Smart waste receptacle providing use-incentive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10185935-B2
Application number	US-201615231095-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2016
Priority date	Aug 8, 2016
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

A receptacle is disclosed for containing waste. The waste receptacle may have a container with at least one opening, and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of rubbish being deposited through the at least one opening. The waste receptacle may also have a public-use device operatively connected to the container, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the public-use device. The controller may be configured to selectively provide access to the public-use device based on the signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A waste receptacle, comprising:
a container including a waste opening and a recycling opening, the waste opening including a plurality of first sensors configured to generate a first signal indicative of recyclable material being deposited through the waste opening, the recycling opening including a plurality of second sensors configured to generate a second signal indicative of recyclable material being deposited through the recycling opening, the plurality of first sensors each including a motion detector, a pivot angle sensor, a pressure sensor, and a weight sensor and the plurality of second sensors each including a motion detector, a pivot angle sensor, a pressure sensor, and a weight sensor;
a public-use device coupled to the container; and
a controller in communication with the plurality of first sensors, the plurality of second sensors, and the public-use device, the controller being configured to selectively provide multi-tiered access to the public-use device based on the first signal and the second signal;
wherein the multi-tiered access includes providing greater access or no access to the public-use device based on the plurality of first sensors determining when recyclable material is deposited through the waste opening and the plurality of second sensors determining when recyclable material is deposited through the recycling opening.

2. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to provide the greater access to the public-use device based on the second signal than the first signal by providing a greater amount of access time or a greater amount of functionality.

3. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the public-use device is at least one of a charging station, an Internet hotspot, a console, and a telephone.

4. The waste receptacle of claim 3 , wherein:
the public-use device is a console having connectivity with the Internet; and
the controller is further configured to display information on the console regardless of the first signal.

5. The waste receptacle of claim 4 , wherein the information includes at least one of advertising, weather, time, a public announcement, and a public alert.

6. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , further including a solar charger operatively connected to the container and configured to power the public-use device.

7. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , further including an emergency alert device operatively connected to the container, wherein the controller is further configured to activate the emergency alert device regardless of the signal.

8. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , further including a payment receiving device, wherein the controller is further configured to selectively provide access to the public-use device based on payment received via the payment receiving device regardless of the signal.

9. The waste receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to selectively transmit a message indicative of a fill status of the container based on the signal.

10. A waste receptacle, comprising:
a container having a waste opening and a recycling opening, the waste opening including a plurality of first sensors and the recycling opening including a plurality of second sensors, each of the plurality of first sensors including a motion detector, a pivot angle sensor, a pressure sensor, and a weight sensor and each of the plurality of second sensors including a motion detector, a pivot angle sensor, a pressure sensor, and a weight sensor;
a public-use device coupled to the container;
a solar charger connected to the container and configured to power the public-use device;
the plurality of first sensors configured to generate a first signal indicative of recyclable material being deposited through the waste opening;
the plurality of second sensors configured to generate a second signal indicative of recyclable material being deposited through the recycling opening; and
a controller in communication with the plurality of first sensors, the plurality of second sensors, and the public-use device, the controller being configured to selectively provide multi-tiered access to the public-use device based on the first signal and the second signal, wherein the multi-tiered access includes providing greater access when recyclable material is deposited through the recycling opening and less access when recyclable material is deposited through the waste opening.

11. The waste receptacle of claim 10 , wherein:
the public-use device is a console having connectivity with the Internet; and
when the console is not being actively operated by a user, the console is configured to display at least one of advertising, weather, time, a public announcement, and a public alert.

12. A method of incentivizing disposal of waste inside of a first container, comprising:
determining, by a controller coupled to a plurality of first sensors, when recyclable material is deposited through a waste opening of the first container using the plurality of first sensors;
determining, by the controller further coupled to a plurality of second sensors, when recyclable material is deposited through a recycling opening of the first container using the plurality of second sensors; and
providing greater access or no access to a public-use device coupled to the controller based on determining when recyclable material is deposited through the waste opening and when recyclable material is deposited through the recycling opening;
wherein the plurality of first sensors each include a motion detector, a pivot angle sensor, a pressure sensor, and a weight sensor and the plurality of second sensors each include a motion detector, a pivot angle sensor, a pressure sensor, and a weight sensor.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the plurality of first sensors and plurality of second sensors further include one or more of a camera and a proximity sensor.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the public-use device is at least one of a charging station, an Internet hotspot, a console, and a telephone.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the public-use device is a console having connectivity with the Internet; and
the method further includes displaying information on the console regardless of the determination.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the information includes at least one of advertising, weather, time, a public announcement, and a public alert.

17. The method of claim 12 , further including solar charging the public-use device.

18. The method of claim 12 , further including selectively activating an emergency alert device operatively connected to the container, regardless of the sensing.

19. The method of claim 12 , further including:
receiving payment via a device on the public-use device; and
selectively providing access to the public-use device based on payment received via the device regardless of the sensing.

20. The method of claim 12 , further including transmitting a message indicative of a fill status of the container based on the sensing.

Assignees

• Rubicon Global Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Rodoni Philip

Classifications

• H02J2105/44

  Portable electronic devices · CPC title

• B65F2210/168

  Sensing means · CPC title

• B65F1/1473

  Receptacles having wheels · CPC title

• B65F1/1646

  provided with means for mounting on receptacles, e.g. hinges · CPC title

• B65F2210/148

  Locking means · CPC title