US2777596A

US2777596A - Device for converting discarded beverage can into well type ash tray

Info

Publication number: US2777596A
Application number: US457489A
Authority: US
Inventors: William M Puvogel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-09-21
Filing date: 1954-09-21
Publication date: 1957-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1974-01-15

Description

Jan. 15, 1957 w. M. PUVOGEL 2,777,596

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING DISCARDED BEVERAGE CAN mo WELL TYPE ASH TRAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1954 E INVENTOR. W/LL/AM M PUl/QGEL- ATTOP/VEVJ Jan. 15, 1957 w. M. PUVOGEL 2,777,596

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING DISCARDED BEVERAGE CAN INTO ,WELL TYPE ASH TRAY Filed Sept. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I] INVEN TOR. l l /L L/AM M PUI/OGEL I 1 15 3 Y fun/FA Jan. 15, 1957 w. M. PUVOGEL 2,777,596

DEVICE FOR CONVERTING DISCARDED BEVERAGE CAN INTO WELL TYPE ASH TRAY Filed Sept. 21, 1954 3. Sheets-Sheet 3 FARE? INVENTOR. WILL/AM M PUVOGEL A T TORNEVS Uni d DEVICE FOR CONVERTING DISCARDED BEVER- 5 AGE CAN INTO WELL TYPE ASH TRAY The present invention relates to a device for convert- 15 ing a discarded beverage can into a well-type ash tray.

The use of tin cans for containing beer and carbonated beverages has increased tremendously during recent years and is still on the increase. As a result, empty cans of this character usually are available at parties, picnics, and in many households and other places where smokers are present. It is well known that when several persons are seated at a table where some of the members are smoking discarded cigar and cigarette butts frequently create unpleasant odors. 25

Well type ash trays in general are not new, but such ash trays usually are expensive, and frequently are rather bulky, so that it is diflicult to store a large number of them in a small space.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a combined can cutter and ash tray assembly for converting a discarded beverage container into a well-type ash tray.

The invention also provides an ash tray having a projecting can cutting blade thereon for making a slotted opening diametrically of the top of a discarded, previously opened, beverage can, the blade being arranged to enter the can to serve as an anchor for the ash tray mounted thereon, the ash tray having a tiltable portion for dumping ashes and cigarette butts on the tray through the slotted opening into the can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined can cutter and ash tray with a spreader for separating the severed edges of a can top to provide a slotted opening therein, an ash tray being mounted on the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device for converting a discarded beverage can into a well-type ash tray.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is a perspective view of a device embodying the present invention as it appears when mounted on a conventional tin can.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the ash tray portions of the device being shown, in solid lines, in folded, ash discharging condition, and in broken lines, in open, ash receiving condition. 60

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of a discarded can with a device embodying the present invention in the act of severing the can top diametrically thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the combined cutter blade and handle member of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the pointed lower end of the blade being inserted in a previously made opening in the top of a discarded tin can, a curved wire can spreading member being shown in broken lines, and an ash tray support rivet being shown removed from the blade.

Fig. 5 is a plan view in reduced scale of a discarded tin atent can, the previously made openings being shown outlined in solid lines, the lines along which the can top is cut and bent by the device of the present invention being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the curved wire spreading device for hooking onto an inturned ear of a discarded tin can and for spreading apart the marginal portions of the can top on opposite sides of the line of can top severance, a triangular ear formed during the original openin of the can being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 7 is a rear elevational view of the can top spreading wire device shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the assembled device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the ash tray portions thereof being shown in open ash receiving condition.

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of the folding ash tray structure alone.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a corrugated wire cigarette support.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the invention in the act of cutting and bending a can top for admission of the cutting blade as an anchor therein,

the device being shown in broken lines in its position of initial insertion into the can, and in solid lines at the completion of a can top severing stroke, a portion of the can being broken away.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of the can top cutting and bending blade shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary left hand elevational view of the lower portion of the device shown in Fig. 12, a portion of the can being broken away, and an ear of the broken away portion being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of the device of Figs. 11 and 13 after the completion of the can top severing stroke at the point where the enlarged rolled upper portion of the cutting blade is being forced downwardly through the severed can top to spread apart the severed edges thereof, the can being shown in section.

Fig. 15 is a left hand elevational view of Fig. 14, a portion of the can being broken away.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a can showing the device tilted so as to position the spreading-roll portion of the blade in vertical alignment with the triangular contents removing hole in one side of the can to facilitate removal of the device from the can.

