Patent Application
20130208073
The present invention relates generally to a device for applying indicia to the outer surface of smoking articles, such as cigars for example. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device that applies indicia to the outer tobacco wrapper disposed about smoking articles in a manner that reliably imprints the wrapper without damaging or crushing the smoking article.
It is known in the art that cigars typically are wrapped with a natural tobacco leaf or with a manufactured wrapper that contains both natural tobacco and certain adhesives and cellulosic fiber materials. The advantage of using a manufactured cigar wrapper rather than a natural tobacco leaf resides in its considerably lower cost and the increased ability to manipulate both taste and aroma by the addition of appropriate additives. The natural tobacco leaf has historically however, been the symbol of a quality cigar.
In this regard, cigar wrapper manufacturers have, on numerous occasions, attempted to print indicia or a pattern on the wrapper material. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,316,785, which issued to Frederick C. Gladeck on Apr. 20, 1943, discloses the embossing of a sheet of manufactured tobacco wrapper with a pattern which simulates leaf tobacco. See also, in this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,717 which issued to F. H. Osborne et al. on Aug. 25, 1964 and which discloses that calendering or embossing of a manufactured cigar wrapper with a leaf design having stems and veins.
Additionally, other rudimentary systems exist for imprinting indicia such as lettering onto finished cigars. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 414,075, issued to Irving Paine on Oct. 29, 1889 provides for a simple folding device with a heated brand contained therein for burning the indicia into the cigar surface. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 1,938,969, issued to James McKinnon on Dec. 12, 1933 provides for the addition of a heat branding station within the structure of an automated cigar wrapping machine.
The difficulty with the prior art devices is that they are not easily customizable to tailor the branded indicia at will. Further the systems are much too rudimentary to allow a user to adjust the system to allow control over the process for lighter or darker colored cigars.
There is therefore a need for a device for applying customized indicia to the outer surface of a smoking article and more specifically a cigar. There is a further need for a device that is easily customizable to adjust the indicia applied to a smoking article while also including a control system that allows consistent and reliable application thereof.
In this regard, the present invention provides a device for the application of customizable indicia to the outer surface of a smoking article such as a cigar. As such, the general purpose of the present device, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved assembly whereby thermal means is used to apply indicia in a controlled and customized manner. This allows easy branding of cigars with any variety of indicia including the actual brand of the cigar, a message, a special occasion, the name of the store where the cigar was purchased, etc.
The device includes a thermal branding head, a cradle for holding the smoking article, a heating element, a control circuit to control the temperature of the heating element and branding head, an actuator to move the branding head into contact with a cigar contained within the cradle and a timing circuit to determine how long the branding head shall be in contact with the cigar. In this manner a simple apparatus is provided that allows easy customization of the message being imprinted as well as convenient branding of small batches of cigars as needed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a device for applying customized indicia to the outer surface of a smoking article and more specifically a cigar.
It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a device that is easily customizable to adjust the indicia applied to a smoking article while also including a control system that allows consistent and reliable application thereof.
It is still a further object of the present disclosure to provide a simple apparatus that allows easy customization of the message being imprinted as well as convenient branding of small batches of cigars as needed.
[12] These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.
In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
Now referring to the drawings, the device for applying indicia to smoking articles is generally illustrated at 10 in the figures. The device provides for the application of customizable indicia to the outer surface of a smoking article such as for example a cigar. As such, the general purpose of the present branding device 10, is to provide a new and improved assembly whereby thermal means is used to apply indicia in a controlled and customized manner. This allows easy branding of cigars with any variety of indicia including the actual brand of the cigar, a message, a special occasion, the name of the store where the cigar was purchased, etc.
As can best be seen in
The figures also depict the device 10 to include optionally a case, stand or cabinet 24 to which the operational portion of the branding machine 10 is affixed. Such a cabinet 24 may take any variety of shapes, sized or configurations. The configuration shown in the figures is meant for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the device and scope of the present invention in any manner. It can be seen the the cabinet 24 may include drawers 26 or storage spaces as needed. This allows a user of the device to neatly and conveniently store any variety of accessories that may be employed with the device.
The actuator 18 can be seen to include at least one lever arm 26 that supports the branding head 12. A user pulls the handle 28 attached to the at least one lever arm 26 to displace the branding head 12 and bring it into contact with the cigar 16. Further the actuator 18 can be seen to include a heat shield 30 that serves to protect a user from incidental contact with the hot branding head 12 when loading or removing cigars 16 from the cradle 18.
A stated above, the device 10 includes a thermal control circuit 20 and a timing circuit 22. Both of these circuits are adjustable by the user to increase and decrease both the amount of heat used for branding as well as the duration of time that the branding head 12 is applied to the cigar 16. The thermal control circuit 20 controls the amount of heat energy input into the branding head 12 and further includes a thermostat that monitors the temperature of the branding head so that the thermal control circuit can maintain a constant temperature as is set by a user interface such as a dial, a keypad, a digital temperature read out or a combination thereof. Further a visual indicator may be provided to indicate that the branding head is at the set temperature. Such temperature adjustments allow a user to create a uniform and quality brand on cigars having varying wrapper thicknesses and colorations.
The timing circuit 22 includes an indicator to inform the user that the branding cycle is complete. When the actuator is moved to place the branding head 12 into contact with the cigar 16, the timing circuit begins a countdown based on a preset time that is determined by a user interface such as a dial, a keypad, a digital timing read out or a combination thereof. The visual indicator changes to tell the user that the cycle is ended and the branding head 12 can be removed from the cigar 16.
As is shown at
Turing to
Accordingly, it can therefore be seen that the present disclosure provides a device for applying customized indicia to the outer surface of a smoking article and more specifically a cigar that is easily customizable to adjust the indicia applied to a smoking article while also including a control system that allows consistent and reliable application thereof. It can also be seen that the present disclosure provides a simple apparatus that allows easy customization of the message being imprinted as well as convenient branding of small batches of cigars as needed. For these reasons, the instant invention is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art, which has substantial commercial merit.
While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.
