Composting apparatus
OwnerScott E. Smithinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cylindrical container or vessel, for example a pail, includes a bi-directionally rotatable internal auger having a rotation axis extending across a diameter of the shaft and manually-rotated by a handle outside the container, and tines extending in a radial direction of the shaft and arranged to turn and loosen contents of the container. The tines have different lengths and a predetermined relative spacing along the shaft, and be arranged extend at different angles, in order to maximize an amount of matter moved by the tines when rotating the shaft. The container may be vented to optimize aeration.
Claims18
A composting apparatus, comprising:
- a container having an internal, manually-operable auger,
- wherein the internal, manually-operable auger includes a rotatable shaft extending horizontally through the container, a plurality of tines extending radially from the shaft with the container, and a handle fixed to the shaft on an outside of the container for rotating the shaft in order to cause the plurality of tines to move and turn compostable organic materials within the container,
- wherein the container is a generally cylindrical pail having a flat bottom and curved sides, the shaft extends through openings on diametrically opposite sides of the pail, and each of the tines extend to a same predetermined distance from a curved side of the pail when rotated to a respective horizontal position.
A composting method, comprising the steps of:
- providing a composting pail having an internal, manually-operable auger that includes a rotatable shaft extending horizontally through the pail, a plurality of tines extending radially from the shaft with the pail, and a handle fixed to the shaft on an outside of the pail for rotating the shaft in order to cause the plurality of tines to move and turn compostable organic materials within the pail;
- adding pine wood bedding and peat moss to the pail;
- adding natural organic waste and scraps from a household or garden to the pail;
- and rotating the handle to mix the pine bedding and peat moss with the natural organic waste and scraps.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.