GB2136266A - Safety ashtray - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is concerned with an ashtray comprising an ash-collector (10) provided with cigarette-supporting means (12) on its rim (14) with a bowl, plate, flange or other such part (16) being arranged around and/or beneath the ash-collector (10) and the cigarette- supporting means (12) so as to catch any cigarettes, cigars or the like which accidentally fall off the cigarette- supporting means (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety ashtray This invention relates to ashtrays.

The aim of the invention is to provide an ashtray having means for catching any cigarettes, cigars or the like which accidentally fall off the ashtray or a cigarette-support thereon. With this aim in view, an ashtray according to the present invention comprises an ash-collector or cigarette-supporting means and, in addition, a bowl, plate, flange or other such part arranged around and/or beneath the ash-collector or cigarette-supporting means so as to catch any cigarettes, cigars or the like which accidentally fall off the latter.

Some examples of ashtrays in accordance with the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1-3 are, respectively, a vertical section, a plan view and a perspective view of one form of ashtray; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second ashtray; Figure 5 is a part perspective-part sectional view of a third ashtray; Figures 6-8 are views similar to Figures 1-3 of a fourth ashtray; and Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fifth ashtray.

The ashtray shown in Figures 1-3 comprises an ash-collector 10 of generally concave shape having four cigarette-supports 12 arranged at 900 intervals round the rim 1 4 of the ash-collector.

In order to catch any cigarettes, cigars or the like which accidentally fall off the rim 14 from the supports 12, a concave bowl 16 is arranged beneath the ash-collector 10, the said two parts preferably being integral with each other as shown in Figure 1. The bowl 1 6 has a flat undersurface 1 8 so that it can rest on a table top or other flat surface without tilting, and its outer diameter at the rim 20 is such that an annular gap 22 is formed between the ash-collector 10 and the bowl within which falling cigarettes or cigars can be caught. As will be seen from Figure 1, the rim 20 of the bowl 16 is not very much lower in height than the rim 14 of the ash-collector 10, but this is not essential for the ashtray to operate in accordance with the invention.On the contrary, the main requirement is that the diameter of the rim 20 should be that much greater than the diameter of the rim 1 4 to ensure that any cigarette or cigar or the like falling off the rim 14 does not fall beyond the rim 20 as well.

The invention therefore prevents burns occurring to table tops, carpets and other furniture from falling cigarettes or cigars, As such, the ashtray makes an important contribution to preventing fires in buildings, ships, and other places where people congregate.

The ashtray shown in Figures 1-3 can be made of any non-inflammable substance, for example, glass, metal, synthetic plastics material, china or clay. As already indicated, it is preferred that it be made in one piece - for example, in a mould - but it is also possible for the ashcollector and the bowl to be made in two parts which are then attached to one another by means of bonding or a suitable fastening element.

It is to be understood that an ashtray in accordance with the invention is not restricted to the particular shape and design shown in Figures 1-3. Thus, Figure 4 shows an alternative design where the ash-collector 10 comprises a barrelshaped container of metal surrounded by a flat circular metal plate 24 having an upstanding flange 26 at its outer rim. The effect therefore given by the ash-collector 10 and the plate 24 in Figure 4 is akin to that of a cup and saucer in that any cigarette or cigar falling off the rim 14 of the cup-shaped ash-collector 10 falls into the saucerlike flanged plate 24. In this particular construction, the two parts 10 and 24 are preferably connected to one another by welding or by a rivet 28 at the base of the ash-collector 1 0.

Figure 5 shows another form of ashtray in accordance with the invention. The ash-collector 10 takes the form of a cylinder having a rim 14 (which can be of serrated form as in many glass ashtrays) on which cigarettes or cigars can be supported. Surrounding the ash-collector 10 is another cylinder 30 of the same height as the ashcollector but spaced apart so that an annular gap 32 is formed between them. This annular gap is sufficiently large to catch any cigarettes or cigars falling off the rim 14.

The base 34 of the ashtray shown in Figure 5 is of flat circular form and is preferably integral with the cylinder 30 and the ash-collector 1 0. This particular ashtray can therefore be moulded very easily in one piece out of a wide variety of noninflammable substances, including glass, metal, synthetic plastics material, china or clay.

Another form of ashtray in accordance with the invention is shown in Figures 6-8. This ashtray has a bowl 1 6 similar to that of the ashtray shown in Figure 1. It differs however from the latter in that the ash-coliector 10 shown in Figure 1 is here replaced by cigarette-supporting means 36 in the form of a ring 38 which is supported from the central portion of the bowl 16 by four outwardly inclined legs 40. Secured to the ring 38 on its supper surface are cigarette supports 1 2.

Figure 9 shows yet another form of ashtray in accordance with the invention. This comprises a flat, rectangular base 42 having vertically extending walls 44 round its entire periphery so as to form a rectangular tray. An open frame element 46 is supported by four struts or arms 48 which extend between the mid-portions of the walls 44 and the corresponding portions of the open frame element 46. At each corner of the latter there is a cigarette support 1 2. Preferably, the arms 48 have turned-over ends 50 so that open frame element 46 can be detached from the tray for cleaning purposes.

It will therefore be seen from the various forms of ashtray shown in the drawings that an ashtray in accordance with the invention can be of any suitable shape - for example, square, triangular, round, or oval. Further, the ashtray can have cigarette-supporting means in place of an ashcollector, the cigarette-supporting means being, for example, in the form of a ring or frame supported by one or more parts of a bowl, plate or other such part arranged around and/or beneath the cigarette-supporting means.

Claims (8)

1. An ashtray comprising an ash-collector or cigarette-supporting means and, in addition, a bowl, plate, flange or other such part arranged around and/or beneath the ash-collector or cigarette-supporting means so as to catch any cigarettes, cigars or the like which accidentally fall off the latter.

2. An ashtray according to claim 1, in which the ash-collector or cigarette-supporting means is integrally formed with the bowl, plate, flange or other such part arranged around and/or beneath the ash-collector or cigarette-supporting means.

3. An ashtray according to claim 1 or claim 2 which is of moulded construction.

4. An ashtray according to claim 3, in which the ashtray is moulded out of glass, metal, noninflammable synthetic plastics material, china or clay.

5. An ashtray according to any preceding claim having an ash-collector supported on a bowl, plate, flange or other such part, in which cigarettesupporting means are provided on a rim of the ash-collector.

6. An ashtray according to any one of claims 1-4 having cigarette-supporting means extending upwardly from a bowl, plate, flange or other such part which serves as an ash-collector.

7. An ashtray according to any preceding claim, in which the bowl, plate, flange or other such part arranged around and/or beneath the ash-collector or cigarette-supporting means has an outer rim which is too narrow to support a cigarette, cigar or the like and which does not have cigarettesupporting means on it.

8. An ashtray according to claim 1, substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-3, Figure 4, Figure 5, Figures 6-8 or Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.