Waste bin

Abstract

A waste container comprising an opening, a permanent closure member, and an adhesive attached to the closure member for irreversibly sealing the closure member to another part of the container so as to, in use, permanently close the opening in the container.

Claims

1. A paperboard or cardboard waste container comprising: an opening, a permanent closure member, an adhesive attached to the closure member for irreversibly sealing the closure member to another part of the container so as to, in use, permanently close the opening in the container; and a reversible closing mechanism for reversibly closing the opening prior to irreversibly sealing the container with the permanent closure member; wherein the reversible closing mechanism comprises a first reversible closure panel and a second reversible closure panel for reversibly closing the opening of the container, and a mechanical fastener; wherein, when the container is reversibly closed by the reversible closing, the inside surface of one of the first and second closure panels contacts the inside surface of the other of the first and second closure panels; and wherein the container is configured such that when the container is irreversibly sealed by the permanent closure member and the adhesive, the first and second closure panels overlap such that the inside surface of one of the first and second closure panels contacts the outside surface of the other of the first and second closure panels such that the other panel is underneath the one panel and the adhesive is between the first and second closure panels.

2. The waste container of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a double sided adhesive tape joined on one side to the closure member, the other side for engaging said another part of the container.

3. The waste container of claim 1, further comprises a peel strip covering the adhesive, wherein the peel strip is releasably adhered to the adhesive so as to prevent the adhesive from adhering to other components prior to the peel strip being removed.

4. The waste container of claim 1, further comprising a bottom panel for forming a base of the container, at least one top panel for forming the closure member, and at least one side panel for forming a side wall of the container; wherein the bottom panel is irreversibly sealed to at least one of the at least one side panels, wherein the bottom panel and said at least one side panels are irreversibly sealed together using waterproof joints such as lapped joints.

5. The waste container of claim 1, wherein the paperboard or cardboard is water resistant or waterproof, or wherein the paperboard or cardboard has a hydrophobic coating or layer to render it waterproof or water resistant.

6. The waste container of claim 1, wherein the reversible closing mechanism comprises a reversible closure member or panel and a reversible sealing mechanism for reversibly sealing the reversible closure member or panel to another part of the container so as to reversibly close the opening in the container.

7. The waste container of claim 1, wherein one or more slots or apertures are located in the first closure panel, and one or more tabs are located on the second closure panel for insertion through the slots or apertures to reversibly close the opening of the container.

8. The waste container of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second closure panels is said permanent closure member comprising said adhesive, and the other of said first or second closure panels is said another part of the container to which the permanent closure member attaches.

9. The waste container of claim 1, wherein the container has at least three side walls and a closure panel extending from the upper edge of each side wall for folding over the opening so as to close the container, and wherein the side edges of each closure panel are connected or sealed to the side edges of the adjacent closure panels.

10. The waste container of claim 1, wherein the container has at least three closure panels configured to fold over the opening so as to close the container, wherein a first of the closure panels comprises said permanent closure member, and where at least one of the closure panels laterally adjacent to the first closure panel is configured to fold over on itself when said first closure panel is folded over the opening.

11. The waste container of claim 10, wherein said at least one laterally adjacent closure panel comprises a closure member, such as an adhesive, configured to adhere the closure panel to itself whilst folded over on itself.

12. A folded or collapsed waste container configured to be unfolded or otherwise expanded so as to form the waste container of claim 1.

13. A method of using a paperboard or cardboard waste container, said container comprising paperboard or cardboard, an opening, a permanent closure member, an adhesive attached to the closure member for irreversibly sealing the closure member to another part of the container so as to, in use, permanently close the opening in the container, and a reversible closing mechanism for reversibly closing the opening prior to irreversibly sealing the container with the permanent closure member; wherein the reversible closing mechanism comprises a first reversible closure panel and a second reversible closure panel for reversibly closing the opening of the container, and a mechanical fastener; wherein, when the container is reversibly closed by the reversible closing, an inside surface of one of the first and second closure panels contacts an inside surface of the other of the first and second closure panels; and wherein the container is configured such that when the container is irreversibly sealed by the permanent closure member and the adhesive, the first and second closure panels overlap such that the inside surface of one of the first and second closure panels contacts the outside surface of the other of the first and second closure panels such that the other panel is underneath the one panel and the adhesive is between the first and second closure panels, and a mechanical fastener; wherein the method comprises: contacting the inward surface of one of the first and second closure panels with the inward surface of the other of the first and second closure panels, and using the mechanical fastener to reversibly seal the first and second closure panels so as to reversibly close the opening in the container; and subsequently overlapping the first and second closure panels such that the inward surface of one of the first and second closure panels contacts the outward surface of the other of the first and second closure panels and using the adhesive to irreversibly seal the inward surface to the outward surface so as to permanently close the opening in the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of a blank for forming a waste container;

(3) FIG. 2.1 shows a side view with cut outs of a waste container formed from the blank of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2.2 shows a side view of a partially constructed waste container formed from the blank of FIG. 1;

(5) FIGS. 3.1 and 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2 show a waste container being formed from the blank of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5.1 shows an embodiment of the waste container in its expanded configuration, the opening being resealably closed;

(7) FIGS. 5.2 and 5.3 show opposing side views of the top portion of the waste container of FIG. 5.1;

(8) FIGS. 6.1 and 6.2 show side views of the top portion of a waste container formed from the blank of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(9) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a blank E for forming a waste container. The blank is a single sheet formed from paperboard. The blank E comprises four elongated side panels A, B, C and D. The panels are connected sequentially along their side edges. The blank further comprises two bottom panels F connected to the ends of side panels A and C. The first bottom panel F is connected to the same end of panel A as the end of panel C to which the second bottom panel F is connected. The blank further comprises a first closure panel 5a and a second closure panel 5b connected to side panels A and C at the opposite end to bottom panels F. The first and second closure panels 5a and 5b each have a handle aperture 3 for use as holding handles. The first closure panel 5a includes two tabs 4a. The second closure panel 5b includes two locator slots 4b for insertion of the two tabs 4a in use, as will be described in more detail below.

(10) Double sided adhesive strips 6, covered by peels strips, are provided on the second closure panel 5b and on closure panels 5c, 5d to attached side panels B and D for irreversible sealing, as will be described in more detail below.

(11) The panels are separated by score lines 1 to aid in the folding of the blank. Further score lines 1 are included in some of the panels to aid in the collapsing of the waste container once formed, as will be described below.

(12) The edges of the blank to be joined to other portions of the blank when the waste container is formed therefrom include portions 2 for forming lapped joints. Cut lines 7 ensure that the blank can be folded where necessary.

(13) FIG. 2.1 shows a side view with cut outs of an embodiment of a waste container formed from the blank of FIG. 1. The blank has been folded along scored lines 1, and adhesive applied to portions 2 to form lapped joints at the jointing surfaces 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The side panels A, B, C and D form side walls, and bottom panels F form a base. The blank thus forms a rectangular prism. The shape of the container, along with the material thereof form a self-supporting structure. The lapped joints at the jointing surfaces 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 form waterproof seals. As such, the container body of the container is watertight.

(14) FIG. 2.2 shows a side view of the waste container of FIG. 2.1 during its assembly from the blank of FIG. 1. Adhesive has been applied to the jointing surfaces 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 prior to their attachment to other portions of the container.

(15) FIGS. 3.1 and 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2 show a waste container being assembled from the blank of FIG. 1. Firstly, the waste container is formed by adhering the jointing surfaces together, as in FIGS. 2.1 and 2.2. FIG. 3.1 shows a partially constructed waste container, wherein side panels A and D have been adhered together. FIG. 3.2 shows a fully constructed waste container, wherein the bottom panels F have also been adhered both to each other and to side panels B and D. Pressure is then exerted on the vertical scoring lines to collapse the waste container, and the first and second closure panels are folded backwards. This forms a collapsed product ready for storage and transportation, as can be seen in FIG. 4.1. The container can then be prepared for use by an end user by expanding the container out into its expanded configuration, as can be seen in FIG. 4.2. The container has an opening at the end opposite the base formed by bottom panels F. Aside from this opening, the container is waterproof and watertight. The container can then be resealably closed or permanently closed, as described in more detail below.

(16) FIG. 5.1 shows an embodiment of the waste container in its expanded configuration, the opening being resealably closed. The inside surface of the first closure panel contacts the inside surface of the second closure panel 5b, and the handle apertures 3 align so as to form a single handle. The tabs 4a are then aligned with the slots (not shown) for insertion therethrough (not shown).

(17) FIGS. 5.2 and 5.3 show opposing side views of the top portion of a waste container of FIG. 5.1, wherein the tabs 4a are inserted into the slots 4b. In the illustrated embodiment, the tabs 4a are serrated to aid them to remain securely in the slots 4b. The tabs 4a can be extracted from the slots 4b to reopen the waste container.

(18) FIGS. 6.1 and 6.2 show side views of the top portion of a waste container formed from the blank of FIG. 1. FIGS. 6.1 and 6.2 demonstrate the permanent closure of the opening of the container using the adhesive strips 6a, 6b. The user removes peel strips from the adhesive strips 6a, 6b in order to expose the adhesives. The user then folds panels 5c and 5d along their score lines, and folds the first closure panel 5a underneath the second closure panel 5b (FIG. 6.1). Panels 5c and 5d collapse onto themselves along the score lines. The second closure panel 5b folds between first closure panel 5a and the collapsed panels 5c and 5d. The user then exerts downward pressure on the top of the container. Adhesives 6b irreversibly seal panels 5c and 5d to themselves. The inside surface of the second closure panel 5b contacts the outside surface of the first closure panel 5a, and the adhesive 6a thereon, and irreversibly seals thereto. Thus, the container is irreversibly sealed, and ready for disposal. The seals formed by the adhesives render the container water and gas tight.