Abstract:
The hand-held cuspidor with replaceable cup has a base which receives a replaceable cup. A holder engages on the base and retains the cup in the base. The holder has a handle for manual carrying. A pivoted cover swings from a closed position over the holder to an open position where the replaceable cup is available for expectoration.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a hand-held cuspidor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Those who chew tobacco must expectorate. In generations past, there were brass cuspidors on the floor of a bar next to its brass rail. Often there was sawdust on the floor so that it did not matter if the customer was accurate. However, in many modern jurisdictions it is illegal to expectorate on the sidewalk and/or on public property. Thus, any person who chews tobacco, when he is not on his own grounds, must have a facility for expectoration. This requirement applies not only to a person who chews tobacco directly by chewing a wad of tobacco entirely within the mouth, but also to a person who smokes cigars and clamps the end of the cigar between his teeth. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, it can be stated in essentially summary form that it is directed to a hand-held cuspidor with replaceable cup. The cuspidor has a housing sized to receive a cup, preferably a standard throw-away polymer cup. The user carries the cuspidor containing the cup with him and, when the need arises, he expectorates into the cup. The housing preferably has a cover thereon for covering the cup between uses. 
     It is thus a purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a hand-held cuspidor so that the chewer of tobacco can carry it with him so that the cuspidor is always available, as needed. 
     It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a hand-held cuspidor which has a standard throw-away foam polymer cup therein so that the portion of the cuspidor which becomes soiled with expectorant can be easily and economically thrown away and replaced with a new cup. 
     It is another purpose and advantage of this invention to provide a hand-held cuspidor which is economic of construction so that any user of chewing tobacco can afford to carry this sanitary convenience. 
     The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in this specification. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hand-held cuspidor with replaceable cup in accordance with this invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical axial section through the cuspidor and a side elevational view of the replaceable cup, with parts of the cup broken away and taken in section. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The hand-held cuspidor with replaceable cup is seen at  10  in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cuspidor  10  comprises base  12 , holder  14  and cover  16 . The base  12  is a hollow truncated conical structure serves as a stop and preferably made of injection-molded synthetic polymer composition material. It is sized to receive a standard polymer cup  18 , preferably of the inexpensive type made of expanded polystyrene. Such are available in six- and eight-ounce sizes. Base  12  terminates with upper externally threaded attachment collar  20 . The entire base, except for the threads on the exterior of the attachment collar, is a body of revolution around a central axis. 
     Holder  14  is generally in the shape of a right circular cylindrical tube. It extends down over the attachment collar  20  and has an internally threaded section  22  which threadedly engages on the attachment collar  20  Above the threaded section  22 , the holder  14  is a cylindrical tube embracing the lip  24  of cup  18 . Above the lip  24 , the holder  14  has an inwardly directed circular flange  26  which engages over the top of the lip  24  to retain cup  18  within base  12  and holder  14 . The flange  26  extends radially inward to be substantially in line with the interior surface  28  of the cup  18 . This structure serves as a stop and retains the cup in place within the holder and base. The cuspidor is opened by unscrewing the base from the holder. Thereupon, the cup  18  is replaced with a new similar cup. The holder  14  has a handle  30  which is manually graspable so that the base and the holder can be conveniently carried around and used. 
     As an additional sanitary feature, cover  16  is configured to overlie the holder when closed, and is configured to expose the entire interior opening of flange  26  when the cover is open. The cover is generally circular so that, when closed, it overlies the top edge of holder  14 . Cover  16  is hinged on the holder on pivot pin  32  which lies over the handle  30 . The cover has an actuating finger  34  which overlies the handle. The structure is ergonomically configured so that, when the handle  30  is grasped in the fingers, the user&#39;s thumb  35  overlies actuating finger  34  so that the cover can be flipped open in the direction of arrow  36 . There is a stop surface  38  which is engaged by the cover to limit the open position of the cover at a point where it is about 45° above the horizontal and overlying handle  30 , when the axis of the holder and base is vertical. In this position the actuating finger  34  extends below stop surface  38  so that the actuating finger can be engaged to close the lid. Furthermore, in this position the lid overlies the handle so as to protect the user&#39;s hand from misdirected expectorant. After it is used, the lid is closed by engaging the actuating finger  34  or simply flipping it closed by engagement of the thumb against the top surface of the cover. 
     The hand-held cuspidor  10  can be used by flipping open cover  16  and expectorating into the throw-away cup  18 . After one or several uses, when it is convenient to the user, the user opens the cuspidor and removes and replaces the cup  18 . The old cup can be disposed of in a sanitary manner. The hand-held cuspidor is then ready for reuse. It is anticipated that the hand-held cuspidor will find usage especially at sporting events where the attending fans do not have a sanitary place where they can expectorate. 
     This invention has been described in its presently contemplated best embodiments and it is clear that it is susceptible to numerous modifications, modes and embodiments within the ability of those skilled in the art and without the exercise of the inventive faculty. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is defined by the scope of the following claims.