DISPOSABLE ASH TRAY

Abstract

A disposable ashtray includes a container sidewall having a screen at the bottom and a bottom cover allowing the ashtray container to be filled with sand. In this state, the ashtray is freestanding, has dimensional integrity and can be moved. The user stubs cigarettes and cigars into the sand medium through the major opening in the top of the ashtray. After use, the bottom cover is removed, and sand flows through the screen and butts and trash are retained above the screen. The entire device, including screen, container sidewall and bottom cover, may then be disposed of.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of consumer products. The application is specifically directed to a disposable ashtray that can be filled with granular media (such as sand, dirt, small pebbles, crushed shells, etc.) in any location, emptied of media, and disposed of. The disposable ashtray may be used on the beach, for example, using beach sand to extinguish cigarette butts, to separate the cigarette butts and other refuse from the sand, and to return the sand to the beach.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sand has conventionally been used in ashtrays and urns to extinguish cigarette and cigar “butts”, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,592,677, for example. Various means have been provided to separate the sand media from the butts.

Ashtrays have also been developed for use at the beach. U.S. Pat. No. 9,049,888, which is incorporated by reference, discloses an ashtray that is implanted into a sand substrate. However, that device is not freestanding and must be used where it is implanted by twisting it into a substrate. Although described as being “disposable”, the elaborate construction requires materials strong enough to withstand the downward twisting motion required to drive the structure into the beach sand.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,381 describes and claims another ashtray for use at the beach that requires being implanted in one spot. The device is not adapted to be filled with sand and moved, for example, but rather must be driven into and partially buried in the sand to be used.

Thus, there is a need in the art for an ashtray that can be used at the beach, having all disposable parts, that can be filled with sand (or other media), and remain freestanding and fully portable.

There is a need in the art for a novel solution to separate trash and solid refuse from sand (or other media) quickly and efficiently without the need for mechanical processing.

There is a need in the art for an improved ashtray that will not clog when separating sand (or other media) from the trash that remains with the ashtray.

There is further a need in the art for a disposable ashtray that places the screen so that cigarette butts are not in direct contact with the screen when they are extinguished, thereby permitting the screen to be made of recyclable, compostable, and/or biodegradable materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The need in the art is met by the present invention, which in one aspect is a disposable ashtray comprising: a container sidewall having a top rim and a bottom rim and adapted to be filled with media, such as sand, small pebbles, dirt, or the like. The container sidewall is sized and dimensioned to be freestanding and maintain dimensional integrity when filled with the media. A screen is received in the container sidewall near the bottom rim, having apertures sized to allow the media to pass through but to retain trash items such as cigarette butts. A bottom cover is removably received in the container sidewall near the bottom rim outwardly of the screen.

The bottom cover allows the ashtray container to be filled with sand. In this state the ashtray is freestanding and can be moved. When the bottom cover is removed, sand flows through the screen and butts and trash are retained above the screen. The entire device, including screen, container sidewall and bottom cover, may then be disposed of. In embodiments, the bottom cover may be reinserted in the container sidewall and the ashtray can be filled with media for another use.

The container may be shaped to nest with identical containers so that the ashtrays can be stacked for easy distribution and display, either as a freestanding stack or from a vending device, for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an ashtray according to one embodiment of the invention, from the bottom with the bottom cover partly removed;

FIG. 2 is an is an isometric view of an ashtray according to one embodiment of the invention, from the top with the bottom cover partly removed; and

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an ashtray according to another embodiment of the invention, from the side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1, a disposable ashtray 10 according to the invention comprises a container sidewall 12 having a top rim 11 and a bottom rim 13. As shown in FIG. 2, top rim 11 surrounds a container major opening 25, through which the container is filled with sand or other media and where the user stubs out cigarettes (the container is shown unfilled in the Figures). As used herein, “inwardly” means toward the container interior where the media is filled, and “outwardly” means away from the interior in any direction. As used herein, “media” refers to sand or any granular substance which can be used to extinguish cigarette butts and which can be sifted through a screen. Although beach sand is referred to in the examples, the use of any media for this purpose is within the scope of the invention.

In the embodiment shown, top rim 11 has a lip, which may be reinforced to assist in maintaining the dimensional integrity of rim 11 and also permits stacking or nesting of a plurality of the ashtrays for display or shipment. In embodiments, the container may be nested with identical containers without having a lip on the rim 11. As shown in FIG. 3, one or more slots 32 may be provided on top rim 11 to hold cigarettes and cigars, as may be found on some conventional ashtrays. Slots 32 may be formed by pulling slot tabs 33. Perforations may be provided in container sidewall 12 so that slot tabs 33 are pre-formed for this purpose.

