The ashtray in question differs from the ashtray of the conventional type in that it can easily be applied to the flat surface of a table or a bracket, in the desired position, and can be equally easily removed in order to undertake the cleaning, relocation and, where necessary, washing thereof.

Such a feature is particularly useful, moreover, because the present ashtray possesses the further feature of being capable of easy fitting to flat surfaces of tables or shelves having different thicknesses, the said ashtray having securing springs capable of permitting the easy adaptability thereof to supporting surfaces having different thicknesses.

The present ashtray additionally possesses the feature, unlike conventional ashtrays, of being capable of being positioned below the supporting surfaces of tables and of shelves.

Therefore, the present ashtray possesses the further advantage of not encumbering the supporting table or shelf, the said ashtray being designed to disappear below the said shelf when it is not in use.

The abovementioned useful results are achieved by an improved ashtray whose features are as defined in Claim 1.

These and other advantages, of a functional and structural nature, of the improved ashtray in question will be better understood with the aid of the various figures of the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the improved ashtray in question, in a sectional lateral view, separately from a surface supporting the said ashtray, which is likewise partially shown in the figure;

Figure 2 shows, in a sectional lateral view, the same improved ashtray fitted to a supporting surface; Figure 3 shows, in a lateral view in perspective from above, the improved ashtray in question, together with the securing element thereof ; Figure 4 shows, in a lateral view in perspective from above, the same ashtray, seen open, in other words with the ash-receiving cup rotated in a manner such as to project relative to the supporting top surface; Figure 5 shows, in a view from above, the ashtray illustrated in the preceding figures, seen open; and Figure 6 shows the same ashtray, in an alternative embodiment thereof, which is provided with an ash-receiving cup slidable along lateral support guides.

With particular reference to the numerical symbols in the various figures of the appended drawings, the improved ashtray in question, designated as a whole by the numeral 1, possesses the feature of being provided with an ash-receiving cup 2, which can be fixed to the support section 4 by means of a pin 3 or by means of lateral sliding guides 11 and 12.

The ash-receiving cup 2, during use of the ashtray 1, is disposed in a manner such as to project relative to the top surface 10 of the table or of the supporting bracket thereof.

The said ash-receiving cup 2 can be caused to rotate relative to the pin 3 or caused to slide relative to the sliding guides 11 and 12 in a manner such as to become completely accommodated, in the closed phase, below the top surface 10.

One of the fundamental characteristic elements of the present improved ashtray comprises the presence of a support section 4, having an upper side 7, a vertical side 8 and a lower side 9, the combination thereof forming the said support section 4.

The upper side 7 of the support section 4 is accommodated above the top surface 10 of the table or of the bracket.

The vertical side 8 is disposed in contact with the vertical outer face of the supporting top surface 10, while the lower side 9 is introduced below the top surface 10, in contact with the lower face thereof.

The lower side 9 of the support section 4 is provided with securing springs 5, which are fixed to the fixing element 6.

The securing springs 5 are appropriately inclined so as to be able to be folded easily and are configured in a manner such as to grip the top surface 10 of the table or bracket, simultaneously exerting a pressure on the lower side of the latter.

The top surface 10 is therefore gripped elastically, when the present improved ashtray is fitted to the said top surface.

This result is achieved by the effect of the joint action exercised by the upper side of the support section, by the vertical side thereof and by the upper ends of the securing springs 5.

In this manner, the ashtray 1 is completely secured, by means of a simple operation of manual positioning thereof on the top surface 10 of the table, the ashtray 1 adapting to top surfaces 10 having different thicknesses.

The improved ashtray in question may, of course, be the subject of appropriate variations and modifications, all without departing from the scope of the present invention.