The present invention relates generally to container ashtray assemblies and more specifically to container ashtray assemblies including ashtray lid members.
Ashtrays are known and used as a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette or cigar butts. Ashtrays are typically open-ended, walled structures that define a volume for receiving the tobacco ash. Other ashtray containing assemblies are desired that can perform multiple functions.
In one embodiment, a container ashtray assembly includes a cup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume. An ashtray lid member includes a receptacle portion and a nesting portion. The receptacle portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume. The receptacle volume of the container member is greater than the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.
In another embodiment, a container ashtray assembly includes a cup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume suitable for carrying a liquid and drinking therefrom. An ashtray lid member includes a receptacle portion and a nesting portion. The receptacle portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume.
In yet another embodiment, an ashtray lid member for a container ashtray assembly includes a receptacle portion comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume. A nesting portion is configured to nest within a mouth of a container member having a receptacle volume suitable for carrying a liquid and drinking therefrom. The ashtray lid member is configured to close the receptacle volume inhibiting spillage of liquid therefrom.
These and other objects, features, embodiments, and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims.
The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which the various components of the drawings are not necessarily illustrated to scale:
The embodiments described herein generally relate to container ashtray assemblies with ashtray lid members. The container ashtray assemblies include a cup-shaped container member that can releasably connect to the ashtray lid member to form the container ashtray assembly. The ashtray lid member provides an ashtray volume that serves as a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts or other waste. The container member provides a larger volume that can serve as a receptacle for a liquid (such as water) or other material that can be kept separate from the receptacle volume of the ashtray lid member to prevent mixing of contents of the receptacle volume of the ashtray lid member and the receptacle volume of the container member.
Referring to
The ashtray lid member 12 includes a bottom wall 22 and a side wall 24 that extends about a periphery of the bottom wall 22. The side wall 24 terminates at an upper ledge 26 forming a round shape; however, other shapes may be used. Holding features 28 may be provided about the upper ledge 26. The holding features 28 may be formed as indentations or notches that extend axially into the upper ledge 26. The holding features 28 may be used to hold and support an end of a tobacco product, such as a cigar, spaced away from the bottom wall 22.
The bottom wall 22 and the side wall 24 together form an ashtray volume 32 that serves as a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts and/or other waste. The ashtray volume 32 can be determined by the suitable volume calculation for the particular shape, such as the cross-sectional area of the volume multiplied by the maximum height H1 from the bottom wall 22.
As can be seen, the receptacle volume 34 of the container member 14 is larger than the volume 32 of the ashtray lid member 12. In some embodiments, the receptacle volume 34 may be at least about 1.5 times the volume of the ashtray lid member 12, such as at least about 2 times, such as at least about 2.5 times, such as at least about 3 times. As above, the receptacle volume 34 of the container member 14 may be determined by a suitable volume equation, such as the cross sectional area of the volume multiplied by the height H2 from the bottom wall 40. In some embodiments, a liquid or other suitable substance may be used to determine volume. Any suitable material may be used to form the ashtray lid member 12 and the container member 14, such as plastics, metal, etc. and any suitable process may be used, such as molding, machining or the like. Food grade plastics and other materials may be used.
It is noted that terms like “preferably”, “generally” and “typically” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present invention.
For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention, it is noted that the terms “substantially” and “approximately” and their variants are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement or other representation. The term “substantially” is also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specific embodiments, it will nonetheless be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. In particular it is contemplated that the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to stated preferred aspects and exemplified embodiments, but should be governed by the appended claims.