Patent Publication Number: US-2023148079-A1

Title: Device for Trimming the Tip of a Cigar

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a cutter implement for cutting the tip off of a cigar, and in particular an implement to make a hemispherical-shaped surface area cut through the tip of a cigar prior to lighting and smoking the cigar. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When purchased, a cigar normally has at least one end sealed. Prior to a user smoking a cigar, it is desirable to trim or cut the tip of the cigar for a brief axial distance on the end that is to be placed in the user&#39;s mouth. This cut enables the user to initially draw air through the wrapped tobacco to light the opposite end of the cigar, and then to allow the user to draw the desired smoke axially through the cigar and into the user&#39;s mouth. 
     Various trimming and cutting devices have been developed to provide a suitable sized and shaped opening in the cigar tip for this purpose. Instruments that have been used in the past include knives, pointed implements, and the like. More sophisticated trimmers or cutters have been developed that use a pair of co-planer movable blades to slice off a portion of the cigar tip, creating an annular, radially extending surface on the cigar tip. Other implements drill out the tobacco at the tip of the cigar, creating a cylindrical-shaped opening along a short axial length of the cigar. Each of these types of cutters can produce a ragged mouth-end for the cigar, which reduces the pleasure of smoking a cigar having a smooth end to be inserted into the mouth. 
     Another type of cigar trimmer or cutter has a cylindrical shaped blade that slides axially for a short distance into the tip of the cigar to cut a cylindrical-shaped tobacco plug that is removed and discarded upon subsequent withdrawal of the cylindrical cutter from the cigar. In these devices, cutting into the tobacco becomes increasingly more difficult as the blade becomes duller after many uses, since the blade is forced axially against the tobacco packed inside the cigar wrapper. 
     Existing cigar trimming and cutting devices also leave a limited amount of surface area formed by the cut, limiting the amount of air that can be drawn through the cigar. It has been determined that a hemispherical-shaped surface area trim or cut at the mouth end of the cigar will allow more air to be drawn into and through the cigar upon each inhale by the user, since it is well known that for a given size or shape of a three-dimensional configuration, a spherical or hemispherical surface results in the maximum surface area. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,569 discloses a cigar cutter that includes a cylindrical blade for cutting and removing a cylindrical-shaped plug from the end of the cigar. Clockwise rotation of a mandrel inserted into the hollow center of the cutter blade causes the cylindrical blade to rotate and extend outwardly from a blade cover. When the blade cover is placed against an end of a cigar, the rotation and axial movement of the blade cuts a cylindrical plug in the tip of the cigar. The plug is removed from the blade by retracting the blade into the mandrel. This device cuts a cylindrical, and not a partly spherical surface into the tip of the cigar, therefore not creating a maximum amount of surface area through which air can pass upon inhaling. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,886 also discloses a cigar tip plug cutter with a cylindrical cutting blade to cut a round, cylindrical shaped plug from the tip of the cigar. In this patent&#39;s disclosure, the cigar is urged against a receiving plate and the cylindrical blade by the user, and the cigar is twisted about a central axis. The blade cuts a cylindrical plug through the cigar tip. Upon movement of the cigar away from the cutter blade and pressure is applied to a lower surface of the bore, an ejector rod ejects the plug from the cylindrical blade. The device disclosed in this patent does not create a partly spherical shaped surface area in the tip of the cigar. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,171,940 also discloses a cigar trimming device wherein a cigar tip is urged and rotated against a stationary annular or cylindrical shaped blade that cuts a cylindrical plug from the cigar. The blade portion is then rotated upward against a push pole that ejects the tobacco plug from the cylindrical blade. The device disclosed in this patent does not create a partially spherical shaped surface area in the tip of the cigar. 
     Other types of scissor-tip cigar trimming or cutting devices that create an annular, radial extending surface on the tip of the cigar, and not a partly spherical surface area, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,656,595; 9,119,422; 10,736,353; and 11,038,218. 
     SUMMARY 
     These and other aspects of the present disclosure are disclosed in the following detailed description of the embodiments, the appended claims and the accompanying figures. 
     The presently disclosed cigar cutter has a housing into which a moveable actuator assembly extends. The housing also includes a rotatable generally spherical shaped cutter blade in a hollow space of the housing, the cutter blade capable of rotative motion in the hollow space under the control of the moveable actuator assembly. A receptacle adjacent the rotatable cutter blade receives a cigar whose tip is desired to be severed. The actuator assembly moves in the housing between a first position where the cutter blade is in an inert first insert position, and a second position where the cutter blade has traversed a hemispherical surface area path in a portion of the cigar. 
