U.S. patent application number 11/073252 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-07 for ashtray apparatus.
Invention is credited to Orlando L. Cabalu.
Application Number | 20060196924 11/073252 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36943183 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060196924 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cabalu; Orlando L. |
September 7, 2006 |
Ashtray apparatus
Abstract
An ashtray apparatus includes a cylindrical housing that has a
bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall. An opening extends
through the top wall. The housing has a break so that a first
section and a second section of the housing are defined. The first
section includes the top wall. The first section is rotatably
coupled to the second section. The second section has an upper edge
and the first section has a lower edge. A first half wall is
attached to the first section and a second half wall is attached to
the second section. The first section is selectively rotatable with
respect to the second section so that the first half wall is
selectively positionable in a first position substantially
overlapping with the second half wall or in a second position
unaligned with the second half wall.
Inventors: |
Cabalu; Orlando L.;
(Temecula, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEAN KAUFHOLD
P. O. BOX 89626
SIOUX FALLS
SD
57109
US
|
Family ID: |
36943183 |
Appl. No.: |
11/073252 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
232/43.2 ;
131/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 19/0085
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
232/043.2 ;
131/231 |
International
Class: |
A47G 29/12 20060101
A47G029/12; A24F 19/00 20060101 A24F019/00 |
Claims
1. An ashtray assembly comprising: a cylindrical housing having a
bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall extending between and
being attached to said bottom and top walls, an opening extending
through said top wall, said housing having a break therein
orientated parallel to said bottom wall and being positioned nearer
to said top wall than said bottom wall such that a first section
and a second section of said housing are defined, said first
section including said top wall, said first section being rotatably
coupled to said second section, said second section having an upper
edge and said first section having a lower edge, a first half wall
being attached to said first section adjacent to said lower edge
and generally covering 1/2 of an opening between said first and
second sections, a second half wall being attached to said second
section adjacent to said upper edge and generally covering 1/2 of
the opening between said first and second sections, said first
section being selectively rotatable with respect to said second
section such that said first half wall is selectively positionable
in a first position substantially overlapping with said second half
wall or a second position unaligned with said second half wall.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, further including a door
being pivotally attached to top wall for selectively opening or
closing said opening in said top wall.
3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said door has a
bottom surface facing inward of said housing when said door is in a
closed position, a plurality of posts being attached to said bottom
side of said door and extending into said housing when said door is
in said closed position.
4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second half wall
has a pair of spaced notches therein, a nub being attached to and
extending downwardly from said first half wall, said nub being
positioned in a first of said notches when said first half wall is
placed in said first position and said nub being positioned in a
second of said notches when said second half wall is placed in said
second position.
5. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said second section
has a dividing line therein such that an upper portion and a lower
portion of said second section is defined, said upper portion being
threadably couplable to said lower portion.
6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second section
has a dividing line therein such that an upper portion and a lower
portion of said second section is defined, said upper portion being
threadably couplable to said lower portion.
7. An ashtray assembly comprising: a cylindrical housing having a
bottom wall, a top wall and a perimeter wall extending between and
being attached to said bottom and top walls, an opening extending
through said top wall, a door being pivotally attached to top wall
for selectively opening or closing said opening in said top wall,
said door having a bottom surface facing inward of said housing
when said door is in a closed position, a plurality of posts being
attached to said bottom side of said door and extending into said
housing when said door is in said closed position, said housing
having a break therein orientated parallel to said bottom wall and
being positioned nearer to said top wall than said bottom wall such
that a first section and a second section of said housing are
defined, said first section including said top wall, said first
section being rotatably coupled to said second section, said second
section having an upper edge and said first section having a lower
edge, a first half wall being attached to said first section
adjacent to said lower edge and generally covering 1/2 of an
opening between said first and second sections, a second half wall
being attached to said second section adjacent to said upper edge
and generally covering 1/2 of the opening between said first and
second sections, said first section being selectively rotatable
with respect to said second section such that said first half wall
is selectively positionable in a first position substantially
overlapping with said second half wall or a second position
unaligned with said second half wall, said second half wall having
a pair of spaced notches therein, a nub being attached to and
extending downwardly from said first half wall, said nub being
positioned in a first of said notches when said first half wall is
placed in said first position and said nub being positioned in a
second of said notches when said second half wall is placed in said
second position, said second section having a dividing line therein
such that an upper portion and a lower portion of said second
section is defined, said upper portion being threadably couplable
to said lower portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to ashtray devices and more
particularly pertains to a new ashtray device for providing an area
for receiving ashes and including a storage cell for storing
cigarette butts and ashes within a sealed manner.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The use of ashtray devices is known in the prior art. U.S.
