US2400847A - Combination cigarette holder and ash tray - Google Patents

Description

, y 1946. B. 2. SMITH 2,400,847

COMBINATION CIGRRETTE HOLDER AND ASH TRAY Filed Aug. 23, :9'44 2 sheets-sheet 1 May 21, 1946. 4 B. 2. SMITH 2,400,347

' COMBINATION, CIGARETTE HOLDER AND ASK-{TRAY V Filed Aug. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 21, 1946 COMBINATION CIGARETTE HOLDER AND ASH TRAY Birt Z. Smith, Klamath Falls, Oreg.

Application August 23, 1944, Serial No. 550,742

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination cigarette holder and ash tray and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which can be readily and conveniently used by a smoker in a manner to eliminate many fire hazards as a receptacle is provided to receive sparks and ashes from the lighted cigarette and into which the cigarette stub may also be deposited.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind wherein the cigarette holder does not prevent the smoker from en joyi-ng the desired taste and fragrance of the tobacco as the holder has for an object to provide a structure wherein the lips and tongue of the smoker may have contact with the cigarette to afford the same satisfaction as when smoking without a holder.

It isalso an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind wherein the cigarette applied thereto is substantially entirely exposed to the cooling air, thereby materially reducing the heat and steam as developed in the well known enclosed type of holder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which allows the cigarette to be consumed to an extremely short stub or butt and in a manner to prevent excessive moistening of the cigarette by saliva.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved combination cigarette holder and ash tray whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a combination cigarette holder and ashtray constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an applied cigarette being diagrammatically indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the device illustrated in Figure I, the cigarette being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the cigarette being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the holder unapplied with respect to the tray;

Figure 6 is a view in top plan of a combination cigarette holder and ashtray constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line TI'I of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a combination cigarette holder and ashtray constructed in accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention, a second position of the holder being indicated by broken lines; and

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the ash tray A comprises anelongated and relatively shallow receptacle I of desired dimensions and which has its upstanding side walls 2 provided with inwardly and downwardly inclined inner wall surfaces 3 to facilitate the collection of ashes and the like within the receptacle I.

The rear end of the receptacle I is formed to provide a transversely disposed and upwardly facing socket 4 in which is snugly received the lower portion of the guard plate 5, herein disclosed as substantially rectangular in form. The side marginalportions of this plate 5 are provided with the notches 6 to receive the latch springs I carried by the receptacle I and whereby the holder H, of which the plate 5 is apart, is effec tively but detachably held to the tray A.

The central portion of the plate 5 is provided with an opening 8 of a diameter closely approaching the major diameter of the average cigarette and leading from the outer edge a' of the plate 5 to the opening 8 is a radially disposed open slot 9, and diametrically opposed to this open slot 9 the lower or inner portion of the plate 5 is provided with-a closed'slot It also in. communication with the opening 3. i 1

The plate '5 has rigidly formed therewith a rearwardly disposed elongated mouth plate II, said plate II being perpendicular to the plate 5 and in the plane of the center of the opening 8. The inner portion of the plate II has formed therein, a material distance therealong, a slot I2 which is in communication with the opening 8 and said slot I2 is also of a width substantially equal to thediameter of the opening 8. The butt end portion of a cigarette is snugly insertible from without through .the opening 8 and within the slot I2, the length of the slot I2 determining the maximum extent which the stub 01' butt end portion of the cigarette may be extended through the opening 8.

With the cigarette applied to the holder H, the major portion of the cigarette will initially overlie the receptacle l of the ash tray A, so that the ashes as they drop from the smoking cigarette will be readily collected within the receptacle I. During the smoking operation, the plate II is held between the teeth of th smoker with the plate 5 immediately adjacent to the lips, whereby said plate 5 serves a a guard to protect the smoker against burning as th cigarette is'consumed to a point immediately adjacent to the plate 5.

It is also to'be noted that when the cigarette is applied to the holder H, the same will extend above and below the mouth plate I2 so that the lips and tongue of the smoker will have direct contact with the cigarette and the smoker will have the same smoke satisfaction a when smoking without a holder.

The plate 5 also serves as a guard to prevent an excessive moistening of the cigaret by saliva which is particularly advantageous should the cigarette be moved outwardly to provide an exceedingly short stub or butt should the smoker desire to consume substantially the entire cigarette.

The plate H is also adapted to be grasped with the fingers during a smoking operation and the plate 5 serves as a further means to prevent burning of the fingers grasping the plate I I, especially when the cigarette has been consumed to a point closely adjacent to the plate 5.

During the smoking of a cigarette there is a tendency to flatten the smokers end of the cigarette by pressure of the lips. By the provision of the slots 9 and M, such flattened end portion of a cigarette can be readily removed from the holder H and, of course, should such end of a cigarette be initially flattened, the cigarette can be more readily applied to the holder H. It is also believed to be apparent that when the cigarette is engaged with the plate 5 the lighted end will be disposed in a direction away from the mouth plate ll, therefore, when the plate 5 is placed upon a supporting surface the mouth plate I! by gravity will drop down into contact with such surface and thereby raise and hold elevated the outer or lighted end of the cigarette.

While it has been proven that the snug fitting of the cigarette in the opening is sufficient to maintain the cigarette in the holder, additional means are herein disclosed for this purpose. The plate 5 at a suitable point above the opening 8,

trated an embodiment of the invention wherein trated in Figures 8 and 9, the guard plate 20 of the cigarette holder D has its lower or inner and at opposite sides of the slot 9, is provided with the forwardly directed lugs l4 through which are slidably disposed the extended extremities l 5 of a single convolution coilspring Hi. The extremities l5 are of a length to extend beyond the opposite sides of the plate 5 so that upon forcing these extremities inwardly of the plate 5, the spring it will be enlarged sufficiently to allow forveither the application or removal of the cigarette or the cigarette stub or butt. The inherent resiliency of the spring It will cause the same to contract sufficiently to have clamping engagement with the applied cigarette.

It is believed to be apparent that in the embodiment of the invention as illustrated by Figures 1 to 3, the holder H, when desired, can be readily removed and used independently of the ash tray A; r Y

In Figures 6 and '7 of the drawing is illus;

end portion connected by a conventional spring hinge 2| with the upper marginal portion of an end wall 22 of an ash receptacle 23 having an open top which is closed by a slidable cover 24. The spring hinge 2| serves to maintain the holder D and the receptacle 23 in desired relative positions during a smoking operation. However, when the device is not in use, the plate 20 may be readily swung downwardly to bring the mouth plate 25 into a position closely underlying the receptacle 23, as is indicated by broken lines in Figure 8. When in this latter position, the device will occupy a minimum of space and will be in such a compact form as to readily permit the same to be placed within a pocket, bag or the like.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a combination cigarette holder and ash tray constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a guard plate having a central opening through which the end portion of a cigarette is insertable, and a mouth plate carried by and extending across the guard plate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantially radially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extending therealong and communicating with the opening in the guard plate, said slot receiving the butt end of the cigarette inserted through the opening of the guard plate.

2. A device of the character described comprising a guard plate having a central opening through which the end portion of a cigarette is insertible, and a mouth plate carried by and extending across the guard plate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantially radially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extending therealong and communicating with the opening in the guard plate, said slot receiving the butt end of the cigarette inserted through the opening of the guard plate, said guard plate having a slot in communication with the opening to allow for the passage of a flattened end portion of a cigarette.

3. A device of the character described comprising a. guard plate having a central opening through which the end portion of a cigarette is insertible, and a, mouth plate carried by and extending across the guard plate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantially radially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extending therealong and communicating with the opening in the guard plate, said slot receiving the butt end of the cigarette inserted through the opening of the guard plate, said guard plate being provided with the opposed slots in communication with the openingto facilitate passage of a flattened end portion of acigarette through the opening.

4. A device of the character described comprising a guard plate having a central opening through which the end portion of a cigarette is insertible, a mouth plate carried by and extending across the guard plate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantially radially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extending therealong and communicating with the through which the end portion of a cigarette is insertible, a mouth plate carried by and extending across the guard plate and at substantially right angles thereto and substantially radially of the opening, said mouth plate having a slot extending therealong and communicating with the opening in the guard plate, said slot receiving the butt end of the cigarette inserted through the opening of the guard plate, an ash receiver extending forwardly from the guard plate below the opening, and means for hingedly connecting an end portion of the ash receiver to the lower marginal portion of the guard plate to allow compacting of the holder and receiver, the

mouth plate being so positioned with respect to the hinged margin of the guard plate to permit the mouth plate to underlie the receiver when the device is compacted.

6. A cigarette holder, comprising a plate adapted to be held in the mouth, the plate having a slot therein opening through one edge and being of a width to receive a portion of one end of a cigarette, and means at the open end of the slot adapted to receive and at least partially encircle the cigarette to maintain the said end portion in position in the slot.

7. A cigarette holder of the character stated in claim 6, including a plate perpendicular to and extending from the said one edge of the first plate, an ash receiving tray, and a slot formed in the top edge of a side of the tray to frictionally receive the second mentioned plate and couple the tray and holder together.

BIRT Z. SMITH.

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