convenient sensor for the passing of refuse; it enables the receptacle to be closed against the ingress of rainwater during normal use; it inhibits the entry of vermin; such a baffle can be provided with a lock preventing use of the receptacle when full.

Three sensing devices are provided in or on the chute 13, each in the form of an infra-red (IR) emitter 2a, 2b, 2c and an infra red (IR) detector 4a, 4b, 4c. The emitters 2a, 2b, 2c each give a continuous beam of IR radiation 6a, 6b, 6c (Fig. 3) which hits the detector 4a, 4b, 4c respectively. Two of the detectors 4a, 4b are located in the chute 13 and are arranged to detect when the beam 6a, 6b is broken by a refuse item descending the chute 13, and to send signals to the entertainment apparatus control device 10. The third sensor constituted by IR emitter 2c and IR detector 4c is located in the region below the chute 13 approximately level with the top of the drawer 15 and is arranged to give an indication of when the refuse sack 25 is full. The IR beam 6c (Fig. 3) emitted by emitter 2c will be intermittently broken by items of refuse falling into the sack 25 but it will be permanently broken when the surface level 23 of the refuse collected within the sack 25 is high enough. When the beam is detected as broken permanently, for example for more than a predetermined time, an appropriate signal is then sent to the control device 10 and thence to call-out apparatus 17 under the control of a maintenance control device 16.

The maintenance control device 16 is also arranged to monitor the supply of paper on which the tickets 14 are printed and to indicate when the paper has run out. It could also be arranged to detect malfunction or damage of the apparatus and indicate when other forms of maintenance or repair are needed. Alternatively the paper supply monitoring and any other forms of monitoring of the apparatus can be performed by separate dedicated sensors.

A hinged flap 20 hangs down in the chute 13 and effectively provides a one- way flap valve in the chute which prevents refuse items being drawn back up the chute for example on a piece of string in order to activate the game or entertainment a number of times with a single item of refuse. The pivoted flap 20 can be used to operate a micro switch which also sends a signal to control box 10. When the flap 20 is arranged to provide such a control signal the second IR detector 2b, 4b may be omitted.

Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings is a block diagram illustrating the invention. As can be seen on this diagram each detector 4 is connected to the entertainment apparatus control device 10, which in turn is connected to the display control 12. Also shown on this figure is the maintenance control device 16, which is connected to some of the devices, and would in practice be connected to all the devices, to monitor any maintenance that is required, whether that is a fault, vandalism, or simply a need for the bin to be emptied or the printing paper to be replaced. The maintenance control device 16 is connected to a cell-phone or modem 17 which contacts the owner or operator of the receptacle whenever maintenance is required. The ticket dispenser 7 also has a printing device 18 to print tickets 14 to be dispensed by the dispenser.

In order for a user to operate the refuse receptacle 1 the following steps are taken. The user lifts the lid 8 of the waste aperture and places an item of litter through the waste aperture 5. The item of litter falls down the chute 13 and breaks the first IR beam 6a. The first detector 4a detects the break in the beam 6a whilst the litter continues down the chute 13, past the flap 20 and breaks the second IR beam 6b. The second detector 4b detects that break and the litter falls into the waste sack 25. The detectors 4a, 4b send signals to the entertainment apparatus control device 10. When the two signals have been received in sequence by the entertainment apparatus control device 10 it activates the display control 12.

In the embodiment illustrated, the display symbols 21 are carried by mechanical display elements 19 constituted as reels diagrammatically representing the reels of a fruit-machine type of apparatus. In a variant, those reels 19 are replaced by electronic display elements arranged for displaying selected symbols 21. When the display control 12 is activated, the display elements 19 are caused to cycle so as to display successive display of the elements 22 and then to halt, leaving one symbol of each display element 19 facing each window 21. The combination of symbols 22 shows an outcome, which is dependent on the entertainment apparatus control device. There are a large number or possible outcomes, some of which are winning outcomes and are associated with respective prizes, and others of which are non- inning or losing outcomes which are not associated with any prize. If the outcome is a winning outcome, the entertainment apparatus 3 sends a signal to the ticket printer 18 to print a particular ticket 14, the printer prints the appropriate ticket and the dispenser 7 dispenses the ticket for the user to take. The ticket can then be redeemed for a prize.

