U.S. patent application number 11/668369 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for scissor cigar cutter having at least three blades and method therefor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nicaragua Tobacco Imports, Inc.. Invention is credited to Alberto GUTMAN.
Application Number | 20080178469 11/668369 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39666318 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080178469 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GUTMAN; Alberto |
July 31, 2008 |
SCISSOR CIGAR CUTTER HAVING AT LEAST THREE BLADES AND METHOD
THEREFOR
Abstract
A scissor cutter (100) includes two scissor handles (102, 104),
a frame structure including a main ring (106) and a secondary ring
(108) that are movably connected to each other, and at least three
blades (118, 120, 122). The main ring (106) is connected to one
(102) of the two scissor handles and to one end of each of the at
least three blades (118, 120, 122), and the secondary ring (108) is
connected to the other one (104) of the two scissor handles and to
another end of each of the at least three blades (118, 120, 122).
When the two scissor handles (102, 104) move relative to each other
the main ring (106) and the secondary ring (108) move in a
rotational motion relative to each other and the at least three
blades (118, 120, 122) move relative to each other reducing a
central region (302, 408) defined by respective cutting edges (402,
404, 406) of the at least three blades (118, 120, 122) thereby
cutting a cigar or other object located in the central region (302,
408).
Inventors: |
GUTMAN; Alberto; (Miami,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLEIT, KAIN, GIBBONS, GUTMAN, BONGINI;& BIANCO P.L.
ONE BOCA COMMERCE CENTER, 551 NORTHWEST 77TH STREET, SUITE 111
BOCA RATON
FL
33487
US
|
Assignee: |
Nicaragua Tobacco Imports,
Inc.
Miami
FL
|
Family ID: |
39666318 |
Appl. No.: |
11/668369 |
Filed: |
January 29, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/111 ;
30/299 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 13/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
30/111 ;
30/299 |
International
Class: |
A24F 13/26 20060101
A24F013/26 |
Claims
1. A scissor cutter comprising: a frame structure; at least three
blades, movably coupled to the frame structure; and two scissor
handles, mechanically coupled to the frame structure, such that
when the two scissor handles move relative to each other the at
least three blades move relative to each other reducing a central
region defined by cutting edges of the at least three blades and
thereby for cutting an object located in the central region.
2. The scissor cutter of claim 1, wherein the at least three blades
of the scissor cutter are sized, shaped, and arranged relative to
each other for cutting a cigar located in the central region.
3. The scissor cutter of claim 1, wherein the at least three blades
of the scissor cutter are arranged adjacent to each other for
slidably moving relative to each other to reduce the central
region.
4. The scissor cutter of claim 1, wherein the frame structure
comprises a main ring and a secondary ring that can move in a
rotational motion relative to each other, and wherein the main ring
is mechanically coupled to one of the two scissor handles and to
one end of each of the at least three blades, and further wherein
the secondary ring is mechanically coupled to the other one of the
two scissor handles and to another end of each of the at least
three blades, such that when the two scissor handles move relative
to each other the main ring and the secondary ring move in a
rotational motion relative to each other and the at least three
blades move to cut an object located in the central region.
5. The scissor cutter of claim 1, wherein the frame structure
comprises a main ring and a secondary ring movably coupled to each
other, and wherein the main ring includes at least three notches
and is mechanically coupled to one of the two scissor handles and
each of the at least three notches loosely holds one end of each of
the at least three blades, respectively, and further wherein the
secondary ring is mechanically coupled to the other one of the two
scissor handles and to another end of each of the at least three
blades, such that when the two scissor handles move relative to
each other the main ring and the secondary ring move in a
rotational motion relative to each other and the at least three
blades move to cut an object located in the central region.
6. The scissor cutter of claim 1, wherein the frame structure, the
at least three blades, and the two scissor handles, are made of
material comprising metal.
7. The scissor cutter of claim 1, wherein the frame structure, the
at least three blades, and the two scissor handles, are made of
stainless steel.
8. The scissor cutter of claim 1, wherein the at least three blades
comprise at least four blades movably coupled to the frame
structure, and wherein the two scissor handles when moved relative
to each other causes the at least four blades to move relative to
each other reducing a central region defined by cutting edges of
the at least four blades and thereby for cutting an object located
in the central region.
