Brief Description of the Drawing
In order that the invention may be more fully comprehended it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is an exploded perspective view of an ashtray embodying the features of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring to the drawing there is shown an ashtray comprising an ash storage container 5 surmounted by a securable lid 3 having a central hole defined by a tapered inner peripheral edge 4. A movable ash transport assembly is located within the container and includes a central depressible member 1, which extends through the hole 4, and a support member 13 seated within the container 5. Cooperating axially extending guide members 8 and 9, permitting axial but not radial movement, are integrally formed with the depressible and support members 1 and 13 respectively. A compression coil spring member 10 is housed within the guide members and is provided with retaining cord or string 11 which connects the opposed ends of the spring loaded depressible member 1 and the support member 13 so as to retain the assembly in connected resiliently outward biased form.
The central depressible member 1 extends generally vertically and is desirably given a conical or generally bell-shape exterior surface. As depicted in the drawing, such member is bell-shaped and flares outwardly at its lower extremity. The exterior contour of member 1 is selected so as to provide a seating surface 2 (shown by phantom line) which is located along a line closer to the vertical axis of the member than the lower peripheral edge of the member. The taper of member 1 in its upper portion is preferably at an angle of from 20.degree. to 30.degree. with its vertical axis. The lower flared portion of member 1 forms an angle with the vertical axis desirably between approximately 90.degree. and 120.degree.. Thus, under the influence of spring 10 the depressible member 1 is normally urged upwardly such that seating surface 2 is biased into sealing engagement with the inner periphery 4 of the lid defining the central aperture therein. Due to the exterior surface of the depressible member 1 being angularly inclined relative to the mating surface on the lid wedging or clamping of the depressible member within the aperture of the lid is avoided so as to enhance the depressible characteristic of member 1.
The intermediate portion of member 1 extending upwardly above the seating surface 2 tapers inwardly so as to be spaced from the adjacent periphery of the lid and is surmounted by a transparent element 15 which may be a lens. Such element 15 may be separate from the member 1 and affixed thereto by means of a force fit between axially extending protrusions at the end surface of member 1. If desired, element 15 may be given a convex upper surface. The object of providing element 15 of a transparent material is so that it will be possible, whenever desired, to position advertising material or a company trademark or logo beneath the lens for viewing therethrough.
The ash collecting container 5 is desirably a hollow cylindrical member closed at one end and open at its other end. A cylindrical metal can, for example, may be employed such as an oil can. The size which has been found to be most suitable ranges from a quarter to a full liter can. Such a can may be easily and inexpensively replaced, when necessary, due to damage to the initial container. As will be appreciated, if desired one may provide this container with an encircling self-adhesive wrapper upon which is imprinted the desired advertising matter. Such wrapper is not shown in the drawing.
The ash collecting container 5 is preferably given a peripheral flange 14 at its upper edge. A washer or gasket 21 of rubber or like material may be secured to the exterior of container 5 to effect sealing between the upper end of the container at its outer surface and a collar 22 provided on the lid so as to depend annularly therefrom.
The lid 3 of the ashtray is desirably annular in configuration and includes a peripheral edge surface 19 from which collar 22 depends. The lid is given an upper surface 18 which slopes downwardly and inwardly to terminate in inner periphery 4 which defines the central aperture of the lid. The generatrix for surface 18 may be curved as in a spherical seat or may be straight as in a conical surface. Extension of the generatrix downwardly forms an angle with the longitudinal axis of assembly 7 (in the case of a curved generatrix this would be an average angle) which may vary within rather wide limits, but which is preferably between approximately 40.degree. and 50.degree. .
The upper edge 19 of the lid is provided with at least one generally tangential depression or recess 20 adapted to support a cigarette or light smoking article therein. As shown in the drawing four such recesses 20 are desirably provided in circumferentially spaced relation about upper edge 19.
As stated above, the lid is dimensioned and shaped so as to be complementary to the surface of the container 5. In order to secure the lid, cooperating threads, recesses and detents may be provided. In any event, the lid is dimensioned so that it may be force fit within the upper end of the container, i.e., within flange 14 of the container. Such force fit will provide the desired radial seal between the lid and the flange. Collar 22 of the lid depends therefrom so as to provide an outer radial seal between washer 21 and the collar. Thus, a double seal arrangement is provided to prevent the escape of smoke or glowing embers and sparks which may be emitted from the cigars or cigarettes deposited in container 5. Such double seal also serves to minimize the admission of air into the container and thereby contributes to the extinguishing of any flame or sparks which may exist within the container.
As previously stated, assembly 7 includes depressible member 1 and support member 13. The support member 13 is desirably in the form of a dish-like shallow bowl and is given an outer diameter which is slightly less than that of the inner diameter of container 5 thereby providing a small clearance therebetween. In this manner support member 13, when positioned within the container, may be employed as a base to center the depressible member 1 within the aperture of the lid as will become clear.
A pair of guide members 8, 9 are provided and are connected respectively to extend along the central axis of the depressible member 1 and support member 13. One of such members, as shown guide member 9, is a sleeve whereas the other guide member is a rod dimensioned only negligibly smaller so to fit slidably within the sleeve. In this manner the depressible member 1 and support member 13 are slidably interconnected. Within sleeve 9 there is positioned the coil spring 10, and the retainer string 11. The string 11 is secured at one end to the top (e.g., lens 15) of the depressible member 1 and at its other end to the bottom of the support member 13. Both of the latter members may be completely hollow and have inward hooks for the string, or may have closed ends provided eyes through which the string can be threaded and knotted, such as a needle. The spring 10 is suitably positioned within the guide members such that depressible member 1 is normally biased upwardly to effect sealing engagement of its seating surface 2 with inner periphery 4 of lid 3 while the support member 13 is urged against the bottom of container 5. In this manner support member 13 serves to center the guide sleeve 9 and guide rod 8 so as to insure proper seating of the depressible member within the central aperture of the lid.
It will be understood, of course, that the coil spring 10 is selected to have the desired spring constant and length necessary to achieve seating of the depressible member within the aperture of the lid without jamming of the seating surface so as to require undue force in depressing the member to transfer ashes and cigarettes, etc., downwardly into container 5. The spring action should, however, be sufficient to effect positive seating of the depressible member upon removal of the depressing force such that it is self-seating. The end face of guide rod 8 may be utilized to retain the upper end of the spring, the lower end of which would bear either against a spring retaining projection within the guide sleeve 9 or against the closed bottom of support member 13. It will be appreciated that it is also possible to so dimension guide rod 8 that it is provided with a bore of sufficient diameter to accommodate spring 10 therewithin in which event spring retaining means may be provided within the guide rod. Other constructions for support of the spring so as to exert the desired biasing force upon depressible member 1 and support member 13 may be employed. Retaining string 11 serves the purpose of limiting the extent of separation of depressible member 1 and support member 13. Thus, members 1 and 13 constitute a resilient assembly.
It will be understood further that container 5 may possess a configuration in cross-section which need not be circular but which, for example, may be polygonal. However, the configuration of lid 3 should be complementary since it is secured atop the container by frictional engagement with its upper end. Also, depressible member 1, particularly at seating surface 2, should be given a configuration in cross-section which is complementary to inner periphery 4 of the lid.
Various modifications and changes have been suggested in the foregoing description. Others will be obvious to those skilled in this art. Consequently, it is intended that the present disclosure be illustrative only and not limiting of the scope of the invention.