JP7716624B2 - Food waste disposal box - Google Patents

Description

Article 30, paragraph 2 of the Patent Act applies. ・Published by Gamagori City on its website https://www.city.gamagori.lg.jp https://www.city.gamagori.lg.jp/site/circularcity/ https://www.city.gamagori.lg.jp/site/circularcity/compost.html on February 20, 2023. ・Published by Mikawa Bay Network on its TV circular WEEKLY on March 18, 2023. ・Published by Gamagori City in its Public Relations Gamagori No. Published on March 24, 2023, on page 1248, page 3; Published by the Tokai Nichi Nichi Shimbun on page 2 of the Tonichi Shimbun morning edition and on their website at https://www.tonichi.net/news/index.php?id=100840 on March 31, 2023; Published by the Chunichi Shimbun on page 15 of the Chunichi Shimbun morning edition and on their website at https://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/664848 on April 2, 2023; Published by the Higashi Aichi Shimbun on page 7 of the Higashi Aichi Shimbun morning edition on April 12, 2023; Published by the Yomiuri Shimbun Chubu Branch on page 28 of the Yomiuri Shimbun morning edition and on their website at https://www. Published on April 25, 2023 at yomiuri.co.jp/local/chubu/feature/CO056392/20230425-OYTAT50006/. Distributed by Gamagori City at Gamagori City Hall on May 8, 2023. Sold by Niwa Ryuta of Kyoshin Paper Co., Ltd. to Omiya Fuyuhiro (13-48-105 Minato-cho, Gamagori City, Aichi Prefecture) on July 14, 2023.

The present invention relates to a food waste disposal box that has an upper and lower inner lid structure that is easy to attach and detach, while maintaining the airtightness of the base material inside the box, the heat retention of fermentation, durability, and breathability.

Conventional cardboard food waste disposal boxes are often the most commonly used Type A case (Figure 5), similar to the type used for mandarin orange boxes, and it is difficult to create an airtight seal because the top lid is half-open. Even with Type C case (Figure 6), which is a type that is separated into two halves, top and bottom, and has a lid that fits over the main body, it is difficult to create an airtight seal because there is a gap between the top lid and the main body. Creating a nearly airtight seal is important because it promotes the fermentation of food waste and has an insect-repellent effect.

Furthermore, when conventional cardboard food waste disposal boxes are placed on the ground, they come into close contact with the ground, leaving no space for ventilation, which means moisture accumulates at the bottom of the box, causing it to become damp and prone to deterioration, which in turn increases the humidity of the base material inside the food waste disposal box and hinders fermentation. Preventing dampness and ensuring ventilation are important points.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-264709

Conventional cardboard food waste disposal boxes are often Type A cases (see Figure 5), and so it is difficult to maintain airtightness and heat retention when the top lid is half-open. To maintain airtightness and heat retention, it is necessary to cover the box from above with cloth or an insect-proof cover, and to purchase other items.

Furthermore, if the bottom of the box is placed directly on a flat surface, it will be in close contact with the ground, resulting in poor ventilation and causing it to become stuffy. Therefore, it is necessary to place it on a bamboo mat or a mesh basket to create space and ensure ventilation, and this requires some effort in terms of purchasing other items and figuring out where to place it.

Some containers also use an inner lid to maintain airtightness and heat retention, but once inserted, it is difficult to remove, making it stressful to remove every time, and pulling it with too much force can cause it to break or tear.

The food waste disposal box has a cylindrical body 3, and is covered from above and below by an upper outer lid 1 and a lower outer lid 6, which are identical in size from top to bottom. An upper middle lid 2 is provided at the top inside of the body 3, and a first lower middle lid 4 and a second lower middle lid 5 are provided at the bottom of the body 3 in the same shape, forming a double structure. The upper middle lid 2, the first lower middle lid 4, and the second lower middle lid 5 are formed by a top plate of the same size as the inner circumference of the body 3 and side plates that are bent up from the outer circumference of the top plate and are shaped to fit inside the body 3. The double structure of the bottom of the main body 3 is formed by placing the top plate 4a of the first lower intermediate lid 4 and the top plate 5a of the second lower intermediate lid 5 back to back, and bending the folded portion 4c of the first lower intermediate lid 4 and the folded portion 5c of the second lower intermediate lid 5 along the inner circumference of the main body 3 and fitting them into the bottom of the main body 3, and the lower intermediate lid 4 serves to support the base material inside the main body 3, and the side plate 5b of the raised portion of the lower intermediate lid 5 stands upright along the side surface 7 inside the main body, creating a space equal to the height of the side plate 5b between it and the lower outer lid 6.

