Cigar ventilation implement

Abstract

A cigar ventilating implement includes both a cylindrical punch and a piercing member such as a needle or spike. The punch and piercing member are sequentially extendable in response to a continuous twisting motion of a knob, with the sequencing being controlled by multiple slotted guide cylinders, a pair of actuator/driving cylinders, and a detent mechanism that initially prevents and subsequently enables relative rotation of the actuator and guide cylinders. Retraction of the punch and piercing members is carried out upon reverse rotation of the knob.

Claims

1. A cigar ventilating implement, comprising: an outer housing; a cylindrical punch; a first mechanism for extending the cylindrical punch by a first predetermined distance from an end of the housing; an elongated piercing member extending through and coaxial with the cylindrical punch; a second mechanism for extending the elongated piercing member from the housing by a second predetermined distance greater than the first predetermined distance, wherein the punch is initially extended from the housing while the elongated piercing member remains within the housing, and wherein the elongated piercing member is extended from the housing after the punch has been extended to the first predetermined distance.

2. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first mechanism includes a punch driving cylinder, a punch guide cylinder, and at least one punch follower pin, wherein the at least one punch follower pin travels within and is guided by at least one punch extension slot in the punch guide cylinder to extend the punch upon rotation of the punch driving cylinder, wherein the second mechanism includes a needle actuator cylinder, a needle guide cylinder, and at least one needle follower pin fixed to the elongated piercing member, wherein the at least one needle follower pin travels within and is guided by at least one helical needle extension slot in the needle guide cylinder to extend the elongated piercing member upon relative rotation between the needle actuator cylinder and the needle guide cylinder, wherein the punch follower pin extends radially outwardly from the needle guide cylinder, wherein the needle actuator cylinder is coupled by a detent mechanism to the punch driving cylinder as the at least one punch follower pin travels within and is guided by the at least one punch extension slot to extend the punch, so that the needle actuator cylinder and the needle guide cylinder rotate simultaneously and extension of the needle is prevented, and wherein when the at least one punch follower pin reaches a lower end of the punch extension slot, further extension of the punch and movement of the needle guide cylinder is prevented, the detent mechanism decouples the needle actuator cylinder from the punch driving cylinder, and the needle actuator cylinder rotates relative to the needle guide cylinder to cause the at least one needle follower pin to travel within and be guided by the at least one helical needle extension slot to extend the needle.

3. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the needle guide cylinder is fixed to and rotatable with a knob, whereby initial rotation of the knob causes extension of the punch in response to movement of the at least one punch follower pin within the at least one punch extension slot, and further rotation of the knob causes extension of the elongated piercing member as the needle actuator cylinder is decoupled from the punch extension driving cylinder to enable rotation of the needle actuator cylinder relative to the needle guide cylinder and travel of the needle follower pin through the helical needle extension guide slot.

4. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the detent mechanism includes a detent and a plurality of recesses.

5. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the detent extends from a top section of the needle actuator cylinder and the plurality of recesses are provided in a connector fixed to the punch driving cylinder.

6. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the detent is provided on a flexible tine extending from the needle actuator cylinder.

7. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connector includes a pin that extends radially outwardly through a hole in the punch driving cylinder to prevent relative rotation between the connector and the punch driving cylinder.

8. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongated piercing member is fixed to a holder, the needle actuator cylinder includes a vertically extending linear slot, the at least one needle follower pin extends radially outwardly from the holder and through the vertically extending linear slot of the needle actuator cylinder to the at least one helical needle extension guide slot of the needle guide cylinder.

9. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the elongated vertically extending linear slot of the needle actuator cylinder includes two horizontal end extensions that serve to prevent unintentional vertical movement of the elongated piercing member when in an extended or retracted position.

10. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one punch extension slot includes detents located near ends of the at least one punch extension slot to prevent unintentional movement of the at least one punch extension follower when located at one of said ends.

11. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one punch follower pin extends radially outwardly from the needle guide cylinder and through a hold in the punch driving cylinder to be received by the punch extension slot of the punch guide cylinder.

12. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the punch guide cylinder is inserted into and fixed to the outer housing by at least one fixing pin extending from a tine at one end of the punch guide cylinder.

13. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the punch is secured to the needle guide cylinder by a punch holder, the punch includes two cylindrical sections having different diameters, each cylindrical having a cutting edge such that reversal of the punch in the holder changes a cutting diameter of the punch.

14. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the needle guide cylinder is prevented from rotating relative to the punch driving cylinder by a connecting pin extending from the needle guide cylinder through a hole in the punch driving cylinder.

