WO2006097667A2

WO2006097667A2 - Sharps disposal apparatus having a magnetic lock

Info

Publication number: WO2006097667A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/004192
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Blackburn; Harvey Brown
Original assignee: Works Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2004-10-30
Filing date: 2005-10-31
Publication date: 2006-09-21
Also published as: GB0424135D0; WO2006097667A3

Abstract

The invention relates to the provision of apparatus for the reception of potentially hazardous discarded items such as, for example, needles or syringes which may have been used by drug users. The apparatus is provided in a form to be capable of being mounted in external unprotected environments and to be able to withstand vandalism and/or other attempts to damage the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a body portion (4) which is typically secured to a surface such as a pavement and a lid (6), said apparatus including a cavity therein for the reception of the items. The lid has an opening (10) and a portion (8) which can be moved between an open position to allow items to be placed through the opening and a closed condition. A further aspect of the invention relates to the provision of magnetic locking means.

Description

Item Disposal Apparatus

The invention to which this application relates is an item disposal apparatus unit of the type which can receive and store safely, items placed therein. In particular, although not necessarily exclusively, the apparatus is provided for the reception and storage of used "sharps" such as syringes and needles which can either directly be placed into the apparatus or alternatively into a container which include a number of said needles and which in turn can be placed therein. Once placed in the apparatus, the same can subsequently be removed from the apparatus in bulk for safe disposal.

The dangers of used syringes and, in particular, used needles, are well known in that there is a significant risk o f contamination to persons who are required to dispose of the discarded needles. In controlled environments such as hospitals, doctor's surgeries or the like, the needles can be placed into a storage apparatus typically manufactured of plastics material and the storage apparatus can then be discarded safely with the needles held therein. However, in external, uncontrolled, environments, there is no such known storage apparatus and, while a substantial portion of issued needles are returned for discarding safely, there is still a significant number which are not so returned. Many of these may currently be discarded in the environment such that the same can be picked up or accidentally stood on by the public, hence causing the potential risk of disease and physical injury.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a disposal and storage apparatus which can be used in any environment for the effective reception and storage of discarded items in a safe manner and to allow the removal of said items stored therein safely by persons from time to time. It is a further aim to provide the apparatus in a form such that the same can be positioned in public spaces for use and can be resistant to attempts to damage the same.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for the reception and storage of discarded items, said apparatus comprising a body portion within which there is defined a cavity for the reception of said items, and a lid, said lid forming at least part of the top surface of the apparatus when in position and said apparatus including a movable portion, which portion is moved between a closed condition in which an opening into the cavity is covered and an open condition in which access can be gained to the cavity through the opening for placing said items therethrough and wherein locking means are provided which serve to lock said lid and body in position to form the apparatus in condition for use.

In order to remove items from the apparatus, the locking means is required to be unlocked and then removed from the container body whereupon access can be gained to the cavity within the apparatus. In one embodiment a magnetic locking means is provided to lock the lid and body components to form the apparatus.

In one embodiment, the movement between the locked and unlocked positions of the lid and body is by relative rotation of the lid and container body to allow engagement and disengagement of engagement means provided on the body and lid once the locking means has been released. In one embodiment the disengagement of the engagement means is only possible once the locking means have been released.

In one embodiment, the opening is provided in the lid which can be selectively accessed via movement of the said portion between open and closed conditions. In one embodiment the opening is of a size so as to allow the passage therethrough of items in the form of containers used for the storage of needles therein.

In one embodiment, the movable portion comprises a first plate mounted externally of the lid, connected to a second plate displaced from the first plate and located within the cavity and connected to the first plate by guide means. In one embodiment, the said portion is pivotable with respect to the lid so as to allow controlled and guided movement of the said portion between the closed and open position. Typically, when the portion is in the open condition, the second plate lies below the opening in the lid so as to provide a surface onto which an item placed into the opening lands. The plate also prevents into the cavity such as with a passing arm as the second plate acts as a barrier between the opening and the remainder of the cavity when the said portion is in the open condition. When said portion is moved to the closed condition the second plate moves away from the opening to lie in an angled position and allows any items thereon to slide off the same and into the cavity. In one embodiment, when the said portion is open, the top surface of the second plate and the guides form a compartment lying below the opening so that any items which pass through the opening can only pass into the compartment while the said portion is still open. In one embodiment the said portion includes a chute which, when the portion is closed, guides items into the cavity.

Typically the first and/or second plate are provided with wing portions which extend beyond the opening so as to therefore provide cover and prevent or minimize the ingress of water through the opening into the cavity. Typically, there is provided within the cavity, a collection container into which the deposited items fall. The container, in one embodiment, is a two-part container having an outer wall and base, typically of metal and an inner container of plastics material. Preferably, when removing the article, the inner container can be removed. The provision of the metal outer wall means that if a fire should start within the cavity, the plastics inner container will simply melt and fall to the bottom of the metal outer wall and hence can be removed as a single unit from the metal outer wall along with the discarded items embedded therein.

