Disposable ash tray

Abstract

A disposable ashtray includes a container sidewall having a screen at the bottom and a bottom cover allowing the ashtray container to be filled with sand. In this state, the ashtray is freestanding, has dimensional integrity and can be moved. The user stubs cigarettes and cigars into the sand medium through the major opening in the top of the ashtray. After use, the bottom cover is removed, and sand flows through the screen and butts and trash are retained above the screen. The entire device, including screen, container sidewall and bottom cover, may then be disposed of.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A disposable ashtray comprising:
 a container sidewall having a top rim and a bottom rim and adapted to be filled with media, wherein the container sidewall is freestanding and maintains dimensional integrity when filled with media;   a screen adapted to be received near the bottom rim of the container sidewall, the screen having apertures sized to allow the media to pass through while retaining cigarette butts;   a bottom cover removably received in the container sidewall outwardly of the screen; wherein   the bottom cover is adapted to retain the media until the bottom cover is removed.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 1 , wherein the container sidewall has at least one recess adapted to receive the bottom cover, configured so that the bottom cover can be reinserted in the container sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the container sidewall and bottom cover are made of paper. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 3 , wherein at least the container sidewall and the bottom cover are made of recyclable paper. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 1 , wherein the screen, the container sidewall and the bottom cover are all made of recyclable materials. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 1 , wherein the container sidewall has a substantially frustoconical shape, narrower at the bottom than at the top. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 1 , wherein the container sidewall has a lip around the top rim. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 1 , further comprising slots in the top rim adapted to hold articles. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 1 , wherein the media is beach sand. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable ashtray according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is shaped to nest in a stack of like containers.