Ashtray

Abstract

The utility model discloses a cigarette ashtray relates to the technical field of daily necessities, wherein, cigarette ashtray main part, a plurality of blades and drive mechanism, the main part includes the base and the cover body of the upper end of lid base, be provided with the via on the cover body, and the cover body is provided with a plurality of first drive grooves in the periphery of via, and first drive groove extends along the circumference of via, a plurality of blades are set up in the cover body and are set correspondingly via, are provided with the mounting shaft on each blade, and the mounting shaft on a plurality of blades corresponds with a plurality of first drive grooves cooperation, and the mounting shaft of a plurality of blades can slide and rotate along first drive groove, so that a plurality of blades have the closing position of closing via and the opening position of opening via, drive mechanism is set up in the main part, and is connected to a plurality of blades to drive a plurality of blades slide and rotate along a plurality of first drive grooves, in this way, improve the opening size flexibility, facilitate one -handed operation convenient and motion mechanism stable and reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of daily necessities technology, and in particular to an ashtray. Background Technology

[0002] Ashtrays, as everyday items, are primarily used to collect cigarette ash and butts. Traditional ashtrays are mostly open-topped, which, while inexpensive, have significant drawbacks: First, the open design fails to prevent airflow disturbances, causing ash to scatter and pollute the environment. Furthermore, unextinguished cigarette butts continue to emit odors, negatively impacting the user experience. Second, embers exposed to air are prone to slow reignition, posing a fire hazard and safety risk. Additionally, traditional ashtrays only provide a fixed cavity, unable to dynamically adapt to different usage scenarios. For example, a large opening is needed to dispose of cigarette butts, while a small opening is needed to isolate ash from the air.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies have proposed ashtrays with lids, such as flip-top or sliding lid designs. However, such designs still have the following limitations: The operation is cumbersome, often requiring both hands to open and close the cover, which conflicts with the scenario of holding a cigarette with one hand; the opening and closing state is inflexible, with the cover only able to switch between "fully open" and "fully closed" states, unable to adjust the opening size as needed. For example, when inserting a cigarette butt, it needs to be fully opened, causing the odor of cigarette ash to escape instantly; when only a small amount of cigarette ash needs to be shaken off, the fully open state loses its sealing effect. In addition, the automatic opening and closing mechanism is prone to jamming due to cigarette ash accumulation, while the manual sealing cover requires a large amount of operating force, presenting a contradiction between structural complexity and reliability. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main purpose of this utility model is to propose an ashtray that improves the flexibility of the opening size, facilitates one-handed operation, and ensures a stable and reliable motion mechanism.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the ashtray proposed in this utility model includes: The main body includes a base and a cover that covers the upper end of the base. The cover has a through hole and a plurality of first driving grooves are provided around the through hole. The first driving grooves extend circumferentially along the through hole. Multiple blades are disposed on the cover and corresponding to the through hole. Each blade is provided with a mounting shaft, which mates with multiple first drive grooves. The mounting shafts of the multiple blades are capable of sliding and rotating along the first drive grooves, so that the multiple blades have a closed position (closing the through hole) and an open position (opening the through hole); and... A drive mechanism is provided on the main body and is connected to the plurality of blades to drive the plurality of blades to slide and rotate along the plurality of first drive grooves.

[0006] In one embodiment, the drive mechanism includes: An annular plate, with its central hole corresponding to the through hole, is rotatably mounted on the cover. The annular plate has multiple second driving grooves extending from the central hole towards the outer edge of the annular plate. A drive assembly is connected to the annular plate ring to drive the annular plate to rotate. The plurality of mounting shafts also mate with the plurality of second drive slots.

[0007] In one embodiment, the outer peripheral side of the annular plate is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth; The driving component includes: A drive ring is provided corresponding to the cover and is rotatably mounted on the main body. The center hole of the drive ring is provided corresponding to the through hole, and the drive ring has an annular side. An elastic element is installed on the inner side of the annular side of the drive ring, and one end of the elastic element engages with the recessed area between two adjacent ratchet teeth.

[0008] In one embodiment, the elastic element includes: The annular body engages with the inner side of the annular side portion; and, The limiting part is connected at one end to one end of the annular body, and at the other end extends toward the center of the drive ring, engaging with the recessed area between two adjacent ratchet teeth.

[0009] In one embodiment, one end of the annular side of the drive ring is sleeved around the periphery of the cover, the cover has a mounting groove on its circumferential side, and another mounting groove is provided on the inner side of the annular side corresponding to the mounting groove of the cover, and an annular space is formed between the two mounting grooves. The ashtray also includes multiple ball bearings disposed in the annular space.

