U.S. patent application number 12/106721 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-28 for cigar punching tool.
This patent application is currently assigned to COLIBRI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Andrew Smith.
Application Number | 20090133705 12/106721 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40668675 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090133705 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Andrew |
May 28, 2009 |
CIGAR PUNCHING TOOL
Abstract
A cigar punching tool has a tubular housing and a tubular
gripping portion surrounding the housing and longitudinally movable
relative thereto between a forward position and a rearward position
displaced rearwardly there-from. A tubular blade is surrounded by
the housing and has a hollow interior and a circular cutting edge
disposed forwardly of the gripping portion. The blade is
longitudinally movable relative to the housing between a storage
position in which the cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into the
housing and a cutting position in which the cutting edge projects
forwardly from the housing. A spring engages the housing and blade
and biases the cutting edge to the storage position, and a lever
pivotally engages the housing at a hinge and has a first lever arm
engaged and pivoted rearwardly by the gripping portion when the
gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward
position, and has a second lever arm pivoted forwardly and engaging
the blade when the gripping portion is moved from the forward
position to the rearward position to cause movement of the cutting
edge from the storage position to the cutting position.
Inventors: |
Smith; Andrew; (Pascoag,
RI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRANCIS EDWARD MARINO
394 MEREDITH NECK ROAD
MEREDITH
NH
03253
US
|
Assignee: |
COLIBRI CORPORATION
East Providence
RI
|
Family ID: |
40668675 |
Appl. No.: |
12/106721 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
29298069 |
Nov 28, 2007 |
D570041 |
|
|
12106721 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
131/255 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24F 13/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/255 |
International
Class: |
A24F 13/24 20060101
A24F013/24 |
Claims
1. A cigar punching tool comprising: a tubular housing; a tubular
gripping portion surrounding said housing and longitudinally
movable relative thereto between a forward position and a rearward
position displaced rearwardly there-from; a tubular blade
surrounded by said housing and comprising a hollow interior and a
circular cutting edge disposed forwardly of said gripping portion
and longitudinally movable relative to said housing between a
storage position in which said cutting edge is rearwardly retracted
into said housing and a cutting position in which said cutting edge
projects forwardly from said housing; a spring engaging said
housing and blade and biasing said cutting edge to said storage
position; and a lever pivotally engaged to said housing at a hinge
and having a first lever arm engaged and pivoted rearwardly by said
gripping portion when said gripping portion is moved from said
forward position to said rearward position, and having a second
lever arm pivoted forwardly and engaging said blade when said
gripping portion is moved from said forward position to said
rearward position to cause movement of said cutting edge from said
storage position to said cutting position.
2. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 further comprising an ejector
disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing;
and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative
to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially
forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting
position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said
cutting edge is in said retracted position.
3. The cigar punching tool of claim 2 wherein said gripping portion
traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is
in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said
cutting position against the bias of said spring.
4. The cigar punching tool of claim 3 wherein said spring forces
said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping
portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward
portion.
5. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing
is substantially cylindrically shaped and said circular cutting
edge is coaxial therewith.
6. The cigar punching tool of claim 5 further comprising an ejector
disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing;
and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative
to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially
forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting
position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said
cutting edge is in said retracted position.
7. The cigar punching tool of claim 6 wherein said gripping portion
traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is
in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said
cutting position against the bias of said spring.
8. The cigar punching tool of claim 7 wherein said spring forces
said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping
portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward
portion.
9. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing
and gripping portion are substantially cylindrically-shaped and
coaxial.
10. The cigar punching tool of claim 9 further comprising an
ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said
housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable
relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is
substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in
said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector
when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.
11. The cigar punching tool of claim 10 wherein said gripping
portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping
portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in
said cutting position against the bias of said spring.
12. The cigar punching tool of claim 11 wherein said spring forces
said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping
portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward
portion.
13. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular
housing, blade, and gripping portion are substantially
cylindrically-shaped and coaxial, and said circular cutting edge is
coaxial therewith.
14. The cigar punching tool of claim 13 further comprising an
ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said
housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable
relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is
substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in
said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector
when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.
15. The cigar punching tool of claim 14 wherein said gripping
portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping
portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in
said cutting position against the bias of said spring.
16. The cigar punching tool of claim 15 wherein said spring forces
said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping
portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward
portion.
17. The cigar punching tool of claim 16 wherein said housing and
gripping portion cooperate to form a cylinder less than
approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter and less than
approximately seven inches long when said gripping portion is in
said forward position.
18. The cigar punching tool of claim 16 further comprising a key
ring.
19. The cigar punching tool of claim 18 wherein said key ring is
affixed to said gripping portion.
20. The cigar punching tool of claim 19 wherein said key ring is
affixed to said gripping portion at a rearward end thereof.
21. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing
is substantially circular and said circular cutting edge is coaxial
therewith.
22. The cigar punching tool of claim 21 further comprising an
ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said
housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable
relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is
substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in
said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector
when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.
23. The cigar punching tool of claim 22 wherein said gripping
portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping
portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in
said cutting position against the bias of said spring.
24. The cigar punching tool of claim 23 wherein said spring forces
said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping
portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward
portion.
25. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing
and gripping portion are substantially circular and coaxial.
26. The cigar punching tool of claim 25 further comprising an
ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said
housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable
relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is
substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in
said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector
when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.
27. The cigar punching tool of claim 26 wherein said gripping
portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping
portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in
said cutting position against the bias of said spring.
28. The cigar punching tool of claim 27 wherein said spring forces
said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping
portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward
portion.
29. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular
housing, blade, and gripping portion are substantially circular and
coaxial, and said circular cutting edge is coaxial therewith.
30. The cigar punching tool of claim 29 further comprising an
ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said
housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable
relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is
substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in
said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector
when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.
31. The cigar punching tool of claim 30 wherein said gripping
portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping
portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in
said cutting position against the bias of said spring.
32. The cigar punching tool of claim 31 wherein said spring forces
said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping
portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward
portion.
33. The cigar punching tool of claim 32 wherein said housing and
gripping portion cooperate to form a circular body no more than
approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter and no more
than approximately seven inches long when said gripping portion is
in said forward position.
34. The cigar punching tool of claim 32 further comprising a key
ring.
35. The cigar punching tool of claim 34 wherein said key ring is
affixed to said gripping portion.
36. The cigar punching tool of claim 35 wherein said key ring is
affixed to said gripping portion at a rearward end thereof.
37. A cigar punching tool comprising: a tubular housing; a tubular
gripping portion surrounding said housing and longitudinally
movable relative thereto between a forward position and a rearward
position, said rearward position displaced rearwardly from said
forward position a tubular blade surrounded by said housing and
comprising a hollow interior and a sharp circular cutting edge
disposed forwardly of said gripping portion and longitudinally
movable relative to said housing between a storage position, in
which said sharp circular cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into
said housing, and a cutting position, in which said sharp circular
cutting edge projects forwardly from said housing for punching a
hole in a cigar; a compression spring engaging said housing and
said blade and biasing said sharp circular cutting edge to said
storage position; a lever pivotally engaged to said housing, said
lever comprising: a first lever arm engaged and pivoted rearwardly
by said gripping portion when said gripping portion is moved from
said forward position to said rearward position; a second lever arm
pivoted forwardly and engaging said blade when the gripping portion
is moved from said forward position to said rearward position to
cause movement of said sharp circular cutting edge from the storage
position to the cutting position; an ejector disposed within said
hollow interior of said blade and affixed to said housing, said
ejector having a forward ejecting end; wherein said blade is
longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said
sharp circular cutting edge is substantially forward of said
forward ejecting end when said sharp circular cutting edge is in
said cutting position, and is substantially adjacent to said
forward ejecting end when said sharp circular cutting edge is in
said retracted position; wherein when said cutting edge is extended
forwardly into said cutting position, it is disposed for pushing
into the cigar to punch a hole therein by removing a cylindrically
shaped plug of tobacco from the cigar; wherein said gripping
portion retains said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping
portion is in said rearward position to retain said sharp circular
cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said
compression spring, thereby preventing a rearwardly-acting force
against the sharp circular cutting edge from pushing said sharp
circular the cutting edge back into said housing during punching;
wherein said compression spring forces said blade rearwardly and
thereby forces said sharp circular cutting edge into said storage
position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward
position to said forward position and releases said first lever
arm; and wherein when said cutting edge is retracted rearwardly
into said storage position, said sharp circular cutting edge is
protected within said housing such that a user is protected from
said sharp circular cutting edge.
