US3580260A

US3580260A - Ashtray structure

Info

Publication number: US3580260A
Application number: US847782A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert D Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-07-17
Filing date: 1969-07-17
Publication date: 1971-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-25

Abstract

Ashtray structures having large containers to receive the ashes and butts of cigarettes, and the like, wherein the container lid is supported inside of the container wall so that the lid is not dislodged when the container is lifted, the lid having a downwardly and inwardly sloping surface having cigarette supporting notches in an upwardly extending rim located at its lower edge for supporting cigarettes safely, the lid having an opening of limited size therethrough disposed to prevent ashes from blowing from the container. In some forms, snubbers are provided adjacent the ash and butt receptacle space.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert D. Moore 1,745,761 2/1930 Hiering 131/235 8124 Lockheed, Houston, Tex. 77018 1,936,303 11/1933 Jiran 131/233 21 Appl. No. 847,782 2,221,300 11/1940 Kelly 131/231 [22] Filed July 17, 1969 2,250,178 7/1941 Brush 131/240 [45] Patented May 25,1971 2,340,618 2/1944 Schiszler 131/242X Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 2,536,480 1/1951 Wheler 131/242 773,994, Nov. 7,}968, now abandoned. 2,662,532 12/1953 Lyon 131/242 2,950,721 8/1960 Aghnides 131/235 FOREIGN PATENTS 289,727 5/1928 Great Britain 131/231 584 350 1/1947 Great Britain 131/242 [54] ASHTRAY STRUCTURE 3 Claims 5 Drawing Figs. 618,418 2/1949 Great Britain Primary Examiner.loseph S. Reich 52 US. Cl 131/242 I 1 131/235 Attorney-Carl B. Fox,.lr. [51] Int. Cl. ..A24f 19/02,

A24f19/l4 ABSTRACT: Ashtray structures having large containers to [50] Field of Search 131/231, receive the ashes and butts of cigarettes and the like, wherein 242 the container lid is supported inside of the container wall so that the lid is not dislodged when the container is lifted, the lid [56] References Cn'ed having a downwardly and inwardly sloping surface having UNITED STATES PATENTS cigarette supporting notches in an upwardly extending rim D106,l28 9/1937 Shore 13l/240UX located at its lower edge for supporting cigarettes safely, the Dl47,720 10/ 1947 Dean 131/242UX lid having an opening of limited size therethrough disposed to D155,524 10/ 1949 McDonald.. 13l/240UX prevent ashes from blowing from the container. In some Dl70,177 8/1953 Wood l3 1/231X forms, snubbers are provided adjacent the ash and butt recep- 1,678,406 7/1928 Rue 131/237 tacle space.

I I v 6' /37 A23 /46 A /68 Patented "May 25, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Robe/v .5. Moore INVEN'I'OR.

By (M ATTORNEY ASHTRAY STRUCTURE This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 773,994, filed Nov. 7, 1968, entitled ASHTRAY STRUCTURES" and which is now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of the invention is that of container-type ashtrays, which contain ashes and butts within an enclosed receptacle space. Such ashtrays have conventionally been difi'icult to empty and clean, and in many models adapted for placement upon card tables, end tables, and the like, have been of small capacity whereby they must be emptied often, frequently with resultant spilling and blowing of the contents, causing objectionable dirt and odors. Ashtrays of most designs do not include reliable cigarette holding means, with the result that falling out of cigarettes is not infrequent, and placement of cigarettes therein is an attention-requiring step in order to prevent falling or dropping of the cigarette. Ashes frequently blow readily from many ashtrays, making their use dirty and disagreeable. In the case of most ashtrays, either the ashtray is difficult to dissemble for emptying and cleaning, or comes apart unintentionally when moved or lifted causing spillage. The present invention is intended to solve all of these problems, as well as others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to ashtrays each having a dishlike ash and butt container, closed by a cover which includes a cigarette supporting rim adjacent to an ash-receiving opening, the cover being of downwardly inclined form toward the opening whereby cigarettes placed thereon will not be subject to falling therefrom, the cover being supported around its outer periphery, whereby when the container is moved or lifted the cover is not readily dislodged. The container, in some forms, is provided with an upstanding pedestal which terminates upwardly centrally adjacent the cigarette supporting rim of the cover, to provide readily accessible snubbing surfaces from which ashes, burning tobacco, and butts fall directly and unfailingly into the container. If desired, a spiral cigarette holder may be provided, which extends upwardly from the pedestal and augments the cigarette-holding facilities of the aforementioned cigarette-holding facilities of the aforementioned cigarette-holding rim of the cover.

