The present invention relates to ashtrays, more particularly to an ashtray that is foldable, disposable, pocketable and available in multiple quantities. It can be used separately or come combined with a cigarette pack.
A great diversity of various ashtrays is available for service. Most of them are designed for a static use; many are designed to be portable and disposable. Yet a large amount of cigarette litter is being left in public areas where a smoker may occasionally light a cigarette and discard the butt simply because there are no available ashtrays around. Not only it results in an unclean contaminated and foul environment but in some cases may also lead to fire hazards.
In an attempt to alleviate this problem a number of authors suggested disposable ashtrays or ashtrays built into a cigarette pack for quick access. These prior art ashtrays in general have relatively complicated design that suggests cigarette pack modification and will likely require broad changes to manufacturing lines. The matrix of prior art is extensive. Therefore mentioned herein are only a few ashtray inventions that include some of the desired attributes.
Of particular interest is U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,701 to Garcia which discloses a trash disposal devise made of heat resistant material that can be shaped from a roll to an ashtray like shape and later folded to an package and discarded. Other prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,983 to Lyman; U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,076 to Hernandez; U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,588 to Abrines Amer.
However none of the above provides a non-expensive ashtray that can be obtained at all smoking areas or tobacco stores along with a pack of cigarettes and paper matches, that will come in multiple quantities and that can be used for simply one cigarette only and discarded immediately after folding it into a ball-like package safely containing litter from the environment.
The object of invention is to provide an inexpensive and disposable ashtray that comes in multiple quantities put together in packs and that can be obtained routinely along with a pack of cigarettes and paper matches in gas stations or similar stores.
It is a further object of the invention to provide disposable ashtrays that are made of thin, foldable and fire-retardant material that can be unfolded for usage and crumpled back to safely contain cigarette litter inside prior to disposal.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a disposable ashtray that can be attached to the cigarette pack in the factory and can be unfolded to form an ashtray that after usage can be removed from the pack, folded to hold the ash and litter inside and disposed of at convenience.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a disposable ashtray for occasional use for simply a single cigarette that can be folded to contain remnants of the cigarette to prevent accidental pollution of the environment.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
a) is a perspective view of a package of disposable ashtrays in open position with one ashtray half pulled out;
b) is a single ashtray pulled out of the pack and positioned horizontally;
c) is a single ashtray half unfolded;
d) is a single ashtray fully open;
e) is a single ashtray filled with symbolic ash, butts, etc.;
f) is a single ashtray folded into a small package containing litter;
a) is a perspective view of a cigarette pack with a single ashtray attached to the backside of the pack;
b) is a cigarette pack with an attached ashtray half unfolded;
c) is a cigarette pack with a fully unfolded ashtray;
d) is an ashtray removed from the cigarette pack;
e) is a removed ashtray filled with cigarette litter;
f) is a removed ashtray crumpled to constrain cigarette litter inside.
Though the following detailed description contains many specifics for illustration purposes, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
a) shows an embodiment of the ashtray similar to
b) shows an ashtray horizontally positioned and ready to be unfolded by means of pulling tags 3 to opposite directions.
c) shows at least one embodiment of the ashtray 2 including preferred arrangement of folding configuration. It is to be understood that the geometry of the folding method is not limited to the configuration set forth in the drawings.
d) shows ashtray 2 that is completely unfolded and ready for use.
e) shows ashtray 2 filled with cigarette residue 4 and ready to be disposed of. The ashtray is made of heat resisting and foldable material that can be crumpled into a small package containing cigarette residue inside.
f) shows scrunched up ashtray that is ready to be disposed of. The ashtray material must be able to maintain in compressed form to keep ash and butts safely inside and prevent them from producing odors or from dropping out. The crushed ashtray may be cast off immediately or placed in a pocket, purse, briefcase, etc., for later disposal.
a) illustrates another embodiment of the invention where ashtray 2 similar to configuration described in
The above arrangement is intended to provide a temporary disposable ashtray when regular disposal receptacles are not available. Ashtray 2 comes combined with a cigarette pack and always available for emergency use. It is intended to save the environment from occasional littering and odors.
From manufacturing perspective the above arrangement of pack/ashtray as depicted in
As additional means of extinguishing cigarettes and preventing fire hazards a special pad can be provided inside the folded ashtray. As it is shown in
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.