9. The scissor cutter of claim 8, wherein the at least four blades
are sized, shaped, and arranged adjacent to each other to slidably
move relative to each other reducing the central region and thereby
for cutting a cigar located in the central region.
10. A method with a scissor cutter, the method comprising: manually
moving two scissor handles relative to each other in a scissors
cutting motion; in response to manually moving the two scissor
handles, moving at least three blades relative to each other to cut
an object located in a central region defined by respective cutting
edges of the at least three blades.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least three blades are
sized, shaped, and arranged relative to each other for slice
cutting a cigar located in the central region.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least three blades
comprise at least four blades, and wherein in response to manually
moving the two scissor handles, moving the at least four blades
relative to each other reducing a central region defined by
respective cutting edges of the at least four blades to cut an
object located in the central region.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least four blades are
sized, shaped, and arranged relative to each other for slice
cutting a cigar in the central region.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least four blades are
arranged adjacent to each other, and wherein in response to
manually moving the two scissor handles, slidably moving the at
least four blades relative to each other reducing the central
region for cutting an object located in the central region.
15. A scissor cigar cutter comprising: two scissor handles; a frame
structure comprising a main ring and a secondary ring that are
movably coupled to each other; and at least three blades, arranged
adjacent to each other and movably coupled to the frame structure,
the main ring being mechanically coupled to one of the two scissor
handles and to one end of each of the at least three blades, and
the secondary ring being mechanically coupled to the other one of
the two scissor handles and to another end of each of the at least
three blades, such that when the two scissor handles move relative
to each other the main ring and the secondary ring move in a
rotational motion relative to each other and the at least three
blades move relative to each other reducing a central region
defined by respective cutting edges of the at least three blades
thereby for cutting a cigar located in the central region.
16. The scissor cigar cutter of claim 15, wherein the frame
structure, the at least three blades, and the two scissor handles,
are made of material comprising metal.
17. The scissor cigar cutter of claim 15, wherein the frame
structure, the at least three blades, and the two scissor handles,
are made of stainless steel.
18. The scissor cigar cutter of claim 15, wherein the main ring
includes at least three notches and each of the at least three
notches loosely holds the one end of each of the at least three
blades, respectively.
19. The scissor cigar cutter of claim 15, wherein the at least
three blades comprise at least four blades arranged adjacent to
each other and movably coupled to the frame structure, the main
ring being mechanically coupled to one of the two scissor handles
and to one end of each of the at least four blades, and the
secondary ring being mechanically coupled to the other one of the
two scissor handles and to another end of each of the at least four
blades, such that when the two scissor handles moved relative to
each other the main ring and the secondary ring move in a
rotational circular motion relative to each other and the at least
four blades move relative to each other reducing a central region
defined by respective cutting edges of the at least four blades
thereby for slice cutting a cigar located in the central
region.
20. The scissor cigar cutter of claim 19, wherein the at least four
blades are arranged adjacent to each other such that in response to
moving the two scissor handles, the at least four blades slidably
move relative to each other to slice cut a cigar located in the
central region defined by respective cutting edges of the at least
four blades while self-sharpening the at least four blades.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of
cigar cutters, and more particularly relates to scissors type cigar
cutters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A typical cigar cutter, that can be used to cut objects,
including, for example, cigars, cigarettes, candles, and the like,
includes one or two blades that can be moved by a user operating a
handle or two handles to cut the object. One such device is a
guillotine type cutter with a single blade or a double guillotine
type cutter with two blades. While the cigar head is effectively
cut, regrettably the cigar also tends to deform while cutting which
can damage the cigar wrapper. This is an undesirable consequence of
using such cutters. An alternative cigar cutter includes a scissors
type of cutter that uses two blades that are moved by a user
operating two handles in a scissors cutting motion. The user's
manual pressure on the two handles is directly translated to the
two blades that move generally in a linear motion sliding against
each other to cut the cigar head. This device also can effectively
cut a cigar. But, the two blades while cutting the cigar also apply
pressure to two opposing sides of the cigar thereby deforming the
cigar and possibly damaging the cigar wrapper, which is an
undesired result of using such a device.
[0003] An irising cigar cutter has been proposed by U.S. Pat. No.
5,974,668 where a squeeze bar and housing are squeezed together in
a single hand to cause three or more blades to close around an
opening to cut a cigar. The cigar cutter with squeeze bar mechanism
is held entirely in one hand and the squeezing motion is applied
between the fingers and the butt of the palm of the hand.
Unfortunately, such an arrangement of a cutter locates the opening
next to the user's palm thereby limiting the size and length of an
object that can be located in the opening to cut the object. For
example, a long object that is intended to be cut with a length of
the object on either side of the opening will create difficulty for
a user in handling and operating such a cutter with the object in
the opening. The holding of the cutter in one hand, and the
operation of the squeeze bar while holding the object in the
opening, may not be possible because of the location of the palm of
the hand adjacent to one side of the opening. Additionally, the
blades are spring loaded to return to an open position after
cutting. The additional component parts can increase the
manufacturing defects and field failures for that type of cutter,
which detrimentally impacts its commercial viability.
[0004] Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the
prior art as discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Briefly, in accordance with embodiments of the present
invention, disclosed are a scissors type cutter with three or more
blades and a method therefor. The scissor, or scissors, cutter can
cut an object such as a cigar located in a central region defined
by respective cutting edges of the at least three blades. While the
scissor cigar cutter, in one embodiment, includes three blades,
scissor cigar cutters having more than three blades are also
anticipated by alternative embodiments of the present
invention.
[0006] A method of using a scissor cigar cutter having at least
three blades is also provided.
[0007] An advantage of a three or more bladed scissor cigar cutter,
according to one embodiment of the present invention, is that the
cigar can be cut more precisely and with uniform pressure around
the circumference of the cigar. This also allows a user to
comfortably cut a cigar head using a familiar scissors type cutting
motion and without deforming the cigar while cutting the head.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer
to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the
separate views, and which together with the detailed description
below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve
to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various
principles and advantages all in accordance with the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front planar view of a scissor cutter with three
blades and a pair of scissor handles in a closed position,
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a right side planar view of the scissor cutter of
FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front planar view of the scissor cutter of FIG.
1 with the scissor handles spread apart and the three blades
defining a first size for a central region.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a front planar view of the scissor cutter of FIG.
1 with the scissor handles brought closer together than in FIG. 3,
and with the three blades defining a second size for central
region.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a rear planar view of the scissor cutter of FIG. 1
with the scissor handles brought to a closed position, and with the
three blades defining a third size for central region.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a left side planar view of the scissor cutter
shown in FIG. 5.
[0015] FIG. 7 a top planar view of the scissor cutter shown in FIG.
5.
[0016] FIG. 8 a bottom planar view of the scissor cutter shown in
FIG. 5.
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the scissor cutter shown in
FIG. 5.
[0018] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the scissor cutter shown in
FIG. 5, illustrating various components of the scissor cutter.
[0019] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a secondary ring coupled to a
scissor handle for use with the scissor cutter of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a main ring coupled to a
scissor handle for use with the scissor cutter of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention, which
can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as aspects of certain examples of the
present invention in support of the claims and as a basis for
teaching one of ordinary skill in the art how to make and use the
present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed
structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not
intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable
description of the invention.
[0022] The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or
more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as
two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined
as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as
used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The
term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not
necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms
scissor or scissors, whether used as singular or plural, with
respect to a cutter, are intended to mean a type of cutting device
with handles that move in a rotational motion relative to each
other, in a scissors cutting motion, and that cause associated
blades to cut an object.
[0023] The present invention, according to one embodiment,
overcomes problems with the prior art by providing a scissor, or
scissors, type cutter that can be used to cut cigars. According to
one embodiment, the scissor cutter has three blades. However,
according to alternative embodiments the scissor cutter can include
more than three blades.
[0024] A user can utilize a scissor cigar cutter to more
comfortably and evenly cut a cigar head in preparation for smoking.
The use of such a scissor cigar cutter increases the precision of
the cut with uniform slice cutting pressure being applied around
the circumference of the cigar, which is a much better cutting
solution over simple linear movement scissors or cutters. As a
result, a cigar is less likely to be deformed by the cutting of the
cigar head and which avoids damaging the wrapper of the cigar. An
additional mechanical advantage is also provided by the rotational
motion of the scissor handles, according to an embodiment of the
present invention, which allows comfortable hand pressure to be
applied by a user operating the scissor handles for cutting an
object by the three or more blades. This is an advantage over the
more conventional cutter devices that require users to apply direct
manual pressure to the cutting blade(s) typically in a simple
linear movement.
[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 1, an example of a scissor cigar cutter 100 is
illustrated. FIG. 1 shows a scissor cigar cutter 100 comprising a
first handle 102 and a second handle 104. The first handle is
mechanically coupled to a main ring 106 and the second handle 104
is mechanically coupled to a secondary ring 108. The main ring 106
and the secondary ring 108 are part of a frame structure that
holds, in this example, three blades 118, 120, 122. The two rings
106, 108, are movably coupled to each other in the frame structure.
Further, the three blades 118, 120, 122, are movably coupled to the
frame structure. The two rings 106, 108, can move in a rotational
motion relative to each other in response to the movement of the
two handles 102, 104 relative to each other. The main ring 106 is
mechanically coupled to one end of each of the three blades 118,
120, 122, and the secondary ring 108 is mechanically coupled to the
other end of the three blades 118, 120, 122, such that when the two
scissor handles 102, 104 move relative to each other the main ring
106 and the secondary ring 108 move in a rotational motion, or
circular motion, relative to each other and the at least three
blades 118, 120, 122, move to cut an object located in a central
region defined by cutting edges of the at least three blades, as
will be discussed in more detail below.
[0026] In this example, respective first ends of each of the three
blades 118, 120, 122, are movably attached to the secondary ring by
three respective binder screw sleeves 112, 114, 116, that mate to
three binder screws 212, 214, and 1016, through holes in the
secondary ring 108, and in each of the three blades 118, 120, 122,
and in a mask ring 202, as better shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. Note
that while screw sleeves and screws are used in this example, other
types of attachments can be used to hold the blades in a moving
coupling arrangement. For example rivets can be used in place of
the screw sleeves and screws to secure one end of the three blades
118, 120, 122, to the secondary ring 108 and the mask ring 202.
[0027] Additionally, respective second ends 1018, 1020, 1022, of
each of the three blades 118, 120, 122, are movably attached to the
main ring 106 by three respective notches 1002, 10004, 1006, in the
main ring 106. The three notches 1002, 10004, 1006, loosely hold
the respective second ends 1018, 1020, 1022, of the three blades
118, 120, 122, in a moving mechanical coupling arrangement with the
main ring 106. The mask ring 202 and the secondary ring 108 also
capture the three blades 118, 120, 122, in the frame structure such
that when the two scissor handles 102, 104, move 401 relative to
each other the at least three blades 118, 120, 122, move relative
to each other reducing a central region 302, 408, defined by
cutting edges 402, 404, 406, of the at least three blades 118, 120,
122, and thereby for cutting an object located in the central
region 302, 408, as better shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0028] A logo plate 110 provides both a coupling structure that
mechanically couples the second handle 102 to the secondary ring
108, and a place to exhibit a logo or other identification marking
for the scissor cigar cutter 100. As shown in FIG. 11, the logo
plate 110, in this example, is soldered to the second handle 104
and to the secondary ring 108 thereby mechanically coupling the
second handle 104 to the secondary ring 108.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 12, the first handle 102, in this example,
is soldered to the main ring 106. The main ring 106 is comprised of
an inner notched ring 1202 that is soldered to two outer holding
rings 1204, 1206. The three notches 1002, 1004, 1006, in the inner
notched ring 1202, as has been discussed above, allow a moving
mechanical coupling of the three blades 118, 120, 122, to the main
ring 106 and to the frame structure.
