Patent Publication Number: US-6907886-B2

Title: Cigar tip plug cutter

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The invention pertains to cigar smoking accessories. More particularly, the invention relates to compact cigar tip cutting devices designed to provide an easy draw for cigar smokers. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Ever since smoking of cigars came into vogue a number of centuries ago, it has been found desirable to cut the end of the cigar which is inserted in the smoker&#39;s mouth for a brief distance axially in order to enable the smoker initially to draw air through the wrapped tobacco in order to light the opposite end, and thereafter, to draw the desired smoke axially through the cigar into the smoker&#39;s mouth. 
   In order to provide a suitable opening for this purpose, various instruments have been utilized to cut such an opening. These instruments have ranged from knives, including penknives, to sophisticated cutters that may cut off or even drill out a short axial opening. Drilling, however, can produce a ragged mouth-end for the cigar and, since one of the pleasures of cigar smoking is having a smooth cigar end inserted in the mouth, drilling and efforts to cut with a penknife have not been considered satisfactory. 
   Another type of cutter has been one that may have a cylindrical blade that slides out from a shield into the end of the cigar axially for a short distance to cut a plug that is removed upon withdrawal of the cylindrical cutter. The axial movement of the cutter, however, is usually accomplished through some type of thumb-actuated ram that operates against a spring, the purpose of which is to withdraw the cylindrical blade upon release of the thumb&#39;s force against the other end of the ram. While this type of cutter can be effective, at least initially, cutting becomes more difficult when the blade becomes duller, since the blade is simply forced axially against the tobacco packed inside the cigar wrapper. It has also been found that occasionally cutters driven by rams can damage the end of the cigar against which they are placed because of the force exerted by both the blade and its supporting element. 
   While other more sophisticated cutters have been devised, some of them have been quite complicated in construction and operation and quite expensive to manufacture, with the result that they may price themselves out of range of the average cigar smoker. 
   It has also been a concern of persons using certain of these cutters to avoid having the cutting blade scrape or dig into, the user&#39;s finger or thumb. Provision must be made, therefore, to shield a cutting blade to prevent possible injury either before, during, or after use of the cutter. In addition, recent airline regulations have severely restricted the transportation of many types of cutting devices aboard airplanes. As such, a cigar cutter that has a blade that does not extend outwardly above the top of its own cover is more likely to be approved for carrying on airlines. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,535,763 issued to Conte is directed to a cigar punch and tobacco ejector apparatus comprising a housing having a cylindrical hollow body attached to a base and having an open circular end, and a cutter having a barrel connected to a handle and a slot formed on the barrel adjacent to the handle. The housing is for storing the cutter when not in use. The cutter has a sharp, open-mouthed edge adapted to receive a tip of a cigar, to cut a piece from the cigar, to form a hole in the cigar&#39;s tip, and to hold the cut piece when the cigar is moved away from the cutter. A plunger assembly is connected to the cutter. The plunger assembly has a plunger adapted to travel within the cutter&#39;s barrel, a collar adapted to being placed over the barrel and to be connected to the plunger through the barrel&#39;s slot. A dowel pin is used to connect the collar to the plunger through the slot. The collar slides along the barrel as the dowel pin moves along the slot, thereby allowing the plunger to eject the cigar&#39;s cut piece from the cutter. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,160,318 issued to Morel, discloses an apparatus for severing predetermined lengths from a cigarette or cigar comprises a tubular passage that receives the cigarette or cigar to be cut, and a manually actuated blade positioned transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubular passage and receivable there within for cutting the cigarette or cigar. The length of the cigarette or cigar receivable within the passage and severable by the blade may be varied by selectively positioning an adjustable end wall of the tubular passage. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,254, issued to Fleisher et al. describes a cigar holder that consists of a thin cylindrical-shaped tube that can be inserted within a mouth of a smoker. The tube has a hollow punch extending centrally inwardly to pierce butt end of a cigar for allowing free drawing of smoke. The thin cylindrical-shaped tube can be chewed on without harm to teeth of the smoker. The tube is provided with an adapter for holding variously sized cigars. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,027,682 issued to Halmaghi discloses a cigarette extinguishing and cigar cutting device mounted in the center of an ashtray which comprises a static base having a tapered top, a depressible stamper resiliently held above said base. Cigarettes may be snuffed out between the base and the depressed stamper. The cigar-cutting portion of the device is constituted by a horizontal hole cut through a section of the base intercepted by a vertical slot in which travels a blade fastened to the stamper. 
