Smokeless ashtray and advertising system

Abstract

An apparatus for commercial advertising and treating environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in heavy user environments utilizing a fire resistant housing and high efficiency particle air filters (HEPA) is provided. The structure of the housing provides for efficient and effective use in heavy user environments, and functions to enable selective forms of advertisement. A filter system is provided in the housing to filter particle and gas-phase ETS contaminants. A fragrance, air freshener, deodorizer or the like can also be dispensed. A DC battery powered fan is used to draw ETS up and through apparatus and across HEPA filters and carbon filter. The filtering capacity and commercial grade design specifications are targeted toward heavy ETS environments. This apparatus more effectively directs ETS smoke over filter components, to remove ETS particle contaminants and provides design features for commercial advertisement.

1 . A smokeless ashtray for filtering particle and gas-phase contaminants found in tobacco smoke environmental tobacco smoke environments comprising: 
 a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion comprising a receptacle for positioning a smoke-producing product and containing ash therefrom;    at least one smoke inlet opening positioned at least partially above the receptacle,    a fan positioned within the top portion of the housing for drawing smoke into the housing through the inlet opening;    at least one filter positioned in the top portion of the housing such that smoke is drawn therethrough for filtering the smoke; and    at least one advertising section associated with the housing for the display of promotional material.    
   
   
       2 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 1  further comprising a storage well located on top of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is a standard ashtray positioned on a support in said bottom portion.  
   
   
       4 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 1 , wherein the fan is powered by at least one battery.  
   
   
       5 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is manufactured from fire resistant material.  
   
   
       6 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion of the housing further comprises at least one exhaust opening wherein filtered smoke is released back into the environment.  
   
   
       7 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of advertising sections that are equipped with an attachment mechanism for replaceable advertising.  
   
   
       8 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 7 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises tabs or exterior sides of the advertising sections.  
   
   
       9 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 1  further comprising a light source to provide illumination of at least a portion of the housing.  
   
   
       10 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 9 , wherein the light source is a programmable light emitting display.  
   
   
       11 . A smokeless ashtray for filtering particle and gas-phase contaminants found in smoky environments comprising: 
 a housing having at least one filter for filtering environmental smoke positioned in the housing; and    a fan for drawing smoke through the at least one filter, wherein the fan has sufficient strength to draw at least three times the volumetric flow rate of smoking articles.    
   
   
       12 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 11  further comprising a storage well located on top of the housing.  
   
   
       13 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 11 , wherein the housing is manufactured from fire resistant plastic.  
   
   
       14 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 11 , wherein the housing further comprises exhaust openings wherein filtered air is released back into the environment.  
   
   
       15 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 11 , wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of areas for the display of advertising or other media.  
   
   
       16 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 11  further comprising a light source.  
   
   
       17 . A smokeless ashtray comprising: 
 a portable rigid fire resistant housing having bottom support for positioning an ashtray;    at least one filter for filtering particle and gas-phase contaminants found in smoke; and    a fan for drawing air through the at least one filter.    
   
   
       18 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one display associated with the housing for the display of promotional material.  
   
   
       19 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 17 , further comprising an indicator for indicating when said at least one filter requires cleaning or replacement.  
   
   
       20 . The smokeless ashtray of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one display comprises replaceable media selectively positioned in association with the housing.