Preferably the container and/or items in the cavity are removed and placed into the cavity from the top of the apparatus rather than via the side walls to avoid the risk of items falling onto the passing body within the cavity and causing injury.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus, as formed, will have a cylindrical form. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be secured to a surface such as, for example, a pavement or concrete plinth, via location means which are located through the base of the apparatus and which are secured in position internally of the apparatus in the cavity. This therefore means that once secured, access cannot be gained to the securing means externally of the apparatus.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the lid with the opening therein can be removed and replaced with another lid without an opening thereby allowing the apparatus to be sealed off and preventing further deposition of items therein.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a magnetic locking means, said means including a locking body and a key, wherein said locking body includes at least one magnet, said magnet biased towards a locking position via biasing means and said key includes at least one further magnet, said key selectively positionable with regard to the locking means such that the magnet in the same exerts a movement force on the at least one magnet in the locking means to overcome the force of biasing means and move the magnet to the unlocked position.

In one embodiment the at least one magnet in the key is provided within a chamber in a key body, and is movable within the chamber between a storage position in which the magnet is a first distance from an outer wall of the body, and an in-use position, in which the magnet is a second distance from said outer wall, and said second distance is less than the first.

This arrangement means that when in the storage position the magnetic force of the key is reduced and therefore prevents the risk of the magnetic force damaging or influencing other articles when not in use.

In one embodiment a biasing means can be provided to bias the magnet in the key towards the storage position.

In a further embodiment the locking body and key include a plurality of magnets, said magnet selectively arranged with either a North or South polarity adjacent an external surface, wherein said sequence is selectively determined such that in order for the key to be able to be used to exert the required magnetic force to unlock the locking body, the sequence of North/South polarity magnets in the body is the same or reverse of that in the key with the magnets in the locking body and key having the same or the same positional configuration.

The position of the magnets in the same positional configuration and the reverse polarities is required to allow the locking body to be movable, thus it will be appreciated that improved security is provided and many different permutations of magnet configuration is possible as only the presentation of a key with a magnet configuration and polarity configuration at one end, to the locking body which has a matching magnet configuration and reverse polarity configuration will result in the locking means being unlocked. The presentation of a key without the required configurations will not allow operation of the locking means. Thus there is provided a locking means which requires no slot for the insertion of a key and need not be externally visible thereby reducing the risk of vandalism or attack whilst still ensuring security as required.

In whichever embodiment, preferably the locking body is located within an article so as not to be visible externally.

In one embodiment a visual indication can be provided on the article as to the location of the locking body and adjacent to which the key can be placed.

Alternatively, no visual indication is provided and therefore only authorised persons will even be aware of the location of the locking body thereby providing an additional level of security.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a side view of the apparatus in accordance with the invention with the movement means of the lid closed; Figure 3 illustrates a side view of the apparatus with the movement means in an open position;

Figure 4 illustrates a view of the inner container and surround in accordance with the apparatus in one embodiment;

Figures 5a — d illustrate detailed views of the lid and movement portion in one embodiment; and

Figures 6a - d illustrate an alternative form of lid and movement portion;

Figures 7a-b illustrate one embodiment of locking means; and

Figures 8a-b illustrate a further embodiment of locking means.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 to 3, provided apparatus 2 in one embodiment. The apparatus comprises a body 4 and a lid 6. The lid 6 has a movement portion 8 provided thereon which can be moved between a closed condition as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and an open condition as shown in Figure 3. The lid also includes an opening 10 which, when the movement portion 8 is open, is exposed and when closed, is covered. Within the body, there is provided a cavity which is provided for the reception of a container 12, shown in Figure 4 with the body base 9. The container is typically retained in an outer housing 13 with outer walls and base formed of metal and the inner container 12 formed of plastic. Typically, the plastic inner container and/or metal outer can be provided with handle means 15 preferably on or adjacent to the opening into the container and also preferably a further handle (not shown) is provided at the base of the container to allow the easy removal and replacement of the container from the body. There can also be provided, a chute arrangement 16 which leads from the opening in the lid to the opening into the container to thereby guide items placed into the cavity from the opening into the container and hence prevent loose items from lying in the cavity.

The lid is selectively removable from the body 4 by relative rotation of the lid 6 with respect to the body. Typically, when in a located position, locking means are engaged to lock and retain the lid in the locked position with respect to the body. Preferably there are provided engagement means which allow a mechanical engagement to be achieved between the lid and the body and is then locked in position.