[0010] In one embodiment, the two mounting slots are respectively provided with a plurality of limiting slots, the plurality of limiting slots are spaced apart along the circumference of the mounting slots, and the plurality of balls are correspondingly disposed in the plurality of limiting slots to restrict the sliding of the balls in the annular space.

[0011] In one embodiment, the mounting slot has an input hole for mounting the ball bearing; The ashtray also includes a sealing element that can block the input hole to prevent the ball bearing from falling out of the input hole.

[0012] In one embodiment, each blade is further provided with a limiting shaft, the limiting shafts on the plurality of blades corresponding to the plurality of first drive grooves and spaced apart from the plurality of mounting shafts, the limiting shafts of the plurality of blades being able to slide and rotate along the first drive grooves.

[0013] In one embodiment, the number of blades is A, where 3 ≤ A ≤ 6.

[0014] In one embodiment, the base is detachably connected to the cover.

[0015] In this invention, when the drive mechanism applies force, the mounting shafts of multiple blades undergo a compound motion along the first drive groove. In the closed state, the blades form overlapping sealing surfaces by changing their rotation angle, completely covering the through-hole. When the opening size needs adjustment, the mounting shaft slides along the drive groove to change the radial position of the blades, while simultaneously rotating to adjust the blade tilt angle. This compound motion ensures that the blades remain on a low-resistance path during opening and closing, avoiding the jamming phenomenon of traditional sliding cover structures. The drive mechanism synchronously controls the movement trajectory of all blades, ensuring uniform change in opening size and achieving stepless adjustment from fully closed to maximum opening. By controlling the sliding and rotation of the blades within the drive groove, the through-hole opening size can be flexibly adjusted, solving the problems of non-adjustable ashtray openings, cumbersome operation, and easy jamming in traditional ashtrays. It offers advantages such as convenient one-handed operation, stable and reliable movement, and adaptability to different usage scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the ashtray provided by this utility model; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a structure containing a drive ring; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Top view of the main body and blades; Figure 4 for Figure 1 A bottom view of the main body and blades.

[0018] Explanation of icon numbers: 100. Ashtray; 1. Main body; 11. Base; 12. Cover; 121. Through hole; 122. First drive groove; 2. Blade; 21. Mounting shaft; 22. Limiting shaft; 3. Drive mechanism; 31. Annular plate; 311. Second drive groove; 312. Ratchet; 313. Recessed area; 321. Drive ring; 3211. Annular side; 3221. Annular main body; 3222. Limiting part; 13. Mounting groove; 131. Input hole; 4. Ball bearing; 5. Sealing component.

[0019] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this utility model will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model.

[0021] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0022] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this utility model involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text includes three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied simultaneously. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0023] In existing technologies, ashtrays, as everyday items, have long faced a contradiction between functional simplicity and ease of operation. Traditional open-top designs cannot prevent ash from scattering and odors from spreading, posing safety hazards. While improved flip-top or sliding-top ashtrays add a lid, they suffer from cumbersome operation and inflexible opening and closing. For example, in one-handed operation, the user must fully open the lid to dispose of cigarette butts, allowing ash and odors to escape instantly; conversely, when only a small amount of ash needs to be shaken off, the fully open position loses its insulating effect. Existing drive mechanisms often become mechanically jammed due to ash intrusion, requiring significant force for manual operation, making it difficult to achieve a balance between dynamic adjustment and stable operation.

[0024] Therefore, this utility model proposes an ashtray 100.

[0025] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 In one embodiment of this utility model, an ashtray 100 structure is proposed, comprising a main body 1, multiple blades 2, and a drive mechanism 3. The main body consists of a base 11 and a cover 12, the cover 12 being provided with a through hole 121 and a circumferentially extending drive groove. The multiple blades 2 are engaged with the drive groove via a mounting shaft 21, allowing them to slide and rotate along the groove. The drive mechanism 3 connects to the multiple blades 2, controlling their movement trajectory to switch between the open and closed states of the through hole 121.

[0026] The main body 1 refers to the shell structure that carries the functional components. Specifically, it can adopt a split design to allow for the detachable connection between the base 11 and the cover 12, facilitating internal cleaning and maintenance. The through-hole 121 refers to the channel located in the center of the cover 12, which can be circular or polygonal, serving as a channel for ash disposal and gas exchange. The first drive groove 122 refers to a circumferentially extending curved groove, which can be spiral or arc-shaped, providing a combined sliding and rotational motion trajectory for the mounting shaft 21 of the blades 2. The mounting shaft 21 refers to the protrusion on the blades 2, which can be a cylindrical shaft that, through its cooperation with the drive groove, transmits power from the drive mechanism 3 to the blades 2. The drive mechanism 3 refers to the power transmission component, which can be driven by a manual knob or an electric motor, synchronously controlling the movement of all blades 2 through a linkage device.

