Cigar mold

Abstract

A cigar mold includes a top mold member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and at least one upper mold recess is formed along the bottom surface of the top mold member. The cigar mold also includes a lower mold member having a bottom surface and a top surface, and at least one lower mold recess formed along the top surface of the bottom mold member. The upper mold recess mates with the lower mold recess to define a completely circular cigar mold cavity. The cigar mold cavity includes an open first end and a closed second end. The second end of the cigar mold cavity is substantially spherical and includes a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the remainder of the cigar mold cavity as it extends between the first end and the second end.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/080,908, entitled “CIGAR MOLD”, filed Jul. 15, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a cigar mold. More particularly, the invention relates to a cigar mold configured for creating cigars having a round look.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cigar molds have been manufactured and used in the pressing of cigars for some time. These molds allow manufacturers to roll and press cigars in an efficient manner. However, cigar molds that currently available exhibit shortcomings which have not yet been addressed within the industry. One such shortcoming is that the molds are made from wood and don't last very long. Another is that a completely circular cavity is not formed and, as such, the tobacco gets pinched during turning. The present invention attempts to address these shortcomings by providing the present cigar mold designed to improve upon the process of manufacturing cigars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold including a top mold member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and at least one upper mold recess formed along the bottom surface of the top mold member. The cigar mold also includes a lower mold member having a bottom surface and a top surface, and at least one lower mold recess formed along the top surface of the bottom mold member. The upper mold recess mates with the lower mold recess to define a completely circular cigar mold cavity. The cigar mold cavity includes an open first end and a closed second end. The second end of the cigar mold cavity is substantially spherical and includes a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the remainder of the cigar mold cavity as it extends between the first end and the second end.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold manufactured from a polymeric material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold including alignment pegs shaped and dimensioned for selective seating within matingly shaped alignment recesses for maintaining the top mold member and the bottom mold member in an aligned configuration.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold wherein the bottom surface of the top mold member includes a plurality of alignment pegs shaped and dimensioned for selective seating within matingly shaped alignment recesses formed in the top surface of the bottom mold member.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold wherein the cigar mold includes ten cigar mold cavities.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold wherein the cigar mold cavity includes no flat surfaces and is completely round.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold wherein the upper mold recess defines an arcuate shape having a predefined radius of curvature.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold wherein the lower mold recess includes a lower arcuate portion which defines a continuous arcuate surface having a radius of curvature identical with that of the upper mold recess.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold wherein the lower mold recess includes first and second upper edges, and each of the first and second upper edges includes a routed section formed to accommodate an outer wall of the upper mold recess.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cigar mold wherein the upper mold recess defines an arcuate shape having a predefined radius of curvature forming an arc of less than 180 degrees.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cigar mold wherein the lower mold recess includes a lower arcuate portion which defines a continuous arcuate surface having a radius of curvature identical with that of the upper mold recess and forming an arc of greater than 180 degrees.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mold wherein the arc formed by upper mold recess is smaller than the arc formed by the lower mold recess.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present cigar mold.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the cigar mold along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the cigar mold along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the cigar mold along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the present cigar mold.

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross sectional view of the cross section shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 shows a cross section view of the cigar mold with the top mold member and the bottom mold member separated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, and with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, a cigar mold 10 is disclosed. The cigar mold 10 includes a top mold member 12 and a bottom mold member 14. Both the top mold member 12 and the bottom mold member 14 are manufactured from polymeric materials designed for easy cleaning, convenient fabrication, and long life. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the top and bottom mold members 12,14 are manufactured from high density polyethylene although other materials may be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The top mold member 12 includes a planar, top surface 16 and a bottom surface 18. The top surface 16 is substantially smooth and defines part of the outer surface 20 of the present cigar mold 10 while the bottom surface 18 includes various functional structures utilized in the manufacture of cigars in accordance with the present invention and are discussed below in greater detail.

The bottom surface 18 of the top mold member 12 includes four downwardly oriented alignment pegs 22a, 22b, in particular, a pair of left side alignment pegs 22a and a pair of right side alignment pegs 22b, adjacent the right and left side lateral edges 54, 56 of the top mold member 12. The alignment pegs 22a, 22b are shaped and dimensioned for selective seating within matingly shaped alignment recesses 24 formed in the top surface 26 of the bottom mold member 14 to maintain the top mold member 12 and the bottom mold member 14 in aligned configuration. Positioned between the left side alignment pegs 22a and the right side alignment pegs 22b are a plurality of upper mold recesses 30 which mate with similar lower mold recesses 32 formed along the top surface 26 of the bottom mold member 14. The exact structure of these upper mold recesses 30 and the lower mold recesses 32 will be discussed below in greater detail as they form an important part of the present invention.

