Abstract:
The present invention is a cedar spill having defined dimensions which are optimized for lighting a cigar. In a preferred embodiment, the cedar spill is produced from a Spanish cedar sheet and has a relatively long, tapered body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     The present application does not claim cross-reference to any prior applications. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention is a cedar spill having dimensions that produce optimum conditions for lighting a cigar. 
     Cedar spills, or cedar splits, are an historic and traditional method for lighting a cigar. Use of the cedar spill helps preserve and protect the taste and/or flavor of the cigar. The user lights the cedar spill and then carefully lights the open tip of the cigar by rotating the cigar over the flame. Alternatively, matches or butane lighters may be used to light the cigar, but these lighting devices frequently scorch or contaminate the tobacco, oils and water within the cigar upon lighting giving the cigar an off-taste. 
     Traditionally, cedar spills are produced from a cedar sheet which is commonly provided with the cigars in a cigar box. The cedar spills are made by folding the cedar sheet to a desired width and breaking the spill or strip off at the fold seam. While this is a relatively easy task for the cigar smoker, there is little consistency in the width of the strip and no variation in the intensity of the flame along the length of the cedar spill. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention is a cedar spill having defined dimensions which are optimized for lighting a cigar. In a preferred embodiment, the cedar spill is produced from a piece of wood has a continuous and even burn rate that leaves only the burnt ash and minimal embers, such as a Spanish cedar sheet, having a thickness of from about 0.55 millimeters to about 0.65 millimeters. The cedar spill of the present development has a preferred length of from about 150 millimeters to about 300 millimeters. In a preferred embodiment, the cedar spill is tapered so that the spill has a width of about 12-20 millimeters at a first end and a width of about 6-10 millimeters at a second end. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a cedar spill of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the cedar spill of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a first side view of the cedar spill of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the cedar spill of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a second side view of the cedar spill of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a back view of the cedar spill of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the cedar spill of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a scored cedar sheet for producing the cedar spill of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a first alternative embodiment of the cedar spill made in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of a scored cedar sheet for producing the cedar spill of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The cedar spill depicted in the various Figures is selected solely for the purposes of illustrating the invention. Other and different cedar spills may utilize the inventive features described herein as well. The illustrations are not intended to be representative with respect to dimensions. 
     Reference is first made to  FIGS. 1 through 7  in which a cedar spill constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally noted by the character numeral  10 . The cedar spill  10  has a first end or lighting end  12 , a second end or finger end  14 , and a body  16 . Further, the cedar spill  10  defines a length L, a first width W L , a second width W F , and a thickness T. 
     Spanish cedar wood is highly recommended for production of the cedar spill  10  of the present invention because it has a continuous and even burn rate that leaves only the burnt ash and minimal embers. However, any wood that with an even burn rate may be used to manufacture the spill  10  of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the cedar spill  10  is made from Spanish cedar wood. 
     More preferably, the cedar wood has a grade of A or AA as defined by the Architectural Woodwork Institute Quality Standards Illustrated 8 th  Edition. Most preferably, the cedar wood has an AA grading. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the cedar spill of the present invention has a thickness T of from about 0.50 millimeters to about 0.70 millimeters. More preferably, the cedar spill has a thickness T of from about 0.55 millimeters to about 0.65 millimeters. Most preferably, the cedar spill has a thickness T of about 0.60 millimeters. 
     The cedar spill of the present invention has a preferred length L of from about 150 millimeters to about 300 millimeters. More preferably, the cedar spill has a length L of from about 165 millimeters to about 250 millimeters. Most preferably, the cedar spill has a length L of from about 165 millimeters to about 200 millimeters. 
     The cedar spill of the present invention is tapered along the body  16  so that the width at the lighting end  12 , or first width W L , is narrower than the width at the finger end  14 , or the second width W F . Tapering allows for easy ignition of the lighting end  12  and modifies the intensity of the burn providing more consistent lighting for the cigar. In a preferred embodiment, the cedar spill is tapered so that the spill has a finger-end width W F  of about 12-20 millimeters and a lighting-end width W L  of about 6-10 millimeters. More preferably, the cedar spill is tapered so that the spill has a finger-end width W F  of about 14-18 millimeters and a lighting-end width W L  of about 8-9 millimeters. Most preferably, the cedar spill is tapered so that the spill has a finger-end width W F  of about 16 millimeters and a lighting-end width W L  of about 8.5 millimeters. 
     The design of the cedar spill  10  of the present invention allows for easy production and distribution. As shown in  FIG. 8 , a plurality of cedar spills  10  may be die cut into a sheet  20  of cedar wood. Individual spills can be separated from the sheet  20  prior to distribution to the end user or the end user may be provided with the scored sheet  10 , for example as an insert in a cigar box, and the user may separate each spill from the sheet as needed. 
     The rounded design at the lighting end  12  is not a required feature of the inventive cedar spill  10 . For example, an alternative spill  110  may have a squared lighting end  112  and/or a squared fingered end  114  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-8 , a plurality of alternative spills  110  can be die cut from a sheet of wood. 
     It is understood that, in light of a reading of the foregoing description and drawings, those with ordinary skill in the art will be able to make changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as defined herein. For example, those skilled in the art may use different end designs than the two shown herein. Such variations are anticipated within the scope of the present invention.