15. The cigar ventilating implement as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least the needle guide cylinder, the punch guide cylinder, and the punch driving cylinder are made of stamped and formed sheet metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a cigar ventilation implement constructed in accordance with the principles of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIGS. 2-4 FIGS. 1-3 are isometric views respectively showing a retracted state, a punch extension state, an a needle extension state of the cigar ventilation implement of FIG. 1.

(3) FIGS. 5-7 are cross-sectional side views of the cigar ventilation implement of FIG. 1, in the respective states illustrated in FIGS. 2-4.

(4) FIG. 8 is an isometric view of a subassembly that includes the needle actuator cylinder, punch, punch holder, and connector illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5-7.

(5) FIGS. 9 and 10 are isometric views of sub-assembly that includes a needle guide cylinder, into which has been inserted the sub-assembly of FIG. 8, before and after extension of the needle.

(6) FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a punch extension driving cylinder, which has been fitted over the needle guide cylinder of FIGS. 9 and 10.

(7) FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a punch extension guide cylinder, which has been fitted over the punch extension driving cylinder of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) Throughout the following description and drawings, like reference numbers/characters refer to like elements. It should be understood that, although specific exemplary embodiments are discussed herein there is no intent to limit the scope of present invention to such embodiments. To the contrary, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments discussed herein are for illustrative purposes, and that modified and alternative embodiments may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(9) As shown in FIG. 1, the cigar ventilation implement of a preferred embodiment of the invention includes ten discrete main parts. Details of the parts, their connections, and their operation will be provided below. The ten parts are: (1) a punch 30; (2) an elongated stake-like piercing member or needle 31 (hereinafter referred to an “needle 31”); (3) a knob 48; (4) a slotted guide cylinder 45 including a slot 44 for causing extension and retraction of the punch 30; (5) a punch driving cylinder 41 for causing the slotted guide cylinder 45 to rotate in response to twisting of the knob 48; (6) a slotted guide cylinder 38 including a helical guide slot 39 for causing extension and retraction of the needle 31; (7) a needle actuator cylinder 54 for causing follower pins 60 on a needle holder 60 to follow the helical guide slot 39 in order to extend and retract the needle 31 upon disengagement of a detent 53 on the actuator cylinder 54 from a corresponding one of recesses 52; (8) a connector 56 that includes recesses 52 for selectively coupling the actuator cylinder 54 and the punch driving cylinder 41 in order to cause the needle actuator cylinder 54 and punch driving cylinder 41 to initially rotate together to extend the punch, and to subsequently enable the needle actuator cylinder 54 to rotate relative to the punch driving cylinder 41 to extend the needle; (9) a punch holder 36 for fixing the punch 30 to the punch guide cylinder 38; and (10) an outer housing 62 fixed to the punch guide cylinder 45.

(10) As shown in FIGS. 2-5, knob 48 fits over a rear end of the cylindrical outer housing 62, and is rotatable relative thereto in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Although outer housing 62 is illustrated as having a cylindrical main section 62′ and an enlarged diameter front section 62″, the exterior shape of the outer housing 62 is determined by aesthetic and/or ergonomic considerations and plays no role in the operation of the punch or needle extension mechanisms. As illustrated, the outer housing 62 has a unitary construction and may be cast or molded as a single piece, although multiple piece and/or multiple material constructions are also within the scope of the invention.

(11) FIG. 2 shows an initial state in which the punch 30 and needle 31 are both retracted within the outer housing 62 for transport or storage. Only the punch 30 is visible in this view. The punch guide cylinder 45, which is fixed to the outer housing 62, is also visible.

(12) FIG. 3 shows the state in which the knob 48 has been manually rotated relative to the outer housing 62, causing punch 30 and punch holder 36 to extend from the outer housing 62. Also visible in this figure is the punch guide cylinder 45, which has rotated with the knob 48, and rear section of the punch 30, which fits into a groove 35 in the punch holder 36 (as shown in FIG. 5).

(13) FIG. 4 shows the state in which the knob 48 has been further manually rotated relative to the outer housing 62 to cause needle 31 to extend from the outer housing 62 and the previously-extended punch 30. As will become apparent from the description below, the punch guide cylinder 45 shown in FIG. 4 is stationary during extension of the needle 31.

(14) The detailed construction and operation of the punch and needle extension mechanisms will now be described in connection with FIGS. 5-12.

(15) As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 5-7, punch 30 includes a cylindrical front section 32 having a wedge-shaped cutting tip 33 and an enlarged diameter rear section 34 that fits into and is held by a groove 35 in a front section 35A of punch holder 36. The fit between the rear section 34 of the punch 30 and the groove 35 of punch holder 36 may be an interference fit that enables the punch 30 to be removed from the holder, turned upside down, and replaced. According to this feature, the direction of the punch 36 in the holder is reversed, so that cylindrical front section 32 is now inserted into the groove and the enlarged diameter rear section 34, which also can include a cutting tip, faces outwardly to change the cutting diameter of the punch.