38. The cigar punching tool of claim 37 wherein said blade further
comprises a key and said housing comprises a tubular base and a
tip; said tubular base comprises a key way receiving said key to
prevent relative rotation while allowing relative longitudinal
movement between said housing and blade; said tip receives said
compression spring and comprises a rearward end threadedly
engageable to a forward end of said tubular base; and wherein
reception of said blade into said tubular base and reception of
said compression spring into said tip, and subsequent threaded
engagement of said tip to said tubular base, forms said housing and
captures there-within said blade and spring.
39. The cigar punching tool of claim 38 wherein said ejector is
disposed into said hollow interior of said blade and though a
rearward end of said blade and affixed to said housing rearwardly
thereof.
40. The cigar punching tool of claim 39 wherein said ejector
comprises one or more holes aligning with one or more holes of said
housing when said ejector is disposed through said rearward end of
said blade, and wherein a dowel pin is disposed through said
aligned holes of said ejector and said housing to affix said
ejector to said housing.
41. The cigar punching tool of claim 40 wherein: said housing
comprises a second key way, a first lever slot, and a first hinge
pin hole; said lever comprises a second hinge pin hole; said
gripping portion comprises a slotted liner, and wherein; said
slotted liner comprises a second key, a second lever slot, and a
hinge pin slot; a rear end of said housing is disposed into said
slotted liner and said second key is received by said second key
way to prevent relative rotation while allowing relative
longitudinal movement between said housing and slotted liner; said
first and second lever slots are aligned when said rear end of said
housing is disposed into said slotted liner and said lever is
received therein; said hinge pin slot, first hinge pin hole, and
said second hinge pin hole are aligned when said rear end of said
housing is disposed into said slotted liner and when said lever is
received therein; a hinge pin is disposed through said hinge pin
slot and said first and second hinge pin holes to pivotally engage
said lever to said housing; wherein said hinge pin cooperates with
said hinge pin slot to limited longitudinal relative movement
between said slotted liner and said housing.
42. The cigar punching tool of claim 41 wherein said gripping
portion further comprises a rear tip receiving said slotted liner
and threadedly engageable thereto to form said gripping portion and
capture said hinge pin there-within.
43. The cigar punching tool of claim 42 wherein said rear tip
comprises a key ring.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/298,069, filed on Nov.
28, 2007, the specification and drawings of which are incorporated
herein in their entireties by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is related to cigar smoking implements
and accessories. More particularly, this invention is a tool for
punching a hole in the head of a cigar in preparation for
smoking.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Structurally, cigars consist of a filler tobacco, rolled
within binder tobacco, and then rolled within wrapper tobacco. The
filler is often scraps or pieces of flavorful tobacco. Larger
leaves of low aesthetic quality and flavor are generally used for
binders to tightly contain and compact the filler. Leaves of
highest aesthetic quality are typically used for the wrapper, to
provide a smooth and consistent outer surface that is attractive to
the smoker and comforting to the lips.
[0004] In regards to shape and terminology, cigars consist of a
barrel, a head, and a foot. The barrel is the long tubular body
portion. The foot is the end which is burned during smoking. The
head is the end of the cigar which the consumer places in his mouth
during smoking. Cigars are typically sold with their heads in a
"closed" state, that is, the binder and wrapper cover the head
completely to retain the compacted filler and provide a neat and
tapered tip.
[0005] Additionally, binders and wrappers help to keep fresh the
filler tobacco, so cigars that are sold with their heads closed
tend to remain fresh longer.
[0006] Implements for opening the heads of cigars come in two main
types, cutters and punches. Cutters typically include one or two
sharp blades that traverse and slice through the head to remove the
head tip and create an opening. Punches, on the other hand, are
tubular cutting tools that create a longitudinal hole into the
head. The diameter of the hole is always the same as the size of
the punch, and is therefore perfectly consistent from cigar to
cigar.
