Abstract:
The present invention discloses a unique and novel portable cuspidor having a recepticle, with an upper chamber, adapted for holding a funnel and multiple stackable disposable liners, and a lower chamber for holding towelettes or for use as a storage compartment.

Description:
RELATED ART  
       [0001]     None.  
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to cuspidors (spittoons), in particular to a new and improved portable multifunctional cuspidor with multiple disposable liners (sleeves). More specifically, the new cuspidor offers an alternative device for tobacco chewers, consisting of a cup with multiple disposable liners that eliminates the need to throw away cups or to clean cups; and a base designed to hold pre-moistened, disposable hand towelettes for cleaning afterwards.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The old ‘sit on the dash’ cuspidor was popular many years ago. With smokeless tobacco usage on the rise, snuff users are left helpless in any attempt to create a spit free environment. Numerous cuspidor devices have been developed for the use of tobacco chewers. These devices need to be washed, cleaned, or discarded after having been spit in repeatedly, as they tend to soil, smell or spill.  
         [0004]     In the past, there have been attempts to have a cuspidor that requires no washing or cleaning. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,033 to Azzam discloses a hand-held cuspidor which utilizes a standard throw-away foam polymer cup. This cuspidor device has a holder, a base adapted to receive a replaceable cup, and a cover that flips open exposing the cup. After several uses, the user opens the cuspidor and replaces the cup. The cuspidor is opened by unscrewing the base from the holder and replacing the cup. The principal disadvantage of this device is the difficulty in storing multiple disposable polymer cups. These cups do not stack well, preventing storage of multiple cups within the device, and taking up significant additional space in a vehicle. Also, these types of cups are brittle and can break easily. As a result, the user may just spit directly into the recepitcle, without insertion of the cup, as being more convenient, causing the recepticle to become smelly, unsightly, and unsanitary  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,543 to Bosserman discloses a disposable portable pocket cuspidor, where a fill funnel is inserted through the open ended top and suspended within the container in order to direct spittle into the container. An absorbent material is retained within the container to absorb a tobacco chewer&#39;s spit. One major disadvantage with this device is the frequent need to clean the container as the spit, though absorbed by the absorbent material, may still come into contact with the walls of the container. Another disadvantage of this device is the requirement to use a special absorbent, without which, the device would be unsanitary.  
         [0006]     Another attempt for a portable and disposable cuspidor is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,882 to Williams. The device thereby disclosed includes a funnel and a disposable liner having a disinfectant treated sponge. The sponge is secured adhesively on the interior floor of the disposable liner. When the sponge is saturated, the funnel is removed and the liner which is sealed by an attached wire twist tie is discarded. Then, the funnel and the interior of the receptacle may be washed. This device has the disadvantage of a cumbersome cup configuration, as it can not fit into standard cup holders; the type of plastic liner with absorbing and disinfectant material required; and the inconvenience of having to retrieve a liner from an external source for replacement in the device.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,549 to Layton discloses a cuspidor consisting of a hollow member having a lower closed end and an open upper end, with an open bag or liner that is inserted through the upper end. A disadvantage with this device is potential spilling of the contents and the inconvenience of having to dispose the bag almost immediately after use. Another disadvantage is the inconvenience of having to retrieve a liner from an external source for replacement in the device.  
         [0008]     It is apparent that the prior art devices leave much to be desired in terms of convenience, and sanitation. All of the known prior art devices require separate storage of replacement liners. A portable cuspidor pleasing to use and easily maintained in a sanitary condition by means of conveniently stackable disposable liners is needed.  
         [0009]     The various embodiments of the present invention individually and collectively provide numerous advantages over the prior art. A primary advantage of present invention is that it provides immediate and convenient access to disposable replacement liners. Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a separate compartment for storage of personal items such as keys, or pocket change. Another advantage of another embodiment is that it provides a means for storage and dispensing of pre-moistened, disposable hand towelettes.  
