Wheelie bin guard

Abstract

The invention relates to a guard for protecting the hands of an operator operating a wheelie bin if the wheelie bin is tipped over.

Description

WHEELIE BIN GUARDFIELD

[0001] The present invention is directed to a guard for protecting the hands of a person operating a wheelie bin (an operator).BACKGROUND

[0002] Practically every standalone house or unit in Australia uses at least one wheelie bin to dispose of their household waste. As shown in FIGURE 1 , a standard wheelie bin 10 is formed of durable plastic (typically high density polyethylene) and includes wheels 11 and a handle 12 for ease of mobility as well as a lid 13 connected to the handle to securely house waste materials within the wheelie bin.

[0003] In order to better recycle, in states such as Victoria, government waste authorities are moving toward a four wheelie bin system for each household whereby: one wheelie bin is used for glass; one wheelie bin is used for food and garden organics; one wheelie bin is used for mixed recyclables; and and one wheelie bin is used for general rubbish.

[0004] The current shift toward a four wheelie bin system will significantly increase the number of trips involving a person transporting a wheelie bin (an operator) to a roadside kerb and back to enable the wheelie bin to be emptied by rubbish disposal service providers. To transport a wheelie bin to and from a kerb-side location an operator will generally take hold of the handle 12 and tilt the body of the wheelie bin over to balance atop the wheels 11 , which in turn generally enables ease of transport. Once the wheelie bin is located kerb-side (or at its regular day-to-day location), the wheelie bin is then tipped onto its base 14 by the operator to place the wheelie bin in a stable position.

[0005] While widely considered a convenient, cost effective, and popular tool to house and dispose of household and commercial waste, wheelie bins have been the cause of a spate of serious hand injuries, particularly among elderly operators. Such injuries can occur when the operator over-tilts the wheelie bin in order to make it easier to push or pull. In those circumstances, if the bin is too heavy for the operator to handle (because, for example, the bin is over-filled), if the bin is located on a downward slope, or in a combination of both circumstances, the bin is susceptible to tip onto its back 15 so that the bin is placed in a horizontal orientation with the handle 12 and the wheels 11 in contact with the ground.

[0006] If the operator is still holding onto the handle 12 at this time (as may occur in such fastmoving circumstances), then in addition to having caused the operator to fall over, the tipping over of the bin will cause the fingers of the operator surrounding the handle 12 to contact the ground. The bin, with its wheels 11 and handle 12 in contact with the ground, is then likely to slide along the ground due to any continuing momentum from having tipped over, as well as any sloping ground which may have caused the wheelie bin to tip over in the first place.

[0007] Ultimately, in those circumstances, the skin dorsal to the flexed proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints can be crushed and trapped underneath the handle, and then dragged along the ground by the momentum of the sliding bin. This experience can lead to abrasions, lacerations, and damage to the underlying bone and soft tissue structures, including open tendon and joint injuries to the hands, fingers and / or wrists of the operator, including to the extensor tendon complex at the level of the PIP joint.

[0008] Injuries to the extensor tendon complex at the level of the PIP joint may result in stiffness, deformity and loss of hand function. There have been a number of recorded cases of older patients having presented to hand surgery for central slip extensor tendon injuries acquired while operating wheelie bins. This results in significant use of hospital resources, including admission, surgery, extensive clinical follow up, and hand therapy.

[0009] It would be possible to design a new wheelie bin that overcomes this issue such as by reducing the likelihood of the wheelie bin tipping over. However, such redesign would require the replacement of millions of existing bins, which would take a significant amount of time and cost a significant amount of money. As the bins are injection-moulded, even simple changes in design would require creation of new moulds, which would further increase cost.

[0010] In view of continuing injuries to operators of wheelie bins, particularly among elderly operators, it would be desirable to provide an arrangement which reduces the risk of hand injury caused by tipping wheelie bins. According to certain embodiments it would be desirable to provide an arrangement which can be retrofitted to existing wheelie bins.

[0011] The above discussion of background art is included to explain the context of the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that the background art was known or part of the common general knowledge at the priority date of any one of the claims of the specification.SUMMARY

[0012] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a guard for protecting the hands of an operator operating a wheelie bin if the wheelie bin is tipped over, the guardconfigured to attach to a handle of the wheelie bin and protrude outward from the handle at least 2.5cm.

[0013] In an embodiment, the guard is configured to be attached to the handle of the wheelie bin without having to disassemble the wheelie bin.

[0014] In an embodiment, the guard at least partially surrounds a circumference of the handle.

[0015] In an embodiment, the guard is substantially doughnut shaped. Preferably, the guard comprises a gap to enable the guard to be attached to the handle without having to remove the lid.

[0016] In an embodiment, the guard is formed of a resilient material, optionally a resilient plastic material.

[0017] In an embodiment, the guard is configured to provide a cushioning effect to the handle of the wheelie bin upon guard coming into contact with the ground.

[0018] In an embodiment, the guard provides Shore Hardness in the range of 50A to 80A, optionally in the range of 55A to 70A.

