Cutting apparatus

Abstract

A cutting apparatus includes a housing and a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly includes an actuator and a plurality of blades. The actuator is moveably coupled to the housing and accessible from an exterior of the housing. The plurality of blades is operably coupled to the actuator and to one another. Each blade is moveable radially inward from a respective retracted position to a respective cutting position upon actuation of the actuator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cutting apparatus comprising:
 a housing; and   a cutting assembly comprising:
 an actuator moveably coupled to the housing and accessible from an exterior of the housing; and 
 a plurality of blades operably coupled to the actuator and to one another, wherein each blade is moveable radially inward from a respective retracted position to a respective cutting position upon actuation of the actuator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades converge at a central axis when the blades are actuated from their respective retracted positions to their respective cutting positions. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the blades includes respective blade edges, and wherein the blade edges of the plurality of blades cooperatively form an X pattern when the blades are in their respective cutting positions. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of blades includes two blade edges that converge at a respective blade tip, and wherein at least one blade edge of each of the plurality of blades overlaps a blade edge of at least one adjacent blade when the blades are in their respective cutting positions to cooperatively form an X pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines an opening sized and shaped to receive an end of a cigar therein, and wherein the cutting assembly is configured to form an X-cut pattern in the end of the cigar when the cigar is positioned within the opening and the actuator is actuated. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting assembly further comprises a drive ring rotatably coupled to the housing and operably coupled to the actuator, wherein the drive ring rotates about a central axis upon actuation of the actuator, and wherein the plurality of blades is operably coupled to the actuator through the drive ring. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each blade is pivotably coupled to the drive ring at a respective pivot point, wherein each blade rotates about its respective pivot point from the retracted position to the cutting position upon actuation of the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of blades comprises:
 a drive blade operably coupled to the actuator; and   a plurality of follower blades operably coupled to the drive ring.   
     
     
         9 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 8  further comprising:
 a drive blade assembly comprising:
 a drive linkage pivotably coupled to the actuator and pivotably coupled to the drive ring; and 
 the drive blade, wherein the drive blade is coupled to the drive linkage; and 
 
 a plurality of follower blade assemblies, each follower blade assembly comprising:
 a follower linkage pivotably coupled to the drive ring; and 
 one of the plurality of follower blades, wherein the one of the plurality of follower blades is coupled to the follower linkage. 
 
 
     
     
         10 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the cutting assembly comprises three follower blades. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the drive ring rotates from a first, initial position to a second, rotated position upon actuation of the actuator, wherein the cutting assembly further comprises at least one spring operably coupled to the drive ring and biasing the drive ring towards the first, initial position. 
     
     
         12 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises an annular slot that rotatably supports the drive ring. 
     
     
         13 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a push lever. 
     
     
         14 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a main body and a cover plate coupled to the main body and at least partially enclosing the cutting assembly within the housing, wherein the cover plate defines a central opening sized and shaped to receive a cigar therein, wherein the cover plate comprises at least one depth-setting feature extending into the opening and depending from the cover plate. 
     
     
         15 . A cutting apparatus comprising:
 a housing; and   a cutting assembly comprising:
 an actuator moveably coupled to the housing and accessible from an exterior of the housing; 
 a drive ring rotatably coupled to the housing and operable to rotate about a central axis upon actuation of the actuator; 
 a drive blade assembly comprising:
 a drive linkage pivotably coupled to the actuator and pivotably coupled to the drive ring; and 
 a drive blade coupled to the drive linkage; and 
 
 a plurality of follower blade assemblies, each follower blade assembly comprising:
 a follower linkage pivotably coupled to the drive ring; and 
 a follower blade coupled to the follower linkage: 
 
   wherein actuation of the actuator causes the drive linkage to rotate the drive ring about the central axis, and causes the drive blade and each of the follower blades to move radially inward from a respective retracted position to a respective cutting position.   
     
     
         16 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the housing comprises a main body and a cover plate coupled to the main body and at least partially enclosing the cutting assembly within the housing, wherein the cover plate defines a central opening sized and shaped to receive a cigar therein, and wherein the cover plate comprises at least one depth-setting feature extending into the central opening and depending from the cover plate. 
     
     
         17 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the housing defines an opening sized and shaped to receive an end of a cigar therein, and wherein the cutting assembly is configured to form an X-cut pattern in the end of the cigar when the cigar is positioned within the opening and the actuator is actuated. 
     
     
         18 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the drive ring rotates from a first, initial position to a second, rotated position upon actuation of the actuator, and wherein the cutting assembly further comprises at least one spring operably coupled to the drive ring and biasing the drive ring towards the initial position. 
     
     
         19 . The cutting apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one spring is an extension spring, and is operable to bias the follower blades toward their respective retracted positions, thereby biasing the drive blade toward its retracted position. 
     
     
         20 . A method of assembling a cutting apparatus, said method comprising:
 providing a housing;   providing a cutting assembly comprising an actuator and a plurality of blades;   moveably coupling the actuator to the housing such that the actuator is accessible from an exterior of the housing; and   operably coupling the plurality of blades to the actuator and to one another such that each blade is moveable radially inward from a respective retracted position to a respective cutting position upon actuation of the actuator.