Abstract:
The present invention provide a new and novel holder for storing unlit articles to be smoked, such as cigar, and holding such articles when they are lit and not currently being smoked. When the holder is in a closed position, it acts as a carrying case for a number of articles to be smoked of any size (adjustable for lengths). When opened, the unit can be easily mounted to any frictional engagement device, such as a golf cart ball holder tray or easily with the cup-holder adapter. The device can also easily be applied to any cup holder typically found within golf carts, boats, and vehicles and any other structure that includes a cup holder.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims priority from earlier filed provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/073,351, filed Oct. 31, 2014, and the entire contents thereof is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to holders for cigars and cigarettes. In particular, the present invention relates to holders for cigars to temporarily hold the cigar when it is lit but not currently being smoked. The present invention also relates to holders for storing cigars when they are not being smoked. 
         [0003]    Such holders for cigars are well known in the art. For example, many devices are known in the industry where the lit cigar is held by the clip, stand or support while the base of the holder is clamped to the support, such as a golf cart. 
         [0004]    There are a number of problems typically associated with these prior art holders. They must be clamped to a given structure, such as a vertical post of a golf cart frame. As a result, the lit cigar(s) are located in a position that could result in the players bumping into them causing a safety issue. 
         [0005]    In view of the foregoing, there is a demand for a cigar holder that can be installed in a secure and safe location during golf game play. There is also a need for such a holder to be easily adapted to installation in other locations, such as into a cup holder, which may or may not be in a golf cart and which also may contain a bottom portion that serves as a receptacle to contain ashes for a clean area in a golf cart. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention preserves the advantages of prior art holder and storage devices for cigars. In addition, it provides new advantages not found in currently available devices and overcomes many disadvantages of such currently available-devices. 
         [0007]    The present invention provide a new and novel holder for storing cigars when not being smoked and holding lit cigars when they are not currently being smoked. When the holder is in a closed position, it acts as a carrying case for two cigars of any size (adjustable for lengths). When opened, the unit can be easily mounted to any golf cart which has a molded ball holder tray or easily with the cup-holder adapter; this device can also easily be applied to any cup holder typically found within golf carts, boats, and vehicles (cars and trucks) of all types or any structure that includes a cup holder. These trays are mechanical trays are folded outward to hold cigars when the cover is removed and during operation as an ashtray. When lit cigars are placed on the trays, the ash ends may be directed inwardly so that their falling respective ashes are directed into an integrated receptacle of the holder of the present invention. 
         [0008]    The device of the present invention preferably includes molded plastic parts and possibly metal components (alternative design configuration) has multiple uses for a person who chooses to smoke cigars while golfing or other numerous activities such as driving, boating, and camping by providing a clean and efficient means for carrying to, holding while smoking, and maintaining the final cigar ends and resulting ashes in a simple convenient case. 
         [0009]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved cigar holder device. 
         [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a cigar holder that can be installed on a golf cart, namely into the ball tray or cup holder. 
         [0011]    A further object of the present invention is to provide integrated support surfaces for at least one cigar. 
         [0012]    Another objection of the present invention is to provide a base that serves as an ashtray to catch ash and receive cigar butts. 