In one form, separate butt and ash, and fire-end, receiving spaces are provided, and butt smoldering is eliminated.

The ashtray may be shaped circularly or may be of other suitable shape, such as square, rectangular, triangular, heart shaped, or of any other regular or irregular straight and/or curved forms.

The objects and advantages of the invention, some of which are specifically pointed out, will appear from the detailed description which follows, and from the showings of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of ashtray according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ashtray of FIG. 1, taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an ashtray similar to that shown in FIGS. 1--2, but of modified form.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of still another preferred form of ashtray according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ashtray of FIG. 4, taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail, the ashtray shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a container body 11 having an upwardly divergent conical surrounding sidewall 12, a flat annular bottom wall 13, and an upstanding conical center portion 14. Body 11 is shown integrally formed, as is preferred, but may be fabricated from separate elements. The bottom may, if desired, be formed as a complete circle, with the conical element 14 mounted centrally thereon. Body 11 may be formed of metal, fireproof plastic, or other suitable fire proof material, or of a combination of such materials.

Cover 16 is of circular annular shape, and is supported around its edge upon recessed ledge 17 extending inwardly unifomtly preferably completely around the interior of container, or dish, 11. Ledge 17 may be discontinuous, but should be provided at sufficient properly deployed lengths around the periphery of cover 16 so that cover 16 does not tilt when pressure is applied at any point or points of its upper surface.

Cover 16 is flat at its peripheral portion 19, which seats upon ledge 17, and interiorly thereof is conically sloped downwardly, to terminate inwardlyat upturned circular rim or flange 20, which has spaced therearound a plurality of cigarette holding slots or notches 22. As shown in FIG. 2, a cigarette 23 placed through one of the notches 22, with its lighted end 25 extending into cover opening 26 within rim 20, above pedestal l4, lies flat, downwardly across the conical upper surface of cover 16, so that the cigarette will not fall off of the cover, even though it might by chance burn diagonally upwardly past the slot 22, which is unlikely, since the slot will usually prevent burning of the cigarette therepast. A loose cigarette on the cover will roll downwardly to against rim 20, to be safely held. As shown, the slots 22 may be inclined from a radial position so that cigarettes held in different slots will not meet at the center, and will not engage wire 30, if same is provided.

Pedestal 14, at its apex 27, may be provided with an opening 28 into which is screwed the lower threaded end of helically spiralled wire 30, in the form of a spring having a lower shank 31, threaded at its lower end, and an upper loop 32. Loop 32 is preferably made large enough to receive a persons finger, for lifting of the ashtray. The ashtray is convenient for use whether or not the spiral wire 30 is provided, as will be clear.

The upper surface of conical pedestal 14 is convenient and useful as a surface against which snub out cigarettes when smoking thereof is completed. After snubbing, the cigarette when released will fall directly into container 11, as will the ashes and ignited paper and tobacco from the snubbed end of the cigarette.

When the ashtray is picked up or moved by grasping opposite outer sides of container 11, the cover will not be accidentally dislodged, as the cover edges are not exposed to the fingers. Preferably, the ashtray is made large enough that cover 16 will support most of the length of a cigarette laid thereacross with an end portion received in one of the slots 22, so that the cigarette will be adequately supported. A diameter of about 6 inches is convenient and adequate. Dish container 11 should be sufficiently deep to have large ash and butt capacity, so that infrequent emptying will be necessary. During lengthy contract bridge or poker sessions, infrequent necessity for emptying is a great convenience.

The normal diameter of a cigarette is about five-sixteenths of an inch. The slots 22 are therefore preferably made five-sixteenths of an inch in width-at their upper ends, but of slightly narrowed, say nine thirty-seconds inch width at their lower ends, the curved bottom ends of the slots being nine sixtyfourths inch in radius. The slight compression of a cigarette placed in a slot will effectively unfailingly hold the cigarette in place in the slot, yet will not so compress the cigarette as to damage it.

The wire 30 should be formed in a helical spiral having angular wire spacings, between turns, of nine thirty-seconds inch, or other dimension slightly less than the cigarette diameter, so that a cigarette placed between adjacent turns of the spiral will be easily inserted yet be firmly but removably held against falling. Wire 30 should be either spring wire (metal or fireproof plastic), or at least sufficiently resilient to holding cigarettes in place as described. As will be evident, cigarettes may be placed at any point along the spiral, several at one time, as each turn of the spiral presents cigarette holding spaces not conflicting with similar spaces of other turns of the helical spiral. When the spiral is provided, cigarettes may be scraped or snubbed thereagainst if desired.