In this embodiment the display elements 11 are also in the form of touch sensitive screens and are arranged to display advertising information advertising the goods and services of various providers or advertisers. These screens are also interactive and are connected via the telecommunications link 17 with the internet. This enables a user who is interested in the goods or services advertised to retrieve further information about them, for example by giving access to relevant web sites. The advertisers could be expected to pay for the advertising by providing prizes for the game and by paying for the telecommunications costs involved in downloading the information from their web sites. As an alternative the information could all be stored locally on the control unit 10 to be accessed interactively from the touch sensitive screens 11. For example a common item of street litter is a take-away fast-food container. Proprietors or franchise holders of premises offering fast-food in such containers might be persuaded, in return for the advertising of their wares on the advertising display, to give a discount to purchasers in exchange for vouchers issued by the apparatus.

In a modification to the embodiment described, one or more of the screens 11 can be used to display the entertainment or game. When the apparatus is not being actively used, the screens can simply display advertising or other information. Then if an article of refuse is deposited in the apparatus, one or more of the screens switches to displaying the game, either simply by displaying the outcome or by displaying an interactive game which the user can use. Then the outcome of the game is communicated to the user as described above. It will be appreciated that various further features could be provided in the apparatus. For example, the refuse receptacle may also be adapted to take glass, cans, plastic or paper for recycling and may have a means for detecting whether the deposited waste is of the kind specified, only activating the entertainment apparatus if the right kind of waste is deposited. Furthermore a plurality of refuse collection receptacles may be provided and the system may incorporate some form of sorting means in the refuse path for the sorting of refuse into the different receptacles for possible recycling purposes.

It will also be appreciated that the nature of the entertainment provided may vary as desired. Instead of the symbols described above, any display in which matching, or the degree of matching, of the symbols of the array will determine whether the user is a winner or not could be used. When an electronic display screen is used, use may also be made of touch-screen technology for the selection of different games or entertainment of any suitable kind, such as card games and other skill-games. Also the number and position of the display elements 11 can be varied. For example there may be only one display element 11, or only one, or more, of the display elements 11 may be touch sensitive.

Claims

1. A refuse collection apparatus comprising a receptacle for receiving refuse, entertainment means including display means, and sensing means for sensing the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle, wherein the display means is arranged to be actuated in response to the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display means is arranged to display the outcome of a game in response to the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the display means is arranged to provide access to a game in response to the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the display means is arranged to display the outcome so as to indicate whether the game has been won or lost.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the display means is further arranged to display information.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the display is arranged to display the information simultaneously with the game.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the display is arranged to display the information, and to be actuated to displaying the game in response to the deposition of an item of refuse into the receptacle.

8. Apparatus according to any foregoing claim further comprising a telecommunications link arranged to provide information for the display.

9. Apparatus according to any foregoing claim having an aperture through which refuse may be deposited, and a chute which leads from the aperture to the receptacle.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the sensing means is arranged to sense the passage of an article of refuse down the chute.

11. Apparatus according to any foregoing claim further comprising baffle means arranged to inhibit spurious activation of the entertainment apparatus.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the baffle means comprises a pivoting baffle plate.

13. Apparatus according to any foregoing claim wherein the sensing means comprises at least two sensors arranged to be activated in sequence by an article of refuse passing into the receptacle.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the sensors are spaced apart along the path of the refuse into the receptacle.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14 further comprising control means adapted to receive signals from sensors and to activate the entertainment apparatus only when both of the sensors have been triggered.

16. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the control means is arranged to activate the entertainment apparatus only when the sensors have been triggered in a correct sequence.

17. Apparatus according to any foregoing claim including input means to enable a user to interact with the display.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 3 wherein the input means enables the user to interact with the game.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 when dependent on claim 5 wherein the input means enables the user to influence what information is displayed.

20. Apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 19 wherein the input means comprises the display which is in the form of a touch sensitive screen.

21. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 or any claim dependent thereon, further comprising output means for outputting a record of the outcome of the game.

22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the output means is arranged to output the record only if the game has been won.

23. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 or any claim dependent thereon including input means arranged to allow a user to input data identifying the user.

24. Apparatus according to any foregoing claim further comprising a refuse level sensor arranged to sense when the level of refuse in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level and to provide an indication that said level has been reached.

25. Refuse collection apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.