Wednesday, 27th March 2002
Derby inventor has it all wrapped up!
Carlo shows off the modified pedal bin - the
third prototype
A Derby man has come up with an invention which may be set
to take the world by storm.
Carlo Chiarella has developed the 'vacuum bin' - a device
which sucks the air out of bin liners to make the bins
easier to empty, condenses waste and improves hygiene.
Mr Chiarella, a builder from Ockbrook, came up with the idea
after his wife complained their kitchen bin was too full and
that the liner was stuck in the bin because of suction.
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The Ecobin reduces a bag to a more manageable size |
He
said: "I was sat watching Eastenders at Christmas when
suddenly the idea came to me and I jumped up out of my
chair!"
He tried the idea out by stuffing the hose of his vacuum
cleaner in the bin bag and sucking the air out.
"It was amazing," he said. "The bag was easy to remove from
the bin because it was so much more compact.
"And I realised it is so much more hygienic because the
contents of the bin bag are sealed in."
He then set about the task of making a prototype 'Ecobin'
from a standard kitchen pedal bin fitted with a vacuum
cleaner motor at the bottom.
His wife, Amanda, said: "I was horrified when he started
drilling holes in the bin and adapting it because he did it
on our new dining table. His first attempt blew up and when
I heard him scream as his second prototype imploded I was
worried.
"But he persisted and now I think the whole thing is really
wicked!"
Mr
Chiarella said he considered several options before the
vacuum idea occurred to him. He initially thought of
building a compactor into the bin but soon realised it would
be too large and impractical.
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Amanda Chiarella - no more hassle emptying the bin! |
He has
now had the idea patented and says the interest shown in his
invention has been more than favourable: "It's been a bit
mad since I started trying to get finance for the project
but there is huge interest in it so I am really optimistic.
"Now I just need an investor to put his money where his
mouth is."
The inventor claims the bin will have many uses outside the
kitchen, citing hospitals, doctors' surgeries, restaurants
and airlines as among the main businesses which would
benefit from the 'Ecobin'.
His bin has been featured on the BBC's 'Best Inventions'
show and, if it becomes the success many predict, means Mr
Chiarella may clean up in more ways than one.
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you invented something? |
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If you could invent anything, what would it be? |
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us your stories and ideas and we'll publish the best. |
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