   While other variations exist, the above-described designs for cigar cutters are typical of those encountered in the prior art. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a cigar tip cutter that produces a neat round orifice in the cigar end without tearing or damaging the cigar wrapper. It is a further objective to provide such capability in a compact and attractive package that is simple to use. It is a still further objective of the invention to provide a cigar cutter that will protect its cutting blade from damage in the pocket of a user. It is yet a further objective to provide a cigar cutter that has a blade that does not extend beyond the limits of its enclosure. 
   While some of the objectives of the present invention are disclosed in the prior art, none of the inventions found include all of the requirements identified. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention addresses all of the deficiencies of the prior art cigar tip cutting inventions and satisfies all of the objectives described above. 
   (2) A cigar tip plug cutter providing the desired features may be constructed from the following components. A cylindrical cutting blade is provided. The blade has an upper end, a lower end, a first internal diameter and a first external diameter. A support platform is provided. The support platform has an upper surface, a lower surface, a first central orifice and means for orthogonally mounting the cylindrical blade above the first central orifice. A cigar tip receiving plate is provided. The receiving plate has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a concave depression in the upper surface and a second central orifice in the concave depression. The second central orifice has a second diameter greater than the first external diameter. 
   A cigar plug ejector is provided. The ejector has a rod portion, a base portion and at least two support portions. The rod portion has an upper end, a lower end and a width less than the first internal diameter. The base portion has an upper surface, a lower surface and a first perimeter. The rod portion is attached at its lower end to a central portion of the upper surface of the base portion. Each of the support portions has an upper end, a lower end and is attached at its lower end to the upper surface of the base portion adjacent the first perimeter. The support platform has at least two openings penetrating its upper and lower surfaces and spaced from the first central orifice. The openings is sized, shaped and located to fit slidably about the support portions while permitting the rod portion to slide within the first central orifice and the first internal diameter of the cylindrical cutting blade. Each of the support portions is attached at its upper end to the lower surface of the cigar tip receiving plate while the support portions penetrate the support platform from its lower surface to its upper surface. 
   The cigar tip receiving plate is urged away from the support platform by at least two compression springs. A platform cover is provided. The platform cover has an upper surface and a lower surface and is sized and shaped to fit slidably over the cigar tip receiving plate. The platform cover has a third central orifice. The third central orifice is sized, shaped and located to accommodate the closed end of a cigar and permit access to the concave depression in the upper surface of the cigar tip receiving plate and the cylindrical blade. The platform cover is joined to the support platform. 
   When the closed end of a cigar is urged against the cigar tip receiving plate and the cylindrical blade and twisted about a central axis, the receiving plate will be displaced toward the support platform. The rod portion will be urged away from the platform cover while the cylindrical blade will cut through the cigar end, cutting a plug from it. When the cigar is removed and pressure applied to the lower surface of the base portion of the cigar plug ejector, the rod portion will serve to eject the plug from the cylindrical blade. 
   (3) In a variant of the invention, the cylindrical blade further comprises a retaining lip, the retaining lip is located about the first external diameter at the lower end of the blade. 
   (4) In another variant, the cylindrical blade includes a sharpened edge at the upper end, the sharpened edge comprising a bevel, the bevel extending downwardly toward the lower end from the first external diameter to the first internal diameter. 
   (5) In a further variant, the cylindrical blade is attached to the support platform with a retaining ring, the retaining ring has a fourth central orifice, the fourth central orifice is sized to fit slidably about the first external diameter. The retaining ring bears against the retaining lip of the cylindrical blade and is removably attached to the upper surface of the support platform. 
   (6) In still a further variant of the invention, the support platform further comprises at least two depressions in its upper surface, the depressions are sized and shaped to accept lower ends of the compression springs. 
   (7) In yet a further variant, the lower surface of the cigar tip receiving plate further comprises at least two depressions. The depressions are sized and shaped to accept upper ends of the compression springs. 
   (8) In another variant, at least one first detent is provided. The first detent is located on an outer surface of at least one of the support portions of the cigar plug ejector adjacent its upper end. At least one spring-loaded ball is provided. The spring-loaded ball is sized, shaped and located to bear against the outer surface and removably engage the first detent. 
   When the closed cigar end is urged against the cigar tip receiving plate and the cylindrical blade and twisted about a central axis, the receiving plate will be displaced toward the support platform, urging the support portions away from the platform cover. The spring-loaded ball will engage the first detent, thereby retaining the receiving plate and the rod portion in withdrawn positions, permitting withdrawal of the cigar end with the cut cigar plug retained within the cylindrical blade. When pressure is applied to the lower surface of the base portion of the cigar plug ejector, the spring-loaded ball will be dislodged from the first detent, permitting the compression springs to urge the cigar plug ejector toward the platform cover, thereby ejecting the cigar plug from the cylindrical blade. 
