Odor-Resistant Vehicle Ashtray with Modular Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ashtrays in vehicles are poorly designed, inadequate, and lack odor resistance, making them difficult to clean, insufficient for storing waste, and unpleasant for passengers.
Innovation Solution
A cylindrical ashtray with a removable lid featuring a pyramid debowler and indentations for smoking devices, accompanied by an odor-resistant cover lid, made from heat and impact-resistant silicone, and designed to fit in a coffee cup holder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional vehicle ashtrays are used, then they provide basic ash collection, but they are difficult to clean and do not provide adequate storage for accessories
Solution Approach 1:
The ashtray is divided into multiple removable components including a lid, ash collection chamber, and accessory storage compartments. This segmentation allows each part to be easily detached for thorough cleaning while providing dedicated storage spaces for smoking accessories within the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The ashtray structure incorporates multiple functions: ash collection, accessory storage, and cleaning accessibility. The removable lid and modular compartments enable the device to serve both as a functional ash receptacle and as an organized storage solution for lighters and other smoking accessories.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional vehicle ashtrays are used, then they provide basic ash collection, but they are not odor proof even when closed
Solution Approach 1:
An odor-resistant material or coating is introduced as an intermediary layer between the ash collection chamber and the external environment. This intermediary barrier prevents odor molecules from penetrating through the lid and container walls, effectively blocking odor transmission while maintaining the structural integrity of the ashtray.
Solution Approach 2:
The ashtray lid and container are constructed using composite materials that combine structural components with odor-blocking properties. The multi-layer construction integrates materials specifically selected for their odor resistance characteristics, creating a unified structure that is both durable and effective at preventing odor escape.
3Volume of stationary object
If vehicle ashtrays are made larger to hold waste and accessories, then storage capacity increases, but they no longer fit in coffee cup holders
Solution Approach 1:
The ashtray employs a nested structure where accessory storage compartments and ash collection chambers are arranged concentrically or in nested configurations. This allows maximum storage capacity to be achieved within a compact outer diameter that fits standard coffee cup holder dimensions, effectively packing multiple functional volumes into a space-constrained form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the horizontal footprint of the ashtray, the design utilizes vertical dimensionality and three-dimensional space optimization. Storage compartments are arranged in multiple levels and depths, allowing adequate storage capacity while maintaining a compact width and height profile that accommodates cup holder constraints.
4Strength
If ashtrays are made from durable materials, then they resist heat and impact, but they may absorb odors more readily
Solution Approach 1:
The ashtray utilizes composite material construction that combines heat-resistant and impact-resistant base materials with odor-resistant surface layers or coatings. This multi-material approach allows the structural components to provide thermal and mechanical durability while the outer layers prevent odor absorption and transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the ashtray are made from materials with specialized properties: the inner ash collection chamber uses heat-resistant materials to withstand hot embers, while the lid and outer surfaces incorporate odor-resistant materials to prevent odor absorption and escape. This localized material selection optimizes each region for its specific functional requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An ashtray according to the principles of the invention includes a container portion having two internal sections where the container is configured to receive a first lid. The first lid includes topical features for use as an ash tray and defines holes to allow ashes to drop into section of the container. In one embodiment, the first lid also includes a second section covered with a hinged cover. This section defines an aperture to another portion of the container which is preferable configured to store accessories. A second lid is configured to cover the first lid. When the second lid covers the first lid, the ashtray is substantially odor free.