Abstract:
A cigar cutter for perforating the head of a cigar having an outer housing, generally preferably cylindrical in form, with one closed end and one open end. A plurality of equally spaced flexible blades are attached to the interior of the housing and angled inward to the center of the closed end of the cylinder such as to engage the head of a cigar when inserted into the open end of the housing. The cigar, traveling the full length of the housing, will engage the blades causing them to slice into the shoulder of the cigar head creating razor thin openings. The housing is also fitted with a cap to cover the open end and protect both the cutting blades and the user when the cutter is being stored between uses.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention relates generally to a device for perforating a cigar. This invention also relates to a method of perforating a cigar. 
         [0006]    2. Background Art 
         [0007]    A fine cigar is typically hand rolled from cured tobacco leaves and includes, as part of its construction, a closed end called the cap. The cigar is formed by rolling a binder leaf around either full dried tobacco leaves or shredded leaves called “fill”. A wrapper leaf is then wound around the formed cigar. The cap is formed by extending a portion of the external wrapper leaf over the end and gluing it in place with tasteless natural tree gum. This process creates an air-tight or sealed end on the cigar. The components of a cigar are its (i) head, which is the end the cigar is smoked from, (ii) the foot which is the end of the cigar that is lit, and (iii) the shoulder which is at the head of the cigar and the point where the cigar rounds into the main body of the cigar generally a quarter of an inch below the cap. 
         [0008]    Prior to smoking a cigar, the head must be opened up. Typically that is done by removing or cutting the cap. Generally, the cap is bitten off or cut in some fashion for smoke to be drawn from the cigar. Biting the cap is not recommended because it will most certainly cause damage to the head of the cigar, fraying the wrapper, but also will allow loose tobacco to be transferred into the smoker&#39;s mouth, both of which are highly undesirable to the sophisticated smoker. Furthermore, biting the cap off eliminates any way to effectively control the uniformity and depth of the opening making the smoker&#39;s experience unpredictable. 
         [0009]    Various devices have been developed as an alternative to biting the cap. Traditionally, there have developed four basic types of cigar cutters: (1) the guillotine cutter, (2) the ‘V’ cutter. (3) the cigar punch, and (4) the cigar piercer or perforator. Hundreds of variations have been derived from these four basic types. All four types suffer significant flaws that result in an unpredictable and less than desirable smoking experience. 
         [0010]    The guillotine cutter, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 519,332, slices across the head utilizing a blade that travels slidably over a receiving hole in which the head of the cigar has been inserted. A squeeze of the device causes the blade to engage with the head and slice off the cap. Given the irregular shape of cigars, and the lack of a means to arrest the travel of the cigar through the cutter, it is difficult to get the exact depth of cut necessary for an optimum smoking experience on a consistent basis. Cutting too little off the cap causes the cigar to draw poorly while cutting too much can cause the wrapper to unravel making the cigar less enjoyable in either case. U.S. Pat. No. 715,315 illustrates a device comprised of two opposing blades slidably traveling across one another, similar to scissors, to cut the cap. This method demonstrates the same problem of inconsistent cuts and improper draw as the single blade cutter in the &#39;332 patent. Additionally, as in the &#39;332 patent, it will increasingly damage the head as the blades dull over multiple uses. The blades are not replaceable and neither invention provides a way of storing the cutter where the blade(s) is covered and protected so that the user is kept safe from the blade(s). 
         [0011]    Furthermore, if the cut is too deep, or as the blades dull on these cutters, loose tobacco will accumulate in the head. Since the smoker uses an inhaling breath to draw smoke from a cigar during normal smoking, the loose tobacco will become dislodged from the body of the cigar and get sucked into the mouth of the smoker. Most smokers find it texturally offensive to have loose tobacco transferred to their mouths while smoking a fine cigar. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 236,679, discloses a device utilizing a “V” shaped blade which cross-cuts a “V” shaped wedge from the cap. This invention discloses a mechanism that provides a specific depth of cut, however it will not work for all types of cigars, namely the ‘torpedo’ style cigar. Furthermore, these “V” type cutters exhibit the same problems of the guillotine type cutters in that the filler tobacco also transfers to the smoker&#39;s mouth. Additionally, the blade also dulls over time and is not replaceable. 
