A self-acting device for filtering the smoke commonly associated with cigarettes and cigars includes an ashtray which supports a shroud for confining smoke. The shroud in turn supports a motorized fan which creates a flow of air to carry the smoke. In close proximity to the fan and also supported by the shroud is a detector which acts to sequentially sense the smoke and activate the fan motor. A portion of the detector also serves to separate a certain amount of the smoke from the air. Smoke which remains is further drawn upwards by the suction forces created by the fan through a filter before the filtered air is ultimately propelled into the immediately surrounding environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates generally to ashtrays and particularly to apparatus 
used in conjunction with ashtrays for automatically and more effectively 
filtering the smoke associated with ashtrays. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
It is well known that smoke producing objects, such as cigarettes and 
cigars, are commonly deposited on ashtrays and the smoke from these 
objects tends to permeate the air of the environment and produce a 
disagreeable odor. Furthermore, it is known that the smoke from these 
objects can be hazardous to the health of not only the person smoking the 
object, but also to persons who must breath the smoke in the environment. 
For these reasons, it is desirable to effectively filter the smoke which 
emanates from these objects, particularly when they are deposited in an 
ashtray. It is also known that the smoke deposits which form on surfaces 
contacted by smoke, i.e., filters, build up a residue which is considered 
objectionable and possibly dangerous since the residue contains the same 
suspect chemical components as does the smoke. 
Various devices have been provided for filtering the smoke of cigarettes 
and the like when deposited in an ashtray. One such device is disclosed by 
applicant in her U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,776, issued on Aug. 23, 1977. This 
device consists of an ashtray which supports a shroud which in turn 
supports a motorized fan and filter element. The fan creates a flow of air 
upwards through the shroud and the filter whereupon the substantially 
smokeless air is propelled into the surrounding environment. 
Another device as disclosed by Gilbertson in U.S. Pat. No. 3,516,232 issued 
on June 23, 1970. This device consists of a stand supporting an ashtray 
and also supporting a housing and motorized fan above the ashtray. In this 
device, the housing defines a passageway and the associated fan generates 
a flow of air through the passageway. The housing also supports a filter 
between the fan and the ashtray. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,490,466 discloses a smoke incinerating device in which the 
unburned components of tobacco smoke are incinerated so that the 
incinerated residue is discharged. 
None of the devices of the foregoing disclosures, however, contains means 
for automatically energizing the motorized fan, which means also serves 
contemporaneously as an effective air purifier. None of these devices self 
activate almost instantaneously upon contact with the smoke. 
Although applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,776 discloses the known most 
advanced smoke filtration system to date, it is not self-acting and does 
not include as effective a filtration system as the present invention. 
The present invention offers a solution for both problems. Through the 
introduction of an inexpensive device, it is now possible to activate 
instantaneously and automatically the motorized fan upon detection of the 
smoke rising through the shroud. Moreover, a portion of the invention 
which senses the smoke also functions as an air purifier which, along with 
the filter similar to those disclosed in some of the prior art devices, 
has the capability of nearly totally eliminating the smoke contamination 
in the air. 
Until now, all simpler prior art devices were constructed to permit manual 
fan motor activation only. Any attempt to adapt the devices for 
application of a remote-control or automatic switch would require a 
complex and relatively expensive modification which, among other things, 
would serve to detract from whatever aesthetic appeal any of these devices 
may have possessed. Wasted house current or battery power would often 
result whenever a manually operated device of the sort described herein 
would be left unattended in an activated state in the absence of smoke. 
The present invention permits the conservation of precious energy 
resources, no matter how small, by ensuring that the device and, 
particularly the electric fan motor, self-deactivates in the absence of 
smoke rising through the shroud. 
SUMMARY 
In accordance with the present invention, smoke rising from an ashtray 
through a shroud is detected by a sensor which concurrently separates 
smoke from the air and activates a motorized fan which draws smoke through 
the sensor and a filter for absorption therein. A shroud is provided which 
rests upon the upper edge of the ashtray or within which the ashtray is 
positioned to immediately confine the smoke emanating from the ashtray 
within the shroud. The shroud defines with a housing of the fan a 
passageway within which can be found the sensor and the filter and through 
which the smoke is carried by flow of the air. The shroud may be in the 
form of a cylinder having an opening therein to permit insertion and 
withdrawal of smoke producing objects from the ashtray. The shroud 
confines the smoke therewithin and the opening permits the entrance of 
appreciable quantities of fresh air into the shroud, as drawn in by the 
fan, to assure that the smoke does not flow out of the shroud, but instead 
is drawn through the sensor and, thereafter, the filter before the 
cleansed air is expelled into the environment. The sensor/detector is most 
effective when disposed centrally within the housing and within alignment 
of the natural flow of the smoke contained air as defined by the suction 
created by the fan. The motor associated with the fan can be exposed 
outside the passageway so that it is not contaminated by the smoke fumes. 
