Abstract:
An improved portable cigar extinguisher and saver device consisting of an assembly of two hollow, cylindrical tube sections coupled together in a slidable, telescopic manner capable of being hermetically sealed by a movable top cap attached to the top tube section and a detachable bottom cap on the bottom tube section. The device can be sealed airtight and shortened or lengthened telescopically, thereby eliminating the space and air within to quickly extinguish a lit cigar and preserve it for later consumption, or to carry a fresh, unsmoked cigar. The device provides cigar smokers with a convenient, socially and environmentally friendly device for extinguishing and carrying a partially consumed cigar.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     None  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to devices for extinguishing and saving tobacco products that have been lit and partially smoked.  
         [0004]     2. Background Art  
         [0005]     The popularity of cigar smoking has not been diminished by the widespread implementation of nonsmoking laws, regulations and workplace rules in almost all public and private venues. Because of such restrictions, however, and the length of time needed to smoke a whole cigar, cigar smokers often need to extinguish cigars before they are completely consumed. Moreover, smokers often desire a convenient means of saving partially consumed cigars for later consumption in a socially and environmentally friendly way.  
         [0006]     Devices to extinguish and/or save partially smoked cigars are known in the art. An early example is U.S. Pat. No. 1,764,862 to Vogelsang which uses a hollow member to receive the cigar and a base in contact with a flat surface to extinguish the cigar. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,641 to Dorrance is an example of an ashtray and snuffer device, whereby a hollow member is attached to an ashtray base by a wire structure which, being cumbersome, negates portability.  
         [0007]     An early device somewhat more practical for carrying partially consumed cigars on the person is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 802,300 to Maclachlan which describes a conical cap fitted with an elastic tube to extinguish the cigar and partially enclose it.  
         [0008]     Perhaps the most recent devices used to extinguish lit cigars and provide a suitable carrying case for saving the cigar for later use are provided by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,968 and 4,907,604 to Beloff and U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,809 to Nicotra, all of which utilize a hollow cylindrical tube with a slidable snuffer mounted on a spring inside the tube, with a removable cap on the open end of the tube, and a clip on the outside of the tube. While the design of these devices had certain advantages over previous methods employed to extinguish and preserve cigars that have been lit, there were serious and obvious drawbacks which could even be comical and embarrassing sometimes. With the snuffer mounted on a spring, a cigar inserted in the open end can unexpectedly fly out of the tube through the hands of the smoker when the cap is removed. Also, since the useful life of the device depends on the strength of the spring, the stronger the spring the more likely the cigar becomes a projectile when the cap is removed. And there is the obvious awkward difficulty of cleaning ash residue from a device with a spring inside.  
         [0009]     The present invention dispenses with springs and slidable snuffers that can malfunction. Rather, the present invention utilizes simple principles and a simple mechanism to quickly and efficiently extinguish lighted cigars and to provide a means to save a partially smoked cigar for later consumption in a convenient and environmental friendly way.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The object of this invention is to provide an improved portable device for quickly and completely extinguishing lit cigars and saving them for later use. This invention also serves as a convenient, compact cigar carrying case that preserves cigars that have not been lit or partially consumed in an optimum state of airtight freshness.  
         [0011]     The invention is embodied in an assembly consisting of two cylindrical tubes fitted together telescopically so that a hollow top tube section can extend or shorten the total length of the assembly by a sliding movement over a hollow bottom tube section. The top tube section is open at both ends with the top end defined by an attached, movable cap that provides a hermetic seal when closed. The inner wall of the top tube section contains a plurality of rib-like flanges extending vertically from the top end to approximately half length of the top tube section and an aperture for a small screw aligned with the bottom ends of the rib-like flanges. The top tube section is sized to receive the bottom tube section through its open bottom end, thereby creating a telescopic coupling.  
