US2851039A

US2851039A - Combination ash tray and cigarette extinguisher

Info

Publication number: US2851039A
Application number: US575865A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allan J Mcphee; Scaggs Fred
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-04-03
Filing date: 1956-04-03
Publication date: 1958-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 1975-09-09

Description

Sept. 9, 1958 A. J. MCPHEE ETAL 2,851,039

COMBINATION ASH TRAY AND CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHER Filed April s; 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.6 2

Allan J. McP/ree Sept. 9, 1958 A. J. M PHEE ETAL 2,351,039

. COMBINATION ASH TRAY AND CIGARETTEEXTINGUISHER Filed April 3, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Al/an J. McPhee Fred Scaggs IN V ENTORS,

Fig. 4

BY Anon");

United States Patent "ice COMBINATION ASH TRAY AND CIGARETTE EXTINGUISHERV' Allan J. McPhee', Sacramento, andFred Scagg's, Del Paso Heights, Calif.

Application April 3, 1956, Serial No. 575,865

Claims; (CL 131-237) Our invention relates to improvements in combined ash trays and cigarette extinguishers for attachment to the instrument panel of an automobile.

The primary object of our invention is to provide an ash tray for the above purpose embodying means for automatically crushing cigarette butts so as to flattenand thereby completely extinguish the same and obviate flying sparks and damage thereby.

Another object is to provide an ash tray in which a means for crushing the cigarette butts operates with a rolling action to facilitate crushing of the cigarette butts.

Still another object is to provide a combined ash tray and cigarette extinguisher which is easy to install on the instrument panel of an automobile, comparatively foolproof, and inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the t details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming. a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating our improved combined ash tray and cigarette extinguisher attached to the instrument panel of an automobile;

Figure 2- is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3' is. a fragmentary view in plan partly broken away and shown in section of the same;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of a drawer forming the ash tray, and parts carried by said drawer; and

Figure 6 is-a further enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the ash tray and cigarette extinguisher of our invention comprises a rectangular, open top drawer 1, forming the ash tray, and which is provided with an open front end and is slidably fitted in a guide frame 5 for reciprocation therein into and out of a rectangular opening in a rectangular plate 9 adapted to be bolted at its corners, as at 11, to the instrument panel 13 of an automobile with the opening registering with a similar opening 15 provided in the instrument panel 13. Reinforcing

beads

16, 17 are provided on the plate 9 at the top and bottom of the opening. Longitudinal, internal reinforcing flanges 19 are provided on the upper edges of the sides 21 of the drawer 1.

The guide frame 5 extends from the plate 9 through the opening 15 in the instrument panel 13 behind said panel 13 from which it preferably inclined downwardly, as shown, and said frame preferably comprises a pair of rectangular rigid wire, side members 23 having front ends 25 suitably secured as by welding to the plate 9 at opposite sides of the opening 7. Further, the frame 5 2,851,039 Patented Sept. 9, 1958 comprises bottom, rear end, and

topwalls

27, 29, 31 respectively preferably formed of one piece of sheet metal with edges rolled around the side members 23, as at 33, 35, 37 to secure said walls to said members 23, and a pair of vertical side' straps 39 secured to the frames 23, as at 41, in the same manner as said walls. The rear wall 29 forms a stop limiting retraction of the drawer 1.

The automatic cigarette crushing and extinguishing means comprises the following:

A rectangular closure door 43 for the front end of the drawer 1 and for the opening. is hinged at its lower edge, as at 45, to said end for vertical swinging into opened and closed positions, and which, in. the fully retracted positionv of the: drawer 1 fits inthe opening and overlaps the plate 9 at the top edge of the opening to close said opening. 7

A suitable knob 47 is bolted as at-49 to said door 43, and a spring catch51 is provided on the escutc'heon plate 9' for releasably holding the door 43 closed when the drawer 1 is fully retracted and whereby said drawer is held in its fully retracted position.

The door 43 is provided with vertical sideflanges 53 slidably fitted between the sides 21 of the drawer 1- for swinging inwardly and outwardly of the front end 3 of said drawer in overlapping relation-t0 said sides 21- when the door 43 is closed and opened, and said door 43 is provided witha serrated face 55 for a' purpose presently to be described.-

An. upturned lip 57 on the bottom 27 of the drawer 1 atthe front end 3 limits. opening of thedoor 43 so that said door when fully opened inclines" downwardly toward the drawer 1.