     The presently disclosed subject matter also includes a method of trimming the tip of a cigar by locating the tip of the cigar adjacent and in the projected path of a rotatable partial spherical-shaped cutting blade having a sharp blade edge, and rotating the cutting blade and sharp blade edge into the tip of the cigar and severing the tip of the cigar from the remainder of the cigar. The residue of the severed tip is collected and discarded. A partial spherical or hemispherical cut is formed in the tip of the cigar by the rotating cutting blade. 
     Prominent advantages to having a hemispherical cut at the mouth end of the cigar are that the hemispherical cut adds more surface area than a straight cut of the same diameter, and the hemispherical cut provides a more uniform draw compared to a cat&#39;s-eye shape of a V-cut. Also, the user&#39;s “mouth feel” is improved with less interference with the user&#39;s tongue due to the cupped-out shape at the mouth end of the cigar. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a cigar tip spherical cutter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown in the open or non-cutting position; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a side elevation view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a top plan view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a front elevation view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   , showing in phantom lines hidden views of certain internal elements of the assembly; 
         FIG.  7    is a side elevation phantom view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   , taken along line A-A of  FIG.  6    and showing the plunger assembly and spherical cutter blade in the closed position after cutting the tip of the cigar; 
         FIG.  8    is a side elevation phantom view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1    taken along line B-B of  FIG.  6   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a side elevation view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   , showing in phantom lines hidden views of certain internal elements of the assembly and showing the plunger assembly and spherical cutter blade in the open position prior to cutting the tip of the cigar; 
         FIG.  10    is a front elevation phantom view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   , taken along line C-C of  FIG.  9   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a front elevation phantom view of the embodiment of the cigar tip spherical cutter assembly shown in  FIG.  1   , taken along line D-D of  FIG.  9   ; 
         FIGS.  12 A and  12 B  are perspective and side views, respectively, of a cigar after completion of the cutting process showing the hemispherical-shaped cut at the mouth end of the cigar. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2    of the drawings, the cutter assembly  10  comprises a generally rectangular housing  12 . An actuator plunger assembly  14  includes a cross-piece  16  with two downwardly extending cylindrical shafts  18 ,  20  firmly attached to cross-piece  16  by screws  22 . Each shaft  18 ,  20  is vertically moveable in cylindrical channels  24 ,  26 , respectively, which channels extend vertically through housing  12 . 
     Attached to a front wall  28  of housing  12  is a generally rectangular panel  30  having an access portal  32  formed with a curved conical shaped receptacle  34 . Access portal  32  and receptacle  34  open into a first hollow space  36  in the interior of housing  12 , as will be explained. Panel  30  is attached to front wall  28  by screws  38 , or any other suitable attachment device that is known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , screws  22  extend through apertures or channels  40  in cross-piece  16 . The screws  22  then are rotated into threaded channels  42  to attach shafts  18  and  20  firmly to cross-piece  16 . The bottom of each shaft  18 ,  20  comprises a portion  44  having a lesser diameter than the remainder of shaft  18  or shaft  20 , and a radial surface  46  forms a shelf. Springs  48  receive corresponding portions  44  of shafts  18  and  20 , and springs  48  along with shafts  18  and  20  extend into corresponding tubular shaped channels  24  and  26  in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG.  2   . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  6 - 11   , a first rod  50  extends through channel  52  that extends substantially through housing  12 . There is a break in channel  52  as it crosses first hollow space  36 , and first rod  50  is held firmly in place by the side portions of housing  12  that extend laterally outwardly from first hollow space  36 . 
     Mounted for rotation about first rod  50  is a substantially spherically shaped cutter blade  54  having a sharp blade edge  56  at a forward end  58  of cutter blade  54 . A channel  60  extends through the body  62  of cutter blade  54 , and first rod  50  extends through channel  60 . In the illustrated embodiment, body  62  of cutter blade  54  is firmly attached to first rod  50 , and first rod  50  rotates in channel  52  as cutter blade  54  rotates, as will be explained. Alternately, body  62  of cutter blade  54  may be rotatably mounted on first rod  50 , while first rod  50  is firmly lodged against rotation in channel  52 . The body  62  of cutter blade  54  also includes an abutment plate  63  adapted to receive the tip of a cigar when the tip is inserted into receptacle  34 , as shown in  FIG.  8    and as will be explained. 
