US2463485A

US2463485A - Ash tray

Info

Publication number: US2463485A
Application number: US734293A
Authority: US
Inventors: George Joseph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-03-13
Filing date: 1947-03-13
Publication date: 1949-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 1966-03-01

Description

March 1, 1949. v. GEORGE 2,463,485

ASH TRAY Filed March 15'. 194'? INVENTOR VIRGIL GEORGE Patented Mar. 1, 1949 ASH TRAY Virgil George, Akron, Uhio; `oseplh George administrator of said Virgil George, deceased Application March 13, 1947, Serial No. 734,293

(Cl. ISI-240) Claims. l

This invention relates to smokers accessories, and more especially it relates to ash trays such as are utilized by cigar smokers and cigarette smokers.

The invention is of especial utility for cigarette smokers since the natural, long burning character of cigarettes makes them a definite fire hazard.

The chief object of the invention is to reduce the fire hazard that always is present among cigarette smokers; more specifically the invention aims to provide an ash tray for supporting a burning cigar or cigarette, and from which it is impossible for the cigar or cigarette to fall. The invention further contemplates an ash tray in which a lighted cigarette may be placed, and which automatically will extinguish the cigarette in from seven to eight minutes unless the smoking thereof is resumed before that time. Another object of the invention is to provide a cigaretteextinguishing feature that does not pinch, crimp or otherwise deform the cigarette. Other objects of the invention include at least the partial elimination of the gummy sweating from condensation which ordinarily occurs when the cigarette burns close to its support; and provide cigarettesupporting means from which the cigarette readily may be lifted, regardless of the short length of the unourned portion of the cigarette. Other objects will be manifest as the specification proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Fig, 3.

Referring to the drawing, there are shown ash tray structures that may be composed of metal, but preferably are composed of glass, porcelain, or other suitable non-combustible composition, and although shown as cast or molded structures, may be made by stamping or drawing from sheet material.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ash tray is a circular dish-like structure or receptacle body I0 formed in its upwardly presented side with a centrally disposed axial well II. Located above the well I I, coaxially thereof `and of substantially larger diameter than the well is a vertical cylindrical surface or wall I2. At a plurality of circumferentially spaced, symmetrically arranged regions convex arcuate surfaces I3, I3 extend from the bottom of the cylindrical surface I2 to the bottom face of the well II. Intermediate said regions I3 are horizontal ledges or shelves lli that extend radially inwardly from the bottom of the cylindrical surface I2, the radi-ally innermost margins of said ledges terminating in upstanding ribs or flanges IE5 of relatively low height above the ledges. The anges I5 are longitudinally arcuate, concentrically of the axis of the structure Ill, and on their concave sides they have substantially vertical faces I5 extending downwardly to the bottom of the well I I. At the top of the cylindrical wall I2 is an oblique, upwardly sloped surface I8 that is concentric with the axis of the structure, the outer upper margin of surface I8 meeting the inner margin of a relatively narrow concentric surface I9 that slopes upwardly toward its periphery, but less steeply than does surface i8. The outwardly extending surface i9 intersects the bottom of an upwardly extending, slightly outwardly inclined surface 29, and the top of the latter intersects an upwardly and outwardly sloped surface '2l that is located on the upper marginal portion of the structure I@ and extends circumferentially thereof Cigarettes are received in the ash tray in grooves therein, which grooves extend radially of the structure, and are in alignment with the ledges Id and flanges I5 of the structure. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the said ledges and anges are ve in number, but a greater or fewer number may be employed if desired. Two grooves are provided for each cigarette, said grooves being designated 2d and Z5. The grooves 24 are formed in the surface ZI, are relatively shallow, and are of uniform depth throughout their length. The grooves 25, which lare aligned with the grooves 2d radially of the tray structure, are located in that region of the latter that is bounded by surfaces I2, I8, said grooves extending from one of said surfaces to 'the other, being obliquely disposed with relation to each of them. The grooves 25 are of such shape as to receive an ordinary round-section cigarette therein without pinching, crimping or otherwise deforming the cigarette. The grooves 25 are of greatest depth at the juncture of surfaces |12, I8, where they are nearly as deep as the diameter of the cigarette, the grooves diminishing in depth toward their opposite ends as the result of the angular position of the grooves with relation to said surfaces I2 and It. Each groove 24 and companion groove 25 constitute a two-point support for a cigarette such as is indicated by the broken lines C of Fig. 2. Said grooves are disposed at the same angle with relation to the horizontal, the arrangement being such that a cigarette reposing in a pair of grooves 2li, 25, will have an end thereof in abutting relation to the flange l5 opposite the lower end of said groove 25, said flange preventing the cigarette from sliding downwardly into the well i i.