         [0013]    A further object of the present invention is to enable the storage of new unlit cigars in the form of a travel case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The novel features which are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention&#39;s preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a closed position for storage or transportation; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention with the cover being removed from the base; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention secured to a golf ball tray in a golf cart; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an adapter received in a cup holder; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention supported in a cup holder, with one support tray in the horizontal open orientation; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention supported in a cup holder, with both support trays in the horizontal open orientation; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a first cup holder adapter; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of a second cup holder adapter; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of the engagement member installed in a base as in the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8B  is another perspective view thereof; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of the base of the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9B  is another perspective view thereof; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a support tray of the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the cover of the exemplary embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  shows a cover of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  a cigar holder of the present invention with both the support trays in an open orientation, and seated on a flat support surface without use of the adapter. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0031]    Turning first to  FIGS. 1-13 , an exemplary embodiment various views of the cigar holder  10  of the present invention is shown. The exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder  10  of the present invention is shown to include a base  12  with a ball-like engagement member  14 , having a substantially flat bottom surface  16 , attached to the bottom thereof. The cigar holder device  10  has a cover in the form of a main top case half  18  which is utilized when the device is functioning in the closed carry-case mode, which is seen in  FIG. 1 . This cover  18  can be easily removed to allow storage of two cigars  11  of any length/ring size within the inside of the device  10 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0032]    It can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  that the base  12  has an outer wall  20  and the cover has an outer wall  22  that each extend axially such that the base outer wall  20  and the cover outer wall  22  each have the profile of two conjoined parallel cylindrical tubes, which facilitates storage of two cigars  11  within the exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder device  10 . The cover  18  is removed from the base  12  in  FIG. 2  to reveal two cigars  11  that were contained within the cigar holder  10  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0033]    The exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder  10  includes two support trays  24 A,  24 B that are hingedly connected to the base  12 . Other embodiments (not shown) may include more or fewer support trays. The use of less than or more than two trays that can accommodate fewer or more than two cigars is envisioned by the present invention. 
         [0034]    The cover  18  is positionable over and about the at least one support tray  24 A,  24 B when the at least one support tray  24 A,  24 B is in the stored vertical closed orientation, as shown in  FIG. 1 , where the two support trays  24 A,  24 B are concealed within the cover  18  that is frictionally secured to the base  12 . With the cover  18  removed in  FIG. 2 , the support tray  24 A on the left is shown in the vertical closed orientation, while the support tray  24 B on the right is shown rotated away from the vertical closed orientation. The cover  18  and the base  12  and trays  24 A,  24 B are preferably sold as a unit so that a multi-function device can be provided. As will be discussed in detail below, the trays  24 A,  24 B are an integrated feature of the cigar holder of the present invention and work in combination with the cover  18 . When the cover  18  is installed, the cigar holder  10  works as a standard holder for cigars when cigars are not being smoked. When the cover is removed, the device  10  now works as a uniquely configured ashtray and cigar support while cigars are being smoked. Thus, the present invention provides multiple integrated functions from a single device  10 . 
         [0035]    Each support tray  24 A,  24 B is pivotable about a hinge  76  between a stored vertical closed orientation and a horizontal open orientation. As noted above, the support tray  24 A on the left in  FIG. 2  is in the vertical closed orientation.  FIG. 3  shows both support trays  24 A,  24 B in the horizontal open orientation, so that each support tray can support a cigar  11 . With the base  12  extending vertically, each of the support trays  24 A,  24 B supports a cigar  11  so the cigar  11  extends horizontally. That is, each support tray  24 A,  24 B is substantially level with the ground when in the horizontal open orientation, and when the base  12  extends substantially vertically upward from the ground (or other support surface). 
         [0036]    The support trays  24 A,  24 B of the device  10  can be maintained in the opened orientation by gravity or by mechanical springs. The hinged support trays  24 A,  24 B may be formed with an integrally molded hinge  76  for each support tray  24 A,  24 B. There are preferably two support trays  24 A,  24 B (left and right) but more or less than two support trays may be employed. Further, the base  12  is configured to allow the support trays  24 A,  24 B to fold to a preferably approximate fixed 90° orientation when fully opened relative to the vertical orientation when in the closed orientation of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 3  shows how the cigar holder device  10  can be mounted in a golf ball tray  100 , such as a golf ball tray  100  that is in a golf cart. The golf ball tray is known in the art, and is useful for frictionally engaging golf balls  110  therein. 
