The present invention is related to cigar smoking implements and accessories. More particularly, this invention is a cutting device for opening the head of a cigar in preparation for smoking.
The head of a cigar is the tip which the smoker places in his mouth during smoking. Cigars are sold with their heads in a “closed” state, that is, the binder and wrapper cover the head completely to retain the compacted filler and provide a neat and tapered tip. Cigars are occasionally also sold with their feet closed for the same reason. Additionally, binders and wrappers help to keep fresh the filler tobacco, so cigars that are sold with their heads and feet closed tend to remain fresh longer.
Another reason that cigars are sold with their heads closed is that cigar smokers generally prefer to open the heads themselves, according to their smoking preferences and comfort. If the opening size is larger, more flow will result, which will result in more flavor, but will also cause the cigar to burn faster and hotter. A smaller opening will cause the cigar to burn slower and cooler, but will provide a milder flavor.
Cutting devices for opening the heads of cigars come in two main types, slicers and punches. Punches are tubular cutting tools that create a longitudinal hole into the center of the head. The diameter of the hole is always the same as the size of the punch, so punches are available with either a smaller punch diameter, generally in the 6 MM diameter range, or a larger punch diameter, generally in the 8 MM diameter range. Slicers, on the other hand, typically consist of one or two sharp blades that traverse and slice through the head to remove the head tip and create an opening that traverses the cigar, normal to the cigar's longitudinal axis.
A punch may be used on any cigar regardless of the cigar's diameter. But since there is no strict standard for cigar diameters, some cigars may be too fat for use with some slicers, when the diameter of the cigar cannot fit within the aperture of the slicer.
Some smokers prefer smoking a cigar that has been opened by a punch, while others prefer a cigar that has been opened by a slicer. Slicers can be more damaging to the cigar head, particularly as the slicer blades become dull, but many smokers prefer the feel of a sliced head and the wider opening a slicer produces. Also, heads can be re-sliced as they become moist and ratty. Punches, on the other hand, tend to produce a more well-defined and consistent opening, causing fewer stray tobacco bits.
Some smokers will vary the opening type according to the cigar. Certain cigars are prone to smoke hotter, be stronger, or have more flavor than others, leading the smoker to prefer a particular head opening size and style according to the cigar type. The same smoker may prefer to have a sliced opening in one type of cigar and a punched opening on another. Or the smoker may prefer to have a smaller punched opening in one type of cigar and a larger punched opening on another.
Since cigar smoking is typically a social activity, it is common for several smokers to share a single cigar cutting tool. Should the available tool be a slicer, those smokers who prefer a punched opening must compromise. Should the available tool be a punch, those smokers who prefer a sliced opening must compromise.
There is therefore the need for a cigar cutting device which is useable with any cigar, and such is an object of the present invention.
There is also the need for such a cigar cutting device which is capable of cutting any cigar according to the smoker's preference, and such is an object of the present invention.
There is also the need for such a cigar cutting device which is simple and convenient to use, and such is an object of the present invention.
There is also the need for such a cigar cutting device which is compactable into a safe storage condition wherein its blades are protected from damage and the smoker is protected from injury, and such is an object of the present invention.
There is also the need for such a cigar cutting device which has a slicing blade that locks automatically into its storage position at the completion of a cut, and such is an object of the present invention.
And there is the need for such a cigar cutting device in which all blades may be either biased or locked into their storage positions, and such is an object of the present invention.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in view of the following disclosure of an exemplary embodiment thereof.
The invention is best summarized as a cigar cutting tool having a housing defining an aperture sized to receive a cigar head, a first cutting element having a sharpened linear edge movable relative to and across the aperture, a second cutting element having a sharpened tubular edge extendable from the housing and having a cutting diameter, and a third cutting element having a sharpened tubular edge extendable from the housing and having a cutting diameter smaller than the cutting diameter of the second cutting element. The first cutting element may be movable between an open position exposing the aperture and a closed position fully covering the aperture and protecting the sharpened linear edge within the housing. The tool may be used for selectively causing one of a plurality of openings in a cigar head.
The cigar cutting device as preferably embodied has a plurality of slicing and punching means to allow one or more smokers to customize the opening of each cigar to be smoked. The invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a cigar cutting device which is useable with any cigar, which is capable of cutting any cigar according to each smoker's preference, which is simple and convenient to use, which is compactable into a safe storage position wherein its blades are protected from damage and the smoker is protected from injury, which has a slicing blade that locks automatically into its storage position at the completion of a cut, and in which all blades may be either biased or locked into their storage positions.
Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with more specificity in the Detailed Description and Drawings of an exemplary embodiment provided herein.
Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Reference is now made to
Cigar cutting tool 100 has a housing 102 defining an aperture 104, preferably 20 MM in diameter, to receive cigar head 202. First cutting element 106 has a sharpened linear edge 108 movable relative to and across the aperture. Second cutting element 112 has a sharpened tubular edge 114 extendable from the housing and preferably has an 8 MM cutting diameter. Third cutting element 116 has a sharpened tubular edge 118 extendable from the housing and preferably has a 6MM cutting diameter.
First cutting element 106 is movable between an open position exposing aperture 104, and a closed position fully covering the aperture and protecting the sharpened linear edge within the housing.