         [0013]    A punch style cutter removes a singular plug from the head through the cap. In its simplest form, it is nothing more than a tubular blade that is thrust into the center of the cigar head with a twisting motion in order to remove a cylindrical plug. There is no gauge for measuring the depth to which it should be pressed into the head so there is no consistency to the cut when using this type of cutter. An inconsistent cut results in inconsistent flavor. This type of cutter can also cause damage to the head when pulling it out providing a less than desirable smoking experience. Since there is no way of cleanly cutting the base of the plug off, this cutter actually rips the plug away from the bunched filler tobacco leaving behind loose filler to be transferred into the smoker&#39;s mouth. An example of this type of cutter is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,662. 
         [0014]    Although U.S. Pat. No. 1,490,939 discloses a cigarette perforator with a plurality of elements that perforate the cap of the cigar, as explained below, this perforator focuses the draw through the center of the cigar instead of the body and produces a less than desirable smoking experience. 
         [0015]    Because all of these cutters result in a central cut through the cap, they result in a draw coming through the center of the cigar instead of eliciting the draw through the body or tobacco fill. The shortcomings of a central draw are twofold: (1) a loss in flavor and (2) a shortened smoking period for the cigar. The tendency for a central draw through these cutters is an inherent problem created due to the technique used to roll cigars. By rolling the binder leaf around either cured leaves or shredded fill, an air passage is naturally formed through the length of the center of the cigar. That central air passage allows air to flow more freely through the center of the cigar as opposed to the entire cross section of the cigar body. Thus the cigar burns hotter and quicker. In addition, oil emitted from the tobacco builds up in and around the length of this central air passage. Once the cigar is smoked over half of its length, the flavor becomes increasingly undesirable due to these oils building up in the air passage and eventually being subjected to high temperatures such that they are burned instead of atomized. 
         [0016]    As explained by Philip Morris USA Inc. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,810,883, tobacco that is heated to a temperature just below combustion, or as it was stated “inefficient oxidization of the combustible material”, yields various distillation and pyrolysis products that are generally referred to as gases. These gases cool and condense as they are drawn through the body of the smoking device and form aerosols that the smoker experiences as flavor and aroma. While this research was done regarding cigarettes, the same is true for cigars. 
         [0017]    Cured tobacco leaves used in making fine cigars contain oil that is fermented before the leaves are rolled into a cigar. During normal smoking, the tobacco leaf is oxidized to provide heat to the surrounding tobacco. The heated tobacco yields gases from the fermented oil at a temperature just below combustion. These gases flow through the body of the cigar, condense, and form aerosols that the smoker experiences as flavor and aroma. It is the conversion of these chemicals contained in the tobacco into aerosols that provides the desired experience for the smoker, not oxidation of the tobacco leaf material itself. When subjected to oxidization, the tobacco leaf introduces little flavor or aroma into the smoke stream. In fact, the oxidization of the oil contained in the leaf results in a highly undesirable experience for the smoker. Burning the fermented oil instead of heating it and converting it into aerosols will result in a foul odor and a bitter taste. 
         [0018]    The ideal method of smoking a cigar is to take small, slow and even draws. This slower draw allows for the proper pre-heating of the tobacco and results in the maximum amount of oils being atomized into gases as opposed to being burned. Smoking a cigar too quickly, which can occur with the central draw common to other cutters, causes a larger amount of the fermented oil to be burned (therefore oxidized) instead of being converted into aerosols through slow even, heating. Since the goal is to convert the oil into aerosols, smoking a cigar slowly and at the lowest temperature possible is recommended. 
         [0019]    Completely removing the cap, while allowing a more even distribution of the smoke, causes an even bigger problem of fouling the cigar. With the full diameter of the head open (by cutting off the cap), too much air can be drawn too quickly through the cigar causing it to burn faster and hotter. Smoking a cigar too hot is called “fouling the cigar” because the oils trapped inside the fermented tobacco leaves are burned instead of being atomized into gases. When a cigar is smoked too fast, not enough time is given to the tobacco to fully release its aerosols resulting in burning the remaining oils trapped in the leaf. In fact, if fermented oil is burned while lighting the cigar, some connoisseurs believe the flavor of the cigar is fouled, and the cigar ruined. For this reason, connoisseurs light their cigars slowly never letting the flame touch the tobacco. 
