Disposable ashtray liner

[57] ABSTRACT

A disposable ashtray liner for replaceable use in an ashtray receptacle is fabricated of thin, bendable, sheet material so as to be collapsable and sealable at its upper end upon completion of its use for encapsulating cigarette butts, ashes, etc, for unitary disposal therewith. The sheet material is preferably of light-gauge sheet aluminum formed into an open-topped, cup-like ashtray liner having opposed end walls and opposed side wails and including an upper end plate secured against the upper periphery of the liner providing an outwardly-extending peripheral flange. The upper end plate has a pair of spaced, parallel, rectangular openings defining therebetween a snuffer strip extending between opposite end walls of the liner.

Claims, 11 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED AUG 21 1973

SHEET 1 OF 2

3,753,441

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PATENTED AUG 21 1973

3.753,441

SHEET 2 OF 2

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3,753,441

DISPOSABLE ASHTRAY LINER

This invention relates to smoker’s ashtrays and is directed particularly to a novel and improved disposable ashtray liner for replaceable use in an ashtray receptacle. The use of removable liners in combination with 5 ashtray receptacles to facilitate ashtray emptying and cleaning is known. Such ashtray combinations built into tables, chair arms and the like find wide useage in public and semi-public establishments, automobiles, passenger airliners, passenger ships, etc., wherever 10 smoking is permitted. While the removability of such ashtray liners as have heretofore been devised facilitates emptying and cleaning of the ashtrays, their use is nevertheless a disagreeable chore. Moreover, since there is always a possibility that undetected smoldering ¹⁵cigarette butts will be discarded in a refuse container with combustable waste materials, the use of reusable liners in ash receivers presents a significant fire hazard.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide an ashtray liner for built-in ashtray re- ²⁰ceptacles and the like that obviates the abovedescribed deficiencies of ashtray liners heretofore devised.

It is a more particular object of this invention to pro- ₂₅vide an ashtray liner of the character described which will be inexpensive enough to be disposable after only one-time use, and which, at the same time, can readily be collapsed to encapsulate cigarette butts, ashes, etc. for unitary disposal therewith. ₃₀

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a disposable ashtray liner of the above nature which can readily be manufactured by mass production techniques of inexpensive sheet-metal, such as of lightgauge sheet aluminum, so as to be readily bendable for 35 collapsing and sealing upon disposal, while at the same time being fireproof during use and during disposal.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying draw- 40 ings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair arm-rest having an ashtray receptacle fitted with a disposable ashtray 45 liner embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the disposable ashtray liner, shown separately;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ashtray liner illustrated in FIG. 2, after folding and sealing at the upper 50 end for unitary disposal;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ashtray liner, taken along the plane indicated by the line 4—4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a partial, vertical cross-sectional view of a ⁵⁵modified form of ash-tray liner embodying the invention wherein closure for disposal is effected along upper portions by snap action rather than by folding;

FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view illustrating sealing action of the ashtray liner shown in FIG. 5; ⁶⁰

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another modified form of disposable ashtray liner embodying the invention;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ashtray _6Sliner illustrated in FIG. 7, taken along the plane indicated along the line 8—8 thereof in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an upper end portion of the ashtray liner of FIG. 7 and 8, showing how it can be sealed along its upper end for unitary disposal;

FIG. 10 is a partial, vertical cross-sectional view of yet another modification of the ashtray liner wherein closure for disposal is effected by snap action; and

FIG. 11 is a partial, cross-sectional view illustrating sealing action of the ashtray liner shown in FIG. 10.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 designates a prefered form of ashtray liner embodying the invention, the same being shown fitted for use within the ashtray receptacle 11 provided in an arm-rest 12 (partially illustrated), which may be, by way of example, the arm-rest between seats of a passenger airliner. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, the ashtray liner 10, which will preferably be integrally formed of light-gauge sheet aliminum by a deep die stamping operation, comprises a pair of spaced parallel end walls 14, 15, spaced parallel side walls 16 and 17 and a bottom wall 18. The bottom wall 18 may be rounded from side to side, as illustrated, for economic use of material and to simplify forming. The upper ends of the walls 14 and 15 extend somewhat beyond the upper edges of the side-walls 16, 17, and are bent outwardly to provide right-angular flange portions 19, 20, respectively, lying in a plane substantially coincident with the upper edges of side walls 16 and 17. AS an added feature, a cigarette snuffer strip 21, also of lightgauge sheet aluminim, is secured between the end walls 14 and 15, centrally along upper end portions thereof. The snuffer strip 21 can conveniently be secured in place by having end portions thereof project through suitable slots provided in the end walls 14 and 15, which end portions are bent downwardly against outside portions of said end walls, as indicated in 22, 23, respectively, in FIG. 2. In order to facilitate collapsing of the ashtray liner 10 prior to its disposal, the side walls 16 and 17 thereof are provided with central, verti cally-directed score lines 24, the lower ends of which extend into opposed, outwardly and downwardlyextending score lines 25 and 26.