Cigarettes are easily inserted through opening 26 into the container 11, yet, since the container is mostly covered, smoke and odor emissions therefrom are not excessive. Since cover edge 19 preferably fits continuously around ledge 17, smoke and odor leaks around the cover edge will be slight.

Ashes will not be readily blown out of the ashtray, since drafts thereacross will not tend to enter through opening 26 of cover 16. Rim assists in prevention of the entering of drafts into the container.

The upper edge of rim 20 is at a level below the upper rim of container 11, so that a cigarette placed across these two rims, not in a slot 22, will slant downward toward the center of the ashtray, and will not be likely to fall out of the ashtray. Therefore, regardless of the position that a cigarette is placed in the ashtray, it will be safely held and supported, and will not fall therefrom.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the ashtray 110 includes a dishlike container 111 having an upstanding pedestal formation 114 upwardly from its bottom at the center. A circular wall 112 and an annular bottom 113 merge smoothly at their junctures, and with pedestal 114. The annularly formed cover 116, which is sloped downwardly toward its center, rests about its periphery upon the bevelled shoulder 117 forming the upper edge of the container body.

A plurality of circularly spaced pairs of upstanding formations 120 are provided about the inner periphery of cover 116, the elements 120 of each pair being spaced to hold a cigarette securely therebetween. As in the earlier described embodiment, a cigarette laid downwardly inclined upon the cover and held between elements 120 is secure against falling from the ashtray. If desired, a continuous rim having cigarette retaining slots, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, may be provided instead of the elements 120, and the elements 120 may be alternatively provided if desired in the ashtray shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

At its upper end, the pedestal 114 has an upwardly opening recess 125 in its upper end. This recess has a circular horizontal cross section at its upper end and is adapted to receive the burning end of a cigarette inserted thereinto, for the purpose of snubbing out the burning end of the cigarette. Although ashes may remain in the lower end of recess 125 after the snubbing out of one or more cigarettes, it has been found that the recess does not become filled with ashes to be unfit for use in snubbing out of cigarettes. The upper end of pedestal 114 is preferably about level with the upper edge of container body 111, but may if desired be at a higher or lower level.

The underside of pedestal 114 may be hollow as shown in the drawings, or the ashtray may be constructed so that the pedestal is of solid construction, not hollowed at its underside.

In order that the cover will remain securely in place even when the ashtray is grasped from opposite sides, the cover is provided with preferably at least three downwardly extending lugs 127 adapted to bear against the interior face of the container body sidewall to prevent sideways movements of the cover. These should be substantially equally circularly spaced about the underside of the cover to provide protection against sideways movements in any direction.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the ashtray 130 shown therein includes a container body 131 of generally rectangular shape.

integral sidewalls

132, 133, 134, 135 together with integral bottom 136 make up the container body 131. The interior of the container is divided by an upstanding partition 139 formed by merging upwardly

curved walls

140, 141 which proceed from opposite sides of the container bottom to merge together at their upper ends. The partition 139 extends completely across the container, between

sidewalls

134, 135, and is spaced more closely from sidewall 133 and farther from sidewall 132. Therefore, the container space 146 is of larger size than container space 147.

At its inner side, each of the sidewalls 134, has an upwardly facing V-shaped ledge or shoulder 149, these shoulders being of about the thickness of the upper part of the sidewalls and extending therealong their full lengths. Shoulders 149 support the cover of the ashtray when it is placed thereon.

The cover of the ashtray consists of two

end portions

151, 152, in the form of vertical walls or panels, each of which is V- shaped at its lower edge and which rests upon the opposite shoulders 149 of

sidewalls

134, 135. Outer edge portion of angular cover plate 161 rests along the beveled upper edge of sidewall 132, and outer edge portion 164 of angular cover plate 165 rests along the similarly beveled upper edge of sidewall 133. The

plates

161, 165 are integrally formed with the

cover end panels

151, 152 and extend therebetween. Plate 161 covers a substantial portion of the top of space 146, and

plate 165 substantially completely covers the upper opening of space 147. One or more triangular (or other) shaped lugs 168 are provided at each side of the underside of the cover to prevent cover movements off of seats 149 toward

walls

132, 133.

