Smoking is common in drinking establishments and a generally accepted part of the social experience. However, smokers do not always take care to use a proper ashtray, perhaps because one is not immediately available. The result is that ash is routinely dropped onto the floor, creating mess and burns. Providing large numbers of ashtrays to try and address this problem is impractical and can be intimidating to non-smokers.

An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide the smoker with the option of providing an ashtray close to hand whenever they are in a drinking establishment, thus helping reduce spillage of ash.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a support mat from which a layer of material may be at least partially detached, at least part of the layer of material being arranged to be formed into a receptacle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing a receptacle comprising the steps of providing a support mat according to the first aspect of the invention, at least partially detaching the layer of material from the support mat and folding the partially detached layer to form a receptacle.

The invention can provide a drinks coaster, particularly the type of disposable coaster known in some countries as a beer mat, that enables an ashtray to be provided.

The support mat could be formed from a single layer of material arranged such that it can be at least partially separated into two layers. Alternatively the support mat may be formed from two or more separate layers of material joined together at least one of the layers being joined in such a way that it may subsequently be at least partially detached from the remaining layer or layers. In one embodiment at least two layers of material are attached together with an adhesive. In another embodiment at least two layers are attached together by means of mutual cohesion. The at least partially detachable layer may be arranged to be torn or ripped from the remainder of the mat.

The at least partially detachable layer may be arranged to be formed into a receptacle when still partially attached to the remainder of the mat and/or when the completely detached from the remainder of the mat. The receptacle is preferable three- dimensional and is more preferably an ashtray. In this latter case it is preferred that the receptacle defines one or more openings or slots for supporting cigarettes.

In one embodiment part of a layer of the mat is detachable and arranged to be formed into a receptacle.

By arranged to be formed into a receptacle it is to be understood that the at least partially detachable layer has undergone some treatment to facilitate its formation into a receptacle. In one embodiment the layer is marked with fold lines on which the layers should be folded in order to form a receptacle. In another embodiment the layer has lines of weakness, for examples score lines, along which it may be folded to form a receptacle. In yet another embodiment the layer is shaped in a way which facilitates its formation into a receptacle. In a yet further embodiment the layer is creased along certain predetermined lines to facilitate its formation into a receptacle.

The at least partially detachable layer of material may itself be formed from a plurality of layers, as may the remainder of the mat left over when the detachable layer has been removed.

The support mat may comprise an absorbent material. This is advantageous where the mat is used as a drinks coaster. The at least partially detachable layer is preferably fire resistant and could, for example, be formed from a treated fire resistant paper.

Fire resistance is clearly advantageous where the removable layer is used to form an ashtray.

The support mat may be formed substantially from paper and/or cardboard.

The support mat may be a drinks coaster of the type typically referred to as a beer mat in some countries. Alternatively it could be intended to fulfil any other function, not necessarily to support eating or drinking utensils.

The invention provides a convenient and cost effective way of making ashtrays available to smokers in eating and drinking establishments. As drinks coasters and/or place mats are routinely used in such an establishments ashtrays are made available during the normal operation of the establishment.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which; Figure 1 is a plan view of a drinks coaster according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the drinks coaster of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the removable layer of the coaster of Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a plan view of the net of the ashtray of the coaster of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an ashtray formed from the removable layer of the coaster of Figure 1 in use; Figure 6 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a support mat according to the invention; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the mat of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a similar view of a modified mat ; Figure 9 is a plan view of the removable layer of the mat of Figure 6; Figure 10 shows the underside of the layer of Figure 9 ; Figure 11 shows the ashtray of the mat of Figure 6 in net form; Figure 12 is a perspective view of an assembled ashtray of the mat of Figure 6; Figure 13 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a mat according to the invention; Figure 14 shows a similar view of the mat of Figure 13 with its detachable layer removed; Figure 15 shows a plan view of the detachable layer of the mat of Figure 13; Figures 16 to 18,19 to 21 and 22 to 24 each show similar views to Figures 13 to 15 of three further embodiments of mats according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 a mat is formed from first 3 and second 4 separably connected layers. The first layer is formed from a fire retardant paper such as fire retardant impact MI paper produced by Cascades Saint Marie. The second layer 4 is produced from an absorbent cardboard. The two layers are of generally corresponding outlined shape, superposed and joined together by means of a releasable adhesive. Both layers are substantially square in shape with three rounded corners and one cut-off corner. The first layer 4 has a tab 10 projecting from its cut- off corner.

