1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to an ashtray apparatus and, more particularly, to an ashtray apparatus which has a removable handle capable of storage within the ashtray itself during storage and transport, wherein such an ashtray likewise facilitates the retention of a cigarette, as well as the extinguishing and disposal thereof.
2. Background Art
The use of ashtray apparatuses has been known in the art for countless years. As such, improvements to the ashtray have been made to facilitate the retention, extinguishing, and/or disposal of cigarettes. While such designs have been developed, there have nevertheless been a plurality of drawbacks associated with prior designs. For example, prior designs generally include an integrated handle which may limit the flexibility and usability of the ashtray apparatus. Moreover, ashtrays having integrated handles are generally costly to package and ship inasmuch as they have an odd shape and configuration. As a result, packaging containers for such ashtrays have a volume which remains largely empty when packed with said ashtrays. Furthermore, many ashtray apparatuses are not properly sized to receive a cigarette butt, especially when the cigarette is extinguished prior to being fully spent. Further still, many extinguishing ashtrays are molded from a plastic material which, typically, quickly becomes discolored, melted, and/or burned after only a short usage time.
As a result, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies, drawbacks, and/or complications of the prior art.
The present invention is directed to an ashtray apparatus comprising: (a) a container including: (1) a base; and (2) a surround member extending from the base, the base and surround member cooperating to define a cavity having an opening; (b) a cap member engageable with the container, to, in turn, cover at least a portion of the opening of the container, the cap member including a channel extending therethrough for communication with the cavity of the container; and (c) a handle assembly releasably associable with at least one of the base and the cap member.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle assembly further comprises: (a) a housing defining a cavity; and (b) a handle, the handle including: (1) a base having a first end and a second end; (2) a housing tab associated with the first end of the base; and (3) a retaining tab associated with the second end of the base. A portion of the housing tab is releasably retainable within the cavity of the housing.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retaining tab includes an outwardly concave orientation, substantially matching the outwardly convex orientation of the surround member of the container.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the housing tab and the retaining tab are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base of the handle is substantially planar.
Preferably, the housing of the handle assembly further includes: (a) a pair of opposing side walls; (b) a top wall extending between the opposing side walls; and (c) an outer wall spanning the opposing side walls and the top wall. In this embodiment, preferably, the outer wall is uniformly spaced apart from the surround member to, in turn, provide a substantially uniform cavity defined thereby.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle assembly further comprises a handle which is structurally configured for full insertion into the cavity of the container upon covering of the opening of the container by the cap member.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the handle assembly is structurally configured to be positionable in an orientation within the cavity wherein the retaining tab is in substantial abutment with the base of the container upon covering of the opening of the container by the cap member.
Preferably, the ashtray apparatus further comprising means for locking the handle assembly in an articulated configuration. In this embodiment, preferably, the locking means further comprises: (a) an opening associated with one of the handle and the housing; (b) a pin associated with the other of the handle and the housing, the pin being capable of selective communication with the opening; and (c) means for biasing the pin relative to the opening to selectively facilitate the locking of the housing and the handle in releasable engagement.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle assembly comprises: (a) a recess associated with an upper edge of the surround member; and (b) a handle, the handle including: (1) a base having a first end and a second end; (2) a housing tab associated with the first end of the base; and (3) a retaining tab associated with the second end of the base. A portion of the housing tab is releasably positionable within the recess associated with the upper edge of the surround member, and, in turn, is releasably retained by the engagement of the cap member.
In another preferred embodiment, the handle assembly comprises: (a) a recess associated with an outer surface of the surround member; (b) a handle, the handle including; (1) a base having a first end and a second end, the first end of the base member being rotatably mounted to the outer surface of the surround member; and (2) a retaining tab having being rotatably mounted to the second end of the handle, the handle being articulatable from a collapsed orientation, wherein the handle is substantially within the recess, to an articulated orientation.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the channel extending through the cap member includes a top end and a bottom end, and wherein the bottom end of the cap member is spaced apart from the base of the container at a predetermined distance, to, in turn, facilitate the passage of a partially smoked cigarette into the cavity of the container. In this embodiment, preferably, the bottom end of the cap member is spaced apart from the base of the container a distance corresponding to about at least approximately 2 inches.