The apparatus is typically formed of stainless steel of a suitable grade such as 4-5mm thick stainless steel and, in order to use the same, for example for the depositing of used needles, the apparatus is first required to be installed at the required location such as, for example, on a pavement, in a street, or a park or the like. This can be achieved by placing securing means depending up from the surface to which the article is to be attached such as a pavement, through one or more openings in the base 9 of the body and into the cavity. Securing means such as a bolt or nut can then be placed onto the means passing through the base 9 to secure the apparatus to the surface. Because the securing means are provided within the cavity it means that no access can be gained externally to the securing means to release the same without first gaining access to the cavity.

Once secured in position, the items can be placed into the container by moving the movement portion, one embodiment of which is shown in Figures 5a-d, via gripping of the first plate 20 of the movement portion 8 and moving the same up and away from the lid 6 to an open position which is achieved by raising the plate about a pivot point 22 in a sliding manner via guides 24, 26. The opening 10 in the lid is then free to use and the needles can be placed therethrough. A second plate 28 is typically provided as part of the movement portion and this lies internally of the lid. When the first plate is moved to the open position, the second plate is moved towards the underside of the opening leaving a gap which is still sufficient to allow the needles and/or needle containers to be placed through the opening 10 and into the cavity but prevents other items such as sticks, fireworks or the like and/or indeed arms of children from being placed through the opening and into the cavity. Once the needles have been placed into the cavity the movable portion 8 is moved to the closed condition with the first plate moved back to the closed position as shown in Figures 2, 5a and 5d to close the opening and make the same weatherproof. Typically the weight of the movement portion 8 is such that the same moves under gravity to the closed position as indicated by arrow 30 in Figure 5a, and a movement force 32 is required as shown in Figure 5b to move the plate 20 away from the opening and allow items to be deposited as indicated by arrow 34 through the opening 10.

Figures 6a-d show a further embodiment of the movement portion 108 shown attached to the lid 106 and prior to fitting the lid 106 to the body 104.

In this arrangement the movement portion 108 again has a first plate 120, and guides 124, 126 which lead to a second plate 128 which, in this embodiment also has an integral chute portionl l ό. The movement of the second plate 128 and chute 1 16 is in response to movement of the first plate 120 by the user and as transformed via linkages 131 , 133. Figures 6a and b show an elevation and side elevation of the movement portion 108 in a closed position with respect to the lid 106 and it will be seen how the second plate 128 and chute 1 16 slope downwardly in a manner so as to encourage any items to fall into the cavity in the body 104 and hence minimise the chance of blockage by items or maliciously placed articles.

Figures 6c and d illustrate the movement portion 108 in an open condition and show how the second plate 128 and chute 116 effectively form, in conjunction with the guide plate 134, 126, a compartment 135 which is in communication with the opening in the lid (not shown) on the first plate 120 has been moved up. This therefore means that items can be placed through the opening and into the compartment 135 but that the remainder of the cavity of the body cannot be accessed as the plate 128 masks the remainder of the cavity from the opening, until the first plate 120 is moved to the closed condition shown in Figures 6a and b.

Figures 7a and b show a magnetic locking mechanism 40 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention which, when locked, retains the lid 6 in position on the body 4.

The magnetic locking mechanism has been designed to overcome the problems associated with vandalism of locks.

The lock is often a focal point for street vandalism and by its nature is vulnerable from attack from impact e.g hitting with heavy objects such as stones and rocks and the placing of foreign objects within the lock mechanism e.g. glue, chewing gum. The result of this vandalism is often a broken or blocked lock that cannot be unlocked. The magnetic lock body 40 cannot be seen from outside as it is contained internally of the apparatus with no external parts to attach, making it as vandal resistant as possible.

The lock body includes a main internal magnet 42 which in its locking position stops the lid being removed by stopping the bin lid from being rotated into the open/lift-off position as it is positioned adjacent an engagement means locking pin 44 on the lid 6 and hence prevents rotation of the same.

To open the lock a person can place a key in a body 49 having a chamber 47 in which is provided a magnet 46, against the wall of the body in the vicinity of the lock body 40 as shown in Figure 7b. The magnet 46 in the chamber 47 can be moved between a storage position and in use position via a pusher 51 which acts against spring 53 to move the magnet to the in-use position indicated by arrow 55. The main locking magnet 42 is then attracted to the magnet 46 as shown by arrow 48 and slides along the bar 50 towards the key magnet 46 stopping on the rest 57, out of the way of the lid engagement means in the form of the locating pin 44. This then allows the lid to be rotated and removed by removing the pin 44 and/or other spaced pins from locating apertures on the body 4.

