US20070107742A1

US20070107742A1 - Hang-It-Up-Astray

Info

Publication number: US20070107742A1
Application number: US11/272,942
Authority: US
Inventors: Diane Rowe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-15
Filing date: 2005-11-15
Publication date: 2007-05-17

Abstract

The Hang-It-Up-Astray is in the shape of a box or cup but with a long back flap used to hang it up to any surface and be closed for portability. It is made of a flexible material which is non-breakable. This ashtray has a specially designed cigarette holder strip that instantly smothers the burning end of the cigarette. The Hang-It-Up-Astray's most original feature is that it can be attached and unattached easily to any flat surface such as a wall, the edge of a table, chair and railings. It is also very portable as it can be closed completely so as to not spill its contents. The Hang-It-Up-Astray can be made in two parts the carry pouch which is made of any light material and the inserted part possibly made of a light and highly flame resistant plastic to meet fire safety codes and durability.

Description

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

This invention is an astray that can be hung up anywhere inside a structure or on the outside of any structure for the safe disposal of the remaining cigarette butt. This astray was designed to eliminate the litter of cigarette butts mainly outside since new smoking laws prohibit smokers to smoke inside commercial, industrial and business establishments.
The specially designed pockets in which the cigarette is inserted is designed to encourage smokers to use them as the pocket is designed to instantaneously extinguish the cigarette so as the remainder of the cigarette can be saved so that the smoker can finish smoking the remainder of the cigarette at a later time and to promote the safe disposal of the unwanted cigarette end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide safe disposal of the remaining end of a cigarette in as many outdoor areas as to help eliminate the litter of cigarette butts in our natural environments. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention a hang it up anywhere ashtray that can be affixed to any wall or flat, circular or triangular surface means that it can be hung at or near the entrance of any building. It can be hung on posts, garbage containers, railings on patios, table and chair edges etc. The flexible heat-resistant material defined by its shape and cigarette inserting holder pockets with the back flap that closes to keep the inside contents from spilling out when porting makes this invention easy to dispose its contents and the holder pockets feature of extinguishing the cigarette instantaneously a much desirable convenience for smokers to save a half smoked cigarette for later as the cost of tobacco products keep rising and to encourage smokers to stop littering outside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the invention and how the cigarette holding pockets are affixed to the inside of the ashtray and the possible shape of the ashtray.
FIG. 2 shows the back view of the ashtray and the approximate position of the Velcro mate which can be folded to the opposite Velcro mate on the front of the ashtray.
FIG. 3 shows the V-shape design of the cigarette holder pockets strip that is attached inside the ashtray.
FIG. 4 shows how the cigarettes are inserted into the holder pockets.
FIG. 5 shows how the back flap of the ashtray is folded over to enclose the ashtray for portability and disposal of its contents.
FIG. 6 shows the opposite Velcro mate that is attached to any surface which holds up and hangs the ashtray to this piece of Velcro.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention relates to a flexible, durable, portable, safer ashtray. Most conventional ashtrays up to date are made of glass or metals, and most have some sort of ridge with an indent to hold the cigarette unsafely in which the cigarette continues to burn, and emit smoke. In these types of ashtrays once the cigarette burns to a specific length the cigarette often falls out of the ashtray causing a lot of cigarette burns and in some cases start fires. The cigarette holder pockets (FIG. 3) are designed to extinguish the cigarette amber end instantaneously to help eliminate the possibility of a burning cigarette starting a dangerous fire.
The Hang-it-up ashtray is made of a flexible material sewn together in the shape of a rectangular box or a round cylinder cup shape with the protruding rounded back flap (FIG. 2). The back flap has a strip of Velcro so it can be easily attached to its opposite Velcro mate (FIG. 6). The opposite Velcro mate (FIG. 6) is the same size strip of Velcro that can be glued or affixed to any surface such as a wall and any edge. This strip of Velcro on the back flap and on the pertaining surface makes it easy to attach the ashtray or remove it from its stationary location.
The back flap of the Hang-it-up ashtray can be folded over to the front and secured to an other strip of opposite mate Velcro that is on the front panel of the box or cylinder shaped ashtray (FIG. 1) for secure closing of the ashtray (FIG. 5). The secure closer of the ashtray makes it easy to carry safely without spillage of its contents. This makes it extremely portable and can be carried in a purse, bag, any pockets. In addition the can be piggy-backed or chained together as to carry many ashtrays at the same time, this method would be used more often for commercial establishments making it easy to remove and replace the ashtrays. Example setting; a restaurant or pub with an outdoor patio.
The most important feature of the Hang-It-Up Astray is the strip that is socially designed to hold the cigarette securely and safely in place (FIG. 4. The strip is located on the inside back portion of the ashtray (FIG. 1), inlaid at the very start of the side edges or in the proximity of that area of the pouch or insert so it is set at the edge of the walls (FIG. 1). This strip is positioned so as to make it easy to slip or place the cigarette into the snug but easy to insert holder pocket (FIG. 4).
These holder pockets have a circular shape at the top a little bigger than that of the diameter of the cigarette (FIG. 4, and is slightly tapered into a half V-shape at the bottom of the strip preventing the cigarette from slipping threw (FIG. 3). This design holds the cigarette securely in the pocket and the protruding end of the cigarette rests on the back flap of the ashtray which also makes it easy to insert into place or to retrieve the cigarette from its visual and easily accessible location (FIG. 4). Also the design of the pockets coupled with the flame retardant material used in its production instantaneously extinguishes the burning end of the cigarette unlike any ashtrays used on the market now.
Thus, this is the safest ashtray up to date because it virtually eliminates the possibility of starting a fire and safer because it is made of a none breakable material. This ashtray is less likely to be accidentally knocked of any surface as it is securely fastened preventing injuries due to broken glass.
The special feature of the cigarette being instantaneously extinguished will hopefully encourage smokers to use this ashtray for the purpose of saving a half smoked cigarette as the cost of tobacco products keep rising and the fact that smell of a burning ashtray is revolting and undesirable by almost all smokers.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: An ashtray consisting in a device made with materials sole of combined, suitable for this purpose, such as ceramic, wood, metal, plastic etc, etc, and also made in a plurality of designs round, oval, square etc, etc, and sizes is not the subject of my claim. The terms used in this written description should always be construed in their most ample and unlimited meanings.

Claims

1) The Hang-It-Up Ashtray has anywhere capabilities. The Velcro attachment strip allows the ashtray to be hung on any edged, ledged. Walled, rounded, rough, flat surface. The ashtray can be attached to any surface because of the size of the Velcro strip being small and as importantly the weight or lightness of the astray materials as shown in FIG. 2 & FIG. 6.

2) This holding strip holds the cigarette in a secure position. The holder pocket strip is illustrated in FIG. 1 & 2 & 4. The holder pocket strip and the back of the wall of the ashtray obliging the cigarette to fit into the V-shaped pockets. The specially designed holder pocket strip blocks the combustion of the tobacco as the cigarette is placed into this holder pocket strip, this instantaneously extinguishes the burning amber end of the cigarette. This feature benefits the smoker and the people around in that it eliminates any smoke from being produced and or floating in the air.

3) The resting position the ashtray holds the cigarette in an upright position in the holder pocket strip as shown in FIG. 4, facilitates the secure positioning and retrieving of the cigarette thus gives full confidence and protection against any kind of fire hazards.

4) Portability of this ashtray is also made to be easily portable because of its light and flexible materials and closes completely and securely to keep its contents in. The ashtray can be carried safely in a purse, pocket, bag etc. FIG. 5.