CHEWING GUM DISPOSAL CONTAINER

CONTENANT DE MISE AU REBUT DE GOMMES A MACHER

English Abstract

A chewing gum disposal container is provided. The container comprises a
mounting surface for
mounting the container onto a support structure; and, at least one wall that
extends from the
mounting surface. The at least one wall defines an enclosure for holding the
disposed chewing
gum and further defines a container opening positioned apart from the mounting
surface. The
container opening is sized sufficiently to accept the chewing gum for
disposal. The at least one
wall comprises an outer surface of the container that is resistant to sticking
of the disposed gum.

Claims

CLAIMS:
I claim:
1. A chewing gum disposal container comprising:
a mounting surface for mounting the container onto a support structure; and,
at least one wall extending from the mounting surface, the at least one wall
defining an
enclosure for holding the disposed chewing gum and further defining a
container opening
positioned apart from the mounting surface, the container opening being sized
sufficiently to accept the chewing gum for disposal,
the at least one wall comprising an outer surface of the container, the outer
surface being
resistant to sticking of the disposed gum.
2. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 1, wherein the
container further
comprises a receptacle bracket disposed within the enclosure, the receptacle
bracket being
positioned in association with the container opening and being configured to
hold a receptacle
for receiving and holding the disposed chewing gum.
3. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 2, further comprising
an inner
surface defining the boundary of the enclosure, the inner surface being
resistant to sticking of the
disposed gum.
4. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 1, wherein the at least
one wall
further comprises an inner surface defining the boundary of the enclosure, the
inner surface
being resistant to sticking of the disposed gum.
5. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 1, wherein the
container is shaped
to resist placement of objects atop the container.
6. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 5, wherein the
container shape is
one of circular, semi-circular, rectangular, square and triangular in profile.
7

7. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 5, wherein the
container shape is
one of spherical, hemispherical, conical, frustoconical, cylindrical and semi-
cylindrical and
pyramidal.
8. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 1, wherein the outer
surface
comprises indicia of the container's intended use.
9. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 2, wherein the at least
one wall
comprises access means to the enclosure for permitting removal of the disposed
chewing gum.
10. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 9, wherein the access
means
comprises locking means for preventing unauthorised access to the enclosure.
11. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 10, wherein the access
means
further comprises a door being one of removeably connected and hingedly
connected to the at
least one wall.
12. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 2, wherein:
the mounting surface is rectangularly shaped, a long axis of which coincides
with the
orientation of the container when mounted to the support structure;
two arcuately shaped sidewalls extend from respective long sides of the
mounting
surface;
the at least one wall is a top wall, connecting to the sidewalk about the
respective arcuate
edges of the sidewalk and extending between the short sides of the mounting
surface;
and,
when the container is mounted to the support structure, the container opening
is
positioned in the top half of the top wall.
13. A chewing gum disposal container according to one of claims 1 and 2,
wherein the outer
surface comprises one of a powder coat, a wet paint coating, a hot dip
galvanizing coating, a
galvannealed coating, a zinc plating, a black oxide coating, a nickel plating,
a chrome plating, a
8

chrome painting, an e-coating, an anodized surface, a rubber coating and a
vinyl coating.
14. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 13, wherein the outer
surface
comprises a vinyl coating.
15. A chewing gum disposal container comprising:
a body defining a container opening being sized sufficiently to accept the
chewing gum
and further defining an enclosure for holding the disposed chewing gum,
the body comprising a mounting surface for mounting the container onto a
support structure and an outer surface resistant to sticking of the disposed
gum.
16. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 15, wherein the
container further
comprises a receptacle bracket connected to an inner surface of the body, the
receptacle bracket
being positioned in association with the container opening and being
configured to hold a
receptacle for receiving and holding the disposed chewing gum.
17. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 16, wherein the inner
surface is
resistant to sticking of the disposed gum.
18. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 15, wherein the body
further
comprises an inner surface defining the boundary of the enclosure, the inner
surface being
resistant to sticking of the disposed gum.
19. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 15, wherein the body
is shaped to
resist placement of objects atop the container.
20. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 19, wherein the body
shape is one
of circular, semi-circular, rectangular, square and triangular in profile.
21. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 19, wherein the body
shape is one
of spherical, hemispherical, conical, cylindrical and semi-cylindrical and
pyramidal.
22. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 15, wherein the outer
surface
further comprises indicia of the container's intended use.
9

23. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 16, wherein the body
comprises
access means to the enclosure for permitting removal of the disposed chewing
gum.
24. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 23, wherein the access
means
comprises locking means for preventing unauthorised access to the enclosure.
25. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 24, wherein the access
means
further comprises a door being one of removeably connected and hingedly
connected to the
body.
26. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 16, wherein:
the mounting surface is rectangularly shaped, a long axis of which coincides
with the
orientation of the body when mounted to the support structure;
two arcuately shaped sidewalls extend from respective long sides of the
mounting
surface;
a top wall, connecting to the sidewalls about the respective arcuate edges of
the sidewalk,
extends between the short sides of the mounting surface; and,
when the container is mounted to the support structure, the container opening
is
positioned in the top half of the top wall.
27. A chewing gum disposal container according to one of claims 15 and 26,
wherein the
outer surface comprises one of a powder coat, a wet paint coating, a hot dip
galvanizing coating,
a galvannealed coating, a zinc plating, a black oxide coating, a nickel
plating, a chrome plating, a
chrome painting, an e-coating, an anodized surface, a rubber coating and a
vinyl coating.
28. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 27, wherein the outer
surface
comprises a vinyl coating.
29. A chewing gum disposal container comprising:
(a) a base;

(b) mounting means extending from the base for mounting the container onto a
support structure;
(c) sidewalls extending from the base opposite the mounting means;
(d) a top connected to the sidewalls opposite the base,
(i) the base, sidewalls and top defining an enclosure for holding the disposed
chewing gum, the sidewalls and top comprising an outer surface of the
container,
the outer surface being resistant to sticking of the disposed gum,
(ii) one of the sidewalls and top defining a container opening positioned
apart
from the base, the container opening being sized sufficiently to accept the
chewing gum for disposal;
and,
(e) a receptacle bracket connected to an inner surface of one of the base,
sidewalls
and top, the receptacle bracket being positioned in association with the
container opening
and being configured to hold a receptacle for receiving and holding the
disposed chewing
gum.
30. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 29, wherein the
container is shaped
to resist placement of objects atop the container.
31. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 30, wherein the outer
surface
comprises one of a powder coat, a wet paint coating, a hot dip galvanizing
coating, a
galvannealed coating, a zinc plating, a black oxide coating, a nickel plating,
a chrome plating, a
chrome painting, an e-coating, an anodized surface, a rubber coating and a
vinyl coating.
32. A chewing gum disposal container according to claim 31, wherein the outer
surface
comprises a vinyl coating.
11

Description

CA 02521823 2005-09-30
CHEWING GUM DISPOSAL CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
[0001 ] The present invention relates to containers. More particularly, the
present
invention relates to chewing gum disposal containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[0002] Discarded chewing gum sticks firmly to pavements. Municipal officials
have
estimated that a 350-square-metre section of sidewalk could have as many as 2
000 gum stains.
The discarded gum does not degrade over time and is difficult and costly to
remove. For
example, in England alone, local authorities spend an estimated ~160 million
per year on
removing chewing gum from streets. Additionally, local business improvement
associations
often retain private companies to supplement the municipal cleaning efforts.
The removal
methods employed also result in additional problems. The methods could damage
the surfaces
being cleaned, resulting in additional expense.
[0003] Discarded chewing gum can also harm and/or kill wild life that mistakes
it for
food. For example, chewing gum can stick a bird's beak shut, causing serious
harm to the bird.
[0004] There exists a pressing need for obviating or mitigating at least some
of the
above-presented disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0005] A chewing gum disposal container is provided. The container comprises a
mounting surface for mounting the container onto a support structure; and, at
least one wall that
extends from the mounting surface. The at least one wall defines an enclosure
for holding the
disposed chewing gum and further defines a container opening positioned apart
from the
mounting surface. The container opening is sized sufficiently to accept the
chewing gum for
disposal. The at least one wall comprises an outer surface of the container
that is resistant to
sticking of the disposed gum.
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CA 02521823 2005-09-30
[0006] The container further comprises a receptacle bracket disposed within
the
enclosure. The receptacle bracket is positioned in association with the
container opening and is
configured to hold a receptacle for receiving and holding the disposed chewing
gum.
[0007] The container further comprises an inner surface defining the boundary
of the
enclosure, the inner surface being resistant to sticking of the disposed gum.
[0008] The container may shaped to resist placement of objects atop it.
[0009] The outer surface of the container may comprise indicia of the
container's
intended use.
[0010] The outer surface comprises one of a powder coat, a wet paint coating,
a hot dip
galvanizing coating, a galvannealed coating, a zinc plating, a black oxide
coating, a nickel
plating, a chrome plating, a chrome painting, an e-coating, an anodized
surface, a rubber coating
and a vinyl coating.
[0011 ] An alternate chewing gum disposal container is also provided. The
container
comprises a body defining a container opening being sized sufficiently to
accept the chewing
gum and further defining an enclosure for holding the disposed chewing gum.
The body
comprises a mounting surface for mounting the container onto a support
structure and an outer
surface resistant to sticking of the disposed gum.
[0012] The container may further comprise a mounting bracket connected to an
inner
surface of the body, the mounting bracket being positioned in association with
the container
opening and being configured to hold a receptacle for receiving and holding
the disposed
chewing gum.
[0013] Another alternate chewing gum disposal container is also provided. The
container
comprises a base; mounting means extending from the base for mounting the
container onto a
support structure; sidewalls extending from the base opposite the mounting
means; a top
connected to the sidewalk opposite the base, the base, sidewalls and top
defining an enclosure
for holding the disposed chewing gum, the sidewalk and top comprising an outer
surface of the
container, the outer surface being resistant to sticking of the disposed gum,
one of the sidewalk
2