[0007] A shortcoming in the prior art exists in the lack of a cigar
punching tool which combines, in whole or in part, the following
aspects; [0008] a) Simple and reliable blade extension for cutting,
[0009] b) Simple and easy to use, [0010] c) Simple and reliable
blade retraction for storage, [0011] d) Neat, compact and safe
storage configuration, [0012] e) Equally configured for right hand
or left hand use, [0013] f) Automatically ejects the punched-out
cigar plug,
[0014] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide all of these aspects, in whole or in various combinations.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent in view of the following disclosure of an exemplary
embodiment thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The invention is a cigar punching tool arranged to advance
and overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing means
for: simple and reliable blade extension for cutting; means for
simple and easy use; means for simple and reliable blade retraction
for storage; a neat, compact and safe storage configuration; a
configuration allowing equal use by the right or left hand, and
automatic ejection of the punched-out cigar plug.
[0016] As such, a punching tool according to the invention may have
a tubular housing and a tubular gripping portion surrounding the
housing and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a
forward position and a rearward position displaced rearwardly
there-from. A tubular blade may be surrounded by the housing and
may have a hollow interior and a circular cutting edge disposed
forwardly of the gripping portion. The blade may be longitudinally
movable relative to the housing between a storage position in which
the cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into the housing and a
cutting position in which the cutting edge projects forwardly from
the housing. A spring may engage the housing and blade and bias the
cutting edge to the storage position, and a lever may be pivotally
engaged to the housing at a hinge and have a first lever arm
engaged and pivoted rearwardly by the gripping portion when the
gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward
position, and have a second lever arm pivoted forwardly and
engaging the blade when the gripping portion is moved from the
forward position to the rearward position to cause movement of the
cutting edge from the storage position to the cutting position.
[0017] The punching tool may be sized and shaped to allow it to be
carried and stored in the slots or channels typically found in
cigar boxes and humidors for receiving cigars, or may be equipped
with a key ring for carrying on a key chain.
[0018] During the storage condition, the blade edge may be
protected for safety and to avoid damage to the sharp edge.
[0019] Further potential features and aspects of the invention are
disclosed with more specificity in the Detailed Description and
Drawings of an exemplary embodiment provided herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with
reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings
are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention.
Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigar punching tool
according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1
with its blade in the storage position;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a side view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1
with its blade in the cutting position;
[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded top view of the cigar punching tool of
FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional top view of the cigar punching
tool of FIG. 1 with its blade in the storage position;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the cigar
punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade in the storage position;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the cigar
punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade being moved from the storage
position to the cutting position;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the cigar
punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade in the cutting position;
[0029] FIG. 8A is a partial close-up view of FIG. 8; and
[0030] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the cigar punching
tool of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 9, where there is
shown an exemplary cigar punching tool 100 according to just one of
the infinite number of possible cigar cutters within the scope of
the invention.
[0032] Punching tool 100 has a tubular housing 102, a tubular
gripping portion 104 surrounding the housing and longitudinally
movable relative thereto between the forward position shown in
FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, and a rearward position shown in FIGS. 3 and
8. As shown, the rearward position is displaced rearwardly from the
forward position.
[0033] A tubular blade 106 is surrounded by the housing and has a
hollow interior 108 and a circular cutting edge 110 disposed
forwardly of the gripping portion and longitudinally movable
relative to the housing between the storage position shown in FIGS.
1, 2, 5, and 6, in which the cutting edge is rearwardly retracted
into the housing and the cutting position shown in FIGS. 3 and 8,
in which the cutting edge projects forwardly from the housing for
punching a hole in the head of a cigar. A compression spring 112
engages the housing and blade and biases the cutting edge to the
storage position.
[0034] When the cutting edge is extended forwardly into its cutting
position of FIGS. 3 and 7, it is ready to be pushed into the head
of a cigar to punch a hole therein by removing a cylindrically
shaped plug of tobacco from the cigar head. When the cutting edge
is retracted rearwardly into its storage position, the sharp
cutting edge is protected within the housing and the user is
protected from the sharp cutting edge, and the tool is thereby
configured for safe and compact storage.
[0035] The cooperation between the gripping portion and blade to
cause the cutting edge to move between its cutting and storage
positions as the gripping portion is moved between its rearward and
forward positions is shown in FIGS. 6 through 8. Lever 114 is
pivotally engaged to housing 102 at hinge pin 116 and has a first
lever arm 118 engaged and pivoted rearwardly by the gripping
portion when the gripping portion is moved from the forward
position to the rearward position. The lever also has a second
lever arm 122 pivoted forwardly and engaging the blade when the
gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward
position to cause movement of said cutting edge from the storage
position to the cutting position.
