Abstract:
A device for holding a cigar relative to a supporting object, the device including a receiver adapted to receive the cigar with a loose fit and a clamp for releasably attaching the receiver to the supporting object to hold the cigar at a desired location and in a desired orientation, preferably in a vertical orientation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention pertains to devices for holding and stabilizing cylindrical objects and, more particularly, to a portable and adjustable receiver that is configured and dimensioned to be larger than the outer diameter of a cigar so that it receives a cigar with a loose fit and retains the cigar in a preferred orientation. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Attempts have been made over the years to accommodate resting of a lit cigar in a manner that provides for easy manual manipulation of the cigar while safely locating the cigar away from flammable material. While various devices exist for other objects, such as candleholders, such designs do not address the desirable features associated with smoking a cigar. 
         [0005]    For example, Schlueter et al., U.S. Pat. No. 414,871, describes and illustrates a candleholder that includes a spring-biased clamp for attaching the candleholder onto a Christmas tree. One handle of the spring-biased clamp utilizes a single wire clamp to vertically orient a candle. This design would not work for a cigar because it does not facilitate easy placement and removal of the cigar. Rather, it is designed to firmly hold the candle in position on the tree. 
         [0006]    A design specific for cigars is found in Knudsen, U.S. Pat. No. 1,198,929, which describes a cigar holder that clamps a cigar in a vertical orientation. This design requires permanent attachment to a fixed surface and is not transportable. In addition, the holder fails to accommodate the reduced length of a cigar as it burns down. 
         [0007]    Allen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,346, pertains to an incense-burning device that includes a spring-biased clamp, which can be clamped onto an edge of a vehicle ashtray, and a cylindrical container. This design is not sized to hold a cigar and the clamp member will not secure the weight of a cigar. Moreover, the clamp requires a surface set at a specific angle in order to maintain the upright orientation of the incense. 
         [0008]    In U.S. Design Pat. No. D385,940 a cylindrical cigar holder that has a closed end and an open end is illustrated. The use of a stake requires the holder be used only on the ground, which can result in the holder and cigar being left behind. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present design is directed to a tubular cigar receiver that includes an open end and a closed end; and a spring-biased clamp attached to an outer wall of the tubular cigar receiver. The tubular cigar receiver has an internal diameter dimensioned to be larger than the outer diameter of a cigar so that it receives a cigar with a loose fit. The clamp removably attaches the receiver to an object to support the cigar (such as a lit cigar) at a desired location and in a desired orientation, preferably in a vertical orientation. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a device for holding a lit cigar in relation to a supporting object is provided, the device including a receiver portion configured to receive the cigar with a loose fit, and means for releasably attaching the receiver to the supporting object in a manner that the lit cigar is held in a preferred or selected orientation. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a cigar holder is provided for holding a cigar to a supporting object, the holder including a receiver having a sidewall defining an open interior that is closed at one end by an end wall and open at an opposing end, the interior sized and shaped to receive the cigar with a loose fit, and a clamp comprising first and second clamping members, each clamping member having a handle portion and a jaw portion, the handle portion of the first clamping member attached to the receiver and the second clamping member pivotally attached to the first clamping member, and a biasing means for urging the first and second handle members away from each other and the corresponding jaw members toward each other with a force that causes the jaw members to clamp the supporting object with sufficient force to retain the clamp in engagement with the supporting object. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a device for holding a cigar to a supporting object, the device including a receiver having a cylindrical sidewall defining an open interior that is closed at one end by an end wall and open at an opposing end, the interior sized and shaped to receive the cigar with a loose fit; and a clamp comprising first and second clamping members, each clamping member having a handle portion and a jaw portion, the handle portion of the first clamping member attached to the receiver and the second clamping member coupled to the first clamping member and to the receiver, and a spring adapted to urge the second handle member away from the first handle member and the corresponding jaw member of the second clamping member towards the jaw member of the first clamping member with a force that enables the jaw members to clamp on the supporting object with sufficient force to retain the clamp in engagement with the supporting object and to hold the receiver in a substantially vertical orientation. 