In the embodiment shown, container sidewall 12 has a frustoconical shape, narrower at the bottom than at the top. The frustoconical shape provides a wide opening for filling with sand and permits the ashtray to remain freestanding and keep dimensional integrity once filled. The funnel shape also serves to consolidate the trash and butts at the bottom of the container when sand is sifted out through the bottom. In other embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention, the container sidewalls may be straight, so that the ashtray has cylindrical overall appearance or wider at the bottom than at the top. In all cases, the container sidewall is sized and dimensioned to stand without falling over when filled with sand (i.e., it is “freestanding”), and to maintain dimensional integrity. In this context, “dimensional integrity” simply means that the bottom rim is not bent so much that the bottom cover 14 is compromised and fails to retain sand in the ashtray. Likewise, some bending of top rim 11 and container sidewall 12 may occur, and this is contemplated within the scope of “dimensional integrity”, provided container sidewall 12 does not buckle.

Because of its the simple construction, all parts of the ashtray, including container sidewall 12, screen 16 and bottom cover 14 may be made of any disposable material, such as wood and paper, including recycled, recyclable, compostable and/or biodegradable paper. In keeping with the trend to make consumer products less harmful to the environment, recyclable, compostable and/or biodegradable paper construction for all parts of the ashtray is contemplated. However, one or more parts may be made of molded, extruded, stamped or cut plastic, which may be recycled or recyclable, compostable and/or biodegradable plastic.

Bottom cover 14 is inserted into bottom rim of container sidewall 12 outwardly of screen 16. In the embodiment shown, pull tab 18 may be provided to assist the user removing bottom cover 14 from sidewall 12, and reinserting. Bottom cover 14 fits into a recess, which may be formed as a lip around rim 13, so that the cover is pushed past the lip to retain bottom cover 14 in place. Alternatively, or in addition, a recess may be in the form of a groove around at least a portion of the circumference of container sidewall near bottom rim 13, or the recess may be in the form of one or more apertures in container sidewall 12, receiving one or more protrusions on bottom cover 14. As another alternative, adhesives may be used. Other alternatives to temporarily secure bottom cover 14 to the bottom of container sidewall 12 are known in the art and may be adapted according to the design preference of the artisan skilled in the manufacture of such items.

Screen 16, which may be any grated, slotted, or perforated material that allows media to pass through and retains trash, is likewise preferably made of paper and may rest on a ledge near bottom rim 13 or may be secured near bottom rim 13 by other means, including slots cooperating with apertures, and/or adhesives. As shown in FIG. 2, apertures 27 in screen 16 are shaped to allow sand to flow through freely after bottom cover 14 is removed, but small enough to retain cigarette butts and unwanted trash. With the disposable ashtray according to the invention, sand stays on the beach, and thus the ashtray does not contribute to the problem of beach erosion.

To use the ashtray, the user fills container sidewall 12 with sand. This may involve simply scooping beach sand with the container itself. Bottom cover 14, positioned outwardly of screen 16, prevents sand from leaving the container. In this state, the ashtray is stable and can be moved from place to place. A user uses the ashtray in the usual way, stubbing cigarettes in the sand-filled interior of the container. When finished, the user removes bottom cover 14, sifts sand back onto the beach, and disposes of all parts of the ashtray with the remaining contents (cigarette butts and other trash). Alternatively, in embodiments, the user can reinsert bottom cover 14 in container sidewall 16, and the ashtray can be used again with new sand. As used herein (and as shown in FIG. 3, for example), bottom cover 14 may be “removed” and “removable”, and still remain partially attached to the ashtray, provided that sand (or other media) is able to be sifted through screen in the “removed” state of bottom cover 14.

While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Features of the invention described with reference to one embodiment may be combined with a different embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, a feature set forth in a dependent claim may be combined with a different independent or dependent claim(s) without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A disposable ashtray comprising:

a container sidewall having a top rim and a bottom rim and adapted to be filled with media, wherein the container sidewall is freestanding and maintains dimensional integrity when filled with media;

a screen adapted to be received near the bottom rim of the container sidewall, the screen having apertures sized to allow the media to pass through while retaining cigarette butts;

a bottom cover removably received in the container sidewall outwardly of the screen; wherein

the bottom cover is adapted to retain the media until the bottom cover is removed.

2. The disposable ashtray according to claim 1, wherein the container sidewall has at least one recess adapted to receive the bottom cover, configured so that the bottom cover can be reinserted in the container sidewall.

3. The disposable ashtray according to claim 1, wherein at least the container sidewall and bottom cover are made of paper.

4. The disposable ashtray according to claim 3, wherein at least the container sidewall and the bottom cover are made of recyclable paper.

5. The disposable ashtray according to claim 1, wherein the screen, the container sidewall and the bottom cover are all made of recyclable materials.

6. The disposable ashtray according to claim 1, wherein the container sidewall has a substantially frustoconical shape, narrower at the bottom than at the top.

7. The disposable ashtray according to claim 1, wherein the container sidewall has a lip around the top rim.

8. The disposable ashtray according to claim 1, further comprising slots in the top rim adapted to hold articles.

9. The disposable ashtray according to claim 1, wherein the media is beach sand.

10. The disposable ashtray according to claim 1, wherein the container is shaped to nest in a stack of like containers.