Waste container, in particular for collecting toxic waste, such as those from laboratory

Abstract

The invention relates to a waste container (1) comprising a hollow body (2) for receiving a collection bag and a filling opening (3). The container (1) comprises an annular chamber (6) extending around the filling opening (3) and a hollow column (7). The annular chamber (6) is provided with air inlet orifices (8) arranged opposite the bottom (4) of the body (2) in an active configuration of the container (1). The column (7), which includes at least one air outlet, extends outside the body (2), adjoining said body (2). Said column (7) houses a forced air circulation device, and said column (7) is, in the active configuration of the container, in fluidic communication with the annular chamber (6) by an airtight fluidic connection (13).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste container, in particular for the collection of toxic waste, such as that from laboratories.

[0002] It relates in particular to a waste container comprising a hollow body for receiving a collection bag and a filling opening, said body having a lower part forming the bottom and an upper part providing access to the inside of the body.

[0003] A number of toxic wastes are produced in various industries. These toxic wastes are characterized by the emission of toxic gases. These gases can be released into the environment when the waste is collected in a container that must be opened and closed for collection. Solutions have been devised to limit this release of toxic gases into the environment and to protect users, as illustrated in US documents 2005 / 230407, 2023 / 129640, 10058222, and 2020 / 339344. However, the solutions developed to date are not entirely satisfactory and do not guarantee that waste collection and storage are carried out under conditions that prevent the release of toxic gases into the environment while still facilitating waste collection.

[0004] One aim of the invention is to provide a waste container of the aforementioned type whose design protects users without compromising the ease of use of the container.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a waste container comprising a hollow body for receiving a collection bag and a filling opening, said body having a lower part forming the bottom and an upper part providing access to the interior of the body, characterized in that the container comprises an annular chamber extending around the filling opening and a hollow column, in that the annular chamber is provided with air inlet orifices arranged opposite the bottom of the body in a so-called active configuration of the container, in that the column, which comprises a base, a top and at least one air outlet, extends, outside the body, in a manner adjoining said body, in that said column houses a forced air circulation device, and in that said column is, in the so-called active configuration of the container, in fluidic communication with the annular chamber by an airtight fluidic link.

[0006] The fact that the column, in the container's so-called active configuration, is in fluidic communication with the annular chamber via an airtight fluidic link allows for the generation of an airflow from inside the container body to inside the column, passing through the annular chamber. This airflow carries away any potentially toxic gases present in the container body and prevents them from escaping into the environment. The integration of the forced air circulation system within the column ensures the quality of the suction. This allows the filling opening to remain open during collection phases without hindering the operator, thus facilitating waste collection. The arrangement of the annular chamber's air inlets at the base of the container body allows the flow of toxic gases to reach the annular chamber along a predominantly vertical trajectory.This again results in increased efficiency.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the filling opening is provided in a hood, said hood being mounted on the body and movable between a position close to and a position away from the body, the position close to the body corresponding to the active configuration of the container. Since the annular chamber surrounds the filling opening, the annular chamber is also provided in the hood. This configuration allows the annular chamber to partially close the upper part of the body. The airflow, potentially laden with toxic gases, can thus, by simply moving along an essentially vertical trajectory, reach the annular chamber without complicating the container design.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the hood comprises a frame surrounding the filling opening, the annular chamber and the fluidic link being provided at the level of said frame.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the container includes a closing flap for the filling opening, mounted inside the movable frame, preferably pivoting, between an open and a closed position of said filling opening. This closing flap facilitates access to the filling opening and can be permanently opened without affecting the operation of the container.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, in the active configuration of the container, the fluidic link for fluidic communication between the annular chamber and the column opens into the column at the top of said column, and the forced air circulation device is configured to generate an airflow from the top towards the base of said column. Again, the path of the airflow, potentially laden with toxic gases, is simplified to improve the efficiency of collecting and transporting the toxic gases.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fluidic link for fluidic communication between the annular chamber and the column is formed by an external radial outgrowth of the annular chamber.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the external radial protrusion is in the form of a conduit delimited at least by a peripheral wall provided with an outlet orifice positioned opposite the open top of the column in the active configuration of the container, said conduit being blind.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the annular chamber is delimited by walls forming, in the active configuration of the container, one, a bottom wall of the annular chamber facing the bottom of the container. The air inlet orifices of the annular chamber, which are provided in said bottom wall, are in the form of curved slots with their concavity facing the filling opening surrounded by said annular chamber. Said air inlet orifices are distributed circumferentially around said filling opening. This arrangement allows for optimized suction, making it possible to limit, or even prevent, any release of toxic gases into the environment.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the annular chamber communicates with the fluidic connection in an area called the communication zone, and the air inlet ports of the annular chamber located away from said communication zone have an opening area larger than the opening area of ​​the air inlet ports of the annular chamber located closer to the communication zone. This design allows for homogeneous air intake over the entire circumference of the annular chamber.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the so-called double-walled column is a column whose peripheral surface, connecting the top and bottom of the column and serving to delimit the column cavity within which the forced air circulation device is housed, is formed by a double wall. This arrangement makes it possible, on the one hand, to avoid the presence of obstacles to the airflow, for example, electrical wires, in the column cavity, and on the other hand, to better isolate the airflow, potentially laden with toxic gases, from the outside.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the forced air circulation device divides the interior of the column into two sections, respectively called lower and upper, extending one above the other in the active configuration of the container.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the container comprises at least one filter disposed inside said column, the filter or at least one of the filters being accessible through a filter access opening formed in the peripheral surface connecting the top and bottom of the column and serving to delimit the column cavity, this access opening being closed by a hatch. This filter is optional, in particular when the air outlet of the column is connected to a pre-existing air extraction system incorporating at least one filter.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least the hood and the column are made of high-density polyethylene, preferably rotomolded. This results in simplified manufacturing. Thus, the annular chamber, the filling opening, and the fluidic connection can be made from a single piece.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the container includes a sealing gasket formed by one or more seals interposed, on the one hand, between the hood and the column, and on the other hand, between the hood and the body, in the container's active configuration, to allow a sealed flow of fluid from the inside of the body to the column via the annular chamber. The presence of a sealing gasket limits the risk of drawing in uncontaminated outside air. This again results in increased efficiency. Brève description des dessins

