US2396075A - Ash tray - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1946. A, w BECKER 2,396,075

A H TRAY Filed Sept. 22, 1943 Patented Mar. 5, 1946 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in ash trays and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an ash tray which eliminates fire hazards from burning cigarettes placed thereon, so that the tray is safe in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ash tray which prevents the ashes therein from being blown therefrom by an ordinary draft, so that it assures cleanliness about its place of use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tray of this kind which may be made from noncritical material and is of a simple construction which permits a positive cleaning thereof so as to remain sanitary and free from objectionable odors.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide an ash tray which is so constructed that when a lighted cigarette is supported in part upon the rim of the tray and burns away, the remaining part of the cigarette will positively fall into and not outside of the tray to constitute a fire hazard.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an ash tray that includes within the same, a support having cigarette receiving grooves so constructed that cigarettes placed therein will not become wet and soggy.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a tray of this kind that is soconstructed as to include a snuifer whereby the lighted cigarette placed therein is almost instantly extinguished without damage, rising smoke or altered taste when relit.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an ash tray embodying one form of the invention therein.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the improved ash tray includes a relatively shallow bowl-like body 5. The body, which in this instance is circular in plan, has a flat bottom wall 6 and an upstanding side wall indicated as a whole at 1. Rising from the central part of the bottom is a relatively low circular boss 8 that is concentric with the side wall.

The side wall is of a novel construction in that it is of the greatest diameter at its mid portion or belt 9. The wall part II) below said belt tapers inwardly and downwardly to join the periphery of the bottom wall while the wall part II above said belt tapers upwardly and inwardly to form a top edge I2 which is so narrow that a lighted. cigarette may not easily be balanced thereon.=; A flange l3 tapers downwardly and inwardly from said edge to overhanfa fairly considerable annular marginal portion-of the bottom wall. The" function of this flange will more fully appear later.

Associated with the bowl thus far described is The bottom end ofthe member has an inside diameter snugly but removably to flt'about the periphery of the body boss 8 when the bottom edge of said side wall rests on the bottom 8 of the body.

The top surface of the top wall It, which is herein shown as flat. is disposed in a; plane slightly below that of the edge l2 when thememher It is in place in the bowl body. In the top surface of the wall It of the member I4 is provided a plurality of V shaped grooves l'l. As best shown in Fig. 1, there are four of such grooves arranged as a rectangle, with the ends of the grooves opening jointly through the periphery of the member. The grooves I! are disposed tangentially to a circle having as its center a point in the vertical axis of the member I and each groove opens at both ends through the periphery of said member at the ends of at least two of the other of said grooves.

Also, in the top wall of the member I are provided openings l8 through which a cigarette maybe inserted endwise for the purpose of snuffing out or extinguishing the same. Preferably said openings are of a diameter approximating the greatest width of the grooves I! and one of said openings is disposed midway between the ends of each groove. When the member II is disposed in the bowl body 5 as shown in the ing inwardly of said edge is much longer than that part of the cigarette projecting outwardly from said edge. This relation is apparent at the right hand side of Fig. 2 wherein a cigarette is shown in dotted lines at 20.

When the cigarette is lighted and it is desired to use the tray, one way is to engage the lighted end on the top It of the member l4, and to engage the other end upon the edge ii. A lighted cigarette will burn after it has been disposed as above mentioned. If it is not removed, it will burn away and when the burning end has cleared the periphery of the member I, the cigarette will fall through the space is into the bowl, due to the overbalanced eflect before noted. In this movement of the cigarette it first engages the flange is which directs it, end first, through the space I! into the bowl- Should the cigarette being smoked be placed in one of the holding grooves H as indicated in dotted lines 2| in Fig. 2, it is to be noted that a space is present between the bottom of the cigarette and the bottom of the groove. This space provides for the circulation of air therethough so that the cigarette will not become wet and soggy at the lines of contact with the sides of the groove, due to condensation.

When the tray is in use, there is generally an accumulation of ashes and other matter in the bowl. Even though the tray herein is disposed in a draft, the moving ashes thereof are trapped by the overhanging flange l3 and prevented from blowing out through the space ll. Thus the surrounding surfaces remain clean and neat in appearance.

To extinguish a lighted cigarette, the lighted end thereof is inserted through an opening I8 until the lighted end engages the top surface of the boss 8. It will be thus extinguished almost instantly, allowing but a minimum escape of smoke through the other holes ll.

The top surface of the member ll, while herein shown as smooth and flat, may include portions for holding packages or boxes of matches, or some emblem, ornament, or the like. The surface of the wall part II, while herein shown as plain, provides an ideal space for decoration ele- I ments or for advertisements.

With the construction described, the danger of a lighted cigarette falling from the tray is eliminated and no matter how carelessly a lighted cigarette is placed on the tray, it will fall into the tray either when burned down or when the tray is jostled. Also, the flang l3 presents a good finger hold in picking upthe tray from a flat surface.

In order that the size relationships may be better understood, some basic dimensions have been indicated of the form found advantageous for use with a conventional cigarette which has a length of approximately 2% inches.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form and arrangement of the two parts constituting the tray, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense 'so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

An ash tray embodying therein a body having a bottom, a hollow inverted me mber removably seated on the bottom and having a top in which are V shaped cigarette holding grooves, said grooves being disposed tangentially to a circle having as its center a point in the vertical axis of said member, with each groove opening atboth ends through the periphery of said member at the ends of at least two of the other of said grooves.

ALOYSIUS W. BECKER.

Images