WO2011129703A1

WO2011129703A1 - Source sorting system for domestic waste

Info

Publication number: WO2011129703A1
Application number: PCT/NO2011/000122
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Jelmert SKJØLSVIK
Original assignee: GREEN IDEAS AS
Current assignee: GREEN IDEAS AS
Priority date: 2010-04-14
Filing date: 2011-04-13
Publication date: 2011-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2012-10-14
Also published as: NO332037B1; NO20100533A1

Abstract

The source sorting system is suitable for domestic waste, to be mounted on a hinged kitchen cabinet door in a kitchen cabinet. The source sorting system comprises several waste containers disposed in a frame fastened to the kitchen cabinet door with a fastening bracket, where the frame forms a quarter of a circle in the horizontal plane.

Description

Source sorting system for domestic waste

Field of the invention

The present invention regards a module with containers which is suitable for mounting in kitchen cabinets, particularly a module with containers for source separation of domestic garbage. The module is particularly suited for mounting on a hinged door in a kitchen furniture, and then preferably in a cabinet in a bench, and beneath a kitchen sink.

Background

It is well known that the frequent lack of storage in the kitchen has resulted in a trend towards using all available volumes in the cabinets for something useful. Especially, it is important to utilize cabinets in corners and the cabinet under the sink in a better way. The volume under the sink/bowl is partly filled by the bowl(s) which extend downwardly from the bench-top, by water pipes to faucets, and by waste water pipes from sink or bowl, and this volume is often used for keeping detergents, means for washing, fire hoses, garbage bins, etc.

The increased awareness of the environment and the increased demand for reusing the different types of waste products has resulted in utilities collecting waste sorted by type. This has led to a demand for sorting domestic waste. The result is that the user himself has to perform the sorting of types of waste like paper, glass, metal, plastic, waste food, etc.

In later years the interest for separating domestic waste at the domicile has increased considerably. The solution which has gained most momentum this far is that the waste shall be sorted as early as possible in the consumer chain and the transport chain, which means as close to the consumer as possible. This calls for particularly strict requirements for the shape and design of a system requiring a small volume for sorted waste, and it is then near to utilize the limited volume which normally is available in the cabinet under the kitchen sink or in another cabinet of relatively small volume.

This in turn has resulted in that the traditional waste bin under the sink has been replaced by a variety of other systems which typically comprises several smaller containers, to accommodate the requirements from the authorities and facilitate the daily household. This increase in number of containers and the need to have necessary, dedicated room available for detergents and equipment, has resulted in that the volume beneath the sink is not of sufficient volume when ordinary containers are used. The problem of many current waste solutions is that they are too voluminous. They are designed to stand or rest on rails at the bottom of the cabinet, and thereby the volume near and below the sink is often poorly utilized. Furthermore, the waste solutions often collide with the plumbing, because it has not been taken into account at the design.

Further it is often difficult to gain access to the rearmost containers in existing systems because the containers slide on rails on the floor of the cabinet, and the rail system does not allow for all containers being pulled fully out of the cabinet. This results in that the foremost containers have to be taken out first to enable removal of the rearmost.

Another problem with existing waste systems is that they often become very complex and have many moveable parts which are easily broken so that the system ceases to function satisfactorily. It is often bothersome to remove the containers for emptying and cleaning. Many systems are based on the use of liners in the containers, but the liners often have tears and spills are collected which after some time start to smell. The containers may be fixed to avoid overturning, and this makes their release and their cleaning difficult.

Summary

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a source sorting system which avoids the above described problems. The source sorting system according to the invention comprises relatively large containers to keep the different types of waste without risk for the containers to come in conflict with the plumbing systems of the sinks. The system is arranged so that it fulfills standard norms for waste bags, and thereby it facilitates the availability of liners which may be used in the containers, while the system satisfies the local waste regulations/routines.

The invention thus regards a source sorting system which is particularly suitable for domestic waste, with the features stated in claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are stated in the dependent claims.

