EP2857329A1

EP2857329A1 - Waste container

Info

Publication number: EP2857329A1
Application number: EP14165786.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Clement Lyon
Original assignee: MJL Skipmaster Ltd
Current assignee: MJL Skipmaster Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-30
Filing date: 2014-04-24
Publication date: 2015-04-08
Also published as: GB201313598D0; GB2516689A; GB2520441A

Abstract

A waste container, for example of the FEL type, comprises an upwardly-facing opening (6), a moulded plastics lid (8) hinged along one edge of the opening, the lid having at least one recess (18) moulded therein, and the container having an upstand (20) configured to be received in the recess and to engage the lid within the recess to limit rotation of the lid about the hinge. The lid is hollow and includes a spaced pair of integrally-formed hinge supports (16), each comprising a metal tube (44) supported between and opening through opposed faces (42) of the support, at least one recess (46) being moulded into the supports, the material defining the recess (46) contacting and supporting the tube (44) between the ends thereof.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a waste container, for example a front end loader (FEL) container.

Background to the Invention

Containers for the collection of waste materials are typically located at a fixed waste collection site for the deposit of waste materials for disposal or recycling. When full, the container is collected by a special vehicle which is configured to lift and invert the container so as to empty its contents into a larger container carried by the vehicle. A FEL vehicle is configured to lift the container from the front of the vehicle up and over the vehicle cab, while a rear end loader (REL) has its lifting equipment operable at the rear of the vehicle.
One type of waste container is provided with a hinged lid to close the body when material is not being deposited, so preventing loose material from being blown by the wind out of the container, and also keeping the content dry, which may be important if the material is paper or card for recycling. The container will typically have a sloping opening facing upwardly and forwardly of the container, with the lid hinged along the uppermost edge of the opening. This permits the weight of the lid to hold the lid closed when access is not required. The lids are usually formed of plastics, typically by rotary moulding, and have moulded into them short lengths of metal tube to receive a hinge rod therethrough, the container also having lengths of tube welded along the opening to receive the hinge rod, thereby hinging the lid to the container.
In order to avoid the lid fouling the lifting and emptying equipment during the emptying operation, and to prevent the lid from being left permanently open on site, some form of stop arrangement is usually provided adjacent to the lid hinge. This typically takes the form of one or more lengths of steel rod or bar extending crosswise of the container and supported on legs which are welded to the fixed cover of the container.
If a lid is left open, it can be caught by a gust of wind, and this can exert a considerable force on the stop arrangement. It is not uncommon to see containers with distorted or even broken-off stops. This involves significant welding work to repair, but before this stage is reached, the distortion of the stops rearwardly of the lid means that the lid is no longer held, when open, in a position where it will readily close after use. This is achieved by arranging for the stop to hold the lid as close to upright as possible. Once distortion has occurred, the lid is more likely to remain open, which means that it is more likely to be caught again by wind and damaged further.
Additionally, the conventional construction of hollow plastics lid typically mounts the hinge tubes so that they are supported at each end by a transverse wall, with nothing in between, which means that, when adverse force is applied to the lid, for example by a wind gust or by incorrect handling of the container, the lid can become damaged, and this typically manifests itself in shearing of the hinge tube from the lid. The whole lid then needs to be replaced.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, a waste container comprises an upwardly-facing opening, a moulded plastics lid hinged along one edge of the opening, the lid having at least one recess therein and the container having an upstand configured to be received in the recess and to engage the lid within the recess. Engagement of the lid within the recess limits the rotation of the lid about the hinge.
Another aspect of the invention provides a waste container, comprising a hinged plastics lid, the lid being hollow and including a spaced pair of integrally-formed hinge supports, each comprising a metal tube supported between and opening through opposed faces of the support, at least one recess being moulded into the supports, the material defining the recess contacting and supporting the tube between the ends thereof.
Other features of the invention are set out in the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is an isometric view from the rear of a container;
Figure 2 is an enlarged partial view on Arrow A in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an enlarged partial view on Arrow B in Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section through a portion of the lid containing a hinge tube.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, a FEL container consists of a steel body 1 of generally rectangular plan, with an obliquely angled top panel 2 supported by triangular panels 4, together defining an oblique open face 6 which can be closed by hinged lids 8. The body has opposed side channel formations 10 to receive the lifting arms of the FEL vehicle, as well as supporting channels 12 on the underside on which the container can stand, and which can serve for receipt of lifting arms on conventional fork-lift vehicles for manoeuvring the container into position, for example. Hooks 14 for lifting chains are also provided.
The lids 8 are generally hollow and are moulded from polypropylene or high density polyethylene, typically by rotary moulding. Each lid has a pair of hinge formations 16, one at each side thereof, described hereinafter in more detail with reference particularly to Figure 4, and a recess 18 for co-operation with one of a pair of stop members 20 projecting from the top panel 12 of the container. The container carries a pivoted locking bar 22 which can be brought into co-operation with a groove 24 formed across each lid 8 to hold the lids shut.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the lids 18 are mounted on the container by means of a bracket 26 on each triangular panel 4, a support tube 28 on each stop member 20, and a central support 30 welded to the top panel 12. A rod 32 is passed through each of these and through the hinge formations 16 on the lids, and is secured at the ends by means of, for example, screw clamps 34 consisting of a pair of shaped parts secured together around the rod by screws passing between them. The rods may be of steel, but can also be made of plastics, for example a polyamide. By this configuration, the hinge rod can be readily removed and replaced if damaged; currently hinge rods are typically formed with a permanent stop head at one end, and then require drilling and the insertion of a split pin to secure them at the other end. This is both time-consuming and costly.
The stop members 20 each consist of a short length of steel bar 36 welded at its foot to the top panel 12 and carrying on its free end a welded length of steel rod 38. A second piece of bar 40 acts as a bracing member, extending from the main piece 36 at an acute angle and also being welded to the top panel. The support tube 28 is welded to this second piece 40. The recess 18 in the lid 8 has a width sufficient to accommodate the length of the rod 38 when the lid is fully open. The stop 20 prevents further opening beyond this point.
Each hinge formation 16 projects from the main body of the lid 8, but is integrally moulded therewith, and has opposed end walls 42 into which a length of steel tube 44 (Figure 4) is moulded during formation of the lid. A hollow body surrounds the tube 44 in conventional manner. However, an opposed pair of dimples or recesses 46 are moulded in the formations 16, positioned such that the plastics material at the innermost part of the recess contacts and is fused with the plastics material surrounding the tube 44, as may be seen in cross-section in Figure 4, thus providing a rigidifying support for the tube. It has been found that this arrangement substantially increases the strength of the hinge for the lid, resisting damage in use. The combination of this with the use of the stops 20 engaging in specially-shaped recesses 18 in the lids confers high resistance to wind damage as well as damage resulting from abuse of the container.
The lids 8 are formed with interlocking formations along their adjacent edges that afford protection from direct ingress of rain water. An upwardly facing channel along the edge of one lid receives the outer edge of an inverted channel formed along the edge of the adjacent lid.