In use, the flange portions 19 and 20 of the ashtray liner 10 seat against opposed, upper edge portions of the ashtray receptacle within which the liner is to be placed for use. The flanges thus simplify the seating in place of the liner in the ashtray receptacle. It is contemplated that the receptacle will be designed with suitable ledges or the like at the upper ends to accommodate the liner seating flanges 19 and 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 the usual sliding cover, indicated at 11α, will be arranged to slide coextensively along the liner flanges 19 and 20 at times when the ashtray is not in use. When a used ashtray liner is to be disposed of, such as at clean-up time after the completion of a flight, it can be readily removed from its receptacle by lifting upon the snuffer strip 21.

After removal, the end walls 14 and 15 will be pressed together along their outer ends to permit the flange portions 19 and 20 to be double-bent against an upper marginal portion of one or the other of said end walls (see FIGS. 3 and 4) for encapsulating cigarette butts, ashes etc. illustrated at B in FIG. 4. It is to be understood that the vertical score lines 24 and angular score lines 25, 26 provided in the side walls 16 and 17 facilitate the folding together or collapsing of the ash3,753,441 tray liner during the sealing or encapsulating procedure.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of the invention, designated generally by reference numeral 10α, differing from that of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 described above only in that the end walls 14a and 15α of the liner, instead of being provided with flat outwardly-extending flanges, are provided with snap-closure means comprising a tubular bead 27 along the upper end of end wall 14α and an arcuately-rounded snap-hook portion 28 formed along the end wall 15α. sealing or encapsulating is effected by squeezing together end walls 14α and 15α so that the tubular bead 27 snap-fits into the snap-hook portion 28, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate still another modification of the invention, differing from that of FIGS. 1 thru 4 only in that a top plate 29 is provided instead of flange portions 19, 20 and cigarette snuffer strip 21. The top plate 29, which will be stamped of light-gauge sheet aluminum so as to be readily bendable, is provided with a pair of spaced, rectangular openings 30, 31 defining a snuffer strip 32 extending centrally between end walls 146 and 156. The snuffer strip 32 is provided with a circular, central opening 33 for use in snuffing cigarettes and, at the same time, provides a weakened zone in said snuffer strip facilitating inward bending when collapsing the liner upon its disposal, as is hereinafter described. The rectangular size of the top plate 30 is somewhat greater than that of the upper end opening of the liner to permit assembly by crimping over short, outwardly-extending flange portions 33 and 34 of end walls 146, 156, and similar flanges (not illustrated) at the upper ends of side walls 166 and 176. The peripheral flang thus formed along the upper end of the ashtray liner provides a stop for seating in an ashtray receptacle designed for its use. Use and operation of the liner 106 is otherwise the same as illustrated and described in connection with the embodiment of the invention designated by reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 thru 4. Use and operation of the liner 106 is otherwise the same as illustrated and described in connection with the embodiment of the invention designated by reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 thru 4. As illustrated in FIG. 9, encapuslation upon disposal is effected simply by folding the top plate 29 inwardly so that face-toface end portions thereof will be double-bent upon one another.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate yet another modification of the invention, designated generally by reference numeral 10c, differing from that of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 described above only in that the end walls 14c and 15c of the liner, instead of being provided with flat, outwardly-extending flanges, are provided with snap-closure means comprising a first tubular bead 35 formed along the upper end of end wall 14c and a second tubular bead 36 formed along the upper end of end wall 15c. The tubular bead 36 is of substantially greater diameter than that of the tubular bead 35 so that, as illustrated in FIG. 11, sealing or encapsulating can be effected by squeezing together the end walls 14c and 15c so that the smaller tubular bead 35 will be snap-fitted under and along the comparatively large tubular bead 36.

Although I have described my ashtray liner for use in combination with seat arm-rests of conventional passenger aircraft, it is to be understood that it is applicable as well as to many other uses, such as in tables, chairs or other articles of furniture in commercial establishments, social clubs, in automobiles, in ships, and 5 even in the home.

Well I have illustrated and described only four forms in which the invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that these forms are given by way of example only and not in a limiting 10 sense. For example, for additional rigidity, the vertical walls of the liners could be fabricated with corrugations or ribs. Also, the snuffer strips, instead of being smooth along their upper surfaces, could be transversely corrugated to provide a roughened zone for rubbing out cig15 arette butts. It is also contemplated that the liners herein described could be used for other purposes besides ashtray liners, for example, as temporary disposable containers for small articles such as machine parts, The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments 20 and modifications coming within scope and spirit of the following claims.