         [0038]    The engagement member  14  further comprises a convex outer surface  26 , and a plurality of dimples  28  defined on the convex outer surface  26 , so that the engagement member  14  at least substantially has the appearance of a golf ball when it is mounted in the adapter  30  or received in a golf ball tray  100 . Thus, the engagement member  14  is a ball-like engagement member  14  in the exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder  10 .  FIG. 3  shows the engagement member  14  received in and frictionally engaged with a golf ball tray  100 , which are commonly found in golf carts. There is enough tension in the fingers  120  of the ball tray  100  to secure the holder  10  in place including while driving the golf cart. As a result of this unique installation and configuration of cigar holder  10 , lit cigars  11  are now stored out of the way from knees and clubs and secured from rolling away and fully protected from the elements on the golf course. This avoids the butt ends being littered on to the golf course. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 3  the cigar holder  10  is positioned next to an actual golf ball  110  that is received in the golf ball tray  100  for a point of reference and comparison of the outer surface  26  of the engagement member  14  with the appearance of the golf ball  110 . The golf ball  110  is selected from any golf ball design that is currently commercially available or developed in the future. Thus, in various embodiments of the cigar holder  10 , the outer surface  26  and dimples  28  can be configured to match any one of such golf balls. Most notably, the outer surface of engagement member  14  is configured to be of a similar shape to an actual golf ball  110  so that it frictionally engages in golf ball tray in similar fashion to actual golf ball  110 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder  10  the present invention includes a cup holder adapter  30  so that a consumer can use the cigar holder  10  of the present invention, for example, when the consumer has access to a cup holder but does not have access to a golf ball tray  100 . The user can use the cup holder adapter  30  to support the cigar holder  10  in a cup holder, such as a cup holder  200  formed in the console  210  of an automobile, as shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , or such as a cup holder  300  formed in a boat  310 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 7A , in the exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder  10 , the cup holder adapter  30  includes an outer dimension that is configured for receipt within a cup holder. The adapter further comprises a mounting formation  32  that has a preferably convex mounting surface  34  but it may be configured in any type of suitable shape. 
         [0042]    The adapter has an upper platform  36 , at least one annular wall formation  38  depending downwardly from the upper platform  36 , and a horizontally extending lower platform  40  at a lower edge of the annular wall formation  38 . The mounting formation  32  extends upwardly from the lower platform  40 . In this way, the mounting formation  32  is recessed below the height of the upper platform  36 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 7B  shows a second cup holder adapter  31  that is similar in structure to the first cup holder adapter  30  of  FIG. 7A , except in  FIG. 7B , there are cutouts defined in the annular wall formation  38  by cutout edges  39 . A user could use the second cup holder adapter  31  in place of the first cup holder adapter  30 . A manufacturer could provide the first embodiment of the cigar holder  10  with either of these cup holder adapters  30 ,  31 . 
         [0044]    To engage the convex mounting surface  34  of the adapter, a concave inner surface  42  is formed on the engagement member  14  to provide a frictional receiving seat. The concave inner surface  42  extends upwardly from a bottom edge  16  of the engagement member. The concave inner surface  42  defines a mounting recess that is accessible at the bottom edge  16  of the engagement member  14 . 
         [0045]    The mounting formation  32  can be selectively received within the mounting recess so that the concave inner surface  42  and the convex mounting surface  34  are in direct frictional engagement and are dimensioned as such where the concave mounting formation  32  is slightly larger than the seat provided by concave inner surface  42  to provide a frictional fit. This engagement between the concave inner surface  42  and the convex mounting surface  34  facilitates alignment of the engagement member  14  with the adapter  30  so that the engagement member  14  supports the base in a vertically upright manner as shown in  FIGS. 5-6 . 
         [0046]    The adapter has a retention wall  44  at least partially encircling the convex mounting surface  34  when viewed from above. In  FIG. 7A , the adapter  30  has a retention wall  44  that is formed as an annular wall (with the retention wall being the inner surface of the lower annular wall portion  43 ). In  FIG. 7B , the retention wall  44  includes retention wall portions  45  that are spaced apart, and form arcs spaced apart from the mounting surface when viewed from above. 
