U.S. patent application number 11/605023 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-29 for foldable ashtray.
Invention is credited to Jeff G. Galoyan.
Application Number | 20080121243 11/605023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39462404 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080121243 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Galoyan; Jeff G. |
May 29, 2008 |
Foldable ashtray
Abstract
A disposable ashtray available in multiple quantities and put
together in a package or attached to a cigarette pack for quick and
convenient access. The ashtray comes in a folded flat arrangement
that can be opened up to form a box shape for a convenient use.
When the ashtray is filled out with bits and pieces of cigarette
litter it is folded back and squeezed into a round shape that
safely holds cigarette litter inside preventing it from spilling,
dropping out and giving up odors. The folded piece can be disposed
of at a garbage receptacle or can be temporarily placed in a
pocket, bag, etc., for further disposal. It is inexpensive,
convenient and can be obtained in multiple quantities. It can be
disposed of immediately or at a later time as it safely holds
cigarette litter inside.
Inventors: |
Galoyan; Jeff G.; (Walnut
Creek, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JEFF GALOYAN
1117 CORRIE LN.
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94597
US
|
Family ID: |
39462404 |
Appl. No.: |
11/605023 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/231 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 19/0028 20130101;
A24F 15/18 20130101; A24F 19/145 20130101; A24F 19/0014
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/231 |
International
Class: |
A24F 19/00 20060101
A24F019/00 |
Claims
1. A disposable and foldable ashtray in the shape of a flat folded
packet, comprising: thin and foldable fire resisting material
formed into an ashtray; wherein said ashtray is folded into a
compact package for storage prior to use; wherein a number of said
ashtrays are combined into a pack; wherein said packaged ashtray is
pulled out from the pack and unfolded to form an ashtray including
four side walls and a bottom capable of accepting cigarette
residues or similar litter; wherein said ashtray is being collapsed
and crumpled back into a creased ball holding cigarette residues
inside; wherein said creased ball safely keeps the inside content
from dropping out and emitting odors until it is disposed of.
2. A disposable ashtray of claim 1 wherein it is attached to the
backside of a cigarette pack for occasional use, unfolded by
pulling off the upper portion of the ashtray by a tag to form an
ashtray of claim 1 that is still attached to the pack on lower side
and remains like that while in use, further pulled out to be
detached from the pack after final consumption, collapsed into a
ball shaped package holding cigarette trash inside, and disposed of
at convenience.
3. A disposable ashtray of claim 1 wherein an additional
extinguishing pad is incorporated and attached to the bottom of the
ashtray, comprising of two thin plastic layers filled out with
liquid gel in between them that is encapsulated in squares capable
of quick melting at continuous contact with heated objects such as
burning or smoldering cigarette ends, and thus allowing penetration
of gel into cigarette's burning end to extinguish it.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to ashtrays, more particularly
to an ashtray that is foldable, disposable, pocketable and
available in multiple quantities. It can be used separately or come
combined with a cigarette pack.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] A great diversity of various ashtrays is available for
service. Most of them are designed for a static use; many are
designed to be portable and disposable. Yet a large amount of
cigarette litter is being left in public areas where a smoker may
occasionally light a cigarette and discard the butt simply because
there are no available ashtrays around. Not only it results in an
unclean contaminated and foul environment but in some cases may
also lead to fire hazards.
[0003] In an attempt to alleviate this problem a number of authors
suggested disposable ashtrays or ashtrays built into a cigarette
pack for quick access. These prior art ashtrays in general have
relatively complicated design that suggests cigarette pack
modification and will likely require broad changes to manufacturing
lines. The matrix of prior art is extensive. Therefore mentioned
herein are only a few ashtray inventions that include some of the
desired attributes.
[0004] Of particular interest is U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,701 to Garcia
which discloses a trash disposal devise made of heat resistant
material that can be shaped from a roll to an ashtray like shape
and later folded to an package and discarded. Other prior art
includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,990,983 to Lyman; U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,076
to Hernandez; U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,588 to Abrines Amer.
[0005] However none of the above provides a non-expensive ashtray
that can be obtained at all smoking areas or tobacco stores along
with a pack of cigarettes and paper matches, that will come in
multiple quantities and that can be used for simply one cigarette
only and discarded immediately after folding it into a ball-like
package safely containing litter from the environment.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] The object of invention is to provide an inexpensive and
disposable ashtray that comes in multiple quantities put together
in packs and that can be obtained routinely along with a pack of
cigarettes and paper matches in gas stations or similar stores.
[0007] It is a further object of the invention to provide
disposable ashtrays that are made of thin, foldable and
fire-retardant material that can be unfolded for usage and crumpled
back to safely contain cigarette litter inside prior to
disposal.
[0008] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
disposable ashtray that can be attached to the cigarette pack in
the factory and can be unfolded to form an ashtray that after usage
can be removed from the pack, folded to hold the ash and litter
inside and disposed of at convenience.