The source sorting system according to the invention has a simple structure, it is inexpensive to produce and it is very reliable during operation. Further, it is easy to remove the containers and clean them. The system is of modular design to facilitate assembly, or if required disassembly, in an existing or new cabinet. The module is independent of side in the way that it can be mounted on left as well as right hinged doors.

Brief description of the figures

The invention is disclosed closer in the following with examples of embodiments, and with references to the drawings, where: figure 1 shows the source sorting system located in a bench under a sink;

figure 2 shows the source sorting system in its entirety as seen from the side of the fastening bracket so that all parts are visible and shows how they are located relative to each other;

figure 3 shows the source sorting system in exploded view,

figure 4 shows the source sorting system in its entirety as seen at an angle from front, and

figure 5 shows an embodiment of the fastening device for the module.

Description of the embodiments

With reference to the figures 1-5 it is shown how the source sorting system, a source sorting module 1 is intended to be used in a kitchen cabinet 2. In the displayed case the source sorting module is located in a cabinet and beneath the sinks 3, but it may just as well be located in any other cabinet, but preferably in a bench. Further the source sorting module of figure 1 is shown attached to a left hinged door, but the module is symmetric as can be seen from figures 2 and 4, and it may therefore just as well be located on a right hinged door. The door fastener 9 is designed to fit any hinge type on the market.

The module is also designed to be fastened to doors with different door widths. The door fastener may have different shapes to fit different cabinet doors. In the rectangular shape of the door fastener 9 shown on figure 5, it has been taken into account providing sturdy fastening to doors with a central, thin sheet held in a frame of the door blade. The most common standard sizes of doors are 50 cm and 60 cm wide, but the invention is not limited to any particular door width. In figure 5 an example of a door fastening for 50 cm and 60 cm door widths. When installing on a 50 cm wide door, the last 10 cm are to be broken off as indicated in figure 5. Similar embodiments may be made for other door widths.

The present source sorting module comprises at least three waste containers 4, 5, 6 resting on a frame 7 and which have an extra support 8 to allow the waste containers to hang stable without releasing sounds when the door is opened to give access to the waste containers. The waste containers 4, 5, 6 may be equipped with lids 14, but it is not required for the functionality, rather to keep the waste covered when the door is opened and to avoid spill inside the cabinet. The assembly is held fixed to the door by the help of a fastening bracket 9, which is fastened to the door to which the module is to be fastened.

The source sorting unit is designed to allow the fastening bracket 9 to be fastened near to the door hinge, and thus the rotation axis of the door, to utilize the volume of the cabinet in the best way possible. The frame 7 can be varied in length to utilize the width and/or the depth of the cabinet optimally, but this is not a requirement for the use of the source sorting unit.

As the source sorting unit is symmetric and should fit both right and left hinged doors, the source sorting unit 1 is designed as a quarter of a circle, around a central, vertical axis 1 1 in the pointing part 12 of the frame 7 when this is mounted. When the door is closed the source sorting module has a small gap to the wall inside the cabinet, which corresponds to the distance between the hinged end of the cabinet door and the pointing edge 12 of the frame 7.

The source sorting module should be produced from a light material which has sufficient stiffness and which is easily cleaned. There is no requirement regarding use of specific materials. Typical materials are for example different types of plastic, aluminum, thin steel sheets, composites and other corresponding materials. The particular parts of the source sorting module may be produced from different materials depending upon the function of the particular part. For example, the frame and the fastening bracket may be produced from metal, such as aluminum or another suitable metal, or from reinforced plastic to achieve sufficient strength, while the waste containers may be made from a thermoplastic which is of light weight and which provides surfaces which are easily cleaned. The invention is not limited to any special selection of material.

The source sorting module is designed to allow all parts except the fastening bracket 9 to be separable, the fastening bracket 9 necessarily has to be fastened to the door to which the source sorting module shall hang on. There is no need for any tool to assemble or disassemble the source sorting module 1.