         [0010]     An additional advantage of this preferred embodiment is that it provides numerous features in a cuspidor body, which is similar to the size and shape of a common 12 oz. beverage container, and is thus compatible to fit within standard automobile cup holders. Other advantages of preferred embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a portable cuspidor is disclosed consisting of a cup retaining multiple disposable plastic liners. In another preferred embodiment, the cuspidor has a separate base compartment for convenient storage of personal items. In a more preferred embodiment, the cuspidor base is configured to store and dispense pre-moistened, disposable hand towelettes for cleaning afterwards.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a portable cuspidor is disclosed, having a substantially cylindrical body with an internal upper chamber and an internal lower chamber separated by a divider. The upper chamber is adapted to hold a plurality of disposable, stackable liners. In another preferred embodiment, an optional funnel extends downward into the uppermost disposable liner. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the funnel is oriented in an obliquely inclined plane to encourage spittle to travel downward easily, and to discourage spittle from spilling out of the cuspidor when the device is tilted.  
         [0013]     In the preferred embodiment, stackable, disposable liners are insertable in the upper chamber. In a more preferred embodiment, the liners are suspended from a recessed shoulder on the top part of the upper chamber. The lower chamber forms a storage compartment for holding and disposing pre-moistened towelettes. It can alternatively be used to store personal items such as snuff, pocket change, or keys.  
         [0014]     In another alternate embodiment, the cuspidor&#39;s outer surface can be decorated, embossed, engraved, imprinted, painted, or otherwise aesthetically distinguished. In another preferred embodiment, a cover is provided for supporting and protecting a printed graphic sheet. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The objects and features of the invention will become more readily understood from the following detailed description and appended claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like elements.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of the portable cuspidor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view illustrating the components of the portable cuspidor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the lid of the base of the cuspidor.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view illustrating the relationship of the components of the portable cuspidor, with an upper chamber having a funnel and stacked liners, and a lower chamber having a storage compartment, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the relationship of the components of the device. In this preferred embodiment, moist disposable towelettes are horizontally oriented in the lower chamber.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the relationship of the components of the device, which includes a handle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, nor to a single collection of all the elements disclosed, but it is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.  
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a portable cuspidor  10  of the present invention. It illustrates various components of a preferred embodiment of cuspidor  10 . A body  70  is circumferentially surrounded by a cover cylinder  50 , with a graphic sheet  60  wrapped around body  70  in a space formed between body  70  and cover cylinder  50 . A cap  20  is removably attached to the top of body  70  and a base  100  is removably attached to the bottom of body  70 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view illustrating the components of preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , cuspidor  10  has a cap  20 . A lid  22  is pivotally attached to cap  20  by a hinge  24 . A tab  26  is located on lid  22  opposite hinge  24 . Tab  26  provides a means for pivoting lid  22  into an open position, away from cap  20 . Stackable, disposable liners  40  are illustrated slightly separated. In a preferred embodiment, disposable liners  40  are made of a flexible plastic material. An example of the material type similar to that of the preferred embodiment is that used for collapsible liquid dispensers for infant bottles. In an alternate embodiment, disposable liners  40  are made of an absorbent material. Each of liners  40  has an upper lip portion  42  defining an open end  44 . An opposite bottom end  46  is closed.  
         [0025]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment, a cover cylinder  50  is provided. Cover cylinder  50  has an outer surface  52  and an interior surface  54 . In another preferred embodiment, outer surface  52  has a rubberized texture. In another preferred embodiment, outer surface  52  is decorative, meaning it has been embossed, engraved, imprinted, painted or otherwise aesthetically distinguished. In another preferred embodiment, cover  50  is made of a transparent material.  
         [0026]     An upper edge  56  is located between outer surface  52  and inner surface  54  at the top of cover  50 . A lower edge  58  is located between outer surface  52  and inner surface  54  at the bottom of cover  50 .  
         [0027]     In another preferred embodiment, a graphic sheet  60  is provided. In the embodiment in which cover  50  is made of transparent material, sheet  60  is located against interior surface  54  of cover  50 .  
         [0028]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , a body  70  is provided. In the preferred embodiment, body  70  is cylindrical. In a more preferred embodiment, the diameter of body  70  is between approximately 5 cm and approximately 9 cm. Body  70  has top end  72 . An attachment means  74  in located proximate to top end  72 . In a preferred embodiment, attachment means  74  is a threaded structure on the exterior surface of body  70 .  