[0009] It is a further object of the invention to provide a
disposable ashtray for occasional use for simply a single cigarette
that can be folded to contain remnants of the cigarette to prevent
accidental pollution of the environment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0010] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package containing
plurality of disposable ashtrays according to the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2a) is a perspective view of a package of disposable
ashtrays in open position with one ashtray half pulled out;
[0013] FIG. 2b) is a single ashtray pulled out of the pack and
positioned horizontally;
[0014] FIG. 2c) is a single ashtray half unfolded;
[0015] FIG. 2d) is a single ashtray fully open;
[0016] FIG. 2e) is a single ashtray filled with symbolic ash,
butts, etc.;
[0017] FIG. 2f) is a single ashtray folded into a small package
containing litter;
[0018] FIG. 3a) is a perspective view of a cigarette pack with a
single ashtray attached to the backside of the pack;
[0019] FIG. 3b) is a cigarette pack with an attached ashtray half
unfolded;
[0020] FIG. 3c) is a cigarette pack with a fully unfolded
ashtray;
[0021] FIG. 3d) is an ashtray removed from the cigarette pack;
[0022] FIG. 3e) is a removed ashtray filled with cigarette
litter;
[0023] FIG. 3f) is a removed ashtray crumpled to constrain
cigarette litter inside.
[0024] FIG. 4 is an ashtray in service while still attached to the
pack.
[0025] FIG. 5 is an additional extinguishing pad.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a foldable ashtray with cigarette holding
slots.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0027] Though the following detailed description contains many
specifics for illustration purposes, anyone of ordinary skill in
the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the
following details are within the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the following preferred embodiment of the invention is
set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing
limitations upon, the claimed invention. It is also to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Box 1 containing five folded ashtrays is open and a single ashtray
2 is half way pulled out. Similar to cigarette packs the box 1 can
be opened by removing the upper cover. For illustration purposes
box 1 is shown as open. Each ashtray 2 is individually wrapped in a
plastic cover for temporary protection and for keeping it packed
before usage.
[0029] FIG. 2a) shows an embodiment of the ashtray similar to FIG.
1. It is shown for continuous illustration purposes. Ashtray 2 is
being pulled out from the pack for utilization.
[0030] FIG. 2b) shows an ashtray horizontally positioned and ready
to be unfolded by means of pulling tags 3 to opposite
directions.
[0031] FIG. 2c) shows at least one embodiment of the ashtray 2
including preferred arrangement of folding configuration. It is to
be understood that the geometry of the folding method is not
limited to the configuration set forth in the drawings.
[0032] FIG. 2d) shows ashtray 2 that is completely unfolded and
ready for use.
[0033] FIG. 2e) shows ashtray 2 filled with cigarette residue 4 and
ready to be disposed of. The ashtray is made of heat resisting and
foldable material that can be crumpled into a small package
containing cigarette residue inside.
[0034] FIG. 2f) shows scrunched up ashtray that is ready to be
disposed of. The ashtray material must be able to maintain in
compressed form to keep ash and butts safely inside and prevent
them from producing odors or from dropping out. The crushed ashtray
may be cast off immediately or placed in a pocket, purse,
briefcase, etc., for later disposal.
[0035] FIG. 3a) illustrates another embodiment of the invention
where ashtray 2 similar to configuration described in FIG. 2c)
comes attached to the backside of a cigarette pack 5 in the
factory. FIG. 3b) shows half unfolded ashtray with one side
attached to the pack by means of glue bars 6. Glue 6 used for this
purpose is not provided for permanent attachment but rather for
temporarily holding ashtray 2 in place. FIG. 3c) shows fully
unfolded ashtray 2 that is still attached to the pack. Combination
of pack 5 and ashtray 2 can be positioned on any flat surface for
providing more stability to the ashtray. FIG. 3d) shows ashtray 2
being removed from pack 5. FIG. 3e) and 3f) are similar to FIG. 2e)
and 2f) and provided to complete the logical sequence of figures
depicting ashtray/pack combination usage.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows another way of utilizing the attached foldable
ashtray 2. At certain outdoor occasions where a supporting surface
is not available pack 4 can be used as a handle to hold ashtray 2
while it is in use. It can also be placed on a flat surface to be
used as a combination of a cigarette pack with an ashtray.
[0037] The above arrangement is intended to provide a temporary
disposable ashtray when regular disposal receptacles are not
available. Ashtray 2 comes combined with a cigarette pack and
always available for emergency use. It is intended to save the
environment from occasional littering and odors.
[0038] From manufacturing perspective the above arrangement of
pack/ashtray as depicted in FIG. 3 series does not require change
in package design and manufacturing process. It allows relatively
easy adjustment of the manufacturing line to accommodate attached
foldable ashtray.
[0039] As additional means of extinguishing cigarettes and
preventing fire hazards a special pad can be provided inside the
folded ashtray. As it is shown in FIG. 5 it consists of two thin
layers 7 made of plastic material with liquid gel 8 encapsulated in
between layers. The upper and lower plastic layers are attached to
form longitudinal tubes filled with gel 8 in order to prevent its
free movement between layers. Upon continuous contact with burning
tobacco the upper plastic will melt letting the gel penetrate into
the burning cigarette end thus fully extinguishing it.
[0040] FIG. 6 shows an ashtray with cigarette holding slots. Pull
off tags are made wider and positioned below slots on opposite
sides of the ashtray. After the ashtray is completely unfolded
cigarettes may be positioned at the slots supported with pull off
tags below.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
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