Cigarette butt receptable with advertising display

Abstract

A cigarette receptacle and information display assembly including a base forming a cavity therein. The base is removably attached to an upper portion, which comprises a cover and a tube. The cover covers the cavity and is coupled to the tube. A passageway is formed within the tube, and the tube has openings at bottom and top ends of the tube so that the passageway is in communication with the cavity. A crown having an opening formed therein is positioned over the top end of the tube. Smoking refuse is inserted into the crown opening and is directed through the passageway and into the cavity, where the refuse is concealed and extinguished. An information display unit is coupled to the tube so that passers-by and smokers are exposed to the information displayed in the display unit.

1 . An apparatus for storing cigarette butts and displaying informational material, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base forming a cavity therein, a cover removably attached to the base and covering the cavity;    a hollow tube coupled to the cover and defining a passageway;    the tube having top and bottom ends, and the passageway being in communication with the cavity;    a display unit operatively coupled to the tube, the display unit configured to display information; and    wherein the tube includes a tube opening configured to receive smoking refuse so that when the smoking refuse is inserted in the tube opening, the smoking refuse is directed through the passageway to the cavity.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the display unit further comprises at least one frame, each frame including a lower trough for supporting and/or retaining informational materials.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lower trough further comprises slots defined therein.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a transparent shield, wherein the display unit further comprises a shield fastener for removably fastening the shield to the display unit.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the shield fastener further comprises a screw.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the display unit further comprises three rectangular frames operatively coupled to each other to form a body of the display unit.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the body further comprise a light source contained therein.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the display unit further comprises three vertical displays, each vertical display being positioned between with two of said rectangular frames.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a tubular collar having a throughbore and an inside diameter larger than an outside diameter of the tube, the throughbore of collar configured to receive the tube, the display unit including a tube receiving aperture configured to receive a portion of the tube therethrough such that a bottom portion of the display unit is supported by an upper portion of the collar.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a neck integrally formed with the cover and the tube, said neck having a diameter larger than a diameter of the tube and larger than a diameter the collar so that when the tube is received within the collar, the neck prevents downward travel of the collar along the tube.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cover and base further include fasteners adapted to releasably secure the cover to the base.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a crown positioned over the tube opening, the crown including at least one lateral aperture for receiving the smoking refuse.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the crown is removably attached to the tube.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the crown is removably attached by nut and bolt fasteners.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the crown includes a ring-like peripheral portion.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a top portion of the tube is closed, said tube including a plurality of apertures formed in a sidewall of the tube.  
   
   
       17 . A cigarette receptacle and information display assembly comprising: 
 a hollow base having a cavity therein;    a cover removably attached to the base and configured to cover the cavity;    an elongated hollow tube coupled to the cover and defining a passageway within the tube, the tube having top and bottom open ends, the bottom end operatively coupled to the cover;    a display unit having a tube receiving opening formed therein, the display unit being inserted onto the tube so that the tube is received in the tube receiving opening of the tube, wherein the display unit includes three rectangular frames to form a display unit body;    a crown removably attached to the top end of the tube by fasteners so that the display unit cannot be removed without removing the crown, wherein the crown includes at least one lateral aperture for receiving smoking refuse such that when smoking refuse is inserted into the lateral aperture, the refuse is directed through the opening of the top end of the tube, through the passageway and into the cavity.    
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a neck integrally formed with the cover and the tube, wherein the passageway of the tube passes through an interior portion of the neck and is in communication with the cavity.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a collar and a washer, the collar having a smaller diameter than the neck and a larger diameter than the tube, the collar disposed over the tube and atop of the neck, wherein the washer is disposed atop of the collar to support the display unit.