[0019] In an embodiment, the guard is configured to grip the handle.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a wheelie bin comprising a guard according to the first aspect of the invention, attached to a handle of the wheelie bin.

[0021] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a wheelie bin comprising two guards, each guard according to the first aspect of the invention, attached to a handle of the wheelie bin.

[0022] In an embodiment, each guard is located at opposed ends of the handle.

[0023] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise: reference to like numbers denotes reference to like features; the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps; the use of ‘(s)’ following a noun means the plural and / or singular form of that noun. Further, as used herein the term ‘and / or’ means ‘and’ or ‘or’, or where the context allows both; reference to “a” or “one” thing, includes a reference to “one or more” of that thing;terms such as “side,” “end,” “top,” “bottom,” and the like are only used to describe elements as they relate to one another but are in no way meant to recite specific orientations of the device, to indicate or imply necessary or required orientations of the device, or to specify how the invention described herein will be used, mounted, displayed, or positioned in use; andBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] The present invention is described by way of non-limiting examples within the following description and figures. To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the present invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting. Where specific integers are mentioned herein, which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates; such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

[0025] FIGURE 1 shows a wheelie bin according to the prior art.

[0026] FIGURE 2 shows a guard according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIGURE 3 shows two of the guards of FIGURE 2 attached to a wheelie bin, according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0028] FIGURE 4 shows how two of the guards of FIGURE 2 attached to the handle of a wheelie bin will protect the hands of an operator operating a wheelie bin.

[0029] FIGURE 5 shows alternative embodiments of a guard according to the invention.

[0030] FIGURE 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a guard according to the invention.

[0031] FIGURE 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a guard according to the invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In broad terms, the present invention provides a guard for protecting the hands of an operator operating a wheelie bin if the wheelie bin is tipped over, particularly to protect against the hands of the operator coming into the contact with the ground. Within the broader inventive concept, various embodiments of the guard and the wheelie bin encompassing the guard are described in further detail below with reference to FIGURES 2 to 5.

[0033] FIGURE 2 shows a guard 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The guard 1 is substantially doughnut shaped, with a gap 2 for ease of installation to engage with andpartially surround the circumference of an existing wheelie bin handle 12. As shown in FIGURE 1 , FIGURE 3, and FIGURE 4, the handle 12 of a wheelie bin 10 is commonly designed as a cylindrical plastic component having a diameter of approximately 1 inch (approx. 2.5 cm). According to certain embodiments, the guard 1 therefore comprises an inner diameter approximating the diameter of the handle 12 to enable the guard 1 to grip onto the handle 12 or fit snugly against the handle 12. The guard 1 may be substantially formed of a material allowing a certain amount of flex so that the guard 1 can expand a small amount in order to be installed about and fit about the handle 12. Such a configuration can ensure that the guard 1 is located on the handle 12 in a location determined by the installer without having the guard 1 inadvertently shift along the handle 12. While nevertheless contemplated by the present invention, having the guard 1 inadvertently shift along the handle 12 risks that each guard 1 is located at the same end of the handle 12, the disadvantages of which are described below. Nevertheless, in certain embodiments the guard 1 may be configured to loosely fit about the handle 12. In those embodiments the guard may still be formed of a resilient material providing a certain amount of flex enabling the handle 12 to pass through the gap 2 within the guard 1 upon providing sufficient force during installation, while ensuring that the guard otherwise remains located about the handle 12 since the gap 2 is otherwise too small to enable the handle 12 to pass through.

[0034] According to certain embodiments, the resilient material should enable a certain level of ‘give’ or compression to effectively cushion the impact of the guard hitting the ground. Cushioning by the guard provides a level of protection to operators who for example risk fracture wrist bones through impact when the falling bin hits the ground. According to such embodiments, those skilled in the art may select a design and / or material for production of the handle which balances the need for resiliency while cushioning the impact of the falling bin against the ground to protect the hands and wrists of the operator (i.e. to sufficiently cushion impact through force reduction / energy dissipation to guard against wrist fractures such as distal radius fractures and like injuries while still preventing or otherwise guarding against friction injuries by substantially preventing contact between the hands (e.g. the fingers or knuckles) and the ground. According to certain embodiments, the guard may be substantially formed of a material having a Shore A hardness in the range of 50A to 80A, optionally in the range of 55A to 70A.

[0035] More broadly, according to certain embodiments, the guard may provide an overall Shore A hardness in the range of 50A to 80A, optionally in the range of 55A to 70A.