In general, the invention provides a device A for converting a discarded can B of the type used for beer and carbonated beverages into a well type ash tray. The device A comprises a combined cutting blade and support standard 20 having a blade portion 21 thereof formed to enter a previously made triangular hole 22 in the top 23 of the discharged tin can B, the cutting blade portion 21 being formed for severing the can top diametrically and for bending downwardly the severed, side portions of the can top and entering the can to anchor the device to the can. Folding ash

tray portions

24 and 25 of the device are pivotally mounted on the member 2% to rest on top of the can B in which the blade portion 21 is inserted so that ashes and cigarette butts deposited on these tray portions will be discharged downwardly into the can through the severed can top when the tray portions are swung upwardly alongside the upper end of the member 26.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and describing first the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 16 inclusive, beverage cans B of the type for which the present invention is intended usually are opened by cutting one, and sometimes two triangular holes 22 in the can top 23, and bending the triangular tab portion 25 formed in making each hole 22 downwardly to lie along the can side wall 29. When only one such hole is present, the can top may 1 be severed its'entire width from the first hole by the operation of the-device as will be apparent later herein.

The combined cutting blade and support standard has an inverted U-shaped upper portion 30,.which serves as ah-andle. The outer edges of the

legs

21 and 33 of this handle'p ortion 30 are spaced apart to fit within a can 34 are inserted in holesinot-shown) provided centrally.

of the. relatively, overlapping-

ears

33 and 39 of the ash tray

half portions

24 and 25, pivotally to connect these ash-tray portions to the-member 20 and to each other.

- The ash tray portions 24 and are formed with armate marginal rims 40 around their outer peripheries, and

are-shaped, in plan, to conform to the'outline of the U- shaped upper handle portion when folded upwardly alongside it'as shown in solid lines in Fig.2.

The straight inner edges 41 of the

tray portions

24 and 25 are'flushwiththe tray bottoms as best shown in Fig. 1 so that ashes orother litter deposited thereon may be dumped through the'slotted opening made in the can top 23 by the blade21 by folding the

tray portions

24 and 25 upwardly to their positions shown in solid lines in Fig. 2.

"A corrugated, cigarette supportingwire 43 ;may be mounted to'extend transversely across each of the ash tray portions 24- and 25 tov provide cradle support for a cigarette 44. (broken lines Fig. 2). The blade leg 21 of the member-2Q has a substantially straight outer edge 45 with anotch 43 near the lower end thereof, and an armately curved, sharpened inner cutting edge 49.

A notch Sllis provided near the upper end of thearcuately' curved cutting edge'49 of the blade 21 to receive the reversely bent upper end portion 51 of a can top spreaderwire 52 (Figs. 6and 7). The spreader wire 52 is mounted on the blade 21 spaced slightly back from and conforming to'the curved cutting edge 49. The upper end of the spreader wire 52 is tapered to a generally Wedge shape to facilitate withdrawing the device from a can after use. 7

The lower end portions 54 of the curved spreader wire 52'are bent todiverge angularly as shown in Figs.- 6 and 7, and are provided with notches 55 therein, the lower edges of these notches being disposedat an acute angle to each other to conform to, and to receive therein, the side :edges 58 of one of the triangular tabs 28'cut from the can top 23 when opening it.

:T he spreader wire52 is secured to the lower end of the blade portion 21 by a wire ring 59 which encircles the lower end of the blade portion 21 and the two sides 'of the spreader-wire 52 directly above the'divergent portions 54.(Fi'gs.'6 and 7); The wire ring59 fits into the notch 43 .providednear the lower end of the blade portion 21 to retain the ring 59 against displacement.

In using the device A'the lower end of'the blade portion 21 with the spreader wire 52 thereon is inserted through a triangular opening 22 (Fig. 5) in the top of a can B, and the notches 55 in the divergent lower end wardly into the can to force the short leg 33 of the member '20 down into the can so as to position the

tray portions

24 and 25 in their, outwardly swung, ash receiving condition as shown in Fig. 1 and in broken lines in Fig. 2 closely against the upper end of the can B. In such position, the unrimmed edge 41 of each ash tray portion overlies the diametrical hole made by the blade 21 in the can top.

With the device thus mounted, either or both of the ash

tray portions

24 and 25 may be swung upwardly toward their solid line position of Fig. 2 to cause their contents to gravitate downwardly through the opening provided by the separation of the severed

edge portions

61 and 62 of the can top. V

Afteruse the device A maybe withdrawn from'the can, it being preferable after withdrawing it sufliciently to free the short leg 33 from the can tomove the entire device A toward the rightas viewed in Fig. 3 so asto align the wedge shaped upper end 51 of the spreader wire 52 with the right hand triangular opening 22, in the can, which provides adequate clearance for withdrawing the 1wire 52 without forcing it. Howevenif preferred, the devicemay .be withdrawndirectly upwardly so as to draw.

