Polymer plastic container for in-ground installations

Abstract

A fibre-reinforced polymer container suitable for in-ground installation for use in storage, typically of trash and the like. The container having a generally cylindrical container body; an inner shell having a floor and parallel sidewalls, bonded to the container body and defining an access port at the top of container; and a carriage having a platform for supporting trash, moveable between a lower position in which trash is contained within the container and an upper position in which the platform is accessible via the access port.

1 . A polymer plastic container for in ground installations, comprising:
 a cylindrical polymer plastic outer shell having a peripheral circumferential sidewall and opposed end walls defining an interior cavity and a longitudinal axis, the outer shell having a rectangular opening through the sidewall; and   a parallel-piped polymer plastic inner shell having a bottom and four sidewalls is positioned within the interior cavity and protruding in close fitting relation through the rectangular opening.   
   
   
       2 . The polymer plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein a reinforcing polymer plastic shroud is bonded to the sidewall of the outer shell adjacent to the rectangular opening and that portion of the inner shell that protrudes through the rectangular opening. 
   
   
       3 . The polymer plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner shell is bonded to the outer shell at selected locations. 
   
   
       4 . The polymer plastic container of  claim 3 , wherein the sidewalls of the inner shell are bonded to the outer shell about the periphery of the rectangular opening. 
   
   
       5 . The polymer plastic container of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom of the inner shell is bonded to the outer shell. 
   
   
       6 . A container suitable for in-ground installation for use in storage of trash, the container comprising:
 a) a container body having a generally cylindrical exterior, with end walls and a longitudinal axis passing through the end walls, configured such that the cylindrical axis of rotation of the container body is intended to be generally horizontal when the container is installed in-ground;   b) an inner shell having a floor and substantially parallel sidewalls, the sidewalls extending from within the container body to project through an opening at the top of the container body;   c) the upper ends of the inner shell sidewalls defining an access port;   d) the container body and inner shell made from a fibre-reinforced polymer, and bonded one to the other in the vicinity of the floor and in the vicinity of the opening through which the sidewalls project;   e) a lid for overlying the access port;   f) a carriage, disposed within the inner shell, for supporting trash; and   g) means for moving the carriage between a lower position at which the carriage is proximate the floor and an upper position at which trash supported by the carriage is accessible via the access port.   
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the container body and inner shell made fibreglass reinforced polyester resin. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the exteriors of the end walls are convex. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the inner shell is generally rectangular. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the access port is generally rectangular and the lid is similarly generally rectangular for a suitable mating of the lid and access port. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the means for moving the carriage between the lower position and upper position comprises:
 a) a line extending between an attachment point on a sidewall of the inner chamber in the vicinity of the access port and a location on the opposite sidewall in the vicinity of the access port;   b) means for drawing the line towards, and paying out the line away from the opposite-sidewall location;   
     wherein, a portion of the line between the sidewalls is routed under a portion of the carriage, whereby drawing the line in causes the carriage to move upwards and paying out the line permits the carriage to move downwards. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the carriage comprises one or more sheaves on which the line rides so as to reduce friction. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the means for drawing and paying out the line comprises: a reel to which the line is connected, a motor driveably connected to the reel and a sheave at the opposite sidewall location over which the line rides, the sheave oriented to align the line with the reel. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 13 , further comprising a pedestal projecting vertically from the container body in the vicinity of the access port, the pedestal having a control switch for controlling the motor. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 13 , further comprising an automatic limiter that stops the motor when the carriage reaches whichever of the upper and lower position it is being moved towards. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein:
 a) the lid is pivotally attached to the access port such that the lid pivots relative to the access port when being opened or closed;   b) the carriage comprises a lid opener that:
 i) when the carriage moves from the lower position to the upper position, abuts the underside of the lid causing the lid to pivot from a closed position to an open position; and
 ii) when the carriage moves from the upper position to the lower position supports the lid as the lid pivots from an open position to a closed position under the effect of gravity.