US3519002A - Cigarette holder and ash receptacle - Google Patents

Description

July 1; 1970 J; DAVIS CIGARETTE HOLDER AND ASH RECEP'I'ACLE Filed Aug. 14, 1968 A'I'TORA EV United States Patent 3,519,002 CIGARETTE HOLDER AND ASH RECEPTACLE Jeannette Davis, 1320 Midvale, Los Angeles, Calif. 90024 Filed Aug. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 752,639 Int. Cl. A24f 19/00 US. Cl. 131-241 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable cigarette holder and ash receptacle is provided. The assembly is in the form of a box-like ash receptacle, the receptacle being equipped with a bracelet so that the assembly may be conveniently worn on the wrist of the user or may be carried, the bracelet being reversible and usable as a handle. The receptacle has a hinged cover having a cigarette-holding bracket on its underside, and an apertured flap member that is spring biased to a closed position over a lower box-like receptacle and below the cover, the cigaretteholding bracket on the underside of the cover being adapted to be received in the flap aperture when the cover is placed in closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The occasion often arises for cigarette smokers when there is no convenient receptacle for depositing the ashes from their cigarettes, or for disposing of the cigarette butts themselves. Moreover, the occasion often arises when there is no suitable facility for holding and supporting the cigarette for brief periods when the smokers hands are otherwise occupied, and when the smoker does not wish to hold the cigarette in his mouth.

The improved receptacle assembly of the present invention, as mentioned above, may be conveniently worn on the Wrist of the smoker, and it provides a convenient receptacle which is always available for the ash from the cigarette and for the cigarette butt itself. In addition, in the embodiment to be described, a cigarette-holding bracket is provided on the receptacle, in which the cigarette may be clamped when the hands of the smoker are otherwise engaged. The aforesaid cigarette-holding bracket, in the embodiment to be described, has the feature of automatically causing the cigarette to become extinguished if it burns down to the bracket itself. This serves as a safety feature, so as to prevent accidents should the smoker fall asleep or be otherwise pre-occupied.

The embodiment of the assembly of the present invention which will be described herein includes a box-like ash receptacle having an open top, a cover for the receptacle, and an intermediate flap which fits between the cover and the receptacle. The cover and the intermediate flap are hinged on one edge of the receptacle, and a coil spring is provided on the hinge which normally biases the flap down over the ash receptacle to form a closure member therefor, and which normally biases the cover to an open position. However, the cover may be closed down over the receptacle to a closed position against the spring bias, and it may be held in the closed position by an appropriate snap fastener.

The aforesaid intermediate flap has an opening formed therein to receive the ashes and the cigarette butts. Also, the cover, in the illustrated embodiment, has a cigaretteholding bracket mounted on its underside. When the assembly is open, a lit cigarette may be supported in the bracket with its glowing end extending over the opening in the flap in position so that its ashes will drop into the receptacle. The opening in the flap also serves to receive the bracket on the cover when the cover is closed, with the bracket extending down through the opening into the receptacle.

The assembly of the present invention may be used as a conventional ash tray by placing it on a table, piano, or other supporting surface. The illustrated embodiment is also equipped with an extensible band, or bracelet, so that the assembly may conveniently be worn on the users wrist.

It will be appreciated that ashes and cigarette butts may be subsequently emptied from the compartment in the receptacle, merely by opening the cover, and by also opening the intermediate flap. Appropriate resilient fastening means may be provided on the flap, in addition to the cover, so that the flap may positively be held in its closed position over the open top of the box-like component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the assembly of the present invention worn on the wrist of a user, the assembly being shown in an open position, and supporting a lit cigarette;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1, showing the cover in a closed position and showing the bracelet component of the assembly in position to permit the assembly conveniently to be carried;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the assembly, showing it supported on an appropriate supporting surface;

FIG. 4 is a further perspective showing the interna. components; and

FIG. 5 is a still further perspective further illustrating the internal components of the assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT The assembly illustrated in the drawing includes a boxlike component 10 for receiving and storing ashes from cigarettes, cigarette butts and the like. A bracelet 12, which may be in the form of the illustrated extensible band, is secured to the box-like component 10. The bracelet 12 serves to support the assembly on the wrist of a user, as shown in FIG. 1, or to provide an appropriate handle for the assembly, for example, when it is not in use and as shown in FIG. 2.

The box-like component 10 has an open top, and the assembly is provided with an intermediate flap 14 and with a cover 16 both hinged to one edge of the component 10 by means, for example, of a hinge 18.

A spring 20 is provided, and which is coupled to the hinge 18. The spring normally biases the cover 16 to the open position shown, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 5, and biases the flap 14 down to a closed position. A pair of snap fasteners 22 and 24 on the flap 14 engage the upper rim of the box-like component 10, positively to hold the flap down in its closed position. Also, the cover 16 may be closed, as shown in FIG. 2, against the bias of the spring 20, and is held closed by a resilient snapfastener 26 which engages the upper rim of the box-like component 10.

A cigarette holding bracket 30 is provided on the underside of the cover 16, and this bracket serves to hold a cigarette, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, with its glowing end disposed over an opening 40 in the flap 14. The ashes from the cigarettes, and the cigarette butts themselves can be inserted into the box-like compartment through the opening 40 in the flap. It will be appreciated 3 that the flap 14 can be opened, by releasing its fasteners 22 and 24 from the rim of the box-like component 10, to empty the contents of the component 10.

A decorative jewel 50 may be mounted on the top of the cover. A stop 52 (FIG. 3) may also be provided, for limiting the angular position of the cover 16 with respect to the box-like component 10.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved cigarette ash receptacle which may, for example, be constructed to simulate a jewel box for feminine use, as is the case with the illustrated embodiment. The assembly of the invention has utility in that it may conveniently be placed on any appropriate surface, or worn on the wrist of the user.

The invention always provides a ready and available receptacle for cigarette ashes, and for the cigarette butts themselves. Moreover, it provides a convenient holder for the cigarette, which also serves as a heat sink to conduct heat away from the glowing end of the cigarette, and cause the cigarette to be extinguished, should it burn down to the bracket 30 itself.

It is clear that the illustrated embodiment of the invention is merely illustrative, and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirt and scope thereof. The following claim is intended to cover all such modiiications.

What is claimed is:

1. A cigarette ash receptacle assembly including: a box-like component for receiving and storing ashes from cigarettes, cigarette butts, and the like; a strap member effixed to said box-like component for securing said boxlike component to the wrist of the user, said box-like component having an open top; a cover member for said box-like component, and a hinge member for securing said cover to said box-like component; an intermediate flap member hinged to said box-like component under said cover, said flap member having an opening therein; and a cigarette-holding bracket on the underside of said cover adapted to be received in the opening in said flap member when said cover is closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 104,178 4/1937 Anderson.

1,045,176 11/1912 Piper 131-242 1,609,481 12/ 1926 McCarthy et al. 1,902,028 3/1933 Heywood 131242 2,124,481 7/1938 Anderson 131--242 2,716,988 9/1955 Comstock 131242 2,762,377 9/1956 Stephens 131-241 2,903,172 9/1959 Carter 13l241 X 3,166,080 1/1965 Neale 131242 X FOREIGN PATENTS 729,725 5/ 1932 France.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 131242

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