Ash receptacle assembly

June 13, 1939.

<img file="US2162142A_D0001.tif" />

J. VISSER

ASH RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY

Filed April 24, 1937

2,162,142

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2162142A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US2162142A_D0003.tif" />

June 13, 1939. j. visser 2,162,142

ASH RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY Filed April 24, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2162142A_D0004.tif" />

Patented June 13, 1939

2,162,142

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,162,142

ASH RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY

John Visser, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to F. L. Jacobs Co., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan

Application April 24, 1937, Serial No. 138,766

Claims. (CL 206—19.5)

Hiis invention relates to ash receptacle assemblies and more particularly to a novel panel accessory assembly in which an ash receptacle or other accessory is mounted on a sub-panel dls5 posed behind and at a substantial angle to the main panel, access to the sub-panel being had through a suitable aperture in the main panel, which is normally closed by a novel closure member.

Where an ash receptacle or other accessory is to be mounted on a panel such for example as on the dashboard of an automobile, designing engineers are generally in agreement that the ash receptacle or other accessory must be of such a character if they are exposed on the front of the panel as to present an appearance which is pleasing to the eye and which is essentially ornamental in character. If concealed, it must be readily accessible through the panel or dashboard 20 and must be readily removable. Where the accessory is in the form of an ash receptacle, it is important that the ash receptacle with its possible accumulated contents of ashes and other refuse be normally disposed out of sight and in a 25 place where the ashes will not be blown around by casual draft in the car.

It has been found that a further highly desirable feature of an ash receptacle assembly is to dispose the ash receptacle in a concealed pocket 30 or compartment such that the entire cigarette may be held inside of the concealed pocket or compartment while it is being rubbed or snuffed out. This prevents ashes from being blown around during the actual cigarette or cigar ex35 tinguishing operation.

It has also been found desirable to provide a closure member for the aperture in the panel or dashboard through which access to the concealed pocket or compartment is had, which will lie in a 40 completely concealed position when disposed in its open, position and which will form a substantially continuous surface with the outer surface of the panel or dashboard when disposed in its closed position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel ash receptacle assembly which incorporates in its structure the beneficial advantages set forth above.

A further object of this invention is to provide 50 a novel ash receptacle assembly which is economical to manufacture and which is rugged and reliable in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel ash receptacle assembly in which the ash 55 receptacle is mounted on a sub-panel disposed behind and at a substantial angle to the main panel through which access to the ash receptacle is to be had.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel ash receptacle assembly in which 5 the ash receptacle opens out into a concealed pocket or compartment within which the entire cigar or cigarette may be held during the time the lighted end thereof is being snuffed out, whereby ashes and sparks will not be blown over 10 the individual by casual drafts and the like.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a novel method and means for supporting and moving a closure member for an apertured panel. 15

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a novel means for mounting an apertured closing member which permits the >. aperture closing portion of the member to be disposed in a flush position with the front face 20 of the panel with which it is associated in closed position.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide a novel combination of panel, sub-panel, accessories, and closure member. 25

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further 30 objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an ash 35 receptacle assembly including an ash receptacle and a cigar lighter, in which the closure member is shown in a partly open position;

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line II—H of Figure 3; 40

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the ash receptacle assembly taken along the line III—IH of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view of the ash receptacle assembly taken along the 45 line IV—IV of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but shows the aperture-closure member in its open position.

The general outer appearance of the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 1 50 and includes in general a panel 10 which has an aperture I ( therein that affords access to an ash receptacle 12 and a cigar lighter 13, carried on a sub-panel or supporting flange 14. In order to enhance the general appearance of the construe- 55

2,162,142 tion and in order to prevent ashes and other refuse from flying around when the ash receptacle and cigar lighter are not in use, a closure member 15 is provided for disposition over aper6 ture II. As will presently be described, closure member 1.5 is mounted in such a manner that in its closed position the Outer surface of the aperture closing portion of the cover presents substantially a continuous surface with the outer 10 surface of panel II, while in its open position it is arranged to be substantially disposed behind the panel I·.

Referring next to Figures 2 and 3, the structural details of the ash receptacle and cigar 15 lighter assembly will be described. Secured to the rear face of panel II in any suitable manner such as by welding or the like is a structural member II of metallic sheet material. Member II includes an upper horizontal portion IT and 20 &amp; pair at side portions II which are bent down to form supporting arms for the aperture-closing member I ί. Struck down from the forward central, portion of horizontal portion IT of member H* is an integral tongue II, the lower end Of 25 which is bent forwardly at an angle of approximately 45° to form the sub-panel 14. To increase the rigidity of the ash receptacle assembly as a whole and to provide a. convenient lip. to which the structural member 16 may be welded 30 or otherwise suitably secured portions of panel II along the upper side edges of aperture 11 are bent inwardly to form lips 21. The forward edges of the side portion II of central member II are bent outwardly as at 21 in a .manner to 35 permit them to be nested in the corners formed by the lips 21 along the side edges of aperture 11 and the front face of panel II.

The ash receptacle 12 is conveniently suspended from sub-panel 14 by providing an open40 ing 22 in the latter having a configuration similar to the cross-sectional configuration of the ash receptacle 12 and dimensioned to permit the ash receptacle body to snugly pass therethrough. In cutting the opening 22 in sub-panel 14, portions 45 of the stock are left, to provide a plurality at > integral downwardly extending tongues 23 which are adapted to. frictionally engage the side walls of the ash receptacle 12 and snugly hold the same in place.