Pat. No. 6,170,490 describes a device that includes a housing
having an inner compartment therein for holding a scented liquid
which may be used to put out a cigarette while a remaining portion
of the housing may be used for holding cigarette butts and ashes.
Another type of ashtray device is U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,549 again
having a compartment therein for releasing an aroma and for putting
out a cigarette. Still yet another such device is found in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,187,864.
[0005] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular
objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that
includes an upper ashtray for discarding cigarette ashes in and
also including a lower compartment, positioned below the upper
ashtray for storing cigarette butts and ashtrays in a sealed
manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention meets the needs presented above by
generally comprising a cylindrical housing that has a bottom wall,
a top wall and a perimeter wall extending between and is attached
to the bottom and top walls. An opening extends through the top
wall. The housing has a break therein orientated parallel to the
bottom wall and is positioned nearer to the top wall than the
bottom wall so that a first section and a second section of the
housing are defined. The first section includes the top wall. The
first section is rotatably coupled to the second section. The
second section has an upper edge and the first section has a lower
edge. A first half wall is attached to the first section adjacent
to the lower edge and generally covers 1/2 of an opening between
the first and second sections. A second half wall is attached to
the second section adjacent to the upper edge and generally covers
1/2 of the opening between the first and second sections. The first
section is selectively rotatable with respect to the second section
so that the first half wall is selectively positionable in a first
position substantially overlapping with the second half wall or in
a second position unaligned with the second half wall.
[0007] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0008] The objects of the invention, along with the various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed
out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part
of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ashtray apparatus
according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a door of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first section of the
present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a second
section of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lower portion of the
second section of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top view of the door of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the door of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the first section of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a top view of the first section of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a top view of the upper portion of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the lower section of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
FIGS. 1 through 12 thereof, a new ashtray device embodying the
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally
designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
[0023] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 12, the ashtray
apparatus 10 generally comprises a cylindrical housing 20 that has
a bottom wall 22, a top wall 24 and a perimeter wall 26 extending
between and is attached to the bottom 22 and top 24 walls. An
opening 28 extends through the top wall 24. A door 30 is pivotally
attached to top wall 24 for selectively opening or closing the
opening 28 in the top wall 24. The door 30 has a bottom surface 32
facing inward of the housing 12 when the door 30 is in a closed
position. A plurality of posts 34 is attached to the bottom side of
the door 30 and extends into the housing 20 when the door 30 is in
the closed position. The posts 34 force cigarette butts downward
into the housing 20 when inserted therein. The housing 20 has a
height generally between 2 inches and 3 inches and a diameter
generally between 2 inches and 3 inches.
[0024] The housing 20 has a break 36 therein orientated parallel to
the bottom wall 22 and is positioned nearer to the top wall 24 than
the bottom wall 22 so that a first section 38 and a second section
38 of the housing 20 are defined. The first section 38 includes the
top wall 24. The first section 38 is rotatably coupled to the
second section 40. The first section 38 has a height generally
equal to one inch. The second section 40 has an upper edge 42 and
the first section 38 has a lower edge 44.
[0025] A first half wall 46 is attached to the first section 38
adjacent to the lower edge 44 and generally covers 1/2 of an
opening between the first 38 and second 40 sections. A second half
wall 48 is attached to the second section 40 adjacent to the upper
edge 42 and generally covers 1/2 of the opening between the first
38 and second 40 sections. The first section 38 is selectively
rotatable with respect to the second section 40 so that the first
half wall 46 is selectively positionable in a first position
substantially overlapping with the second half wall 48 or a in
second position unaligned with the second half wall 48.
[0026] The second half wall 48 has a pair of spaced notches 50
therein. A nub 52 is attached to and extends downwardly from the
first half wall 46. The nub 52 is positioned in a first of the
notches 50 when the first half wall 46 is placed in the first
position and the nub 52 is positioned in a second of the notches 50
when the second half wall 48 is placed in the second position. The
notches 50 allow a person using the apparatus 10 to know if the
opening between the first 38 and second 40 sections is open or
closed.
[0027] The second section 40 has a dividing line 54 therein so that
an upper portion 56 and a lower portion 58 of the second section 40
are defined. The upper portion 56 is threadably couplable to the
lower portion 58.
[0028] In use, the door 30 is opened to receive ashes from a
cigarette. When finished, the cigarette butt is placed in the
housing 20 and the first half wall 46 placed in the first position
so that the cigarette butt and ashes fall into the second section
40. The first half wall 46 is then placed in the first second
position so that the second section 40 is closed off from the first
section 38. This allows the first section 38 to again be used for
receiving ashes while keeping old ashes and cigarette butts in a
sealed position in the second section 40. The lower portion 58 may
be removed for emptying the second section 40 of the cigarettes and
ashes contained therein.
[0029] With respect to the above description then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
[0030] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *