GB2544726A

GB2544726A - Disposal container and dispensing device

Info

Publication number: GB2544726A
Application number: GB1520064.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Compton Whitworth Rodney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-11-13
Filing date: 2015-11-13
Publication date: 2017-05-31
Also published as: GB201520064D0

Abstract

A disposal container and dispensing device for chewing gum comprising a first container (10, fig. 2) having an aperture 12 in a side wall; a closure for the aperture 16; and a second container slidably mounted to move between a first position where the aperture is closed and second position where the aperture is open. Preferably, the first container is an open at one end, and the second container is internally mounted and contains an aperture 13 that is closed by the first container in the first position. Preferably, the second container comprises an end wall 15 to define a movable compartment to deposit gum; and a projection extending into the first container and deforming around an end curved wall to form the closure.

Description

DISPOSAL CONTAINER AND DISPENSING DEVICE

This invention relates to a disposal container and dispensing device and more particularly, but not solely, to a disposal container and dispensing device for chewing gum.

Chewing gum is generally provided in stick or tablet form in a flexible paper or foil packet which holds, say, 10 or 12 sticks or tablets of chewing gum. Such packets easily deteriorate once opened, making the packets unsightly and difficult to use. There is also the risk that the chewing gum may separate from the packet and become damaged or contaminated.

Chewing gum dispensers are known which solve the above-mentioned problem and comprise a rigid housing in which the sticks or tablets of chewing gum can be stored. Another advantage of chewing gum dispensers is that, whilst being relatively inexpensive in construction, they add value to the chewing gum in the minds of consumers, which can result in increased sales for chewing gum manufacturers.

Once a consumer has finished chewing gum, the chewed gum must be disposed of. However, unless the consumer is near a refuse container, the consumer has no option other than to either discard the chewed gum in a public place or to wrap the chewed gum in something for later disposal. Clearly both options are unsatisfactory and hence I have now devised a solution to this problem.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a disposal container and dispensing device comprising a first container having an aperture formed in a side wall thereof, a closure for the aperture and a second container slidably mounted to the first container for movement between first and second positions, wherein the containers are arranged such that the closure closes said aperture when the second container is in said first position and opens the aperture when the second container is in said second position.

In use, sticks or tablets of chewing gum can be stored in the second container. Once the gum has been chewed, the consumer can slide the second container to the second position to open the aperture and to allow the chewed gum to be deposited in the first container. The second container can then be slid back to the first position to close the aperture so as to securely retain the chewed gum.

In this manner consumers of chewing gum will always have somewhere to discard chewing gum dispensed from the device.

Preferably the second container comprises an aperture formed in a side wall thereof, through which the chewing gum can be dispensed, said aperture in the second container being closed when the second container is in said first position. This conveniently allows a fresh piece of chewing gum to be taken from the device following disposal of a piece of chewed gum in the first container.

Preferably one of the containers comprises a tubular side wall which is open at one end, the other container being slidably mounted inside the tubular side wall of the tubular side walled container for sliding movement between retracted and extended positions.

Preferably a portion of said other container extends from the tubular side wall in said retracted position, so as to allow it to be grasped and slid into its extended position.

Preferably the tubular side walled container is said first container and said other container is said second container.

Preferably the aperture in the second container is closed by the tubular side wall of the first container when the second container is in the retracted position.

Preferably the second container comprises an inner end wall which extends generally transverse the longitudinal axis of the tubular side wall and which forms a moveable end wall of a compartment defined inside the first container in which the chewed gum is received.

Preferably the second container comprises a projection which projects into the first container and which forms said closure.

Preferably the aperture in the first container is formed in a curved end wall thereof, said projection being deformable around the inner surface of the curved end wall to close the aperture when the second container is in said first position.