         [0013]    In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the first clamping member and second clamping member are configured to pivot together with respect to the receiver to enable selective orientation of the receiver relative to the clamp and relative to a supporting object. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIGS. 1A-1B  are top and bottom isometric projections, respectively, of a cigar receiver tube formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2A-2B  are side and end views, respectively, of a clamp formed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3A-3B  are side and end views, respectively, of the clamp of  FIGS. 2A-2B  attached to the receiver tube of  FIGS. 1A-1B  to form a cigar holder in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0018]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are side and end views, respectively, of the cigar holder of  FIGS. 3A-3B  in use holding a cigar relative to a support structure in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1B  through  4 A- 4 B, shown therein is a cigar holder consisting of a receiver tube  10  having a cylindrical or tubular sidewall  12  defining an open interior  14  closed at one end  16  by a planar end wall  18  and having an opposing open end  20 . 
         [0020]    Ideally, the receiver tube  10  is sized to have a diameter large enough to accommodate a cigar  22  with a loose fit, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4B . In one embodiment the receiver tube  10  has a preferred diameter of 1.0 inch O.D. (0.93 I.D.), with an acceptable range to be 0.75 inch to 1.25 inch O.D. The length is preferably 2 inches with an acceptable range of 1.5 inches to 2.5 inches. 
         [0021]    Although a preferred embodiment for the receiver tube  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B , it is to be understood that other shapes and configurations may be used. For example, the receiver tube  10  may have a cross-sectional configuration other than circular, such as square, triangular, pentagonal, and other known polygonal shapes, as well as oblong, rectangular, diamond, rhombus, and the like. Moreover, while the end wall  18  is shown to be planar or flat, it may be formed to have a convex or convex shape that may be pre-stressed to provide reinforcing strength to the sidewall  12  to withstand forces generated in use, as described in more detail below. 
         [0022]    In an alternative embodiment, the end wall may include one or more openings to facilitate removal of the cigar from the receiver tube  10  after the cigar has burned down. Preferably at least one opening is sized to allow an object to be inserted into the receiver tube  10 , such as a golf tee, to push the shortened cigar out of the receiver tube  10 . 
         [0023]    Various materials may be used to construct the receiver tube  10 , including metal, such as steel, aluminum, cast iron, wrought iron, and various other metal alloys, as well as materials such as plastic, wood, and glass of a suitable thickness. Combinations of any of the foregoing materials are also possible. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 2A-2B  are illustrations of a clamp  24  for use in mounting the receiver tube  10  to a supporting object  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B . The clamp  24  has a conventional design and will not be described in detail herein. Briefly, the clamp  24  includes first and second clamping members  28 ,  30  pivotally attached together by a pivot pin  32 . Each clamping member includes a jaw  34  and a handle  36  that are preferably integrally formed together. The jaw  34  includes a distal end face  38  that is preferably flat and may include serrations or stippling or other surface finish that aids in maintaining a grip on the supporting object  26  to minimize both slippage of the clamp  24  and damage to the supporting object  26 . 
         [0025]    The handle  36  is of sufficient length to provide leverage for a user&#39;s fingers in overcoming the force of a spring member  40  that urges the jaws  36  together when the clamp  24  is assembled. In one embodiment the spring exerts a force of preferably 6 pounds of pressure, although an acceptable range of spring force is 5 pounds to 7 pounds of pressure. Each handle  36  preferably includes a flat portion  42  that, in one instance, provides a bearing surface for a user&#39;s finger or thumb and, in another instance, provides a mounting surface for attachment to the receiver tube  10  as described in more detail hereinbelow. A protective cover  44  is placed over the handle  36  of one clamping member  30  for increased gripping action upon the handle  36  and improved comfort for the user. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 3A-3B  show the clamp  24  attached to the receiver tube  10 . More particularly, the receiver tube  10  has an attachment case  46  formed on the outer surface  48  of the sidewall  12 , preferably located adjacent the open end  20  of the receiver tube  10 . The case  46  is, in the illustrated embodiment, a second wall attached to or formed on the exterior surface  48  of the receiver tube  10  with closed sidewalls and top wall but with an open bottom  47  that opens to an interior or pocket that is sized and shaped to receive the handle  36  of one of the clamping members  28 ,  30  in slidable engagement. The handle  36  is secured to the receiver tube  10  preferably by gluing or welding. In another embodiment other known attachment means, including fasteners such as one or more rivets, screws, bolts, and the like, can be used. 