The ash receptacle 12 may, of course, assume any of a wide variety of forms, and is shown in the drawings as being a substantially rectangular metal box having curled outer edges 24. These curled outer edges 24 prevent the ash receptacle 55 12 from passing clear through opening 22 in sub-panel 14 due to their engagement with the opening defining edge portions of sub-panel 14.

A cigar or cigarette lighter 13 is illustrated in the drawings as being disposed on sub-panel 14 60 alongside of the ash receptacle 12, The particular form of the cigar lighter employed is immaterial to the carrying out of the teachings of the present invention and for that reason the cigar lighter is only illustrated generally. As shown 65 the cigar lighter 13 is of the electrical heater type, the heater coil of which is adapted to be energized when the body part 25 is depressed in its cylindrical casing 21. After the heater coil (not shown), which is mounted on the end of 70 the body part 25 of cigar lighter 18, is raised to a sufficiently high temperature, the cylindrical body 25 is removed from casing 21 and the heater (not shown) is applied to the end of the cigar or cigarette which is to be lighted. The energiz75 ing circuit for the device includes an electric conductor 27 which is connected to an insulated terminal 21 in any suitable manner. A grounded return is used rather than a second insulated conductor.

The cover 15, which is arranged to close aper-5 ture I I when the ash receptacle 12 and the cigar and cigarette lighter 13 are not in use is formed with a pair of integral rearwardly extending arms 29. By mounting arms 29 on side portions II of member 16 in the manner.which will now be io described,/an extraordinarily effective mounting for the cover 15 is obtained. Remembering that it is desired to move the cover 15 into a flush position with the front face of panel II in its closed position and into a concealed position be- jg hind panel II in its open position, means are provided which will permit not only rotational movement of cover 15 but also translatory movement thereof when the cover is opposite aperture II. In order to permit such movement, the arms gg 29 are slotted as at 31 near their rear ends, the longitudinal axis of the slots being substantially perpendicular to the general plane of the surface of the cover.

A supporting rod 31 which is secured to side 25 portions 18 extends through slots 39. This supporting rod 31 is so spaced from the apertured portion of panel 10 that when it lies in the forward ends of slots 38 the cover 1.5 is spaced behind the plane of the aperture II in panel 10 30 while when it is disposed in the rear end of slots 30 the cover 15 may -snugly fit into aperture II into a flush position with the front face of panel 10.

In order to confine the angular and transila- 35 tory movement of cover II to a predetermined course, arcuate guide slots 32 are provided at intermediate points on arms 29 in the manner shown in the drawings. A guide rod 33 carried by side portions 18 extends through the guide slots 40 32. As may be seen best in Figure 5 of the drawings, the lower end of the guide slots 32 is cut away to the left in the direction of the supporting rod 31: It will thus be understood that the main arcuate portion of the guide slots 32 confine 45 the arms 29 of cover 15 to true angular movement as the slotted portion of the arms 29 are moved along over the guide rod 33. However, when the arms arrive at an angular position which places the guide rod 33 opposite that por- 50 tion of the guide slot which is cut rearwardly in the direction of the supporting rod 31, outward or translatory movement of the arms 29 is permitted.

In order that the cover 15 will snap into its 55 flush position whenever it is moved to a position opposite aperture II, biasing springs 34 are secured to the extreme ends of arms 29 with their intermediate portions tensioned over supporting rod 31. It will thus be understood that 10 the arms 29 and cover 15 are constantly biased in an outward direction (1. e. to the right as viewed in Figure 3 of the drawings). The ends of spring 34 may be secured to arms 29 in any suitable manner such as by hooking their ends 65 over the lower edges of the arms.

The manner in which the cover 15 is moved from its closed to open position at the various positions assumed by the cover during this movement are illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the Τθ drawings. The cover 15 in its apertured closing position is shown in the full lines in Figure 4. If access to ash receptacle 12 or to cigar or cigarette lighter 13 is desired, pressure is applied with the thumb or fingers to the depressed por- 7·

2,163,142 tion 35 of cover 15 In an inward direction. The cover 15 and its arms 29 are thereby forced to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 4. Downward pressure on the indented portion e 35 causes the arms 29 of cover 15 to rotate about supporting rod 31, the rod 31 being disposed now in the forward end of slots 30. As the arms 29 move downwardly, the guide rod 33 rides upwardly in slot 32. This rotational movement 10 of arms 29 about supporting rod 21 continues until guide rod 33 abuts the upper end of guide slots 32. Arms 29 and cover (5 will then be in the position shown in Figure 5.

Convenient access to ash receptacle 12 and 15 cigar and cigarette lighter 13 may now be had through aperture 11 in panel 10. ’ It is to be noted that due to the fact that sub-panel 14 is disposed at a substantial angle to the front face of panel 10 that it forms a pocket 36 within 20 which it is necessary to insert the cigarette or cigar before it is snuffed out and deposited in ash receptacle 12. Since pocket 36 is not influenced by drafts circulating in front and about panel 10, it is obvious that an extraordinarily 25 effective arrangement is provided for receiving and depositing ashes and one in which ashes will not be blown over the person using the equipment by casual draft or the like.

To close aperture H, it is simply necessary to 30 push upwardly on the depressed portion 35 and cover 15 thereby causing counterclockwise rotation of arms 29 as viewed in Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings. As cover 15 reaches a point opposite aperture II, biasing springs 34 will cause the 35 cover to snap to a closed and flush position with panel 10. It will, of course, be understood that this translatory movement caused by biasing springs 36 is effected by reason of the fact that the rearwardly cut-out portions of guide slots 40 32 are at that time opposite guide rod 33.

. While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and I, there45 ίθτθ, contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.