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.

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.