[0036] Gripping portion 104 traps first lever arm 118 rearwardly
when the gripping portion is in its rearward position, to retain
cutting edge 108 in its cutting position against the bias of spring
112. This prevents the rearwardly-acting force from the cigar
trying to push the cutting edge back into the housing during
punching from doing so. Spring 112 forces the blade rearwardly, and
thereby forces the cutting edge into its storage position, as the
gripping portion is moved from its rearward position to its forward
portion and releases first lever arm 118.
[0037] Ejector 124 is disposed within the hollow interior of blade
106 and affixed to the housing by pin 126. The blade is
longitudinally movable relative to the ejector such that cutting
edge 108 is substantially forward of the ejector's forward end 128
when the cutting edge is in the cutting position, as shown in FIG.
8, and is substantially adjacent to the forward end when the
cutting edge is in said retracted position, as shown in FIG. 6.
When spring 112 causes the cutting edge to be retracted into the
housing, the cutting edge also moves rearwardly relative to the
forward end of the ejector, forcing the punched cigar plug from
interior 108.
[0038] Tubular housing 106 and gripping portion 104 are
cylindrically shaped and coaxial, and cooperate when the gripping
portion is in the forward position to form a cylinder approximately
nine-sixteenths of an inch in diameter and approximately three
inches long, which allows the tool to be carried and stored in the
slots or channels typically found in cigar boxes and humidors. The
cylindrically shaped structure is equally useful for right-handed
and left-handed users. The circular cutting edge is coaxial with
the housing and gripping portion, which improves the feel and
balance during holding and punching.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the tool may have a key ring 170
for carrying on a key chain, which is preferably affixed to the
rearward end of the gripping portion so that the tool hangs
vertically downwardly from the key chain.
[0040] Housing 102 is preferably constructed of three components;
tubular base 102A, collar 102B and tip 102C. The tubular base
receives blade 106 within its interior chamber 132. Key 134 of the
blade and key way 136 of the base to prevent rotation while
allowing longitudinal movement of the blade within the chamber. Tip
102C is internally threaded at its rearward end to mate with
external threading 138 at the forward end of the base.
[0041] Cylindrical collar 102B may be externally knurled as shown,
or may have some other surface finish or color to improve gripping
and the aesthetics of the tool. The collar slides over the rear end
of the tip prior to affixing the tip to the base. Inserting the
blade into the base and the spring into the tip and then threading
of the tip onto the base creates a unitary housing that captures
within the blade 106 and spring 112 with the blade biased towards
its storage position.
[0042] Ejector 124 is next inserted through hollow interior 108 and
fully rearward though slots 142 in the rearward end 144 of the
blade until holes 146 of the ejector align with holes 148 of the
base, and pin 126 is inserted to immovably secure the ejector to
the base.
[0043] Gripping portion 104 is constructed of three components;
slotted liner 104A, grip 104B, and rear tip 104C. Slotted liner
104A is inserted over the rear end of base 102A and has an internal
key which is received by slot 152 of the base to prevent rotation
while allowing longitudinal movement of the liner on the base. Slot
150 of the liner is aligned with slot 152 of the base, to receive
lever 114. Second lever arm 122 is inserted into the slots until
hinge hole 154 of the lever is aligned with hinge holes 156 of the
base and clearance slots 158 of the liner, and hinge pin 116 is
inserted there-though to pivotally affix the lever to the base and
to affix the liner to the base while allowing the liner to move
longitudinally relative to the base within the limits of clearance
slot 158.
[0044] Grip 104B is next slid over the rear end of liner 104A to
hide the inner workings of the tool and provide a smooth
cylindrical gripping surface, and is affixed to the liner by rear
tip 104C, which screws into the rear end of the liner to trap the
grip and create a unitary gripping portion 104, which is
longitudinally movable relative to the housing within the limits of
clearance slot 158. The rear tip is equipped with a hole 162 for
optionally receiving a key ring.
[0045] An advantageous feature of this embodiment lies in the
interaction of the lever 114 with the rear end 144 of the blade, as
shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 8A. Referring to FIG. 7, as gripping
portion 104 is being pulled rearwardly, the forward edge 150F of
slot 150 engages first lever arm 118, forcing it rearwardly, and
thereby pivoting lever 114 so that second lever arm 122 pushes
against the rear end 244 of the blade and forced the blade
forwardly.
