EP0339729B1

EP0339729B1 - Closure for a waste receptacle

Info

Publication number: EP0339729B1
Application number: EP89201034A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Elisabeth Josephine Borgerding-Krijger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-04-29
Filing date: 1989-04-20
Publication date: 1992-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 2009-04-20
Also published as: DE68902264D1; DE68902264T2; NL8801133A; ATE78787T1; EP0339729A1; ES2034583T3; GR3005780T3

Abstract

Cover for a waste receptacle (1), which is completely open at the upper side, comprising two somewhat flexible plates (2,3) arranged above each other and each provided with radial slits (4), whereby the slits (4) in both plates (2,3) are staggered.

Description

The invention relates to a closure for a waste receptacle provided with an opening at the upper side, the closure consisting of a layer of somewhat flexible material which may close the opening of the waste receptacle and of an upstanding wall connected to the periphery of said layer, substantially engaging sealingly the upper part of the wall surrounding the opening, which layer is formed by plate material, such as plastic, provided with radial cuts so that flexible triangular lips are formed.
Such a cover and waste receptacle are known from US-A-4,454,944 where in the upper side of the receptacle a rather small opening is present. This makes it rather difficult to throw in objects to be disposed. Moreover, the receptacle is rather complicated and thus expensive.
In practice waste receptacles are used which are completely open at the upper side and without cover waste matter may be blown out of the receptacle. This happens with waste receptacles at petrol stations, on beaches, swimming pools and so on.
However, it is more objectional that completely open waste receptacles are also used in hospitals and laboratories and then may be a source of danger of contamination for the staff with pathogenic organism and the like.
For instance, after taking blood samples and testing the blood tubes filled with blood are thrown away into such open waste receptacles.
These are mostly plastic receptacles open at the upper side.
These receptacles are open during the whole day and are permanently closed with a cover after the working day and destroyed completely.
During throwing in tubes filled with blood these tubes may break. It is clear that the staff can be contaminated with all kind of deseases. Moreover, the staff is present during the hours of duty in the vicinnity of such open waste receptacles filled with blood or the like.
The invention aims to find a solution for this problem and according to the invention this is obtained, in that the layer is formed by two of such plates arranged one above the other, the cuts of both plates being staggered rotationally.
Owing to the presence of staggered slit-shaped openings the objects to be thrown away disappear in the waste receptacle, without returning from the receptacle. Especially if the waste matter consists of tubes filled with blood or such material, it is prevented that blood can splash back or that contaminated blood is in free communication with the surrounding.
Since the wall of the cover extends over a large area, because the waste receptacle is completely open at the upper side, both plates support each other. One plate with slits would not satisfy for a large opening.
According to the invention a very simple structure is obtained which can be manufactured in a cheap way and which can be disposed after the working day.
The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawing a preferred embodiment, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the closure according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section over de line II-II of fig. 1 with the lips closed; and
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section over the line II-II of fig. 1 with the lips opened.

In the drawing the upper part of the circumferential wall of the waste receptacle is indicated with 1.
On this circumferential wall the closure according to the invention is arranged.
According to a preferred embodiment this cover consists of two plastic plates 2,3 in the form of regular octagonals.
From the center radial cuts 4 are extending, so that triangular lips are formed, owing to the fact that the cuts 4 do not extend to the angles of the octagonal.
The cuts 4 in the upper plate 2 are shown with fully drawn lines and are shown in the lower plate 3 with dotted lines.
By rotation of both plates 2, 3 over half a sector the cuts 4 are staggered and also the lips.
The plates 2, 3 have for instance a thickness of 0,2 mm and are flexible. They consist preferably of plastic.
A foil edge 5 is connected to the periphery of the plates 2, 3. This foil edge 5 is fixed to the periphery of the plates 2, 3, for instance therebetween and contains at the lower side an elastic cord 6, so that the foil edge 5 engages sealingly the receptacle wall 1.
Of course, the circumferential edge 5 can also consist of somewhat stiffer plastic and can in cross section be adapted to the cross section of the receptacle. In this way the edge 5 fits slidingly on the receptacle 1.
The plates 2, 3 of course, need not be octagonal.
The lips need not be triangular, but this form is preferred.
By the staggered lips in a simple and cheap way a closure for a waste receptacle is obtained, by which throwing in of objects is not hindered but getting out in opposite direction is prevented.

Claims

1. Closure for a waste receptacle (1) provided with an opening at the upper side, the closure consisting of a layer of somewhat flexible material which may close the opening of the waste receptacle (1) and of an upstanding wall connected to the periphery of said layer, substantially sealingly engaging the upper part of the wall around the opening, which layer is formed by plate material, such as plastic, provided with radial cuts (4) so that flexible triangular lips are formed, characterized in that the said layer is formed by two of such plates (2, 3) arranged one above the other, the cuts of both plates being staggered rotationally.

2. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that each plate has the form of a regular polygon, that the cuts (4) extend to the angles of the polygon but end at a distance there from and that the polygon-shaped plates (2,3) are staggered by half of one sector.

3. Closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upstanding wall (5) of the cover is fixed to both plates (2,3).