[0020] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention in its active configuration; [ Fig. 2 ] represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention in a non-active configuration; [ Fig. 3 ] represents a partially cross-sectional and perspective view of a container according to the invention in its active configuration to illustrate the circulation of airflow potentially laden with toxic gases inside the container; Fig. 4 ] represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention with some of the elements in an exploded view in the container's inactive configuration; [ Fig. 5 ] represents a perspective view of the hood; [ Fig. 6 ] represents a view from under the hood; Fig. 7 ] represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention in a non-active configuration during the placement of a collection bag: [ Fig. 8 ] represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a container according to the invention in the active configuration of the container.

[0021] The container 1 for generally toxic waste of the invention may be of the type shown in the figures 1 , 4 And 8 This container 1 comprises a hollow tubular body 2, here circular in cross-section, in the form of a container open at the top. This hollow body 2 therefore has a lower part forming the bottom 4 and an upper part 5 providing access to the interior of the body 2. The container 1 also includes a filling opening 3 through which waste can be introduced for collection and storage in the body 2. The filling opening is located at the top of the body 2 or above the body 2.

[0022] The body 2 is generally fitted with a waste collection bag 23. For this purpose, the body 2 can be equipped at its upper part 5 with a system 25 for holding the bag 23 open within the body 2. This holding system 25 is, in the example shown in the figure 7 , formed of two hoops, generally metallic, pivoting around an axis transverse to the body 2. These hoops form in one position, a circle extending in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom 4 of the body 2. The bag 23 is thus held in a position in which it follows the wall of the body 2 and presents its upper part in an open position.

[0023] The container 1 further includes an annular chamber 6 extending around the filling opening 3 and at least partially, preferably totally, surrounding the filling opening 3. This annular chamber 6 is provided with air intake orifices 8 arranged opposite the bottom 4 of the body 2 in an active configuration of the container 1, conforming to that shown in the figure 1 .

[0024] In the example shown, the filling opening 3 is provided in a hood 14. The hood 14 is a pivoting hood mounted on the body 2, which pivots between a position close to and a position away from the body 2. The close position of the body 2 corresponds to the active configuration of the container 1. This hood 14 could similarly have been mounted to slide, for example.

