US2973879A

US2973879A - Ash tray

Info

Publication number: US2973879A
Application number: US11733A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lloyd E Darst
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-02-29
Filing date: 1960-02-29
Publication date: 1961-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 1978-03-07

Description

March 7, 1961 1.. E. DARST 2,973,879

ASH TRAY Filed Feb. 29, 1960 INVENTOR.

LLOYD E. DARST irromva x ASH TRAY Lloyd E. Darst, 330 6th Ave., Santa Cruz, Calif.

Filed Feb, 29, 1960, Ser, No. 11,733 i 3 Claims. or 220-205 The present invention generally relates to an ash tray and more particularly to an ash tray which will snuff out lighted cigarette butts inserted therein, thus providing a fireproof and odorless ash tray.

One of the major problems in ash tray construction is the frequency of the cigarette butts or similar articles already in an ash tray being ignited when a lighted butt is deposited into the tray which creates an extremely dangerous fire hazard and also produces unpleasant odors in the surrounding area. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to overcome this problem by providing a receptacle for the cigarette butts which is air tight for snufling out any lighted cigarette butts and preventing fire from occurring.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ash tray in accordance with the preceding object in which novel means is provided for maintaining the receptacle in air tight condition, but yet permitting the insertion of cigarette butts in a simple, easy and efiicient manner.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an exemplifying embodiment of this invention, from the appended claims and from the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ash tray with portions broken away for illustrating the construction thereof; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the ash tray illustrating the same in tilted position with a cigarette butt entering the receptacle.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the ash tray of the present invention which includes a generally cylindrical receptacle or container 12. The receptacle 12 is provided with a cover 14 which is generally dome shaped and the periphery thereof has a depending flange 16 telescopically engaged over the open top end of the receptacle 12. The flange 16 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed bayonet slots 18 for receiving outwardly extending pins or projections on the receptacle thereby detachably mounting the cover on the receptacle.

Mounted on the cover 14 is a shallow tray or funnel 20 having an upwardly curved peripheral edge 22. The funnel 20 is secured to the cover 14 in overlying relation by soldering or some equivalent fastening means. A transverse strap 24 extends diametrically across the tray with the ends thereof being secured to the edge 22 as by soldering or the like. The strap 24 has a plurality of depressed generally U-shaped grooves 26 therein for receiving and retaining a cigarette 28 in a position overlying the tray 20 in spaced relation. A handle knob or spool 30 is mounted centrally of the strap by virtue of a fastener 32 extending therethrough for provid ing a handle for manipulating the ash tray in a manner described hereinafter.

A vertically extending tubular member 34 extends through the funnel 20 and the cover 14 with the lower end curving laterally and having a laterally opening discharge opening 36 communicating the tubular member 34 with theash tray. The upper end of the tubularmember 34 terminates flush with the inner surface of the funnel for facilitating entry of cigarette buttsinto the tubular member. The discharge opening-has a hinge 38 at the upper edge thereof for pivotally supporting a door 40 that has a weight 42 on the lower end and asealing gasket 44 on the innerisurface for sealing engagement withthe edge of the discharge opening, thereby retaining the receptacle in air tight condition thereby preventing combustion. within the receptacle and'preventing exit of Smoke. and 1 fumes The, cigarette butts are discharged from the tubular member 34 into the receptacle by grasping the handle and tilting the entire assembly to one side whereby the door 40 will swing outwardly due to the weight 42 and the hingle 38 at the top edge. The entire cover 14 may be removed for ease of dumping the contents of the receptacle.

It is understood that this invention is not confined to the particular embodiment shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that this invention may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention, as it is obvious that the particular embodiment shown and described is only one of the many that may be employed to attain the objects of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A tiltable ash tray assembly comprising a normally, vertically arranged receptacle having an open upper end, a cover of dome shaped configuration with depending flanges closing said open upper end of said receptacle, a tubular member having a circular horizontal top opening extending through the cover and terminating in a lower curved end disposed wtihin the receptacle, a concave funnel-like member mounted on said cover with the upper end of the tubular member extending through the bottom of the funnel-like member and terminating flush with the inner surface thereof for receiving cigarette butts, said lower curved end of the tubular member being curved laterally and including a vertically disposed discharge outlet, a closure door pivotally mounted on the lower end of said tubular member by a hinge means, a weight mounted on the door and normally urging said door to a vertical closed position, said hinge means being mounted upon said tubular member adjacent the top of said vertical side outlet and pivotally mounting the door for swing movement in a vertical plane, said weight being disposed adjacent the bottom edge of the door and holding the door normally closed for holding cigarette butts in said tubular member as long as said receptacle is in a vertical position, and said closure door pivoting and remaining in a vertical position when said ash tray assembly is tilted from the vertical plane thereby allowing the cigarette butts to fall from said tubular member through the discharge outlet.

27 The ash tray assembly according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle has a flat, circular bottom wall, the upper edge portion of said receptacle has locking means coopcrating with the lower edge portion of said dome shaped cover, the upper edge of the funnel-like member is provided with a diametrically extending strap, said-strap having a hole midway between its ends, and an upstanding handle rigidly secured to said strap by screw means extending through said hole therein and into said handle, said handle facilitating manipulation of said ash tray assembly off its flat bottom wall and to and from an inclined position to permit the open end of said tubular member to move to and from said weighted door while such door remains in a vertical plane.

3. An ash tray assembly comprising a receptacle having a cover closing the upper end thereof, a tubular member extending through the cover and terminating in a nel-like member mounted on said cover with the upper end of the tubular member extending through the bottom of the funnel-like member and terminating with the inner concave surface thereof for receiving cigarette butts, a closure door pivotally mounted on the lower end of the tubular member, a weight being mounted on the door and normally urging said door to a closed position, said lower end of the tubular member curving laterally and includes a vertically disposed discharge outlet, hinge means assembled to said tubular member adjacent the top of said discharge outlet and pivotally mounting the door for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said weight being disposed adjacent the bottom edge of the door for holding the door normally closed to retain cig- 4 I arette butts in said tubular member when dropped therein and said receptacle is in a vertical position, and said door pivoting in a vertical plane when said receptacle assembly is tilted from the vertical thereby allowing the cigarette butts to fall from said tubular member, said cover and funnel-like member being rigidly secured to each other and removably attached to the upper end of the receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 113,417 Bennett et al. Feb. 21, 1939 1,908,279 Baylis May 9, 1933