CIGAR PUNCH SHARPENER

Abstract

A cigar punch sharpener with an outer-piece and an inner-piece, each having a generally cylindrical shape. The outer-piece includes an angled cylindrical sharpening wall for sharpening a cigar punch cutting blade while the blade is rotated about the angled cylindrical sharpening wall. A rounded edge located on at least one end of the inner-piece and the angled cylindrical sharpening wall of the outer-piece form a cylindrical cavity tapering to an endpoint. The inner-piece is configured to accept and guide the cigar punch cutting blade to the angled cylindrical sharpening wall as the blade is inserted into the cylindrical cavity. The inner-piece is also configured to maintain or reshape the generally cylindrical shape of the cigar punch cutting blade as the blade is worked on the cigar punch sharpener by twisting the cigar punch within the cylindrical cavity.

Claims

1. A cigar punch sharpener, comprising: A hollow outer-piece having a generally cylindrical shape and first and second ends comprising: an outer surface; an inner surface; an angled cylindrical sharpening wall located on at least one of the first and second ends of the outer-piece wherein the angled cylindrical sharpening wall is configured to sharpen an outer edge of a cigar punch cutting blade of generally cylindrical shape while the blade is rotated about the angled cylindrical sharpening wall; an inner-piece having a generally cylindrical shape and first and second ends and comprising: an inner-piece surface configured to be firmly attached to the inner surface of the outer-piece; an inner-piece face with a rounded face edge located on at least one of the first or second ends of the inner-piece; wherein the inner-piece and the angled cylindrical sharpening wall of the outer-piece form a cylindrical cavity tapering to an endpoint where the inner-piece and outer-piece meet; wherein the inner-piece is configured to accept and guide the cigar punch cutting blade to the angled cylindrical sharpening wall as the blade is inserted into cylindrical cavity and to maintain or reshape the generally cylindrical shape of the cigar punch cutting blade as the blade is worked on the cigar punch sharpener by twisting the cigar punch within the cylindrical cavity.

2. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 1, wherein the angled cylindrical sharpening wall is knurled.

3. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 2, wherein the outer-surface of the outer-piece is knurled.

4. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 3, wherein the angled cylindrical sharpening wall is angled relative to the inner-surface of the outer-portion by between 14 and 16.

5. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 4, wherein: the inner-surface of the outer-piece has an outer-piece first portion, a outer-piece second portion of relatively larger interior diameter, and an outer-piece radial step located where the outer-piece first portion and outer-piece second portion meet; the inner-piece has an inner-piece first portion, a relatively larger diameter inner-piece second portion, and an inner-piece radial step located where the inner-piece first portion and inner-piece second portion meet; and wherein the inner-piece and outer-piece are configured to be press-fit together by forcibly pushing the inner-piece first portion through the outer-piece second portion and continuing through the outer-piece first portion until the inner-piece step meets the outer-piece step.

6. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 5, wherein the inner-piece first portion has an inner-piece knurled portion configured to collapse and deform when the inner-piece is press fit into the outer-piece.

7. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 6, further comprising: a first cylindrical cavity formed by the first end of the inner-piece and the first end of the outer-piece; a second cylindrical cavity formed by the second end of the inner-piece and the second end of the outer-piece; wherein the first and second cylindrical cavities are configured to accept relatively different diameter cigar punch cutting blades of generally cylindrical shape.

8. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 7, wherein the first cylindrical cavity is configured to accept a cigar punch cutting blade approximately 7 mm in diameter.

9. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 8, wherein the second cylindrical cavity is configured to accept a cigar punch cutting blade approximately 9 mm in diameter.

10. The cigar punch sharpener of claim 9, wherein the outer-piece and inner-piece are made of aluminum.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a cigar punch sharpener.

[0004] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an outer-piece of a cigar punch sharpener.

[0005] FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an inner-piece of a cigar punch sharpener.

[0006] FIG. 2A is a side view of an outer-piece of a cigar punch sharpener.

[0007] FIG. 2B is cross-section of a first end of an outer-piece.

[0008] FIG. 2C is cross-section of a second end of an outer-piece.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an outer-piece.

[0010] FIG. 4A is a side view of an inner-piece of a cigar punch sharpener.

