GB2161694A

GB2161694A - Improved ashtray

Info

Publication number: GB2161694A
Application number: GB08417972A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Theodore John Rix
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-07-14
Filing date: 1984-07-14
Publication date: 1986-01-22
Also published as: GB2161694B; GB8417972D0

Abstract

An ashtray has walls which rise from a base and which are peripherally continuous at least in the region of each wall adjacent the base; the tray also incorporates at least one cigarette rest which is situated within the walls and which preferably but not necessarily is situated adjacent one of the walls; and the or each such rest, in addition to comprising a dished channel in which the cigarette is to sit, is bevelled in a manner tending to deflect the cigarette into the channel. Preferably the or each rest is positioned adjacent a tray wall, the bevelled portion is flat, and the opposite end regions of the rest rise from the tray base and are themselves channelled.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved ash tray Field of the Invention The invention relates to receptacles for receiving ash from a cigarette or cigar. These are popularly referred to generically as "ash trays" although they very often take the form of open-topped walled bins or boxes rather than being strictly tray-like. The term "ash tray" will be used in that popular generic sense throughout this specification.

Background of the Invention Conventionai ash trays incorporate rests for a cigarette as well as incorporating means to hold the cigarette or cigar ash. The rests are most often simply indentations in the wall of the ash tray. They work satisfactorily if the greater part of the length of the cigarette overhangs the tray rest into the tray itself. If this condition is not met, there is a danger of the cigarette rolling off the rest and onto the surrounding surface.

The possibility of fires being started in this way is all too apparent.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention an ash tray has walls which rise from a base and which are peripherally continuous at least in the region of each wall adjacent the base; the tray also incorporates at least one cigarette rest which is situated within the walls and which preferably but not necessarily is situated adjacent one of the walls; and the or each such rest, in addition to comprising a dished channel in which the cigarette is to sit, is bevelled in a mannertending to deflect the cigarette into the channel.

Such a construction is doubly safe. As well as positioning a properly channelled rest inside the tray walls, rather than simply forming the rest in the wall itself, there is positive provision to deflect a carelessly-rested cigarette into the accommodating channel. The risk of a lighted cigarette starting a fire is thus minimised.

It is preferred, and advantageous, that the cigarette rest is positioned adjacent a tray wall; because not only is the ash-receiving area of the tray then maximised, but the bevelled region can be smoothly blended into the region between the channel and the adjacent wall. This makes for ease of manufacture as well as aesthetically pleasing design.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows an ash tray embodying the invention, viewed in plan; Figure 2 shows the ash tray of Figure 1 in section; Figure 3, drawn to an enlarged scale, shows the detail of a cigarette rest of the ash tray.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The ash tray illustrated is essentially square in plan and comprises a base 11 from which rise four walls each referenced 12. The walls 12 rise at right angles from the base 11 and are at right angles to one another. They define a peripherally continuous wall enclosing the edges of the base 11 to form an ash-receiving "tray" of considerable capacity.

Situated adjacent each wall 12, and abutting the inside of that wall, is one of four respective cigarette rests each referenced 13. As Figure 2 shows, the rests rise from the base 11. Each comprises a cigarette-receiving part-circular-section channel 14 separated from the adjacent wall 12 by a flat bevelled region 15.

As Figure 3 shows, in this particular embodiment the flat bevelled region 15 in each case slopes down towards the channel 14 at an angle of approximately 20 below the horizontal when the tray is standing, as it is normally intended to stand, on a horizontal surface.

As indicated by reference numeral 16 in Figure 1, each opposite end of each rest 13 is channelled vertically. This gives an aesthetically pleasing effect to the finished tray, but it also has a practical purpose. It makes it a much easier matter four a user to pick up a cigarette from the rest 13, as his fingertips can be accommodated in the vertical channel 16.

The tray could be made in glass or in metal, or in a quite different material such as hard and nonflammable plastics.

As the drawings show, the tops of the channels 14, and the lengths of the bevelled portions 15 are also situated some way below the top edges of the walls 12. This feature in itself contributes to safety because the presence of the top regions of the walls 12 makes it virtually impossible for a cigarette to miss the rests 13 or to roll out (other than into the tray) once accommodated in the rests.

1. An ashtray having walls which rise from a base and which are peripherally continuous at least in the region of each wall adjacent the base; the tray also incorporates at least one cigarette rest which is situated within the walls and which preferably but not necessarily is situated adjacent one of the walls; and the or each such rest, in addition to comprising a dished channel in which the cigarette is to sit, is bevelled in a manner tending to deflect the cigarette into the channel.

2. An ashtray in accordance with Claim 1 and in which the or each rest is positioned adjacent a tray wall.

3. An ashtray according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and in which the bevel is a flat bevel.

4. An ashtray according to Claim 3 and in which the flat bevel slopes down at an angle of approximately 20 below the horizontal when the tray is standing on a horizontal surface.

5. An ashtray according to any of the preceding Claims and in which the walls are peripherally continuous throughout their height.

6. An ashtray according to any of the preceding Claims and in which the or each rest rises from the tray base and in which each rising end face of the or each rest is channelled.

7. An ashtray according to any of the preceding Claims and in which the or each rest is situated

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved ash tray Field of the Invention The invention relates to receptacles for receiving ash from a cigarette or cigar. These are popularly referred to generically as "ash trays" although they very often take the form of open-topped walled bins or boxes rather than being strictly tray-like. The term "ash tray" will be used in that popular generic sense throughout this specification. Background of the Invention Conventionai ash trays incorporate rests for a cigarette as well as incorporating means to hold the cigarette or cigar ash. The rests are most often simply indentations in the wall of the ash tray. They work satisfactorily if the greater part of the length of the cigarette overhangs the tray rest into the tray itself. If this condition is not met, there is a danger of the cigarette rolling off the rest and onto the surrounding surface. The possibility of fires being started in this way is all too apparent. Summary of the Invention According to the invention an ash tray has walls which rise from a base and which are peripherally continuous at least in the region of each wall adjacent the base; the tray also incorporates at least one cigarette rest which is situated within the walls and which preferably but not necessarily is situated adjacent one of the walls; and the or each such rest, in addition to comprising a dished channel in which the cigarette is to sit, is bevelled in a mannertending to deflect the cigarette into the channel. Such a construction is doubly safe. As well as positioning a properly channelled rest inside the tray walls, rather than simply forming the rest in the wall itself, there is positive provision to deflect a carelessly-rested cigarette into the accommodating channel. The risk of a lighted cigarette starting a fire is thus minimised. It is preferred, and advantageous, that the cigarette rest is positioned adjacent a tray wall; because not only is the ash-receiving area of the tray then maximised, but the bevelled region can be smoothly blended into the region between the channel and the adjacent wall. This makes for ease of manufacture as well as aesthetically pleasing design. Brief Description of the Drawings In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows an ash tray embodying the invention, viewed in plan; Figure 2 shows the ash tray of Figure 1 in section; Figure 3, drawn to an enlarged scale, shows the detail of a cigarette rest of the ash tray. Description of the Preferred Embodiment The ash tray illustrated is essentially square in plan and comprises a base 11 from which rise four walls each referenced 12. The walls 12 rise at right angles from the base 11 and are at right angles to one another. They define a peripherally continuous wall enclosing the edges of the base 11 to form an ash-receiving "tray" of considerable capacity. Situated adjacent each wall 12, and abutting the inside of that wall, is one of four respective cigarette rests each referenced 13. As Figure 2 shows, the rests rise from the base 11. Each comprises a cigarette-receiving part-circular-section channel 14 separated from the adjacent wall 12 by a flat bevelled region 15. As Figure 3 shows, in this particular embodiment the flat bevelled region 15 in each case slopes down towards the channel 14 at an angle of approximately 20 below the horizontal when the tray is standing, as it is normally intended to stand, on a horizontal surface. As indicated by reference numeral 16 in Figure 1, each opposite end of each rest 13 is channelled vertically. This gives an aesthetically pleasing effect to the finished tray, but it also has a practical purpose. It makes it a much easier matter four a user to pick up a cigarette from the rest 13, as his fingertips can be accommodated in the vertical channel 16. The tray could be made in glass or in metal, or in a quite different material such as hard and nonflammable plastics. As the drawings show, the tops of the channels 14, and the lengths of the bevelled portions 15 are also situated some way below the top edges of the walls 12. This feature in itself contributes to safety because the presence of the top regions of the walls 12 makes it virtually impossible for a cigarette to miss the rests 13 or to roll out (other than into the tray) once accommodated in the rests. CLAIMS

7. An ashtray according to any of the preceding Claims and in which the or each rest is situated appreciably below the top edge of the adjacent wall.

8. An ashtray according to any of the preceding Claims and in which the or each bevelled portion is situated appreciably below the top edge of the adjacent wall.

SAn ashtray according to any of the preceding Claims which is square in plan and which has four rests each located at the mid region of a respective wall of the tray and abutting that wall.

10. An ashtray substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.