         [0047]    The convex outer surface  26  of the engagement member  14  and the retention wall  44  (or retention wall portions  45 ) are dimensioned so that they are in frictional engagement when the engagement member  14  is mounted on the adapter  30  or the adapter  31 , as shown in  FIGS. 5-6 . 
         [0048]    The cup holder adapter  30 ,  31  is preferably molded and conforms in size and dimension to any typical cup holder in a golf cart, a boat, a car, a truck, recreational vehicles and any automobile/vehicle having a cup holder, or other cup holder. The cup holder adapter  30 , 31  can include a mating slotted design open diameter configuration, which accepts the ball-like engagement member  14  of the holder  10  with a press fit design to insert and remove to separate the device  10  from the cup holder adapter. 
         [0049]    The engagement member  14  is shown in further detail in  FIGS. 8A-8B . The engagement member  14  is preferably connected to the bottom of the base  12  by latches  48  on the engagement member  14  that engage latching recesses  50  defined on the lower surface  52  of the base  12 . This is just one example of how the engagement member  14  can be secured to the base  12 . The base  12  and engagement member may be separate parts that may be connected to each other in any way, such as shown in  FIGS. 8A-8B . They may be connected in other ways, such as glue or adhesive. Further, they may be molded as a unitary body. 
         [0050]    As discussed in more detail above, the engagement member  14  is dimensioned and configured to engage various support structures. In particular, the engagement member  14  is configured and arranged to be frictionally received in a ball tray  100  of a golf cart or in an adapter  30 ,  31  for a cup holder  200 ,  300  in a vehicle. 
         [0051]    The exemplary embodiment cigar holder  10  of the present invention includes a base  12 , which is shown in  FIGS. 9A-9B . The base has a closed bottom end  54  with a lower surface  52  at the bottom end  54 , a top open end  56 , and an outer side wall  57  extending between the bottom end  54  and the top end  56 . 
         [0052]    The top open end  56 , the closed bottom end  54 , and the outer wall  57  of the base  12  define an ash receptacle for the user of the cigar holder  10  that is accessible when the cover  18  is removed from the base  12 . When the engagement member  14  engages a support structure (such as a ball tray  100 ) so the base  12  extends at least substantially vertically, and when at least one tray  24 A,  24 B is moved to the horizontal open orientation, a user can place a cigar  11  on that support tray  24 A,  24 B so that a free end  13  of the cigar  11  having an ash resides over the top open end  56  of the base  12 . In this way, the base  12  can receive any ash falling from the free end  13  of the cigar  11 . 
         [0053]    Turning to  FIG. 10 , each support tray  24 A,  24 B is configured to support a cigar  11 .  FIG. 10  shows a first support tray  24 A, but it is to be understood that the two support trays  24 A,  24 B of the exemplary embodiment are at least substantially congruent. In the exemplary embodiment, each support tray  24 A,  24 B has a preferably concave tray surface  60  for supporting a cigar  11  thereon when the respective tray  24 A,  24 B is in the horizontal open orientation. When the tray  24 A,  24 B is rotated to the horizontal open orientation, the concave tray surface  60  is seen as the upper surface of the support tray  24 A,  24 B. The concave tray surface  60  can be formed with an at least substantially U-shaped or C-shaped cross section for at least a portion of its length. In the exemplary embodiment, the support tray  24 A,  24 B of  FIG. 10  has a concave tray surface  60  that has a semicircular profile when viewed from the end. 
         [0054]    The concave tray surface  60  extends between a first side  62 A of the tray  24 A,  24 B to a second side  62 B of the tray  24 A,  24 B. 
         [0055]    To facilitate retention of a cigar  11  on the support tray  24 A,  24 B, and to decrease the likelihood that a user (or another source of an external force) would knock a cigar  11  off of the support tray  24 A,  24 B, each support tray  24 A,  24 B further comprises a pair of support walls  64 A,  64 B that extend vertically from each side  62 A,  62 B of the support tray  24 A,  24 B. When the respective tray is in the horizontal open orientation, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , a first edge  66 A along the first side  62 A of the tray  24 A,  24 B extends at least substantially horizontally, a second edge  66 B along the second side  62 B of the tray  24 A,  24 B extends at least substantially horizontally, the first support wall  64 A extends upwardly from the first edge  66 A, and the second support wall  64 B extends upwardly from the second edge  66 B. 
