CONTAINER ASHTRAY ASSEMBLIES WITH ASHTRAY LID MEMBERS

Abstract

A container ashtray assembly includes a cup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume. An ashtray lid member includes a receptacle portion and a nesting portion. The receptacle portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume. The receptacle volume of the container member is greater than the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to container ashtray assemblies and more specifically to container ashtray assemblies including ashtray lid members.

Ashtrays are known and used as a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette or cigar butts. Ashtrays are typically open-ended, walled structures that define a volume for receiving the tobacco ash. Other ashtray containing assemblies are desired that can perform multiple functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a container ashtray assembly includes a cup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume. An ashtray lid member includes a receptacle portion and a nesting portion. The receptacle portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume. The receptacle volume of the container member is greater than the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

In another embodiment, a container ashtray assembly includes a cup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume suitable for carrying a liquid and drinking therefrom. An ashtray lid member includes a receptacle portion and a nesting portion. The receptacle portion includes a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume.

In yet another embodiment, an ashtray lid member for a container ashtray assembly includes a receptacle portion comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume. A nesting portion is configured to nest within a mouth of a container member having a receptacle volume suitable for carrying a liquid and drinking therefrom. The ashtray lid member is configured to close the receptacle volume inhibiting spillage of liquid therefrom.

These and other objects, features, embodiments, and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the following detailed description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which the various components of the drawings are not necessarily illustrated to scale:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container ashtray assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an ashtray lid member for the container ashtray assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side, section view of the container ashtray assembly of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 through 13 illustrate additional container ashtray assembly embodiments having different volume shapes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments described herein generally relate to container ashtray assemblies with ashtray lid members. The container ashtray assemblies include a cup-shaped container member that can releasably connect to the ashtray lid member to form the container ashtray assembly. The ashtray lid member provides an ashtray volume that serves as a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts or other waste. The container member provides a larger volume that can serve as a receptacle for a liquid (such as water) or other material that can be kept separate from the receptacle volume of the ashtray lid member to prevent mixing of contents of the receptacle volume of the ashtray lid member and the receptacle volume of the container member.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a container ashtray assembly 10 includes an ashtray lid member 12 and a container member 14. FIG. 2 illustrates the ashtray lid member 12 in isolation. The ashtray lid member 12 includes a receptacle portion 16 and a nesting portion 18. The receptacle portion 16 has an outer diameter OD₁ that is greater than an outer diameter OD₂ of the nesting portion 18. In other embodiments, the outer diameter OD₂ of the nesting portion 18 may be greater than the outer diameter OD₁ of the receptacle portion 16. The outer diameter OD₂ of the nesting portion 18 may be selected to be slidingly received with a mouth portion 20 of the container member 14. While a sliding arrangement is illustrated, the nesting portion 18 may have screw threads or a sealing material that can mate with corresponding structures on the container member 14. Further, a bottom 19 of the nesting portion 18 may be flat to rest on a support surface, such as a table.

The ashtray lid member 12 includes a bottom wall 22 and a side wall 24 that extends about a periphery of the bottom wall 22. The side wall 24 terminates at an upper ledge 26 forming a round shape; however, other shapes may be used. Holding features 28 may be provided about the upper ledge 26. The holding features 28 may be formed as indentations or notches that extend axially into the upper ledge 26. The holding features 28 may be used to hold and support an end of a tobacco product, such as a cigar, spaced away from the bottom wall 22.

The bottom wall 22 and the side wall 24 together form an ashtray volume 32 that serves as a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts and/or other waste. The ashtray volume 32 can be determined by the suitable volume calculation for the particular shape, such as the cross-sectional area of the volume multiplied by the maximum height H₁ from the bottom wall 22.

FIG. 3 illustrates with particularity that the ashtray lid member 12 may be releasably connected to the container member 14. As can be seen, the nesting portion 18 of the ashtray lid member 12 can be received within the mouth 30 of the container member 14. The underside of the bottom wall 22 adjacent the nesting portion 18 can be sized to rest upon an upper ledge 26 of the container member 14. The container member 14 can include a bottom wall 40 and a sidewall 42 that extends upwardly from the bottom wall 40 defining a receptacle volume 34.