         [0020]    When condensing gases flow through the body tobacco, a portion of the molecules collide with the tobacco fill in the body causing it to collect on the tobacco fill itself. If this condensation collects in a concentrated area, such as in or around the central airway running the length of the cigar, it becomes less likely the existing oil plus the additional condensation will be effectively converted into aerosols. That results in an ever increasing amount of oil being oxidized, instead of atomized, as the cigar is smoked causing it to become bitter. This is a common experience for cigar smokers and some do not smoke cigars past half way because of this change in flavor. 
         [0021]    U.S. Pat. No. 829,199, discloses a device comprised of rotating circular blades to create slits, or perforations, below the cap in the shoulder of the cigar. It does not however solve the problems of prior cutters because it is only effective with torpedo style cigars. It is not as effective with modern cigars because the blades are fixed and not adjustable nor does it provide a means to limit the position and depth of the cut by arresting the travel of the cigar head through the ring. There is also no way of safely storing the cutter with the blades being protected and it does not allow for a replaceable blade. 
         [0022]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,354 discloses a cigarette perforator that utilizes radially disposed piercers to perforate the end of cigarette to allow more air into the cigarette and mitigate the harmful effects of the nicotine to the smoker by diluting the smoke with fresh air. Unlike the present invention, it requires an internal slidable plunger mechanism to cause the perforators to engage the cigarette. In order to perforate the cigarette with a perforator of this kind, it is necessary to proceed in two steps. First, is to place the cigarette in the holder then second, perforate it by operating a plunging mechanism. This kind of perforator is also complicated and expensive to manufacture. It is also not as portable as the present invention. The present invention is less complicated and uses the force of the cigar itself to engage the blades. Another important difference of between this plunger perforator and the present invention is that its purpose is to allowing fresh air into the smoking device. The present invention&#39;s purpose is to allow smoke to be drawn through the smoking device. This plunger perforator creates vents well away from the smokers lips that seal around the head of the cigar and could never provide a pleasurable smoking experience should it be used as a cutter because more than an inch of the cigar would have to extend into the smokers mouth in order to seal the vents and draw smoke out of the cigar. 
         [0023]    While all four types of cutters do provide a method of cutting the cap of a fine cigar, they all suffer from some or all of the following disadvantages:
       a) Failure to control the consistency of cut causing the smoker&#39;s experience to be unpredictable;   b) Allowance of filler tobacco to transfer to the smoker&#39;s mouth which is unpleasant;   c) Creating a central opening such that the draw is through the natural central air passage of the cigar resulting in offending flavors or aromas and shortened smoking life;   d) Not effective on all types of cigars;   e) Lack of a method for replacing the blade(s) when they dull;   f) Lack of a method for protecting the user from the blade(s) which can be dangerous.       
 
         [0030]    What is needed is a device for cutting an opening in the shoulder of a cigar that will yield a consistent cut, protect the tobacco wrapper and fill from damage, and encourage the draw of smoke through the body of the cigar. It would also be suitable to provide a device for cutting a cigar that is portable and as well reduces the potential for injury to the user. Additionally it would be beneficial to provide a cutter that could be made of a precious metal material with a longer lifespan provided by replaceable blades. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0031]    The present invention is directed towards the satisfaction of the needs of perforating a cigar at a consistent depth without damaging the head of cigar and providing a draw through the body of the cigar to improve the overall flavor and aroma. Particularly it relates to a cigar perforator that creates an opening through a plurality of slits in the shoulder of a cigar to facilitate and enhance the experience of smoking a fine cigar. The present invention discloses a cut that allows the draw of smoke to occur through the body, or fill, of the cigar. Distributing the smoke more evenly as it is drawn through the body of the cigar has a profound effect on the smoker&#39;s experience as to flavor and aroma of the cigar. This invention further relates to a device for cutting a cigar with enclosed blades for safe and protected portable storage. This invention also relates to a method for slitting the shoulder of a fine cigar. 