         [0012]     The bottom tube section is longer than the top tube section and its circumference is sized to receive comfortably a standard size cigar while fitting within the top tube section in a telescopic, slidably manner. The bottom tube section is open at one end and a removable bottom cap hermetically seals the opposite end. The inside surface of the bottom end cap has a concaved shape to form a snuffer in the preferred embodiment of the invention. The open end of the bottom tube section fits within the uncapped, open bottom end of the top tube section in a telescopic coupling. The outside wall of the bottom tube section contains a plurality of vertical recesses or grooves corresponding to the flanges on the inner walls of the top tube section, so as to provide a slidable means for the telescoping of the bottom tube section into the top tube section. On a side without a groove, the outside wall of the bottom tube section also contains a slightly depressed, rectangular flat surface formed beneath the open end of the bottom tube section. The flat surface extends the same length as the grooves and, being slightly depressed, creates a protruding lip at the top end of the bottom tube section. The flat surface also contains a dimple or notch at its lower end which corresponds exactly with the vertical plane of the small aperture for a screw in the top tube section. When assembled with a small screw protruding through the aperture of the top tube section and the flanges resting within the grooves of the bottom tube section, the bottom tube section slides within the top tube section in a telescoping manner. The telescoping movement is stopped at the upper, capped end of the top tube section when the protruding screw makes contact with the lip formed by the flat surface, and is stopped in the other direction by the screw settling in the notch or dimple in the flat surface of the bottom tube section, and by the flanges reaching the end of the grooves.  
         [0013]     In operation, the top cap is moved to expose the hollow cavity of the assembly and a lit or partially smoked cigar is inserted therein through the top end of the top tube section. A lit cigar is extinguished quickly and efficiently without smoke escaping into the immediate environment when the top cap and bottom cap are closed and the assembly is sealed airtight. The telescoping action facilitates snuffing the cigar by reducing the inner space of the closed assembly and eliminating the air within, according to the size of the partially smoked cigar. However, if used as a carrying case for a fresh, unsmoked cigar or a partially smoked cigar, the telescoping action lengthens and shortens the assembly accordingly, and facilitates removing the cigar.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cigar extinguisher and device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the device as in  FIG. 1  with the top cap open.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, sectional view of the device as in  FIG. 1  showing its components.  FIG. 3  details the construction of the top tube section with an open top cap, clip and internal flanges, and the construction of the bottom tube section with the bottom cap removed, including the grooves and a flat surface with a lip and dimple for stopping and regulating the telescopic sliding movement of the device when its components are assembled.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded view of the device as in  FIG. 1  showing the various components and the structure of the assembled device when it is in a shortened, telescoped position.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a view of the assembled device illustrating its structure when it is in an extended non-telescoped position.  
                                                 DRAWINGS- Reference Numerals                                10   top tube section   12   top cap       14   clip   16   screw aperture       18A   flange   18B   flange       18C   flange   20   bottom tube section       22   lip   24   flat surface       26   dimple   28A   groove       28B   groove   28C   groove       30   bottom cap   32   screw       34   opening to hollow cavity   36   outside wall       38   inner wall                    
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Although a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, the following description is only one example of a variety of specific embodiments representative of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art pertaining to the present invention are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the portable cigar extinguisher and saving device that is the present invention. It shows an attractive assembly of two hollow, tube sections consisting of a lightweight, heat resistant material. The two main components consist of a wider and shorter top tube section  10  and a longer and narrower bottom tube section  20 . The top tube section  10  is crowned by an attached, movable top cap  12  and the bottom tube section  20  has a bottom cap  30  which can be removed as seen in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the invention from overhead with the top cap  12  in an open position, exposing the hollow cavity  34  of the top tube section  10 . This view depicts the opening of the hollow cavity  34  through which a cigar is inserted into the device and through which can be seen three rib-like flanges  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C on the inner walls  38 , The flanges (by sitting within grooves  28 A, 28 B, and  28 C) couple the top tube section  10  with the bottom tube section  20  while providing a sliding means. Both  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  show a clip  14  by which the device is secured to a user&#39;s pocket or other accessory.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view showing the relative proportion of the shorter top tube section  10  to the longer bottom tube section  20 . A detachable bottom cap  30  is also shown.  FIG. 3  depicts rib-like flanges  18 A and  18 B on the inner wall  38  of top tube section  10 , which extend vertically from the opening of the hollow cavity  34  to approximately half the length of the top tube section  10 . Also illustrated are corresponding recesses or grooves  28 A and  28 B on the outside wall  36  of the bottom tube section  20 , which engage flanges  18 A and  18 B when the two tubular sections are coupled together as in  FIG. 4 . (Not depicted on  FIG. 3  are flange  18 C and groove  28 C which are also shown engaged on  FIG. 4 .)  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a partially exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the device assembled in a shortened, telescoped position, displaying the longer bottom tube section  20  telescoped within the shorter but wider top tube section  10 . In such a position the tube sections  10  and  20  are docked or coupled together by means of flanges  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C resting or positioned within grooves  28 A,  28 B, and  28 C respectively. The coupling by means of the rib-like flanges  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C on the inner walls of the top tube section  10  aligned with and set within grooves  28 A,  28 B,  28 C on the outer walls of the bottom tube section  20  also creates a slidable means for the telescoping action of the device.  FIG. 4  also depicts in an exploded view the screw  32  and the screw aperture  16  aligned with the dimple  26  in the flat surface  24  whereby the screw  32  can be inserted through the aperture  16  and engage the dimple and serve as a stopper, along with grooves  28 A,  28 B, and  28 C.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 3, 4 , and  5  illustrate the rectangular, slightly depressed, flat surface  24  that interrupts the uniform cylindrical shape of the outer wall  36  of the bottom tube section  20  on the side opposite groove  28 B. As seen on  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the flat surface  24  is vertically aligned with the clip  14 , the screw aperture  16 , and the screw  32  on the top tube section  10 . The screw aperture  16  and screw  32  are on the same horizontal plane as the ends of flanges  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C on the top tube section  10 . As illustrated on  FIG. 3 , the slightly depressed flat surface  24  on the bottom tube section forms a lip  22  at its top edge and has a small notch or dimple  26  at its lower end. The lip  22  and the dimple  26  act as stoppers when the device is lengthened or shorten by the sliding action.  
