Cigarette cutting apparatus

Abstract

A device comprising first and second housing members secured together, an aperture extending through the first and second housing members, a cutting assembly having a handle and a blade, the cutting assembly being mounted between the first and second housing members with the handle extending exteriorly thereof, and the cutting assembly being movable between first and second positions such that the blade moves past the aperture to thereby cut a cigarette placed therein. Using the device of the present invention, the smoker can reduce the amount that a cigarette is smoked at one time.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a smoker's aid and more particularly, relates to an aid to assist in decreasing the amount that a person smokes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well established that the smoking of cigarettes is bad for one's health and can lead to many different disease states. Thus, smoking has been linked to lung cancers, cardiovascular problems and various breathing problems such emphysema, etc.

Cigarette smoking is an addictive habit and once it is started, it is very difficult to quit. Various methods have been suggested and have been tried by many smokers. These include hypnosis, the use of nicotine patches, therapy, etc. No one method has been found to be 100% successful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention, to provide an aid which will help reduce the amount of smoke which a smoker will inhale as well as reducing second hand smoke.

According to the present invention, there is provided a device for cutting the end of a cigarette and which also forms a holder for the cigarette.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device comprising first and second housing members, means for securing the first and second housing members together, an aperture extending through the first and second housing members, a cutting assembly having a handle and a blade, the cutting assembly being mounted between the first and second housing members with the handle extending exteriorly thereof, the cutting assembly being movable between first and second positions such that the blade moves past the aperture to thereby cut a cigarette placed therein.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for the reduction of the amount of cigarettes smoked by a smoker, the method comprising the steps of supplying a device as set forth above, smoking a portion of a cigarette, cutting off a lit portion of the cigarette after smoking a portion thereof, and placing the cigarette on a substrate with an end thereof extending through the aperture of the above mentioned device.

Smokers typically, upon lighting of the cigarette, will take several puffs and put the cigarette down in an ashtray. Frequently the cigarette will bum for a substantial period of time before the smoker will again pick up the cigarette to inhale further smoke. Thus, a substantial portion of the cigarette is “wasted” and is polluting the air unnecessarily. Still further, as long as the cigarette is lit, the smoker will tend to continue to smoke until it is just about finished and then extinguished.

With the device of the present invention, a smoker can, after taking the initial few puffs and satisfying the craving for nicotine, cut off the lit portion of the cigarette while leaving a substantial portion which can be used at a later point in time. Once the lit portion has been extinguished, the smoker will tend to wait a substantial longer period of time before relighting the cigarette than would be the case if the cigarette remained lit.

According to the present invention, the device has an aperture which is sized to receive a cigarette therethrough. A blade assembly is utilized to cut a lit end of the cigarette with the blade assembly being movable between first and second positions.

The device of the present invention is portable and can also serve as a support for the extinguished cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention in an opened position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with the device in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a top body member with the cutting assembly in a first opened position;

FIG. 4 is view similar to FIG. 3 with the cutting assembly in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the bottom body member and cutting assembly when the cutting assembly is in an opened position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 with the cutting assembly in a closed position;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the use of the device as a support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in a greater detail and by reference characters thereto, the manual smoking device of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 8.

Device 8 includes a top body member generally designated by reference numeral 10; a bottom body member generally designated by reference numeral 12; and a cutting assembly generally designated by reference numeral 14.

Top body member 10 is best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Top body member 10 includes a pair of sidewalls 18 and 20 and a pair of end walls 22 and 24 which define an overall rectangular configuration. A recess 26 is provided in end wall 22 to accommodate cutting assembly 14. Interiorly, there is provided a top wall 24 which has support ribs 30 formed on an interior surface thereof and on which cutting assembly 14 slides. There is also provided a circular raised land portion surrounding a circular recess 36. Top body member 10 also includes a plurality of locking protrusions 34, one being situated on each corner.

Bottom body member 12 likewise is of a rectangular configuration and as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, has a pair of sidewalls 38 and 40, and a pair of end walls 42 and 44. Interiorly thereof, there are provided a pair of parallel guide walls 46, 48 which are designed to guide cutting assembly 14. A plurality of locking recesses 50 are provided, one at each corner, to receive locking projections 34.

Cutting assembly 14 includes a main body portion 54 having at one end thereof, a U-shaped recess formed by a pair of forks 55. A blade 58 is secured thereto and has a tapered cutting edge 60. At the other end of body 54, there is provided a handle 62 which has an end wall having a central recessed portion 64 and a pair of flat end portions 66.

As may be seen in FIG. 8, the device 8 can be used to hold the cigarette following the cutting of the tip thereof.

It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

first and second housing members, means for securing said first and second housing members together;

an aperture extending through said first and second housing members;

a cutting assembly having a handle and a blade, said cutting assembly being mounted between said first and second housing members with said handle extending exteriorly thereof; and

said cutting assembly being movable between first and second positions such that said blade moves past said aperture to thereby cut a cigarette placed therein.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said cutting assembly has a fork-shaped portion interiorly of the housing members, said blade being mounted to extend across said fork-shaped portion.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said blade has a tapered cutting edge, said tapered cutting edge sliding along an interior wall of one of said first and second housing members.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said housing members are formed of a plastic material.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said handle has a distal end, said distal end having an end wall, first and second flat surfaces on said end wall, and, a concave surface extending between said flat surfaces.

6. The device of claim 1 further including first and second guide walls formed in said first housing member, said first and second guide walls being operative to guide said blade assembly from a first position to a second position.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said second housing member has support ribs extending therealong, said support ribs being operative to support said blade assembly.

8. A method for the reduction of the amount of cigarettes smoked by a smoker, the method comprising the steps of supplying a device according to claim 1, smoking a portion of a cigarette, cutting off a lit portion of said cigarette after smoking a portion thereof and placing said cigarette on a substrate with an end thereof extending through the aperture of said device.