Receptacle for waste

Abstract

A receptacle ( 200 ) for waste, the receptacle ( 200 ) including an elongated body member ( 202 ) having a first end for locating on or in the ground and a second end with an opening ( 201 ) therein for receipt of waste, the body member ( 202 ) further including inlet means ( 212 ) to permit atmospheric air to be drawn into the body member ( 202 ) on the application of a vacuum to the body member ( 202 ), wherein contents of the receptacle ( 200 ) are capable of being drawn from the receptacle ( 200 ) on the application of a vacuum to the body member ( 202 ) by entraining with atmospheric air drawn into the body member ( 202 ) by the vacuum.

1 . A receptacle for waste, the receptacle including an elongated body member having a first end for locating on or in the ground and a second end with an opening therein for receipt of waste, said body member having a first chamber and a second chamber, said second chamber disposed at least partly within said first chamber and in fluid communication with said first chamber and with the interior of said receptacle, said first chamber having inlet means to permit atmospheric air to be drawn into said first chamber on the application of a vacuum to said body member, and said second chamber having inlet means to permit atmospheric air from said first chamber to be drawn into said second chamber on the application of said vacuum to said body member, wherein contents of the receptacle are capable of being drawn from said receptacle on the application of said vacuum to said body member by entraining with said atmospheric air drawn through said chambers into said receptacle by said vacuum.  
   
   
       2 . A receptacle for waste according to  claim 1 , wherein said second chamber is tapered.  
   
   
       3 . A receptacle for waste according to  claim 2 , wherein said taper is in the region of said first end of said body member.  
   
   
       4 . A receptacle for waste, said receptacle including: 
 a body member having a first end for locating on or in the ground and a second end with an opening therein for receipt of waste;    inlet means in the body member through which air from the atmosphere can be drawn in response to a vacuum applied at the opening; and    a venturi device located in the body member for increasing the velocity of the air once inside the body member to assist in drawing waste contained in said receptacle out through said opening, said device comprising a dividing member that divides the body member along at least part of its length into an inner region and an outer region, the dividing member having an aperture, such that the velocity of air moving in response to the vacuum from said outer region to said inner region increases due to a venturi effect, as it passes through said aperture.    
   
   
       5 . A receptacle according to  claim 4 , wherein said dividing member is substantially conical shaped.  
   
   
       6 . A receptacle according to  claim 4 , wherein said aperture comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings.  
   
   
       7 . A receptacle according to  claim 6 , wherein said openings are located at the base of said aperture and are substantially mouse-hole shaped.  
   
   
       8 . A receptacle according to any  claim 4 , wherein said body member is divided into said inner region and said outer region along a portion of its length commencing at the second end with the apertures being located below the inlet means.  
   
   
       9 . A receptacle according to  claim 4 , wherein the dividing member forms part of or is a separate unit that is insertable into the body member.  
   
   
       10 . A receptacle according to  claim 9 , wherein the unit comprises a cylindrical portion having a diameter of slightly less than the body member such that the portion can be tightly fitted into the body member, and a conical portion extending from the cylindrical portion, the conical portion when inserted into the body member dividing the body member into the inner region and the outer region.  
   
   
       11 . A receptacle according to  4 , wherein the inlet means is at least one row of circumferentially spaced holes in the body member.  
   
   
       12 . A receptacle according to  claim 11 , wherein the holes of each row are offset from the holes of an adjacent row.  
   
   
       13 . A receptacle according to  claim 11 , wherein a row of holes is located around 150 mm from the second end of the body member.  
   
   
       14 . A receptacle according to  claim 4 , wherein the receptacle includes a liquid for entraining with the waste during an emptying operation.  
   
   
       15 . A receptacle according to  claim 4 , and further including restriction means for restricting the size of waste placed in the receptacle, the restriction means not substantially impeding the movement of waste out through the opening in response to the vacuum.  
   
   
       16 . A receptacle according to  claim 15 , wherein the restriction means is at least one plate that in response to the vacuum moves from a waste-receiving position wherein the or each plate lies across the body member to restrict the size of waste placed therein, and waste emptying position wherein the plate is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body member.  
   
   
       17 . A receptacle according to  claim 15 , wherein the restriction means is incorporated in an insert that is attachable to the body member.  
   
   
       18 . A method for emptying waste from a receptacle according to  claim 1 , the method including the steps of: 
 applying a vacuum to the mouth of the receptacle to cause air from the atmosphere to enter the receptacle through the inlet means; and    increasing the velocity of the air once inside the receptacle to assist in drawing waste contained in the receptacle out through the mouth of the receptacle.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18 , and further including the step of adding a liquid and optionally a deodoriser to the receptacle after the waste is removed, the liquid entraining with the waste when the receptacle is emptied.  
   
   
       20 - 39 . (canceled)