         [0056]    The left and right support trays  24 A,  24 B incorporate a tapered tip end  77  to provide access to the cigar when placed in the tray at the 90° horizontal open orientation for operation. 
         [0057]    The support trays  24 A,  24 B may be spring-biased to the open orientation, so that support surfaces  60  of the support trays  24 A,  24 B extend at least substantially horizontally. To prevent rotation of the support trays  24 A,  24 B beyond the horizontal open orientation, at least one stop surface  70  is formed on the base  12 , with at least one stop surface  70  for respectively engaging each one of the support trays  24 A,  24 B. In the exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder  10 , each tray  24  has an outer tray surface  72 , and there are two stop surfaces  70 , so that a first stop surface  70  is provided for directly engaging an outer tray surface  72  of the first tray  24 A when the first tray  24 A is in the horizontal open orientation and a second stop surface  70  is provided for directly engaging an outer tray surface  72  of the second tray  24 B when the second tray  24 B is in the horizontal open orientation. 
         [0058]    The holder can include a “spring open” feature within the mechanical connection of the right and left support trays  24 A,  24 B to the base  12  design by utilizing a torsional spring in each linkage to have the tray “spring” open. The support trays  24 A,  24 B can be folded closed against the forces of the springs and then retained closed when the cover is placed thereover. Or, the support trays may freely pivotable to any position desired by the user. 
         [0059]    In the exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder  10 , two torsional springs (not shown) are provided. A first torsional spring has one end secured to the base  12  and the other end secured to the first support tray  24 . The second torsional spring has one end secured to the base  12  and the other end secured to the second support tray  24 . When the support trays  24  are in the vertical stored orientation, the torsional springs are held in tension so that the torsional spring applies forces to the base and to the respective support trays  24 A,  24 B to bias the support trays to rotate outwardly about the hinge  76 . Other embodiments can rely on one or more springs to in other configurations to bias the support trays  24 A,  24 B to the horizontal open orientation. 
         [0060]    Each support tray  24 A,  24 B is supported in the horizontal open orientation by the hinge  76  and by the contact between the respective outer tray surface  72  and the respective stop surface  70 . 
         [0061]    Because each tray is secured to the base only at the hinge  76 , and because the center of mass of each tray  24  is located towards the tip end  77  of the respective tray  24 A,  24 B, when the base  12  extends vertically (such as when the base  12  is supported in a cup holder or in a ball tray as shown in  FIGS. 3, 5, and 6 ) and when a user begins to rotate the support tray  24 A,  24 B away from the vertical closed orientation, the weight of the tray  24 A,  24 B itself facilitates rotation of the support tray  24 A,  24 B to the horizontal open orientation. Thus, other embodiments may omit the torsional springs and rely only on the weight of each support tray to maintain the respective support trays in the open orientation. 
         [0062]    The support trays  24 A,  24 B have an integrated locking hinge mechanism/design molded into the bottom section. This allows for ease in assembly of the tray halves to the bottom of the device. Generally, a user would wish to have each support tray  24 A,  24 B in the vertical stored orientation for storage or in the horizontal open orientation for supporting at least one cigar  11  on/in the device  10 . To stabilize the support trays  24 A,  24 B in these two orientations, the device  10  further includes a locking structure on the hinge  76 . On each support tray  24 , there is at least one hinge post  78  on the support tray, which is received in at least one respective hinge aperture  80  defined in the base  12 . In the exemplary embodiment, each support tray has two hinge posts  78 , each received in a respective hinge aperture  80  on the base. The locking structure includes a first locking recess  82 A and a second locking recess  82 B defined in each hinge aperture  80  in the base  12 , and a locking protrusion  84  formed on each hinge post  78 . When a support tray  24 A,  24 B is rotated to the vertical closed orientation, each hinge post  78  on that support tray is rotated so each locking protrusion  84  on that support tray  24  is received within the respective first locking recess  82 A. When the support tray  24 A,  24 B is rotated to the horizontal open orientation, each hinge post  78  on that support tray  24  is rotated so each locking protrusion  84  on that support tray  24  is received within the respective second locking recess  82 B. In the exemplary embodiment of the cigar holder  10 , the locking protrusion  84  is formed as a convex surface, and the first and second locking recesses  82 A, 82 B are formed as concave surfaces. The locking protrusion  84  extends beyond the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion of the respective hinge post  78 . 
