WO2007028973A1

WO2007028973A1 - Chewing gum disposal device

Info

Publication number: WO2007028973A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/003278
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul David Carr
Original assignee: Paul David Carr
Priority date: 2005-09-08
Filing date: 2006-09-06
Publication date: 2007-03-15
Also published as: GB0518259D0

Abstract

A chewing gum disposal device (10) is described. The device comprises a body defining a lip (20) adapted to receive a piece of chewed gum (24). The lip is downwardly depending outwardly from the body. In one embodiment the body comprises a cylindrical or tubular section (14) and a cap section (16), the lip being defined by the cap section (16).

Description

CHEWING GUM DISPOSAL DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for facilitating the disposal of chewing gum, particularly in a bar or other public place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chewing gum is a popular pastime. Disposal of chewed gum, particularly in public places such as bars or shops can be a problem if there are no suitable receptacles conveniently located. If there are no such receptacles a user may dispose of a piece of gum by sticking it to the underside of a table, chair or other surface as this is the simplest and most convenient way of doing so. Alternatively, the user may simply drop the piece of chewing gum on the ground. The discarded gum can be picked up on a passer-by's shoe or adhere to a floor covering, such as a carpet. Traditionally, in bars, nightclubs or restaurants, ashtrays have been a useful and convenient place to dispose of chewing gum. However, in view of health concerns surrounding cigarettes, many bars and restaurants have no smoking areas, without ashtrays. Indeed, certain towns, states and even whole countries have introduced smoking bans with the result that a person wishing to dispose of a piece of chewing gum in a bar, club or restaurant cannot conveniently do so as ashtrays are no longer provided on tables .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chewing gum disposal device comprising a body defining a portion adapted to receive a piece of chewed gum. Preferably, the portion is a lip.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a convenient unit which can be placed on a table or in any public place against which a user can stick a piece of chewing gum, permitting the gum to be disposed of easily and hygienicalIy, and without causing damage to the surrounding environment. The lip feature permits a user to press the gum against the lip from one side whilst supporting the lip from the other. As the user supports the lip whilst pressing the gum on, the gum can be pressed hard against the lip and the lip does not need to be particularly strong. In certain embodiments, this permits a thinner and less expensive material to be used to form the lip.

Preferably, the lip is downwardly depending from the body. Most preferably, the lip is downwardly depending outwardly from the body. A downwardly depending lip provides a rear surface against which the gum can be stuck and be largely hidden from view.

Preferably, the body comprises a cylindrical or tubular section and a cap section, the lip being defined by the cap section. Most preferably, the cap section is a hemispherical bowl shape, although other shapes such as rectangular ones can be envisaged. This construction gives the device a "mushroom" appearance. A mushroom appearance is desirable because the top of the mushroom can be used to carry advertising. Additionally, a tubular section can be easily gripped by a user and permits ease of handling of the device.

Preferably, the lip is removable from the body. A removable lip is advantageous because once the cap section has been used a number of times,^' it can be removed and replaced with a clean one. Alternatively, the lip has a removable surface which is adapted to receive a piece of chewing gum.

Preferably, the cap section is adapted to be cleaned and reused. Alternatively, the cap section is disposable.

The chewing gum disposal device may be injection moulded as a unitary component. Being able to manufacture the device as a unitary component reduces the manufacturing costs as there is only a single stage involved in manufacturing. Preferably, the chewing gum disposal device comprises a polymeric material.

Preferably, the polymeric material is a polyethylene or polypropylene. Polyethylene and polypropylene are particularly suited to injection moulding.

Alternatively, the device may be made or constructed from recycled materials or cardboard/paper.

Cardboard or paper may also be coated with a glossy and/or plastic coating, for aesthetic and/or structural purposes.

Preferably, the lip comprises a translucent material. Having the lip made from a translucent material permits a user to see the location of previously disposed of pieces of chewing gum through the lip, as the previously disposed of gum will appear as a dark patch on the lip. The translucent material, would however, still substantially hide the chewed piece of gum.

The underside of the lip may be illuminated. This arrangement permits an intended user to easily locate the disposal device in a dark environment such as a night club, and is particularly effective when used in conjunction with a translucent lip.

Preferably, the lip comprises a roughened surface.

A roughened surface provides an increased surface area for chewed gum to be stuck against. Increasing the surface area provides a greater area of bond between the gum and the lip.

Preferably, the cap section is deformable. The cap section may be plastically deformable. If a plastically deformable cap section is used, then when a user squeezes a piece of chewing gum against the lip, the cap section would deform slightly, providing an indication to the next user of the location of previously disposed of gum.

The chewing gum disposal device may also comprise attachment means for attaching the disposal device to a table or bar top or the like. Preferably, the attachment means is a suction cup. Alternatively, the attachment means could be a screw fixing, glue, or hook and loop fasteners. It will be understood that any suitable means could be used to attach, removably or otherwise, the device to a surface.

In a further alternative or additionally, the device may be adapted to be suspended from a table or light fitting, mounted on a wall or other surface, or mounted on some other feature or fitting, for example a pillar or lamp post.

Where a suction cup is used as the attachment means, the suction cup may be fitted to the bottom of the device. Alternatively, the suction cup may be received substantially within the device such that when the device is stuck to a table or bar top, the suction cup is substantially not visible.

In view of the foregoing, it can be seen that the invention takes the fundamental principal that "sticking" the chewing gum to something is best and embodies it in a functional product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an environmental view of a chewing gum disposal device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective, exploded view of the chewing gum disposal device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the chewing gum disposal device of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the chewing gum disposal device of Figure 1. Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown an environmental view of a chewing gum disposal device, generally indicated by reference numeral 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The chewing gum disposal device 10 is shown located on a table 12. The component parts of the chewing gum disposal device 10 will now be described with reference to Figures

2, 3 and 4, which are exploded perspective, side and sectional side views of the chewing gum disposal device 10 of Figure 1.

The disposal device 10 comprises a tubular portion 14, a hemispherical cap 16 and a sucker cup assembly 18.

As can be most clearly seen on Figure 4, the cap 16 defines a downwardly depending lip 20. The inner lip surface 22 is adapted to receive a chewed piece of gum 24 from a user. Although, not visible on Figure 4, the inner lip surface 22 has a slightly roughened texture to increase the surface area of the lip 20 which is available for contact with the gum 24. To dispose of a piece of gum 24, a user takes it out of his or her mouth and presses it against the inner lip surface 22. The sticky properties of the gum 24 will retain it against the inner lip surface 22. As can be seen from Figures 1, 2 and 3, the gum 24 is not visible from above, or from the side of, the device 10.

The cap 16 includes an attachment portion 26 which, when assembled, extends into the tubular section 14. The attachment portion 26 and the tubular section 14 are designed such that there is an interference fit between them to removably connect the cap 16 to the tubular section 14. Once the cap 16 has received a number of pieces of chewing gum 24, the cap 16 can then be removed from the tubular section 14 and cleaned or disposed of. A cleaned or new cap 16 can then be inserted into the tubular section 14. The sucker assembly 18 comprises a suction cup 28 attached to a flange 30. The flange 30 is adapted to be received within a groove 32 defined by the tubular section 14. The sucker assembly 18 is pressed into the groove 32 and is held in place by snap-fit arrangement. Although not shown on the figures, the outer surface 34 of the cap 16 can be used to carry advertising.

Various modifications and improvements may be made to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it will be understood that although the cap 16 and the tubular section 14 are shown as separate components, they could be injection moulded as a single component. Similarly, although the suction cup is shown located substantially within the tubular section in the described embodiment, the suction cup could be fitted to the bottom of the tubular section and sit substantially outwith the tubular section.

Additionally, the cap 16 may comprise a hole or cavity in its top surface, which may be in communication with attachment portion 26 and/or tubular section 14. This may serve to provide a hole or cavity into which other waste items such as crisp packets, nut packets and the like, may be discarded.

Those of skill in the art will also recognise that the above described embodiment of the invention provides a chewing gum disposal device which permits the disposal of chewing gum in a simple and hygienic manner.

Claims

1. A chewing gum disposal device comprising a body defining a lip adapted to receive a piece of chewed gum, wherein the lip is downwardly depending outwardly from the body.

2. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a cylindrical or tubular section and a cap section, the lip being defined by the cap section.

3. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 2, wherein the cap section is a hemispherical bowl shape.

4. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the lip is removable from the body.

5. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the lip has a removable surface which is adapted to receive a piece of chewing gum,

6. The chewing gum disposal device of either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the cap section is adapted to be cleaned and reused.

7. The chewing gum disposal device of either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the cap section is disposable.

8. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the chewing gum disposal device is injection moulded as a unitary component.

9. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises a polymeric material.

10. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the device is made or constructed from recycled materials or cardboard or paper.

11. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 10, wherein cardboard or paper is coated with a glossy and/or plastic coating.

12. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the lip comprises a translucent material.

13. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein an underside of the lip is illuminated.

14. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the lip comprises a roughened surface.

15. The chewing gum disposal device of either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the cap section is deformable.

16. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 15, wherein the cap section is plastically deformable.

17. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises attachment means for attaching the disposal device to a table or bar top or the like.

18. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 17, wherein the attachment means is a suction cup.

19. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 17, wherein the attachment means is a screw fixing, glue, or hook and loop fasteners.

20. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the device is adapted to be suspended from a table or light fitting, mounted on a wall or other surface, or mounted on some other feature or fitting.

21. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 18, wherein the suction cup is fitted to the bottom of the device.

22. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 18, wherein the suction cup is received substantially within the device such that when the device is stuck to a table or bar top, the suction cup is substantially not visible.

23. The chewing gum disposal device of any preceding claim, wherein the body is adapted to receive litter.

24. The chewing gum disposal device of any of claims 3 to 23 when dependent on claims 2, wherein the cylindrical or tubular section is adapted to receive litter.

25. The chewing gum disposal device of claim 24, wherein the cup section defines an aperture thereby permitting access to the body.