(16) Punch holder 36 includes a reduced diameter rear section 37 that fits into a front end of a first slotted guide cylinder 38, which is also shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. First slotted guide cylinder 38 includes a helical slot 39 for guiding the needle 31 toward an extended position upon rotation of the first slotted actuating cylinder, and linear slots 40 to enable insertion of the first slotted guide cylinder 38 into a driving cylinder 41. Helical slot 39 receives needle extension follower pins 60 that extend radially outwardly from the needle holder 61 and pass through slots 38,39 in the needle actuator cylinder 54, as shown in FIG. 8.

(17) The slotted guide cylinder 38 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 further includes punch guide follower pins 42, which extend radially outwardly from a lower section of the slotted guide cylinder 38 and pass through holes 43 in driving cylinder 41 (as shown in FIG. 11) to be slidably received by punch extension slots 44 in the second slotted actuating cylinder 45, shown in FIG. 12 and described below. Slots 44 guide the movement of follower pins 42 as they are rotated by the driving cylinder to extend the punch 30. Optionally, the slots 44 may include detents 44A to hold the follower pins 42 against the ends of the slot 44 until the user of the implement applies a torque to the knob 48 in a disengagement direction. Punch holder 36 also includes a central bore 46 through which the needle 31 extends, and with respect to which the needle 31 is slidable in response to rotation of the first slotted guide cylinder 38, as described below.

(18) The two punch extension follower pins 42 travel along the punch extension slots 44 as the first slotted guide cylinder 38 is rotated. Because the punch extension slots 44 are not only circumferential but also are angled or slope in an axial direction, movement of the punch extension follower pins in response to rotation of the driving member 41 (via the detent mechanism described below in connection with needle actuator 54 and connector 49) results in axial movement slotted guide cylinder 38 and the punch 30, so that the punch 30 is axially moved from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 6. At this time, it is no longer possible to rotate the first slotted guide cylinder 38, because punch extension follower pins 42 have reached respective ends of the punch extension slots 44.

(19) The detent mechanism that serves as a clutch or transmission between the needle actuator cylinder 54, the connector 49, and the punch extension driving cylinder 41 can best be understood in connection with FIGS. 8-11 The first slotted guide cylinder 38 is fixed to and rotatable with the driving cylinder 41 by the extension of follower pins 42 through the holes 43 and optionally by radially extending pins 46 and holes 47. Punch extension driving cylinder 41 is coupled to the need actuator cylinder by a detent mechanism that includes a detent 52 extending from a tine 53 at the top of the needle actuating cylinder 54, and recesses 55 in the connector 49, which is fixed with respect to the driving cylinder 41 by pins 50 radially outwardly extending from the connector 49 into driving pin holes 51 in the punch driving cylinder 41, as shown in FIG. 11.

(20) The detent mechanism includes at least one detent 52 on the exterior of one of two tines 53 extending from needle actuator cylinder 54, and corresponding recess or channels 55 in the connector 49. Needle actuator cylinder 54 is fixed to and rotatable with the knob 48. So long as the needle actuator cylinder 54 and the driving cylinder 41 are both free to rotate, the coupling between detent 52 and one of the recess 53 transmits rotational motion of the needle actuator cylinder 54 to the driving cylinder 41, causing rotation of the driving cylinder 41 and the first slotted guide cylinder 38, so that the punch 30 extends downwardly relative to the second slotted actuating cylinder 45, until the punch extension follower pins 42 reach a lowest end of the punch extension slots 44, as described above.

(21) When the punch extension follower pins 42 reach the ends of punch extension slots 44, driving cylinder 41 is prevented from further rotation. As a result, further turning of the knob 48 causes the detent 52 to exit the corresponding recess 53, allowing continued rotation of the knob 48 and actuator cylinder 54 relative to the driving cylinder 41, which causes follower pins 62 to travel along the helical slot 39 in response to rotation of the need actuator cylinder 54, so that the needle 31 is extended as the follower pins 60 travel along the helical slot 39. As the knob 48 continues be rotated to further extend the needle 31, the detent 52 will pass through additional recesses 53 for a clicking effect that does not prevent the relative rotation but that enables the needle extension to be stopped at a plurality of stable positions, in which the presence of the detent 52 in a respective one of the recesses 55 holds the needle 31 in the position to which it has been extended until the user applies further torque on the knob 48 to continue the extension motion.

