Abstract:
A generally cylindrical shaped cigar puncture tool incorporating a spring loaded and locating/guiding disk element arranged in conjunction with a linearly extending and base supported spike. Centered puncturing of the closed head occurs in a first downward translating direction of the cigar within the open interior of the tool. A return spring bias causing even disengaging of the cigar in a second reverse direction. The sizing of an aperture in the disk further allows passage therethrough of the spike, while preventing debris from the cigar head cluttering the puncture zone within the tool.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a cigar related tool for assisting in the puncturing of a closed head of the cigar head. More particularly, the present invention discloses a generally cylindrical shaped cigar puncture tool incorporating a spring loaded and locating/guiding disk element arranged in conjunction with a linearly extending and base supported spike. Centered puncturing of the closed head occurs in a first downward translating direction of the cigar within the open interior of the tool, a return spring bias causing even disengaging of the cigar in a second reverse direction, with the sizing of an aperture in the disk further allowing passage therethrough of the spike, while preventing debris from the cigar head cluttering the puncture zone within the tool. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The prior art is documented with various examples of cigar end perforation or puncture tools, such being required in the enjoyment of hand-made cigars. A first example of this is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,808, to Albarello, and which illustrates an apparatus for cutting a plug from an end of a cigar having a housing with a hollow body portion with opposite first and second ends. The first end of the hollow body portion has a cutting edge for cutting a portion of a cigar wrapper. 
         [0003]    A spring biased plunger is movable within the hollow body portion first end along a longitudinal axis thereof toward and away from the cutting edge. An elongated piercing member is attached to, and movable with, the plunger. A handle is accessible from the exterior of the housing for moving the plunger within the hollow body portion first end. The cutting edge is adaptable to cut a portion of a cigar wrapper at the end of a cigar to create a plug of the cut portion of the cigar, which remains in part within the hollow body portion first end, the handle being operable to move the plunger toward the cutting edge to eject the plug from the housing. 
         [0004]    Another implement for perforating and clipping cigars is set forth in Peavey, U.S. Pat. No. 282,764, and which teaches a spike portion slidably translatable out of a tube pre-positioned relative to a cigar head. A similar puncture tool is shown in Holmes U.S. Pat. No. 933,250. In the further instance of Cragg U.S. Pat. No. 925,158 two tubular telescopic members are provided, with the outer member being provided with a cutting edge formed on the edge of an opening intermediate the ends of the member, the inner member being provided with a cigar tip supporting device. 
         [0005]    Adams, U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,318, teaches a powered cigar piercing device which includes an outer housing and a moveable top receiving and indexing station for positioning the tip of the cigar. The indexing station is adapted to automatically activate a rotating piercing tool in response to the downward movement of the indexing station by downward pressure being placed against the station by the tip of the cigar. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A generally cylindrical shaped cigar puncture tool incorporating a spring loaded and locating/guiding disk element arranged in conjunction with a linearly extending and base supported spike. Centered puncturing of the closed head occurs in a first downward translating direction of the cigar within the open interior of the tool. A return spring bias causing even disengaging of the cigar in a second reverse direction. The sizing of an aperture in the disk further allows passage therethrough of the spike, while preventing debris from the cigar head cluttering the puncture zone within the tool. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like references refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is perspective view of the cigar puncture tool and further exhibiting, in interior phantom representation, the features of the spring loaded and locating/guiding disk element arranged in conjunction with the linearly extending and base supported spike; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a succeeding environmental illustration of the tool in  FIG. 1 , with its screw cap removed and a cigar arrayed in a pre-puncture position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the tool in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  illustrates the tool in plan cutaway, and with the cigar of  FIG. 2  in an initial contact position relative to the locating/guiding disk element; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a further succeeding illustration similar to  FIG. 3A  and showing the spike in a puncturing position with respect to the head of the cigar, and prior to the return bias spring forces applied against the underside of the disk causing elevating of the cigar out of contact with the spike. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    Referring now to each of  FIGS. 1-3 ,  3 A and  3 B, a series of perspective ( FIG. 1 ), screw cap removed perspective ( FIG. 2 ), exploded perspective ( FIG. 3 ) and cutaway illustrations including both pre ( FIG. 3A ) and post ( FIG. 3B ) displacement are each generally shown of a cigar puncture tool (see as generally referenced at  10  in each of  FIGS. 1-3 ) according to the present invention. A three-dimensional, elongate and interiorly hollowed body is referenced at  12  and includes a first outer end  14  and a second inner end  16 . 
         [0014]    The body is preferably cylindrical shaped which, as best shown in  FIG. 3 , facilitates attachment of either or both of a screw cap  18  and a screw base  20  are provided for selectively and threadably engaging the body  12 . As further illustrated, opposing threads can be configured both at  22  and  24  to the outer  14  and inner  16  ends of the body, as well as at  26  and  28  to the screw cap  18  and screw base  20 . The body  12 , as well as other selected components, can further be constructed of a desired material including a metal (such as stainless steel), durable polymer, as well as wood, a ceramic/stone material, glass/quartz, or the like. It is also understood that the provision of a lid, threaded or non-threaded, or removed entirely, is within the scope of the invention. 
         [0015]    Additionally, the base  20  is understood to incorporate, in at least one variant, a cylindrical shaped plug of such as cork material, at  29  in  FIG. 3  and from which upwardly projects the one or more puncturing elements as will be described. It is also understood that any suitable material can be incorporated into the interior base of the body  12 . Additionally, the body can be of a unitary construction which includes an integrally defined and non-removable base. 