A restricting member may be disposed between the shroud and the housing to 
define an opening in the passageway. The air flowing through the 
passageway passes through this opening. Typically, the detector can be 
disposed in this opening to sense the rising smoke and separate some of 
the same from the air. Once the fan is activated by the sensor, a 
continual flow of air is created assuring that the smoke contained air 
will not enter the environment without first undergoing substantial 
filtration through the filter. 
In a preferred embodiment, the motorized fan has blades which, when the 
motor is activated, provide a flow of air radially outwards from the 
blades. In such an embodiment, the filter can be provided with a generally 
cylindrical shape and disposed circumferentially of the blades of the fan 
to filter the smoke contained there passing therethrough. The filter is 
easily removeable to facilitate replacement of the same. 
It has also been found desirable to achieve a total filtration of the smoke 
particles, if possible. The versatility of this invention becomes apparent 
through its ability to utilize the identical means to contemporaneously 
sense and separate the smoke. This added and unique purifying ability 
enables a portion of the smoke to be removed from the air prior to its 
being filtered by the filtering means located generally in closer 
proximity to the fan blades. This invention thus provides for energy and 
environmental savings as no other device of the prior art has done. 
These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more 
apparent with a discussion of preferred embodiments and reference to the 
associated drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
An ashtray is illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated by the reference numeral 
11. The ashtray 11 has walls 13 which extend to an upper rim 15. This 
upper rim is provided with depressions 17 having a configuration 
particularly adapted for supporting a cigarette 19, a cigar, or other 
smoke producing object. For example, the depressions 17 can have the 
configuration of a portion of a large circle 21, defined in proximity to 
the rim 15, and a portion of a small circle 23, defined beneath the larger 
circle 21. In a preferred embodiment, the small circle 23 has a diameter 
corresponding to the diameter of the cigarette 19, and the large circle 21 
has a diameter corresponding to the diameter of, for example, a cigar. 
Thus, the circles 21 and 23 facilitate the support of both a cigar and a 
cigarette by the ashtray 11. 
When a smoke producing object, such as a cigarette 19, is lit, it tends to 
give off smoke, particularly when it is disposed in the ashtray 11 as 
shown in FIG. 1. If this smoke is permitted to permeate the environment of 
a room, for example, it can be injurious to the health of those who must 
breathe the smoke in the room. The smoke also tends to give off a 
disagreeable odor which is particularly obnoxious to a non-smoker. The 
device of the present invention is particularly useful in confining the 
smoke to a passageway inside a shroud, drawing a flow of air from the 
passageway through a filter to sorb the smoke prior to exhausting the air 
into the environment. It is, perhaps, even more useful in that it performs 
the foregoing process automatically in the presence of smoke. 
To facilitate the confinement of the smoke from the cigarette 19 to a 
restricted area, a shroud 25 can be provided to extend above the ashtray 
11. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the shroud 25 has an 
elongated generally cylindrical configuration formed by wall 26 which is 
provided with an opening 27 at the bottom end of the shroud 25 and an 
opening 29 at the opposite or top end of the shroud 25. The wall 26 of the 
shroud 25 can have a cylindrical or slight conical configuration as 
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
As shown, the wall 26 next to the bottom opening 27 is provided with a 
circumferential shoulder 31 to facilitate disposition of the shroud 25 
directly on the rim 15 of the ashtray 11 such that a portion of the shroud 
contacts the wall 13 of the ashtray. This direct contact between the wall 
26 and the ashtray 11 is particularly desirable to maintain the smoke from 
the cigarette 19 within the confines of the shroud. An opening or mouth 
33, is provided in wall 26 to extend along the side of the shroud 25 
generally above the opening 27 and the rim 15 of the ashtray 11. This 
mouth 33 provides access to the ashtray 11 to facilitate the removal and 
replacement of the cigarette 19. It will be apparent that the shroud 25 
and ashtray 11 can be made as a single unit. 
As shown, the mouth or opening 33 extends above the ashtray to near the top 
opening 29 to provide a substantial opening in the axial direction. 
Circumferentially there is also a substantial opening with the side walls 
33a and 33b of the opening being recessed back, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 
in chordal relation across the ashtray to provide easy access to the 
ashtray. In this way, the shroud surrounds a substantial portion of the 
ashtray to form an enclosure, while the walls 33a and 33b are recessed 
back thus exposing a substantial portion of the rim of the ashtray which 
extends beyond the side walls 33a and 33b of the shroud mouth. Also, the 
opening is of a substantial size both in transverse and axial dimension so 
that a substantial volume of fresh air may be drawn into the shroud to 
assure that the smoke remains within the confines of the shroud. With an 
opening of substantial size, easy access is provided to the ashtray 
without the necessity of having to insert the cigarette or cigar through a 
small opening. 
