WO2008045840A2

WO2008045840A2 - Arrangement for collecting kitchen waste or other materials in a kitchen environment, and method for manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: WO2008045840A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/080726
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hakan Mattsson
Original assignee: INIVASKEN Inc
Current assignee: INIVASKEN Inc
Priority date: 2006-10-12
Filing date: 2007-10-08
Publication date: 2008-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-12
Also published as: SE0602148L; WO2008045840A3; SE530438C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement (1) to collecting kitchen waste or other material in a kitchen environment and separate liquid from this, include a side part (parts) (2, 3), short-end part (parts) (4, 5) and a bottom part (parts) (7). The invention also relates to a method for making the mentioned arrangement (1). The arrangement according to the invention is characterized by at least a folded bottom part (parts) (7) wherein one of the side, short-end, and/or bottom part (parts) are provided with openings/grooves (6) therethrough. The method according to the invention is characterized by punching a flat subject from a sheet or track material of a preferably compostable material and the mentioned subject is also provided with draining holes and creases (folding device) for folding of the finished collection arrangement.

Description

Arrangement for collecting kitchen waste or other materials in a kitchen environment, and method for manufacturing same

Technical field The present invention relates to an arrangement for collecting kitchen waste or other materials in the kitchen environment and for separating liquid from this material and method for manufacturing same. The invention is described below in connection with an arrangement for collecting kitchen waste and separating liquid from this. The arrangement can, for example, be placed standing in a sink, kitchen countertop trough or on a draining surface of the kitchen countertop.

When cooking food or baking, the kitchen countertop sink and/or countertop trough is often filled up by various kitchen waste including for example, waste from vegetables, potato peel, egg shells etc. This waste is then moved over to a waste bag, waste bucket, compost arrangement or such devices. It is common to have to rinse the sink or the countertop trough many times because it has plugged up and the draining does not therefore work. Prior art

Normally the sink/countertop trough is equipped with a fixed strainer arrangement that prevents solid waste from flowing into the sewer. A fixed strainer arrangement is often plugged up and prevents the draining of liquid.

There are many known inserts that can be placed down in, or immediately above the sink or countertop trough to collect the solid waste. Many of these are bulky and do not provide any more advantage that the insert is movable i.e. the original and attached drain arrangement does not have to be cleaned to the same extent as earlier. The requirement of cleaning has instead been transferred to the extra insert of the drain arrangement i.e. no real advantages have been accomplished.

There are a number of known suggestions for solutions of the above outlined problem of kitchen waste. There are many types of waste bags, strainer bowls and scrapes developed for this purpose.

It is also known to use certain liquid removing aid devices in connecting with the sink/countertop trough such as Att'y docket no. 605.1360PCT 2 October 2007

pressure devices that compress the kitchen waste and squeeze out the liquid. Different variations of accessory strain devices for removing liquids have also been proposed. The devices are often complicated and/or difficult to keep clean.

SE515530 describes a kitchen waste bag that has small openings for liquid flow. This bag has at its upper end an elongate glue layer that has removable cover strips. These glue layers are intended to attach the bag around the sewage pipe of the countertop. The disadvantage of this invention is that it, among other things, cannot stand by its own in, for example, big sinks or on the draining surface of the countertop. It may also be difficult to attach the glue layers to dirty surfaces.

JP6270361 and JP4041301 are other examples of kitchen waste bags for use in countertop sewage pipes. These bags cannot stand on their own either in, for example, big sinks or on the draining surface of the kitchen countertop.

JP11049301 and JP11139501 are examples of solutions of combinations of holders and kitchen waste bags for kitchen countertop sewage pipes. Because these solutions include many parts they are complicated both to manufacture and use.

Many kitchen countertops have custom-made strainer bowls that fit exactly in the sinks/countertop troughs of the countertops. The drawback of these bowls is that each bowl model only fits the countertop model it is designed for.