[0011] FIG. 4B is cross-section of a first end of an inner-piece.

[0012] FIG. 4C is cross-section of a second end of an inner-piece.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross-section of a cigar punch sharpener.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a cross-section of a cigar punch sharpener.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cigar punch sharpener.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cigar punch sharpener and cigar punch.

[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cigar punch sharpener and cigar punch in sharpening position.

BACKGROUND

[0018] The head of a cigar is the end in which smoke is draw by the user, i.e., opposite the lit end. The head is typically covered in a piece of wrapper known as a cap. Common examples of caps may include a small circle of wrapped leaf. Other examples of caps include so-called pig tails, flag caps, mounted heads (also knowns as Cuban-Style, three-seam caps, or triple caps).

[0019] Regardless of the type of cap used on the cigar, in order to permit the user to draw smoke from the head, the cap must be cut, pierced, or removed. There are multiple ways of doing so, one of which is to use a punch (also known as a drill). A punch is a small tool with a cylindrical blade for cutting a circular hole in the cap, commonly between 7 9 millimeters in diameter, although examples can be found of larger and smaller diameter punches, including those as small as 5 millimeters and as large as 14 millimeters.

[0020] Through use over time the punch blade may become dull and/or mishappened. This adversely affects the punchs ability to cut the circle in the cigar cap. A commonly used method to try to sharpen punches involves manually filing the punch blade with the aid of a magnifying glass. This is time consuming, tedious work. Moreover, holding the separate magnifying glass and file, while also holding the punch itself, can be difficult and may require a second person or additional equipment, such as a vice to hold the punch fixed, and/or specialized equipment, such as a desk-mounted magnifying glass or a jewelers glass that fits over the eye like glasses. This method of sharpening also has the drawback of doing little to correct a misshapen punch back to its circular shape for optimal cutting.

[0021] Therefore, a new device and method is needed to sharpen and reshape a cylindrical punch blade to overcome the deficiencies of the prior devices and methods.

SUMMARY

[0022] In some embodiments, a cigar punch sharpener may include a hollow outer-piece having a generally cylindrical shape and first and second ends. The outer-piece may include an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer-piece may further include an angled cylindrical sharpening wall located on at least one of the first and second ends of the outer-piece. The angled cylindrical sharpening wall may be configured to sharpen an outer edge of a cigar punch cutting blade of generally cylindrical shape while the blade is rotated about the angled cylindrical sharpening wall.

[0023] A cigar punch sharpener may further include an inner-piece having a generally cylindrical shape and first and second ends. The inner-piece may include an inner-piece surface configured to be firmly attached to the inner surface of the outer-piece. The inner-piece may also have an inner-piece face with a rounded face edge located on at least one of the first or second ends of the inner-piece.

[0024] The inner-piece and the angled cylindrical sharpening wall of the outer-piece may form a cylindrical cavity tapering to an endpoint where the inner-piece and outer-piece meet. The inner-piece may be configured to accept and guide the cigar punch cutting blade to the angled cylindrical sharpening wall as the blade is inserted into cylindrical cavity. The inner-piece may also be configured to maintain or reshape the generally cylindrical shape of the cigar punch cutting blade as the blade is worked on the cigar punch sharpener by twisting the cigar punch within the cylindrical cavity.

[0025] In some embodiments, the angled cylindrical sharpening wall may be knurled such that it serves a sharpening function while the cigar punch sharpener is in use.

[0026] In some embodiments, the outer-surface of the outer-piece may be knurled. Doing so has benefits, including enhancing a users grip on the cigar punch sharpener while in use.

[0027] In some embodiments, the angled cylindrical sharpening wall is angled relative to the inner-surface of the outer-portion by between 14 and 16.

[0028] In some embodiments, the outer-piece may have an outer-piece first portion, an outer-piece second portion of relatively larger interior diameter, and an outer-piece radial step located where the outer-piece first portion and outer-piece second portion meet. The inner-piece may have an inner-piece first portion, a relatively larger diameter inner-piece second portion, and an inner-piece radial step located where the inner-piece first portion and inner-piece second portion meet. In some embodiments, the inner-piece and outer-piece may be configured to be press-fit together by forcibly pushing the inner-piece first portion through the outer-piece second portion and continuing through the outer-piece first portion until the inner-piece step meets the outer-piece step.