[0025] The cover 14 is coupled to the rest of the container by a hinge for its pivoting mounting. The cover 14 is therefore movable by pivoting to move from a position close to the body 2, in which it rests against the upper part of the body 2, to a position away from the body 2 as illustrated in the figure 2 The position in which the hood 14 is moved away from the body 2 corresponds to the inactive configuration of the container 1.

[0026] In the examples shown, particularly in figures 5 et 6 The hood 14 includes a frame surrounding the filling opening 3. The frame is a thick, hollow frame. The frame forms the annular chamber 6.

[0027] Container 1 includes a flap 15 for closing the filling opening 3. This flap 15 is mounted inside the pivoting frame of the filling opening 3, which can be moved between an open and a closed position. This flap 15 is in the form of a circular plate whose shape complements that of the filling opening 3, which is also shown to be circular. This flap 15 is particularly visible at the figure 1 .

[0028] As illustrated by the figure 3 The annular chamber 6 is delimited by walls forming, in the active configuration of container 1, a bottom wall 16 of the annular chamber 6 facing the bottom of container 1. The air inlet ports 8 of the annular chamber 6 are provided in this bottom wall 16. Each of these air inlet ports 8 is in the form of a curved slot with its concavity facing the filling opening 3 surrounded by the annular chamber 6. These air inlet ports 8 are distributed circumferentially around the filling opening 3. The filling opening 3 is circular, and the air inlet ports 8 are arranged in a circle around the filling opening 3. The circle is a circle whose center passes through the center of the filling opening 3.

[0029] As illustrated by the figure 6 that these air intake orifices 8 have an opening area that can vary from one air intake orifice 8 to another. The way in which this opening area varies will be described below.

[0030] The container 1 finally includes a hollow column 7 which is attached, that is, adjacent, to the body 2, extending along the body 2 outside of the body 2. This column 7 includes a base 9, a top 10 and at least one air outlet 11 which, in the example shown, is located at the base 9 of the column 7, as can be seen in the figure 3 Indeed, column 7 includes a top 10 and a base 9 as well as an air outlet 11.

[0031] This air outlet 11 can open to the open air, as in the figure 2 , or be connected to a fluid circulation network, as illustrated in the figure 3 . This column 7 is, in the examples shown, open at its top 10 and at its base 9. This column 7 is, in the examples shown, of square external section, but could have been circular or otherwise without going out of the scope of the invention.

[0032] A base allows the column 7 and the body 2 to be held in an upright position, that is to say in the vertical state.

[0033] In the examples shown, the base of column 7 extends above the ground in the upright position of the assembly. This column 7 houses a forced air circulation device 12, generally in the form of a fan. This forced air circulation device 12 divides the interior of column 7 into two sections, referred to respectively as lower 71 and upper 72. These lower 71 and upper 72 sections extend one above the other in the active configuration of the container 1, in which column 7 extends in the upright state.

[0034] The forced air circulation device 12 is preferably positioned in the upper section 72 of the column 7 to be as close as possible to the annular chamber 6.

[0035] As illustrated in the figure 4 A grid 24 can be provided between the top of the open column 7 and the forced air circulation device 12. This prevents an operator from injuring their fingers by contact with the forced air circulation device 12 when container 1 is inactive.

[0036] In the examples shown, the hood 14 and the column 7 are high-density polyethylene parts, preferably rotomolded, i.e., manufactured by rotomolding. The rotomolding process is visible on the final part.

[0037] The container 1 may include at least one filter 19 disposed inside the column 7. This filter 19 may be accessible through an access opening 20 provided for the filter 19, formed in the peripheral surface connecting the top 10 and the base 9 of the column 7, and serving to delimit the cavity of the column 7. In the examples shown, this access opening 20 is closed by a hatch 21. Such a filter 19 is visible at the figure 3 .

[0038] Alternatively, and not shown, column 7 may be without a filter, and the filter may be placed on the air circulation circuit of the type shown in the figure 3 which connects the air outlet of column 7, located at the base of column 7, to a pre-existing air circulation circuit.

[0039] We note, as illustrated by the figure 3 The column 7 can be a so-called double-walled column. Indeed, the peripheral surface connecting the top 10 and the base 9 of the column 7, and serving to delimit the cavity of the column 7 within which the forced air circulation device 12 is housed, can be formed by a double wall 18. Thus, the electrical wiring, as well as any element potentially disrupting the airflow, can be placed between the two walls. The airflow generated by the forced air circulation device 12 is therefore subject to minimal disturbance inside the column 7.