Removing the key magnet 46 as shown by arrow 52 in Figure 7a causes the main locking magnet 42 to be pushed back into the locked position by the spring 54, and then held in place by its attraction to the mild steel holding nut 56, with the particular position determined by the nut stop 58.

The lock has been designed so that, externally, there is no visual indication of the presence of the lock. The side of the bin will not have any noticeable magnetic pull. The lock will only open when the correct key magnet is used and therefore a standard bar or horseshoe magnet will not unlock the lock.

When the key magnet is in place against the lock and the internal lock slides into the unlocked position the key will hold itself in place allowing both hands to be used to rotate and remove the lid. For extra security multiple locks can be used. The magnetic key can be easily removed and no snatching is felt on unlocking.

Figures 8a and b illustrate a further embodiment of a locking arrangement in which the lock body 200 includes a plurality of magnets 202 in a spaced configuration and at the locking face 204, the polarity configuration of the magnets are selected to be North or South as indicated in the diagram by the letters N, S. In order to allow the body to be moved, to unlock the locking means, the spacing and polarity configurations of a matching number of magnets 206 in the key body 208 is required to match in terms of spacing configuration and be the same but more typically, a reverse configuration polarity to provide the required movement force on the magnets. If the magnets in the key body are not of the same configuration or polarity sequence the movement and hence unlocking of the locking means will not be achieved and so only authorised keys can be used. It should be appreciated that the use of this locking means is not limited to the disposal apparatus herein described and would be of use to provide a secure locking for many types of apparatus.

It will therefore be appreciated that the invention as herein described provides an effective means of disposal of potentially hazardous items in environments which are not controlled and therefore provides a useful service to the community.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the reception and storage of discarded items, said apparatus comprising a body portion within which there is defined a cavity for the reception of said items, and a lid, said lid forming at least part of the top surface of the apparatus when in position and said apparatus including a movable portion, which portion is moved between a closed condition in which an opening into the cavity is covered and an open condition in which access can be gained to the cavity through the opening for placing said items therethrough and wherein locking means are provided which serve to lock said lid and body in position to form the apparatus in condition for use.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein in order to remove items from the apparatus, the lid is required to be unlocked and removed from the body to allow access to be gained to the cavity within the apparatus.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a magnetic locking means is provided.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein movement of the lid between locked and unlocked positions is by relative rotation of the lid and container body to allow engagement and disengagement of engagement means provided on the body and lid.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the opening is provided in the lid.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the opening is of a size so as to allow the passage therethrough of items in the form of containers used for the storage of needles therein.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the movable portion comprises a first plate mounted so as to be externally accessible, and a second plate displaced from the first plate and located within the cavity.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the second plate is connected to the first plate by guide means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the guide means are pivotably mounted on the lid.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein, when the portion is in an open condition, the second plate lies below and substantially adjacent to the opening in the lid.

1 1. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 10 wherein the first and/or second plate include wing portions which extend beyond the edge of the opening.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is provided within the cavity a collection container into which the deposited items fall.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the container is a two-part container having an outer part and an inner container.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein when removing items from the cavity, only the inner container need be removed.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the deposited items pass along a chute from the opening and into the inner container.

16. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apparatus is secured to a surface at its base.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the apparatus is secured via securing means which are secured internally of the cavity in the apparatus.

18. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the lid with an opening therein can be selectively replaced with a lid without an opening to allow the apparatus to be sealed and prevent further deposition of items therein.

19. A magnetic locking means, said means including a locking body and a key, wherein said locking body includes at least one magnet, said magnet biased towards a locking position via biasing means and said key includes at least one further magnet, said key selectively positionable with regard to the locking means such that the magnet in the same exerts a movement force on the at least one magnet in the locking means to overcome the force of biasing means and move the magnet to the unlocked position.

20. A locking means according to claim 19 wherein the at least one magnet in the key is provided within a chamber in a key body, and is movable within the chamber between a storage position in which the magnet is a first distance from an outer wall of the body, and an in-use position, in which the magnet is a second distance from said outer wall, and said second distance is less than the first.

21. A locking means according to claim 20 wherein a biasing means can be provided to bias the magnet in the key towards the storage position.

22. A locking means according to claim 19 In a further embodiment the locking body and key include a plurality of magnets, said magnet selectively arranged with either a North or South polarity adjacent an external surface, wherein said sequence is selectively determined such that in order for the key to be able to be used to exert the required magnetic force to unlock the locking body, the sequence of North/South polarity magnets in the body is the same or reverse of that in the key with the magnets in the locking body and key having the same or the same positional configuration.

23. A locking means according to claim 19 wherein a visual indication can be provided on the article as to the location of the locking body and adjacent to which the key can be placed.