Collecting container and cover of collecting container

Abstract

A collecting container includes at least three container bodies (2). In connection with each container body (2), there is a collecting accessory arranged inside the container body (2) for material to be put to the collecting container (1). In connection with each container body (2), there is a lifting accessory for lifting the collecting accessory from within the container body for emptying the collecting accessory and a cover (4) on top of the collecting accessory. Said at least three container bodies (2) are set such that, next to a first container body, there is a second container body into a first direction and a third container body into a second direction such that the first direction and the second direction differ from each other for about 90 degrees. Then, the first container body, the second container body and the third container body form an inside corner (7). The cover (4) on top of the first container body includes a lid (6) in connection with said inside corner (7). The cover body (5) can be quadrangular, and the lid (6) can be located into the cover body such that a distance of the lid (6) to a first corner of the cover body (5) is smaller than its distance to any other of the three corners of the cover body (5).

Description

Background of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to collecting containers.

[0002] Such a collecting container is known which includes a container body. The container body can be arranged at least partially below the ground surface. Within the container body is arranged a collecting accessory for material to be put into the collecting container. The collecting accessory can be e.g. a bulk bag. The collecting accessory is fastened from its upper part to a lifting accessory. The container can be emptied by lifting the collecting accessory by the lifting accessory within the container body and by emptying the contents of the collecting accessory to a collection vehicle. If the container body is at least partially arranged below the ground surface, the collecting container is called an underground collecting container. The placing of a collecting container on the site is often difficult due to the small size of the plot of land. The collecting container should not take too large an area of the plot. Additionally, the emptying of the collecting container by the collection vehicle should be relatively easy. Furthermore, putting material into the collecting container should also need no more than moderate effort at the most.Brief description of the invention

[0003] The object of the invention is thus to develop a novel kind of a collecting container and a cover for the collecting container. The solution according to the invention is characterised by what is disclosed in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0004] In the presented solution, the collecting container includes at least three container bodies. The container bodies can be separate from each other. In connection with each container body, there is a collecting accessory for material to be put within the container body. Furthermore, in connection with each container body, there is a lifting accessory for lifting the collecting accessory from within the container body for emptying the collecting accessory and a cover on top of the collecting accessory. The cover includes a cover body which contains at least one openable and closable lid. Said at least three container bodies are set such that, next to a first container body, there is a second container body into a first direction and a third container body into a second direction such that the first direction and the second direction differ from each other for about 90 degrees. Then, the first container body, the second container body and the third container body form an inside corner. The cover on top of the first container body includes a lid in connection with said inside corner. The cover body can be quadrangular, and the lid can be located into the cover body such that a distance of the lid to a first corner of the cover body is smaller than its distance to any other three corners of the cover body. In this way, it is possible to form collecting containers with different shapes, such as angular or with branches, seen from the top. Therefore, the collecting container can be formed with other shapes than a rectangular row, whereby it is easier to form the collecting container as large as possible even on a limited site. The emptying of the collecting container can be arranged easier than before. Putting material into the collecting container is also relatively easy when the lid is easily accessible in the solution according to the invention.

[0005] According to an embodiment, the inner corner of the collecting container includes a corner panel. To the corner panel, it is easy to arrange e.g. a sign which can indicate which recyclable fraction is collected into the collecting container from the lid at the point in question.

[0006] According to an embodiment, the corner panel contains a step to facilitate the fitting of a lifting element, such as a lifting hook, of the lifter of the collection vehicle to a lifting lug of the lifting accessory or equivalent means. In this way, the emptying of the collecting container is smoothly and effectively performable.

[0007] According to an embodiment, the step is formed by an opening in the corner panel. The step is then formed into connection with the collecting container in a simple and easy way.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the lid includes a handle towards a first corner of the cover body. Thus, the use of the lid is easy and clear-cut.

[0009] According to an embodiment, said at least one lid is hinged to the cover body by a hinge such that an angle between the direction of the axis of the hinge and the direction of the corner and middle part of the cover is smaller than 60 degrees. The lid is then openable from the direction of the first corner of the cover body without needing to reach too much towards the middle part of the cover body.

[0010] According to an embodiment, the cover body includes an opening or an equivalent shape for arranging a lifting lug or equivalent means of the lifting accessory above the cover. Then, the cover is arrangeable to operate as the cover of the collecting container in a simple way.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the container body is at least partially arrangeable below the ground surface. The collecting container is then an underground collecting container.Brief description of the drawings

[0012] The invention will now be described in closer detail in connection with some embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagonal top view of a collecting container; Figure 2 is a schematic diagonal top view of a second collecting container; Figure 3 is a schematic diagonal top view of a third collecting container; Figure 4 is a schematic diagonal top view of a cover of a collecting container; Figure 5 is a schematic top view of a second cover of a collecting container; and Figure 6 is a schematic top view of a fourth collecting container. Detailed description of the invention

[0013] Figure 1 shows a collecting container 1. The collecting container 1 can be used for collecting waste, such as mixed waste or organic waste. Currently, such a collecting container 1 is typically used for collecting also recyclable materials, such as cardboard, paper, plastic, and other corresponding recyclable materials. Therefore, in this connection, the collecting container 1 can also be called a waste container and / or a recycling container.

[0014] The collecting container 1 of Figure 1 consists of a set including several container bodies 2. The container body 2 can be arranged partially or totally below the ground surface or the container body 2 can then be located totally on the ground. In Figure 1, a part of the container body 2 arrangeable below the ground surface is schematically illustrated by dashed lines. Thus, the collecting container 1 of Figure 1 is an underground collecting container. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the container bodies 2 are quadrangular but, if preferred, the container body 2 can be formed angular is some other way or in some other suitable shape.

[0015] In connection with each container body 2, there is a collecting accessory arranged inside the container body. The collecting accessory is e.g. a bulk bag or a bag consisting of plastic or some other equivalent accessory that can receive material to be put to the collecting container 1. In attached Figures 1-3, the collecting accessory is inside the container body 2, whereby the collecting accessory is not shown in the figures.

[0016] Furthermore, in connection with each container body 2, there is a lifting accessory. The lifting accessory is used for lifting the collecting accessory from inside the container body 2 in order to empty the collecting accessory. On top of the collecting accessory, there is also a cover 4. Figures 1-3 show only a lifting lug 3 of the lifting accessory extending above the cover 4. Instead of the lifting lug 3, the lifting accessory can be provided with some other equivalent means, such as a hook, a double hook or some other means, to which the lifter of a collection vehicle is attachable.

[0017] The collecting accessory is fastened from its upper part to the lifting accessory. The cover 4 is arranged on top of the lifting accessory. A cover body 5 of the cover 4 includes an opening or an equivalent shape for arranging a lifting lug 3 or equivalent means of the lifting accessory visible and for use above the cover 4.

[0018] In the embodiment of Figure 1, inside each container body 2 is arranged at least one collecting accessory which is provided with a lifting accessory. In Figure 1, into connection with the container body 2 in the corner and into connection with both container bodies beside it, there is arranged one collecting accessory provided with a lifting accessory. Inside the container body 2, it is also possible to arrange more than one collecting accessory, if preferred. Therefore, e.g. from the corner to the furthermost container body 2, there are arranged three collecting accessories in Figure 1, each of which provided with its own lifting accessory. The container body 2 can be one-part or then divided into two or more parts with partition walls.

[0019] The container 1 can be emptied of material put inside of it such that an element, such as a hook, at the end of the lifter of the collection vehicle is set to the lifting lug 3 or equivalent means, the collecting accessory is lifted by using the lifter of the collection vehicle and the lifting accessory from inside the container body 2, and the contents of the collecting accessory are emptied to the collection vehicle. The collecting accessory is thus e.g. a bag openable and closeable of its bottom part.

[0020] The basic structure of the cover 4 consists of a cover body 5. The cover body 5 includes at least one openable and closable lid 6. Via the lid 6, it is possible to put collectable material to the collecting container 1 inside the collecting accessory.

[0021] The collecting container 1 can be formed of two or more modules such that one module consists of the container body 2, at least one collecting accessory, at least one lifting accessory, and at least one cover 4. The collecting container of Figure 1 is formed in the shape of the letter L seen from the top by using four modules. The corner of the letter L is formed by a first module i.e. a corner module 9. The short branch of the letter L is formed by a single second module installed next to the corner module 9. The long branch of the letter L is formed by a third module installed next to the corner module 9 and a fourth module installed as an extension of the third module.

[0022] The second module is then located into a first direction from the corner module 9 and the third module is located into a second direction from the corner module 9, which second direction differs from the first direction for 90 degrees. Then, the corner module 9, the second module and the third module form an inside corner 7. Each module comprises a container body 2. Therefore, in other words, the three container bodies in the collecting container of Figure 1 are set such that, next to a first container body 2, there is a second container body 2 into a first direction and a third container body 2 into a second direction such that the first direction and the second direction differ from each other for about 90 degrees. Then, the first container body 2, the second container body 2 and the third container body 2 form the inside corner 7. The container bodies 2 can be separate from each other.