         [0032]    More specifically, this invention relates to a cigar cutter comprising a housing with an open end and closed end, a plurality of perforating elements, preferably cutting blades, radially disposed upon the interior of the housing angled to the center of the housing depending towards the closed end, and a means of attaching the perforating elements to the housing to create tension such that the perforating elements will engage the head of a cigar when it is inserted into the open end of the housing resulting in a plurality of razor thin slices equally spaced around the shoulder of the cigar at a fixed depth below the cap to cause smoke to be drawn more evenly through the rolled tobacco. 
         [0033]    Due to the razor thin slits, the smoke is drawn through the cigar more slowly so as not to over-heat the cigar keeping the flavor at its peak through the entire length of time the cigar is smoked. Furthermore, the plurality of slits allows the smoker control over the draw by application of the desired lip pressure over the perforations, or slits, such that they remain open or closed. Smokers are no longer at the mercy of inconsistent cigar rolling or that of the inconsistent conventional cutters demonstrated above. 
         [0034]    This invention includes but is not limited to the following objects and advantages:
       a) A cigar cutter having adjustable blades to reproduce a consistent cut every time;   b) A cigar cutter that does not damage the cap or head of the cigar thus avoiding the transfer of fill tobacco to the smoker&#39;s mouth;   c) A cigar cutter that allows the smoker variable control over the draw speed and volume of smoke thus extending the pleasure of the smoking experience and life of the cigar;   d) A cigar cutter that effectively cuts any type of modern cigar;   e) A cigar cutter with replaceable blades;   f) A portable cigar cutter with a cap to protect the user from damage from the blades;       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0041]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following descriptions, appended claims and accompanying drawings as follows: 
           [0042]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention with the safety cap attached. 
           [0043]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the housing and safety cap. 
           [0044]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the safety cap. 
           [0045]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the blade assembly. 
           [0046]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a blade. 
           [0047]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a replaceable blade. 
           [0048]      FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0050]    Before the present invention is described, it is to he understood that this invention is not limited to a particular cutter as such may, of course, vary. Numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principle of the invention. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting as the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims. Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. 
         [0051]    Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 7  and consists of an outer hollow housing  30 , a cap  20 , and blade assembly  40 . The housing  30  can be made from any suitable material such as wood, metal, or stone but is preferably made from plastic. The housing  30  may be any shape although a cylindrical housing is preferred. The housing is comprised of an open end  32  that is adapted to receive the cap  20  and a closed end. The open end  32  may be of any diameter but is preferably 1.15 inches in diameter which contributes to ease of use and portability. The cap  20  would be preferably made from the same material as the housing  30  and is attachable by any typical means. The cap may attach to the housing by many means. One means for attachment would be that as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  which disclose flanges  22  that provide a tapered compression fit with the housing  30 . The invention is shown in its closed state in  FIG. 1  where the cap  20  is fitted into and fully snapped into place in the housing  30 . Alternately, the cap may be threadably engaged with or hingeably attached to the housing. The cap is not a required feature for use of the invention but is intended to add a safety function to the cutter. 
         [0052]    The preferred embodiment of this invention includes a blade assembly  40  comprised of a common band  48  as depicted in  FIG. 8 , with radially disposed extension guides  44  depending there from angled inwards and towards the closed end of the housing  30  as further shown in  FIG. 7 . The extension guides  44  are attached in a stationary position at the point of attachment to the blade assembly for directly to the interior wall of the housing in an alternative embodiment) but remain flexible along their length as they depend towards the closed end of the housing  30 . The extension guides  44  may be made of the same material as the common band  48  which is preferably a resiliently yielding material such as flexible plastic. 
         [0053]    Affixed to the extension guides  44  at their lowermost or opposable end are the blades  50  which may be made of any suitable cutting material but preferably 0.004 inch thick razor thin stainless steel or ceramic material such as zirconium dioxide. The blades  50  may be affixed to the extension guides  44  by any suitable means including soldering, glue or a fastening device. 
         [0054]    The extension guides may also be manufactured as one piece with the blades and of the same material as the blades  50  such as flexible stainless steel whereby the steel is sharpened at the blade sufficiently to slit the shoulder of the cigar. 
         [0055]    The extension guides  44  may also provide control over the depth that the blade assembly  40  is positioned within the housing  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 7  as the top of the blade assembly  40  rests directly against the bottom of the flanges  22 . The blade assembly  40  is ideally situated in the housing at a location whereby the blades  50  will engage the shoulder of the cigar as the head rests against the closed end of the housing. 