[0040] Column 7 is, in the active configuration of the container, that is to say in the configuration in which the air inlet ports 8 of the annular chamber 6 are arranged opposite the bottom 4 of the body 2, in fluidic communication with the annular chamber 6 by an airtight fluidic link 13, to allow the generation of a channeled airflow from the inside of the body 2 to the inside of the column 7 via the annular chamber 6.

[0041] This active configuration also corresponds to the position in which the hood 14 is brought closer to the body 2 and in particular rests on the body 2 and on the top of the column 7.

[0042] To provide a leak-proof contact between the cover 14 and the column 7, and between the cover 14 and the body 2, the container 1 includes a sealing gasket 22. This sealing gasket 22 may consist of one or more seals. These seals are interposed, on the one hand, between the cover 14 and the column 7, and on the other hand, between the cover 14 and the body 2, in the active configuration of the container 1 to allow a leak-proof flow of fluid from the inside of the body 2 to the column 7 via the annular chamber 6.

[0043] The risk of the forced air circulation device drawing air from outside the body 2 is thus reduced.

[0044] The airflow circuit channeled from body 2 to air outlet 11 of column 7 via annular chamber 6 is illustrated in figures 3 And 5 .

[0045] It is understood that, in this active configuration of container 1, the air, whether or not it contains toxic gas from body 2, cannot be directly vented into the atmosphere from body 2. This air is forced to follow the path dictated by the forced air circulation device 12. However, the interior of body 2 remains accessible through the filling opening 3, which can remain permanently open if the operator so desires, without disrupting this forced air circulation.

[0046] In the inactive configuration of container 1, as illustrated in the figure 2 , the hood is in a position away from body 2 and the annular chamber 6 is no longer in fluidic communication via the fluidic link 13 with the top of column 7, so that the air potentially charged with toxic gas contained in body 2 can be released into the environment.

[0047] In the active configuration of container 1, the fluidic link 13, allowing fluidic communication between the annular chamber 6 and the column 7, opens into the column 7 at the level of the top 10 of the column 7, and the forced air circulation device 12 is configured to generate an airflow from the top 10 towards the base 9 of said column 7.

[0048] In the example of figures 4 And 5The fluidic connection 13, for fluidic communication between the annular chamber 6 and the column 7, is formed by an external radial protrusion 130 of the annular chamber 6. This external radial protrusion 130 is in the form of a blind conduit, that is, a conduit with one closed end face. This conduit is delimited by a peripheral wall equipped with an outlet orifice 131 positioned opposite the open apex 10 of the column 7 in the active configuration of the container 1, that is, in the configuration in which this external radial protrusion 130 rests against the apex of the column 7. The open end face of the blind conduit opens into the annular chamber 6. The annular chamber 6 communicates with the fluidic connection 13 in a zone called the communication zone 17. This communication zone 17 corresponds to the open end face of the blind conduit.The air inlet ports 8 of the annular chamber 6 located further from the communication zone 17 have a larger opening area than the opening area of ​​the air inlet ports 8 located closer to the communication zone 17. This results in homogeneous air within the annular chamber 6.

[0049] The annular chamber 6 and the fluidic connection form the hood 14, which is made in one piece. This piece is, as mentioned above, preferably manufactured by rotomolding.

[0050] In the active configuration of container 1, the cover is in a position close to body 2 and rests on body 2 and column 7, as illustrated in the figure 1 .

[0051] The electric forced air circulation device 12 is in operation thanks to the presence of an on / off switch preferably located on the column 7. This forced air circulation device 12 generates, continuously, an airflow from the body 2 to the air outlet 11 of the column 7 in the active configuration of the container 1.

[0052] The air potentially charged with toxic gas and contained in body 2 is drawn into the annular chamber 6 through the air intake orifices 8, passes from the annular chamber 6 to the top 10 of the column 7 by the fluidic link 13, travels through the column 7 from the top 10 to the base 9 of the column 7 to exit the column 7 through the air outlet 11 of the column 7 provided in the base 9 of the column 7, this base 9 being away from the ground.

[0053] This continuous circulation does not prevent the operator from using container 1 as a conventional bin by introducing waste into body 2 through filling opening 3 which can be closed by a flap 15.

[0054] Such a waste container can be used for the collection of toxic waste without the release of toxic gas into the environment.

