US3018877A - Pocket ash tray and cigarette package case - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30 1962 M. J. POSAVlC 3,018,877

POCKET ASH TRAY AND CIGARETTE PACKAGE CASE 7 Filed Nov. 2, 1960 ATTOEA/Ef United States Patent 3,018,877 POCKET ASH TRAY AND CIGARETTE PACKAGE CASE Michael J. Posavic, 4202 S. Medina Road, Barberton, Ohio Filed Nov. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 66,870 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-38) This invention relates to tobacco users appliances and particularly to a pocket ash tray and cigarette package case.

Conducive to a better understanding of this invention, it may be well to point out that there are many Occasions when a cigarette smoker is at a loss as to where to deposit the ash of his cigarette, especially when indoors and in a place where no ash tray is available. Likewise, the same problem may arise when outdoors, where a fire-hazard would be created if ashes or butts were lgeedlllessly thrown about into dry grass, leaves or underrus The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a combination pocket ash tray and cigarette package case, that is easily portable and only slightly larger than a package of cigarettes.

Another object is to provide a pocket carrying case that can be used not only to hold a package of cigarettes but also includes an ash tray and a separate compartment for safely holding both the ashes and cigarette butts, which result from the smoking of the cigarettes.

A further object is to provide such a case that can be safely carried in the users pocket without danger of burns from the contained ashes or butts.

Still another object is to provide a device of the type stated that provides a tray element that is used in the conventional manner for receiving ashes and holding lit cigarettes and then can be folded against the face of the cigarette pack holder to provide a safe carrying means for the contained ashes and butts.

Another object is to provide a device of the type stated that can be inexpensively and easily fabricated from light sheet metal stock, such as aluminum.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the pocket ash tray and cigarette package case that is the subject of this invention, in its closed condition;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device in its open condition, showing a lighted cigarette held on the ash tray element;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2 but without the cigarettes normally held by it; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through the body and tray taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen the pocket ash tray and cigarette package case, that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 10.

The case is preferably made of lightweight sheet material such as aluminum, which may be suitably decorated or anodized to provide cases in colors other than the silver hue of aluminum, if desired.

The body of the case is cut and shaped from a single sheet of metal to provide a hollow housing having a rear wall 14, a bottom wall 15, two end walls 16 and 17, and a front wall 18-18, formed by bending the material at the forward edges of the end walls 16 and 17 at 90 thereto and toward each other, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 3.

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Lower ends 19-19 of the front wall sections 18-18 are bent rearward toward the rear wall 14 at a spaced distance upward of the bottom wall to provide cigarette supporting brackets 19-19. These brackets define an upper, cigarette package, compartment 27, and a lower cigarette ash and butt storage compartment 28, as is seen most clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3.

Reference numerals 24 and 25 indicate hinge elements formed at the forward edge of the bottom wall 15, proximate the end walls 16 and 17.

Reference numeral 20 indicates a front cover or tray member pivotally mounted at the front edge of the bottom wall 15 through a hinge element 23 formed integral therewith and nested between the body hinge elements 24 and 25 in engagement with a pintle pin 29 which passes through the several elements, as seen in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The tray 20 has freedom of limited, outward swinging movement, between a first, or closed, position fiat against the front wall 18-18, as seen in FIGURE 1, and a second, or open position, substantially in the plane of the bottom wall 15, as seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4.

The tray 20 has longitudinally extending side flanges 21 and 22 which act to confine ashes to the tray when the tray 20 is in its open or second position, as seen in FIGURE 2, and which are adapted to overlay the body side walls 16 and 17 when the tray is in its closed, or first position, to provide an ash tight seal between the tray and body, as seen in FIGURE 1.

Reference numeral 26 indicates a grooved cigarette holder positioned at the free end of the tray, formed integral therewith, and adapted to anchor a lighted cigarette against movement on the tray 20, as shown in FIGURE 2.

The construction of the tray hinge, as illustrated in enlarged form in FIGURE 4, is such that the hinge end of the tray 20 bears against the under side of the bottom wall 15 to hold the tray 20 against further downward movement when the tray is substantially in the plane of the bottom wall 15.

Referring again to FIGURE 2, the case 10 is shown with a conventional package 11 of cigarettes 12, nested in the upper compartment 27 and supported from below by the two bracket arms 19-19.

A lighted cigarette 13 is shown resting on the holder 26 of the open tray 20. It will be evident that ashes falling from the cigarette 13 will be caught and held on the tray 20. Similarly, ashes from a cigarette held between the fingers can be flicked upon the tray. The so opened case 10 can be held in the hand or rested upon any flat surface. When the tray 20 is pivoted upward to its first or closed position, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, the ashes on the tray 2t: will slide into the compartment 28 and will be held therein by the tray 21) which then lays across the face of the case, covering the compartment 28. The tray flanges 21 and 22 overlay the end walls 16 and 17 respectively in a sliding fit that keeps the contained ashes from sifting out of the case. The compartment 28 also provides a safe de pository for partly smoked cigarettes which can be stored therein for later use. v

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense, as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A pocket ash tray and cigarette package case, comprising in combination, 'a unitary body having bottom, rear, and side walls open to the top, the'side walls'having flanges along their forward edges defining two spaced and aligned front wall sections, both of the front wall sections being bent inwardly toward the rear wall, at a point spaced upwardly of the bottom wall, to provide cigarette package supporting brackets defining an upper cigarette package retaining compartment and a lower ash receiving compartment, both open-to the front, the

bottom surface of a so retainedcigarette'package form- 10 ing the top wall of the ash receiving ,compartment, and a tray pivotally mounted at the front edge of the bottom wall with freedom of limited outward swinging movement,'between a first, or closed position flat against the front wall, and a second, or open position, substantially in the plane of the bottom wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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