Cigarette Pin

Abstract

A cigarette holding apparatus for a cigarette includes a first cigarette pin and a second cigarette pin. The first cigarette pin has a first holding portion, a first clamping portion and a first hinge portion formed between the first holding portion and the first clamping portion, the first clamping portion has a first clamping indention. The second cigarette pin has a second holding portion, a second clamping portion and a second hinge portion formed between the second holding portion and the second clamping portion. The second clamping portion has a second clamping indention. The first hinge portion and the second hinge portion are pivotally connected with each other so that the cigarette holding apparatus is arranged to move between a releasing mode and a clamping mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cigarette holding apparatus for a cigarette, comprising:
 a first cigarette pin having a first holding portion, a first clamping portion and a first hinge portion formed between said first holding portion and said first clamping portion, said first clamping portion having a first clamping indention; and   a second cigarette pin having a second holding portion, a second clamping portion and a second hinge portion formed between said second holding portion and said second clamping portion, said second clamping portion having a second clamping indention, said first clamping indention and said second clamping indention being positioned to correspond with each other,   said first hinge portion and said second hinge portion being pivotally connected with each other so that said cigarette holding apparatus is arranged to operate between a releasing mode and a clamping mode, wherein in said releasing mode, said first cigarette pin and said second cigarette pin are pivotally moved in such a manner that said first clamping portion and said second clamping portion pivotally move away from each other, wherein in said clamping mode, said first cigarette pin and said second cigarette pin are pivotally moved in such a manner that said first clamping portion and said second clamping portion pivotally move toward each other for clamping said cigarette by said first clamping indention and said second clamping indention.   
     
     
         2 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first clamping portion of said first cigarette pin has a first inner flat surface and a first outer curved surface for forming a generally semi-circular cross sectional shape of said first clamping portion, said first clamping indention being formed on said first inner flat surface of said first clamping portion, and having a substantially semi-circular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         3 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said second clamping portion of said second cigarette pin has a second inner flat surface and a second outer curved surface for forming a generally semi-circular cross sectional shape of said second clamping portion, said second clamping indention being formed on said second inner flat surface of said second clamping portion, and having a generally semi-circular cross sectional shape. 
     
     
         4 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first clamping indention and said second clamping indention are formed at a position which correspond to each other so that when said first cigarette pin is pivotally connected to said second cigarette pin, and said cigarette holding apparatus is in said clamping mode, said first clamping indention and said second clamping indention may correspond with each other to form a through main clamping cavity within said space formed by said first clamping indention and said second clamping indention, said main clamping cavity being substantially circular in cross sectional shape for fitting said cigarette. 
     
     
         5 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first cigarette pin further has a first auxiliary indention formed on said first clamping portion at a position adjacent to said first clamping indention. 
     
     
         6 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first cigarette pin further has a first auxiliary indention formed on said first clamping portion at a position adjacent to said first clamping indention. 
     
     
         7 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said second cigarette pin further has a second auxiliary indention formed on said first clamping portion at a position adjacent to said second clamping indention, said first auxiliary indention being positioned corresponding to that of said second auxiliary indention to form an auxiliary clamping cavity as a space between said first auxiliary indention and said second auxiliary indention when said cigarette holding apparatus is in said clamping mode. 
     
     
         8 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said second cigarette pin further has a second auxiliary indention formed on said first clamping portion at a position adjacent to said second clamping indention, said first auxiliary indention being positioned corresponding to that of said second auxiliary indention to form an auxiliary clamping cavity as a space between said first auxiliary indention and said second auxiliary indention when said cigarette holding apparatus is in said clamping mode. 
     
