AU610359B2 - Auto-extinguishing ashtray - Google Patents

Description

i4W9K- I :li S F Ref: 52242 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATIO

(ORIGINAL)

1803 o m FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number: PI7230 14 March 1988 Lodged: S. Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant:

,A

Ron\o Stephen Roland4Hanna 85 Brighton Avenue Toronto New South Wales 2283

AUSTRALIA

Bruce Barry Parkinson 117A Brighton Avenue Toronto New South Wales 2283

AUSTRALIA

Stephen Rolad Hanna, Bruce Barry Parkinson Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys, Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Complete Specification for the in-ention entitled: Auto-Extinguishing Ashtray The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the Sbest method of performing it known to me/us o 15/2: ^t512 'i a; r_ t b 5805/2 AIL?' 1i -2- AUTO EXTINGUISHING ASHTRAY The present invention relates to ashtrays, and in particular, to combination disposal and extinguishing ashtrays.

In the tobacco industry, there exists many gadgets for the disposal of unwanted, but unavoidable, ash. These range from the old fashioned orbital ashtrays which wisk the ash away, through to talking ashtrays and the simple every-day, non-gimicky ceramic ashtray. However, the advantage of ashtrays which hide the ash are quite obvious i.e. no wind blown debris. On top of this advantage, any smoker would recognize the further advantage of an ashtray which will extinguish either the butt of thL cigarette or a partially used cigarette without the need for "stubbing" the oooo cigarette. In both cases this action causes the release of undesirable °00° smoke. Furthermore, if a cigarette is to be re-lit, the conventional means of extinguishing leaves an unpleasant after-taste in the cigarette.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome, or S' substantially ameliorate, the abovementioned disadvantages.

In accordance with one broad form of the present invention there is i provided an ashtray comprising: c a first member being moveably mounted to a second member, said first member being provided with at least one shaft and said second member being provided with at least one hole, said shaft being adapted to closely °.Ic longitudinally receive a cigarette so as to sufficiently limit the passage of oxygen to the cigarette so as to extinguish said cigarette, said hole adapted to allow the passage of a cigarette therethrough, said members 4''25 being movable between a first position wherein said hole or shaft in each of said members is aligrnad to define a through-bore, and a second position c wherein said holes are offset to extinguish the cigarette inserted in the L e shaft of said first member, said first position allowing the passage of an extinguished cigarette to a region below the two members.

STA/118Rv il -3- Preferably, the first and second members are circular, thereby defining an orbital ashtray. Also, a receptical can be placed under, or one of the members can define a receptacle, to receive the ashes. In the case of a separate receptacle, this would be removable for cleaning, and could also be used as a cover to disguise the ashtray when not in use.

Ideally, both members have an aperture in the centre to act in the normal manner of an ashtray, as would the provision of indents on the periphery of the first member to rest a cigarette when in use.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2. is a sectioned elevational view of the ashtray of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is plan view of the ashtray of Fig. 1 in a different postion; c t c and 't Fig. 4 is a sectioned elevational view of the ashtray of Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 there is depicted an ashtray 10 which is comprised primarily of a first member 11 and a second member 12, in which the first 20 member 11 can rotate relative to the second member 12. Both members 11 and i( 12 have a plurality of holes 13, which in this configuration of Fig. 1 are aligned to allow a cigarette butt (not shown) to pass therethrough and into a receptable 14 as shown in Fig. 2. Both members 11 and 12 also have an aperture 15 and 16 respectively, forming a chute 17 into which the ashes of a cigarette in use are placed, these then fall into which the receptacle 14. Also shown in Fig. 1 are indents 18 which allow a cigarette to rest when in use. i KLN:0009U i f.

SIY

4 Figs. 3 and 4 show the same embodiment as the previous drawings however, the holes 13 in the first and second members 11 and 12 are now offset. This is because the first member 11 has been rotated relative to the second member 12, this defining the configuration in which a cigarette can be extinguished.

To extinguish a cigarette, the cigarette is placed in the hole 13 of the first member 11 with the butt uppermost, the lit end then resting against the flat surface 19 of the second member 12, depriving the 0 os oo:o, cigarette of oxygen and thus extinguishing it. In this manner the cigarette has been naturally extinguished and no smoke or unpleasant after-taste remains.

a To dispose of the butt, the first member 11 is tien rotated and the butt falls through the corresponding hole 13 of the second member 12.

1, Fig. 14 shows the cross-sectional view of the above extinguishing c° configuration wherein the hole 13 of the second member 12 does not correspond with the hole 13 of the first member 11.

The unit comprised of the first and second members 11 and 12 can be detached from the receptacle 14 to empty and clean the receptacle 14.

Furthermore, when the ashtray 10 is not in use, the receptacle 14 may be placed upside-down on top of the first and second members 11 and 12 to disguise the ashtary The preferred materials for the manufacture of the ashtray 10 are ceramics, plastics and wood, however, any other suitable material should also be considered.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto i without departing from the scope of the present invention.

KLN:0009U I i For example, the preferred embodiment has been disclosed as an orbital ashtray, however, any other shape in which relative movement exists between the holes in the first and second members should not be dismissed. Also, there need not be a plurality of holes, but merely one to allow for a compact ashtray for use in say an automobile. Also, the receptacle 14 and the second member 12 can be an integral unit if necessary. Again, the first and second members 11 and 12 can be used in other configurations, for o-q.O example, in a hole of a table specifically designed to house this ashtray with the receptacle out of sight underneath the table surface. The 0 0 o" j receptacle could also be a disposable bag of some description. It should also not be discounted that the first and second members could be placed o 0 0 within the receptacle area to define, say a vase, when not in use.

o 0 0 KLN:000 00 0 t

Claims (6)

1. An ashtray comprising:shown a first member being moveably mounted to a second member, said first member beinr provided with at least one shaft and said second member being ,,ovided with at least one hole, said shaft being adapted to closely longitudinally receive a cigarette so as to sufficiently limit the passage of oxygen to the cigarette so as to extinguish said cigarette, said hole adapted to allow the passage of a cigarette therethrough, said members being movable between a first position wherein said hole or shaft in each of said members is aligned to define a through-bore, and a second position wherein said holes are offset to extinguish the cigarette inserted in the 4"4 shaft of said first member, said first position allowing the passage of an o°o* extinguished cigarette to a region below the two members.

2. The ashtray of claim 1 wherein said members are generally 1 'f circular with said first member being rotatable relative to said second member to define an orbital ashtray.

3. The ashtray of claims 1 or 2, wherein said first member is 4 V situated substantially above said second member, further comprising a receptacle portion associated with and disposed below said second member.

4. The ashtray of claim 3 wherein said receptacle portion is detachably mounted to said second member. The ashtray of claims 3 or 4, wherein each of said members further comprise a central aperture which cooperate and communicate with said receptacle.

6. The ashtray of claim 3 wherein said receptacle is detachably mountable to the bottom of said second member. a e-as.hta-of-44 -3-.where.i-n..said receptac-e-a V member are provided with cooperating detachablsa-muntinim"s, said C mounting means acting at the top off member and allowing said receptacle to be detachabl ei below said first and second members.

8. The of claim 2 wherein a receptacle is detachably aS^ a-the--bottom-of-s-a-i-d f-r-s--emer .7 9 The ashtray of claim 3 wherein said receptacle and said second member are integral. STA/1467w 7- ,4r'An ashtray as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings. DATED this FOURTEENTH day of JANUARY 1991 Stephen Roland Hanna and Bruce Barry Parkinson Patent Attorneys for the Applicants SPRUSON FERGUSON 1.C f v t 4 14 467