[0029] In some embodiments, the inner-piece first portion has an inner-piece knurled portion configured to collapse and deform when the inner-piece is press fit into the outer-piece.

[0030] In some embodiments, a first cylindrical cavity may be formed by the first end of the inner-piece and the first end of the outer-piece and a second cylindrical cavity may be formed by the second end of the inner-piece and the second end of the outer-piece. In these embodiments, the first and second cylindrical cavities may be configured to accept relatively different diameter cigar punch cutting blades of generally cylindrical shape.

[0031] One exemplary method of using the embodiments of the cigar punch sharper disclosed herein may include a user manually griping the cigar punch sharpener in one hand and the cigar punch in the other. Next, the user may press the cigar punch blade into a cylindrical cavity of pre-determined size to fit the particular cigar punch blade. Once inserted, the user may then twist the cigar punch in a clockwise-counterclockwise motion until the cigar punch blade is both sharp and properly shaped.

[0032] In some embodiments of a cigar punch sharpener the device can be made of aluminum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The apparatuses and methods disclosed and described in this document are described in detail with the views and examples of the included figures. Unless otherwise specified, like numbers in figures indicate references to the same or corresponding elements throughout the views of the figures. Those of ordinary skill in this art will recognize that modifications to disclosed and described components, elements, methods, materials, and so forth can be made and may be desired for a specific application.

[0034] In this disclosure, any identification of specific shapes, materials, techniques, and the like are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a shape, material, technique, or the like. Identifications of specific details are not intended to be and should not be construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such. Selected examples of cigar punch sharpers and methods of use are disclosed and described in detail below. It should be noted that those having an ordinary level of skill in this area will recognize from reading this disclosure that various components of the disclosed apparatuses can be combined in ways not specifically shown in the examples to create an additional specific configuration. For ease of understanding and readability, no attempt is made to catalog every possible combination of the disclosed components.

[0035] The foregoing description of examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed, and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The examples were chosen and described in order to best illustrate principles of the apparatuses and methods disclosed and as are suited to particular uses contemplated. The scope is, of course, not limited to the examples set forth above, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0036] Any dimensions discussed in connection with the Figures are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Such dimensions are provided in units of inches and should be understood to include a tolerance of +/- 0.005 in. for each exemplary dimension provided.

[0037] Turning now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, a cigar punch sharpener (100) may include a hollow outer-piece (200) having a generally cylindrical shape and an outer-piece first end (201) and outer-piece second end (202). The cigar punch sharpener (100) may also have an inner-piece (300) having a generally cylindrical shape and an inner-piece first end (301) and an inner-piece second end (302).

[0038] As shown in the side view of outer-piece (200) depicted in FIG. 2A and the two cross sections of outer-piece (200) shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the outer-piece (200) may have an outer surface (210) having a generally cylindrical shape and an inner surface (220) having a generally cylindrical shape, such that the inner surface defines a hollow area within the outer-piece (200). As shown, the outer surface (210) may be knurled in some examples to improve grip, among other benefits. In some examples, the outer surface (210) may have a diameter of inch.

[0039] Turning next to FIG. 3, a cross-section of the outer-piece (200) is shown. Angled cylindrical sharpening walls (230) are shown on the outer-piece first end (201) and outer-piece second end (202). In this example, the angled cylindrical sharpening walls (230) have an angle of 15 +/- 1 relative to the inner surface (220) of the outer-piece (200). The angled cylindrical sharpening walls (230) may be configured to sharpen an outer edge of a cigar punch cutting blade of generally cylindrical shape while the blade is rotated about the angled cylindrical sharpening wall (230).

[0040] As also shown in FIG. 3, an outer-piece (200) may further comprise an outer-piece first portion (240) and an outer-piece second portion (250), each such portion having a generally cylindrical shape. The outer-piece second portion (250) may define relatively greater interior diameter hollow area within the outer-piece (200) than the hollow area defined by the outer-piece first portion (240). An outer-piece radial step (260) defines the point at which the outer-piece first portion (240) and outer-piece second portion (250) of this example embodiment meet. In some examples, the angled cylindrical sharpening walls (230) may be knurled to aid in grinding cigar punch blades while the cigar punch sharpener (100) is in operation.