[0030] FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, illustrate progressive positions of the
two handles 102, 104, and of the three blades 118, 120, 122, from a
fully open position shown in FIG. 3 to a fully closed position
shown in FIG. 5. By progressively closing together the handles 102,
104, in a scissors cutting motion, in this example, the three
blades 118, 120, 122, slidably move relative to each other reducing
the central region 302, 408, and thereby for cutting an object such
as a cigar located in the central region 302, 408. FIG. 5 shows the
central region being reduced to zero in size. That is, the three
blades 118, 120, 122, are substantially overlapping each other in a
closed position and there is no central region remaining. An
object, such as a cigar, that would have been located in the
central region 302, 408, while progressively moving the two handles
102, 104, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, would be slice cut by the
cutting edges 402, 404, 406, of the three blades 118, 120, 122,
rotating in a circular motion around the circumference of the
object while at the same time reducing the central region 302, 408,
until reaching the fully closed position shown in FIG. 5.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the scissor cigar cutter 100
with the two handles 102, 104, and the three blades 118, 120, 122,
in a fully closed position. As illustrated by the present example,
as better shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 10, the three blades 118,
120, 122, are sized, shaped, and arranged relative to each other
for cutting a cigar head located in the central region 302, 408. A
user can comfortably operate the two handles 102, 104, to open and
close the scissor cigar cutter such that the three blades 118, 120,
122, can move relative to each other in a sliding motion thereby
more precisely slice cutting a cigar, and with uniform pressure
around the circumference of the cigar. This allows the user to
comfortably slice cut a cigar's head from a cigar using a familiar
scissors type cutting motion and while applying even pressure and
without applying too much stress to any side around a circumference
of the cigar, thereby avoiding deforming the cigar while precisely
slice cutting the cigar's head. An additional mechanical advantage
is that the scissor cutter 100 also translates and magnifies the
hand pressure applied to the scissor handles 102, 104, into cutting
force applied to the blades 118, 120, 122. This is due to the
mechanical arrangements of the scissor handles 102, 104, an the
frame structure, serving as levers. This structure and method of
use of a cutter is different, more powerful, and more precise, than
the applying of direct manual pressure on blades to cut an object
as has been done in the past.
[0032] The scissor cutter 100, according to one embodiment, has the
frame structure, the at least three blades 118, 120, 122, and the
two scissor handles 102, 104, all made of material comprising
metal. In another embodiment, the entire scissor cutter 100 is made
of stainless steel. This provides for a very long maintenance-free
life for the scissor cutter. The scissor cutter 100, according to
alternative embodiments, can be made in stainless steel; in a
combination of anodized metals; with an aluminum body, that
includes the scissor handles 102, 104, and the frame structure, but
with stainless steel blades 118, 120, 122; in a combination of
precious metals; with a metal body and with ceramic blades; or in
any combination thereof. Other alternative combinations of
materials for the various components of the scissor cutter 100 can
also be used, as should become obvious to those of ordinary skill
in the art in view of the present discussion. For example, the
stainless steel blades 118, 120, 122, in one embodiment, can be
sized, shaped, and arranged adjacent to each other so that while
slidably moving relative to each other the blades are also
self-sharpening.
[0033] In view of the discussion above, an alternative embodiment
of the invention can include more than three blades, such as four
blades, or even more blades, to cut an object, such as a cigar,
located in a central region defined by cutting edges of the four or
more blades. Such a scissor cutter would include the similar
handles 102, 104, coupled to the frame structure, as has been
discussed before. However, instead of the three blades 118, 120,
122, discussed above, there would be at least four blades that are
moveably coupled to the frame structure, such that in response to
moving the two scissor handles 102,104, moving the at least four
blades relative to each other reducing a central region defined by
respective cutting edges of the at least four blades to cut an
object, such as a cigar, located in the central region. These at
least four blades, in one embodiment, would each have one end
loosely held by the main ring 106, such as by respective at least
four notches in the main ring 106. The second end of each of the at
least four blades would be held to the secondary ring 108, and to
the mask ring 202, by respective at least four rivets, for example,
or by any other moving mechanical coupling attachment. The at least
four blades, according to the present example, would be sized,
shaped, and arranged relative to each other for cutting a cigar in
the central region. According to one embodiment, in response to
manually moving the two scissor handles 102, 104, it would slidably
move the at least four blades relative to each other reducing the
central region for cutting an object, such as a cigar, located in
the central region. The at least four blades could be arranged
adjacent to each other so that while slidably moving relative to
each other the at least four blades would also be self-sharpening.
The at least four blades, according to alternative embodiments of
the invention, could be made of material including metal, or of
stainless steel, or of ceramic, or any combination of materials
such as has been discussed above with respect to the scissor cutter
100 having three or more blades 118, 120, 122.
[0034] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been
disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand
that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of
the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific
embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any
and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within
the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *