Improvements in bins

Abstract

A bin 1 with a main body 2 having a chamber 2a for housing a bin bag (Figure 4: 5). A retainer plate 3 is removably attachable to the main body at an opening of the chamber. The retainer plate has an aperture 3a for a user to insert waste into the chamber and at least one bag retention member (Figure 5: 3c, 3c’). The bin has a cover 4 for the at least one bag retention member of the retainer plate. The bin may have up to six bag retention members. The bag retention member may be a recess in which a portion of the bag is housed which is preferably cylindrical and ideally extends into the chamber. The bag retention member may be a protrusion. The aperture may be central on the plate. The aperture may have a collar (Figure 5: 3d) that ideally extends away from the chamber. The main body, retainer plate and cover may have a circular cross section. The bin bag may be a carrier bag.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in bins. Flexible plastic waste such as confectionary wrappers, bread bags, plastic fruit and vegetable bags and carrier bags are at least partially resiliently deformable. This means that the temporary storage of such waste in waste receptacles such as household bins can be challenging, as the waste attempts to expand once placed in a bin. This results in the capacity of bin bags being underutilized. Furthermore, many properties do not have the capacity to house multiple bins, which results in flexible plastic waste being discarded as general waste instead of being stored separately and recycled. Some efforts have been made to attempt to address this problem in the past, such as the bin described in WO2023193047. The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a bin comprising: a main body having a chamber for housing a bin bag; a retainer plate that is removably attachable to the main body at an opening of the chamber, the retainer plate having an aperture for a user to insert waste into the chamber and at least one bag retention member; a cover for the at least one bag retention member of the retainer plate. In some embodiments the retainer plate comprises two bag retention members, or comprises three bag retention members, or comprises four bag retention members, or comprises five bag retention members, or comprises six bag retention members. The provision of at least two bag retention members are desirable as carrier bags and many bin bags comprise two handles, which need to be retained. Provision of additional members may also be desirable. In some embodiments a bag retention member comprises a recess in which a portion of bin bag may be housed. In some embodiments a recess is substantially cylindrical. In some embodiments a recess extends into the chamber of the main body. In some embodiments a bag retention member comprises an aperture in the retainer plate through which a portion of a bin bag may be inserted. In some embodiments a bag retention member comprises a protrusion upon which a portion of bin bag may be snagged. In some embodiments the retainer plate comprises a substantially central aperture. In some embodiments the retainer plate comprises a peripheral region around the central aperture in which region the at least one bag retention member is located. In some embodiments the cover substantially covers the peripheral region of the retainer plate. In some embodiments a collar is located at the aperture of the retainer plate. In some embodiments the collar extends away from the chamber. In some embodiments the main body, retainer plate and cover are substantially circular in cross-section. In some embodiments the cover is releasably attachable to the main body by means of a screw thread. In some embodiments the main body is substantially cylindrical and an external surface of the main body comprises two foot members to hinder the bin from rolling. In some embodiments the aperture of the retainer plate is substantially circular. In some embodiments the aperture of the retainer plate is between about 5cm to about 7cm in diameter, or is between about 5.5cm to about 6.5cm in diameter, or is about 6cm in diameter. In some embodiments the chamber is between about 4 litres to 6 litres in volume, or is between about 4.5 litres to 6.5 litres in volume, or is about 5 litres in volume. In some embodiments the bin is configured for use with a bin bag having a volume that is about 3 to 5 times the volume of the chamber, or is about 3.5 to 4.5 time the volume of the chamber, or is about 4 times the volume of the chamber. In some embodiments the bin comprises a bin bag having a volume that is about 3 to 5 times the volume of the chamber, or is about 3.5 to 4.5 time the volume of the chamber, or is about 4 times the volume of the chamber. In some embodiments the bin bag is a carrier bag. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of temporarily storing flexible plastic waste comprising the steps of: i) providing the bin of any preceding statement of invention; ii) housing a bin bag in the chamber and retaining the bin bag on the retainer plate using the at least one bag retention member. In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a bin made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the main body and the retainer plate of the bin of Figure 1 when assembled with the cover removed; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bin of Figure 1 when assembled; Figure 4 is an exploded side view of the bin of Figure 1 illustrating how the bin is assembled with a bag; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the retainer plate of the bin of Figure 1; Figure 6 is plan view of the retainer plate of the bin of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a first perspective view illustrating how a bin bag is retained by the retainer plate; Figure 8 is a second perspective view illustrating how a bin bag is retained by the retainer plate; Figure 9 is a third perspective view illustrating how a bin bag is retained by the retainer plate; Figure 10 is a perspective view of showing the base and feet of the bin of Figure 1; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a retainer plate made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 is a plan view of the retainer plate of Figure 11. A bin 1 comprises a main body 2 that is substantially cylindrical, a substantially disc-shaped retainer plate 3 and a substantially disc-shaped cover 4 for retainer plate 3. Main body 2 has an internal chamber 2a and a base 2b that seals chamber 2a at a lower end of main body 2. Retainer plate 3 is adapted to attach to main body at an upper end thereof by means of an interference fit, where its function is to retain a portion of bin bag 5 that is positioned within chamber 2a of main body 2. Retainer plate 3 comprises a substantially central circular aperture 3a that is surrounded by a circular peripheral region 3b of retainer plate 3. Retainer plate 3 further comprises two substantially cylindrical recesses 3c, 3c' that are located in peripheral region 3b and are diametrically opposed to each other. When retainer plate 3 is attached at an end of main body 2, cylindrical recesses 3c, 3c' extend into chamber 2a of main body 2. Retainer plate 3 further comprises an upstanding collar 3d around aperture 3a. When retainer plate 3 is attached at an end of main body 2 collar 3d extends away from chamber 2a of main body 2. Cover 4 comprises a substantially central circular aperture 4a that corresponds in position and size to aperture 3a of retainer plate 3. Cover 4 comprises a screw thread (not shown) that is configured to correspond with a screw thread 2c that is formed on external face of main body 2 adjacent its opening to chamber 2a. Figures 4 and 7 to 9 illustrate the assembly of bin 2 with a bin bag 5 that in the present embodiment comprises handles 5a, 5a', and the operation of retainer plate 3. With bin bag 5 located inside chamber 2a of main body 2, retainer plate 3 is attached to an upper end of main body 2 such that an upper portion of bin bag 5 including handles 5a, 5a' extends outside of chamber 2a. When retainer plate 3 is attached to main body 2 by means of an interference fit, bin bag 5 is retained in position. Handle 5a and any associated excess bag 5 may then be pushed by a user inside recess 3c. Similarly, handle 5a' and any associated excess bag 5 may then be pushed by a user inside recess 3c'. Thus, as illustrated in figure 9, retainer plate 3 neatly retains bin bag 5 in position in bin 1, with aperture 3a exposed for use. Cover 4 may then be attached to main body 2 by means of corresponding screw threads on main body 2 and cover 4. Beneficially, as bin bag 3 is neatly retained by retainer plate 3, no portions of bin bag are able to interfere with the screw thread attachment of cover 4 to main body 2. Bin 1 is then fully assembled and ready for use. In the present embodiment bin 1 is sized so as to use a UK plastic carrier bag as a bin bag 5. Such carrier bags typically have a volume in the region of 17 to 22 litres. Chamber 2a is around 5 litres in volume as it has been found that a ratio of about 4:1 in bin bag volume to chamber volume is ideal for operation of a bin made in accordance with the present invention. Main body of bin 2 is around 17cm in diameter and around 31.5cm in height. It has been found that a diameter to height ratio of about 1:2 is ideal for operation of a bin made in accordance with the present invention. Aperture 3a of retainer plate 3 and aperture 4a of cover 4 are both about 6cm in diameter, as it has been found that this aperture size is ideal for operation of a bin made in accordance with the present invention. In use, bin bag 5 is able to receive flexible plastic waste by a user inserting it into bin 1 via apertures 4a, 3a. Once waste has passed collar 3d of retainer plate 3 it does not return even if pushed back by resiliently deformable waste already inside bin bag 5, as it snags on the underside of retainer plate 3. A user is therefore able to fill bin bag 5 with flexible plastic waste until it is compacted to a degree where no more waste can be received inside bin 1. A user may then unscrew cover 4 and remove retainer plate 3, tie handles 5a, 5a' of bag 5, and then pull bag 5 out of chamber 2a, whereupon the plastic waste inside bin bag 5 may expand from the 5 litre volume of chamber 2a to the circa 20 litre volume of bin bag 5. Bin bag 5 is thereby fully utilized. Beneficially, owing to the small size of bin 1 it is suitable for use in smaller properties such as flats and studio apartments. Whilst the present embodiment is of relatively small dimensions, larger versions of a bin made in accordance with the present invention may of course be made. Adjacent its base, and on an external surface, main body 2 is provided with two feet 2c, 2c' that prevent bin 2 from freely rolling when laid on its side. Thus a user may choose to position bin 2 in either a vertical or horizontal configuration. Referring to Figures 11 and 12 and a second embodiment of a retainer plate made in accordance with the present invention, retainer plate 6 is substantially disc-shaped. Retainer plate 6 comprises a substantially central circular aperture 6a that is defined by a collar 6d and is surrounded by a substantially circular peripheral region 6b of retainer plate 6. Aperture 6a of retainer plate 6 is about 6cm in diameter. Retainer plate 6 further comprises two curved elongate apertures 6c, 6c' that are formed in peripheral region 6b and are diametrically opposed to each other. Extending outwardly from collar 6d and located substantially centrally over each of elongate apertures 6c, 6c' are substantially planar wedge-shaped protrusions 6c, 6c1. Protrusions 6c, 6c' extend substantially in the plane of retainer plate 6 and are configured to snag a handle or other portion of a bin bag when retainer plate 6 is in use. Similar to the cylindrical recesses 3c, 3c' of retainer plate 3, apertures 6c, 6c' are configured to receive excess bin bag material such that it is retained in chamber 2a and kept away from the screw thread attachment of cover 4 to main body 2. It will be apparent that retainer plates may be provided with a plurality of retention members, and may have a variety of different retention members for retaining bin bag material. For example, whereas retainer plate 3 comprises only a recess, another retainer plate might be provided with both a recess and one or more snagging protrusions. Similarly, whereas retainer plate 6 comprises both a snagging protrusion and an aperture, another retainer plate might have only a snagging protrusion or only an aperture. In this specification an apparatus / method / product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bin comprising:a main body having a chamber for housing a bin bag;a retainer plate that is removably attachable to the main body at an opening of the chamber, the retainer plate having an aperture for a user to insert waste into the chamber and at least one bag retention member;a cover for the at least one bag retention member of the retainer plate.