Whilst the device has been described for use with chewing gum, it will be appreciated that it can store any kind of product.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a chewing gum disposal container and dispensing device in accordance with the present invention, when in a first configuration;

Figure 2 is sectional view of the device of Figure 1, when in said first configuration;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of device of Figure 1, when in a second configuration; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the device of Figure 1, when in said second configuration.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a chewing gum disposal container and a dispensing device comprising first and second containers 10, 11. The first container 10 comprises a tubular side wall which, in the example shown, is rectangular in section and has top, bottom and opposite side walls. One end of the first container 10 is closed by a curved end wall having an aperture 12 formed therein, which communicates with a compartment 14 formed inside the first container 10.

The opposite end of the tubular side wall of the first container 10 is open. A second container 11 is slideably mounted inside the tubular side wall of the first container 10 between a retracted position (Figures 1 and 2) and an extended position (Figures 3 and 4). The second container 11 comprises an internal compartment which, in use, houses a plurality of sticks or tablets of fresh chewing gum G. An aperture 13 is formed in the upper side wall of the second container 11 adjacent its inner end. The second container 11 comprises an inner end wall 15 which extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tubular side wall of the first container 10 and which forms a moveable end wall of the compartment 14 in the first container 10. A flexible shutter 16 extends from the inner end wall 15 of the second container 11 into the compartment 14 of the first container 10. The longitudinal side edges of the shutter 16 may be received in longitudinally-extending channels (not shown) formed on opposite side walls of the first container 10 to help keep it in position against the upper side wall and to act as guides.

When the second container 11 is in the retracted position (Figures 1 and 2), the shutter 16 deforms around the curved end wall of the first container 10 to close the aperture 12 therein. Also, in this position the aperture 13 in the second container 11 is closed by the top side wall of the first container 10.

The outer end of the second container 11 projects slightly out of the first container 10 when the second container 11 is in the retracted position, so as to allow the second container 11 to be grasped and pulled out of the first container 10 into its extended position (Figures 3 and 4). In this position, the aperture 13 is open to allow fresh chewing gum G to be dispensed. Also, the aperture 12 in the first container 10 is open to allow chewed gum CG to be deposited in the compartment 14 of the first container 10 through the aperture 12. The second container 11 can then be slid back to its retracted position (Figures 1 and 2) to close both apertures 12, 13, so as to securely retain the chewed gum CG and fresh chewing gum G inside the device. In this position, the device is compact and easy to carry, for example in the consumer’s pocket.

The device may be reusable and, to that extent, the two containers 10, 11 may be separable to allow the chewed gum CG to be emptied into a waste receptacle. A device in accordance with the present invention is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet enables consumers of chewing gum to have a convenient place to store both chewed and fresh gum. It will be appreciated that the device may form the retail packing for chewing gum or it may be provided separately so that consumers can fill and reuse the device.

Claims

1. A disposal container and dispensing device comprising a first container having an aperture formed in a side wall thereof, a closure for the aperture and a second container slidably mounted to the first container for movement between first and second positions, wherein the containers are arranged such that the closure closes said aperture when the second container is in said first position and opens the aperture when the second container is in said second position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the second container comprises an aperture formed in a side wall thereof, said aperture in the second container being closed when the second container is in said first position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which one of the containers comprises a tubular side wall which is open at one end, the other container being slidably mounted inside the tubular side wall of the tubular side walled container for sliding movement between retracted and extended positions.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, in which a portion of said other container extends from the tubular side wall in said retracted position, so as to allow it to be grasped and slid into its extended position.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the tubular side walled container is said first container and said other container is said second container.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5 as appended to claim 2, in which the aperture in the second container is closed by the tubular side wall of the first container when the second container is in the retracted position.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which the second container comprises an inner end wall which extends generally transverse the longitudinal axis of the tubular side wall and which forms a moveable end wall of a compartment defined inside the first container.

8. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7, in which the second container comprises a projection which projects into the first container and which forms said closure.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, in which the aperture in the first container is formed in a curved end wall thereof, said projection being deformable around the inner surface of the curved end wall to close the aperture when the second container is in said first position.

10. A disposal container and dispensing device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.