         [0029]     Body  70  has bottom end  76 . An attachment means  78  in located proximate to bottom end  76 . In a preferred embodiment, attachment means  78  is a threaded structure on the exterior surface of body  70 .  
         [0030]     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , in a preferred embodiment, a disposable moist towelette roll  90  is provided. Such rolls are readily known in the art. They are perforated for separation during dispensing. They may contain cleaning ingredients, anti-bacterial ingredients and/or a fragrance.  
         [0031]     A base  100  is provided for attachment to body  70 . Base  100  has a flexible slotted opening  102  for dispensing individual towelettes  92  from towelette roll  90 . Base  100  has an upwardly extending outer rim  104 . In a more preferred embodiment, rim  104  is internally threaded for threaded connection to attachment means  78  of body  70 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of base  100 . In this view it is seen that a lid  112  is attached to base  100  by a hinge  114 . A tab  116  is located on lid  112  opposite hinge  114 . Tab  116  provides a means for pivoting lid  112  into an open position away from base  100 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view illustrating the components of various embodiments of cuspidor  10 . In a preferred embodiment, a funnel  28  depends downward from the interior of cap  20 . Cap  20  has a downwardly extending outer rim  30 . In a more preferred embodiment, rim  30  is internally threaded. In another embodiment, cap  20  also has a downwardly extending spacer  32 . Cap  20  is removable attached to body  70  by a threaded connection between outer rim  30  and attachment means  74 . In the preferred embodiment, the connection of cap  20  to body  70  creates a circumferential space  110  between a ring portion  34  of cap  20  and top end  72  of body  70 . Ring  34  is located internally between rim  30  and spacer  32 . A plurality of stackable, disposable liners  40  is located inside upper chamber  82  of body  70 . Lip portions  42  of disposable liners  40  are located inside circumferential space  110 .  
         [0034]     In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , it is seen that body  70  has a divider  80 . Divider  80  divides the interior of body  70  into an upper chamber  82  and a lower chamber  84 . Upper chamber  82  is designed to hold a plurality of disposable liners  40 . Lower chamber  84  forms a storage space adapted with slotted opening  102  at the bottom of base  100  to facilitate removal of individual towelettes  92  therein. Base  100  is removably attached to body  70  by a threaded connection between an outer rim  104  and attachment means  78 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is also a side sectional view illustrating the relationship of the components of various embodiments of cuspidor  10 . In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 5 , lower chamber  84  forms a storage space adapted with slotted opening  102  on one side of base  100  to facilitate removal of individual towelettes  92  laterally. As shown in this view, cap  20  is removably attached to body  70  by a snap-on connection between outer rim  30  and attachment means  74 . In this view, base  100  is also removably attached to body  70  by a snap-on connection between outer rim  104  and attachment means  78 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a side sectional view illustrating the relationship of the components of various embodiments of cuspidor  10 , as described in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In this preferred embodiment, a handle  86  is laterally attached to cover cylinder  50 .  
       OPERATION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the assembly of a preferred embodiment of cuspidor  10  is illustrated. As seen in  FIG. 4 , cap  20  is removably attached to body  70 . In the embodiment illustrated, this is achieved by a threaded connection of outer rim  30  of cap  20  to attachment means  74  of body  70 . In an alternate embodiment (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ), a snap-on connection between outer rim  30  and attachment means  74  is provided.  
         [0038]     In the preferred embodiment, the connection of cap  20  to body  70  creates a circumferential space  110  between ring  34  of cap  20  and top end  72  of body  70 . A plurality of stackable, disposable liners  40  is located inside upper chamber  82  of body  70 . The lip portions  42  of disposable liners  40  are located inside circumferential space  110 .  