Claims

1. Waste container (1) comprising a hollow body (2) for receiving a collection bag (23) and a filling opening (3), said body (2) having a lower portion forming a bottom (4) and an upper portion (5) for accessing the interior of the body (2), characterized in that the container (1) comprises an annular chamber (6) extending around the filling opening (3) and a hollow column (7), in that the annular chamber (6) is provided with air inlet orifices (8) arranged facing the bottom (4) of the body (2) when the container (1) is in a configuration referred to as active configuration, in that the column, which comprises a base (9), a top (10) and at least one air outlet (11), extends, outside the body (2), so as to be adjacent to said body (2), in that said column (7) houses a forced air circulation device (12), and in that said column (7) is, when the container is in the configuration referred to as active configuration, in fluidic communication with the annular chamber (6) via an airtight fluidic connection (13).

2. Waste container (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the filling opening (3) is formed in a lid (14), said lid (14) being mounted on the body (2) so as to be able to move between a position close to and a position away from the body (2), the position close to the body (2) corresponding to the active configuration of the container (1).

3. Waste container (1) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the lid (14) comprises a frame surrounding the filling opening (3), the annular chamber (6) and the fluidic connection (13) being arranged on said frame.

4. Waste container (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a flap (15) intended to close the filling opening (3) and mounted inside the frame so as to be able to move, preferably pivotably, between an open position and a closed position in said filling opening (3).

5. Waste container (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, when the container (1) is in the active configuration, the fluidic connection (13) for fluidic communication between the annular chamber (6) and the column (7) opens into the column (7) at the top (10) of said column (7) and in that the forced air circulation device (12) is configured to generate a flow of air from the top (10) towards the base of said column (7).

6. Waste container (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fluidic connection (13) for fluidic communication between the annular chamber (6) and the column (7) is formed by an external radial protuberance (130) of the annular chamber (6).

7. Waste container (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the external radial protuberance (130) is in the form of a duct delimited at least by a peripheral wall provided with an outlet orifice (131) positioned facing the open top (10) of the column (7) when the container (1) is in the active configuration, said duct being blind.

8. Waste container (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the annular chamber (6) is bounded by walls, one of which forms, when the container (1) is in the active configuration, a bottom wall (14) of the annular chamber (6) facing the bottom (4) of the container (1), in that the air inlet orifices (8) of the annular chamber (6) that are formed in said bottom wall (16) are in the form of curved slots with their concavity facing the filling opening (3) surrounded by said annular chamber (6), said air inlet orifices (8) being distributed circumferentially around said filling opening (3).

9. Waste container (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the annular chamber (6) communicates with the fluidic connection (13) in a zone referred to as communication zone (17) and in that the air inlet orifices (8) of the annular chamber (6) that are further away from said communication zone (17) have an opening area with a larger dimension than the opening area of the air inlet orifices (8) of the annular chamber (6) that are closer to the communication zone (17).

10. Waste container (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the column (7) referred to as a double-walled column is a column in which the peripheral surface connecting the top (10) and the base (9) of the column (7) and serving to delimit the cavity of the column (7) inside which the forced air circulation device (12) is housed is formed by a double wall (18).

11. Waste container (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the forced air circulation device (12) divides the interior of the column (7) into two sections, referred to as lower section (71) and upper section (72), respectively, extending one above the other when the container (1) is in the active configuration.

12. Waste container (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the container (1) comprises at least one filter (19) arranged inside said column (7), the or at least one of the filters (19) being accessible through an opening (20) providing access to the filter (19) and formed in the peripheral surface connecting the top (10) and the base (9) of the column (7) and serving to delimit the cavity of the column (7), this access opening (20) being closed by a hatch (21).

13. Waste container (1) according to Claim 2 or one of Claims 3 to 12 in combination with Claim 2, characterized in that at least the lid (14) and the column (7) are high-density polyethylene parts that are preferably rotationally moulded.

14. Waste container (1) according to Claim 2 or one of Claims 3 to 13 in combination with Claim 2, characterized in that the container (1) comprises a sealing gasket (22) formed by one or more seals interposed, on the one hand, between the lid (14) and the column (7) and, on the other hand, between the lid (14) and the body (2), when the container (1) is in the active configuration, in order to allow a flow of fluid to circulate in a sealed manner from the interior of the body (2) to the column (7), passing through the annular chamber (6).

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