2. The bin of claim 1 wherein the retainer plate comprises two bag retention members, or comprises three bag retention members, or comprises four bag retention members, or comprises five bag retention members, or comprises six bag retention members.

3. The bin of claim 1 or 2 wherein a bag retention member comprises a recess in which a portion of bin bag may be housed.

4. The bin of claim 3 wherein a recess is substantially cylindrical.

5. The bin of claim 3 or 4 wherein a recess extends into the chamber of the main body.

6. The bin of claim 1 or 2 wherein a bag retention member comprises an aperture inthe retainer plate through which a portion of a bin bag may be inserted.

7. The bin of any preceding claim wherein a bag retention member comprises aprotrusion upon which a portion of bin bag may be snagged.

8. The bin of any preceding claim wherein the retainer plate comprises a substantially central aperture.

9. The bin of claim 8 wherein the retainer plate comprises a peripheral region around the central aperture in which region the at least one bag retention member is located.

10. The bin of any claim 9 wherein the cover substantially covers the peripheral region of the retainer plate.

11. The bin of any preceding claim wherein a collar is located at the aperture of the retainer plate.

12. The bin of claim 11 wherein the collar extends away from the chamber.

13. The bin of any preceding claim wherein the main body, retainer plate and cover are substantially circular in cross-section.

14. The bin of any preceding claim wherein the cover is releasably attachable to the main body by means of a screw thread.

15. The bin of any preceding claim wherein the main body is substantially cylindrical and an external surface of the main body comprises two foot members to hinder the bin from rolling.

16. The bin of any preceding claim wherein the aperture of the retainer plate is substantially circular.

17. The bin of claim 17 wherein the aperture of the retainer plate is between about 5cm to about 7cm in diameter, or is between about 5.5cm to about 6.5cm in diameter, or is about 6cm in diameter.

18. The bin of any preceding claim wherein the chamber is between about 4 litres to 6 litres in volume, or is between about 4.5 litres to 6.5 litres in volume, or is about 5 litres in volume.

19. The bin of any preceding claim wherein the bin is configured for use with a bin bag having a volume that is about 3 to 5 times the volume of the chamber, or is about 3.5 to 4.5 time the volume of the chamber, or is about 4 times the volume of the chamber.

20. The bin of any preceding claim wherein further comprising a bin bag having a volume that is about 3 to 5 times the volume of the chamber, or is about 3.5 to 4.5 time the volume of the chamber, or is about 4 times the volume of the chamber.

21. The bin of claim 20 wherein the bin bag is a carrier bag.

22. A method of temporarily storing flexible plastic waste comprising the steps of:i) providing the bin of any preceding claim;ii) housing a bin bag in the chamber and retaining the bin bag on the retainerplate using the at least one bag retention member.

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