         [0016]    It is also envisioned that, apart from a rounded configuration, the body can also exhibit an otherwise polygonal shape, defined as including any number of interconnecting and cross sectional extending sides ranging from three to short of infinity and producing thereby such as a rectangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal or like shape and such as for purposes of achieving a desired ornamentation. In such a configuration, it is further envisioned that the screw cap and/or screw base can be substituted by press-fit components of similar shape, and without any sacrifice as to functionality. 
         [0017]    At least one puncturing element, such as a spike  30 , is secured to the inner end  16  of the cylindrical shaped body  12  and extending in a direction towards a selectively accessible outer end  14  (and upon removal of the screw cap  18 ). In the embodiment illustrated, the spike  30  is mounted to an inside surface location of the screw base  20  and, as will be further described, this enables alternately configured spike portions, or multiple puncture elements of desired configuration (see also at  30 ′ and  30 ″ in phantom in  FIG. 3 ) to be substituted as desired and in order to create a desired puncture profile into an inserting foot end  32  of a cigar (see again  FIG. 3B ). 
         [0018]    A disk is shown and which exhibits a generally bowl-shaped  34  configuration. It is also envisioned that the disk  34  can be planar shaped in other variants or exhibit some other form of support surface extending across an interior crosswise area associated with the body interior. In a preferred application, an outer diameter of the bowl shaped rim associated with the disc  34  is sized a slight distance less than an associated inner diameter of the body  12 . 
         [0019]    The disk  34  further exhibits an interior aperture  36  and which is supported within the body  12 . An underside extending and guiding collar  38  is integrally formed with the disk  34  and which is likewise interiorly apertured in communication with and extension of the aperture  36 . The disk  34  and associated collar  38  can be constructed of either a metallic, nylon or other suitable material. Aside from the disk  34  illustrated, it is also envisioned that a wafer shape or other configured element, such as which may exhibit a screened or other multiple apertured profile and which extends the interior crosswise area defined between the inner walls of the body, can be substituted. 
         [0020]    In each variant of the invention, the disk  34  is capable of being linearly displaced between the outer  14  and inner  16  ends of the body  12 , and into seating contact with the spike  30  or other suitable puncture element. While certain variants contemplate the absence of a type of spring or bias inducing element, one desired embodiment discloses the provision of a coil spring  40  which is seated within the hollow interior of the body  12  and including an upper-most coil  42  encircling the underside collar  38  and seating against an underside of the disk  34 , as well as lower-most coil  44  seating upon the screw base  20 . The guide collar  38  is further lengthwise dimensioned so that it extends a distance beyond the puncturing tip of the spike  30 , when the spring  40  is in a relaxed and non-compressed condition, the purpose for which including preventing the possibility of the spike  30  not properly seating with the aperture  36  during the compressing stroke. 
         [0021]    A concentric sleeve  46  is located at the inner end  20  of the body  12  in encircling fashion around the spike  30  (or other suitable multiple puncture elements). The sleeve  46  can also be incorporated into a three-dimensional spacer defining base  48  (see  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) and which can be incorporated on either a fixed or loosely supported fashion with the screw base  20 , and thereby defining a seating location for the spring  40 , upon being compressed during linear displacement of the disk  34  and cigar  32  (see in particular  FIG. 3B ). The spacer base  48  can also exhibit, or be substituted in favor, of a volume of a cork-like material (see as previously described at  29  in reference to  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0022]    Referring again  FIG. 3A , the head  32  of the cigar inserts within the open outer end  14  of the body (such as upon removal of the screw cap  18 ) and seats against the upper surface of the bowl shaped disk  34 . Linear displacement of the cigar  32  and disk  34  in a direction toward the inner end  16  causes the spike  30  to translate through underside collar  38  and communicating disk aperture  36 , in order to puncture the cigar  32 . A return bias, caused by the spring  40  being compressed to the condition shown in  FIG. 3B , is exerted upon the disk  34 , causing reverse displacement and disengagement of the cigar  32  from the spike  30  and without either the unseating of the guiding collar  38  from the tip of the spike  30  or the intended removal of an end of the cigar, such as which is associated with conventional cutting, clipping or other plugging devices. 
         [0023]    The provision of the disk  34  and associated sizing of the spike passage enabling aperture  36 , is further such that debris associated with the punctured end  32  of the cigar is prevented from being deposited into the bottom of the body. In any event, the provision of a separately attachable screw base  20  allows any (such as smaller sized) collected debris to be easily removed. A decorative exterior covering, see at  50  in  FIG. 3  and such as replicating a cigar band, can be applied to the body as desired. 
         [0024]    Having described our invention, other additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains. In particular, the generally annular disk shaped and linearly displaceable member can be substituted by other cigar head seating and supporting components, these including such as other and alternatively shaped wafers or other elements, and which can include suitable apertures for permitting passage therethrough of the bottom located and fixed spike. The device can also be configured or sized such as to be conveniently carried in the user&#39;s pocket or secured to a key chain, and provided that the body interior diameter at least substantially equals an exterior ring gauge (this defined as the associated exterior diameter of the cigar) and in order to permit the cigar to be interiorly displaced in a longitudinal direction relative to the elongate interior of the body. 
         [0025]    It is also envisioned that the single spike element shown can be substituted by a plurality of appropriately configured spikes, prongs or other suitable puncturing elements (such as shown at  30 ,  30 ′ and  30 ″ in  FIG. 3  which is also understood as capable of being interchangeably substituted through the provision of one or more separate screw bases  20 , with the puncture elements either fixed or loosely supported thereto). Further possible variants can include either the removal of the spring coil bias, or the substitution of the coil spring with another type of biasing clip, leaf spring or the like, such also including provision of a pre-loaded spring force which is triggered upon a sufficient downward displacement of the cigar head over the spike(s), and at which point reverse unseating of the cigar head occurs, such as in a likewise non-debris creating manner.