Chewing gum disposal system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a chewing gum disposal system and method. The chewing gum disposal system includes a plurality of chewing gum disposal envelopes configured to receive one or more pieces of chewing gum, and a chewing gum disposal container. The disposal container has a holding compartment configured to hold the chewing gum disposal envelopes, and a disposal compartment configured to receive one or more chewing gum disposal envelopes having pieces of chewing gum therein. In disposing of a piece of chewing gum, an envelope is removed from the holding compartment, the piece of chewing gum is placed inside the envelope, and the envelope is inserted into the disposal compartment. The chewing gum disposal system and method provide an efficient, sanitary and pleasant method for the disposal of chewing gum that is suitable for public spaces including restaurants, bars, buses, movie theaters, ballparks, stores, malls, and other areas.

1 . A chewing gum disposal system comprising:
 a plurality of chewing gum disposal envelopes configured to receive one or more pieces of chewing gum; and   a chewing gum disposal container comprising:
 a holding compartment configured to hold the plurality of the chewing gum disposal envelopes; and 
 a disposal compartment configured to receive one or more chewing gum disposal envelopes having the pieces of chewing gum placed therein. 
   
   
   
       2 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 1  wherein the holding compartment and disposal compartment are adjacent one another. 
   
   
       3 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 1  wherein the holding compartment comprises an open compartment configured to hold a horizontally stacked array of chewing gum disposal envelopes in an upright position. 
   
   
       4 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 1  wherein the disposal compartment comprises a closed compartment having at least one slot formed therein configured to receive the chewing gum disposal envelopes. 
   
   
       5 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 4  wherein the slot is located on a sidewall of the disposal compartment and is configured to receive chewing gum envelopes inserted horizontally thereinto. 
   
   
       6 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 4  wherein the disposal compartment further comprises a bottom outlet configured to pass the chewing gum envelopes therethrough for removal of chewing gum envelopes from the disposal compartment. 
   
   
       7 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 1  wherein the chewing gum disposal envelopes are transitional between an open configuration for receiving a piece of chewing gum and a closed configuration for retaining the piece of chewing gum received therein. 
   
   
       8 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 7  wherein the chewing gum disposal envelopes are transitional between the open and closed configurations by pinching opposing edges of each envelope together. 
   
   
       9 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 7  wherein each chewing gum disposal envelope comprises a folded sheet member having side edges that are secured to one another to define a pocket therebetween for receiving one or more pieces of chewing gum. 
   
   
       10 . The chewing gum disposal system of  claim 1  wherein one or more of the chewing gum disposal envelopes and chewing gum disposal container have printed thereon at least one of a graphic and/or decorative design, instructions for use, advertising content and other printed content. 
   
   
       11 . A method of disposing of chewing gum with the chewing gum disposal system of  claim 1 , the method comprising;
 (a) removing a chewing gum disposal envelope from the holding compartment of the chewing gum disposal container;   (b) placing a piece of chewing gum inside the chewing gum disposal envelope; and   (c) inserting the chewing gum disposal envelope into the disposal compartment of the chewing gum disposal container.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (b) comprises opening the chewing gum disposal envelope, placing the piece of chewing gum inside the opened envelope, and closing the chewing gum disposal envelope. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein step (b) comprises opening the chewing gum disposal envelope by pinching opposing edges of the envelope together. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein step (b) comprises expelling the gum into the chewing gum envelope substantially without contacting the gum by hand. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein step (c) comprises horizontally inserting the chewing gum disposal envelope into a slot located on a sidewall of the disposal compartment. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein steps (a)-(c) are performed in at least one of a restaurant, bar and other eating or drinking establishment. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein steps (a)-(c) are performed in at least one of a ballpark, movie theater, park, shopping mall, store, museum, amusement park, gym, club, bus, train, plane and boat. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising step (d), emptying one or more envelopes containing pieces of chewing gum therein from the disposal compartment of the chewing gum disposal container.