US2428116A

US2428116A - Combination ash tray, flower and candle holder

Info

Publication number: US2428116A
Application number: US562732A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jensen Jens
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-11-09
Filing date: 1944-11-09
Publication date: 1947-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1964-09-30

Description

Sept. 30, 1947. 1 J. J ENSEN 2,428,116 I COMBINATION ASH TRAY; FLOWER, AND CANDLE HOLDER Filed.Nov. 9, 1944 Y 990 000-000 Jeny O OOO O"OOOBY."Q Q-QQQQOO I Patented Sept. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE COMBINATION ASH TRAY, FLOWER AND:

CANDLE HOLDER Y Jens Jensen, Englewood,

Application November 9, 1944, Serial No 562,732

My invention relates generally to an ash tray or ash receiver, and it has particular relation to an ash tray or ash receiver that may also be used as a combination flower and candle holder.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel ash tray or ash receiver which is simple in construction. efficient in operation and pleasing in appearance; which will present a clean top surface and sanitary appearance at all-times; and which will prevent ashes deposited therein from being blown out when the same is placed or being used in a position that is exposed to strongvcurrents of air as when'being used out of doors on a porch or veranda.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an ash tray or receiver which may also be used as an ornamental flower and candle holder whereby the flowers and candle may be arranged in a suitable ornamental effect and will be capable of maintaining such arrangement and effect even when exposed to strong currents of air, etc.

Various other and further objects and advantages of the invention, which result in simplicityQ economy and eiflciency, will be apparent from the following detailed description, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is shown, reference being had for illustrative purposes to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, wherein like numbers indicate like parts, in which:

Fig. l is a topplan view of the assembled container made in accordance with the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 isa longitudinal sectional view of the assembled container shown in Fig. 1, the same being taken substantiall alon the line 22 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled container shown in Fig. l, the same being taken substantially along the line 3--3 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the assembled container shown in Fig. 1, the same being taken substantially along the line 4-4 thereof, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is atop plan view of the tubular insert member, which, in cooperation with the top cover plate, functions as a holder for flowers and a candle; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the tubular insert member shown in Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. l the invention in assembled form, comprising an open top container l0 made ofvany suitable rust-proof or rust-resisting metal, having 3 Claims. 01. 47-41) a closed bottom ll,-upstanding side walls I2 and curved end walls I3 It willbe understood that the container I 0 may be made in various other sizes and shapes, and that glass, plastic, crockery or like materials may be substituted for metal, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A series of longitudinally spaced protuberances or lugs M'Iare formed intermediate each of the upstanding side walls [2 of the container l0. These protuberances I4, when the article is made from metal, may be formed by indenting the outer surfaces thereofinwardly, or in the event the container is being made out of glass, plastic, etc., by molding. They. are arranged in a single horizontal plane andare adapted to serveas supporting meansfor a tubular insert member l5.

. A second series of similarly formed protuberances or lugs I6 are provided on the inner surfaces of theupstanding end walls l3, as best shown in Fig.2, adjacent the upper edge thereof, and are adapted to serve as supporting means for a removable top cover plate IT.

The tubular insert member l5 consists of a bottom plate [8, having a relatively large central opening I 9 therethroughprovided with a series of circumferentially spaced upstanding ribs or projections 21 adjacent the edges thereof. These projections 2| are shown as being struck up from the plate when the opening I9 was formed, forming a series of small arcuate and radial flanges 22 therebetween, The remaining surface of the bottom plate is is provided with a series of spaced perforations or small openings 23 arranged in rows transversely and longitudinally thereof. The bottom plate l8 has formed integrally therewith upstanding side walls 24, which are suitably connected across their open top by a series of transversely extending ribs or wires 25 spaced longitudinally'thereof." The pair of rib or wires 25 immediately above the large central opening 19, as best shown in Fig. 5, are bent, as indicated at 26, to forma circular opening 21, which is aligned vertically with the bottom opening I9,

The removable top or cover plate i1 is of a size and shape adapted to flt snugly within the open top of the container Ill and rest upon the end supporting lugs 16. It'is provided with an ornamental solid platform portion 3| centrally thereof, which in the embodiment shown is substantially in the form of across, having a large circular central opening 32 therethrough in vertical alignment withthe openings [9 and 21 of the tubular insert l5 when assembled. The inner surface of the opening 32 has a series of small teeth-like radial projections 28 spaced circumferentially thereof and formed integrally with the solid portion 3| for engaging the sides of a candle when the same is positioned therein. The remaining surface of the top cover plate H is stamped out to form a series of longitudinal slots 33 and ribs 34 arranged alternately and transversely thereof. The material cut from the surface of the plate IT to form the slots 33 is bent inwardly on opposite sides of the ribs 34, torming integral obliquely and downwardly extending flanges, as indicated at 36, providing a trough-like opening through the slots 33. The slots or openings 33 between adjacent ribs :34 are not wide enough to permit a cigarette to fall therethrough', as indicated at 35 and best shown in-Eigfi.

