AU675464B2 - Organic liquid fertiliser bin - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2 -1-

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 Ccr42IE'rE SFPE C 1F I C-ATI QN S ~A3NDARD L IATE I r o u

APPLICANT:

NUMBER:

FILING DATE: JOY SANDRA CAIRNS JOHN ALFRED CLEMENTS PL 6609/92 30/12/92 Invention Title: ORGANIC LIQUID FERTILISER BIN The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: This invention relates to a compost bin which has been designed to produce organic liquid fertilizer.

For many years both professional and amateur gardeners have added well rotted compost to the soil of their gardens to act as a fertilizer. It is well known that the plants growing in these gardens have benefited by being healthy and vigorous.

Additionally gardeners who have produced and used compost have had the benefit of being able to recycle unwanted organic matter including weeds, prunings and other waste plant material and also animal manure. Environmentally, compost is of substantial value as it enables recycling of material which may otherwise be wasted.

In more recent years, gardeners have enjoyed growing plants in enclosed containers such as pots. The soil of these enclosed containers also periodically needs to have fertilizer added.

S One of the most convenient ways to add this fertilizer is in a liquid form. Liquid fertilizer can be diluted and used in any enclosed container or on any garden in a concentration which S can be calculated and controlled by the gardener. The level of dilution is adjusted according to the size of the enclosed container or garden bed the type of soil therein and also to the sensitivity and requirements of the plants being grown.

Liquid fertilizer also has the added advantage that the gardener can easily place it in sealed containers and not come WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/14 December, 1993 into physical contact with it in the time between its production and later use.

It is an object of the present invention to make a product which would enable any gardener to produce liquid fertilizer using vegetable and animal matter in his or her own garden.

The invention in its broadest sense comprises a compost bin for making organic liquid fertilizer and which comprises a large drum with one open end over which lies a fitted lid containing small apertures for aeration, an outlet tap near the base of the said drum and further comprises a fine mesh bucket-shaped strainer of slightly smaller dimensions than the drum and which is fitted inside the drum.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood I shall describe, in relation to the accompanying drawings, one particular embodiment of the compost bin of this invention.

In these drawings:

*CC.

Figure 1 is a cross-section of the moulded plastic compost bin with the fine mesh bucket-shaped strainer fitted inside the drum.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the bin clip which is joined to the lid and passes over the edge of the lid, the strainer WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/22 October, 1996 4 handle and clips under the top lip of the compost bin, helping to retain the strainer relative thereto.

Figure 3 is a view of part of the lid along line 3-3 of Figure 1 and shows the arrangement of the air holes.

Figure 4 is a cross section of a side view of part of the lid showing the location of the handle and the arrangement of the air holes in the lid.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the drum 1 may be cylindrical in shape with an out-turned lip at the open end although any shape that is approximately cylindrical would be V satisfactory. The drum may be made of heavy duty moulded S plastic.

The strainer 2 is of a smaller diameter that the drum so it S fits inside the drum and is formed at its outer edge 3 to fit S. over the open end of the drum. The strainer is preferably made of wire mesh but can be of any other material of construction which can resist break down from the contents.

o o• The holes in the mesh are small enough to permit only liquids and solid matter, say up to 5mm diameter to pass through. The depth of the strainer is approximately three quarters of the depth of the drum.

Below the level of the base of the strainer and very near the WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/14 December, 1993 base of the drum an outlet tap 5 is fitted into the outside of the drum. The tap control mechanism is external to the drum and the inside of the tap has a fine mesh filter 6 placed over it so no large particles can pass from the drum through the tap when the tap is turned on. The diameter of the holes in this mesh filter would be up to 5mm. The drum is designed to sit on a stand or platform so any receptacle for catching the liquid fertilizer could be placed directly below the tap.

The lid 7 of the drum has two clips or more 4 which clip onto the open end of the drum over the outer position 3 of the •i strainer and it provides a close fit. The centre of the lid contains a stirrer 8 which comprises a handle 9 above the lid (which can be rotated while the lid is fitted over the drum) S joined through the lid to a paddle 10 which can rotate inside the strainer when the handle is externally rotated. Along its length within the drum the paddle may have several layers of horizontal wings 11 which when rotated will enable the compost mixture to be readily stirred. The lid 7 is preferably made S of the same heavy duty moulded plastic material as the drum.

