WO2023119219A1

WO2023119219A1 - Ashtray

Info

Publication number: WO2023119219A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/062675
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan ARNOUTS
Original assignee: Arnouts Stefan
Priority date: 2021-12-23
Filing date: 2022-12-22
Publication date: 2023-06-29
Also published as: BE1030083B1; BE1030083A1

Abstract

Ashtray for extinguishing and collecting cigarette butts (2), characterised in that the ashtray (1) comprises a container (3) in which a feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11) is provided, whereby the smallest diameter of the feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11) is equal to the diameter of a cigarette (2) or deviates maximum thirty percent therefrom or whereby the feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11) is provided with clasping means (15), in such a way that after insertion of a cigarette butt (2) in the feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11), the cigarette butt (2) remains wedged or clasped in the feed-through opening (4) or in the shaft (11) such that the internal volume (7) of the container (3) is closed and in this way a first seal (8) is formed.

Description

Ashtray

The present invention relates to an ashtray.

In particular, the invention is intended for extinguishing and collecting cigarette butts .

Cigarette butts are understood to mean wholly or partly smoked, but still smouldering, cigarettes . However, the invention is also applicable for collecting already extinguished cigarettes .

The ashtray can be portable, but this is not necessary.

Ashtrays or pocket ashtrays for collecting cigarette butts are known.

A disadvantage is that saidd ashtrays insufficiently extinguish the cigarette butts before they are collected. The cigarette butts still smoulder in the ashtray resulting in a fire hazard and still spread annoying smoke for a long time .

Another disadvantage is that the known pocket ashtray is a separate item that one always has to have on oneself, together with the traditional cigarette packet .

It is therefore easily forgotten and it also takes up extra room in a trouser or coat pocket, handbag and the like . To this end, the invention relates to an ashtray for extinguishing and collecting cigarette butts, whereby the ashtray comprises a container in which a feed-through opening or shaft is provided, whereby the smallest diameter of the feed-through opening or shaft is equal to the diameter of a cigarette or deviates maximum thirty percent therefrom or whereby the feed-through opening or shaft is provided with clasping means, in such a way that after insertion of a cigarette butt in the feed-through opening or shaft, the cigarette butt remains wedged or clasped in the feed-through opening or in the shaft such that the internal volume of the container is closed and in this way a first seal is formed.

This has the advantage that the cigarette butt is sufficiently or even completely extinguished before it is collected in the container. There is no risk of smouldering and annoying smoke is also restricted to an absolute minimum or even completely prevented .

Preferably, the first seal seals off the internal volume of the container practically hermetically. In this way no oxygen supply to the internal volume is possible such that the cigarette butt is extinguished very quickly, In practice, the cigarette smoulders for maximum ten seconds .

Practically hermetically is understood to mean the most hermetic finish feasible in practice .

In a preferred embodiment, the ashtray can be further provided with inserts which are dimensioned or designed such that said inserts can be applied in the feed-through opening or shaft .

The inserts make the diameter of the feed-through opening or shaft narrower such that the ashtray is also applicable for cigarettes with a deviating diameter or for other smoking materials such as cigars or cigarillos .

In a preferred embodiment, the ashtray is provided with a storage volume with an opening for storing cigarettes .

Alternatively, the ashtray can be dimensioned and designed such that the ashtray can be applied or kept in a cigarette packet .

More alternatively, the ashtray can be provided with coupling means for coupling with a cigarette packet .

Such preferred embodiments also have the advantage that the ashtray and the unused or fresh cigarettes can be transported together in one piece .

In a preferred embodiment, the container is executed in two halves or the container is provided with a hatch or the like such that the content of the container can be emptied easily and the container is easy to clean .

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a few preferred embodiments of an ashtray according to the invention are described hereinafter by way of an example, without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a feed-through opening according to the invention; figure 2 shows a cross-section according to line II-II of figure 1; figure 3 shows a top view of a second alternative embodiment, whereby the ashtray is provided with a shaft with fingers; figure 4 shows a cross-section according to line IV-IV of figure 3; figure 5 shows a top view of a third alternative embodiment , whereby the ashtray is provided with a shaft with a cross hole; figure 6 shows a cross-section according to line VI-VI of figure 5; figure 7 shows a top view of a fourth alternative embodiment , whereby the shaft is closed by a cap at the bottom; figure 8 shows a cross-section according to line VIII- VIII of figure 7 ; figure 9 shows the same figure as figure 8, but whereby a cigarette is inserted in the shaft and the cap is detached from the shaft ; figure 10 shows a top view of a fifth alternative embodiment, whereby the shaft is provided with elastic or swelling material; figure 11 shows a cross-section according to line XI- XI of figure 10; figure 12 schematically shows a perspective view of a sixth alternative embodiment of an ashtray according to the invention; figure 13 schematically shows a perspective view of different inserts for insertion in the shaft .