         [0027]    The case  46  can be integrally formed with the receiver tube  10  or it can be a separate element that is attached to the receiver tube  10 . As a separate element, the case  46  can be adhesively attached to the receiver tube  10  using a suitable adhesive. The dimensions of the attachment case  46  are such that it will provide sufficient space in the interior thereof to receive the handle  36  through the open bottom  47 . The attachment case  46  can be convex to match the convex curvature of the receiver tube  10  or the outer wall can be planar. 
         [0028]    The handle  36  of the clamp can be shaped to nest with the exterior surface  48  of the receiver tube  10 . For example, the surface of the handle  36  can be concave to match the convex outer surface  48  of the receiver tube  10 . 
         [0029]    When the clamp  24  is attached to the receiver tube  10 , the one clamp member  28  will have its jaw extending past the closed end  16  of the receiver tube  10  as shown in  FIG. 4A . Ideally, the jaw  34  has an arcuate shape to accommodate the supporting object  26  as shown. Having the clamp  24  extend past the closed end  16  provides room for the curved jaw  34 . 
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the clamp  24  can also be attached to the side of the receiver tube  10  with an angle bracket such that the clamping members  28 ,  30  pivot in a plane that does not intersect a longitudinal axis of the receiver tube  10 , although this is not preferred because of weight, manufacturing, and cost concerns. 
         [0031]    In another embodiment, the handle  36  can pivot with respect to the receiver tube  10  as described more fully below. In this embodiment, the second wall would not be used, and the clamp  24  would have a first clamping member attached directly to the receiver tube  10  to move in unison with a second clamping member relative to the receiver tube. In another embodiment the clamp is fixed relative to the receiver tube, such as by having the first clamping member fixedly attached to the receiver tube and the second clamping member moving with respect to the first clamping member to enable clamping to a supporting object. In yet another embodiment only one clamping member can be used and the receiver tube  10  can act as a second clamping member. 
         [0032]    In operation, the cigar holder  52  is, in one manner of use, first attached to a supporting object by the clamp  24  so that the receiver tube  10  is at a desired location and desired orientation. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , the receiver tube  10  is oriented vertically so that the cigar  22  will be held in a vertical orientation. The receiver tube  10  and the free handle  36  of the clamp are squeezed together by a user&#39;s fingers to open the jaws  34  sufficiently wide to slip the clamp over the supporting object. The supporting object  26  can be a golf bag handle, golf cart dash, chair handle, raised side of a table, handlebar, or other available surface, such as found in golf carts, boats, bikes, wheelchairs, walkers, automobiles, and the like. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, the clamp  24  can be mounted to the receiver tube  10  such that its orientation with respect to the receiver tube  10  can be changed. For example, if a single rivet attaches the clamp  24  to the receiver tube  10 , the clamp  24  could rotate about the rivet, thus permitting a change in the orientation of the receiver tube  10 . This enables the clamp to be attached to a greater variety of objects and enables the user to adjust the receiver tube  10  to either a vertical, horizontal, or other angle of orientation between vertical and horizontal. For example, the cigar can be positioned near the horizontal so that the ashes from the cigar fall into an ashtray positioned below the cigar holder  52 . 
         [0034]    All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
         [0035]    From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the receiver tube  10  can include an embossment for the placement of a logo, trademark, advertising, or identification indicia, or a combination of the foregoing. The exterior face of the case  46  can be used for this purpose as can the outer surface  48  of the receiver tube  10 . Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.