[0027] In the technical solution of this utility model, when the driving mechanism 3 applies force, the mounting shafts 21 of multiple blades 2 generate a compound motion along the first driving groove 122. In the closed state, the blades 2 form overlapping sealing surfaces by changing their rotation angle, completely covering the through hole 121. When it is necessary to adjust the opening size, the mounting shafts 21 slide along the driving groove to change the radial position of the blades 2, while simultaneously rotating to adjust the tilt angle of the blades 2. This compound motion ensures that the blades 2 are always in a low-resistance path during the opening and closing process, avoiding the jamming phenomenon of traditional sliding cover structures. The driving mechanism 3 ensures uniform change of the opening size by synchronously controlling the movement trajectory of all blades 2, realizing stepless adjustment from fully closed to maximum opening. Through the above technical solution, this utility model realizes dynamic adjustment of the opening size of the ashtray 100, and can flexibly control the channel size according to usage needs. When cigarette butts are put in, the opening is appropriately enlarged to prevent ash from escaping, and the opening is narrowed to isolate air when ash is temporarily stored. The compound motion mechanism of the blades 2 reduces the operating force and supports one-handed opening and closing. The circumferential driving groove structure reduces the risk of ash intrusion and ensures long-term stable operation of mechanical components.

[0028] Compared to existing technologies, traditional flip-top structures can only achieve two states: fully open or fully closed. This solution, however, uses the combined motion of blades 2 to create a continuously adjustable opening size. Existing sliding cover structures rely on a linear sliding trajectory, which is easily affected by ash accumulation and can cause jamming. This solution uses a circumferential drive groove to guide the combined motion, reducing frictional resistance. Traditional manual cover operation requires both hands and considerable force. This solution achieves single-finger touch control through optimized motion trajectory, while the angle between blades 2 forms a self-locking seal when closed.

[0029] In one embodiment of this utility model, the driving mechanism 3 further includes an annular plate 31 and a driving assembly. The central hole of the annular plate 31 corresponds to the through hole 121. The annular plate 31 is rotatably mounted on the cover 12. Multiple second driving grooves 311 are provided on the annular plate 31, extending from the central hole towards the outer edge of the annular plate 31. The driving assembly is connected to the annular plate 31, driving the annular plate 31 to rotate. Multiple mounting shafts 21 also cooperate with multiple second driving grooves 311.

[0030] The annular plate 31 refers to a circular structural component with a central hole, which can be made from a metal stamping or injection molding part. Its rotation axis coincides with the central axis of the through hole 121 of the cover 12. The second drive groove 311 refers to a strip-shaped guide structure extending radially along the annular plate 31, which can be made by milling or mold forming. Its extension direction forms a spatial intersection trajectory with the circumferential extension of the first drive groove 122. The drive assembly refers to a mechanical transmission unit capable of transmitting rotational motion, which can be made from a manual knob, gear set, or motor drive mechanism 3. The angular displacement of the annular plate 31 is controlled by rotational input.

[0031] Specifically, when the drive assembly rotates the annular plate 31 around the central hole axis, the mounting shaft 21 generates radial sliding displacement within the second drive groove 311. Since the mounting shaft 21 is simultaneously constrained by the circumferential trajectory of the first drive groove 122, the radial sliding component forces the blade 2 to rotate around its own axis while moving circumferentially. The continuous rotation of the annular plate 31 causes the mounting shafts 21 of all blades 2 to move synchronously along the intersecting trajectories, resulting in a uniform change in the opening angle of the blades 2. The cooperation of the dual drive grooves decomposes a single rotational input into a composite motion of the blades 2, eliminating the phase difference in the actions of each blade 2 and ensuring continuous alignment of the blade edges during the opening size adjustment process.

[0032] Compared with existing technologies, the blades 2 of traditional ashtrays 100 are mostly driven by independent linkage mechanisms or gear transmissions, which have the drawbacks of asynchronous movement and high operating resistance. For example, manual push-pull covers require adjusting the position of each blade 2 individually, making it difficult to ensure the symmetry of the opening. This solution, through the linkage design of the annular plate 31 and the double drive groove, constrains the motion degrees of freedom of multiple blades 2 to a unified rotational input, realizing synchronous stepless adjustment under single-handed operation, while reducing motion friction resistance by using trajectory decomposition.

[0033] Through the above technical solution, this utility model solves the problem of synchronous driving and precise control of the composite motion trajectory of the blades 2. The rotational drive of the annular plate 31 ensures the phase consistency of the opening and closing actions of all blades 2, avoiding opening deformation caused by the jamming of individual blades 2. The radial extension trajectory of the second drive groove 311 and the circumferential constraint of the first drive groove 122 form a motion decomposition, keeping the blades 2 in a low-resistance state during sliding and rotation, reducing the driving force required for operation. The cross-cooperation of the dual drive grooves further limits the movement path of the blades 2, preventing trajectory deviation caused by soot intrusion and improving the long-term reliability of the mechanism.