The ashtray 11 shown in figure 1 for extinguishing and collecting cigarette butts 2 comprises a container 3 in which a feed-through opening 4 is provided, In this case the smallest diameter equals or is closely fitting with the diameter of a cigarette 2. In practice, said diameter can still deviate up to thirty percent from this .

In practice, said diameter will usually be closer to the actual diameter of the cigarette 2. It is not unthinkable that the diameter of the feed-through opening 4 or shaft 11 only deviates ten percent, two percent or even one percent from the diameter of the cigarette 2. It is also not excluded that said diameter is equal to the diameter of a cigarette 2. The diameter of the feed-through opening 4 or shaft 11 is always chosen such that a sufficient clasping of the cigarette butt 2 is obtained.

In this case, the ashtray 1 is provided with a lid 5 in which a protrusion 6 is made .

A cigarette butt 2 is inserted in the feed-through opening 4 according to the direction of the arrow A.

Figure 2 shows the situation whereby the cigarette butt 2 is already inserted in the feed-through opening 4. Initially, the cigarette butt 2 remains wedged, stuck or clasped in the feed-through opening 4 due to the close fit between feed-through opening 4 and cigarette butt 2. The internal volume 7 of the container 3 is hereby practically hermetically sealed from any outside air such that the cigarette butt 2 extinguishes very quickly due to the lack of oxygen in the internal volume 7. In this way the cigarette butt 2 itself creates a first seal 8. In this way there is no risk that the two already inserted cigarette butts 2, as is visible in figure 2, will smoulder .

Practically hermetically sealed is understood to mean the most hermetically sealed finish feasible in practice .

When closing the lid 5, the protrusion 6 causes a further or complete feed-through of the cigarette butt 2 in or through the feed-through opening 4.

In this case, the lid 5 is also provided with a second seal

9 in the form of a ring or gasket 10 which is provided along the outer contour of the lid 5.

Said second seal 9 ensures the internal volume 7 of the container 3 is practically hermetically sealed when the lid

5 is closed.

The top view as shown in figure 3, as is visible in the direction of the arrow A of figure 1, shows an alternative variant whereby the ashtray 1 is provided with a conical shaft 11 which tapers in the direction of the internal volume 7 of the container 3. In this case, the average diameter of the shaft 11 is less than ten millimetres, but in practice can also be less than fifteen or even twenty millimetres .

As is visible in figure 4 in this example, the casing 12 of the shaft 11 is provided with incisions 13 facing away from the internal volume 7 of the container 3. In this way the casing 12 of the shaft 11 shows fingers 14 pointed towards the internal volume 7 of the container 3. Said fingers 14 act as clasping means 15 which, in this case, bend elastically on insertion or feed-through of the cigarette butt. 2 in the shaft 11 or on the other hand mechanically clasp the cigarette butt 2. Said fingers 14 initially clasp or hold the cigarette butt 2 until a next cigarette 2 is inserted. Closing the lid 5 ensures the protrusion 6 partially pushes the cigarette butt 2 through the shaft 11 until a next cigarette butt 2 pushes the previous cigarette butt 2 completely through the shaft . The cigarette butt 2 inserted last is then put out or extinguished against the end or filter end of the already previously inserted cigarette butt 2.

Alternatively, the protrusion 6, on closing the lid 5, ensures a complete feed-through of the cigarette butt 2 through the shaft .

More alternatively, no protrusion 6 in the lid 5 is necessary and a first cigarette butt 2 is only completely fed through the shaft 11 on the insertion of a second cigarette butt 2 in the shaft 11. Indeed, the cigarette butt 2 inserted first initially remains wedged and in this way ensures a good hermetic seal .

In this case the outside or outer contour of the casing 12 is also provided with elastic material 16, for example rubber , which ensures that the free ends of the fingers 14 point to each other in a spring-like or elastic manner . Said elastic material also ensures the internal volume 7 of the container 3 is practically hermetically sealed. In this way no fresh air can be supplied to the internal volume 7 of the container 3 via the spaces between the fingers 14.