By having completely separable parts it is possible to clean them in a dishwasher with detergents and at temperatures which take care of the hygienic aspects. This provides for the source sorting system according to the invention being particularly well suited for use within markets where the requirement for hygiene and lack of bacteria are considerable, like restaurants, hospitals, doctors' offices, kindergartens, school, public places, etc.

The frame 7, which holds all the waste containers, may be equipped with a hinge in one of the foremost corners 10 so that the foremost arc of the frame may be tilted outwards and disclose the foremost edge of the containers 4, 5, 6, whereby they may be pulled horizontally to be emptied, instead of having to be lifted out. This is an advantage for persons that are not strong enough in their fingers to lift a full waste container up and out of the frame.

The waste containers may also be equipped with handles or loops which also will facilitate the lifting of a waste container from the frame 7.

To utilize the frame 7 best possible, at least two of the waste containers are preferably designed like a slice of pie with an angle of 45 ° to produce a total angle of 90 ° like the frame 7 has. Within the complete angle of 90 °, however, the containers may be designed with different cross-sectional surfaces. The invention is not limited to having at least two similar containers, even if this is preferred because of production technology.

Further there are different needs for waste volumes depending on which types of waste are to be disposed of. There are also differences in the volume which the waste occupies relative to its weight. Therefore there is also possible to have an embodiment with different heights of the containers.

By source sorting it may be that the different types of wastes are collected by different cars because they are objects to different central processes. Food wastes, or degradable waste is often put in specially made bags which mulch to allow this waste to be composted directly even if it is stored in a bag. Another aspect of bags which are fast degradable is that they need surrounding air to avoid that the degrading starts immediately. Thus this type of waste containers has a need for ventilation in a completely different way than other containers. The container for wet organic waste may therefore have open slits 13 or holes in the sides and in the bottom to avoid that the bag is degraded while it is in the container. Further, waste food requires much less room than for example plastic and paper wrappings.

These conditions result in the waste containers 4, 5, 6 having different designs and volumes. Further, the waste container 5 for biodegradable waste will be equipped with a lid 14, as this type of waste often produces undesired smell.

As the source sorting module 1 is made like a quarter of a circle, this will yield extra room in at least one of the corners in the rear part of the cabinet. This volume may be used to store other items which are often stored in this kind of cabinets, like for example detergents, etc. The source sorting module is also made in such way that there is sufficient room for ordinary plumbing systems, installed in a proper and regulatory way, without the module colliding with them.

The source sorting system according to the invention follows the standards which are common in Scandinavia and rest of Europe. It can, however, easily be adapted to other standards. The different parts of the source sorting module are produced from ordinarily available materials which are suitable for the aim. The source sorting system is suitable for industrial production in large and in small quantities.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Source sorting system (1) suitable for domestic waste, for being mounted onto a hinged kitchen cabinet door in a kitchen cabinet,

characterize d in that the source sorting system comprises several waste containers (4, 5, 6) disposed into a frame (7), said frame is fastened to the kitchen cabinet door by a fastening bracket (9), and which forms a quarter of a circle in the horizontal plane.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a frame (7), an extra support (8), a fastening bracket (9), and at least one waste container (4, 5, 6).

3. System according to claim 1, characterized in the frame (7) has the shape of a 90⁰ sector of a circle.

4. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two of the waste containers (4, 5, 6) are similar.

5. System according to claim 1, ch aracteriz e d i n that the waste containers (4, 5, 6) are of different shapes.

6. System according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the waste containers (5) have slits (13) for good air ventilation.

7. System according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the system is arranged to be mounted onto a left hinged and a right hinged kitchen cabinet door.

8. System according to claims 7, characterized in that the kitchen cabinet door may have different widths.

9. System according to claim 1, characteri z e d in that the waste containers (4, 5, 6) disposed into the frame (7) may be lifted up and out for cleaning.

10. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame (7) is equipped with a hinge so that the frame (7) may be tilted and the containers pulled out horizontally.