The first layer 3 has a partially cut out net form 1. The net form is formed by cutting along line 5 and is only connected to the remainder 2 of the layer 3 at points 7. This enables the net form 1 to be easily detached from the remainder 2 of the layer 3. The net form 1 is of substantially circular shape with 8 elongate tabs 10,11 extending radially from the circle at substantially evenly spaced circumferencial positions. One tab 10 extends further than the other tabs 11. Tab 10 extends towards and beyond to the cut-off corner of the first layer 3. The net form 1 also has a number of scored lines of weakness 6,8 and 9 indicated on Figure 3 by means of broken lines. A first set of scored lines 6 extend in an octagonal shape substantially centred within the circular region of the net form 1. Pairs of scored lines 8,9 extend radially outwardly of each point of the octagonal portion to the periphery of the net 4. Score lines 6 and 8 are formed by weakening the material of the net form 1 on one side and score lines 9 by weakening it on the opposite side so that the net form will fold preferentially along score lines 6 and 8 in one sense and along lines 9 in an opposite sense.

In use the mat is provided in a fully assembled form as shown in Figure 1 and may be used as a support mat, particularly as a drinks coaster. If it is desired to provide an ashtray the first layer 3 is detached from the second layer 4. The protruding tab 10 facilitates the separation of the first 3 and second 4 layers. When the two layers 3, 4are separated the second, absorbent, layer 4 can be used as a support mat, particularly a coaster, on its own.

To form an ashtray the net form 1 is detached from the remainder 2 of the first layer 3 by breaking the layer at points 7. The net is then folded in a first sense along score lines 6 and 8 and in a second sense along lines 9 to form an ashtray having an octagonal base, as shown in Figure 5. The tabs 10 and 11 extending from the net form now provide a useful support for cigarettes 12 and other smoking material placed in the ashtray.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 12 alternative embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment is illustrated in Figures 6,7 and 9 to 12. Again the mat consists of first 3 and second 4 layers. The first layer 3 is formed from fire resistant paper and includes a scored net form 1 partially cut out from a surrounding region 2.

The surrounding region 2 is permanently secured to the second layer 4 by means of adhesive. The net form 1 is not secured to the second layer 2 so that by breaking the first layer 3 to separate the net form 1 from the surrounding region 2 the net form 1 can be detached from the remainder of the mat. The net form 1 is scored along the broken lines 10 on one side and along broken lines 9 on the opposite side to facilitate its folding to form an ashtray as shown in Figure 12 with a substantially square base.

The overall shape of the net form is that of an eight-sided polygon with two pairs of opposed longer sides and two pairs of opposed shorter sides. One of the shorter sides has a cut out portion 11 arranged so that when the net form is formed into an ashtray the cut out portion is suitably position for supporting a cigarette.

Figure 8 shows a modified version of the mat where the surrounding region 2 of the first layer 3 and corresponding part of the second layer 4 is deleted. The net form 1 is releasably fastened to the second layer 4 by a low tack adhesive.

Figures 13 to 15,16 to 18,19 to 21 and 22 to 24 show respective further embodiments of support mats according to the invention. Figures 13,16, 19 and 22 each show a plan view of a complete support mat comprising a first layer 3 comprising a net portion 1 partially cut out from a surrounding region 2 formed from fire resistant paper where the surrounding portion 2 is permanently adhere to a second layer 4 formed from absorbent cardboard. In the manner of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 to 12 the net portion 1 may be detached from the remainder of the article.

Figures 14,20 and 23 show the article with the net portion 1 removed.

Figures 15,18, 21 and 24 each show a removed net portion 1. The net portion is scored along the illustrated broken lines. The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.