[0036] While in certain embodiments the guard 1 is substantially doughnut shaped (i.e. circular shaped), in alternative embodiments the guard could be elliptically shaped, square orrectangular shaped or any other geometric shape as exemplified in FIGURE 5. Any shape may be used provided the shape allows the guard to engage with and protrude at least 2.5cm away from the handle. This ensures that the guard remains the first point of contact to the ground if the wheelie bin tips over, thereby protecting the hands, fingers, and wrists of the operator from being crushed, abrased or lacerated while remaining in contact with the handle 12. Whilst 2.5cm should provide enough clearance for smaller hands, other embodiments will protrude further than this to protect operators with larger hands. Further, while in the embodiment of Figure 2 the guard 1 is shown having a cross-section 4 that is generally circular, in other embodiments the cross-section 4 of the guard may be other shapes such as square or rectangular whereby the overall shape of the guard 1 is generally cylindrical as shown in FIGURE 7, rather than having a rounded doughnut shape as shown in FIGURES 2 to 4. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the guard 1 may be shaped to provide a preferred deformation profile as the guard 1 is compressed. For example, the guard 1 may be shaped to narrow toward outer perimeter such that the outer perimeter (that would first contact the ground upon wheelie bin tipping over) would be relatively thin and narrow and would deform more easily than broader regions of the guard 1 found toward the inner region of the guard 1. In this way, the guard 1 may be configured to deform more upon initially contacting the ground but will provide increased resistance to deformation as the guard 1 further deforms. This principle allows for design of an optimum deformation profile to protect the hands against abrasion and bones of the hands and wrists against shock force.

[0037] According to certain embodiments the guard 1 may fit loosely around the handle of a wheelie bin. Such a configuration is for example shown in FIGURE 3 in which a gap is provided between the inner circumference of the guard 1 and the outer circumference of the handle of the wheelie bin. It may according to other embodiments be preferable to provide a guard that fits snugly around the handle of a wheelie bin as this can provide a more predictable cushioning and guarding profile as the guard 1 contacts the ground during the tipping over of a wheelie bin.

[0038] In certain embodiments as shown by FIGURE 6, the gap 2 may represent a slit in the guard 1 such that the gap 2 forms a substantially closed guard 1. In alternative embodiments, the guard has connecting means to form a closed structure about the handle. Said connecting means could include, for example, Velcro, a hook and eye, a button and buttonhole, or a zip. In alternative embodiments, the guard may be attached to the handle by adhesive means such as glue.

[0039] Further and alternatively, for purposes of the present invention, the handle of the wheelie bin also includes the flanges which attach the handle 12 to the wheelie bin. Thismeans that the guard 1 may be installed on the handle by, for example attaching to and extending from the flanges of the handle 12 and thereby ensure that the handle remains at least 2.5cm from the ground when the wheelie bin 10 is tipped over.

[0040] In an embodiment, the guard is formed of a resilient material to ensure that it does not degrade rapidly on impact with the ground. Such material could include plastic, rubber, metal, silicon, or a high resilience foam. According to certain of these embodiments, the guard is made via injection moulding or similar moulding or casting processes. Alternatively, the guard is formed of a compressible material (provided that guard is not so compressible as to enable hands engaging the handle to touch the ground). Whilst the guard may be suitable for multiple impacts with the ground, it may also be disposable and replaceable after first impact with the ground.

[0041] FIGURES 3 and 4 show two of the guards 1 of FIGURE 2 attached to the handle 12 of the wheelie bin 10. The guards 1 surround the circumference of and are located at opposed ends of the handle 12. This ensures that if the wheelie bin 10 tips over, the bin will provide a clearance of at least 2.5cm between each point along the length of the handle 12 and the ground. This will prevent the operator’s hand from being damaged regardless of where along the handle 12 is gripped. Whilst locating the guards 1 at opposite ends of the handle 12 is preferred, it is also possible for them to be located closer to the centre, or for only one guard 1 to be used. In those circumstances however, the operator would need to take care to grip the handle 12 at a location proximate the guard(s) 1.

[0042] In another embodiment, one guard 1 is attached to the middle flange 5 connecting the handle 12 to the bin 10. Optionally, the guard 1 is reverse T shaped and configured to extend downwards, outwards, and at least partially parallel to the handle 12, such that if the wheelie bin 4 tips over, it will fall and rest on the guard 1.

[0043] It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments and / or examples as described herein are therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A guard for protecting the hands of an operator operating a wheelie bin if the wheelie bin is tipped over, the guard configured to attach to a handle of the wheelie bin and protrude outward from the handle at least 2.5cm.

2. A guard according to claim 1, wherein the guard is configured to be attached to the handle of the wheelie bin without having to disassemble the wheelie bin.

3. A guard according to either one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the guard at least partially surrounds a circumference of the handle.

4. A guard according to claim 3, wherein the guard at least partially surrounds a circumference of the handle snugly.

5. A guard according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the guard is substantially doughnut shaped.

6. A guard according to claim 5, wherein the substantially doughnut shape guard comprises a gap to enable the guard to be attached to the handle.

7. A guard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guard is formed of a resilient material.

8. A guard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guard is formed of a resilient plastic material.

9. A guard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guard is configured to provide a cushioning effect to the handle of the wheelie bin upon the guard coming into contact with the ground.

10. A guard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guard provides a Shore A Hardness in the range of 50A to 80A, optionally in the range of 55A to 70A.

11. A wheelie bin comprising a guard according to any one of the previous claims, attached to a handle of the wheelie bin.

12. A wheelie bin comprising two guards, each guard according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each guard is attached to a handle of the wheelie bin.

13. A wheelie bin according to claim 12, wherein each guard is located at opposed ends of the handle.

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