An upstanding rim 170 extends across the inner edge of plate 161 between

end panels

151, 152. A series of spaced cigarette holding notches 171 are formed therein, so that a cigarette laid angularly downwardly across plate 161 and secured in one of the notches 171 is fully supported and will not be likely to fall from the ashtray, similarly as in the embodiment of the invention shown in F 168. 1-3.

Plate 165 has one or more spaced notches 175 from along its lower inner edge, these being provided either in the same number as the cigarette holding notches 171, or in different number. The notches or openings 175 are provided for breaking off of the burning ends of cigarettes and introduction thereof to beneath the plate 165, within space 147. Therefore, space 147 is provided to receive the cigarette fire-ends, which are quickly burned out so that only ashes therefrom remain in space 147. The edge of notches 175 may be used to break off the fire-ends from the butts, the butts being placed into space 146 for storage with the ashes dropped thereinto during the course of the smoking of a cigarette. This prevents continuation of smoke emanation from butts once they have been placed into the receptacle space 146. Ashes from burning cigarettes are introduced downwardly through the opening between the edges of

plates

161, 165 into the receiver space 146.

As in the earlier described embodiments of the invention, the butts and ashes are received into semienclosed spaces from which ashes are not readily blown. The rim 170 prevents drafts from entering the

spaces

146, 147 as do the

end walls

134, 135 and

panels

151, 152. in other words, the openings into

spaces

146, 147 are beneath the upper edges of the ashtray structure, so that winds are effectively blocked from blowing into

spaces

146, 147 to distribute ashes therefrom.

As before, the cover may be readily removed for emptying and cleaning of the ashtrays, and there are no protruding elements once the cover is removed to prevent the emptying of both the ashes and the butts. Again, the ashtrays may be constructed of materials suitable for washing in automatic dishwashers, and all areas of the ashtrays are thoroughly cleaned in automatic dishwashers as there are no confined spaces in either part of the ashtray. The cover is not readily accidentally dislodged, since the

panels

151, 152 are completely covered at their outer sides by the

sidewalls

134, 135, and the handling of the ashtray by

sidewalls

132, 133 is also not likely to dislodge the cover as the cover does not extend outwardly from these sidewalls.

An important feature of the ashtrays is that they may be readily opened, emptied, and cleaned. The cover 16, even though not susceptible to accidental dislodgment, is easily removed and replaced. The ashtrays have no spaces within which ashes and butts may be entrapped, as it is of open flaring design at all surfaces. Therefore, the ashtray is suitable for washing in an ordinary automatic dishwasher, and even if washed by hand requires no special steps for cleaning other than are ordinarily used for dishes.

The metals and plastics of which the ashtray may be made are not susceptible to breakage, so that the ashtrays will be of long useful life.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, many modifications thereof may be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to protect by Letters Patent all forms of the invention falling within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. An ashtray comprising container body means having a bottom wall means and surrounding sidewall means, upwardly facing ledge means disposed around the interior side of said sidewall means, cover means removably resting upon said ledge means at its edge portions and being surrounded outwardly by said sidewall means, said cover means having opening means therethrough and sloping downwardly from said edge portions to said opening means, and cigarette engaging means adjacent said opening means, partition means across the interior of said container body means dividing the interior thereof into two receiver spaces, said opening means through said cover means extending along said partition means to one side thereof to provide access into one of said receiver spaces, said cover means being sloped downwardly toward said opening means at both sides thereof, said cigarette engaging means being disposed along the edge of said opening means through said cover means at the side of said opening means opposite said partition means, said opening means through said cover means having portions opening into the other of said receiver spaces.

2. The combination of claim 1, said cover means having vertically disposed wall portions at opposite sides thereof at end portions of said opening means, said container body means having upwardly facing seat means at opposite portions of the interior sidewall faces to engage the lower edges of said vertically disposed wall portions of said cover means.

3. An ashtray comprising container body means having a bottom wall means and surrounding sidewall means, upwardly facing ledge means disposed around the interior side of said sidewall means, cover means removably resting upon said ledge means at its edge portions and being surrounded outwardly by said sidewall means, said cover means having opening means therethrough and sloping downwardly from said edge portions to said opening means, and cigarette engaging means adjacent said opening means, partition means dividing the interior of said container body means into two receiver spaces, said opening means through said cover means extending along said partition means to one side thereof to provide access into one of said receiver spaces, said cigarette engaging means being disposed along the edge of said opening means through said cover means which is spaced by said opening means from said partition means, said opening means through said cover means having portions opening into the other of said receiver spaces.