     A portion of the circumferential surface of cutter blade  54  approximately 180 degrees from blade edge  56  comprises an open slot  64 . The ends of a second rod  66  are lodged for lateral movement in slots  68 ,  70  of shafts  18 ,  20 , respectively. A central portion  72  of second rod  66  rests in slot  64 , and the ends of second rod  66  are adapted to slide laterally in slots  68 ,  70  as cutter blade  54  rotates about (or with) first shaft  50 . 
     As seen best in  FIGS.  7 ,  8  and  9   , first hollow space  36  in housing  12  is circular in shape and has an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of cutter blade  54 , thus allowing cutter blade  54  to rotate freely on a horizontal axis in hollow space  36 . Adjacent to first hollow space  36 , housing  12  also includes a second circular hollow space  74  having a diameter greater than the diameter of first hollow space  36 . Second hollow space  74  provides an opening  76  through housing  12 , as seen in  FIGS.  7 ,  8  and  9   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  6 ,  7  and  8   , a more detailed illustration of the assembly and operation of the embodiment of  FIGS.  1  and  2    are shown. Before lighting cigar  78  ( FIGS.  7 ,  8   ), the tip of the cigar to be inserted into the mouth of the user is inserted in receptacle  34  of panel  30  and urged against abutment plate  63 , which abutment plate is located a short distance beyond the plane of front wall  28  of housing  12 , as shown in  FIG.  8   . The user then applies pressure to cross-piece  16 , advancing cylindrical shafts  18 ,  20  downward into channels  24 ,  26  of housing  12  and against the bias of springs  48 . 
     As shafts  18 ,  20  move downward, rod  66  lodged in open slot  64  moves downward, forcing cutter blade  54  to rotate about rod  50  as rod  66  applies pressure at the circumferential surface of cutter blade  54 . Since rod  66  is acting upon the surface of cutter blade  54 , there is also a simultaneous lateral component of movement to rod  66 . This lateral movement is allowed since the ends of rod  66  are supported in slots  68 ,  70  in shafts  18 ,  20 , respectively ( FIGS.  2 ,  7   ) as cutter blade  54  rotates around, or with, rod  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 ,  7  and  8   , as cutter blade  54  rotates in a clockwise direction relative to rod  50 , sharp cutter blade edge  56  enters the tip of cigar  78  at an axial location a short distance from the end  80  ( FIG.  7   ) of the cigar, and trims off a residue portion  84  of the cigar tip from the end  80  of the cigar. Since cutter blade edge  56  is rotating in a circular direction, and since the body  62  of cutter blade  54  is spherical, a hemispherical surface area portion  79  ( FIGS.  12 A and  12 B ) is formed on the new trimmed end  82  ( FIG.  7   ) of cigar  78 . This hemispherical surface area portion  79  has a larger surface area at the new tip  80  of the cigar, compared to the surface area that would be formed were parallel-moving cutter blades applied to the tip of cigar  78 , or compared to the surface area remaining where a cylindrical plug removed from the tip of the cigar. As a result of this larger surface area, an advantage is provided to the user who can draw more air into the cigar while lighting the cigar, and while smoking the cigar. After the cigar tip has been trimmed as described above, the cigar  78  is axially withdrawn from receptacle  34 , and is ready to be smoked. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , which illustrates the position of cutter blade  54  subsequent to removal of a portion of the tip  78  from the cigar, the residue  84  of tobacco removed from the tip of the cigar is deposited in hollow space  36 . After rotation of cutter blade  54  to the position shown in  FIG.  7   , first hollow space  36  is in direct communication with second hollow space  74  and rear opening  76  of housing  12 . While still applying downward pressure to cross-piece  16 , the user can hold housing  12  in a somewhat horizontal position, and shake residue  84  out of housing  12  through second hollow space  74  and through rear opening  76 . Then, pressure on cross-piece  16  is released, and cylindrical shafts  18 ,  20  move upward in housing  12  under the force of springs  48 . As shafts  18 ,  20  move upward, cutter blade  54  and rod  50  return to their original inert position, as shown in  FIGS.  8  and  9   , and cutter assembly  10  is ready for subsequent uses. 
     While the description above refers to an embodiment of the disclosed cigar cutter device, it will be understood that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modified embodiments, as well as the disclosed embodiment, as fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.