         [0025]     On  FIG. 4 , for instance, the device is shown in its telescoped or shortened position. In this position, the screw aperture  16  in the top tube section  10  is horizontally aligned with the dimple  26  in the flat surface  24  of the bottom tube section  20 . When the screw  32  is inserted in the aperture  16 , it engages the dimple and acts as a stopper when the device is telescoped as in  FIG. 4 . The sliding action is also regulated by the length of the grooves  28 A,  28 B, and  28 C and flanges  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C. On the other hand, when the device is lengthened by an upward sliding action of the top tube section  10 , the screw  32  makes contact with the lip  22  which acts as a stopper.  
         [0026]     The operation of the cigar extinguisher and saver device is simple and efficient. It only requires the smoker to insert a lit cigar into the uncapped opening  34  of the top tube section  10  as seen in  FIG. 2  and to close the top cap  12  as seen in  FIG. 1 , thereby creating an airtight seal at the top end of the assembled device. The device would then be telescoped or shorten to the length of the inserted cigar in order for the space and air within to be closed off and eliminated. A lit cigar will be immediately snuffed out as in an airtight container and no extraneous smoke will escape into the immediate environment. The telescoping action will also facilitate retrieving a saved cigar by exposing it.  
         [0027]     The device is cleaned by simply removing the bottom cap  30  as in  FIG. 3  and cleaning out the ash residue in any manner the user desires.  
         [0000]     Advantages  
         [0028]     From the foregoing description of the invention in its preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIGS.  1  thru  5 , the cigar extinguisher and saver device has several advantages: 
    (a) The most obvious advantage of the present invention is its simplicity of use. It merely requires the insertion of a lit cigar which is immediately extinguished when the top cap  12  provides a hermetic seal and the devices is telescoped to close off the airspace inside. Although in the preferred embodiment, the bottom cap  30  is shaped in a manner that allows it to be used as a snuffer, it is not necessary to mash the cigar into a snuffer or ashtray in order to snuff out a lit cigar and eliminate the emission of extraneous smoke into the immediate environment.     (b) Another important advantage is its simplicity of construction and cost effectiveness. The device, which can be constructed of any lightweight, heat resistant material, is integrally molded and coupled together in such a way that there are no necessary, complicated or dependent parts that can break down and render the device useless. There are no springs or filters or snuffer parts to insert, or to manipulate, and/or to break down. Its useful life, therefore, is immeasurable.     (c) Another clear advantage is that the device can easily be cleaned of ash residue by simply removing the bottom cap  30  and flushing out the residue with water, air, or any means the user prefers. Because there are no springs, filters, snuffer or other parts to remove before cleaning, the device can be easily and conveniently cleaned after each use at any time or place.     (d) The ease and convenience of cleaning, the airtight, hermetic seal made by the top cap  12  and bottom cap  30 , and the simple and quick operation of the invention prevents pollution of the immediate physical and social environment of the user, The invention allows the user to quickly and efficiently extinguish a lit cigar with little or no extraneous smoke escaping into the environment.     (e) The air tightness and the telescopic feature of the invention also permits the user to use it as a container to carry a fresh, unused cigar of various lengths and to maintain an unused cigar in a fresh condition for a long period.     (f) An added advantage is that the device is compact and thus more conveniently carried on the person because it does not have to accommodate springs, filters, snuffers and other components. Moreover, its telescopic feature allows it to become even more compact at times.