When a burning cigarette is placed in grooves 24, 25 of the ash tray, its lighted end is downwardly disposed and rests against a ange I5. In this position the cigarette will continue to burn back until the groove 25 is reached, which usually requires about seven or eight minutes. The cigarette then automatically is extinguished due to the fact that contact of the cigarette with the groove surface shuts oil" the supply of oxygen to the burning end of the cigarette. The bottom and a portion of the sides of each groove 25 are recessed or relieved, as shown at 2t, intermediate the respective ends of the groove, The arrangement is such that said recessed portion of the groove is out of Contact with the surface of the cigarette, with the result that condensation and the accumulation of a gummy deposit resulting therefrom on the cigarette is avoided. The recess ZE, howev r, is of such shallow depth that no air currents are set up around the adjacent portion of the cigarette, and extinguishing of the latter is not retarded.

The distance between each flange l5 and the remote end of each groove 2li is such that a cigarette of the longest conventional length may be received in grooves 2d, 25, and will not project beyond the upper marginal portion of the tray a suilicient distance to overbalance the remainder of the cigarette and fall from the tray so as to constitute a dre hazard.

The fact that each groove diminishes in depth toward the respective ends thereof makes it possible easily to picl a burning cigarette from the groove and resume smoking the same even though the unburned portion of the cigarette is relatively short.

If a cigarette is placed in the ash tray in any position over than in the grooves ffl, 25, as described, it will slide downwardly into the central well Il of the tray, either by Sliding over one or another of the flanges i5, or by passing between two adjacent flanges. In no way is it possible to place a lighted cigarette in the ash tray in such a manner that it could fall therefrom and become a re hazard The well il receives burned matches and cigarette butts that may be dropped therein.

The invention is simple in construction and positive in operation. It does not require that the cigarette be forced or squeezed inte a restricted space to extinguish the burning end thereof. The ash tray of the invention has no projecting parts that may become broken off or mutilated, it is readily emptied and washed, and it achieves the other objects set forth in the foregoing statement of objects.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is essentially similar to the embodiment previously described, the difference residing in the size and shape of the structure, the nurnber of cigarette-receiving grooves therein, andthe position of said grooves with relation to each other. This embodiment comprises a body structure that is of oblong shape in plan, there being a rectangular-shaped well Si in one end thereof. At one side of well 3l are ledges or shelves 32, Sil, that are located above the bottoni of the well and extend toward each other from opposite sides of the body structure, said ledges being spaced apart from each other in the central lli i longitudinal plane of the structure. The ledges 32 are analogous to the ledges it of the previously described embodiment, but differ therefrom by being straight instead of arcuate, said ledges 5:32 having respective flanges 33 along the sides thereof that confront the well 3|. Between the ledges 32 is an arcuate surface 35 extending from the bottom of well 3l upwardly to the lower margin of a vertical plane surface 3@ disposed behind the ledges 32, said surface 35 being analogous to the surface i2 of the previously described embodiment of the invention. Like the latter, the modified tray includes

sloped surfaces

36, 3l, 38, and 3d, that extend from one lateral wall to the other, and are planete instead of arcuate as in the previously described embodiment, the surface 39 being located on the top of an end wall of the structure. Cigarette-receiving grooves lll and 4H, identical with grooves 2li, 25, of the previously described embodiment, are provided, said grooves being disposed in parallel vertical planes that extend longitudinally of the structure 3d, and centrally transect the respective ledges 32 and flanges 33.

The modified embodiment of the invention functions in exactly the same manner as the other embodiment thereof, and possesses all the inherent advantages of the latter.

Other modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope thereof as dened by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A smokers article comprising a dished receptacle formed with a relatively deep well, a ledge at a somewhat elevated position beside said well and having an upstanding ange on its margin beside the Well, a wall rising vertically from the opposite margin of said ledge and having a top surface sloping upwardly from the l vertical face, and a cigarette-receiving groove formed in said Wall and angularly intersecting the sloped and vertical surfaces thereof, the angular position of said groove being such that a cigarette received therein will rest with its lower end against said flange.

2. A combination as defined in claim l including a marginal structure on the receptacle rising from the upwardly sloped wall surface, and a shallow groove in the top of said marginal structure, which groove is in alignment with the cigarette-receiving groove so that a two-area support fora cigarette is provided.

3. An ash tray comprising a dished receptacle formed with a relatively deep well, a plurality of ledges at a somewhat elevated position besides said well, said ledges being in spaced relation along the edge of the well and each having an upstancling ange on its margin beside the well, a continuous wall rising vertically from the opposite margins of said ledges and intermediate the latter, said wall having a top surface sloping upwardly from the vertical face, and cigarettereceiving grooves formed in said wall and angulariy intersecting the sloped and vertical surfaces thereof, said grooves being disposed in vertical planes that centrally transect respective ledgesl and the flanges thereof, the angular posi- 'ion of said grooves being such that cigarettes received therein rest with their lower ends against respective flanges.

Li. A combination as donned in claim 3 whereof the receptacle is circular, the well is axially disposed, and the cigarette-receiving grooves are disposed radially of said well.

5. A combination as defined in claim 3 whereof the receptacle is of oblong shape, the Well is at one end thereof, and the cigarette-receiving grooves are disposed in parallel relation.

VIRGIL GEORGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Frank Sept. 10, 1946 Kuntz July 14, 1936 Segel Dec. 7, 1943 Hines July 16,1946

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Feb. 18, 1937