As discussed above, the bottom mold member 14 is shaped and dimensioned for mating with the top mold member 12. The bottom mold member 14 includes a planar, bottom surface 28 which forms the base of the present cigar mold 10. The top surface 26 of the bottom mold member 14 includes a plurality of alignment recesses 24 shaped and dimensioned for mating engagement with the alignment pegs 22a, 22b of the top mold member 12 as discussed above. The top surface 26 of the bottom mold member 14 also includes a plurality of lower mold recesses 32 shaped and dimensioned for alignment with the various upper mold recesses 30 of the top mold member 12.

The upper mold recesses 30 are longitudinally extending and extend from a top edge 34 of the top mold member 12 to the opposite bottom edge 36 of the top mold member 12 along the bottom surface 18 of the top mold member 12. Similarly, the lower mold recesses 32 of the bottom mold member 14 are longitudinally extending and extend from a top edge 35 of the bottom mold member 14 to the opposite bottom edge 37 of the bottom mold member 14 along the top surface 26 of the bottom mold member 14. The upper mold recesses 30 mate with the lower mold recesses 32 to define cigar mold cavities 38.

Each of the cigar mold cavities 38 includes an open first end 50 and a closed second end 52 extending between the top edges 34, 35 and bottom edges 36, 37 of the respectively top mold member 12 and the bottom mold member 14. The open first end 50 includes a circular cross sectional shape (when take along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (that is, the axis extending between the top edges 34, 35 and bottom edges 36, 37 of the respectively top mold member 12 and the bottom mold member 14) of the cigar mold cavity 38) allowing manufacturers with access to the free end of a cigar for turning of the cigar during the manufacturing process.

The closed second end 52 of each of the cigar mold cavities 38 is substantially spherical and includes a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the remainder of the cigar mold cavity 38 as it extends between the first end 50 and the second end 52. By providing a diameter slightly larger than that of the remainder of the cigar mold cavity 38 extra room is provided at the second end 52 of the cigar mold cavity to allow for the accumulation of additional tobacco which commonly occurs during the manufacturing process. The second end 52 includes a substantially spherical configuration, and the top mold member 12 and the bottom mold member 14 are accordingly made with contours shaped and dimensioned to provide for the resulting shape of the cigar mold cavities 38.

By providing a cigar mold 10 with multiple cigar mold cavities 38 a number of cigars may be molded in a single cigar mold 10. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the disclosed cigar mold 10 includes ten respective upper mold recesses 30 and lower mold recesses 32 defining ten cigar mold cavities 38 used during the simultaneous manufacture of ten cigars.

Referring to the cross-sectional view in FIG. 6 and 7, each of the upper mold recesses 30 seats within a respective one of the lower mold recesses 32 to create cigar mold cavities 38 in which a cigar is formed. For the purposes of explanation, only one cigar mold cavity 38 will be described herein although all of the cigar mold cavities 38 are identical.

The upper mold recess 30 and lower mold recess 32 are shaped and dimensioned such that when the upper mold recess 30 is seated within the lower mold recess 32, a complete circular form or a complete circle is defined by the upper mold recess 30 and the lower mold recess 32; that is a complete circular form or a complete circle is defined when viewed along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (that is, the axis extending between the top edges 34, 35 and bottom edges 36, 37 of the respectively top mold member 12 and the bottom mold member 14) of the cigar mold cavity 38. This is achieved by constructing the upper mold recess 30 and the lower mold recess 32 such that the cigar mold recess 38 has no flat surfaces and is completely round, thus producing a totally round cigar during the press cycle, which is typically 45 minutes of press time. As the drawings show, there is no undesirable spacing as the cigar mold cavity 38 transitions from the exposed surface of the upper mold recess 30 to the exposed surface of the lower mold recess 32 at positions A and B as shown in FIG. 6. This transition results in a contiguous surface formed along the cigar mold cavity 38.