   (9) In still another variant of the invention, a second detent is provided. The second detent is located on an outer surface of at least one of the support portions of the cigar plug ejector adjacent its lower end. The second detent serves to retain the cigar plug ejector in an upper position adjacent the platform cover, thereby preventing unwanted exposure of the upper end of the cylindrical blade. 
   (10) In yet another variant, the spring-loaded ball is located in an axial bore in the platform cover adjacent the third central orifice. 
   (11) In still another variant, the cigar tip receiving plate is removably attached to first ends of the support portions of the cigar plug ejector with at least one setscrew. 
   (12) In a further variant of the invention, the&#39;support portions further comprise a receiving notch, the receiving notch is sized, shaped and located to receive the setscrew. 
   (13) In yet a further variant, the support platform further comprises a recess in its lower surface, the recess is sized, shaped and located to accept the base portion of the cigar plug ejector, thereby permitting the support platform to have a smooth lower surface when the cigar plug ejector is in an upper position. 
   (14) In still a further variant, the platform cover is joined to the support platform by at least two pins, the pins fitting frictionally into aligned holes in mating surfaces of the platform cover and the support platform. 
   (15) In a final variant of the invention, the upper end of the cylindrical cutting blade is recessed below the upper surface of the platform cover. 
   An appreciation of the other aims and objectives of the present invention and an understanding of it may be achieved by referring to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of a preferred embodiment. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrating the cigar tip receiving plate with concave depression in the upper surface; 
       FIG. 1A  is perspective view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment being used to cut a plug from the tip of a cigar; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment illustrating internal details of the design; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment taken along the line  3 — 3  illustrating the cigar tip receiving plate in an upper position; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment taken along the line  3 — 3  illustrating the cigar tip receiving plate in a lowered position; and 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment taken along the line  5 — 5  illustrating the setscrews attaching the cigar tip receiving plate to the cigar plug ejector; and 
       FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  embodiment taken along the line  6 — 6  illustrating one of the compression springs urging the cigar tip receiving plate away from the support platform. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   (2)  FIGS. 1-6  illustrate a cigar tip plug cutter  10  providing the desired features that may be constructed from the following components. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , a cylindrical cutting blade  15  is provided. The blade  15  has an upper end  20 , a lower end  25 , a first internal diameter  30  and a first external diameter  35 . A support platform  40  is provided. The support platform  40  has an upper surface  45 , a lower surface  50 , a first central orifice  55  and means  60  for orthogonally mounting the cylindrical blade  15  above the first central orifice  55 . A cigar tip receiving plate  65  is provided. The receiving plate  65  has an upper surface  70 , a lower surface  75 , a concave depression  80  in the upper surface  70  and a second central orifice  85  in the concave depression  80 . The second central orifice  85  has a second diameter  90  greater than the first external diameter  35 . 
   A cigar plug ejector  95  is provided. The ejector  95  has a rod portion  100 , a base portion  105  and at least two support portions  110 . The rod portion  100  has an upper end  115 , a lower end  120  and a width  125  less than the first internal diameter  30 . The base portion  105  has an upper surface  130 , a lower surface  135  and a first perimeter  140 . The rod portion  100  is attached at its lower end  120  to a central portion  145  of the upper surface  130  of the base portion  105 . Each of the support portions  110  has an upper end  150 , a lower end  155  and is attached at its lower end(s) to the upper surface  130  of the base portion  105  adjacent the first perimeter  140 . The support platform  40  has at least two openings  160  penetrating its upper  45  and lower  50  surfaces and spaced from the first central orifice  55 . The openings  160  are sized, shaped and located to fit slidably about the support portions  110  while permitting the rod portion  100  to slide within the first central orifice  55  and the first internal diameter  30  of the cylindrical cutting blade  15 . Each of the support portions  110  is attached at its upper end  150  to the lower surface  75  of the cigar tip receiving plate  65  while the support portions  110  penetrate the support platform  40  from its lower surface  50  to its upper surface  45 . 
   The cigar tip receiving plate  65  is urged away from the support platform  40  by at least two compression springs  165 . A platform cover  170  is provided. The platform cover  170  has an upper surface  175  and a lower surface  180  and is sized and shaped to fit slidably over the cigar tip receiving plate  65 . The platform cover  170  has a third central orifice  185 . The third central orifice  185  is sized, shaped and located to accommodate a closed end  190  of a cigar  195  and permit access to the concave depression  80  in the upper surface  70  of the cigar tip receiving plate  65  and the cylindrical blade  15 . The platform cover  170  is joined to the support platform  40 . 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 2 , when the closed end  190  of a cigar  195  is urged against the cigar tip receiving plate  65  and the cylindrical blade  15  and twisted about a central axis  200 , the receiving plate  65  will be displaced toward the support platform  40 . The rod portion  100  will be urged away from the platform cover  170  while the cylindrical blade  15  will cut through the cigar end  190 , cutting a plug (not shown) from it. When the cigar  195  is removed and pressure applied to the lower surface  135  of the base portion  105  of the cigar plug ejector  95 , the rod portion  100  will serve to eject the plug from the cylindrical blade  15 . 