A pair of handles 2t are provided at opposing positions on the outer edge of the upper inner lid 2, and the upper inner lid 2 can be bent along the inner periphery of the main body 3 at a bending portion 2c.

By taking the above-mentioned measures, the present invention achieves the following effects: In the invention of claim 1, an upper inner lid 2, a first lower inner lid 4, and a second lower inner lid 5 are attached to a cardboard food waste disposal box body 3, and an upper outer lid 1 and a lower outer lid 6 are attached as cover lids, thereby maintaining airtightness and heat retention, and the lower inner lid's double structure also ensures durability, and the side panels 5b of the raised portion of the second lower inner lid 5 act as clogs, creating space at the bottom to ensure breathability even when the box is placed directly on the ground, preventing the food waste disposal box from becoming stuffy. The food waste disposal box itself simultaneously solves the conflicting needs of heat retention and breathability, and can maintain an appropriate humidity level.

The invention of claim 2 provides a handle 2t on the upper inner lid 2, which makes it easy to remove, shortening the time it takes to put in food waste every day, and also reducing the small stress caused each time by being able to remove it without having to adjust the fitting position.

1 is a perspective view of an entire cardboard food waste disposal box according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cardboard food waste disposal box according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. Unfolded view of the upper lid Exploded view of the first and second lower inner lids A perspective view showing a conventional cardboard case. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing another conventional cardboard case.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cardboard food waste disposal box according to an embodiment of the present invention. This box is an octagonal prism, designed to balance strength and ease of mixing. It consists of an upper outer lid 1 and a lower outer lid 6, each of which is identical in size and fits over a cylindrical body 3. The interior is fitted with an upper inner lid 2 with a handle at the top and a first and second lower inner lid 4 and 5, each of which is identical in shape and fits over the bottom. The three inner lids are formed by a top panel 2a, 4a, and 5a, which is the same size as the inner circumference of the body 3, and side panels 2b, 4b, and 5b, which are bent up from the outer periphery of the top panel. The bends 2c, 4c, and 5c are bent up at 90 degrees to fit along the inside side 7 of the body, providing an airtight seal and heat retention.

Furthermore, a pair of handles 2t are provided at opposing positions on the outer edge of the upper lid 2, and a similar pair of handles 2t are provided at a position rotated 90 degrees from that opposing position, making it possible to remove the upper lid from any position.When the top plate 4a of the first lower lid 4 and the top plate 5a of the second lower lid 5 are placed back to back and the side plates 4b of the first lower lid 4 and 5b of the second lower lid 5 are bent and raised from the outer periphery of the top plate and fitted all the way to the bottom along the side surface 7 inside the main body, the lower lid has a double structure that is capable of providing airtightness, heat retention, and durability.

2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a cardboard food waste disposal box according to an embodiment of the present invention in use, with a base material 8 for decomposing and fermenting food waste placed inside the main body 3 and ready for food waste to be thrown in. The side panels 2b of the upper inner lid 2 are folded 90 degrees at the bends 2c, and the side panels 2b are fitted into the top of the box along the inside side surface 7 of the main body, thereby providing a tight seal. The side panels 4b of the first lower inner lid 4 and the side panels 5b of the second lower inner lid 5 are also folded 90 degrees at the bends 4c and 5c of the first lower inner lid 4 and the second lower inner lid 5. The top panels 4a and 5a of the first lower inner lid 4 and the second lower inner lid 5 are then placed back-to-back, and the outer surfaces of the side panels 4b and 5b are fitted into the bottom of the box along the inside side surface 7 of the main body, forming a tightly sealed double-layered structure. The upper outer lid 1 and the lower outer lid 6 are then placed on top of each other, providing excellent heat retention and durability. Furthermore, the side plate 5b of the second lower inner lid 5 is in contact with the bottom surface of the lower outer lid 6 perpendicularly, so that the height of the side plate 5b acts as a footwear, creating a bottom space 9 to ensure breathability and prevent stuffiness.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the upper lid 2, which is attached to the top of the inside of the main body 3 of the cardboard food waste disposal box of the present invention. The top panel 2a, which is the same size as the inner circumference of the main body 3, is a regular octagonal plate with rectangular side panels 2b extending from each of its eight sides. Adjacent side panels 2b are notched at 45-degree angles. When folded at 90 degrees relative to the top panel 2a at the bends 2c, the adjacent side panels 2b tightly fit together. When fitted along the inside side 7 of the main body, the gaps disappear, creating a tightly sealed structure. A pair of handles 2t, each approximately 30 mm in size, protrude from the upper lid 2 at opposing positions. Another pair of handles 2t protrudes 90 degrees from the handle positions, providing a balanced, easy-to-use design that allows the octagonal upper lid 2 to be removed from any position. The dimensions listed above are merely examples and are not limiting.

