An apparatus for opening up the sheath of a cigar and lighting the cigar, comprising a lighter, comprising a lighter frame; and a cigar splitter attached to the base of the lighter frame by an outside surface of the cigar splitter. The cigar splitter comprises a housing having two open ends, an inside wall, and the outside surface, an axis parallel to the inside wall and passing through the two open ends, the two open ends permitting insertion of a cigar along the axis through one of the two open ends and to exit through another of the two open ends; a blade attached to the inside wall and oriented along the axis, the blade suitable for cutting an outer sheath of the cigar as the cigar is inserted through the cigar splitter along the axis; and a loop attached to the outside surface of the housing.

The present invention is a self-defense instrument comprised of an ergonomic key holder and a key with a sharpened tip that is retained within a slotted compartment defined within the key holder, said key holder further including opposite extending protrusions that extend generally perpendicularly away from the slotted compartment and that are configured to be graspable by the user's hand.

Shoe fastening assembly for a split vamp shoe having at least a pair of opposed eyelets on either side of the split and includes an elongated rigid member with an arcuate curved lower surface and a pair of spaced apertures at each end of the member and a throat extending outwardly from each aperture, and a continuous elongated elastomeric band located in each aperture and passing beneath the member and lying on the tongue of the shoe. The band cross-section at rest is larger than each aperture and when stretched readily passes through each throat. A plurality of members and bands are provided for additional pairs of eyelets on the shoe and methods of fastening a shoe are herein included.

An embodiment personal item management apparatus includes a wearable band having a fixed circumference that defines a first outer diameter; and a clasp coupled to the wearable band, the clasp having a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter and being adapted to couple a personal item to the wearable band. In an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the second outer diameter to the first outer diameter is about 0.4.

An embodiment personal item management apparatus includes a wearable band having a fixed circumference that defines a first outer diameter; and a clasp coupled to the wearable band, the clasp having a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter and being adapted to couple a personal item to the wearable band. In an exemplary embodiment, the ratio of the second outer diameter to the first outer diameter is about 0.4.

A key fob protector for use with an electronic key fob that prevents inadvertently unlocking a vehicle door by covering a plurality of control buttons on a key fob so that no buttons are activated when the key fob is stowed in a bag, purse or pocket. The key fob protector has a gap, exposing a panic button, so that the panic button can easily be activated in an emergency situation without opening the cover. The key fob protector is easily installed using a strap that wraps around the key fob securing the key fob protector in place when the strap is fastened.

A connector ring includes a body with first and second ring portions. Each ring portion is configured to extend through the item opening of a corresponding item. The first ring portion includes a wire coil that is defined by wire sections and includes an overlapped coil segment. The body is configured such that the wire sections are yieldably shiftable away from each other along the overlapped coil segment to define a space through which the corresponding item can move along a coil axis. One of the wire sections turns off axis relative to the other wire section at a location to form an offset end portion that extends away from the overlapped coil segment. The wire sections are configured for prying engagement by the corresponding item generally at the location to facilitate shifting of the wire sections away from one another along the overlapped coil segment.

A connector ring includes a body with first and second ring portions. Each ring portion is configured to extend through the item opening of a corresponding item. The first ring portion includes a wire coil that is defined by wire sections and includes an overlapped coil segment. The body is configured such that the wire sections are yieldably shiftable away from each other along the overlapped coil segment to define a space through which the corresponding item can move along a coil axis. One of the wire sections turns off axis relative to the other wire section at a location to form an offset end portion that extends away from the overlapped coil segment. The wire sections are configured for prying engagement by the corresponding item generally at the location to facilitate shifting of the wire sections away from one another along the overlapped coil segment.

The invention provides an improved sleeve for a key fob with Radio Frequency (RF) blocking features to block undesired communications with the key fob.

The present invention relates generally to a coated jewelry article or a coated component of a jewelry article, comprising a jewelry article or a component of a jewelry article, a first metallic coating, and a second metallic coating.