The door 43 and its flanges 53 form a chute,designated generally by the: numeral 59, on the front end 3 of the drawer 1 with a serrated. bottom face formed on the door 43,. and which door is swingable downwardly to incline toward drawer. 1 sothat cigarette butts may be placed on. the bottom of the chute formedv by the door 43 and the flanges 53 to roll toward the drawer 1', and said' chute 59 is swingable upwardly into vertical position to correspondingly swingthe door 43 so as to'dump the butts into the drawer. 1.

serrated roller 61' is provided for coaction with=the door 43, or the bottom of the chute 59, in response to upward swinging of said chute to crush cigarette butts and extinguish the same. For this purpose, the roller 61 extends transversely between the fianges 53 and in the chute 59 and is yieldingly mounted to constantly roll against the door 43 or the bottom face of the chute 59, by the following means.

The ends of the rollers 61 are journaled in a roller carrying frame 63 comprising a pair of side bars 54 extending longitudinally in the drawer 1 and chute 59 with said roller journaled between corresponding ends thereof. The other ends of the bars 65 are pivoted on a horizontal transverse rod 67 in the drawer 1 so that the frame 63 is vertically swingable to permit raising and lowering of the roller 61.

The side bars 65, which is to say the frame 63, is longer than the distance between the pivot rod 67 and the hinge 45 of the door 43, or chute 59 so that the roller 61 is spaced a further distance from the pivot rod 67 than the hinge 45 to be lifted by and rolled up the door 43, or the bottom of the chute 59, and swing the frame 63 upwardly in response to upward swinging of said door, or chute.

A pair of substantially upright springs 69 are interposed between the flanges 19 and right angled ears 71 welded, as at 73, to the side bars 65 and urge the frame 63 downwardly so that the roller 61 will roll upon the door 43, or the bottom of the chute 59, when said door,

or chute, is swung downwardly, said springs constantly engaging the roller 61 under pressure with the door 43 or bottom of the chute 59. The tension springs 69 surround guide rods 75 therefor welded, as at 77, to the flanges 19 and the bottom 28 of the drawer 1, said rods extending through slots 79 in the cars 71.

A transverse scraper plate 81 is secured to the side bars 65 and cross connects the same with a front edge83 overlying the roller 61 to prevent cigarette butts from adhering to said roller. 1

The top wall 31 of the frame is spaced from the front end of said frame so that the frame 5 is open directly behind the instrument panel 13 and an electric light bulb 85 with suitable leads 87 is provided on the back of said panel 13 for illuminating the drawer 1 when said drawer is fully retracted. This provides for easily viewing the contents of the drawer 1 through its front end when the door 43, or chute 59, is swung downwardly and the opening uncovered.

In operating our invention, the door 43, or chute 59 is swung downwardly into its limit of downward movement established by the lip 57, to thereby uncover the opening and the front end of the drawer 1, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 and in full lines in Figure 3. This permits the springs 69 to swing the frame 63 downwardly, and the roller 61 to roll down the door 43, or chute 59 into a position adjacent and in front of the hinge 45. Cigarette butts may then be deposited on the door 43, or bottom face of the chute 59 and said door closed swinging chute 59 upwardly until the door closes the opening. In response to such upward swinging of the chute 59, the roller 61 is caused to roll upwardly on the bottom of the chute 59 to roll over the butts and coact with the serrated upper face of the door 43 whereby to crush and extinguish the butts and then release the same to fall into the drawer 1. When too many cigarette butts have been accumulated in the drawer 1 it may be pulled outwardly out of the frame 5 and cleaned out. Cigarette ashes may be deposited in the drawer 1 by way of its front end when the drawer is fully or partly retracted or deposit in the drawer through the top of the drawer when said drawer is advanced sufliciently out of the plate 9.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention 4 to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A combined ash tray and cigarette extinguisher comprising a frame attachable to an automobile instrument panel behind the same, a drawer slidable in said frame through an opening in an automobile instrument panel and having an open front end, a chute having a bottom face and sides, means pivoting said chute to the front end of said drawer for swinging downwardly and upwardly to incline its bottom face downwardly toward said end and vertically in front of said end, respectively, to receive cigarette butts therein when swung downwardly and dump the butts into the drawer when swung upwardly, a roller disposed transversely in said chute, and means in said drawer mounting said roller for rolling upwardly on said face in response to upward swinging of said chute for coaction with said face to crush and extinguish butts deposited on said bottom face before the butts are dumped.

2. The combination of claim 1, said roller mounting means comprising a roller carrying frame pivoted in said drawer for vertical swinging.

3. The combination of claim 1, said roller mounting means comprising a roller carrying frame pivoted in said drawer for vertical swinging, and spring means in said drawer operatively connected to said frame to urge the roller carrying frame downwardly and said roller into engagement with said face.

4. The combination of claim 2, said roller carrying frame including a scraper plate overlying said roller to prevent cigarette butts from adhering to the roller.

5. The combination of claim 2, said roller being spaced a greater distance from the pivot of the roller carrying frame than the pivoting means of said chute so that said roller will be rolled upwardly by said bottom face in response to upward swinging movement of the chute.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jinks May 27, 1952