Chewing gum disposal container and dispenser

Abstract

A chewing gum disposal system employable with a tabletop sweetener container conventionally employed to hold envelopes of sugar and sweeteners. A stack of wrappers or envelopes is dispensed from a housing having an interior cavity adapted to hold the stack. The housing is engageable to a sidewall of the existing sweetener container and has an aperture adapted to dispense the wrappers sequentially therethrough. The stack is insertable in the cavity by sliding it through an opening and the stack may also be formed as a cartridge using a cover thereby making the stack replaceable as a cartridge. Coupons may be engaged to dispense concurrently with each wrapper. The system may also be formed as an integral component to a sweetener container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The disclosed system and method relate generally to the sanitary disposal of chewing gum. More particularly, it relates to a disposal container adapted for retainment and disposal of exhausted chewing gum and a dispensing apparatus therefor. The disclosed device and method of dispensing is especially well adapted for employment in restaurants and public places which currently lack an easily deployed and employed system for patrons to dispose of chewing gum from their mouths. Still further, the device and method may be employed using coupons as inducements for use and enzymes for enhanced breakdown of the leftover gum material.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Chewing gum, in various forms, is enjoyed by users worldwide and has existed in one form or another for hundreds if not thousands of years. The evolution of modern chewing gum started in the mid-1800's when chicle, a naturally occurring latex-like material, was employed in gum as a substitute for prio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]The embodiments of the device disclosed herein are directed at an improved method and apparatus for disposal of unsanitary and unsightly wads of used chewing gum. The system is especially well adapted for installation in restaurants and bars, without any major structural changes to the tables or requirements for major purchases of new components and equipment. Therefore it can be easily and inexpensively implemented by restaurant and bar owners without great expense for dispensing components. Further, the device and method herein, does not occupy an inordinate amount of space on an already crowded table top and in one embodiment encourages patron use by dispensing coupons with the gum container wrappers which the user may employ for subsequent purchases. Since gum removal and sanitation of tables and chairs is both time consuming and a major expense for eateries and the like, easy deployment and encouraging inducements for use by patrons are an especially attractive aspect of the device and method which also increases its utility to users.

Problems solved by technology

This is a particularly expensive problem for restaurant owners since these small packaged sweeteners cost money, especially the artificial sweeteners.

To have clients throwing away the contents to employ the sweetener wrapper as a gum disposal envelope increases operating costs by a significant factor, especially in the case of a large chain restaurant or an establishment such as a coffee house which does not serve more expensive food items.

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