Patent Application
20100059071
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to ashtrays, and more specifically to an ashtray with a reversible top.
2. Description of Related Art
The use of ashtrays has been known in the art for countless years. Improvements to the ashtray have been made to facilitate the retention, extinguishing, and disposal of cigarettes. While such designs have been developed, there have nevertheless been a plurality of drawbacks associated with prior designs.
It is well known that smoking outdoors or in public areas can create adverse and often hazardous effects, including the possibility of the cigarette butts becoming the cause of a fire. In addition, smoking indoors and using conventional ashtrays can result in there being an undesirable view of an ashtray filled with cigarette butts and also result in there being the unpleasant smell resulting therefrom.
What is called for is an ashtray that allows for the concealment of the smoking debris when the ashtray is not in use. What is also called for is an ashtray that can greatly reduce the fire risk from cigarette butts. What is also called for is an ashtray that does not appear to be an ashtray when not in use.
A covered ashtray which has a reversible top which is reversed when the ashtray is in use. The reversed side allows for the use of the ashtray in a standard fashion. Upon completion of use, the top may be placed back into the original position, wherein the ash and cigarette butts will be deposited into a chamber in the bottom portion of the ashtray.
In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in
The top portion 11 of the ashtray 10 has a recessed lower rim 15 adapted to fit snugly within the interior dimension of the base 12, thereby centrally positioning the top portion 11 within the ashtray 10. The top portion 11 is adapted to be reversed for use when smoking. The top portion 11 may be easily lifted up and flipped over by the user. The top surface 14 of the top portion 11 becomes the bottom in this circumstance, and the top portion may have a top recess 13 allowing for the same type of centrally positioned fit as was seen with the lower recess on the bottom of the top portion.
In some embodiments, the top portion 11 will have sufficient weight to help the top portion slide fully into the smoking position, as seen in
Upon completion of smoking, the user may turn over the top portion and dump the debris into the well of the base 12. The top portion may then be replaced onto the base with its curved side 14 facing upwards. This setup has numerous advantages. The smoking debris and ash is covered over in the well of the base after completion of smoking. This greatly reduces the likelihood of accidentally starting a fire. For example, if used outside, the fact that the ashes and butts are inside a covered well minimizes the possibility that a breeze may flame up a cigarette butt that was not fully extinguished. A similar addition of safety occurs inside the home.
Further, the fact that one may cover the smoking debris greatly reduces the amount of odor that the ashtray will cause after the completion of smoking. Another distinct advantage is that the user may have this ashtray on a coffee table or side table and it simply will not appear to be an ashtray. As smoking has to some extent fallen out of favor in polite society, the ability to camouflage an ashtray may fit the needs of some users. In addition, the top surface 14 of the top portion 11 may be embossed or otherwise decorated such that the closed ashtray has the appearance of a knick knack container or the like.
As evident from the above description, a wide variety of embodiments may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.