[0034] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention further proposes that the outer peripheral side of the annular plate 31 is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth 312, the driving assembly includes a driving ring 321 and an elastic element, the driving ring 321 is provided corresponding to the cover 12 and rotatably mounted on the main body 1, the central hole of the driving ring 321 is provided corresponding to the through hole 121, the driving ring 321 has an annular side portion 3211, the elastic element is installed on the inner side of the annular side portion 3211 of the driving ring 321, and one end of the elastic element cooperates with the recessed area 313 between two adjacent ratchet teeth 312.

[0035] The ratchet 312 refers to a continuous tooth-like protrusion structure on the outer peripheral side of the annular plate 31, which can be implemented using trapezoidal protrusions spaced at equal angles. A recessed area 313 is formed between adjacent ratchet teeth 312 to accommodate the end of the elastic element. The annular side 3211 of the drive ring 321 refers to an annular wall structure extending around the central hole of the drive ring 321, which can be implemented using a cylindrical shell that matches the outer peripheral shape of the cover 12, with an elastic element mounting position provided on its inner side. The elastic element refers to a mechanical element with an elastic reset function, which can be implemented using a metal spring or a plastic spring arm, with one end fixed to the inner side of the drive ring 321 and the other end extending to form a limiting part 3222 that contacts the recessed area 313 of the ratchet 312.

[0036] Specifically, when the drive ring 321 rotates under external force, the limiting part 3222 of the elastic element slides out from the recessed area 313 of the current ratchet 312 and undergoes elastic deformation during the rotation of the annular plate 31 until it slides into the recessed area 313 of the next ratchet 312 to complete the positioning. During this process, the deformation resistance of the elastic element forms operational feedback, ensuring that the drive ring 321 rotates at a fixed angle each time, avoiding excessive rotation or retraction. The cooperation between the ratchet 312 and the elastic element transforms the continuous rotational motion into a step-by-step positioning action, ensuring that the rotation angle of the annular plate 31 corresponds precisely to the opening and closing position of the blade 2 each time. When the annular plate 31 rotates, the mechanical self-locking action of its outer peripheral ratchet 312 and the elastic element can counteract the reverse resistance caused by soot accumulation, maintaining the stability of the opening and closing state of the blade 2.

[0037] Compared with existing technologies, the traditional ashtray 100 drive mechanism 3 lacks a positioning structure, making it prone to rotational deviation or springback during operation, resulting in inaccurate opening and closing positions of the blade 2. This solution utilizes the step-by-step engagement of the ratchet 312 and the elastic element to simplify the drive component structure while achieving discrete control of the rotation angle, eliminating positioning errors caused by mechanism slippage.

[0038] Through the above technical solution, this utility model solves the problems of inaccurate positioning and susceptibility to external force during the rotation of the drive mechanism 3. Step-by-step positioning is achieved through the mechanical self-locking of the ratchet 312 and the elastic element, ensuring controllable opening and closing angles of the blade 2. The cooperative structure between the elastic element and the ratchet 312 reduces operating force while improving the mechanism's anti-interference capability, preventing drive failure caused by soot intrusion, and extending service life.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention further proposes an elastic member including an annular body 3221 and a limiting part 3222 connected to the annular body 3221. The annular body 3221 is engaged with the inner side of the annular side 3211 of the drive ring 321. One end of the limiting part 3222 extends toward the center of the drive ring 321 and engages with the recessed area 313 between two adjacent ratchet teeth 312.

[0040] The annular body 3221 refers to a support component with an annular structure, which can be made of metal or engineering plastic. Its inner side has a snap-fit ​​structure that engages with a slot on the inner side of the annular side 3211 of the drive ring 321, thus securing the elastic element through a snap-fit ​​mechanism. This structure ensures the elastic element remains stable during the rotation of the drive ring 321, preventing it from falling off due to centrifugal force or vibration.

[0041] The limiting part 3222 refers to the elastic arm structure extending from the annular body 3221. Specifically, it can be a thin sheet of metal or plastic integrally formed with the annular body 3221, with an arc-shaped protrusion at its end. When this protrusion is embedded in the recessed area 313 of the ratchet 312, it generates elastic deformation, forming a step-by-step limiting of the rotation of the drive ring 321, while allowing the ratchet 312 to slide past the limiting part 3222 in sequence when the drive ring 321 rotates in one direction.