[0023] The corner module 9 includes a lid 6 in connection with the inside corner 7. That is, the cover 4 located on top of the first body 2 includes the lid 6 in connection with the inside corner 7. Thus, the corner module 9 includes a corner cover, which is quadrangular, and the lid 6 is positioned to the cover body 5 such that a distance from the lid 6 to a corner in the inside corner 7 of the cover body 5 is smaller than its distance from any other of the three corners of the cover body 5.

[0024] Other modules than the corner module 9 can be called basic modules 10. In the collecting container 1 of Figure 1, the second, third and fourth modules are therefore basic modules 10. The collecting container 1 of Figure 2 is formed in the shape of the letter C or letter U seen from the top. The collecting container 1 includes two corner modules 9 and three basic modules 10. There is a basic module 10 between the corner modules 9 and the module next to both corner modules 9, located between them and for 90 degrees into a different direction, is a basic module 10. In this case, the collecting container 1 of Figure 2 includes two inside corners 7.

[0025] Both corner modules 9 include a lid 6 in connection with the inside corner 7. Both corner covers thus include a lid 6 in connection with the inside corner 7.

[0026] The collecting container 1 of Figure 2 includes four lids 6 in one corner cover and one lid 6 in the other. The corner cover that includes only one lid 6 has three lid blanks 11. If more lids 6 were needed, it would be easy to form a new lid 6 at the point of the lid blank 11.

[0027] The collecting container 1 of Figure 3 is of the shape of the plus sign or the letter X seen from the top. The collecting container 1 is formed by arranging, into connection with the corner module 9, basic modules 10 into four different directions i.e. with the distance of about 90 degrees. Therefore, the collecting container 1 includes four inside corners 7.

[0028] When the collecting container includes four inside corners 7 in connection with one corner module 9, the corner cover of the corner module 9 can include four lids 6. In this case, the cover 4 includes a lid 6 in connection with each inside corner 7. Then, it is easy to put collectable material to the corner module 9 in connection with each inside corner 7.

[0029] The corner module 9 of Figure 3 can also be installed alone, that is, without installing a basic module or basic modules into connection with it. Such a collecting container can be installed e.g. to a park. In this case, it is possible to put material to the collecting container from several corners of the container. It is also possible to install two or more of the corner modules 9 next to each other.

[0030] It is possible to install a cladding element 12 or cladding elements 12 on the side of the container body 2. The cladding element 12 can be installed particularly to the part of the container body 2 that is above the ground i.e. visible.

[0031] The inside corner 7 of the collecting container 1 can include a corner panel 13. The corner panel 13 can support itself on the container bodies 2 next to the corner module 9 and / or on cladding elements 12 in connection with them. Then, the corner panel does not support itself to the corner module 9 at all.

[0032] The corner panel 13 can include e.g. a board or a sticker or some other sign 14. The sign 14 can show e.g. which recyclable fraction is collected to the collecting container 1 from the lid 6 at the point of the sign in question.

[0033] The corner panel 13 can include a step 15. By getting onto the step 15, a user is able to reach farther on top of the cover 4. This facilitates e.g. the setting of the lifting element, such as a lifting hook, of the lifter of the collection vehicle to the lifting lug 3 or equivalent means of the lifting accessory.

[0034] The step 15 can be formed by making an opening to the corner panel 13. By means of the opening, the step 15 can be formed particularly when the corner panel 13 is not attached to the corner module connected to it.

[0035] Figure 4 shows a cover 4. A cover body 5 of the cover 4 is quadrangular. The cover body 5 is also of the shape of a square, that is, sides 16 of the cover body 5 are of equal length.

[0036] The cover 4 includes four lids 6. In this way, the cover of Figure 4 is applicable as the cover of the corner module 9 of the collecting container 1 of Figure 3.

[0037] The lids 6 are located to the cover body 5 such that a distance of each lid 6 to a first corner 17 of the cover body 5 is smaller than a distance of the lid 6 to any other of the three corners 17 of the cover body 5. Each lid 6 is thus close to one corner 17, and the distance of the closest part of the lid 6 from the corner 17 in question is smaller than the distance of any part of the lid 6 from any other of the three corners 17.

[0038] Each lid 6 includes a handle 8 towards the corner 17 of the cover body 5. The handle 8 is towards the closest corner 17 of the cover body 5.

