Cigarette snuffing device for vehicles

Abstract

A device for installation in automotive vehicles for safely snuffing out cigarettes. The device primarily includes a base fitting in which is carried an expandable split tube which is tapered at its lower extremity in order to snuff out a cigarette completely, prior to the placing or urging it into an ashtray.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A snuffing device adapted for use in automotive vehicles comprising means for mounting said device upon a horizontal surface of a dashboard, said device including a vertically disposed tapered and split tube adapted to receive a cigarette butt to be snuffed therein, an O-ring carried by the upper portion of said tube adapted to resiliently resist expansion of the split elements of the tube whereby a butt may be retained therein and discharged downwardly therefrom after being snuffed, said mounting means including a centrally apertured concave guide means having a discharge tubular part extending downwardly into the upper portion of said split tube, and a tubular portion surrounding said guide and discharge tubular part and having an internally threaded portion at the lower end thereof, and a vertically disposed elongated sleeve having external threads at the upper end thereof adapted to engage the internal threads of said tubular portion, the sleeve having a planar upper end and a lock nut thereon adapted to engage the lower end of said tubular portion, said split tube having a downwardly directed shoulder located below said O-ring and spaced slightly therefrom, whereby placing a butt downwardly in said device will cause said split tube element to pivot about said shoulder against the resistance of said O-ring thereby causing the snuffing of said butt and whereby the placing of a succeeding butt therein in a like manner will cause the first to be discharged downwardly therefrom, and also the snuffing of said succeeding butt. .Iadd. 2. A snuffing device comprising a hollow mounting member, a tapered and split tube adapted to receive a cigarette butt to be snuffed therein, an outwardly projecting shoulder intermediate the ends of the split tube, the hollow mounting member receiving the split tube and supporting the latter by said shoulder in a substantially vertical position, resilient means engaging the split tube for resiliently resisting expansion of the lower portion of the split elements of the tube, whereby a butt may be retained therein and discharged downwardly therefrom after being snuffed, a concave guide member mounted above the split tube and having a central aperture registering with the upper end of said split tube, whereby inserting a butt downwardly through said central aperture and into the split tube will cause the split tube elements to expand against the resilient resistance of said resilient means, thereby causing the snuffing of said butt and whereby the insertion of a succeeding butt therein in a like manner will cause the first butt to be discharged downwardly therefrom and also the snuffing of said succeeding butt. .Iaddend.