[0042] Specifically, the annular body 3221 is snapped and fixed inside the annular side portion 3211 of the drive ring 321, ensuring that the elastic element as a whole does not undergo radial displacement. The limiting portion 3222 extends from the annular body 3221 towards the center of the drive ring 321, and its end sequentially engages the recessed areas 313 of different ratchet teeth 312 during the rotation of the drive ring 321. When the drive ring 321 is rotated by an external force, the elastic arm of the limiting portion 3222 bends and deforms, allowing the ratchet teeth 312 to slide past the protrusion of the limiting portion 3222. At this time, the restoring force generated by the elastic deformation continuously acts on the recessed areas 313 of the ratchet teeth 312, forming a stable unidirectional limiting. The connection position between the annular body 3221 and the limiting portion 3222 is set in the radial direction of the rotation axis of the drive ring 321, so that the force applied by the limiting portion 3222 to the ratchet teeth 312 is perpendicular to the rotation tangent direction, effectively preventing the drive ring 321 from rotating in the opposite direction.

[0043] Compared with existing technologies, traditional elastic components use an integral spring sheet directly pressing against the ratchet 312, which has problems such as inaccurate installation positioning and the elastic component easily detaching from the fixing groove. This solution uses a split structure design to decouple the fixing function and the limiting function of the elastic component. The annular body 3221 independently undertakes the fixing function, while the limiting part 3222 focuses on elastic deformation and cooperation with the ratchet 312. This not only improves installation stability but also optimizes the contact stress distribution between the limiting part 3222 and the ratchet 312.

[0044] Through the above technical solution, this utility model achieves reliable fixation of the elastic element within the drive ring 321, preventing displacement or detachment during rotation. Simultaneously, the elastic cooperation between the limiting part 3222 and the recessed area 313 of the ratchet 312 ensures the step-by-step positioning effect of the unidirectional rotation of the drive ring 321. This structure can maintain its limiting function even under conditions of frequent soot intrusion, preventing the ratchet 312 mechanism from jamming and failing due to soot accumulation.

[0045] In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention further proposes that one end of the annular side portion 3211 of the drive ring 321 is sleeved on the periphery of the cover 12, the cover 12 has a mounting groove 13 on its circumferential side, and another mounting groove 13 is provided on the inner side of the annular side portion 3211 corresponding to the mounting groove 13 of the cover 12, and an annular space is formed between the two mounting grooves 13. The ashtray 100 also includes a plurality of ball bearings 4, which are disposed in the annular space.

[0046] The annular side 3211 of the drive ring 321 refers to the ring-shaped component surrounding the periphery of the cover 12, which can be made of metal or engineering plastic, and is used to transmit rotational driving force and provide radial support. The mounting groove 13 refers to the groove formed on the circumferential side of the cover 12 and the inner side of the drive ring 321, which can be achieved by machining or injection molding, and is used to form an annular space to accommodate the ball 4. The annular space refers to the closed cavity formed by the mating of two mounting grooves 13, which can be achieved by a coaxially arranged annular groove structure, and is used to constrain the movement trajectory of the ball 4. The ball 4 refers to a spherical rolling element, which can be made of stainless steel or ceramic material, and is used to convert sliding friction into rolling friction.

[0047] Specifically, when the drive ring 321 rotates relative to the cover 12, the balls 4 roll circumferentially within the annular space, changing the contact mode between the drive ring 321 and the cover 12 from sliding friction to rolling friction. The uniform distribution of the balls 4 disperses and transmits the rotational driving force, preventing excessive local contact pressure from causing motion stagnation. Even when soot intrudes into the annular space, the rolling motion of the balls 4 can still effectively overcome the resistance caused by particles, maintaining the continuous rotation capability of the drive ring 321.

[0048] Compared with existing technologies, traditional ashtrays 100 typically use direct sliding contact or a lubricating layer between the drive ring 321 and the cover 12, resulting in high frictional resistance and susceptibility to jamming by foreign objects. This solution, however, achieves low-resistance rotation without the need for lubricant by incorporating a ball bearing 4 structure. Furthermore, the sealed installation structure of the ball bearing 4 prevents external ash from entering the moving parts.

[0049] Through the above technical solution, this utility model effectively reduces the frictional resistance when the drive ring 321 rotates, avoids the phenomenon of mechanism jamming caused by the accumulation of ash, ensures that the ashtray 100 can still maintain smooth operation in long-term use, and extends the service life of the drive mechanism 3.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention further proposes to provide spaced limiting grooves in the circumferential direction of the mounting groove 13 of the drive ring 321 and the cover 12, and the ball 4 is constrained in the limiting groove to form a discrete rolling support structure.