' the wire 52'between the inwardly bent edges of the can top, in which case the Wedge shaped upper end portion 51 of'the wire'will spread the can top edges sufiiciently to permit its withdrawal.

In the modified form of the invention Cshown inFigs; 12 to 16 inclusive, a combined blade and support standard 70 is generally similar to the functionally corresponding portion 20 of the device A shown in Figs. 1' to 4 inclusive.

Folding ash tray portions 71 and 72 ofthe device-C also may be similar to thoseshown at '24 and 25 in Figs. 1 to 3, 8 land 9. The cutting blade leg 73 'of'the device B however, is modified substantially from the blade leg 21 of the device A. The blade leg 73 has a straight por- 1 tion 74 with an inverted U-shaped handle portion 75 On is notched at 79 and is bent at right angles 'at 80. The

- metal is twisted at 81 so that the notch 79 is directed upwardly as shown in Figs. 15 and l6'when the/device is used to sever the top of an upright can D.

portions 54 of the spreader wire52 are hooked onto the can tab 28 depending from the outer side of theopening 22. With the zone of engagement between the wireportions54 and the can tab 23 as a fulcrum, the entire. device the severed edges of the can top, thereby bending downwardly the

marginal portions

61 and 62 of the can top on opposite sides of the line of severance 60.

.The device A then is swung back to upright. position,

The-notch 79 engages the triangular tab 82 of the previously opened can D and the sharpened curved cutting edge 77 severs the can top diametrically as the device'C is swung from its broken line toward its solidline position of Fig. 12.

A can cover spreader roll 84 is formed from an integral, upwardly extending tab 85 .on the upper edge of the blade portion 78 so that as the device C is swung. downwardly beyond its cutting position to the positionshown'in Figs. 14 and 15, this spreading roll 84 will beforced between the marginal can portions 87 and 88 (Figs. 14, 15 and '16) on oppositesides of the diametrical line of severance,'and

in so doing will bend these marginal can top portions.

downwardly to provide a slot'therebetween for receiving the contents of the ash tray portions 71 and 72 when dumped therein by folding up the tray portions as described previously herein for the trays 24-and 25 (Figs.-

1 and 2).

Upon completion of the top severing and fiange 'spread- .ing'stroke of the device C, it will be in substantiallyiupright position as shown in Figs. 14 and '15, and'thereupon maybe pushed directly downwardly into the can to position the tray portions 71 and'72 on the upperend of the canin the same manner as that shown in Fig. 1

for the 'device A described previously herein. Thedevice C then maybe used inthe same manner as'that assuming that the can B is upright, and is-pusheddowndescribed for' theidevice -A.

When it is desired to remove the device C from the can D the entire device may be swung in a counterclockwise direction and then drawn bodily toward the left hand side of the can as shown in Fig. 16 to position thespreader roll 84 directly beneath one of the original triangular holes 89 in the can D. The entire device C then may be lifted upwardly to withdraw the spreader roll 84 through the hole 89. However, the device may, if preferred, be withdrawn straight upwardly, forcing the bending roll 84 upwardly between the bent

marginal flange portions

87 and 88 of the can top.

The device comprises a simple, extremely inexpensive device which permits rapid conversion of a discarded beverage can into a well-type ash tray which may contain liquid for quenching any smoldering cigar or cigarette butts which may be deposited therein. Since the can will be displayed prominently during such use, as well as any ad which may be displayed on the sides of the

handle portions

30 and 75, the device serves also as a valuable advertising novelty.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. For combination with a discarded beverage can of predetermined size having a triangular opening in the top thereof with the triangular tab from said opening bent downwardly to lie alongside the wall of the can, a device for converting a can into an ash tray comprising a flat plate-like body, an inverted U-shaped handle portion formed on the upper end of the body with the sides of v the handle spaced to fit within the can, a downwardly ex- I on the body portion at the juncture of the blade and handle portions, adjacent terminal edges thereof being disposed directly above the diametrical line of severance of the top of the can when the blade is inserted fully into an upright can.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the ash trays are shaped to conform to the outline of the handle portion when folded upwardly to lie alongside said handle portion.

