US2259412A - Smoker's appliance - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 14, 1941'. R. e. WHITMAN SMOKERS APPLIANCE Filed Juhe 27, 1939 6. Whiiman Patented Get. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,259,412 SMOKERS APPLIANCE Robert Gordon whitm'anrAlvonrllV. Va. Application June 27, 1939, Serial No. 281,437

' 3 Claims. (01. 131 241) This invention relates to an improved appliance for use with cigarettes or cigars for holding a cigarette or cigar while it is being smoked and for positioning the lighted end above an ash receiver. I

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an improved appliance for smokers primarily intended to eliminate or minimize the fire hazard due to smoking, the staining by nicotine of a smokers fingers, and the soiling of clothes or furniture due to ashes.

More particularly, it is an aim of this invention toprovide a simple device into which a cigarette or cigar may be readily inserted and releasably held while smoking with the lighted end'thereof positioned abovea' receiver into which the ashes from thecigarette may readily fall.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device, as heretoforedescribed, for releasably holding a cigarette with one end extending therefrom to be engaged by the lips of the smoker, said device being so constructed that it will automaticallyextinguish the cigarette when it has burned down to a certain length.

Still a further aim of the invention is to provide a device for holding a cigarette or cigar and for receiving the ashes therefrom having a compartment provided with a closure into which the ashes and the butt end of a cigarette or cigar may be dumped when it is otherwise inconvenient to dispose of the ashes and cigar or cigarette butt.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse View taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the difierent views, HI designates generally the appliance comprising the invention which includes a channel shaped member, designated generally ll having a bottom l2 provided with the inclined portions l3 which terminate in the upright sides l4. The channel shaped member II is provided with the ends l5 and Hi, the former of which is elongated to extend upwardly substantially above the sides I4. End [5 is provided with an opening I! for a purpose which will hereinafter be described.

The appliance II), as illustrated, is intended for use as a holder for cigarettes but could obviously be used for holding small cigars and could beenlarged for holding larger cigars. The appliancelfl isprovided with the cigarette retaining member, designated generally [8 which includes a strip of metal l9 having the downturned ends 28 which are adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to the outer side of the sides l4. Strip [9 is provided with a depending arcuately shaped intermediate portion 2| which depends into the channel member II. The retaining member lflalso includes a strip 22 of resilient material of substantially the same length, width and thickness as the strip l9 which is provided with, the downturned end 23 suitablysecured to one of; the ends, 20 in overlying relationship thereto. fThe strip .22 is provided with an upwardly projecting arcuately shaped portion 24 disposed contiguously with the portion 2| and forming therewith the retaining ring designated generally 25' which is adapted to hold a cigarette. The opposite'endof the strip 22 extends downwardlyfinj overlapping relationship to the opposite end 20 and isfiared outwardly at its end as indicated at 26 to provide a finger grip for raising the last mentioned end of the strip 22 to move the portion 24 of the ring 25 away from the portion 2| to thereby enlarge the opening of the ring. As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, ring 25 is disposed adjacent to the end l5 and in alinement with its opening IT.

A top wall 2'! extends from the end E6 of the channel member II to a point intermediate the ends of said member to form the compartment 28 having an open inner end adapted to be closed by a gravity'actuated door 29 pivotally connected at its upper end; at 3|], to the inner end of the top 21. Door 29 is provided with a handle 3| which extends above the top of the door and above the top wall 21 for swinging the door 29 upwardly for opening the inner end of the compartment 28.

The appliance I0 is provided with a handle 32 which is secured to the channel shaped member ll adjacent its bottom and which projects outwardly therefrom. Handle 32 preferably includes an arcuately shaped upper portion 33 shaped to receive a finger and is adapted to be used for holding the appliance. The portion '33 may be made separate and secured to handle 32 in any suitable manner, as by welding, or may be molded integral therewith. The base of the handle 32 is substantially in a plane with the bottom I! of the channel member II to rest flat on a supporting surface to prevent the appliance from overturning. Handle 32 is preferably disposed adjacent the end l and may extend from either side of the appliance l0 depending upon whether the device is intended to be held in the right or left hand. As illustrated, the handle 32 extends from the left side of the appliance and is adapted to be held in the left hand.

From the foregoing it will be seen, that a cigarette, as seen in dotted lines in Figure 3, may be inserted through opening I1 and into the ring 25, when the ring is expanded by raising the element 26 and adjusting it to a proper posi: tion, as illustrated in Figure 3, after which end 26 is released to cause the portion 24 to move downwardly to yieldably clamp the cigarette therein. The end of the cigarette which is disposed above the channel member II is adapted to be lighted while the opposite end which extends beyond the end I5 of the appliance I0 is adapted to be placed in the mouth for smoking. It will thus be seen that the ashes from the cigarette need not be knocked off as they will readily drop into portion 34 of the channel member ll. The-slight pressure of. the ring 25 on the cigarette is sufficient to extinguish it when it has burned down to the ring thereby eliminating putting out the cigarette and insuring that no damage can occur should a lighted cigarette be forgotten and left in the holder. Obviously, the position of the cigarette in the holder may be varied so that it can burn to any desired length. Should it be inconvenient to dump the ashes from the portion 34 after smoking, the door 29, can be raised by operating the handle portion 3l and the appliance l0 tilted so that the ashes will pass into compartment 28 where the butt of the cigarette may also be placed after which the device can be placed in a pocket until such time as it is convenient to remove and dump the ashes. and cigarette butt. 7

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of th invention as, hereinafter defined by the. appended claims.

.into the channel shaped member, and a strip overlying said first mentioned strip and secured at one end to an end of the first mentioned strip,

the intermediate portion of said last mentioned strip having an upwardly projecting arcuately shaped portion forming with said first mentioned arcuately shaped portion a ring, the opposite end of said last mentioned strip extending downwardly on the opposite side of the channel shaped member and having an outwardly flared terminal forming a finger grip, said last mentioned strip being formed of yieldable material for yieldably engaging and releasably holding a cigarette.

2. A device as in claim 1, comprising a top wall extending from the opposite end of said channel shaped member and terminating intermediate of its ends to form a compartment in said last mentioned end, and a closure hinged to the inner end of said top wall for closing the open end of said compartment;

3. A cigarette holder and ash receiver comprising a channel shaped base member having end walls. one end wall being elongated and having an opening for receiving a cigarette, clamping means supported byjthe base, adjacent said opening, for releasabl holding the cigarette in position above an end of the base, a top wall extending inwardly of the base from its opposite end wall and forming a compartment'in the opposite end of the base, said compartment having an open inner end; and a closure pivotally connected to the free end of the'top wall for closing said compartment.

ROBERT GORDON WHITMAN.

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