GB966007A - Self-cleaning ash tray - Google Patents

Abstract

966,007. Smokers' ashtrays. A. M. McKENZIE. June 18, 1963, No. 24133/63. Heading A2M. An ashtray comprises a receptacle 10 having a top opening 23, a refuse supporting plate 46 mounted in the receptacle beneath the opening, the plate having a discharge opening 48 normally out of register with the top opening, a scraper blade 66 within the receptacle adapted to engage a surface of the plate, and drive means for imparting relative rotation between the plate 46 and the plate 66 whereby smoker's refuse drops through the discharge opening 48 into the receptacle. The openings 23 are provided in a cover 20, having a rim 21 and a centre portion 22, which is removably latched at 25 to the base 11 of the receptacle. The centre portion 22 of the cover has a rectangular slot 33 through which projects a starter bar 34. The rim 21 has lugs 38 to which is secured a platform 40 having a verticle bearing 42. A plate 46 having a spindle 47 journalled in the bearing 42 is rotatably mounted on the platform 40. The plate 46 has a pair of discharge openings 48 and a depending rim 52 provided with an internal ring gear 53 which is connected by gearing 84 to an electric motor 52. The plate 46 is free to rotate about a pin 56 which slidably extends into a cylindrical bore of the spindle 47, the pin 56 being provided with a spindle 58 on which is mounted an electric contact 22 for connecting the motor 82 to a battery 88 on depression of the starter bar 34 against the action of the spring 73. Mounted above the plate 46 is a blade holder 60 having arms 64 to which are attached flexible scraper blades 66. When the bar 34 is depressed to energize the motor 82, the plate 50 rotates in the direction shown by the arrow 87 in Fig. 7. The motor remains energized, until the plate has rotated through 180 degrees by means of a metallic contact ring 106 on a collar 105 non-rotatably secured to the plate spindle 47.