Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02455269 2004-O1-15
CONTAINER FOR DISPOSAL OF SMALL PARTICULATE
MATERIALS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container for use in co-operation
with a shovel for disposal of small particulate materials of the type which
may be
readily airborne, for example ash particles.
BACKGROUND
The use of wood burning fireplaces and stoves is still known in various
types of buildings and home, however periodic removal of ash is required to
maintain the wood burning appliance. When removing the ash, the small
particulate
material is easily airborne when disturbed and accordingly removal of the ash
by
shovelling the ash into a bucket typically causes clouds of ash to be
dispersed into
the surrounding room. Once the cloud settles, a messy dust must be cleaned up.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
container for use with a shovel having an elongate handle and a scoop
supported at
one end of the handle, the container comprising:
walls surrounding a hollow interior of the container; and
a scoop opening formed in one of the walls which is suitably sized to
receive the scoop therethrough.
By providing a scoop opening suitably sized to fit the scoop in a wall of
a container the scoop can be dumped within the hollow interior of the
container and
withdrawn through the opening with minimum exposure of the dust created by
disturbing the particulate material escaping into the surrounding environment.
A
gate member in the form of a brush or flap and the like may be provided at the
scoop
opening to further contain dust within the container. The scoop may be
positioned
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within the hollow interior through a lip or gate in a side wall which permits
access to
the interior. When the scoop opening is located in a side wall, a slot may be
provided between the scoop opening end the lid or gate which provides access
for
insertion of the scoop into the hollow interior. In further embodiments the
scoop
opening and access may be provided in the lid of a container.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided
a method of placing material in a container using a shovel having an elongate
handle and a scoop supported at one end of the handle, the method comprising:
providing a container including walls surrounding a hollow interior; a
scoop opening formed in one of the wails which is suitably sized to receive
the
scoop therethrough;
gathering the material on the scoop of the shovel;
positioning the scoop in the hollow interior of the container with the
handle extending through the scoop opening;
closing the container;
dumping the material in the container; and
withdrawing the scoop from the container through the scoop opening
while the container remains closed to substantially contain the material in
the
container.
There may be provided an access opening in communication with the
scoop opening which is arranged to permit the scoop to be located within the
hollow
interior of the container with the handle extending through the scoop opening
without
disturbing contents of the scoop.
There may be provided a lid portion and a base portion separable from
one another in an open position of the container and being closable at a seam
therebetween.
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The access opening may comprise a slot extending between the seam
and the scoop opening for receiving the handle of the shovel therethrough.
The scoop opening is preferably provided in the base portion.
Preferably there is provided a flexible gate member which spans at
least part way across the scoop opening to engage the scoop as the scoop is
pulled
through the scoop opening, for example bristles or a suspended flap of
flexible
material.
A shelf may project outwardly from the container immediately below
the scoop opening.
A receptacle may be mounted on an outer side of the walls which has
an open top end for receiving the scoop of the shovel therein in storage. A
clip may
be secured to the wall of the container spaced above the receptacle for
selectively
securing the handle of the shovel therein.
A liner hanger may be supported on the walls on the hollow interior of
the container suitable for suspending a liner therefrom below the scoop
opening.
The bottom wall of the container may be formed of an insulated
fireproof material. The container in general is preferably formed of heat
resistant
materials which are rigid and fireproof for safely supporting the contents of
the
container even when hot coals and the like are introduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary
embodiments of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the container according to Figure
1.
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Figures 3 and 4 are top plan and front elevational views of the first
embodiment of the container.
Figure 5 is perspective view of a further embodiment of the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated a
container generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The container 10 is
particularly useful for disposing of particulate material including fine
particles which
can be readily airborne for containing dust and airborne particles within the
container
as the particulate material is dumped therein by means of a shovel 12.
The shovel 12 generally comprises a conventional type shovel
associated with fireplaces and the like in which an elongate handle 14 is
provided
supporting a scoop 16 at one end thereof. The container includes a base
portion 18
and a lid portion 20 which encloses the base portion when coupled at a seam 22
therebetween. The base portion includes cylindrical side walls 24 and a
circular
floor 26 spanning the side walls at the bottom end thereof. The floor 26 is
formed of
a fireproof material which is insulated to protect flooring upon which the
container is
supported even when hot coals and the like are received within the container.
The
side walls 24 terminate at an open top end supporting a gasket 28 thereabout.
The lid portion 20 is circular and is arranged to secure tightly to the
gasket 28 about the open top end of the base portion. Handles 30 are provided
on
the top of the lid portion 20 and at diametrically opposed positions on the
side walls
of the base portion. The lid portion 20 permits a hollow interior of the base
portion to
be enclosed when the lid spans the open fop end thereof.