(22) Needle actuator cylinder 54 includes a cylindrical main body 57 with a pair of linear slots 58, each with perpendicular extensions 59 at ends of the slot. The edges of the slots 58 transmit a force to the follower pins 60 that causes the pins 60 to travel along the helical slot 39 in response to rotation of the needle actuator cylinder 54. As the follower pins 60 travel along the slot 39, the also move vertically relative to the linear slots 88 of the needle actuator cylinder 54 until the follower pins 60 reach the slot extensions 59. Further rotation causes the follower pins 60 to enter the extension slots 59 to positively prevent further vertical movement of the needle 31.

(23) The cylindrical sleeve 61, from which the needle follower pins 60 extend radially outwardly, includes an internal bore 62 in which the needle 31 is received and secured, optionally by an adhesive. Needle actuator cylinder 54 is coaxially extends through the center of needle guide cylinder 38, such that the needle follower pins 60 can extend first through the linear slots 58 in the actuator cylinder 54, and then through the helical needle extension slots 39 in the needle guide cylinder 38, as described above.

(24) Finally, to improve the appearance of the implement and enable the implement to be more easily gripped by a user, a cylindrical outer housing 62 is fitted over the slotted punch actuator cylinder 45, for example by attachment pins 63 extending from tines 64, which fit into holes 65 in the cylindrical outer housing 62.

(25) In summary, the punch and needle extension operation of the cigar piercing implement is as follows: (I) First, upon initial rotation of the knob 48, punch extension driving cylinder 41 causes movement of punch extension follower pins 42 along the punch extension guide slots 44 of punch extension guide cylinder 45. As the follower pins 42 move along the slots, needle guide cylinder 38 (to which the follower pins are fixed) also rotates and in addition moves axially, resulting in extension of the punch 30, which is fixed to the needle guide cylinder 38. During this initial rotation, a needle actuator cylinder 54 is coupled to the rotating driving cylinder 41 (and the needle guide cylinder 38) via detent 51 and a respective one of recesses 55, causing the needle 31 to remain in a retracted position. (II) Second, when the follower pins 42 reach the lower ends of the slots 44, further rotation of the punch extension driving cylinder 41 with respect to the punch extension guide cylinder 45 is prevented, as a result of which further rotation of the knob 48 causes the detent 51 to exit respective recess 55, thereby decoupling needle actuator cylinder 54 to become decoupled from the punch extension driving cylinder 41 and needle guide cylinder 38. As a result, needle follower pins 60 are rotated by the needle actuator cylinder 54 relative to the needle guide cylinder 38, causing the follower pins 60 to move along a helical slot 39 in the needle guide cylinder 38, and thereby cause extension of the needle 31 from the lower end of the exemplary cigar ventilation implement.

(26) It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, based on the configurations of the punch extension slot 44 and the helical slot 39, that punch extension requires a rotation of knob 48 over an angle of less than 360° (approximately a half turn, for example), while subsequent extension of the needle 31 requires multiple rotations of the knob 48, for example two rotations (approximately 720°). These angles may be varied as desired by simply changing the lengths and slopes of the respective punch extension and helical needle extension slots.

(27) Rotation of the knob 48 in a direction opposite to the punch extension and needle extension direction initially frees the punch extension follower pins 42 to move in an opposite direction in the punch extension guide slots 44, enabling retraction of the punch 30 as the punch actuating cylinder 41 rotates together with the needle extension guide cylinder to cause punch extension follower pins 42 to travel in a reverse direction upwardly along the punch extension guide slots 44. Until the follower pins 42 reach the upper ends of the slots, the detent 52 remains in a corresponding recess 55, so that no movement of the elongated needle 31 occurs. When the punch extension follower pins 42 reach the top end of the punch extension slots 44 and can no longer travel any further, further rotation of the knob 48 causes the detent 51 on the needle actuator cylinder 54 to exit the corresponding recess 55 in the connector 49, and the needle actuator cylinder 54 is once again free to rotate relative to the driving cylinder 41 and needle guide cylinder 38, causing the needle follower pins to travel up the helical needle extension slot 39 and the linear guide slot 59 to retract the elongated needle 31.

(28) While the embodiment described above is not limited to particular materials, the cylindrical actuators and guides, as well as the punch and elongated piercing member may, by way of example and not limitation, be made of stamped and formed sheet metal, while the connector, punch holder, and needle holder may be made of a plastic material, and the outer housing and/or knob may be made of cast metal. In addition, it will be appreciated that at least some of the above-described parts may be made up of multiple or separate elements, and/or modified to accomplish the above-described functions, and also that the combined punch and piercing implement may be combined with additional elements or devices such as a cigar cutter, lighter, flashlight, key holder, and so forth to enhance the functionality of the device. These and other possible variations and modifications of the preferred embodiment described above are all intended to be included within the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims.