Patent Publication Number: US-6665887-B2

Title: Portable spittoon

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/224,474, filed Aug. 10, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to portable spittoons. In particular, the present invention relates to portable spittoons which are pocket-sized and which prevent spillage of the contents. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Persons who chew tobacco or use snuff often find difficulty in chewing or using tobacco because it is often inconvenient to dispose of the related tobacco juices and other secretions. This inconvenience is particularly prevalent in public places. 
     Portable spittoons have been previously invented to reduce this inconvenience. Although these previously developed portable spittoons have been designed in various shapes and sizes, they have not been practical, spill-proof or easy to use. In fact they have been unsatisfactory in terms of size, performance, convenience, spillage, method of operation and cost. One very important shortcoming of previously developed portable spittoons is that they have often been too complicated and have involved many moving parts which has naturally made them being quite expensive. Moreover, many types of spittoons previously used have simply been very difficult to use in a sanitary manner and have not satisfactorily prevented spillage. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,628,547 shows a portable spittoon which attempts to overcome many of the deficiencies of the prior art. This spittoon is awkward to use due to the small mouthpiece, the mechanism for reducing spillage is not satisfactory and the small pieces are difficult to clean. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,547 shows a pocket cuspidor which uses multiple containers and is very complex. This device cannot be used discreetly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,798,682 shows a portable cuspidor consisting of a cup inside a container with a hinged lid. While the device is simple, it is not easy to use and is not sufficiently spill-proof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,965,907 shows a portable cuspidor which uses suction to collect secretions. The device is very complex and contains many difficult to clean elements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,012,471 shows a portable spittoon. As this device was created to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, its construction is complex and aimed at preventing the escape of the contents making it difficult to use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 630,225 shows a pocket cuspidor which remains in the user&#39;s pocket. A telescoping tube is used to transport secretions into the cuspidor. 
     Therefore, there has been and continues to be a need for an easy-to-use, spill-proof, practical and portable spittoon that can be easily and conveniently carried and used by an individual who chooses to use nonsmoking tobacco. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     A portable spittoon is described which includes a container for collecting secretions from a user&#39;s mouth having a bottom, side walls and an open top. If necessary, a side wall of the container can incorporate a window for monitoring the contents of the container. A lid, which has a top surface, side walls and an open bottom, is removably mounted to the open top of the container. In order to transfer secretions from the user&#39;s mouth into the container, there is an opening in the side wall of the lid. The open bottom of the lid has a funnel-shaped portion which leads into the container. The funnel-shaped portion is temporarily sealed by an element, such as a flexible seal, which is movable by use of an actuator between a closed position and an open position. If desired, the seal can be adjustable so that a tight seal can be maintained when the seal is in the closed position. The actuator for the seal can include an actuating rod to which the seal is connected such that when the rod is moved, the seal moves between the closed position and the open position. A spring can be used to force the seal into the closed position when the spring is in its uncompressed state. A lockable valve button can be connected to the upper end of the actuating rod for moving the actuating rod which, in turn, moves the seal between the closed position and the open position. To obtain a leak-tight connection between the seal and the funnel-shaped portion of the lid, the actuating rod should extend through the center of the lid and the seal such that the seal is pulled against the funnel-shaped portion with equal pressure about its edge. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable spittoon. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable spittoon which is spill-proof. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a portable spittoon which is convenient and easy to use. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a portable spittoon which has a simple design which is easy to clean and can be repaired by the user. 
     Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing objectives in a simple and cost effective manner. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the two major elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the lid and actuating means of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the lid and actuating means of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the lid shown in cross section along line IV—IV of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. 
     The present invention provides a portable spittoon which is small, prevents spillage and can be used discreetly. The device includes a container portion in which secretions are stored The container has an open top which can be covered by a lid portion. The lid portion includes an opening in the sidewall for accepting secretions, a funnel-shaped lower section for directing the secretions into the container portion and an actuator for opening and closing a seal. The device further includes a system for preventing spillage of the container contents. The seal is situated on a rod at the bottom of the funnel-shaped section and controls access to the container. 
     A preferred embodiment of the portable spittoon is shown in FIGS. 1-4. A container  26  having an open top is provided. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the container  26  includes a window  28  so that the user can monitor the contents of the container  26 . A lid  14  is connected to the container  26  by any liquid tight means. In the embodiment shown, the internal surface of the lid  14  is threaded to mate with threads on the external surface of the container  26 . To facilitate use, quick disconnect threads can be used to allow the lid  14  to be removed from the container  26  with a slight twist, for example, a half turn. This enables easy disposal of the contents and allows the user to dispose of large, other-than-liquid secretions such as spent tobacco. To further protect against spillage, an O-ring or gasket can be used to seal the connection between the lid  14  and the container  26 . The lid  14  includes an opening  30  into which secretions are deposited by the user. As shown, the opening  30  should be large enough to enable easy access for the disposal of liquid and other small debris. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the opening  30  includes a ledge which can be used to direct spare drops into the container  26  from the user&#39;s mouth. 
     A critical characteristic of the portable spittoon described herein is that it prevents spillage of the contents. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the elements which function to prevent spillage in detail. A valve button  10  rests on a spring  12  which is seated in the lid  14 . One end of a pushing rod  16  extends through the lid  14  and the spring  12  to screw into the valve button  10 . The opposite end of the pushing rod  16  screws into the upper end of a seal nut  18 . A seal  20  is attached to the seal nut  18  by means of a screw  24  and a washer  22 . The seal  20  is preferably made from flexible rubber although other appropriate materials may be used. The screw  24  screws into the lower end of the seal nut  18 , thus maintaining the seal  20  in close contact with the seal nut  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the pushing rod  16  extends through the center of the lid  14  and the container  26  such that the seal contacts the narrow diameter portion of the funnel section  32  evenly about its perimeter in the resting position. 
     The design of the lid  14  further aids in preventing spillage. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion of the lid  14  includes a funnel-shaped section  32 . This funnel shaped section  32  directs secretions into the container  26 . Additionally, because the funnel-shaped section  32  acts to narrow the potential exit path of the secretions should the container  26  spill and the seal  20  fail, the possibility of the contents escaping is further minimized. 
     All of the elements of the invention are preferably made from lightweight, durable materials such as plastic or aluminum. The portable spittoon is preferably constructed in a size which would fit into a user&#39;s pocket in order to be particularly convenient to use. The portable spittoon may also be carried on a belt and its spill-proof design even allows transport in a purse or other bag. If desired for sanitary or ease of use reasons, the container or the container and lid can be made from disposable materials. 
     In use, when the tobacco chewer wishes to spit into the portable spittoon, the valve button  10  is depressed, compressing the spring  12 . This forces the pushing rod  16  down which further forces the seal  20  away from the lid  14 . This causes a passageway to be formed between the opening  30  in the side of the lid  14  and the container  26  through which small amounts of spent tobacco or other secretions may be spit. When the tobacco chewer is finished spitting, the valve button  10  is released. The. spring  12  forces the pushing rod  16  back up which also forces the seal  20  to abut tightly and with even force about its perimeter against the lid  14 . This seal  20  prevents the contents of the canister from spilling. 
     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.