In this case, the casing 12 of the shaft 11 on the inner contour or on the inside is made of, or coated with, an elastic and fire-resistant material 16 or swelling material 16 such that the smallest diameter of the shaft 11 is not wider than the diameter of the cigarette butt 2 or is even less than the butt 2 , as is the case in this example .

In the variant as shown in figure 5 the shaft 11 extends cylindrically in the direction of the internal volume 7 of the container 3. In this case the end of the shaft 11 is provided at the bottom with a membrane 17 from an elastic material in which incisions 13 are made .

Alternatively, said membrane 17 can, for example, also be located halfway the shaft 11.

In this example, the incisions 13 form a cross hole 18.

Upon feed-through of the cigarette butt 2, the incisions 13 in the membrane 17 will act as clasping means 15 and initially hold or clasp the cigarette butt 2 on insertion of the cigarette butt 2 in the shaft 11.

It is also clearly visible from figure 6 that the protrusion 6 of the lid 5 is dimensioned and positioned such that said protrusion closely or snugly fits in the shaft 11 when the lid 5 is closed and in this way forms a third seal 19.

In this example, the protrusion 6 is provided with a thickened ring 20 whereas the shaft 11 is provided with a groove 21. Said ring 20 and groove 21 can cooperate with each other or fit in each other in closed condition of the lid 5. In this way an extra good hermetic seal is created whereas the combination of ring 20 and groove 21 can also form a snap closure in this way such that the lid 5 remains closed.

Alternatively, the protrusion 6 can also be provided with the groove 21 and the shaft 11 provided with a thickened ring 20. More alternatively, the ring 20 and groove 21 can also be replaced by a tongue and recess or the like .

In this case, the internal volume 7 of the container 3 and the shaft 11 are made from a non-combust ible or flame retardant material .

Alternatively, the container 3 and/or the shaft 11 can also be coated with aa non-combus tible or flame retardant material . In figures 7 and 8, the container 3 is filled with a gas 22, in this case carbon dioxide gas 22 and the shaft 11 is initially closed with a cap 23. The gas 22 will very quickly extinguish the cigarette butt 2 and due to the lack of oxygen the collected cigarettes 2 in the container 3 cannot smoulder either.

In figure 9, a cigarette butt 2 is inserted in the shaft

11, put out or extinguished by pushing the cigarette butt 2 against the cap 23. Upon sufficient compressive force or pushing the cigarette butt 2 through the shaft 11, the cap

23 will detach and end up in the internal volume 7 of the container 3 .

The shaft 11 is dimensioned and designed such that the cigarette butt 2 seals the internal, volume 7.

Upon complete feed-through of the cigarette butt 2 through the shaft 11, for example by closing the lid 5, a nonreturn valve 24 will ensure that the gas 22 cannot escape from the container 3.

Upon use of carbon dioxide gas, or any other gas that is heavier than air, the non-return valve 24 can be omitted. The density of the heavier carbon dioxide gas ensures that upon temporarily opening the lid 5 the g gas does not immediately escape .

After emptying and/or cleaning the ashtray 1, the gas can be topped up by a user if relevant . In an alternative embodiment, upon insertion of a second cigarette butt 2 in the shaft 1111,, said second cigarette butt 2 can be put out or extinguished against the end or filter end of the first or previous cigarette butt 2 that was still located in the shaft 11. In this embodiment, a non-return valve 24 is not absolutely necessary.

In figures 10 and 11, the casing 12 of the shaft 11 is made of an elastic material 16, or coated therewith on the inner contour.

The shaft 11 is narrower than the diameter of the cigarette butt 2. In this example, the cross-section of the shaft 11 shows an hourglass shaped pattern with wide ends and a narrow middle . In this way a swelling channel is formed as it were . Alternatively, the shaft 11 can also taper conically upward or downward.

After insertion of the cigarette butt 2 in the shaft 11, the elastic material 16 will clasp or hold the cigarette butt 2. As the smallest diameter of the shaft 11 is smaller in this case than the diameter of the cigarette butt 2, the shaft 11 is practically hermetically sealed.

Complete feed-through of the cigarette butt 2 through the shaft 11 is possible after insertion of a next cigarette butt 2. Alternatively, the protrusion 6 in the lid 5 can also ensure a partial or complete feed-through of the cigarette butt 2 in the shaft 11. In figure 12 the ashtray 1 is further provided with a storage volume 25 with an opening 26 for fresh, not yet lit, cigarettes 2.

In this example the lid 5 closes both the feed-through opening 4 or shaft 11 and the opening 26 of the storage volume 25.

However, it is not excluded that two separate lids 5 are provided, one for the storage volume 25 and one for the container 3.

Alternatively, the storage volume 25 and the container 3 can also be provided above and under each other .

More alternatively, the ashtray 1 can be provided with coupling means for coupling the ashtray to a standard cigarette packet . For example, said coupling means can be executed as a wide elastic which is connected to the ashtray and with which the cigarette packet can be attached to the ashtray 1 .

Alternatively, the ashtray 1 can also be dimensioned and designed such that the ashtray 1 fits in a cigarette packet and can be applied or incorporated therein.

The ashtray 1 can be reusable, or alternatively, can be disposable in all described variants, until the internal volume 7 is completely filled with cigarette butts 2 or until all cigarettes 2 in the storage volume 25 or cigarette packet have been smoked or used. In figure 13, the ashtray is further provided with, in this case three, different inserts 27A, 27B and 27C, intended for making the shaft 11 or feed-through opening 4 narrower .

Said inserts 27 are formed as cylinders or cones with a casing, an upper surface and a base .

The upper surface and the base are provided with a passage

28 and the dimensions and shape of the casing are such that after applying the insert in the shaft 11, the insert 27 and its casing fit snugly against the inner contours or inner wall of the shaft 11.

In this case. the passage 28 in the base is always different . The passage 28 in the base of insert 27A is narrower than the passage 28 in the base of insert 27B and the passage 28 in the base of insert 27B is in turn narrower than the passage 28 in the base of insert 27C .

Consequently, with the different inserts 27 , the smallest diameter of the shaft 11 or feed-through opening 4 can be simply adapted. In this way cigarette butts 2 with a deviating or variable diameter can also be clasped, held, and extinguished .

Thanks to the different inserts 27 , as a result of the deviating diameters, the ashtray 1 can also be applied for other smoking materials such as cigars and cigarillos .

Although said inserts 27 have a conical cross-section here, said cross-section can of course also be cylindrical . Alternatively, the inserts 27 can also be made of an elastic material . In this way one insert 27 can for example be used for clasping smoking materials with different diameters .

It is understood that many different embodiments or combinations of embodiments are possible .

As described above, the clasping means can be executed both mechanically and using elastic materials .

It is understood that the invention also refers to an ashtray with a feed-through opening 4 or shaft 11 in which the cigarette butt 2 does not remain wedged, but whereby the feed-through opening 4 or shaft 11 is closed after insertion of the cigarette butt 2.

Sealing the feed- through opening 2 or shaft 11 will quickly extinguish the cigarette butt 2 due to the lack of oxygen supply. Preferably, in this case the inside of the shaft 11 or the internal volume 7 of the container 3 is made from, or coated with, a non-combustible or flame retardant material .

The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but an ashtray according to the invention can be realised in all kinds of forms and dimensions, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims.

1.- Ashtray for extinguishing and collecting cigarette butts (2), characterised in that the ashtray (1) comprises a container (3) in which a feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11) is provided, whereby the smallest diameter of the feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11) is equal to the diameter of a cigarette (2) or deviates maximum thirty percent therefrom or whereby the feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11) is provided with clasping means (15), in such a way that after insertion of a cigarette butt (2) in the feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11), the cigarette butt (2) remains wedged or clasped in the feed-through opening (4) or in the shaft (11) such that the internal volume (7) of the container (3) is closed and in this way a first sea.L (8) is formed.

2.- Ashtray according to claim 1, characterised in that the first seal (8) hermetically seals the internal volume (7) of the container (3) .

3.- Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the shaft (11) extends cylindrically or conically in the internal volume (7) of the container (3) .

4.- Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the diameter of the feed- through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) is less than ten millimetres .

5. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the casing (12) of the shaft (11) is provided with incisions (13) facing away from the internal volume (7 ) of the container (3) in such a way that the casing (12 ) of the shaft (11) shows fingers ( 14 ) that act as clasping means (15) , said fingers (14 ) pointing towards the internal volume (7 ) of the container (3) and elastically bending upon insertion or feed-through of a cigarette butt (2 ) in the shaft (11) .

6. - Ashtray according to claim 5, characterised in that the outside of the casing (12) of the shaft (11) is provided with an elastic material ( 16) which ensures that the free ends of the fingers (14 ) point toward each other in a spring-like or elastic way and also ensure a hermetic sealing of the internal volume (7 ) of the container (3) .

7 . - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the inside of the casing (12) of the shaft (11) is made from, or coated with, an elastic material ( 16) or a swelling material, such that the smallest diameter of the shaft (( 1111) is equal to or less than the diameter of the cigarette (2) .

8. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) is provided with a membrane (17 ) with one or more incisions (13) .

9. - Ashtray according to claim 8 , characterised in that the incisions (13) in the membrane ( 17 ) take on the form of a cross hole ( 18 ) .

10. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the membrane (17 ) is made of an elastic material (16) .

11. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the ashtray (1) is further provided with an insert (27 ) , said insert (27 ) being formed as a cylinder or cone with a casing, an upper surface and a base, whereby the base and the upper surface are provided with a passage and whereby the dimensions and shape of the casing are suuch that after insertion in the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11 ) , it fits snugly against the outer contour of the feed-through opening (4 ) or against the inner wall of the shaft (11) and that the passage of the base and/or the passage of the upper surface makes the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11 ) narrower for extinguishing cigarette butts (2) with a deviating diameter.

12. - Ashtray according to claim 11 , characterised in that the ashtray (1) is further provided with several inserts (27 ) , of which the diameter of the passage in the base and/or the upper surface of one insert (27 ) differs from the passage in the base and/or the upper surface of another insert (27 ) for extinguishing cigarette butts (2) with different diameters .

13. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the internal volume (7 ) of the container (3) is filled with a gas (22) , for example carbon dioxide gas .

14. - Ashtray according to claim 13, characterised in that the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) is initially closed with a cap (23) , whereby a first cigarette butt (2) is put out and/or extinguished against the cap (23) and whereby the cap (23) ends up in the internal volume (7 ) of the container (3) upon partial or complete feed-through of the first cigarette butt (2) through the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) .

15. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) is provided with a non-return valve (24 ) .

16. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that upon insertion of a second cigarette butt ((2 ) in the feed- through opening (4 ) or shaft ( 11) , said second ciggarette butt ( 2 ) is put out and/or extinguished against the end or filter end of a first cigarette butt (2) which was already located in the feed- through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) .

17. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the ashtray ( 1 ) is provided with a lid (5) which at least closes the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) and forms a second seal ( 9) in this way .

18. - Ashtray according to claim 17 , characterised in that the second seal ( 9) is executed as a ring or a gasket ( 10) which is provided along the contour of the lid ( 5) .

19. - Ashtray according to claim 17 or 18 , characterised in that the second seal ( 9) ensures a hermetic seal of the internal volume (7 ) of the container ( 3) when the lid ( 5) is closed.

20. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims 17 to 19, characterised in that the lid (5) is provided with a protrusion (6) , whereby said protrusion (6) is dimensioned and positioned such that said protrusion closely fits in the feed-through opening (4) or shaft (11) when the lid ( 5) is closed and in this way forms a third seal (19) .

21. - Ashtray according to claim 20, characterised in that the protrusion ( 6) is provided with a thickened ring (20) and that the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) is provided with a groove (21) or vice versa, whereby the thickened ring (20) may correspond or cooperate with the groove (21 ) in closed condition of the lid (5) .

22. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the internal volume (7 ) of the container (3) and/or the shaft (11) are made from, or coated with, a non-combustible or flame retardant material .

23. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the ashtray ( 1) is provided with a storage volume (25) with an opening (26) for storing cigarettes (2) .

24. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims 17 to 23, characterised in that the aforementioned lid (5) closes both the feed-through opening (4 ) or shaft (11) in the first container (3) and the opening (26) of the storage volume

(25) .

26. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims 1 to 23, characterised in that the ashtray (1) is provided with coupling means for coupling with a cigarette packet, for example coupling means in the form of a wide elastic.

27. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the container (3) is executed in two halves or is provided with a hatch for emptying the container (3) .

28. - Ashtray according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the dimensions of the ashtray (1) are such that said ashtray can be applied in a cigarette packet .