         [0056]    The blade assembly may be comprised of one continuous ring with extension guides  44  and attached blades  50  as depicted in  FIG. 8  or in another embodiment may be first formed as a flat planar surface which is capable of being rolled into a ring as shown in  FIG. 8  and having an outside diameter slightly greater then the inside diameter of the housing  30  as to create a friction fit against the interior wall of the housing thereby holding said blade assembly  40  in place within the housing  30 . Although six extension guides  44  are illustrated in  FIG. 4  an acceptable range has been determined to be five to eight so these drawings and this description does not limit this invention to specifically six extension guides  44  or blades  50 . The number and spacing of the blades  50  may vary without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0057]    As another embodiment, the extension guides and/or blades may be attached to the interior wall of the housing directly by any fastening means such as soldering, glue or a fastener. In such embodiment the extension guides may be one-piece with the blades and comprised of flexible stainless steel. 
         [0058]    Further flexibility of the extension guides  44  may be provided by fashioning the guides  44  as depicted in  FIG. 7  whereby the extension guide  44  is manufactured in one piece with an angle at its top most end  48  and a protruding pivot point  42  located on the extension guide towards the interior wall of the housing and slightly below the angle whereby the pivot point  42  exerts a forward pressure on the extension guide to counteract the pressure of the cigar head as it is inserted into the cutter. 
         [0059]    An alternative embodiment is to include a means to provide increased flexibility to the extension guides  44  using a resiliently yielding material such as foam rubber, whether as a continuous ring or separate pieces, affixed to the interior wall of the housing behind the extension guides  44  such that the foam rubber presses against the back of the extension guides  44  forcing them towards the center of the housing  30 . Upon insertion of the cigar into the housing  30  the cigar will exert pressure upon the extension guides  44  such as to compress the foam rubber and allow the cigar to travel through the open end of the housing  30  to rest against the closed end at which point the extension guides  44  and blades  50 , under sufficient opposing pressure due to the foam rubber, will have slit the shoulder of the cigar. Upon withdrawal of the cigar, the foam rubber will decompress allowing the extension guides  44  to return to their normal state and the cigar to be removed from the housing. 
         [0060]    Alternately, flexibility may be provided through a spring assembly or series of springs placed between the interior wall of the housing and the extension guides  44 , or blades  50 , to provide necessary flexibility and properly engage the blades  50  upon the cigar head. 
         [0061]    Another embodiment of the invention is to provide for replaceable blades. One such means is to fabricate the extension guides  44  such that they will have areas of extended thickness of material (a tang)  46  compatible with cut outs  52  in the replacement blades  50  adaptable to receive said tangs when the tang is disposed in the central region of the cut-out so that the new blades will easily snap onto the extension guides. Other means of attaching the replacement blades to the extension guides may also be utilized. 
         [0062]    In operation, the cigar cutter provides the user with the ability to create multiple openings in the head of a fine cigar then close the cutter for safe storage. When using the cigar cutter, the user opens the cutter by removing the cap  20  with a slight twisting motion while pulling away from the housing  30 . Holding the cigar in the opposite hand from the cigar cutter with the head of the cigar closest to the opening  32 , sliding the cigar through the opening  32  along the extension guides  44  until it stops after traveling the entire length of the housing  30 , causes razor thin slices to be cut in the outer periphery of the cigar&#39;s shoulder. By then sliding the cigar in the opposite direction and removing it from the cigar cutter housing, the user can then replace the cap  20  to protect the blades for future use and protect the person from injury. 
         [0063]    Upon the blades becoming dull, the user can remove the blade assembly  40 , replace the individual blades and reinsert the assembly into the housing or replace the entire blade assembly  40  as necessary. Replacement of the blades or blade assembly will extend the life of the cutter which would be preferable if it the housing was made of a precious metal. 
         [0064]    The previous described versions of the present invention have many advantages including providing a cigar cutter that assures each cigar has a consistent cut that allows draw from the body of the cigar without damaging the head of the cigar, that is portable and safe to use, and that is economical to manufacture. 
         [0065]    It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.