CA 02521823 2005-09-30
and top defining a container opening positioned apart from the base, the
container opening being
sized sufficiently to accept the chewing gum for disposal; and, a mounting
bracket connected to
an inner surface of one of the base, sidewalk and top, the mounting bracket
being positioned in
association with the container opening and being configured to hold a
receptacle for receiving
and holding the disposed chewing gum.
LIST OF FIGURES:
[0014) Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a container according to an
embodiment
of the present invention;
[0016] Figure 2 is a perspective transparent view of the container of Figure
l;
[0017] Figure 3 is perspective view of a container according to an alternate
embodiment
of the present invention;
[0018] Figure 4 is a cut-away perspective view of the container of Figure 3;
and,
[0019] Figures 5(a) to 5(e) are perspective views of alternate shapes of a
container
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[0020] Referring to Figure 1, a perspective view of a chewing gum disposal
container 10
is illustrated according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
chewing gum disposal
container 10 comprises a mounting surface 21 for mounting the container 10
onto a support
structure 23; and, at least one wall 25 extending from the mounting surface
21. The wall 25
defines an enclosure 27 for holding the disposed chewing gum and further
defines a container
opening 29 positioned apart from the mounting surface 21. The container
opening 29 is sized
sufficiently to accept the chewing gum for disposal. The wall 25 also
comprises an outer surface
31 of the container 10, the outer surface 31 being resistant to sticking of
the disposed gum.
3