As can be seen, the receptacle volume 34 of the container member 14 is larger than the volume 32 of the ashtray lid member 12. In some embodiments, the receptacle volume 34 may be at least about 1.5 times the volume of the ashtray lid member 12, such as at least about 2 times, such as at least about 2.5 times, such as at least about 3 times. As above, the receptacle volume 34 of the container member 14 may be determined by a suitable volume equation, such as the cross sectional area of the volume multiplied by the height H₂ from the bottom wall 40. In some embodiments, a liquid or other suitable substance may be used to determine volume. Any suitable material may be used to form the ashtray lid member 12 and the container member 14, such as plastics, metal, etc. and any suitable process may be used, such as molding, machining or the like. Food grade plastics and other materials may be used.

FIGS. 4 through 13 illustrate additional container ashtray assembly embodiments having different volume shapes 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910 and 1010, respectively. The above-described container ashtray assemblies can provide container members 114, 214, 314, 414, 514, 614, 714, 814, 914 and 1014 that can releasably connect to the corresponding ashtray lid members 112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912 and 1012 in a manner generally similar to that of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3 where the ashtray lid member provides a volume that serves as a receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette butts and/or other waste. The container members 114, 214, 314, 414, 514, 614, 714, 814, 914 and 1014 provide a larger volume that can serve as a receptacle for a liquid or other material that can be kept separate from the receptacle volume of the ashtray lid members 112, 212, 312, 412, 512, 612, 712, 812, 912 and 1012 to prevent mixing of respective contents.

It is noted that terms like “preferably”, “generally” and “typically” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present invention.

For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention, it is noted that the terms “substantially” and “approximately” and their variants are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement or other representation. The term “substantially” is also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.

Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specific embodiments, it will nonetheless be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. In particular it is contemplated that the scope of the present invention is not necessarily limited to stated preferred aspects and exemplified embodiments, but should be governed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A container ashtray assembly comprising:

a cup-shaped container member comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume; and

an ashtray lid member comprising a receptacle portion and a nesting portion, the receptacle portion comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume;

wherein the receptacle volume of the container member is greater than the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

2. The container ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle volume of the container member is at least 1.5 times the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

3. The container ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein the receptacle volume of the container member is at least 2 times the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

4. The container ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein the container member has a height that is greater than a height of the receptacle portion of the ashtray lid member.

5. The container ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein the nesting portion of the ashtray lid member is sized to be received within the mouth of the container member.

6. The container ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein both the container member and the ashtray lid member have a round periphery.

7. The container ashtray assembly of claim 1, wherein the side wall of the ashtray lid member terminates at an upper ledge.

8. The container ashtray assembly of claim 7 further comprising at least one holding feature provided about the upper ledge of the ashtray lid member.

9. A container ashtray assembly comprising:

a cup-shaped container member suitable comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall to a mouth thereby defining a receptacle volume suitable for carrying a liquid and drinking therefrom; and

an ashtray lid member comprising a receptacle portion and a nesting portion, the receptacle portion comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume.

10. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the receptacle volume of the container member is greater than the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

11. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the receptacle volume of the container member is at least 1.5 times the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

12. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the receptacle volume of the container member is at least 2 times the ashtray volume of the ashtray lid member.

13. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the container member has a height that is greater than a height of the receptacle portion of the ashtray lid member.

14. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the nesting portion of the ashtray lid member is sized to be received within the mouth of the container member.

15. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein both the container member and the ashtray lid member have a round periphery.

16. The container ashtray assembly of claim 9, wherein the side wall of the ashtray lid member terminates at an upper ledge.

17. The container ashtray assembly of claim 16 further comprising at least one holding feature provided about the upper ledge of the ashtray lid member.

18. An ashtray lid member for a container ashtray assembly, the ashtray lid member comprising:

a receptacle portion comprising a bottom wall and a side wall extending outwardly from the bottom wall thereby defining an ashtray volume; and

a nesting portion configured to nest within a mouth of a container member having a receptacle volume suitable for carrying a liquid and drinking therefrom, the ashtray lid member configured to close the receptacle volume inhibiting spillage of liquid therefrom.

19. The ashtray lid member of claim 18, wherein the side wall of the ashtray lid member terminates at an upper ledge.

20. The ashtray lid member of claim 19 further comprising holding features provided about the upper ledge of the ashtray lid member.