The lid contains several small holes 12 designed to permit aeration of the contents of the drum and to release any pressure developed therein. Underneath the handle of the stirrer is a circular plate 13 with holes 14 in a corresponding position to the holes in the lid and which can either cover them or permit them to be open. The plate has a grip member 15 and when the plate 13 is moved to one position WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/14 December, 1993 6 the airholes 12 are in alignment with holes 14 and the interior is open and when the grip member 15 is used to move the plate to another position, the airholes are closed. When the air holes are closed odours of composting matter are prevented form escaping from the bin.

In use, the gardener removes the lid and places organic matter into the strainer 2. This may be animal manure, seaweed garden weeds or other compostable organic material which can break down.

The drum is then filled to within centimetres of the top with water, and the lid 7 is then fitted to the drum and the clips 4 close. The tap 5 remains closed at all times. The gardener can then periodically over the next two or more weeks, stir the contents of the drum using the stirrer handle without lifting the lid. The plate 13 can be either such that the holes 12 are normally closed and are opened, say when the stirring takes place normally to control pressure build up or S can be arranged to be partially open.

After at least a two week fermentation period, the gardener will be able to place a container underneath the tap, turn on the tap and release the liquid fertilizer which the gardener can use as is, or dilute according to need. Alternatively the drum can be used to store the liquid fertilizer until it is required.

WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/14 December, 1993 When the process is to be repeated, the strainer 2 can be removed, the contents discarded or placed on a compost heap on the ground, the drum 1 and the strainer 2 cleaned and the process repeated.

e o* WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/14 December, 1993

Claims (9)

1. A compost bin for making organic liquid fertilizer and which comprises a large drum with one open end over which lies a fitted lid containing small apertures for aeration, an outlet tap near the base of the said drum and further comprises a fine mesh bucket-shaped strainer of slightly smaller dimensions than the drum and which is fitted inside the drum.

2. A compost bin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the open end of the bin has an outwardly curved lip and the fitted lid has clips one end of which is fitted to the lid and the other end fits underneath the outer edge of the strainer thereby securing the lid to the bin. o a.

3. A compost bin as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the centre of the lid of the bin contains a stirrer which comprises a handle above the lid which can be rotated while the lid is fitted over the drum, said stirrer p. passing through the lid and joined to a paddle which can rotate inside the strainer when the handle is externally SI": rotated.

4. A compost bin as claimed in claim 3 wherein underneath the small apertures in the lid are located above the WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/22 October, 1996 9 strainer and beneath the handle of the stirrer a circular plate with small apertures in the corresponding position to the apertures in the lid and which functions as an aperture cover which when in one position opens the aperture and when in another position closes the aperture.

A compost bin as claimed in claim 3 wherein the paddle has several horizontal wings along its length to enable the compost to be stirred effectively.

6. A compost bin as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the internal portion of the outlet tap is fitted with a fine mesh filter to prevent large particles leaving the compost bin when the tap is open.

7. A compost bin as claimed in claim 5 which is made of a heavy moulded plastic.

8. A method of making liquid organic fertiliser comprising the steps of placement of either animal manure, seaweed, °garden weeds, or other compostable organic matter within a fine mesh bucket-shaped strainer filled, said strainer positioned inside a drum which is filled with water and covered with a lid, said lid being incorporated with small apertures for aeration and further incorporating means for stirring and wherein the organic matter is WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/22 October, 1996 I occasionally stirred over a period of at leasr two weeks, liquid fertilizer is produced, and let out through an outlet tap at the base of the drum.

9. A compost bin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 22nd day of October 1996. JOY SANDRA CAIRNS JOHN ALFRED CLEMENTS By their Patent Attorneys A. TATLOCK ASSOCIATES e *o *g WP51/SPEC/CAIR&CLE.SPC/22 October, 1996 r ABSTRACT A compost bin for making organic liquid fertilizer and which comprises a large drum with one coen end over wnich lies a fitted lid containing small apertures for aeration, an outlet tap near the base of the said drum and further contains a fine mesh bucket-shaped strainer of slightly smaller dimensions than the drum and which is fitted inside the drum. *o* e o *222