This is achieved by providing an upper mold recess 30, when viewed along the cross-section shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (that is, a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis extending between the top edges 34 and bottom edge 36 of the top mold member 12), which is a perfectly arcuate shape having a predefined radius of curvature. The lower mold recess 32, when viewed along a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis extending between the top edges 35 and bottom edge 37 of the bottom mold member 14, includes a lower arcuate portion 40 which is also a continuous arcuate surface having a radius of curvature identical with that of the upper mold recess 30. However, along both the first and second upper edges 42, 44 of the lower mold recess 32, respective first and second routed sections 46, 48 are formed to accommodate the first and second outer walls 58, 60 of the upper mold recesses 30 such that the arcuate surfaces of the respective upper mold recess 30 and lower mold recess 32 may seat directly in alignment when the upper mold recess 30 is positioned within the lower mold recess 32. This direct alignment results in a completely circular mold cavity 38 being formed with no flat surfaces in the cavity about the circumference thereof.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the upper arcuate portion 39 of the upper mold recess 30 defines an arc of slightly less than 180 degrees, more preferably, approximately 156.28 degrees, approximately 159.26 degrees, and approximately 161.16 degrees as the diameter respectively increases from 0.562 inches, 0.734 inches and 0.890 inches. As such, and in order that the upper arcuate portion 39 and lower arcuate portion 40 define a complete circle, the lower arcuate portion 40 defines an arc of slightly greater than 180 degrees, more particularly, approximately 203.72 degrees, approximately 200.74 degrees and approximately 198.84 as the diameter respectively increases from 0.562 inches, 0.734 inches and 0.890 inches. By designing the cigar mold cavity 38 in this manner, the tobacco is less likely to “pinch” at the transition point between the upper mold recess 30 and the lower mold recess 32 as it is turned during the manufacturing process. With this in mind, it is contemplated the lower mold recess 32 will define an arc of approximately 198 degrees to approximately 204 degrees with the upper mold recess 30 defining an arc of approximately 156 degrees to approximately 162 degrees, which when combined with the arc of the lower mold recess 32 defines a complete circle of 360 degrees. In practice, the diameter of the cigar mold cavity 38 may be widely varied and the length of the arcs (in degrees) of the upper mold recess 30 and the lower mold recess 32 are defined by the following equations, where “d” is the diameter of the cigar mold cavity 38:

$180+2\left(\mathrm{arc}\cos \frac{d-\mathrm{.012}}{d}\right)$ $180-2\left(\mathrm{arc}\cos \frac{d-\mathrm{.012}}{d}\right)$

In view of this construction, channels 62 separate adjacent upper mold recesses 30. Each channel 62 is defined by the respective first and second outer walls 58, 60 of adjacent upper mold recesses 30 that are connected by a base member 64. Similarly, upwardly extending posts 66 separate the lower mold recesses 32. Each of the upwardly extending posts 66 is defined by the respective first and second upper edges 42, 44 (in particular, the first and second routed sections 46, 48 of the respective first and second upped edges 42, 44) that are connected by a top wall 68.

The respective channels 62 and posts 66 are shaped and dimensioned for mating engagement such that points A, B at which the upper mold recess 32 meets the lower arcuate portion 40 of the lower mold recess 32, are along the circle defining the cigar mold cavity 38. In this way, the cigar mold cavity 38 defines a complete circular form or complete circle without disruption as one follows the inner surface 70 of the cigar mold cavity 38 along the circumference of the cigar mold cavity 38. This results in rounder, better shaped cigars and prevents “catching” of the tobacco at the meeting point of the upper and lower mold recesses 30, 32 as cigars are turned within the cigar mold cavity 38 during the manufacturing process.

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cigar mold, comprising:

a top mold member including a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one upper mold recess formed along the bottom surface of the top mold member; and

a lower mold member including a bottom surface and a top surface, at least one lower mold recess formed along the top surface of the bottom mold member;

wherein the upper mold recess mates with the lower mold recess to define a completely circular cigar mold cavity, the cigar mold cavity includes an open first end and a closed second end, the second end of the cigar mold cavity is substantially spherical and includes a diameter which is slightly larger than the diameter of the remainder of the cigar mold cavity as it extends between the first end and the second end.

2. The cigar mold according to claim 1, wherein the cigar mold cavity includes no flat surfaces and is completely round.

3. The cigar mold according to claim 2, wherein the upper mold recess defines an arcuate shape having a predefined radius of curvature.

4. The cigar mold according to claim 3, wherein the lower mold recess includes a lower arcuate portion which defines a continuous arcuate surface having a radius of curvature identical with that of the upper mold recess.

5. The cigar mold according to claim 4, wherein the lower mold recess includes first and second upper edges, and each of the first and second upper edges includes a routed section formed to accommodate an outer wall of the upper mold recess.

6. The cigar mold according to claim 2, wherein the upper mold recess defines an arcuate shape having a predefined radius of curvature forming an arc of less than 180 degrees.

7. The cigar mold according to claim 6, wherein the lower mold recess includes a lower arcuate portion which defines a continuous arcuate surface having a radius of curvature identical with that of the upper mold recess forming an arc of greater than 180 degrees.

8. The cigar mold according to claim 1, further including alignment pegs shaped and dimensioned for selective seating within matingly shaped alignment recesses for maintaining the top mold member and the bottom mold member in an aligned configuration.

9. The cigar mold according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the top mold member includes a plurality of alignment pegs shaped and dimensioned for selective seating within matingly shaped alignment recesses formed in the top surface of the bottom mold member.

10. The cigar mold according to claim 1, wherein the cigar mold includes ten cigar mold cavities.

11. The cigar mold according to claim 1, wherein it is manufactured from a polymeric material.