Cigar Cutting Tool

Abstract

A cigar cutting tool is disclosed having a housing defining an aperture sized to receive a cigar head, a first cutting element having a sharpened linear edge movable relative to and across the aperture, a second cutting element having a sharpened tubular edge extendable from the housing and having a cutting diameter, and a third cutting element having a sharpened tubular edge extendable from the housing and having a cutting diameter smaller than the cutting diameter of the second cutting element. The first cutting element is movable between an open position exposing the aperture and a closed position fully covering the aperture and protecting the sharpened linear edge within the housing. The tool may be used for selectively causing one of a plurality of openings in a cigar head.

1 . A cigar cutting tool comprising:
 a housing defining an aperture sized to receive a cigar head;   a first cutting element having a sharpened linear edge movable relative to and across said aperture;   a second cutting element comprising a sharpened tubular edge extendable from said housing and having a cutting diameter;   a third cutting element comprising a sharpened tubular edge extendable from said housing and having a cutting diameter smaller than said cutting diameter of said second cutting element.   
   
   
       2 . The cutting tool of  claim 1  wherein said first cutting element is movable between an open position exposing said aperture and a closed position fully covering said aperture and protecting said sharpened linear edge within said housing, and is biased towards said open position. 
   
   
       3 . The cutting tool of  claim 2  further comprising means for retaining said first cutting element in said closed position. 
   
   
       4 . The cutting tool of  claim 3  wherein said means for retaining said first cutting element automatically retains said first cutting element in said closed position as it is moved thereto. 
   
   
       5 . The cutting tool of  claim 4  wherein said means for retaining is a releasable pawl;
 said first cutting element is automatically retained in said closed position as it is moved thereto by said releasable pawl; and   wherein release of said pawl enables said first cutting element to automatically move to said open position.   
   
   
       6 . The cutting tool of  claim 5  wherein said second and third cutting elements are each movable between an extended position wherein said respective second or third cutting element extends from said housing and a retracted position wherein said respective second or third cutting element is retracted into said housing and said respective sharpened tubular edge is protected within said housing. 
   
   
       7 . The cutting tool of  claim 6  wherein said second and third cutting elements each comprise a hollow interior chamber for receiving a punched-out plug from the cigar head;
 and wherein said cutting tool further comprises ejectors disposed within and movable relative to each of said hollow interior chambers and adapted to force the plug from the respective chamber as said respective second or third cutting element is moved from its extended position to its retracted position.   
   
   
       8 . The cutting tool of  claim 7  wherein said second and third cutting elements are each biased towards its retracted position. 
   
   
       9 . The cutting tool of  claim 8  further comprising means for retaining said second and third cutting elements in their respective extended positions. 
   
   
       10 . The cutting tool of  claim 9  wherein said housing further comprises a pair of openings each adjacent to and associated with one of said second and third cutting elements, each opening comprising a longitudinal slot portion and a transverse slot portion;
 said means for retaining said second and third cutting elements each comprises a lug fixed to and movable with said respective second or third cutting element, each lug movably received within an associated one of said openings;   wherein longitudinal outward movement of each lug within said associated slot's longitudinal slot portion causes the associated one of said second or third cutting elements to move from its retracted position to its extended position; and   transverse movement of each lug within said associated slot's transverse slot portion causes the associated one of said second or third cutting elements to be retained in its extended position.   
   
   
       11 . The cutting tool of  claim 10  wherein said second and third cutting elements are coaxially disposed. 
   
   
       12 . The cutting tool of  claim 1  wherein said second and third cutting elements are each movable between an extended position wherein said respective second or third cutting element extends from said housing and a retracted position wherein said respective second or third cutting element is retracted into said housing and said respective sharpened tubular edge is protected within said housing. 
   
   
       13 . The cutting tool of  claim 12  wherein said second and third cutting elements each comprise a hollow interior chamber for receiving a punched-out plug from a cigar head;
 and wherein said cutting tool further comprises ejectors disposed within and movable relative to each of said hollow interior chambers and adapted to force the plug from the respective chamber as said respective second or third cutting element is moved from its extended position to its retracted position.   
   
   
       14 . The cutting tool of  claim 13  wherein said second and third cutting elements are each biased towards its retracted position. 
   
   
       15 . The cutting tool of  claim 14  further comprising means for retaining said second and third cutting elements in their respective extended positions. 
   
