COMPOST COLLECTION BIN
A sealable bin for collecting waste biomass in a household kitchen comprising a container for receiving biomass, a sealable lid for placement over the container, venting means for circulating air within the waste biomass, and a handle. Venting means is contained in the lid. The inside surfaces of the container have a series of parallel features comprising either channels or projections in order create pathways into and out of the container for aeration of the biomass and dehumidifying of the biomass so as to deter anaerobic decomposition and odours.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/149,217 filed on Feb. 2, 2009.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to composting apparatus and more particularly to a compost collection bin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Composting organic kitchen waste is an important way to reduce the amount of biomass that is put into landfill. Buried biomass generates methane gas which is a well known and patent greenhouse gas. Buried biomass also produces hydrogen sulphide gas which is potentially poisonous and has an offensive rotten egg odour. Reduction of biomass placed into landfill extends the life of the landfill and reduces noxious emissions from the landfill. As well, composted kitchen waste creates a high quality fertilizer than can be used on household gardens.
Many households continue to place organic waste into garbage destined for landfill. One reason for this is a perceived difficulty in collecting and storing biomass indoors. One problem associated with composting organic waste is its collection in the kitchen in suitable amounts prior to transfer to the garden composting apparatus and the potential for unpleasant odours in the household. The householder wishes to use a container that is aesthetically pleasing for indoor use and does not create distasteful odours in the kitchen. A number of compost containers are presently marketed which comprise stainless steel containers. These are shiny and aesthetically pleasing. However, they are merely pails with low capacity that must be emptied often. They have to be emptied often to avoid decomposition of the matter in the pail and resulting odours. Other indoor compost containers resemble rectangular garbage cans which are not pleasing to the eye and rely upon charcoal filters to keep odours to a minimum. Handling and emptying such a container can be awkward and the top of the container is detached and may fall off the container during transport and emptying.
Therefore, there is a need for a new type of compost container that can be used to collect kitchen waste, is aesthetically pleasing, and capable of prolonged use prior to emptying without anaerobic decomposition causing unpleasant odours in the household.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the present invention there is provided a compost collection bin fabricated from a suitable thermoplastic material such as HDPE with a volume of at least 7.5 L. However, the invention can be adapted to be as large as 120 L and generally, whatever size is demanded by the market. The present invention comprises three main parts which are the container for receiving the waste biomass, the lid for sealing the container and the handle for manipulating the container. In one embodiment of the invention the lid comprises a plurality of pinholes for aerating the biomass to prevent anaerobic decomposition and odours. The pin holes can be opened and closed using venting means. The pin holes are generally smaller than a fruit fly to prevent these and other small insects from entering the container. In another embodiment of the invention the lid seals the container and has no pin holes.
Advantages of the present invention include interior flutes or channels along the inside surface of the container. These channels allow for air to gain access to the organic material to promote aerobic decomposition and also permit evaporation of moisture up the channels and out of the vented lid. In the embodiment where the lid does not contain vents, the action of opening and closing the sealed lid acts to pump air into the biomass and draw moisture laden air out of the biomass. The lid is releasable from the container to permit better cleaning and use of dishwashers. In other embodiment of the invention there may be ripples, corrugations, dimples or other similar features that encourage air circulation around the biomass within the container. These features have a low profile and so the interior of the container is easily cleaned without biomass being trapped within the channels. Another advantage of the invention is the ergonomic hand grips which allow the user a wide range options to grasp and manipulate the container. This particularly important for older persons who may have difficulty handing a container without a properly design handle. Another advantageous feature of the invention is the bottom tabs or “buck teeth” which, when used in cooperation with the handle and lid, permit the user to maintain control of the container during emptying operations.
The invention is aesthetically pleasing and so can remain in sight and in use in the household.
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Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely providing illustrations and examples of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the lid of the invention may have no venting or partial venting or full venting. The container can have other shapes as can the channels and projections within the container. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Claims
1. A composting collection bin comprising a sealable container having a volume for receiving waste biomass; and, a lid adapted to seal said container and provide for venting of said volume within the container.
2. The bin of claim further comprising a handle for comfortably carrying said collection bin.
3. The bin of claim 1 wherein the container comprises four sides and a bottom having inside surfaces, said inside surfaces comprising means for aerating and dehumidifying said waste biomass.
4. The bin of claim 2 wherein said means comprises a series of parallel recesses integral to said inside surfaces, said series of parallel recesses adapted to permit air flow from outside the container to permeate the waste biomass.
5. The bin of claim 3 wherein the series of parallel recesses are further adapted to promote evaporation of moisture within the waste biomass to the said air flow so that said moisture is carried out of the container.
6. The bin of claim 2 wherein the means comprises a series of parallel projections integral to the inside surfaces, said series of parallel projections adapted to create passages for air flow around the waste biomass.
7. The bin of claim 1 wherein said lid has a surface area and said surface area is perforated with a plurality of perforations.
8. The bin of claim 7 wherein the plurality of perforations can be opened and closed by venting means.
9. The bin of claim 1 wherein the lid is removeably hinged to the sealable container.
10. The bin of claim 1 wherein the container further includes at least one tab depending from the bottom surface of the container adopted for hand grasping when the lid is in a rearward position.
11. The bin of claim 2 wherein the container includes two adjacent dished tabs depending from the bottom surface thereof and adopted for hand grasping.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 1, 2010
Publication Date: Aug 5, 2010
Inventors: COLIN ROBERTS (Ottawa), Robert D. Watters (Ottawa), Romeo Graham (Chelsea), Michael G. Sirois (Ottawa)
Application Number: 12/698,111
International Classification: B65D 51/04 (20060101);