An air moving means, such as a motorized fan 35, is supported by the shroud 
25 above the ashtray 11. More specifically, the fan 35 is contained within 
housing 37 within which are also disposed a plurality of fan blades 39 
radiating from a hub 40 for driving the fan blades 39. Blades 39 are 
contained specifically within fan blade cavity 47. Batteries 45a, 45b are 
located generally laterally of motor 41, all of which are also contained 
within housing 37. The shroud 25 provides a cavity 95 which extends 
between the fan 35 and the ashtray 11. Opening 49 contained in housing 37 
communicates with the cavity 47 and ultimately the cavity 95. The housing 
37 also includes discharge openings 51 which extend from the cavity 47 to 
the environment. Thus, the housing 37 defines with the shroud 25 a 
passageway through the unit which extends from the mouth 33 in proximity 
to the ashtray 11, through the top opening 29 of the shroud 25, and the 
openings 49 and 51 in the housing 37. 
In the embodiment illustrated, the fan blades 39 function to provide the 
air in the opening 49 with a circular flow pattern. As this air flows 
around the cavity 47, a centrifugal force is exerted upon the air which 
tends to make it move radially outwardly of the fan blades 39. This 
radially moving air is exhausted through the discharge openings 51 to the 
environment. 
As the air moves through the openings 51 a partial vacuum is formed which 
has its greatest magnitude at the hub 40 of the fan blades 39. In response 
to this vacuum, a flow of air 52 moves through the mouth 33 into the 
cavity 95, that is the passageway defined by the shroud 25, and through 
the housing 37. This flow of air 52 is illustrated throughout the drawings 
by arrows designated with the same reference numeral 52. The flow of air 
52 extends from the environment, through the mouth 33, along the 
passageway, and through the openings 51 to the environment. Since this 
flow of air 52 begins in proximity to the ashtray 11 at the mouth 33, the 
smoke from the cigarette 19 is carried by the flow of air 52. 
A filter 70 is provided and has a generally cylindrical configuration to 
facilitate its disposition between the fan blades 39 and the openings 51 
in the cavity 47. The sides of filter 70 are formed of a porous material 
and are connected at their upper and lower portions by more rigid wall 
members. The porous material along with these rigid wall members cooperate 
to define a cavity which is preferably filled with a sorbing type 
substance such as activated charcoal. The charcoal serves to filter the 
smoke from the flow of air 52. The rigid wall portions will typically be 
formed from a plastic material while the porous members can be formed from 
any porous material such as felt, or a woven cloth or screen. 
Located generally below fan 35 and supported inside shroud 25 is detector 
80. Detector 80 is contained in casing 55 which may be integrally formed 
with housing 37, but may also be separable therefrom. Detector 80 is 
comprised of several elements, including a radiation source 82; positively 
and negatively charged electrodes 83, 84, which are positioned generally 
above radiation source 82; and electronic switch 89. A series of 
electrical lead wires extend from each of said electrodes and are routed 
through switch 89 for ultimate connections to batteries 45a, 45b and motor 
41. Specifically, lead 86 connects electrode 83 to one pole of battery 85. 
Lead 87 extends from the remaining pole of battery 85 for connection to 
switch 89 and, then, in order, to batteries 45b, 45a, and motor 41. Lead 
88 connects electrode 84 to switch 89. Lead 91 extends from switch 89 for 
direct connection to motor 41. Contacts 92, 93 serve, in the event that 
casing 55 is separable from housing 37, to bridge the circuitry of 
detector 80 with that of the electrical components of fan 35. An 
electrical circuit is completed in the following manner: smoke rising from 
a cigarette or like object is maneuvered by oppositely disposed convexly 
formed walls 106a, 106b towards radiation source 82. Source 82 contains 
numerous minute radioactive particles 81, such as positively charged alpha 
particles. The smoke penetrates screen 105, which screen acts to support 
source 82, and, thereafter, enters source 82. Therein a substantial amount 
of smoke is exposed to particles 81 and, thus, becomes positively charged 
as a result of contact therewith. 
The rising charged particles 108 become attracted to negatively charged 
electrode 84. The current thus produced at electrode 84 is then detected 
by switch 89, generally a transistor, which switch in turn activates motor 
41. The fan will thus become operational to draw any remaining smoke 
particles upwardly through the detector 80 and, thereafter, to propel the 
filtered air into the environment. The transistor acts in a conventionally 
known manner to complete the circuit made by the batteries 45a, 45b, motor 
41, and switch 89 and respective lead wires. In the absence of additional 
charged particles rising through the detector 80, said current will cease. 
Switch 89 will sense such decrease in current and, accordingly break the 
circuit. The fan motor will, thus, cease to function. 
Manual switch 58 may be used in appropriate situations. However, switch 58 
is normally left in the on or closed position. 
The accumulation of a substantial portion of the positively charged smoke 
particles upon the negatively charged electrode 84 results, thus, in the 
separation of the smoke from the air. Smoke particles that continue past 
electrode 84 are, for the most part, collected by filter 70 before the air 
is exhausted into the environment. 
As explained with reference to the foregoing embodiments, the device of the 
present invention provides means for automatically filtering the smoke 
associated with cigarettes and cigars. The device is compact in size, 
inexpensively manufactured, and particularly attractive as a novelty gift 
item. 
Although the device has been disclosed with reference to specific 
embodiments accommodating particular filter configurations, it will be 
obvious that the device can be otherwise embodied so that the scope of the 
invention should be ascertained only with reference to the following 
claims.