DE2904504 is an example of a strainer bowl that has a shiftable holder and it can therefore be placed in a trough that has, within certain limits, varied sizes. The drawback of this solution is that it does not fit into very small or very large troughs/sinks. This solution is also bulky and complicated to manufacture and use. Many other very similar solutions are available for purchase in the market.

There are also different types of scrapes with draining openings in the market and these scrapes can be used to scrape up the kitchen waste out of the sink. The drawback of this solution is that it is messy to use and can only handle a smaller amount of kitchen waste each time. Many households use kitchen rolls, newspaper etc. to pick up Att'y docket no. 605.1360PCT 2 October 2007

kitchen waste from the sink. The drawbacks of this method are the same as for the scrapes mentioned above.

All the solutions mentioned above also have the common problem that the risk is high that the waste may drip on benches and floor when moist waste is moved to waste bag or compost .

There are also different solutions for squeezing liquid from the kitchen waste. Examples of this are JP2002302205 and GB603979. The drawback of these solutions is that they are complicated to make, use and keep clean and that they do not fit all kitchen countertops. Object of the Invention

The main object of the present invention is to accomplish an arrangement to collect kitchen waste or other materials in a kitchen environment and separate liquid from this material.

Another object of the invention is to accomplish an arrangement that can be adjusted to different sizes and models of sink/kitchen countertop troughs. The arrangement shall also be able to stand on its own without any support.

Yet another object of the invention is to enable simple compression of the waste to reduce its volume and to squeeze out remaining liquids.

Yet another object of the invention is to be able to move the arrangement that includes moist waste without dripping to a waste bag, waste bucket, compost arrangement or similar devices.

Yet another object of the invention is to accomplish an arrangement that in a folded flat position take up little space when stored or when cleaned in a dishwasher. Yet another object of the invention is to accomplish an arrangement that enables all handling of the kitchen waste without having to touch the waste with the hands and the waste can easily be emptied from the arrangement to a waste bag, waste bucket, compost arrangement et cetera. Att'y docket no. 605.1360PCT 2 October 2007

The above mentioned objects are achieved by the arrangement of the present invention as described in the characteristics of the patent claims. The arrangement consists of one at least partially accordion folded container that advantageously may be made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber, rubber, plastics or wet resistant compostable paper which makes it almost universally useful. It can be made for multiple use or be disposable. The accordion folded bottom of the invention and both sides and short-end have draining openings/draining grooves that provide an effective draining. The folded bottom of the invention create inner and outer V-shaped draining channels that substantially contribute to the effective draining because the V-shape ensures that the channels are substantially kept cleaned from any blocking waste. The accordion folding enables the width of the container to be varied which means it can be placed in sinks/kitchen countertop troughs that have varied sizes and shapes.

By pressing together the arrangement that contains kitchen waste by hand it is compressed so that the volume of the waste is reduced while squeezing out remaining liquids to make the waste drier.

Because an area of the bottom together with the side parts and short end part lack openings/grooves a container shaped volume is formed that may keep certain remaining liquids if the arrangement is tilted with its containment when the waste is to be moved to a waste bag, waste bucket, compost arrangement et cetera. In this way a drip free movement of moist waste is possible. All handling of the kitchen waste can also be done without having to touch the waste with the hands .

When in a folded flat position the arrangement takes up little space when stored or when cleaned in a dishwasher. The general arrangement can vary within wide limits. In addition to varying the number of folds in the accordion folding, the form, position and number of draining openings/draining grooves can be varied. The folding can also be with sharply or bluntly shaped folds. Bluntly shaped folds make rinsing and cleaning easier.

Description of Drawings Att'y docket no. 605.1360PCT 2 October 2007

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the arrangement according to the invention Fig. 2 is a short end view that shows a possible variation of the profile of the folded bottom.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show short-end views and side views of embodiments of the arrangement (1) that in this embodiment is stackable.

Fig. 7 shows a top view of the arrangement (1) of the invention. Fig. 8 shows how the arrangement of the invention can be tilted to enable a drip free movement of moist waste.

Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the arrangement (1') the invention.

Fig. 10 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the arrangement (1'')-

Fig. 11 shows yet another alternative embodiment of the arrangement.

Fig. 12 shows how the flat arrangement that is shown in Fig. 11 is folded to a draining container (1''')- Description of preferred embodiments

Fig. 1 shows the arrangement (1) in an unfolded condition wherein a container is created by the side parts (2) and (3) together with the short-end parts (4) and (5) and a bottom part. Openings/grooves (6) that are drainable and extend therethrough are preferably located at one of the vertically partitioned halves of the arrangement.

Fig. 2 shows the folded bottom (7) that creates both the inner V-shaped draining channels (8) and the outer V-shaped draining channels (9) .

Fig. 7 shows that the draining holes/draining grooves are mainly located at one of the vertically partitioned halves of the arrangement . Att'y docket no. 605.1360PCT 2 October 200?

Fig. 8 shows that the volume below the dashed lined does not include any openings/grooves and has therefore a "non- leaking" function. In the shown position of use the arrangement can be used as a non-leaking container (10) to, for example, move moist kitchen waste from a sink/kitchen countertop trough to a waste bag, waste bucket, compost arrangement or such devices. When liquid or moisture is to be squeezed out from the kitchen waste before being moved and emptying, the arrangement (1) is tilted in the other direction so that the half with openings is directed slopingly downwardly and the arrangement is pressed together which means the liquid is easily drained via the openings/grooves (6). Fig. 9 shows the short-end part (4') that at its lower part has elongate grooves (6') . In the shown embodiment the folding of the bottom {!' ) has also be provided with a rounded form. Fig. 10 shows the draining grooves (6'') that are formed as rectangular grooves.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment where the completely flat arrangement (I' " ) can be folded together to the draining container that is shown in Fig. 12. Here have three creases been shown along the edges of the arrangement that separate three material strips that when used have been folded to form a stiffening and/or a grip part for the arrangement .

The invention is not limited to the above described embodiments but additional variations can be made within the scope of the following patent claims.

Claims

Att ' y docket no . 605 . 1360 PCT 2 October 2007PATENT CLAIMS

1. Arrangement (1) for collecting kitchen waste or other materials in a kitchen environment and separating liquid from this material, including a side part (parts) (2, 3) , short-end part (parts) (4, 5) and bottom part (parts) (7) characterized therein that at least the bottom part (parts) (7) is folded wherein at least one of the side, short-end and/or the bottom part (parts) have been provided with openings/grooves (6) extending therethrough.

2. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized therein that also the side part (parts) (2, 3) and/or the short-end part (parts) (4, 5) are folded.

3. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, or 2, characterized therein that the openings /grooves (6) that extend therethrough are only at one of the vertically partitions half which when tilted make the arrangement function as a non-leaking container (10) .

4. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized therein that it has a material part that is preferably made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber, rubber, plastic or wet resistant compostable paper.

5. Arrangement (1) according to one or a plurality of the previous claims characterized therein that it is so formed that it during normal use has an upwardly directed opening.

6. Arrangement (1) according to one or a plurality of the previous claims characterized therein that it has cooperative lockable and catchable parts that in the locking or catching position keeps the arrangement folded.

7. Arrangement (1) according to one or a plurality of the previous claims characterized therein that it is punched in a pattern from preferably a compostable sheet or track material with foldable devices for easy mounting from a flat to an assembled position.

8. Method for making an arrangement (1) to collect kitchen waste or other material in a kitchen environment and separate liquid from this material, having a side part (parts) (2, 3), short-end part (parts) (4, 5) and bottom part (parts) (7) according to one or a plurality of the previous claims characterized therein that from a sheet or Att'y docket no. 605.1360PCT 2 October 2007

track material of preferably a compostable material punch a flat subject, the subject being provided with draining holes and creases (folding parts) for folding of the finished collection arrangement.