Claims

A waste container, comprising an upwardly-facing opening (6), a moulded plastics lid (8) hinged along one edge of the opening, the lid having at least one recess (18) therein, and the container having an upstand (20) configured to be received in the recess and to engage the lid within the recess.
A waste container according to Claim 1, wherein the recess is dimensioned to conform with the portion of the upstand received therein.
A waste container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the upstand is provided with an oblique support leg and the leg and the upstand are welded to the container.
A waste container according to Claim 3, wherein a hinge support for the lid is secured to the support leg.
A waste container, comprising a hinged plastics lid, the lid being hollow and including a spaced pair of integrally-formed hinge supports (16), each comprising a metal tube (44) supported between and opening through opposed faces (42) of the support, at least one recess (46) being moulded into the supports, the material defining the recess (46) contacting and supporting the tube (44) between the ends thereof.
A waste container according to Claim 5, wherein the recess extends over the greater part of the length of the tube.
A waste container according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein an opposed pair of recesses extend inwardly from opposed surfaces of the hinge support to contact and support the tube.
A waste container comprising an upwardly-facing opening, a moulded plastics lid hinged along one edge of the opening, the lid having at least one recess moulded therein, and the container having an upstand configured to be received in the recess and to engage the lid within the recess, and wherein the lid is hollow and includes a spaced pair of integrally-formed hinge supports, each comprising a metal tube supported between and opening through opposed faces of the support, at least one recess being moulded into the supports, the material defining the recess contacting and supporting the tube between the ends thereof.
A waste container according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid is formed by rotational moulding.