A shovel holder 32 is provided on the outer side of the side walls 24
adjacent the bottom end of the container circumferentially spaced ninety
degrees
from either of the handles 30 on the side walls. The shovel holder generally
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comprises a rectangular receptacle having an open top end and an enclosed
bottom
to fit the scoop of the shovel therein flat against the side wall with the
handle
extending upwardly alongside the side wall. A clip 33 is secured to the wall
of the
container spaced above the receptacle for selectively securing the handle of
the
shovel therein.
A scoop opening 34 is provided in the side wall near the open top end,
diametrically opposite the shovel holder 32 between the handles 30 of the base
portion. The scoop opening 34 includes dimensions which are only slightly
larger
than the cross sectional dimensions of the scoop of the shovel. The scoop
opening
extends horizontally spaced slightly below the open top end and includes a
plurality
of flexible bristles 36 projecting inwardly from all sides about a periphery
of the
opening to substantially fully span the opening 34. Accordingly the bristles
36 act as
a gate to contain dust within the container as the scoop is withdrawn
therefrom.
An access opening is provided in the form of a slot communicating
between the seam of the container at the open top end of the base portion and
the
scoop opening 34. A corresponding gap is also provided in th.e gasket 28 about
the
open top end in which the gap and the slot 38 have a suitable width to only
allow
passage of the handle of the shovel therethrough. Flexible bristles 36 are
also
provided adjacent the periphery of the slot 38 to span the opening of the slot
again
for containing dust.
A liner hanger 40 is provided on the inner side wall of the container
below the scoop opening 34 to suspend a suitable finer within the container.
The
container may be fined with a foil liner or another liner formed of suitable
heat
resistant material suspended from the liner hanger as desired.
The scoop opening 34 includes a shelf 42 in the form of a flange
projecting outwardly from the bottom peripheral edge of the scoop opening 34,
either
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horizontally or at a slight upward incline away from the side wall, so that
particulate
material and dust on the bristles would tend to fail on the shelf 44 or back
into the
container instead of on the floor adjacent the container in the event that any
escapes
through the scoop opening. Suitable gussets 44 are provided at opposing ends
of
the shelf for supporting the shelf.
In the illustrated embodiment the cylindrical shape of the container 10
would be approximately 16 inches in diameter and 18 inches in height. The
handles
would each comprise a band of material approximately four inches in length and
two
inches in depth mounted at spaced positions from the side walls approximately
five
inches below the open top end. The shovel holder 32 would typically have
dimensions of approximately six and a half inches in width and three inches in
depth.
The scoop opening 34 in the illustrated embodiment would be approximately six
and
a half inches in the circumferential direction and three and a half inches in
height
and is located in the side wall approximately four inches below the open top
end.
The access opening would typically be a slot in the order of one inch in
width.
Turning now to the embodiment of Figure 5, various modifications are
illustrated. A step mechanism 46 may be provided for opening and closing a
hinged
lid. The container itself may be rectangular in shape and supported of wheels
48 for
ready transport by a handle 50 spaced above the wheels on a back side of the
container. Access to the scoop opening 34 may be provided by a gate panel 52
directly adjacent the scoop opening and which defines one edge of the scoop
opening whereby the scoop opening 34 is simply enlarged for access of the
scoop to
the interior of the housing when the gate panel is opened. In further
embodiments
the scoop opening 34 may be provided in the lid when a domed lid or the like
is
provided.
In use, ash is removed from a wood burning appliance using the scoop
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on the shovel which collects the ash initially. The lid is removed from the
container
so that the handle portion of the shovel can be inserted through the access
opening
slot 38 so as to be positioned with the scoop within the hollow interior of
the
container and the handle projecting through the scoop opening to the exterior
of the
container. The lid is then closed tightly against the gasket so that
disturbing of the
ash by dumping the contents of the scoop within the interior of the container
does
not permit airborne particles to be released into the surrounding environment.
After
dumping, the shovel is withdrawn through the scoop opening by drawing the
scoop
through the bristles 36 which are flexed about the scoop for close engagement
with
the scoop to prevent escape of dust from the container. Once a further scoop
of
particulate material is collected by the shovel, the lid is again opened with
the shovel
being inserted down through the access opening slot 38 and the lid closed
before
dumping of the subsequent scoop of particulate material into the container.
This
process continues until an area to be cleaned of ash is substantially free of
the ash.
While some embodiments of the present invention have been
described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are
possible within the scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered
limited
solely by the scope of the appended claims.