         [0039]     In the preferred embodiment, upper edge  56  of cover cylinder  50  engages outer rim  30  of cap  20  when cap  20  is attached to body  70 . In this manner, the engagement can establish the height of circumferential space  110  within which the lip portions  42  of liners  40  are located. Also in a preferred embodiment, a funnel  28  extends downward from cap  20  into upper chamber  82 . This configuration directs discharged spit into open end  44  of liner  40 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0040]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , graphic sheet  60  may be imprinted with a commercial message or identifier advantageous to the marketing of the device. Graphic sheet  60  is flexible and may by wrapped around body  70 . In the preferred embodiment, cover cylinder  50  has an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of body  70 . Cover cylinder  50  is located over body  70  and graphic sheet  60 . In the preferred embodiment, cover cylinder  50  is made of a transparent material, allowing for protected view of graphic sheet  60 . In this manner, cuspidor  10  can be utilized as a marketing tool, and/or provided with selectable decorative L graphics.  
         [0041]     In an alternative embodiment, not shown, outer surface  52  is a rubberized or textured surface that provides an enhanced gripping surface. In another preferred embodiment, outer surface  52  is decorative, meaning it has been embossed, engraved, imprinted, painted or otherwise aesthetically distinguished, thus eliminating the need for a graphic sheet  60 . In another preferred embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 6 , a handle  86  is laterally attached to cover cylinder  50 .  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , base  100  is attached to body  70  to enclose lower chamber  84 . In the embodiment illustrated, this is achieved by threaded connection of outer rim  104  of base  100  to attachment means  78  of body  70 . In an alternate embodiment, shown in  FIG. 5 , a snap-on connection between outer rim  104  and attachment means  78  is provided.  
         [0043]     Lower chamber  84  provides an accessible storage space for the user of cuspidor  10 . While the use of the space is left to the discretion of the user, it is foreseeable that the user may elect to store money, chewing tobacco, keys, extra liners  40  or other items of convenience in the space. In the preferred embodiment, towelette roll  90  comprising a series of attached pre-moistened disposable towelettes  92  is located in lower chamber  84 . In this embodiment base  100  has a slotted opening  102  through which individual towelettes  92  are removed in sequence from roll  90 . This is a familiar configuration in household cleaning products, in which the towelettes are large and occupy a unitary chamber.  
         [0044]     In a preferred embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , base  100  has a lid  112  attached to base  100  by a hinge  114 . A tab  116  is located on lid  112  opposite hinge  114 . Tab  116  provides a means for pivoting lid  112  into an open position, away from base  100 .  
         [0045]     Towelette roll  90  used in the present invention may be substantially smaller in size than commercially available household cleaning brands, based on the application and lower chamber  84  size limitations. This can be accomplished, in part, by providing a towelette  92  that is rectangular shaped. As the perforated end of each adjoining towelette  92  reaches slotted opening  102 , it is separated from roll  90 , and thus available for individual use. Due to the messy nature of tobacco products, there is a great utility in convenient access to towelettes  92 .  
         [0046]     In use, lid  22  is pivoted opened and away from cap  20  about hinge  24 . Used tobacco may then be discharged into funnel  28 , which extends into upper chamber  82 , beneath, and interior of open end  44  of disposable liner  40 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 . As a result, spittle accumulates in disposable liner  40 . Lid  22  may be closed to prevent spittle from escaping from liner  40 . Additionally, funnel  28  encourages delivery and retention of spittle within liner  40 .  
         [0047]     As liner  40  becomes full, cap  20  is removed from body  70 , permitting access to liner  40  for removal and disposal. Beneficially, when liner  40  is removed, a clean liner  40  is exposed in position for immediate use. Cap  20  is reattached to body  70  and cuspidor  10  is ready for use.  
         [0048]     When needed, the user may open base lid  112 , and pivot it away from base  100  about base hinge  114 . This provides access to towelettes  92  of towelette roll  90  through slotted opening  102 . As a single towelette  92  is removed, it is separated from roll  90  when the force created by slotted opening  102  on towelette  92  exceeds the tensile strength of the perforated connections between sequentially attached towelettes  92  of roll  90 . Base lid  112  acts to retain or exclude moisture within lower chamber  84  that might otherwise escape through slotted opening  102  and the partially exposed towelette  92  left protruding therein.  
         [0049]     It is apparent that various modifications may be made to the above described preferred embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.