Windproof ashtray assembly

Abstract

An ashtray assembly for temporarily storing and containing rubbish, such as the ash and butts of cigarettes and cigars. In one aspect, the ashtray assembly can include a base assembly, an insert assembly, and a cover assembly. The base assembly can comprise a flexible body, which can include a storage container adapted to receive the rubbish. The flexible body can be made of a flexible material and can be manufactured by a molding process. Because the flexible body can be a silicon-container polymer, it may discolor when a lit end of a cigarette makes contact with the base assembly. The insert assembly can comprise an extinguishing member adapted to extinguish cigarettes, cigars, or both, and can be made of a generally non-marking and rigid material. The insert assembly can provide structural integrity and can be removably secured within the base assembly. The cover assembly covers a portion of the base assembly and can protect contents in the storage container.

1 . An ashtray assembly comprising:
 a base assembly comprising a flexible body for receiving rubbish, the flexible body comprising:
 an inner bottom surface for supporting the rubbish; 
 an inner wall extending upwardly from the inner bottom surface; 
 a crest section defining a peak of the inner wall; 
 an outer wall extending downwardly from the crest section; and 
 an outer bottom surface opposing the inner bottom surface on an underside of the flexible body of the base assembly, the outer bottom surface extending no farther downward than a bottom of the outer wall; 
   an insert assembly comprising an extinguishing member, the insert assembly fittable into the base assembly upon the inner bottom surface; and   a cover assembly comprising a flexible body for covering a portion of the base assembly to protect contents of the base assembly; the cover assembly comprising:
 an top surface; 
 an open bottom; 
 a peripheral wall extending generally downwardly from the top surface to the open bottom, 
 wherein the top surface, the open bottom, and the peripheral wall define a cavity, and 
 wherein the cover assembly covers a portion of the storage container of the base assembly. 
   
   
   
       2 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , the inner wall of the flexible body of the base assembly defining a cutout for securing the perimeter of the insert assembly within the flexible body of the base assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , the insert assembly having a shape complimentary to the shape of the inner bottom surface of the base assembly. 
   
   
       4 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insert assembly provides structural integrity to the base assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , the crest section defining one or more retaining members. 
   
   
       6 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , the inner bottom surface and the inner wall of the flexible body of the base assembly collectively defining a container. 
   
   
       7 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body of the base assembly is composed of one or more silicon-containing polymers. 
   
   
       8 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body of the cover assembly is composed of one or more silicon-containing polymers. 
   
   
       9 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , the insert assembly secured to the base assembly by an adhesive. 
   
   
       10 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 1 , the extinguishing member composed of a rigid, flame resistant material. 
   
   
       11 . An ashtray assembly comprising:
 a base assembly comprising a flexible body, the flexible body of the base assembly comprising:
 a bottom; 
 an inner wall extending generally upwardly from the bottom, the bottom and inner wall defining a storage container for receiving rubbish; 
 a flange section positioned at the peak of the inner wall and comprising a rim, the rim comprising one or more retaining members; and 
 an outer wall extending downwardly from the flange section, a bottom of the outer wall adapted to support the flexible body; and 
   a cover assembly comprising a flexible cover, the flexible cover of the cover assembly comprising:
 an upper closed end; 
 a lower open end; and 
 a peripheral wall extending generally downwardly from the upper closed end to the lower open end; 
 the upper closed end and the peripheral wall defining a cavity; 
   wherein the cover assembly covers a portion of the storage container of the base assembly.   
   
   
       12 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising an insert assembly for providing structural integrity to the base assembly, the insert assembly fittable into the base assembly and having a shape complimentary to the shape of the bottom of the base assembly. 
   
   
       13 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 12 , the inner wall of the flexible body of the base assembly adapted to releasably secure the insert assembly to the base assembly. 
   
   
       14 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible body of the base assembly is composed of one or more silicon-containing polymers. 
   
   
       15 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible body of the cover assembly is composed of one or more silicon-containing polymers. 
   
   
       16 . The ashtray assembly of  claim 11 , an underside of the bottom of the flexible body of the base assembly is disposed no lower than the bottom of the outer wall of the flexible body of the base assembly, wherein the ashtray assembly sits on the bottom of the outer wall 
   
   
       17 . A method for manufacturing an ashtray assembly, the method comprising:
 molding a base assembly, the base assembly comprising a flexible body to store rubbish;   molding a cover assembly, the cover assembly comprising a flexible body to cover a portion of the base assembly;   providing the base assembly with one or more retaining members, each retaining member adapted and sized to hold an elongated object; and   providing an insert assembly comprising an extinguishing member, the extinguishing member insertable into the base assembly.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising configuring the flexible body with a lip adapted to releasably secure the extinguishing member to the base assembly.