Preferably, the cap member further includes a plurality of cigarette retaining regions.
Additionally, portions of the ashtray apparatus preferably comprise a molded plastic material impregnated with a fire retardant material.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the container and the cap member comprises a molded plastic material impregnated with a fire retardant material.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
FIGS. 6(a)-6(c) of the drawings comprise cross-sectional views of an ashtray apparatus in accordance with the present invention showing different configurations of a handle;
While this invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, are identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely representations, and some of the components may have been distorted from actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.
Ashtray apparatus 10 is shown in
As shown in greater detail in
Referring again to
Cap member 14 is shown in detail in
Channeling member 42, as is shown in
Opening assembly 44 includes channel 46. Channel 46 includes top end 47 and bottom end 48. Top end 47 is integrally associated with channeling member 42 and bottom end 48 extends downwardly therefrom. In the embodiment shown, the bottom end is angled relative to base 20 such to improve the passage of material therethrough, and to preclude clogging of channel 46. Generally, bottom end 48 is spaced apart from top surface 29 of base 20 a distance of approximately greater than about 2 inches. This is to permit the passage of a partially smoked cigarette through channel 46 into cavity 32.
Handle assembly 16 is shown in
As shown in
Referring now to
Housing tab 74 is shown in
Retaining tab 76 is shown in
Of course, as shown in detail in
To assemble the handle of an ashtray apparatus of the present invention, the user is provided with container 12, cap member 14, and handle 62. Once provided, the user inserts retaining tab 72 of handle 62 into opening 70 of housing 60. The handle is then ready for use.
Advantageously, the handle is structurally configured to fit within the cavity of the container with the cap member in place. As such, the device can be shipped with handle 62 separately positioned within cavity 32. Thus, storage, packaging, and shipping costs of a device of the present invention are greatly reduced. In addition, the user can selectively utilize the handle only when it is desirable to do same. At other times, the handle can be removed and stowed.
Next, to prepare ashtray apparatus 10 for operation, the user removes cap member 14. Once removed, the user fills a portion of container 12 with a fluid, such as water. Once a predetermined amount of water is introduced, the cap member is replaced onto the container. As the user smokes, the user can place a cigarette within retaining member 45. The user can additionally dispense ashes onto channeling member 42, and the ashes will be driven to channel 46, and in turn, into cavity 32 of container 12.
When the user is done with the cigarette, the user can dump the entire cigarette butt into the container through channel 46. Advantageously, the container is of a predetermined depth, and bottom 48 of channel 46 is spaced apart from base 20 of container 12 by a distance greater than about 2 inches. As such, a cigarette can easily be passed through channel 46, even when the cigarette is only partially smoked and still of a substantial length.
Once the user is done using the device, the user can remove cap member 14 from container 12. Once removed, the user can clean cavity 32 so that the device can be stowed for future use.
Referring now to
To operate such an embodiment, the base is first positioned in a collapsed orientation, as shown in
The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the present disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/370,800, entitled “Ashtray Apparatus,” filed Apr. 6, 2002 and this application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/118,736, entitled “Ashtray Apparatus,” filed Apr. 9, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,606,996, the entirety of each of which is incorporated by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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D244302 | Bradley | May 1977 | S |
D256279 | Huggins | Aug 1980 | S |
D258468 | Whitlock | Mar 1981 | S |
5279452 | Huynh | Jan 1994 | A |
D468857 | Foote | Jan 2003 | S |
6606996 | Thornell et al. | Aug 2003 | B1 |
D493011 | Foote | Jul 2004 | S |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20040031496 A1 | Feb 2004 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60370800 | Apr 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10118736 | Apr 2002 | US |
Child | 10643518 | US |