4 is an exploded view of the first and second lower intermediate covers 4 and 5, which are attached to the bottom of the main body 3 of the cardboard food waste disposal box according to the present invention. The top plate 4a of the first lower intermediate cover 4 and the top plate 5a of the second lower intermediate cover 5 are regular octagonal plates, each with the same dimensions as the inner circumference of the main body 3. Rectangular side plates 4b of the first lower intermediate cover 4 and 5b of the second lower intermediate cover 5 are provided from each of the eight sides. A 45-degree cut is made between adjacent side plates 4b and 5b. The bent portions 4c of the first lower intermediate cover 4 and the bent portions 5c of the second lower intermediate cover 5 are bent 90 degrees relative to the top plates 4a and 5a, respectively, to bring the adjacent side plates 4b and 5b into tight contact with each other. Furthermore, triangular projections 5d are provided at the bases of the side plates 4b and 5b of the top plates 4a and 5a, and these projections 5d fit into the inner corners 7e of the main body, further eliminating gaps and preventing leakage of the base material 8 contained therein.

In the above embodiment, the main body 3 is a regular octagonal cylinder, and the top plate 2a of the upper intermediate cover 2, the top plate 4a of the first lower intermediate cover 4, and the top plate 5a of the second lower intermediate cover 5 are each a regular octagon, but this is not limited to this. The shape of the cylinder of the main body 3 and the top plates of the intermediate covers is preferably a regular polygon with an even number of sides, and a regular octagon, a regular decagon, or a regular hexagon is particularly preferred.

1 Upper outer lid 2 Upper inner lid 2a Top plate 2b Side plate 2c Bending portion 2t Inner lid handle 3 Main body 4 First lower inner lid 4a Top plate 4b Side plate 4c Bending portion 4d Projection piece 5 Second lower inner lid 5a Top plate 5b Side plate 5c Bending portion 5d Projection piece 6 Lower outer lid 7 Side surface 7e on the inside of the main body Inside corner portion 8 Base material 9 Bottom space 10 A-type case 11 C-type case

Claims (2)

The food waste disposal box has a cylindrical body 3, and is covered from above and below by an upper outer lid 1 and a lower outer lid 6, which are of the same size. An upper middle lid 2 is provided at the top inside the body 3, and a first lower middle lid 4 and a second lower middle lid 5 are provided at the bottom of the body 3 in the same shape, forming a double structure. The upper middle lid 2, the first lower middle lid 4 and the second lower middle lid 5 are formed by a top plate of the same size as the inner circumference of the body 3 and side plates that are bent up from the outer circumference of the top plate and are shaped to fit inside the body 3. The bottom of the body 3 The double structure is formed by placing the top plate 4a of the first lower intermediate lid 4 and the top plate 5a of the second lower intermediate lid 5 back to back, and bending the folded portion 4c of the first lower intermediate lid 4 and the folded portion 5c of the second lower intermediate lid 5 along the inner circumference of the main body 3 and fitting them into the bottom of the main body 3, the first lower intermediate lid 4 serves to support the base material inside the main body 3, and the side plate 5b of the raised portion of the second lower intermediate lid 5 stands upright along the side surface 7 inside the main body, creating a space equal to the height of the side plate 5b between the first lower intermediate lid 4 and the lower outer lid 6, making this a food waste disposal box. 2. A food waste disposal box as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of handles (2t) protrude from opposite positions on the outer edge of the upper inner lid (2) and are configured so that the upper inner lid (2) can be bent at a bending portion (2c) along the inner periphery of the main body (3).