Patent Publication Number: US-4548217-A

Title: Combined cigarette extinguisher and ash tray

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     Known in the prior art are cigarette extinguishers wherein a lighted cigarette butt is deposited in an elongated recess and the air supply to such recess thereafter cut off so as to extinguish the light on such butt. Various patents in the prior art show rotatably cylinders having a plurality of elongated recesses at the periphery thereof, each recess at a certain time being adapted to receive a cigarette butt. Ash trays combined with such extinguishers are also known. 
     My invention provides a combination cigarette extinguisher and ash tray that is highly efficient and yet is attractive enough for use in any room of a house. 
     The components of my improved device are preferably made of a plastic material of a type wherein color may be incorporated. The device comprises a cylindrical body adapted to be supported upright on a table top, desk or the like. A plurality of upright recesses are formed in the peripheral wall of the body, each recess opening at the top of the body. The recesses may be in part formed as upright flutes to give a fluted effect to the exterior of the body. 
     A cap fits over the upper end of the body and is adapted to rotate relative thereto. The cap has a single opening adapted to be registered with any one of the upright recesses to permit a lighted butt to be deposited therein. The cap is then rotated to close off the recess from a supply of air, wherepon the light in the butt is extinguished in a matter of seconds. The cap preferably has a guide member extending upwardly therefrom to provide a target to assist in guiding a cigarette butt through the opening in the cap. The cap also has a circular, upstanding perch having recesses to support a cigarette. 
     The cap and body may be made of different colored plastic for a very attractive appearance. The fluted exterior of the body lends to the attractiveness of the device. Although my improved device is highly efficient, it is relatively small in size. Further, the device will prevent the smell of stale cigarette butts from entering the room, since a filter element is disposed between the upper end of the body and the facing inner surface of the cap. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part of this application, there are shown embodiments of my invention and in these drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a presently-preferred embodiment of my invention, 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment, 
     FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view corresponding to the line 3--3 of FIG. 2, 
     FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view corresponding to the line 4--4 of FIG. 3, 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to the line 5--5 of FIG. 2, 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cap looking into the interior thereof, 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another embodiment of my invention, 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing still another embodiment of my invention, and 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a form of indexing means. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The improved device of my invention comprises two main parts, namely a body 10 and a cap 11, both made of plastic preferably with contrasting colors. The body is generally cylindrical and adapted to be disposed in upright position so that its bottom rests on a table top, desk or other surface. 
     A plurality of upright recesses 12 are formed along the outer periphery of the body, each of a transverse size to comfortably receive a cigarette butt disposed lengthwise in such recess. The recesses are in the form of round holes, the outer webs 14 of each forming a curved flute which extends vertically. The flutes form the outer periphery of the body 10 to provide a very attractive fluted appearance. The recesses provide wells of a length to accomodate the longest cigarette butt resulting from the long cigarettes on the market. 
     The recesses open at the top surface 15 of the body and are closed at the base 16 of the body. The body and cap may be formed by an injection molding process, or the body may be an extrusion. In any event, it may sometimes be more economical to form the base 16 as a separate part, and cement it to the bottom of the body. As seen in FIG. 3, the inner peripheral surface 17 of the body is smooth and cylindrical. However, it is possible to form vertical flutes on such inner surface to correspond to the fluted exterior surfaces. Further, the body may be formed by cementing together a plurality of plastic tubes 121 which are arranged in a circular manner by themselves, or around a cylinder 121 as shown in FIG. 8. If the flutes are not desired, the body may be formed with smooth interior and exterior surfaces, as shown in FIG. 7. 
     The cap 11 comprises an inner circular wall 18 and an outer circular wall 19, joined by a top wall 20 and thereby held in spaced relation. As seen in FIG. 3, the inner wall 18 fits against the inner peripheral surface of the body, and the outer wall 19 fits around the outer periphery of the body. The cap 11 fits closely on the body, but may be rotated relative thereto. The cap may be formed as an integral unit by injection molding process, or the walls 18 and 19 may be separate items and cemented to the top wall 20. 
     As seen in FIG. 4, the inner surface of the top wall 20 of the cap overlies the top 15 of the body 10. The wall 20 is formed with a single opening 25 which is adapted to be aligned with a selected one of the recesses 12 to permit a cigarette butt to be disposed in such recess, as seen in FIG. 5. A target device 26 is cemented to the upper surface of the top wall 20 and has an enlarged opening 27 narrowing toward the single opening 25 and having a neck 261 fitting within said opening and extending therethrough. The target device assists in directing the lighted end of a cigarette butt through the opening 25 and to the selected recess 12. 
     The cap 11 has a circular wall 28 extending upwardly from the top wall 20, the wall 28 preferably being about the same diameter as the inner wall 18 and may form a continuation thereof. The upper margin of the wall 28 has diametrically opposed recesses 30--30 therein, and preferably a third recess 301 between the recesses 30. These recesses are of a size to receive and hold a cigarette that is disposed transversely of the wall 28. 
     In order to eliminate or minimize the stale odor of cigarette butts within the recesses, a filter element 31 is disposed between the upper end 15 of the body and the facing, inner wall of the top 20 of the cap. This filter may be ring-shaped to closely fit the transverse space defined by the cap walls 18 and 19, and may be formed of a fibrous material designed to entrap smoke and odors that would otherwise tend to seep from the recess opening, laterally and thence downwardly between the respective cover walls 18 and 19, and the body wall 17 and also the exterior periphery of the flutes and thence into the atmosphere. In this respect, the filter may be impregnated with a deodorizing material. As seen in  FIG. 6, the filter has a single opening 32 through which the neck 261 of the target device 26 passes the lower end of the neck bearing against the body top surface so that the cigarette butt does not come in contact with the filter when it is shoved into a selected recesses 12. The filter may be removably held in place by a snap ring 33 (see FIG. 6) so that it may be replaced as needed. 
     As seen in FIG. 4, the center of the body 10 is open to correspond with the central opening formed by the cap wall 28, so that ashes, matches and the like may be deposited therein. 
     Indexing means are provided to insure that the hole 25 in the cap wall 20 is axially aligned with a selected one of the recesses 12. In the present embodiment, such means comprises an upright rib 35 formed on each of the webs 14. The lower margin of the outer wall 19 of the cap has spaced notches 36 of a number equal to the ribs 35, the upper end of each rib seating within a respective notch. To index the cap, it is lifted to unseat the ribs from the notches, then rotated while applying a slight downward pressure to seat the ribs in the notches in the indexed position. In some cases only notch 36 may be formed on the cap wall 19 to cooperate with a selected one of the ribs 35. Or, if preferred, only one rib 35 may be provided to cooperate with a selected one of the notches 36. 
     Another form of indexing means is shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 wherein a peg 40 extends downward from the lower surface of the cap top wall 20 to fit into a selected one of the recesses 12. The peg is shown in elevation in FIG. 9 for clarity purposes. Preferably, the peg 40 is disposed diametrically opposite the target device 26, as shown in FIG. 6, and has a tapered lower end to facilitate seating in a selected recess. In this form of indexing means, the ribs 35 and notches 36 may be eliminated. 
     It will be appreciated that the invention hereinbefore disclosed may be adapted for use with cigars merely by a change in size to accommodate cigars. Thus, it will be appreciated that the term cigarette as used herein and in the claims should be interpreted broadly enough to include cigars.