3. A device for converting into a well-type ash tray a discarded beverage can having a triangular opening at a side of the top thereof with the tab cut from the opening bent downwardly alongside the wall of the can, said device comprising a body member having an upper handle portion and a downwardly projecting blade portion, hook means adjacent the lower end of the blade portion forengaging the triangular can flap 'to fulcrum the device thereon for swinging the cutting edge of the blade downwardly to sever the can top diametrically thereof, edge spreading means mounted rearwardly of the cutting edge of the blade to spread apart the diametrically severed edges of the can top, an ash tray tiltably mounted on the body between the handle and the blade portion to overlie the can top when the blade is inserted its full length into an uprightv can, a terminal edge of the tray being positioned substantially in the plane of the blade to overlie the hole in the can top formed by severing it and spreading the severed edges thereof, whereby the contents of the tray may be gravitated into the latter hole by tilting the tray about its pivotal axis.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the edge spreading means comprises a reversely bent wire, the reverse bend of said wire being inserted in a notch provided therefor in the blade at the upper end of the sharpened edge portion thereof, and a wire loop encircling the lower ends of the wire and the blade to bind said wire ends to the blade.

5. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the edge spreading means consists of a widened bent portion of the blade itself rearwardly of the cutting edge of the blade.

6. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the edge spreading means consists of a tab .carried by the rear edge of the blade and curled to form a roll substantially wider than the blade thickness.

7. A device for converting into a Well-type ash tray a discarded beverage can having a triangular opening at a side of the top thereof with the tab cut from the opening bent downwardly alongside the wall of the can, said device comprising a body member having an inverted, U- shaped upper handle portion of an external width less than the internal diameter of a can of predetermined size, for which the device is intended, and a downwardly projecting blade portion formed as an extension of one leg of the handle portion, the lower end of the blade portion being formed for entering the triangular hole in the can top, notched means adjacent the lower end of the blade portion formed for hooked engagement with the triangular turned down can flap to provide a fulcrum for swinging the cutting edge of the blade downwardly to sever the can top diametrically thereof, edge spreading means mounted rearwardly of the cutting edge of the blade to spread apart the diametrically severed edges of the can top, an ash tray tiltably mounted on the body between the handle and the blade portion to overlie the can top when the blade is inserted its full length into a can, a terminal edge of the tray being positioned substantially in the plane of the blade to overlie the hole formed in the can top by severing it and spreading the edges thereof, whereby the contents of the tray may be gravitated into the latter hole by tilting the side of the tray remote from the hole upwardly.

8. For combination with a discarded beverage can of predetermined size having a triangular opening in the top thereofwith the triangular tab from said opening bent downwardly along the wall of the can, a device for converting the can into an ash tray comprising; a blade portion of a size for insertion into the can, a hook on the blade for insertion into the triangular can opening for engaging the triangular can. tab to fulcrum thereon for swinging the device thereabout, a sharpened cutting edge on said blade for severing the can top diametrically as the device is swung about said fulcrum to carry the cutting edge downwardly into the can, a can top spreading element on the blade rearwardly of the cutting edge thereof for spreading the severed edges of the can top apart, thereby to widen the slot formed in the can top by the blade sufficiently to pass a discarded cigarette therethrough, an ash tray mounted transversely of the upper end of the blade for resting on the can top when the blade is inserted fully into the can, an edge of the tray being disposed alongside and above the slot in the can top whereby, upon a predetermined tilting of the ash tray, ashes and cigarette butts thereon will gravitate therefrom through the slot in the can top into the can.

9. For combination with a discarded beverage can of predetermined size having a triangular opening in the top thereof with the triangular tab from said opening bent downwardly along the wall of the can, a device for converting the can into an ash tray comprising; a planar blade portion of a size for insertion into the can, a hook on the blade for engaging the triangular can tab to fulcrum thereon for swinging the device thereabout, a

ing downward tilting of the'tray toa position at right angles to'the blade-whereby the tray rests on thecan top when the blade is inserted fully into the can, 'the tray terminating. along one edge of and above theslot in the can top whereby, upon :an upward tilting of. the tray, 15

ashes and cigarette"buttstheredn will gravitate therefrom through'the slotinthe can top into the can.

10. 'An'arrangemen't according to 'claim- 9 v lherein itwo similarash traymembers are similarly mounted on 'oppg- '5 site sides'of the slot and are tilt'able in oppositel direcif tions-toward each'other. V V M h References Cited in the file of this 5 patent i T UNITED STATES PATE'NTsj J 912,411 Putney Feb. 16,-1909- 973,930 Fink Oct. 25, 1910 2,129,915 DuPont -Sept.. 13,1938 2,158,770 Bartlett May 16, 1939 r Gordenier July 11, 1939