CA 02521823 2005-09-30
[0021 ] The container 10 also comprises an inner surface 35 that defines the
boundary of
the enclosure 27. In a preferred embodiment, an inner surface of the wall 25
comprises the inner
surface 35. The inner surface 35 is also preferably resistant to sticking of
the disposed gum.
[0022] The container 10 further comprises a receptacle bracket 33 disposed
within the
enclosure 27. The receptacle bracket 33 is positioned in association with the
container opening
29, and is configured to hold a receptacle 37, which receives and holds the
disposed chewing
gum.
[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting
surface 21 is
rectangularly shaped, a long axis 49 of which coincides with the orientation
of the container 10
when mounted to the support structure 23; two arcuately shaped sidewalls 45
extend from
respective long sides 51 of the mounting surface 21; the wall 25 is a top wall
47, which is
connected to the sidewalk 45 about the respective arcuate edges 53 of the
sidewalk 45 and
extends between the short sides 55 of the mounting surface 21; and, when the
container 10 is
mounted to the support structure 23, the container opening 29 is positioned in
the top half of the
top wall 47.
[0024] Referring to Figures 1-4, the chewing gum disposal container 10 may
alternately
be characterized as comprising a body 39 that defines the container opening 29
which is sized
sufficiently to accept the chewing gum, and further defines the enclosure 27
for holding the
disposed chewing gum. The body 39 in turn comprises the mounting surface 21
for mounting
the container 10 onto the support structure 23, and the outer surface 31 which
is resistant to
sticking of the disposed gum. The container 10 may further comprise the
receptacle bracket 33
that is connected to the inner surface 35 of the body 39. The receptacle
bracket 33 is preferably
positioned in association with the container opening 29 and is configured to
hold the receptacle
37.
[0025] The inner surface 35 is also preferably resistant to sticking of the
disposed gum.
[0026] As is illustrated in figures 1 and 2, preferably the mounting surface
21 is
rectangularly shaped, a long axis 49 of which coincides with the orientation
of the container 10
when mounted to the support structure 23; two arcuately shaped sidewalk 45
extend from
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CA 02521823 2005-09-30
respective long sides 51 of the mounting surface 21; the wall 25 is a top wall
47, which is
connected to the sidewalk 45 about the respective arcuate edges 53 of the
sidewalls 45 and
extends between the short sides 55 of the mounting surface 21; and, when the
container 10 is
mounted to the support structure 23, the container opening 29 is positioned in
the top half of the
top wall 47.
[0027] Refernng to Figures 1 - 4, the chewing gum disposal container 10 may
also be
characterized as comprising a base 41; mounting means 57 extending from the
base 41 for
mounting the container 10 onto the support structure 23. Sidewalk 45 extend
from the base 41,
opposite the mounting means 57. The top 47 connects to the sidewalk 45,
opposite the base 41.
The base 41, sidewalls 45 and top 47 defining the enclosure 27 for holding the
disposed chewing
gum. The sidewalk 45 and top 47 comprise the outer surface 31 of the container
10. The outer
surface 31 is resistant to sticking of the disposed gum. Also, one of either
the sidewalk 45, or
the top 47 defines the container opening 29, which is positioned apart from
the base 41. The
container opening 29 is sized sufficiently to accept the chewing gum for
disposal. In this
alternate characterization, the receptacle bracket 33 is connected to the
inner surface 35 of one of
the base 41, sidewalk 45 and top 47. The receptacle bracket 33 is positioned
in association with
the container opening 29 and is configured to hold the receptacle 37.
[0028] Referring to Figures 5(a) to 5(1), the container 10 is preferably
shaped to resist
placement of objects atop it. For example, the container 10 shape may be one
of circular (a),
semi-circular (b), rectangular (c), square (d) and triangular (e) in profile.
Alternately, the
container 10 shape is one of spherical (fj, hemispherical (g), conical (h),
frustoconical (i),
cylindrical (j) and semi-cylindrical (k) and pyramidal (1).
[0029] To more clearly communicate the intended use to which the container 10
is put,
the outer surface 31 preferably comprises indicia 59 of the intended use. For
example, the
indicia 59 may take the form of a written sign or symbol indicating the use.
Alternately, the
indicia 59 may comprise a particular colour (such as pink), or coloured
pattern applied to the
outer surface 31 (such as a coloured swirl pattern).
[0030] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the container 10 is illustrated according
to an
embodiment of the present invention. The container 10 comprises access means
61, which

CA 02521823 2005-09-30
permits removal of the disposed chewing gum. Referring to Figure 3, an example
of access
means 61 is illustrated, such as a door 63, which is one of removably
connected and/or hingedly
connected to the body 39. Referring to Figure l, the combination of the top
wall 47 and
sidewalk 45 may be hingedly or removably connected to the mounting surface 21,
so as to
permit access to the enclosure 27. In either case, the access means 61 may
also comprise locking
means 65 for preventing unauthorised access to the enclosure 27. It will be
understood by those
skilled in the art that any suitable access means 61 that provide access to
the enclosure, thereby
permitting removal of the disposed gum, may be employed.
[0031 ] As was stated earlier the outer surface 31 of the container 10 is
resistant to
sticking of the disposed gum. This non-sticking property may be provided by
way of a coating
applied to the outer surface 31. The coating may comprise one of a powder
coat, a wet paint
coating, a hot dip galvanizing coating, a galvannealed coating, a zinc
plating, a black oxide
coating, a nickel plating, a chrome plating, a chrome painting, an e-coating,
an anodized surface,
a rubber coating and a vinyl coating. In a preferred embodiment, the outer
coating is a vinyl
coating. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any
appropriate coating that
imparts a non-sticking property to the outer surface 31 may be employed.
[0032] The above description is intended in an illustrative rather than
restrictive sense.
Variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from
the spirit and scope
of the invention as defined by the claims set out below.
6

Representative Drawing