Release button 132 is rigidly connected to pawl 124 such that inward force on the button moves pawl 124 outwardly against the bias of spring 128 and out of engagement with indentation 126, as seen in
Second cutting element 112 and third cutting element 116 are each movable between an extended position wherein the respective second or third cutting element extends from the housing, shown for element 116 in
The second and third cutting elements each comprise a hollow interior chamber 134 for receiving the punched-out plug 204 from the cigar head 202. An ejector 136 is disposed within and movable relative to each of the hollow interior chambers and adapted to force the plug from the respective chamber as the respective second or third cutting element is moved from its extended position to its retracted position, as appreciated by comparing
Housing 102 has a pair of openings 142 each adjacent to and associated with one of the second and third cutting elements, each opening has a longitudinal slot portion 144 and a transverse slot portion 146. Lugs 148 are each fixed to and movable with the respective second or third cutting element, each lug movably received within an associated one of the openings.
The lugs serve as both actuators for causing movement of the associated element and as retaining means for cooperating with the associated openings to hold the associated elements in their extended positions. Longitudinal outward movement of each lug within the associated slot's longitudinal slot portion 144 causes the associated one of the second or third cutting elements to move from its retracted position to its extended position, and transverse outward movement of each lug within the associated slot's transverse slot portion 146 causes the associated one of the second or third cutting elements to be retained in its extended position, as seen in
Second cutting element 112 and third cutting element 116 are coaxially disposed, which, as can be appreciated by viewing
To use the tool, a smoker first selects a desired one of a sliced opening, an 8 MM diameter punched opening, or a 6MM diameter punched opening for cigar head 202, and accordingly follows either process a), b) or c);
Upon completion of process a), the first cutting element 106 is forced back into housing 102, and pawl 124 automatically engages indentation 126 to retain the first cutting element in its closed position. Upon completion of process b), the lug 148 associated with second cutting element 112 is forced transversely back towards longitudinal slot potion 144 and the cutting element is forced back into its retracted position by the force of its associated spring 138, whereupon the punched out plug 204 is forced from hollow chamber 134 by ejector 136. Upon completion of process c), the lug 148 associated with third cutting element 116 is forced transversely back towards longitudinal slot potion 144 and the cutting element is forced back into its retracted position by the force of its associated spring 138, whereupon the punched out plug 204 is forced from hollow chamber 134 by ejector 136.
In summary, the invention may be embodied as a cigar cutting tool having a housing defining an aperture sized to receive a cigar head, a first cutting element having a sharpened linear edge movable relative to and across the aperture, a second cutting element having a sharpened tubular edge extendable from the housing and having a cutting diameter, and a third cutting element having a sharpened tubular edge extendable from the housing and having a cutting diameter smaller than the cutting diameter of the second cutting element.
The first cutting element may be movable between an open position exposing the aperture and a closed position fully covering the aperture and protecting the sharpened linear edge within the housing, and may be biased towards the open position.
The cutting tool may further have means for retaining the first cutting element in its closed position. The means for retaining the first cutting element may automatically retain the first cutting element in the closed position as it is moved thereto. The means for retaining may be a releasable pawl and the first cutting element may be automatically retained in its closed position as it is moved thereto by the releasable pawl. Release of the pawl may enable the first cutting element to automatically move to its open position.
The second and third cutting elements may each be movable between an extended position wherein the respective second or third cutting element extends from the housing and a retracted position wherein the respective second or third cutting element is retracted into the housing and the respective sharpened tubular edge is protected within the housing. The second and third cutting elements may each have a hollow interior chamber for receiving the punched-out plug from the cigar head, and the cutting tool may further have ejectors disposed within and movable relative to each of the hollow interior chambers and adapted to force the plug from the respective chamber as the respective second or third cutting element is moved from its extended position to its retracted position.
The second and third cutting elements may each be biased towards its retracted position. The cutting tool may further have means for retaining the second and third cutting elements in their respective extended positions The housing may have a pair of openings each adjacent to and associated with one of the second and third cutting elements, each opening having a longitudinal slot portion and a transverse slot portion. The means for retaining the second and third cutting elements may include a lug fixed to and movable with each of the respective second or third cutting element, each lug movably received within an associated one of the openings. Longitudinal outward movement of each lug within the associated slot's longitudinal slot portion may cause the associated one of the second or third cutting elements to move from its retracted position to its extended position, and transverse outward movement of each lug within the associated slot's transverse slot portion may cause the associated one of the second or third cutting elements to be retained in its extended position. The second and third cutting elements may be coaxially disposed.
The invention may also be embodied as a method of selectively causing one of a plurality of openings in a cigar head using a single cutting tool having a housing defining an aperture sized to receive the cigar head, a first cutting element having a sharpened linear edge movable relative to and across the aperture, a second cutting element having a sharpened tubular edge extendable from the housing and having a cutting diameter, and a third cutting element having a sharpened tubular edge extendable from the housing and having a cutting diameter smaller than the cutting diameter of the second cutting element, where the first cutting element is movable between an open position exposing the aperture and a closed position fully covering the aperture and protecting the sharpened linear edge within the housing.
The method may include selecting a desired one of a sliced opening, a large diameter punched opening, or a small diameter punched opening for the cigar head, and following either process a), b) or c) with the single cutting tool, where process a) is for a sliced opening and includes;
While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the invention should therefore only be limited according to the following claims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they are entitled.