Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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An Improved Waste Grease Disposal Bin
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to waste containers but more
particularly to an improved container for collecting and disposing of
waste grease products.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Commercial establishments such as restaurants which use cooking oil
and grease to cook and fry food products are required by law to dispose
of their used grease in an environmentally friendly manner. This
prevents waste grease from being dumped into the sewage and further
polluting the environment.
[003] Restaurants and similar establishments currently empty their waste
grease regularly into metal containers or bins so that they they can be
disposed off in a proper manner. There are grease disposal companies,
which send their trucks to these establishments on a regular basis to
pick up this waste grease in order to dispose of it suitably or recycle it in
most cases. These trucks traditionally pick up the grease containers
much like garbage trucks pick up dumpsters and they then dump the
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grease into their tank. They then leave the containers behind at the site
where it can be reused.
[004] This system works well in warm climates as the grease is in liquid or
semi-liquid form and is able to flow easily out of the grease containers
into the truck's tank. In cold climates the trucks have to carry hot water,
generally heated using propane which they first immerse the metal
grease bins into for the grease to melt a bit before they are able to dump
it into their carrying tank. This is a time consuming operation, which
besides requiring energy to heat the water also reduces the trucks
carrying capacity.
[005] There is a need for a better way to collect grease and oil from
restaurant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
15[006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices
now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and
advantages which are:
[007] To provide for a grease waste bin composed of plastic or similar
material and designed such that its base is narrower than its top. This
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ensures that the grease, even as a frozen block will easily come out of
the bin as grease does not adhere to plastic like it does to metal.
[008] Another advantage of this invention is to have a metal connecting
bracket or support, which is attached to the grease waste bin allowing it
to be easily connected to the grease truck lifting system. This enables
the truck to safely lift a plastic container without causing damage to it.
[009] To attain these ends, the present invention generally comprises a
grease waste container having a main body forming an interior space;
the container having vertical side walls, an enclosed base end, and an
upper end that is wider than the base end. the upper end including a
removable cover that is capable of releasably enclosing the interior
space, and at least one bracket member attached to one of the vertical
side walls and including an upper pin and a lower pin both adapted to
releasably connect to a lifting system of a grease removal truck.
15[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the grease waste container has its upper
end that is larger than the base end in each comparative direction, and
is adapted such that if grease solidifies within the container the
container can simply be turned upside down and the solidified grease
can be easily removed.
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[0011] The removable cover includes an opening therein adapted to allow
grease to pass therethrough; the opening includes a grill removably
attached therein and is adapted to filter out unwanted items from the
grease as it passes therethrough. The removable cover further includes
a pivotable secondary cover that is adapted to removably cover the
opening.
[0012] Preferably, a second bracket member attached to an opposite vertical
side wall of the container from a first of the at least one bracket member,
and also including an upper pin and a lower pin both adapted to
releasably connect to a lifting system of a grease removal truck.
[0013] At least one bracket member is formed including a C-channel for
increasing its strength and rigidity, and holes adapted to receive
fasteners for securely attaching the bracket member to one of the
vertical side walls of the container.
15[0014] The material chosen to form the main body, the removable cover, and
the pivotable secondary cover is chosen from a list of materials including
plastic, PVC, polymers, fiberglass, glass, graphite, and composites
thereof.
[0015] A combination of a grease removal truck and a grease waste container
has a grease removal truck including a lifting system, and a grease
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waste container comprising a main body forming an interior space. The
container having vertical side walls, an enclosed base end, and an
upper end that is wider than the base end. The upper end including a
removable cover that is capable of releasably enclosing the interior
5 space, and at least one bracket member attached to one of the vertical
side walls and including an upper pin and a lower pin both adapted to
releasably connect to the lifting system of the grease removal truck.
[0016] A method of grease removal truck comprising the steps of providing a
grease waste container comprising a main body forming an interior
space. The container having vertical side walls, an enclosed base end,
and an upper end that is wider than the base end. The upper end
including a removable cover that is capable of releasably enclosing the
interior space and including an opening therein adapted to allow grease
to pass therethrough. The opening includes a grill removably attached
therein and is adapted to filter out unwanted items from the grease as it
passes therethrough. The removable cover further includes and at least
one bracket member attached to one of the vertical side walls and
including an upper pin and a lower pin both adapted to releasably
connect to a lifting system of a grease removal truck; and providing a
grease removal truck including a lifting system adapted to lift the grease
waste container and dump the grease therein, such that when grease
needs to be removed from an area, the grease waste container is
prepared by opening the pivotable secondary cover, pouring the grease
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through the opening and grill of the removable cover, closing the
pivotable secondary cover, removing the removable cover, attaching the
grease waste container to hooks that form an integral part of the lifting
system of the grease removal truck, allowing the grease removal truck
to lift and pour the grease therein, removing the grease waste container
from the lifting system of the grease removal truck, and then properly
storing the grease waste container for further use.
[0017] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof
that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will
form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0018] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
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[0019] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,
upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that
the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0020] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference
should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter
which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] Fig. I Isometric view of the invention.
[0022] Fig. 2 Isometric view of the top lid.
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[0023] Fig. 3 Isometric view of the top lid.
[0024] Fig. 4 Isometric view of the metal bracket.
[0025] Fig. 5 Isometric view of the invention without top lid.
[0026] Fig. 6A-f Side views showing the waste bin emptying sequence.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] A grease waste bin (10) used to store waste grease (not shown)
comprising a body (8) having a bottom part that is narrower in dimension
than its top, consisting of an outer lid (12) and one smaller lid (16) built
into the outer lid's (12) surface. The smaller lid (16) is hinged allowing it
to swivel open, revealing a grill (24) built into the opening underneath. In
a preferred ebodiment, the grill (24) is removably attached.
[0028] A metal bracket (18) is fixedly attached to each side of the grease
waste
bin (10) by way of mechanical fasteners (not shown) passing through
holes (28) made into the metal bracket (18). The metal bracket (18) has
an upper pin (20) and a lower pin (22) protruding from it which allows for
a hydraulic lifting beam (28) located on a grease removal truck (26) to
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use its hooks (32) (only one shown in the figures) to hook up with the
upper pins (20) in order to lift the grease waste bin (10) up and over the
grease removal truck (26). At this point, as shown in fig. 6f, the lower
pins (22) abut against the lifting beam (28) which tilts and upturns the
grease waste bin (10) and empties its content into the grease removal
truck (26). The metal bracket (18) consists mainly of a "C" channel for
structural integrity.
[0029] Waste grease (not shown) is generally poured into the grease waste bin
(10) by lifting the flap or smaller lid (16) located on the surface of the
larger outer lid (12) of the grease waste bin (10). The outer lid (12) is
then manually removed for pick up by the collection truck (26).
[0030] Because of the tapered shape of the grease waste bin (10), wherein the
bottom part is narrower in dimension than the top, the waste grease (not
shown) can easily slide off the vertical side walls (30) of the grease
waste bin (10), even when frozen solid, without the need for heating or
immersion in hot water, as is the current procedure in cold
temperatures.
[0031] Once emptied, the grease waste bin (10) is lowered back to its initial
position on the ground where the outer lid can be manually re-installed.
The grease waste bin (10) can then be returned to its original location
where it can be used again.
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[0032] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of
usage and operation will be provided.
5[0033] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious
to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
10 illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
[0034] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to
limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents
may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.