         [0063]    Thus, each support tray  24 A,  24 B can be locked in the vertical closed orientation, and can be locked in the horizontal open orientation. In the exemplary embodiment, a user can lock each support tray independently of the other support tray.  FIG. 5  shows how one support tray  24 B is locked in the vertical closed orientation and the other support tray  24 A is locked in the horizontal open orientation. 
         [0064]    As seen in  FIG. 11 , the cover  18  has an inner cover surface  90  that is capable of frictionally engaging an outer surface  20  of the base  12  when the cover  18  is received in a stored orientation on the base  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 12  shows the cover  18  apart from the base  12 . The cover has an accessory engaging aperture  92  defined at the upper end  94  of the cover  18  to enable the device  10  to be easily attached and detached to a golf bag or other structure (not shown) by a typical releasable clip or other detachable clip (not shown) that is commonly used for attaching accessories to a golf cart. Also, aperture  92  can be used to receive a key ring or a decorative accessory. 
         [0066]    The base/ash tray receptacle  12  can be either molded or a metal design configuration incorporating the ability to hinge the support trays  24 A,  24 B on each side (multiple cotter pin type/spring design or integrated molded). The ball-like engagement member  14  is preferably made of high density material to provide the look &amp; feel of an actual golf ball. This ball-like engagement member  14  also preferably includes a flat face of adequate weight (center of gravity) to allow the holder to free stand and also be utilized on a flat surface or sitting securely within any golf cart ball tray, as described above. 
         [0067]      FIG. 13  shows an adapter  30  and a cigar holder  10  with the support trays  24 A,  24 B in the open orientation.  FIG. 13  shows that the engagement member  14  has a flat bottom surface  16  that allows the cigar holder  10  to stand upright on a flat support surface  101 . 
         [0068]    It should be understood that the adapters shown and discussed herein are just examples of the type of adapters that can be employed herein to enable the device  10  of the present invention to be installed in a given location. Depending on the location for installation, the adapter can be modified as needed to accommodate that particular installation location and the configuration of the interface for the device itself can be modified accordingly. For example, instead of a ball-like configuration, a different shape may be used. Also, for example, instead of using an inner concave surface  42 , other configurations may be used, such as a convex surface or outward emanating post (not shown). Such modified adapters and interfaces are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0069]    As can be seen in the Figures and understood from the above description, the support trays  24  of the holder  10  are useful for holding and supporting the cigars  11  when they are lit but not being smoked at the moment. For example, when smoking cigars while playing golf, it is well known that such cigars must be put down when swinging a golf club. Therefore, the holder  10  of the present invention provides an optimal way to store the cigar  11  when it is not being smoked. For example, when stored as in  FIG. 3  with the ash end of the cigar  11  residing over the open base  12 , any resulting ashes are captured in the base  12  of the holder  10 , which serves as a receptacle ashtray. Also, like any ashtray, the base can be used to hold butt ends when smoking is concluded. 
         [0070]    The holder  10  of the present invention can be created in any type of material. For example, it may include metal components or varying finishes, such as carbon fiber, wood grain, stainless steel, chrome, black metallic, aluminum, brass, and the like, to provide advanced design styles providing the same features and benefits of this device. 
         [0071]    It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be covered by the appended claims.