[0051] The mounting groove 13 refers to the annular groove located on the circumferential side of the cover 12 and the inner side of the drive ring 321. Specifically, it can be machined into a U-shaped groove with a depth of 0.5-1.5 mm to accommodate the ball 4 and limit its axial movement range. The limiting groove refers to the hemispherical recesses spaced circumferentially along the mounting groove 13. Specifically, these recesses can be formed by stamping, with a diameter 1.05-1.1 times the diameter of the ball 4, and the spacing between each recess is 1.2-1.5 times the diameter of the ball 4, to precisely constrain the circumferential position of the ball 4. The ball 4 refers to a stainless steel sphere with a diameter in the range of 2-4 mm. Specifically, it can be a standard ball 4 with G10 precision, and the surface roughness is controlled within Ra 0.2 micrometers to form low-friction rolling contact within the annular space.

[0052] Specifically, during the assembly of the drive ring 321 and the cover 12, the balls 4 are sequentially placed into the limiting grooves of the mounting groove 13 of the cover 12. When the drive ring 321 rotates, its inner limiting groove and the limiting groove of the cover 12 form an alternating positioning structure, forcing the balls 4 to perform pure rolling motion at fixed positions spaced circumferentially. Since the distance between adjacent limiting grooves is greater than the diameter of the balls 4, each ball 4 is confined within a single recess and cannot slide freely. This discrete layout allows the balls 4 to form support points distributed at equal angles within the annular space. When bearing the rotational load of the drive ring 321, each ball 4 evenly distributes the pressure, avoiding rotational jamming caused by localized stress concentration.

[0053] Through the above technical solution, this utility model effectively prevents the disorderly sliding of the balls 4 in the annular space, ensuring the linearity of torque transmission during the rotation of the drive ring 321. Under conditions of soot intrusion, the physical barrier formed by the limiting groove can prevent foreign objects from entering the contact area of ​​the balls 4, maintaining the long-term stability of the rotating mechanism. The discrete ball 4 layout ensures uniform force distribution at each support point, avoiding the overall rotational failure caused by localized ball 4 jamming in traditional structures, and significantly improving the reliability of the drive mechanism 3 in polluted environments.

[0054] In one embodiment of this utility model, a technical solution is further proposed: an input hole 131 for mounting the ball bearing 4 is provided in the mounting groove 13, and a sealing member 5 is provided to seal the input hole 131 to prevent the ball bearing 4 from falling out. The input hole 131 is a circular through hole formed in the side wall of the mounting groove 13, the diameter of which can be slightly larger than the diameter of the ball bearing 4, for example, 0.5-1 mm larger, so that the ball bearing 4 can be inserted into the mounting groove 13 through this hole. The hole is positioned in the axial middle region of the mounting groove 13, so that the ball bearing 4 can naturally fall into the annular space after being inserted. The sealing member 5 is a plug that matches the shape of the input hole 131, and can be a threaded screw-in structure or an interference-fit rubber plug. The length of the plug can cover the axial depth of the input hole 131, and its outer surface remains flush with the side wall of the mounting groove 13 in the closed state, avoiding interference with the movement trajectory of the ball bearing 4.

[0055] Specifically, during assembly, the balls 4 are inserted one by one into the annular space through the input hole 131, and then the sealing element 5 is pressed or screwed into the input hole 131, forming a physical seal on the channel. When the drive ring 321 rotates relative to the cover 12, the balls 4 roll along the annular space under the constraint of the limiting groove. At this time, the sealing element 5 bears the radial compressive force from the balls 4, and its interference fit or threaded locking structure can prevent loosening. When the ashtray 100 is inverted or subjected to vibration, the friction between the sealing element 5 and the input hole 131 can counteract the gravity or inertial force of the balls 4, preventing the balls 4 from falling out of the mounting groove 13.

[0056] Compared to existing technologies, the traditional method of installing the ball bearing 4 requires completely separating the drive ring 321 from the cover 12, inserting the ball bearing 4 through the end face opening, and then reassembling it. This process is prone to causing the ball bearing 4 to misalign or be lost. This solution, however, achieves rapid installation of the ball bearing 4 through the lateral input hole 131, and the sealing component 5 does not need to change the relative position of the drive ring 321 and the cover 12 while sealing the channel, significantly simplifying the assembly process. Furthermore, in existing technologies, unsealed mounting holes are prone to wear gaps due to long-term use, increasing the risk of the ball bearing 4 falling out. The closed structure of this solution maintains the sealing of the annular space.

[0057] Through the above technical solution, this utility model achieves a balance between the operability and operational reliability of the ball bearing 4 installation process. The input hole 131 provides a direct channel for the assembly of the ball bearing 4, avoiding the risk of structural damage caused by disassembling the drive ring 321 and the cover 12; the sealing component 5 eliminates the risk of the ball bearing 4 falling off through mechanical locking, ensuring that the drive ring 321 and the cover 12 always maintain a low-friction contact state during rotation.

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, the present invention further proposes that each blade 2 is provided with a limiting shaft 22, the limiting shafts 22 on the multiple blades 2 are corresponding to and cooperate with multiple first drive grooves 122, and are spaced apart from multiple mounting shafts 21, and the limiting shafts 22 of the multiple blades 2 can slide and rotate along the first drive grooves 122.

[0059] The limiting shaft 22 refers to a constraint component mounted on the blade 2 and spaced apart from the mounting shaft 21. Specifically, it can be implemented using a cylindrical protrusion structure, with its diameter forming a clearance fit with the width of the first drive groove 122. The spacing means that the limiting shaft 22 and the mounting shaft 21 are not collinearly distributed on the surface of the blade 2. Specifically, this can be achieved by spacing them 5-8 mm apart along the length of the blade 2, forming a two-point constraint mechanism. Sliding and rotation refer to the combined axial displacement and circumferential deflection of the limiting shaft 22 within the first drive groove 122. This can be achieved by designing the drive groove as a helical or curved track.

[0060] Specifically, when blade 2 is driven, mounting shaft 21 acts as the main fulcrum, moving along the first drive groove 122, while limiting shaft 22 acts as an auxiliary constraint point, synchronously following the trajectory. Because the limiting shaft 22 and mounting shaft 21 are spaced apart, they achieve torque balance during movement, suppressing the deflection torque generated by single-axis drive on blade 2. In the closed state, the distance between the limiting shaft 22 and mounting shaft 21 forces blade 2 to make slight angular adjustments, ensuring close contact between the edge planes of adjacent blades 2. During movement, the synergistic effect of the two shafts decomposes sliding friction into force components at two contact points, reducing the wear rate of a single drive groove.

[0061] Compared to existing technologies, traditional ashtray blades 100 open and close using only a single pivot, which can easily lead to trajectory deviation due to uneven force during sliding, and gaps exist between blades 2 when closed. This solution uses a dual-axis spaced layout to create motion constraints, reducing the trajectory deviation of blades 2 by approximately 60% under the same driving force, while increasing the sealing contact area by more than 40% when closed.

[0062] Through the above technical solution, this utility model effectively solves the trajectory deviation problem in the compound motion of blade 2, making the opening adjustment process more stable and reliable. At the same time, the dual-axis synergistic effect enhances the sealing performance in the closed state, increasing the soot isolation efficiency to 2.3 times that of the traditional structure. The service life of the motion mechanism is extended to 1.8 times that of single-axis drive, and the maintenance cycle can reach more than 18 months.

[0063] In one embodiment of this utility model, the number of blades 2 is further proposed to be A, wherein 3≤A≤6.

[0064] The number A of blades 2 refers to the total number of movable blades 2 set on the cover 12 to cover the through hole 121, which can be 3, 4, 5 or 6 blades. This number range balances the coverage area and the degree of freedom of movement of the blades 2, ensuring that the edges of adjacent blades 2 overlap to form a continuous sealing surface in the closed state, while avoiding motion interference caused by multi-body linkage during the driving process.

[0065] Specifically, when the number of blades 2 is set to 3, adjacent blades 2 eliminate gaps by overlapping their edges in the closed position, forming an equilateral triangular coverage area. In the open position, each blade 2 slides outward along the drive groove and rotates synchronously, forming an approximately circular opening. When the number of blades 2 increases to 6, the blades 2 are arranged in a hexagonal, tightly packed pattern in the closed state, increasing the contact surface between adjacent blades 2 and improving sealing reliability. During the opening process, the circumferential distribution density of the blade 2 sliding trajectory increases, enhancing the accuracy of opening size adjustment. By limiting the lower limit of the number of blades 2 to 3, problems such as incomplete coverage and irregular opening shape caused by too few blades 2 are avoided; limiting the upper limit to 6 blades prevents the increased load on the drive mechanism 3 and the risk of movement jamming caused by the dense arrangement of blades 2.

[0066] In some specific embodiments, the number of blades 2 can preferably be 4. In this case, when closed, the blades 2 are arranged in a square, and the overlap width of adjacent blades 2 is uniform. When open, the blades 2 slide outward and rotate 30 degrees synchronously to form a circular opening. As another embodiment, the number of blades 2 can be set to 5. When closed, a pentagonal covering surface is formed. During the opening adjustment process, the rotation angle of the blades 2 is reduced to 24 degrees, reducing the movement amplitude of a single blade 2.

[0067] Compared to existing technologies, traditional ashtrays 100 employ a fixed number of blades 2, such as a two-blade split design or an eight-blade radial arrangement. The former suffers from a central gap when closed due to insufficient blades 2, while the latter results in significantly increased driving resistance due to excessive blades 2. This solution, by limiting the number of blades to 3-6, solves both the sealing failure problem caused by too few blades 2 and the mechanical reliability degradation caused by too many blades 2.

[0068] Through the above technical solution, this utility model achieves complete sealing of the ashtray 100 opening in the closed state, ensuring that ash is isolated from odors; during the opening process, the blade group 2 can form a regularly shaped opening, preventing ash from remaining at the edges of the blade 2. At the same time, this number range ensures that the movement trajectory of the blade 2 in the drive groove remains in a low-resistance state, ensuring smooth operation with one finger and extending the service life of the mechanical structure.

[0069] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base 11 and the cover 12 are detachably connected.

[0070] The detachable connection refers to the connection between the base 11 and the cover 12 via a separable mechanical structure, which can be achieved through threaded engagement, snap-fit ​​structures, or sliding rail structures. For example, the upper outer wall of the base 11 has external threads, and the lower inner wall of the cover 12 has internal threads, and the two are fixed by screwing them together; alternatively, the edges of the base 11 and the cover 12 have interlocking snap protrusions and grooves, which are locked and released by pressing. This structure allows the base 11 and the cover 12 to be separated for independent cleaning or replacement.

[0071] Specifically, when ash needs to be cleaned, the cover 12 can be removed from the base 11 by rotating or pressing. At this time, the inside of the base 11 is fully exposed, and residual ash can be directly rinsed with water. At the same time, the drive mechanism 3 and multiple blades 2 inside the cover 12 can also be wiped separately, preventing ash particles from getting stuck in the assembly gap between the base 11 and the cover 12. When the base 11 is partially deformed due to contact with a hot cigarette butt, only the damaged base 11 needs to be replaced, without having to discard the entire ashtray 100.

[0072] Through the above technical solution, this utility model realizes the quick disassembly of the main structure of the ashtray 100, making the cleaning operation of the base 11 and the cover 12 components more convenient and avoiding mechanical failures caused by ash residue; in addition, the split structure allows for the individual replacement of damaged parts, extending the product's service life.

[0073] The above description is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the patent scope of the present utility model. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the technical concept of the present utility model and the contents of the present utility model specification and drawings, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An ashtray, characterized in that, include: The main body includes a base and a cover that covers the upper end of the base. The cover has a through hole and a plurality of first driving grooves are provided around the through hole. The first driving grooves extend circumferentially along the through hole. Multiple blades are disposed on the cover and corresponding to the through hole. Each blade is provided with a mounting shaft. The mounting shafts on the multiple blades are corresponding to and cooperate with the multiple first drive grooves. The mounting shafts of the multiple blades can slide and rotate along the first drive grooves so that the multiple blades have a closed position to close the through hole and an open position to open the through hole. as well as, A drive mechanism, located in the main body, is connected to the plurality of blades to drive the plurality of blades to slide and rotate along the plurality of first drive grooves; The drive mechanism includes: An annular plate, with its central hole corresponding to the through hole, is rotatably mounted on the cover. The annular plate has multiple second driving grooves extending from the central hole towards the outer edge of the annular plate. A drive assembly is connected to the annular plate ring to drive the annular plate to rotate. The plurality of mounting shafts also mate with the plurality of second drive slots; The outer peripheral side of the annular plate is provided with multiple ratchet teeth; The driving component includes: A drive ring is provided corresponding to the cover and is rotatably mounted on the main body. The center hole of the drive ring is provided corresponding to the through hole, and the drive ring has an annular side. An elastic element is installed on the inner side of the annular side of the drive ring, and one end of the elastic element engages with the recessed area between two adjacent ratchet teeth. The elastic element includes: The annular body engages with the inner side of the annular side portion; and, The limiting part is connected at one end to one end of the annular body, and at the other end extends toward the center of the drive ring, engaging with the recessed area between two adjacent ratchet teeth.

2. The ashtray as described in claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the annular side of the drive ring is sleeved around the periphery of the cover. The cover has a mounting groove on its circumferential side. Another mounting groove is provided on the inner side of the annular side corresponding to the mounting groove of the cover. An annular space is formed between the two mounting grooves. The ashtray also includes multiple ball bearings disposed in the annular space.

3. The ashtray as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the two mounting slots is provided with a plurality of limiting slots, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the mounting slots. The plurality of balls are respectively disposed in the plurality of limiting slots to restrict the sliding of the balls in the annular space.

4. The ashtray as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The mounting slot has an input hole for mounting the ball bearing; The ashtray also includes a sealing element that can block the input hole to prevent the ball bearing from falling out of the input hole.

5. The ashtray as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Each blade is also provided with a limiting shaft, which corresponds to the plurality of first drive grooves and is spaced apart from the plurality of mounting shafts. The limiting shafts of the plurality of blades can slide and rotate along the first drive grooves.

6. The ashtray as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The number of blades is A, where 3 ≤ A ≤ 6.

7. The ashtray as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The base and the cover are detachably connected.

Images