   (3) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 3-5 , the cylindrical blade  15  further comprises a retaining lip  205 , the retaining lip  205  is located about the first external diameter  35  at the lower end  25  of the blade  15 . 
   (4) In another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the cylindrical blade  15  includes a sharpened edge  210  at the upper end  20 , the sharpened edge  210  comprising a bevel  215 , the bevel  215  extending downwardly toward the lower end  25  from the first external diameter  35  to the first internal diameter  30 . 
   (5) In a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 2-5 , the cylindrical blade  15  is attached to the support platform  40  with a retaining ring  220 , the retaining ring  220  has a fourth central orifice  225 , the fourth central orifice  225  is sized to fit slidably about the first external diameter  35 . The retaining ring  220  bears against the retaining lip  205  of the cylindrical blade  15  and is removably attached to the upper surface  45  of the support platform  40 . 
   (6) In still a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the support platform  40  further comprises at least two depressions  230  in its upper surface  45 , the depressions  230  are sized and shaped to accept lower ends  235  of the compression springs  165 . 
   (7) In yet a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the lower surface  75  of the cigar tip receiving plate  65  further comprises at least two depressions  240 . The depressions  240  are sized and shaped to accept upper ends  245  of the compression springs  165 . 
   (8) In another variant, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , at least one first detent  250  is provided. The first detent  250  is located on an outer surface  255  of at least one of the support portions  110  of the cigar plug ejector  95  adjacent its upper end  150 . At least one spring-loaded ball  260  is provided. The spring-loaded ball  260  is sized, shaped and located to bear against the outer surface  255  and removably engage the first detent  250 . 
   When the closed cigar end  190  is urged against the cigar tip receiving plate  65  and the cylindrical blade  15  and twisted about a central axis  200 , the receiving plate  65  will be displaced toward the support platform  40 , urging the support portions  110  away from the platform cover  170 . The spring-loaded ball  260  will engage the first detent  250 , thereby retaining the receiving plate  65  and the rod portion  100  in withdrawn positions, permitting withdrawal of the cigar end  190  with the cut cigar plug retained within the cylindrical blade  15 . When pressure is applied to the lower surface  135  of the base portion  105  of the cigar plug ejector  95 , the spring-loaded ball  260  will be dislodged from the first detent  250 , permitting the compression springs  165  to urge the cigar plug ejector  95  toward the platform cover  170 , thereby ejecting the cigar plug from the cylindrical blade  15 . 
   (9) In still another variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-5 , a second detent  265  is provided: The second detent  265  is located on an outer surface  255  of at least one of the support portions  110  of the cigar plug ejector  95  adjacent its lower end  155 . The second detent  265  serves to retain the cigar plug ejector  95  in an upper position  270  adjacent the platform cover  170 , thereby preventing unwanted exposure of the upper end  20  of the cylindrical blade  15 . 
   (10) In yet another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the spring-loaded ball  260  is located in an axial bore  275  in the platform cover  170  adjacent the third central orifice  185 . 
   (11) In still another variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the cigar tip receiving plate  65  is removably attached to upper ends of the support portions  110  of the cigar plug ejector  95  with at least one setscrew  280 . 
   (12) In a further variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the support portions  110  further comprise a receiving notch  285 , the receiving notch  285  is sized, shaped and located to receive the setscrew  280 . 
   (13) In yet a further variant, the support platform  40  further comprises a recess (not shown) in its lower surface  50 , the recess is sized, shaped and located to accept the base portion  105  of the cigar plug ejector  95 , thereby permitting the support platform  40  to have a smooth lower surface  50  when the cigar plug ejector  95  is in an upper position  270 . 
   (14) In still a further variant, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the platform cover  170  is joined to the support platform  40  by at least two pins  290 , the pins  290  fitting frictionally into aligned holes  295  in mating surfaces  300 ,  305  of the platform cover  170  and the support platform  40 . 
   (15) In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-5 , the upper end  20  of the cylindrical cutting blade  15  is recessed below the upper surface  175  of the platform cover  170 . 
   The cigar tip plug cutter  10  has been described with reference to particular embodiments. Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.