Plastic Construction For An Item Used In A Heat Environment, Such As An Ashtray

Abstract

A structure for a utilitarian item, such as an ash tray, for exposure to heat, including a nonflamable, heat resistant main body portion and an attached decorative portion formed of a material which is suitable for decorative hot stamping and engraving processes.

Description

PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION

This invention relates primarily to plastic constructions and more particularly, to plastic constructions for use in a heat environment and yet suitable for decorative display.

Materials such as Bakelite are suitable for the construction of such items as ash trays from a functional standpoint because of the ability of such materials to withstand heat and flame. However, such materials are somewhat limited relative to the use of decorative forming processes thereon. Conversely, materials such as polystyrene are particularly useful for various hot stamping and engraving techniques, but are somewhat non-functional relative to their ability to withstand heat and/or flame.

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a decorative item for use in a heat environment.

A further and more particular object is to provide a plastic construction for use in a heat environment which is both decorative and functional.

These and other objects are accomplished in accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the present invention wherein a plastic structure, for use as an ash tray or the like in a heat environment, includes a first main body portion fabricated of a heat resistant and/or nonflamable material for direct exposure to heat and a second portion useful for hot stamping and engraving to provide a decorative appearance. The first and second portions are attached such that the second decorative portion is prominently exposed to the user and the first main body portion is constructed so as to protect the second portion from heat exposure.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an ash tray constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a partial view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the ash tray of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2--2 thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the ash tray of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3--3 thereof.

Referring to the drawings, an ash tray is shown as including a main body portion, generally designated 10, and a bottom closure member 12, both constructed of a heat resistant and nonflamable material, such as Bakelite. The main body portion 10 comprises a top wall 14, side walls 16, front wall 18, and a back wall 20. The bottom closure member 12 is constructed to snap (or otherwise be fixed) into a bottom opening defined by the side walls 16 and the front and back walls 18, 20. The top wall 14 is formed by conventional plastic working techniques to define a top opening 22 and side slots 24, the side slots being tapered and engraved with a special grain-like pattern to grip cigarettes.

The second or decorative portion of the ash tray, generally designated 26, is formed of a material useful in hot stamping and engraving processes and is shown as including a base panel 28, an engraved design, generally designated 30, on the base panel, a contrasting finished surface 32 defined by base panel 28 and a hot stamped outline 34 for the design 30. A recommended material for the second portion of the ash tray is polystyrene and it is further recommended that the material be molded with four rearwardly projecting pins 36, nonsymmetrically protruding from the rear surface of the base panel 28. Likewise, the front wall 18 of the main body portion 10 is constructed to define four receiving holes 38 for the pins 36. The nonsymmetry of the holes 38 and the pins 36 insures the desired orientation for the second portion 26 when it is being snapped into place relative to the main body portion 10. The tips of the pins 36 may be peened with heat after being inserted to the holes 38 in order to fix the attachment, or, alternatively, a cement or the like may be used between the contacting faces of the first and second portions of the ash tray to fix the attachment therebetween.

Looking at the engraved design 30 in more detail by particular reference to FIGS. 1, 1A and 2, it should be understood that the polystyrene base panel 28 is engraved and hot stamped such that the outline 34 for the engraved design 30 is of some finite thickness which is raised, as an example, approximately three-sixteenth of an inch above the contrasting finished surface 32 of the base panel 28. Between the lines of the outline 34 in the design 30, a slightly recessed (one thirty-second of an inch) area 34' is made with a surface different than the contrasting finished surface 32 for the base panel 28 in order to provide a more "outstanding" design 30. The outline 34 of the design 30 is finished in chrome, gold, bronze, or a colored material by means of "hot stamping" (laying colored material or metal leaf over the surface of the outline 34 and then applying a hot stamp pressure). With the outline 34 raised in the finished design by engraving into the mold, a plated appearance for an aesthetically desirable product is produced. The polystyrene decorative portion and its design are protected from heat exposure by the Bakelite overhang 14'. The overhang, for instance, prevents contact by a cigarette and the base panel 28 or design 30.

Another feature of the present invention is the use of suction cup 50 projecting rearwardly from the main body portion 10 in order to affix the ash tray to a surface such as an automobile dash panel, or the like. The suction cup 50 is attached to the main body portion 10 by means of its projecting bolt 52 protruding through a bolt-receiving hole 54 in the rear wall 20 and a nut 56 which is threadably attached to the bolt 52 at the inside of the ash tray. Alternatively, an adjustable orientation for the ash tray may be obtained by the use of a ball-swivel joint (not shown). One recommended construction for such a joint would make use of a rubber suction cup for receiving a round metal ball. The resiliency of the suction cup provides a tight enough fit for the metal ball so that after adjustment by moving the ball in the cup, the orientation of the ash tray is held.

In accordance with the above description, a novel design for an ash tray or the like has been described to provide an item which is both decorative and functional, for use in a heat environment.

Claims

I claim:

1. A plastic construction for an item used in a heat environment comprising a functional, heat-resistant, main body portion, and a heat-formable decorative portion, means for attaching said main body portion to said decorative portion and overhang means on said main body portion for protecting said decorative portion from heat exposure, said main body portion including a top wall, side walls and a front wall, said top wall extending beyond said front wall to define said overhang means and said decorative portion being attached by attachment means to said front wall for protection by said overhang means against heat, said attachment means including a plurality of nonsymmetrically arranged holes defined by said front wall and a plurality of nonsymmetrically arranged pins projecting rearwardly from said decorative portion, said holes being arranged to receive said pins with one orientation only of said decorative portion.