In assembling the container Ill, one end of the tubular insert member I5 is first positioned on its side supporting lugs I4, and the opposite end may then be forced or sprung over the adjacent end supporting lugs I6 until the bottom plate I8 is resting horizontally'on-all of its supporting lugs I4. The tubular insert member i5 is then more or less locked in between the spaced lugs I l and I6. However, if the insert member IS-should be constructed of glass, plastic, crockery, etc., it may not be possible to'springit past the end lug I6 in which event suitable notches will have to be molded therein for clearance purposes. The top cover plate I1 may now be positioned over the tubular insert member l5. on its respective end supporting lugs I5. When it is desired to dismantle the assembled article for cleaning purposes, the forefinger may be slipped-through the central opening 32 and the'top cover plate lifted upwardly by theforefinger and thumb. The tubular insert I5 may be removed in similar manner.

It will be apparent in using the article as an ash tray or ash receiver that the ashes deposited on the top surface of the plate II will fall through the trough-like slts'33, passing through the wires or ribs 24 forming the top of. the tubular insert I andthrough the apertures or perforations. 23 in the bottom plate I3 to the bottom .II of the container I0. Manifestly. such ashes will be out of sightand also out of reach of any strongcurrents of air passing over the top of the container ID. The solid platform portion 3|, which may be of any desired design andshape, is not only ornamental but also serves a useful. purpose. It may be used for snuifing out in the conventionalman her the lighted ends of cigarettes and cigars. The unlighted butts then may be discarded into the container lIl through the opening 3h which,

being in vertical alignment withthe openings I9 and 21 of the tubular insert l5, will permitthem' to drop to the bottom ll of the container Ill. The upstanding projections'll onthe top side of the bottom plate I8 of the tubular insert I5 preventsvsuch butts from being lodged .between'the top and bottom plates of the insert I5.

When it is desired to use the article as a combination flower and candle holder, .the bottom of the container I0 may first be. partially filled with water before assembling to provide moisture for the cut flower stems. A candle 40., shown in dotted lines in Fig 2, may be positioned in the aligned openings 32, .21 and I9 until its bottom rests on the flanges 22 of the plate I 8.between the upright projections 2i In this position the radial projections 28 of thetopcover plate I! will engage thesides of the candle atapoint spaced upwardly from its bottom, thus holding the candle 40 in a fixed vertical position centrally of the container I0. Flowers (not shown) may now be arranged around the candle 40 in any suitable and pleasing arrangement, with their stems projecting downwardly through the small rectangular top openings 39 formed by the longitudinal bars 34 of the top plate I l and the transverse ribs 25 forming the top of the insert I5 which now lie adjacent each other in a superimposed position, through the perforations 23 of the bottom plate I8 until they are immersed in the water on the bottom I I of the container 1 I The flowers will stand substantially vertically'if the stems are inserted through a perforation 23 that is vertically aligned with the opening 39, but, if desired, may be arranged at a jaunty angle by passing the stems through one of the perforations 23 that is not vertically aligned with the opening 39.

Although I have only described and illustrated in detail one form which the invention may assume, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the same is notso limited, but that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope or-the' appended claims.

What I. claim is:

l. A new article of manufacture comprising an open top container having internal means intermediate its sidesand ends for supporting atubular insert member, a removable tubular insert member having vertically spaced means including vertically-aligned openings for receiving and holding the stems of flowers and a candle, and a removablecover plate adapted to fit over the top of said tubular insert member and close the open top of said container, said top cover plate having a solid platform portion provided with an enlarged opening, the remaining surface of said top cover plate being divided into a series of alter her having ribs dividing its surface into a series of. slots extending in a' direction transverse to the slotsof the top cover plate so, that when said article is assembled these respective ribs and slots cooperate to form a series-of small rectangular openings arranged in rows longitudinally and transversely of the top cover plate, the bottom means of said tubular insert member having a series of relatively small perforations therethrough adapted to receive the stems of flowers.

2. The combination with an open top container having internal means intermediate its sides for supporting a removableinsert member, said insert member having a series of spacedopenings in difierent horizontal planes for engaging flower stems in diiferent vertical planes intermediate their ends and having vertically spaced and aligned openings for receiving a candle, the lower candle receiving opening having meansfor engaging and supporting the bottom of said candle and means for engaging the sides of said candle at a point spaced from said supporting means for holding the same vertically therein, and a removable top cover member adapted to fit on said having internal means intermediate its sides for supporting a removable insert member, said insert member having a series of spaced openings in different horizontal planes for engaging flower stems in different vertical planes intermediate their ends and having vertically spaced and aligned openings for receiving a candle, the lower candle receiving opening having relatively long axial flanges for engaging the sides of said candle adjacent its bottom and the upper candle receiving opening having relatively short radial prongs for engaging the sides of said candle at a point spaced from its bottom for holding the same vertically therebetween, and a removable top cover member adapted to fit on said open top container having candle receiving means aligned with the candle receiving means of said insert member, said cover member being provided with a series of spaced ribs having downwardly diverging flanges forming a plurality of narrow slots, said ribs being spaced apart a distance such as to support a cigarette therebetween as well as to permit flower stems to pass therethrough,