[0046] As the gripping portion reaches its fully rearward position
of FIG. 8, shown in close-up in FIG. 8A, forward edge 150 has
pivoted lever 114 clockwise (as seen in FIG. 8) sufficiently that
the contact point of the second lever arm 122 and the rear end 144
of the blade is over-center of the lever's hinge pin 116 that is to
say, the contact point is further left than the hinge pin (as shown
in FIG. 8A) and has pivoted clockwise down passed the nadir of its
motion, just starting back upward as the rearward movement of the
gripping portion reaches its limit. While the gripping portion
remains in the fully rearward position of FIG. 8, forward edge 150F
holds first lever arm 118 in this fully clockwise position and
thereby locks the blade in its forward position.
[0047] Upon initial forward movement of the gripping portion back
towards its forward position, forward edge 150F is disengaged from
first lever arm 118, but the lever arm is temporarily held in its
fully clockwise position because of the over-center arrangement in
cooperation with the rearward bias that spring 112 is exerting on
the blade. The force of the blade attempting to move the blade
further rearwardly prevents the lever from pivoting back
counter-clockwise to allow the blade to be retracted.
[0048] As the gripping portion is and further forwardly moved, the
rear edge 150R of slot 150 engages first lever arm 118, forcing it
to pivot counter-clockwise, initially against the force of spring
112 until second lever arm 122 passes counter-clockwise back beyond
its nadir and begins to move forwardly again, whereby the spring
suddenly begins to accelerate the counter-clockwise pivoting of the
lever arm. This causes cutting edge 110 to suddenly snap back into
housing 102, which causes the distance between the forward end 128
of the ejector and the cutting edge to close rapidly, which has the
effect of shooting the cigar plug out of the blade more forcefully.
The result is a rapid ejection of the cigar plug which allows the
user to shoot the plug into a nearby trash can or such.
[0049] In summary, the invention may be embodied as a cigar
punching tool having a tubular housing, a tubular gripping portion
surrounding the housing and longitudinally movable relative thereto
between a forward position and a rearward position displaced
rearwardly there-from. A tubular blade is surrounded by the housing
and has a hollow interior and a circular cutting edge disposed
forwardly of the gripping portion and is longitudinally movable
relative to the housing between a storage position in which the
cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into the housing and a cutting
position in which the cutting edge projects forwardly from the
housing.
[0050] A spring may engage the housing and blade and bias the
cutting edge to the storage position, and a lever may be pivotally
engaged to the housing at a hinge and have a first lever arm
engaged and pivoted rearwardly by the gripping portion when the
gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward
position, and have a second lever arm pivoted forwardly and
engaging the blade when the gripping portion is moved from the
forward position to the rearward position to cause movement of the
cutting edge from the storage position to the cutting position.
[0051] The cigar punching tool may further have an ejector disposed
within the hollow interior and affixed to the housing, wherein the
tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to the ejector
such that the cutting edge is substantially forward of the ejector
when the cutting edge is in the cutting position and is
substantially adjacent to the ejector when the cutting edge is in
the retracted position.
[0052] The gripping portion may trap the first lever arm rearwardly
when the gripping portion is in the rearward position to retain the
cutting edge in the cutting position against the bias of the
spring. The spring may force the cutting edge into the storage
position as the gripping portion is moved from the rearward
position to the forward portion.
[0053] The tubular housing may be substantially cylindrically
shaped and the circular cutting edge may be coaxial therewith. The
tubular housing and gripping portion may both be substantially
cylindrically-shaped and coaxial. The tubular housing, blade, and
gripping portion may all be substantially cylindrically-shaped and
coaxial, and the circular cutting edge may be coaxial
therewith.
[0054] The housing and gripping portion may cooperate to form a
cylinder less than approximately three-quarters of an inch in
diameter and less than approximately seven inches long when the
gripping portion is in the forward position so that it can be
carried and stored in the slots or channels typically found in
cigar boxes and humidors for receiving cigars.
[0055] The cigar punching tool may have a key ring for carrying on
a key chain, which may be affixed to the rearward end of the
gripping portion.
[0056] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, it should be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention, and that the invention should therefore only be
limited according to the following claims, including all equivalent
interpretation to which they are entitled.
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