Powered ashtray assembly
AssigneeGRM Industries, Inc.
InventorLarry E. Summers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A powered ashtray assembly (100) is disclosed for use in automobiles or similar vehicles. The ashtray assembly (100) includes a movable assembly frame (106) slidably mounted within an assembly housing (104). A manually operable switch (140) selectively applies activating signals to a motor (148) secured to frame (106). The motor (148) drives a spline (170) threaded to a stationary shaft (172) secured to a stationary frame (124). Activation of the motor (148) causes the spline (170) to be driven along the shaft (172) so as to selectively extend and retract the assembly frame (106) relative to the assembly housing (104).
Claims15
In an ashtray assembly for use in an operator controlled vehicle having a battery source, wherein the assembly includes a stationary frame mounted within an assembly housing and an assembly frame slidably mounted to the stationary frame so as to be selectively retractable into a closed position within the housing and selectively extendable into an open position forward of the housing, the improvement which comprises:
- power means adapted to be connected to the battery source and mounted between the assembly frame and the stationary frame for exerting forces on the assembly frame with respect to the stationary frame so as to selectively extend and retract the assembly frame;
- switch means electrically coupled to the power means and responsive to selective activation by a vehicle occupant for generating activating signals;
- and
- the power means is responsive to the activating signals to exert the forces on the assembly frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.