     
         9 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein each of said first auxiliary indention and said second auxiliary indention may have a semi-circular cross sectional shape so that said auxiliary clamping cavity formed by said first auxiliary indention and said second auxiliary indention has a substantially circular cross sectional shape, wherein a diameter of said auxiliary clamping cavity is smaller than that of said main clamping cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein each of said first auxiliary indention and said second auxiliary indention may have a semi-circular cross sectional shape so that said auxiliary clamping cavity formed by said first auxiliary indention and said second auxiliary indention has a substantially circular cross sectional shape, wherein a diameter of said auxiliary clamping cavity is smaller than that of said main clamping cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first holding portion has a first inner holding surface and a first outer holding surface, said first inner holding surface having a flat contour while said first outer holding surface having a curved contour, a thickness of said first holding portion gradually decreasing from said first hinge portion to a free end of said first holding portion so as form a predetermined angle of inclination with a longitudinal axis of said cigarette holding apparatus when in said clamping mode. 
     
     
         12 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first holding portion has a first inner holding surface and a first outer holding surface, said first inner holding surface having a flat contour while said first outer holding surface having a curved contour, a thickness of said first holding portion gradually decreasing from said first hinge portion to a free end of said first holding portion so as form a predetermined angle of inclination with a longitudinal axis of said cigarette holding apparatus when in said clamping mode. 
     
     
         13 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said second holding portion has a second inner holding surface and a second outer holding surface, said second inner holding surface having a flat contour while said second outer holding surface having a curved contour, a thickness of said second holding portion gradually decreasing from said second hinge portion to a free end of said second holding portion so as form a predetermined angle of inclination with a longitudinal axis of said cigarette holding apparatus when in said clamping mode. 
     
     
         14 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said second holding portion has a second inner holding surface and a second outer holding surface, said second inner holding surface having a flat contour while said second outer holding surface having a curved contour, a thickness of said second holding portion gradually decreasing from said second hinge portion to a free end of said second holding portion so as form a predetermined angle of inclination with a longitudinal axis of said cigarette holding apparatus when in said clamping mode. 
     
     
         15 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first hinge portion has a first receiving indention and comprises a plurality of first connecting protrusions extended from an inner sidewall of said first receiving indention toward said second hinge portion, while said second hinge portion having a second receiving indention and comprising a plurality of second connecting protrusions extended from an inner sidewall of said second receiving indention toward said first hinge portion. 
     
     
         16 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said first hinge portion has a first receiving indention and comprises a plurality of first connecting protrusions extended from an inner sidewall of said first receiving indention toward said second hinge portion, while said second hinge portion having a second receiving indention and comprising a plurality of second connecting protrusions extended from an inner sidewall of said second receiving indention toward said first hinge portion. 
     
     
         17 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 11 , further having a storage slot indently formed on at least one of said first inner holding surface of said first holding portion and on second inner holding surface of said second holding portion. 
     
     
         18 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 12 , further having a storage slot indently formed on at least one of said first inner holding surface of said first holding portion and on second inner holding surface of said second holding portion. 
     
     
         19 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a resilient element connecting to said first hinge portion of said first cigarette pin and said second hinge portion of said second cigarette pin for exerting a force to said first cigarette pin and said second cigarette pin to normally retain said cigarette holding apparatus in said clamping mode. 
     
     
         20 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising a resilient element connecting to said first hinge portion of said first cigarette pin and said second hinge portion of said second cigarette pin, said resilient element being partially received in said storage slot and exerting a force to said first cigarette pin and said second cigarette pin to normally retain said cigarette holding apparatus in said clamping mode. 
     
     
         21 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 4 , further comprising a securing member and a securing indention formed on said second cigarette pin and said first cigarette pin respectively, said securing member being configured as a protrusion extended from said second clamping portion of said second cigarette pin at a position adjacent to said second auxiliary indention, said securing member and said securing indention are formed such that when said cigarette holding apparatus is in said clamping mode, said securing member is moved to partially receive in said securing indention so as to minimize a lateral movement between said first cigarette pin and said second cigarette pin. 
     
     
         22 . The cigarette holding apparatus, as recited in  claim 20 , further comprising a securing member and a securing indention formed on said second cigarette pin and said first cigarette pin respectively, said securing member being configured as a protrusion extended from said second clamping portion of said second cigarette pin at a position adjacent to said second auxiliary indention, said securing member and said securing indention are formed such that when said cigarette holding apparatus is in said clamping mode, said securing member is moved to partially receive in said securing indention so as to minimize a lateral movement between said first cigarette pin and said second cigarette pin.