[0039] The lid 6 is hinged to the cover body 5 by a hinge 18. The hinge 18 is arranged such that an angle between a direction A of the axis of the hinge 18 and a direction B between the corner 17 and the middle part of the cover is about 45 degrees. Therefore, the lid 6 is openable from the direction of the corner 17 of the cover body 5 without needing to reach too much towards the middle part of the cover body 5. This is illustrated in Figure 3 where a user 19 is opening one of the lids 6.

[0040] Excessive reaching is avoided quite well e.g. when the angle between the direction A of the axis of the hinge 18 and the direction B between the corner 17 and the middle part of the cover is smaller than 60 degrees. Figure 5 illustrates a cover where the direction A of the axis of the hinge 18 and the direction B between the the corner 17 and the middle part of the cover are substantially equal. In this case, the angle between the direction A of the axis of the hinge 18 and the direction B between the corner 17 and the middle part of the cover is about zero degrees.

[0041] Figure 6 shows a collecting container 1 where the corner module 9 and its cover 4 include two longer sides 16a next to each other and two shorter sides 16b. The shorter sides 16b are connected by a bevel 20. Because the length of the bevel 20 is less than a third of the length of the shorter sides 16b, an inside corner 7 is formed in the collecting container 1. Similarly in this case, the cover body 5 is understood to comprise four corners. In such a case, the container body 2 of the corner module 9 is of different size than the container body 2 of the basic modules 10. This causes extra work and bother for manufacture and logistics. Therefore, the collecting container 1 is preferably formed such that its container bodies 2 are of the same size. For example, the collecting containers 1 of Figures 1-3 are such.

[0042] Those skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A collecting container, which collecting container (1) includes at least three container bodies (2), in connection with each container body (2), there is a collecting accessory arranged inside the container body (2) for material to be put in the collecting container (1), a lifting accessory for litfing the collecting accessory from within the container body (2) in order to empty the collecting accessory, and a cover (4) on top of the collecting accessory, which cover (4) includes a cover body (5) which includes at least one openable and closable lid (6), characterized in that said at least three container bodies (2) are set such that, next to a first container body (2), there is a second container body (2) into a first direction and a third container body (2) into a second direction such that the first direction and the second direction differ from each other for about 90 degrees such that the first container body (2), the second container body (2) and the third container body (2) form an inside corner (7), that the at least one lid (6) on the cover (4) on top of the first container body (2) is in connection with said inside corner (7) and that said at least one lid (6) is located to the cover body (5) such that a distance of the lid (6) to a corner in the inside corner (7) of the cover body (5) is smaller than its distance to any one of the other corners of the cover body (5).

2. A collecting container according to claim 1, characterized in that the inside corner (7) includes a corner panel (13).

3. A collecting container according to claim 2, characterized in that the corner panel (13) includes a step (15) to facilitate the arranging of a lifting means, such as a lifting hook, of the lifter of a collection vehicle to a lifting lug (3) or equivalent means of the lifting accessory.

4. A collecting container according to claim 3,characterized in that the step (15) is formed by an opening in the corner panel (13).

5. A collecting container according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the container bodies (2) are of the same size.

6. A collecting container according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the lid (6) includes a handle (8) towards a corner (17) of the cover body (5).

7. A collecting container according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said at least one lid (6) is hinged to the cover body (5) by a hinge (18) such that an angle (α) between a direction (A) of the axis of the hinge (18) and a direction (B) of the corner (17) and the middle part of the cover is smaller than 60 degrees.

8. A collecting container according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the cover body (5) includes an opening or an equivalent shape for arranging the lifting lug (3) or equivalent means of the lifting accessory above the cover (4).

9. A collecting container according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the container body (2) is at least partially arrangeable below the ground surface, whereby the collecting container (1) is an underground container.

10. A cover of a collecting container, which cover (4) includes a quadrangular cover body (5), which includes at least one openable and closeable lid (6), the size of which lid (6) is smaller than the size of the cover body (5), charac- terized in that said at least one lid (6) is positioned to the cover body (5) such that a distance of the lid (6) to a first corner (17) of the cover body (5) is smaller than its distance to any one of the three other corners (17) of the cover body (5), and the lid (6) includes a handle (8) towards the first corner (17) of the cover body (5).

11. A cover of a collecting container according to claim 10, charac- terized in that said at least one lid (6) is hinged to the cover body (5) by a hinge (18) such that an angle (α) between a direction (A) of the axis of the hinge (18) and a direction (B) of the corner (17) and the middle part of the cover is smaller than 60 degrees.

12. A cover of a collecting container according to claim 10 or 11, char- acterized in that the cover body (5) includes an opening or an equivalent shape for arranging a lifting lug (3) or equivalent means of the lifting accessory above the cover (4).

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