US2282422A - Smoker's combination unit - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1942. w. J. GALLAGHER SMOKERS COMBINATION UNIT Filed March 11, 1940 INVENTOR w/fer 0/. Gafiagber Patented May 12, 194? UNITED STATES 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a smokers combination unit, and particularly to such a unit wherein is featured extreme safety or assurance against damage that might ordinarily result from lighted cigarettes or cigars becoming displaced and falling onto surrounding objects or furnishings.

One of the primary objects of the invention to provide a device for 'the use of smokers, and including means whereby a lighted cigarette or cigar maybe supported in such manner as to remain lighted while held against displacement, or, alternatively, held against displacement while subjected to a snuifing action for extinguishing the lighted end thereof.

Another object of the'invention is to provide an attachment for ash receptacles, in the form of a novel type holder so designed as to support a cigarette or cigar in an upright position without extinguishing the lighted end thereof, or alternatively, to'support it 'for extinguishment of the lighted end, asthe smoker may desire.

Another object of the invention is'tc provide an ash receptacle with a novel type of head for holding cigarettes or cigars in such manner as to preclude accidental displacement thereof, this being accomplished in the interests of safety and convenience as well.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, yet pleasing in appearance and highly efiective and convenient in use.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the device, with I one form of ash receptacle applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device illustrated in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view f a' holder which is shown in plan and in cross-section, by Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified type ash receptacle which is interchangeable with that of Figs. 1 and 2. a

With reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be observed thatthe tray 2 is by preference made oblong, so that its major axis will pass through the beverage glass wells 3-3 .at opposite ends of the tray. Centrally of the tray, there is supported an ash receptacle 4 which in the drawing is shown in the configuration of an oval, but which may be otherwise shaped to suit. The particular formation of the ash receptacle is immaterial to the invent-ion. However, in

of the tray. and I2 carry and an upwardly extending wall [1.

glass holder and an end of the ash those instances wherein the ash receptacle is to cigar holder capable'of I support a cigarette or being attached and detached, the upper periphery of the ash receptacle conveniently may be turned outwardly toform-a continuous flange or lip, as indicated at 5 of Fig. 2."

Preferably, though not of necessity, the tray 2 includes a circumferential upstanding bead or other barrier element 6, which serves to stiffen the tray, to enhance its appearance, and to .preclude liquids or objects from rolling offthe tray;

A downwardly turned flange 1 may be'provided f exteriorly of the bead, for purposes of reinforcement and finish. As illustrated, each beverage. glass well 3 is pressed from the plane of the tray, and is s'urroundedby an annular band .8 which may be fixed about the well in any suitable manner. a

The ash receptacle 4 may be supported or suspended from its annular flange '5, within an It will be observedthat the sides 9, I0, -I l and I2 of' the tray are arranged in pairs 9-I'| and |ill2, the sides of each pair converging toward the beverage glass holders at the opposite ends The diagonally opposed sides H the package holders l3 and 14, which may be of a proper size for holding cig-' arette packages and match packets, or decksof aperture 9 formed substantially centrally of the cards, as :the user may elect. In the embodiment shown, the package holders Hand [4 are identicaLand each comprises an upright wall I 5 depending from a side of the tray, an outwardly l turned portion [6 of a width, approximating the thickness of a cigarette package or card deck, The parts an open which del 5 J6 and H cooperate to provide topped U-shaped channel, all parts of pend below the mean plane of the tray. By 10- eating the package holders at diagonally opposed sides'of the tray, each is groupedwith a beverage receptacle,

so that two persons using the device of the invention will have equal facilities in the use of the device.

A support for the tray may be provided, this being in the form of a sturdy metallic strap l8 lying along the major axis of the tray beneath the wells3. The strap may include end portions l9 and 26 underlying the wells and fixed to: the under faces thereof, said 'end portions having termini 2! curled or turned downwardly beyond the end portions of the tray to provide handles or finger grips whereby the article may be lifted with a pipe bowl cleaning cigar,

as a unit. The intermediate portion 22 of the strap may be bent downwardly to provide clearance for the ash receptacle 4, and any suitable means such as a bolt 23 may be provided for fixing the intermediate portion of the strap to a standard or other support 24 of the unit. Part 24 may be fixed to a pedestal base, not shown.