   
       16 . The cutting tool of  claim 15  wherein said housing further comprises a pair of openings each adjacent to and associated with one of said second and third cutting elements, each opening comprising a longitudinal slot portion and a transverse slot portion;
 said means for retaining said second and third cutting elements each comprises a lug fixed to and movable with said respective second or third cutting element, each lug movably received within an associated one of said openings;   wherein longitudinal outward movement of each lug within said associated slot's longitudinal slot portion causes the associated one of said second or third cutting elements to move from its retracted position to its extended position, and   transverse movement of each lug within said associated slot's transverse slot portion causes the associated one of said second or third cutting elements to be retained in its extended position.   
   
   
       17 . The cutting tool of  claim 16  wherein said second and third cutting elements are coaxially disposed. 
   
   
       18 . A cigar cutting tool comprising:
 a housing defining an aperture sized to receive a cigar head;   a first cutting element having a sharpened linear edge movable relative to and across said aperture, said first cutting element being movable between an open position exposing said aperture and a closed position fully covering said aperture and protecting said sharpened linear edge within said housing, and said first cutting element being biased towards said open position;   a releasable pawl for automatically retaining said first cutting element in said closed position as it is moved thereto, wherein said first cutting element is automatically retained in said closed position as it is moved thereto by said releasable pawl, and wherein release of said pawl enables said first cutting element to automatically move to said open position;   a second cutting element comprising a sharpened tubular edge extendable from said housing and having a cutting diameter;   a third cutting element comprising a sharpened tubular edge coaxially disposed with said sharpened tubular edge of said second cutting element, extendable from said housing in a direction opposite the extension of said second cutting element, and having a cutting diameter smaller than said cutting diameter of said second cutting element;   wherein said second and third cutting elements are each movable between an extended position wherein said respective second or third cutting element extends from said housing and a retracted position wherein said respective second or third cutting element is retracted into said housing and said respective sharpened tubular edge is protected within said housing;   and said second and third cutting elements are each biased towards its retracted position.   
   
   
       19 . The cutting tool of  claim 18  wherein said second and third cutting elements each comprise a hollow interior chamber for receiving a punched-out plug from a cigar head;
 and wherein said cutting tool further comprises ejectors disposed within and movable relative to each of said hollow interior chambers and adapted to force the plug from the respective chamber as said respective second or third cutting element is moved from its extended position to its retracted position.   
   
   
       20 . The cutting tool of  claim 19  wherein said housing further comprises a pair of openings each adjacent to and associated with one of said second and third cutting elements, each opening comprising a longitudinal slot portion and a transverse slot portion;
 said second and third cutting elements each comprises a lug fixed to and movable with said respective second or third cutting element, each lug movably received within an associated one of said openings;   wherein longitudinal outward movement of each lug within said associated slot's longitudinal slot portion causes the associated one of said second or third cutting elements to move from its retracted position to its extended position; and   transverse movement of each lug within said associated slot's transverse slot portion causes the associated one of said second or third cutting elements to be retained in its extended position.   
   
   
       21 . A method of selectively causing one of a plurality of openings in a cigar head using a single cutting tool comprising:
 a housing defining an aperture sized to receive the cigar head;   a first cutting element having a sharpened linear edge movable relative to and across said aperture, said first cutting element being movable between an open position exposing said aperture and a closed position fully covering said aperture and protecting said sharpened linear edge within said housing;   a second cutting element comprising a sharpened tubular edge extendable from said housing and having a cutting diameter;   a third cutting element comprising a sharpened tubular edge extendable from said housing and having a cutting diameter smaller than said cutting diameter of said second cutting element;   
     said method comprising:
 selecting a desired one of a sliced opening, a large diameter punched opening, or a small diameter punched opening for the cigar head, and accordingly following either process a), b) or c) with said single cutting tool; 
 wherein process a) is for a sliced opening and comprises;
 moving the first cutting element to its open position; 
 inserting the cigar head into the aperture; and 
 moving the first cutting element to its closed position to thereby slice an opening through the cigar head; 
 
 wherein process b) is for a large diameter punched opening and comprises;
 extending the second cutting element from the housing; and 
 pushing the second cutting element longitudinally into the center of the cigar head to thereby punch a large diameter opening into the cigar head; 
 
 and wherein process c) is for a small diameter punched opening and comprises;
 extending the third cutting element from the housing; and 
 pushing the third cutting element longitudinally into the center of the cigar head to thereby punch a small diameter opening into the cigar head.