1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tobacco accessories, and particularly to a multipurpose ashtray holder foldable between use and non-use configurations, to facilitate the disposition of ash and tobacco products in a safe manner, and/or containment of stationery products.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most conventional ashtrays are relatively simple in design and function. These ashtrays usually comprise a tray with a plurality of notches spaced around a peripheral wall of the tray. The user disposes ashes into the collection basin of the tray and the notches hold tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars, thereon.
Conventional ashtrays, however, do not have any means of minimizing potential fire injuries to the user and/or fire hazards to the surroundings, that may be created by the burning end of the tobacco product. In most instances, the user simply stubs or taps the burning end of the tobacco product against the surface of the basin to extinguish the tobacco product. This often times requires several taps or even excessive press of the tobacco product into the tray. In case of the former, stray hot or burning ash may be expelled from the tray and thus come into contact with a flammable surface or object, which may lead to an unintentional fire and consequences thereof. In case of the latter, the user could easily burn the fingers or hand during the process.
Apart from the potential dangers, most conventional ashtrays serve a singular purpose, i.e., they are designed for disposing of tobacco products. These ashtrays become unassuming decorative accents of a home or office when not in use.
In light of the above, it would be a benefit in the art of tobacco accessories to provide a device that safely disposes tobacco products and perform additional functions. Thus, a multipurpose ashtray holder solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
The multipurpose ashtray holder may be used as a general purpose ashtray or a holder for stationery products. The multipurpose ashtray holder includes a holder assembly for placement at select locations by the user, an ashtray assembly, and a connector pivotally connecting the holder assembly to the ashtray assembly so as to enable folding of the multipurpose ashtray holder between a closed, non-use state and an open, use state. The holder assembly has a holder body with a plurality of insert holes thereon. The insert holes enable quick and safe extinguishing of flammable tobacco products or storage of elongate objects or office supplies. The ashtray assembly includes a tray with a plurality of spaced notches formed thereon. The tray enables collection of ash or office supplies and caps the holder assembly in the closed state.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
The multipurpose ashtray holder, generally referred to by the reference number 10 in the Figures, provides features that permit the multipurpose ashtray holder 10 to function as an ashtray as well as a holder for storing stationery products. As shown in
The holder assembly 20 serves as a base for the multipurpose ashtray holder 10, which enables placement of the multipurpose ashtray holder 10 at any desired location. The holder assembly 20 includes a relatively circular or elongate holder base 21 and a holder body 22 disposed on the holder base 21. The holder base 21 is preferably constructed as a generally elongate, flat, circular member or plate suitable for stable resting on surfaces as well as a support for the holder body 22. The holder body 22 is preferably dome-shaped to conform to the shape of the holder base 21 and provide structure for holding various items therein.
As shown in the Figures, a plurality of columnar or cylindrical insert holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d extend into the holder body 22 to a preselected depth. The insert holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d may extend perpendicular to the holder base 21, as shown in the Figures, radially from preselected points within the holder body 22, or a combination thereof. The main portion of the holder body 22 may also be generally hollow or solid. Each of these insert holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d may be same or different in diameter. More preferably, at least a pair of the insert holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d are of the same diameter. The diameter of the insert holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d generally conform to the standard diameter of various tobacco products C, such as cigarettes and cigars, or office supplies P, such as writing implements and pointers.
When used as an ashtray, the insert holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d permit the user to safely extinguish the burning end or butt of the tobacco product by inserting the butt into the appropriate sized insert hole 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d (see
When used as a holder for stationery products, the insert holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d permit insertion of various office supplies P such as pencils, pens, markers, as well as pointers and the like into a corresponding, suitably sized hole. The depth of the insert holes 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d is sufficiently deep enough to support most elongate objects therein.
The connector 30 includes an elongate member or plate 31 with a first hinge 32 at one end 50 and a second hinge 33 at the other end 52. The first hinge 32 pivotally couples the connector 30 to the holder assembly 20 while the second hinge 33 pivotally couples the connector 30 to the ashtray assembly 40. The elongate member 31 may have a generally hourglass shape as a suitable lightweight, durable configuration. This construction of the connector 30 acts as a double hinge enabling the ashtray assembly 40 to fold over the holder assembly 20 between a first or folded, non-use position or state, to a second or an unfolded, use position or state as shown in
The ashtray assembly 40 includes a relatively elongate ashtray base 41 with a tray 42 disposed thereon. The ashtray base 41 serves as a support for the tray 42 when the multipurpose ashtray holder 10 is unfolded into the use state. An upstanding generally annular wall 43 extends from the ashtray base 41 forming a bowl or basin of the tray 42 in conjunction with the ashtray base 41 for collecting objects therein during use. A plurality of spaced notches 44 are formed on the upper rim of the annular wall 43. The notches 44 enable tobacco products C or any elongate object to rest thereon as shown in
When used as an ashtray, the tray 42 acts as a conventional ashtray where spent ash is collected and cigarettes and/or cigars rest on the notches 44 as shown in
Thus, it can be seen that the multipurpose ashtray holder 10 has a plurality of uses. As a general purpose ashtray, the holder assembly 20 enables safe extinguishing and holding of tobacco products C while the ashtray assembly 40 facilitates collection of ash and resting of burning cigarettes or cigars. As a holder for stationery products, the holder assembly 20 stores various writing implements and the ashtray assembly 40 stores other office peripherals. When not in use, the multipurpose ashtray holder 10 may be folded into a compact form for storage and transport.
It is noted that the multipurpose ashtray holder 10 encompasses a variety of alternatives. For example, the multipurpose ashtray holder 10 should not be construed as limited to use for tobacco and stationery products. The multipurpose ashtray holder 10 may facilitate holding of various elongated objects as well as small objects that fit in the tray 42. The multipurpose ashtray holder 10 is preferably constructed from heat resistant materials such as various metals, silicon-based plastics, and the like. These usually exhibit suitable durability while being resistant to the temperatures of burning tobacco.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
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D157150 | Hanson | Feb 1950 | S |
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Number | Date | Country |
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201158265 | Dec 2008 | CN |
201986686 | Sep 2011 | CN |
202135708 | Feb 2012 | CN |
36554 | Jul 1930 | FR |
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DE 202015004403 | Jul 2015 | PL |
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DE—202015004403translation.pdf. |
FR—36554—translation.pdf. |