The foregoing completes the description of the general combination of elements making up the unit of the invention. It is intended that ash receptacles of various kinds and types, an example of which is illustrated by Fig. 4, may be substituted and interchanged with the ash receptaoles of Figs. 1 and 2. As previously stated, the

contour of the ash receptacle may be varied if desired. 7 r a With particularreference to the ash receptacle 4, it will be noted that a cup-shaped body is'preferred, having a bottom 25. In some instances,

it may be desirable to furnish the tray with a pipe 1 bowl scraper, as well as with a holder for cigarettes or cigars. Typical of such a scraper, is the implement indicated generally by the character 26, which may constitute a sheet metal blank bent about a stud 21 which is suitably mounted in an upright position upon the bottom of the receptacle in any suitable manner, such as by means of a reduced portion 28 peened over as at 29 within the opening 3|] provided in the bottom of the receptacle. The portion 3| of the implement, which surrounds the stud 21, provides a' socket for the stud and is tightly fitted thereover and fixed thereto, if desired. A part of the material which forms the socket is extended upwardly above the stud, and comprises an elongated upright having sides 32 and 33 arranged at an angle to one another in intersecting upright planes. The upper ends of these sides may be curved as at 34 and thereby made convergent to form, a blunt pointed top for the pipe bowl cleanv ing implement, this being most clearly shown in connection with Fig. 4 wherein the pipe bowl cleaning implement is structurally identical with that of Figs. 1 and 2. By inverting a pipe bowl over the cleaning implement, and spinning or turning the pipe bowl in contact therewith, the bowl is effectively scraped and cleaned in such manner that all of the contents will fall downwardly into the ash receptacle, without being 'scatteredover the tray or other surrounding objects. Of course, the ash receptacle 4 of Figs. 1 and 2 mightbe replaced with one not equipped implement, or it might be replaced with an ash receptacle of the generalcharacter illustrated by Fig. 4. The ash receptacle of Fig. 4, as will be noted, carries a pipe bowl cleaning implement and a pipe cradle, the latter being indicated by the character 35. The cradle may rest in an elevated position slightly above the outwardly turned flange 5 of receptacle 40, upon a suitable upright 36. The 'upright'36 and the stud 21 of the cleaning implement, may be fixed to the bottom of the ash receptacle in any suitable manner, for example, as indicated at 28-29 of Fig. 2.

It is desirable that the ash receptacle be equipped with means for holding cigarettes or cigars in such a; manner that the smoker may be assured that the lighted cigarette or cigar will not fall or be accidentally dislodged from the holder, v

to; injure or deface surrounding furnishings or articles placed upon the tray. The holder of this invention is unique, in that it may be used selectively to snuff the lighted end of a cigarette or orto support it in such condition that it for the'reception of a cigarette or cigar.

- by the basket or will remain lighted and will consume itself entirely if left in the holder, the residual ashes dropping into the ash receptacle so as not to clog the holder. Such holder is rendered self-cleaning due to its structural features about to be described, and moreover, it will perform to snuff the lighted end of a cigarette or cigar placed improperly therein.

The holder for cigarettes or cigars includes a head consisting of a top piece or plate 31, having opposite ends and opposite sides, within the limits of which ends and sides the top piece is apertured to receive one or more Each basket or cage has an upper annular bead wherecage is suspended from the top piece, and by'preference is fixed thereto. The bead, indicated at 39, has depending therefrom a tubular portion 41 of. solidmetal, the tubular portion being of such length as to surround the lighted end of a cigarette or cigar improperly placed within the basket in a cocked position with its axis at an angle to the vertical axis of the basket. Such improperlyplaced cigarette or cigar will have its lighted end surrounded by the solid walled tubular portion 41, and the latter will perform as a snuffer by reason of the fact that upward passage of air past the lighted end of the cigarette or cigar will be precluded.

, The lower edge 42 of the tubular portion 4| has dependingtherefrom a series of prongs 43, spaced apart sufficiently to furnish no substantial interference with the passage of air upwardly from the basket and along the cigar or cigarette therein supported. The free terminal ends 44 of the prongs are turned inwardly toward one another so as to provide a support for the lighted end of the cigar or cigarette, so that it may not drop through the bottom ,of the basket. The ashes, however, may drop through the basket and into the ash receptacle freely as the cigarette or cigar consumes itself within the basket. A cigar or cigarette so placed in the basket will gravitate as it consumes itself, until the whole thereof is deposited as ash upon the bottom of the receptacle 4. Neither the ashes'nor any part of the cigarette or cigar, will remain within the basket if the cigar or cigarette is permitted to rest properly within the basket in a lighted condition. At a point slightly above the terminal end of each prong, the prong may be slightly bulged outwardly as indicated at 45 so that the metal thereof will not closely contact the glowing region of cigarette will not be extinguished. The inturned prong ends, of course, will not be in direct contact with the glowing tobacco, but will be insulated therefrom to a degree by the accumulated ashes at the extreme end of the cigar or cigarette.

When constructed for accommodating cigarettes, the basket or cage will have an inside diameter slightly greater than that of the cigarette, and its length may approximate an inch or less, which is the length of a cigarette butt to be discarded.

'As is best illustrated in Fig. 2, the side edges of the top plate 31 are provided with extension in the form of aprons 415 which depend downwardly in close proximity to the basket, and to approximately the level of the terminal ends of the prongs. These aprons preferably are solid walls of metal, and each has an outward extension 41 and an upward extension 48 for providing an baskets or cages 38 open-topped U-shaped channel at each side of the top plate. The space between the apron 46 and the upright extension 48 is less than the diameter of a cigarette, so that a cigarette plunged downwardly into said space will have its lighted end in contact with the solid walls 46 and 48, and lack of air at the lighted end will accordingly result in extinguishment. The extension or connecting portion 4'! likewise should be a solid wall. The upper edge 49 of each upward extension 48 may conveniently be outwardly turned, as indicated, to facilitate guiding a cigarette into the snufier constituted of the walls, 47 and 48.

It is of importance to note that the aprons 46 depend to approximately the lower terminal ends of the prongs, so that the prongs thereby are effectively protected from injury or distortion during washing or cleaning of the holder. If the holder be built for accommodating cigars rather than cigarettes, the diameter of the basket and channel of the snufier portion should be proportioned accordingly. All parts of each snufier are located below the level of the top piece or plate 31.

To mount the holder upon an ash receptacle such as 4, the holder may be provided with a pair of arms 50 depending from the opposite ends of the top piece or plate 31, and having portions thereof turned outwardly and downwardly to bridge or span the top of the ash receptacle. The free ends of the arms may be securely fixed to the ash receptacle, if desired, or as illustrated in the drawing, the free ends may be turned as at 52 to provide a socket or crotch 53 to snugly receive the peripheral flange or lip 5 of an ash receptacle. An extension 54 of each arm may be bent to conform with the shape of the ash receptacle beneath its lip or flange, and if desired, the extension may include a small protuberance or pimple 55 to engage Within a small dent or aperture 56 formed in the material of the ash receptacle, at opposite sides thereof. Various other means and methods might be adopted for mounting the holder either fixedly or detachably, to the ash receptacle 4. The clip means indicated at 53, while convenient and satisfactory, is not a necessity but is merely typical of any acceptable type of connection that may be furnished in the mounting of the holder.

' It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in structural details of the device may be made, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A smokers article comprising in combination an ash receptacle, and a holder for. cigarettes or cigars, said holder including an apertured top plate and mean for supporting the top plate above the receptacle, a cigarette or cigar basket comprising a tubular upper portion having a depth sufficient to support a cigarette or cigar in a cooked oblique position at an angle to the axis of said tubular portion, the latter having a solid wall to contact and exclude upward passage of air past the lighted end of a cigarette or cigar so supported therein, thereby to have a snuffing action for extinguishing the lighted end, means connecting the upper end of said tubular portion to the top plate within the aperture thereof, and a series of spaced prongs depending from the tubular portion and including inturned terminal ends projected toward the tube axis for supporting in non-extinguishing relationship a cigarette or cigar placed within the basket axially of the tubular upper portion, with its lighted end foremost.

WALTER J. GALLAGHER.

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