[0041] An example of an inner-piece (300) is depicted in the side view of FIG. 4A and the cross sections of FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C. As shown in these drawings, inner-piece (300) may include an inner-piece surface (310), inner-piece faces (330) on each of the inner-piece first end (301) and inner-piece second end (302). The inner-piece faces (330) may have rounded edges (335). In some embodiments, some or all of the inner-piece surface (310) may be smooth. In other embodiments, the inner-piece surface (310) may be knurled.

[0042] As also shown in FIG. 4A, the inner-piece (300) may further comprise an inner-piece first portion (340) and an inner-piece second portion (350), each such portion being generally cylindrical in shape. The inner-piece second portion (350) may have a relatively greater exterior diameter than the inner-piece first portion (340). An inner-piece radial step (360) defines the point at which the inner-piece first portion (340) and inner-piece second portion (350) of this example embodiment meet. In some examples, the inner-piece first portion (340) may further include an inner-piece knurled portion (345).

[0043] The foregoing discussed embodiments of inner-piece (300) and outer-piece (200) may be configured to be press-fit together by forcibly pushing the inner-piece first portion (340) through the outer-piece second portion (250), i.e. at the second end (202) of the outer-piece (200) and continuing through the outer-piece first portion (240) until the inner-piece step (360) meets the outer-piece step (260). In some embodiments, the inner-piece knurled portion (345) may be configured to collapse and deform when the inner-piece (300) is press fit into the outer-piece (200), creating a tighter fit or mechanical lock.

[0044] Turning next to FIG. 5, a cross-section of a cigar punch sharpener (100) is shown with both the outer-piece (200) and inner-piece (300) after the two have been press-fit together. As discussed in connection with the embodiments above, the outer-piece (200) is depicted in FIG. 5 with an outer surface (210), inner surface (220), and angled cylindrical sharpening walls (230) while the inner-piece (300) is shown with its inter-piece faces (330), each having a rounded face edge (335). Each of the first and second portions of each piece is also depicted, such that the inner-piece first portion (340) is shown in position within the outer-piece first potion (240), inner-piece second portion (350) is shown in position within the outer-piece second potion (250), and inner-piece radial step (360) is in alignment with the outer-piece radial step (260).

[0045] FIG. 5 also depicts cylindrical cavities (400), which are formed of the inner piece (300) and the angled cylindrical sharpening walls (230) of the outer-piece (200) and which taper to endpoints (410) where the inner-piece and outer-piece meet. In the embodiment depicted, the inner-piece (300) is configured to accept and guide a cigar punch cutting blade to the angled cylindrical sharpening wall (230) as the blade is inserted into cylindrical cavity (400) towards the end point (410) of the cylindrical cavity (400) until the cigar punch blade is in contact with the angled cylindrical sharpening wall (230). The angled cylindrical sharpening wall (230) may be configured to sharpen an outer edge of a cigar punch cutting blade of generally cylindrical shape while the blade is rotated about the angled cylindrical sharpening wall. For example, as depicted in other drawings, the angled cylindrical sharpening wall (230) may be knurled in a predefined manner optimal to the job of sharpening a given cigar punch blade. Further, the inner-piece (300) may be configured to maintain or reshape the generally cylindrical shape of the cigar punch cutting blade as the blade is worked on the cigar punch sharpener (100) by twisting the cigar punch within the cylindrical cavity (400).

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, some embodiments of cigar punch sharpeners (100) may define cylindrical cavities of varying sizes to accommodate cigar punch blades of varying diameters. As depicted, in FIG. 6, a first cylindrical cavity (371), having a first radial diameter, may be formed by the inner-piece first end (201) and the outer-piece first end (301). Also, a second cylindrical cavity (372), having a second radial diameter, may be formed by the inner-piece second end (202) and the outer-piece first end (301), such that first and second cylindrical cavities may accept relatively different diameter cigar punch cutting blades of generally cylindrical shape.