Cigar extinguisher & saver device

Abstract

An improved portable cigar extinguisher and saver device consisting of an assembly of two hollow, cylindrical tube sections coupled together in a slidable, telescopic manner capable of being hermetically sealed by a movable top cap attached to the top tube section and a detachable bottom cap on the bottom tube section. The device can be sealed airtight and shortened or lengthened telescopically, thereby eliminating the space and air within to quickly extinguish a lit cigar and preserve it for later consumption, or to carry a fresh, unsmoked cigar. The device provides cigar smokers with a convenient, socially and environmentally friendly device for extinguishing and carrying a partially consumed cigar.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to devices for extinguishing and saving tobacco products that have been lit and partially smoked.

2. Background Art

The popularity of cigar smoking has not been diminished by the widespread implementation of nonsmoking laws, regulations and workplace rules in almost all public and private venues. Because of such restrictions, however, and the length of time needed to smoke a whole cigar, cigar smokers often need to extinguish cigars before they are completely consumed. Moreover, smokers often desire a convenient means of saving partially consumed cigars for later consumption in a socially and environmentally friendly way.

Devices to extinguish and/or save partially smoked cigars are known in the art. An early example is U.S. Pat. No. 1,764,862 to Vogelsang which uses a hollow member to receive the cigar and a base in contact with a flat surface to extinguish the cigar. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 3,173,641 to Dorrance is an example of an ashtray and snuffer device, whereby a hollow member is attached to an ashtray base by a wire structure which, being cumbersome, negates portability.

An early device somewhat more practical for carrying partially consumed cigars on the person is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 802,300 to Maclachlan which describes a conical cap fitted with an elastic tube to extinguish the cigar and partially enclose it.

Perhaps the most recent devices used to extinguish lit cigars and provide a suitable carrying case for saving the cigar for later use are provided by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,968 and 4,907,604 to Beloff and U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,809 to Nicotra, all of which utilize a hollow cylindrical tube with a slidable snuffer mounted on a spring inside the tube, with a removable cap on the open end of the tube, and a clip on the outside of the tube. While the design of these devices had certain advantages over previous methods employed to extinguish and preserve cigars that have been lit, there were serious and obvious drawbacks which could even be comical and embarrassing sometimes. With the snuffer mounted on a spring, a cigar inserted in the open end can unexpectedly fly out of the tube through the hands of the smoker when the cap is removed. Also, since the useful life of the device depends on the strength of the spring, the stronger the spring the more likely the cigar becomes a projectile when the cap is removed. And there is the obvious awkward difficulty of cleaning ash residue from a device with a spring inside.

The present invention dispenses with springs and slidable snuffers that can malfunction. Rather, the present invention utilizes simple principles and a simple mechanism to quickly and efficiently extinguish lighted cigars and to provide a means to save a partially smoked cigar for later consumption in a convenient and environmental friendly way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to provide an improved portable device for quickly and completely extinguishing lit cigars and saving them for later use. This invention also serves as a convenient, compact cigar carrying case that preserves cigars that have not been lit or partially consumed in an optimum state of airtight freshness.

The invention is embodied in an assembly consisting of two cylindrical tubes fitted together telescopically so that a hollow top tube section can extend or shorten the total length of the assembly by a sliding movement over a hollow bottom tube section. The top tube section is open at both ends with the top end defined by an attached, movable cap that provides a hermetic seal when closed. The inner wall of the top tube section contains a plurality of rib-like flanges extending vertically from the top end to approximately half length of the top tube section and an aperture for a small screw aligned with the bottom ends of the rib-like flanges. The top tube section is sized to receive the bottom tube section through its open bottom end, thereby creating a telescopic coupling.

The bottom tube section is longer than the top tube section and its circumference is sized to receive comfortably a standard size cigar while fitting within the top tube section in a telescopic, slidably manner. The bottom tube section is open at one end and a removable bottom cap hermetically seals the opposite end. The inside surface of the bottom end cap has a concaved shape to form a snuffer in the preferred embodiment of the invention. The open end of the bottom tube section fits within the uncapped, open bottom end of the top tube section in a telescopic coupling. The outside wall of the bottom tube section contains a plurality of vertical recesses or grooves corresponding to the flanges on the inner walls of the top tube section, so as to provide a slidable means for the telescoping of the bottom tube section into the top tube section. On a side without a groove, the outside wall of the bottom tube section also contains a slightly depressed, rectangular flat surface formed beneath the open end of the bottom tube section. The flat surface extends the same length as the grooves and, being slightly depressed, creates a protruding lip at the top end of the bottom tube section. The flat surface also contains a dimple or notch at its lower end which corresponds exactly with the vertical plane of the small aperture for a screw in the top tube section. When assembled with a small screw protruding through the aperture of the top tube section and the flanges resting within the grooves of the bottom tube section, the bottom tube section slides within the top tube section in a telescoping manner. The telescoping movement is stopped at the upper, capped end of the top tube section when the protruding screw makes contact with the lip formed by the flat surface, and is stopped in the other direction by the screw settling in the notch or dimple in the flat surface of the bottom tube section, and by the flanges reaching the end of the grooves.

In operation, the top cap is moved to expose the hollow cavity of the assembly and a lit or partially smoked cigar is inserted therein through the top end of the top tube section. A lit cigar is extinguished quickly and efficiently without smoke escaping into the immediate environment when the top cap and bottom cap are closed and the assembly is sealed airtight. The telescoping action facilitates snuffing the cigar by reducing the inner space of the closed assembly and eliminating the air within, according to the size of the partially smoked cigar. However, if used as a carrying case for a fresh, unsmoked cigar or a partially smoked cigar, the telescoping action lengthens and shortens the assembly accordingly, and facilitates removing the cigar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cigar extinguisher and device according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device as in FIG. 1 with the top cap open.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, sectional view of the device as in FIG. 1 showing its components. FIG. 3 details the construction of the top tube section with an open top cap, clip and internal flanges, and the construction of the bottom tube section with the bottom cap removed, including the grooves and a flat surface with a lip and dimple for stopping and regulating the telescopic sliding movement of the device when its components are assembled.

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the device as in FIG. 1 showing the various components and the structure of the assembled device when it is in a shortened, telescoped position.

FIG. 5 is a view of the assembled device illustrating its structure when it is in an extended non-telescoped position.

DRAWINGS- Reference Numerals
10	top tube section	12	top cap
14	clip	16	screw aperture
18A	flange	18B	flange
18C	flange	20	bottom tube section
22	lip	24	flat surface
26	dimple	28A	groove
28B	groove	28C	groove
30	bottom cap	32	screw
34	opening to hollow cavity	36	outside wall
38	inner wall

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, the following description is only one example of a variety of specific embodiments representative of the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art pertaining to the present invention are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the portable cigar extinguisher and saving device that is the present invention. It shows an attractive assembly of two hollow, tube sections consisting of a lightweight, heat resistant material. The two main components consist of a wider and shorter top tube section 10 and a longer and narrower bottom tube section 20. The top tube section 10 is crowned by an attached, movable top cap 12 and the bottom tube section 20 has a bottom cap 30 which can be removed as seen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention from overhead with the top cap 12 in an open position, exposing the hollow cavity 34 of the top tube section 10. This view depicts the opening of the hollow cavity 34 through which a cigar is inserted into the device and through which can be seen three rib-like flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C on the inner walls 38, The flanges (by sitting within grooves 28A,28B, and 28C) couple the top tube section 10 with the bottom tube section 20 while providing a sliding means. Both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a clip 14 by which the device is secured to a user's pocket or other accessory.

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view showing the relative proportion of the shorter top tube section 10 to the longer bottom tube section 20. A detachable bottom cap 30 is also shown. FIG. 3 depicts rib-like flanges 18A and 18B on the inner wall 38 of top tube section 10, which extend vertically from the opening of the hollow cavity 34 to approximately half the length of the top tube section 10. Also illustrated are corresponding recesses or grooves 28A and 28B on the outside wall 36 of the bottom tube section 20, which engage flanges 18A and 18B when the two tubular sections are coupled together as in FIG. 4. (Not depicted on FIG. 3 are flange 18C and groove 28C which are also shown engaged on FIG. 4.)

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the device assembled in a shortened, telescoped position, displaying the longer bottom tube section 20 telescoped within the shorter but wider top tube section 10. In such a position the tube sections 10 and 20 are docked or coupled together by means of flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C resting or positioned within grooves 28A, 28B, and 28C respectively. The coupling by means of the rib-like flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C on the inner walls of the top tube section 10 aligned with and set within grooves 28A, 28B, 28C on the outer walls of the bottom tube section 20 also creates a slidable means for the telescoping action of the device. FIG. 4 also depicts in an exploded view the screw 32 and the screw aperture 16 aligned with the dimple 26 in the flat surface 24 whereby the screw 32 can be inserted through the aperture 16 and engage the dimple and serve as a stopper, along with grooves 28A, 28B, and 28C.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate the rectangular, slightly depressed, flat surface 24 that interrupts the uniform cylindrical shape of the outer wall 36 of the bottom tube section 20 on the side opposite groove 28B. As seen on FIGS. 4 and 5, the flat surface 24 is vertically aligned with the clip 14, the screw aperture 16, and the screw 32 on the top tube section 10. The screw aperture 16 and screw 32 are on the same horizontal plane as the ends of flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C on the top tube section 10. As illustrated on FIG. 3, the slightly depressed flat surface 24 on the bottom tube section forms a lip 22 at its top edge and has a small notch or dimple 26 at its lower end. The lip 22 and the dimple 26 act as stoppers when the device is lengthened or shorten by the sliding action.

On FIG. 4, for instance, the device is shown in its telescoped or shortened position. In this position, the screw aperture 16 in the top tube section 10 is horizontally aligned with the dimple 26 in the flat surface 24 of the bottom tube section 20. When the screw 32 is inserted in the aperture 16, it engages the dimple and acts as a stopper when the device is telescoped as in FIG. 4. The sliding action is also regulated by the length of the grooves 28A, 28B, and 28C and flanges 18A, 18B, and 18C. On the other hand, when the device is lengthened by an upward sliding action of the top tube section 10, the screw 32 makes contact with the lip 22 which acts as a stopper.

The operation of the cigar extinguisher and saver device is simple and efficient. It only requires the smoker to insert a lit cigar into the uncapped opening 34 of the top tube section 10 as seen in FIG. 2 and to close the top cap 12 as seen in FIG. 1, thereby creating an airtight seal at the top end of the assembled device. The device would then be telescoped or shorten to the length of the inserted cigar in order for the space and air within to be closed off and eliminated. A lit cigar will be immediately snuffed out as in an airtight container and no extraneous smoke will escape into the immediate environment. The telescoping action will also facilitate retrieving a saved cigar by exposing it.

The device is cleaned by simply removing the bottom cap 30 as in FIG. 3 and cleaning out the ash residue in any manner the user desires.

Advantages

From the foregoing description of the invention in its preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 1 thru 5, the cigar extinguisher and saver device has several advantages:

• (a) The most obvious advantage of the present invention is its simplicity of use. It merely requires the insertion of a lit cigar which is immediately extinguished when the top cap 12 provides a hermetic seal and the devices is telescoped to close off the airspace inside. Although in the preferred embodiment, the bottom cap 30 is shaped in a manner that allows it to be used as a snuffer, it is not necessary to mash the cigar into a snuffer or ashtray in order to snuff out a lit cigar and eliminate the emission of extraneous smoke into the immediate environment.
• (b) Another important advantage is its simplicity of construction and cost effectiveness. The device, which can be constructed of any lightweight, heat resistant material, is integrally molded and coupled together in such a way that there are no necessary, complicated or dependent parts that can break down and render the device useless. There are no springs or filters or snuffer parts to insert, or to manipulate, and/or to break down. Its useful life, therefore, is immeasurable.
• (c) Another clear advantage is that the device can easily be cleaned of ash residue by simply removing the bottom cap 30 and flushing out the residue with water, air, or any means the user prefers. Because there are no springs, filters, snuffer or other parts to remove before cleaning, the device can be easily and conveniently cleaned after each use at any time or place.
• (d) The ease and convenience of cleaning, the airtight, hermetic seal made by the top cap 12 and bottom cap 30, and the simple and quick operation of the invention prevents pollution of the immediate physical and social environment of the user, The invention allows the user to quickly and efficiently extinguish a lit cigar with little or no extraneous smoke escaping into the environment.
• (e) The air tightness and the telescopic feature of the invention also permits the user to use it as a container to carry a fresh, unused cigar of various lengths and to maintain an unused cigar in a fresh condition for a long period.
• (f) An added advantage is that the device is compact and thus more conveniently carried on the person because it does not have to accommodate springs, filters, snuffers and other components. Moreover, its telescopic feature allows it to become even more compact at times.

Claims

1. A cigar extinguisher and saver device comprising:

An assembly of two tube sections with a hollow cavity sized to receive a cigar and composed of a heat resistant material in a telescopic coupling with movable caps at both ends;

said assembly having a slidable means and a coupling means such that a top tube section can receive a bottom tube section in a telescopic coupling so that said assembly can be lengthened or shortened to a predetermined length in order to expand or contract the space and air within;

said top tube section having at one end a movable top cap that can create a substantially airtight seal and an open, opposing end sized to receive said bottom tube section in a slidable and telescopic manner; and

said bottom tube section having an open end and an opposite end with a movable bottom cap that can create a substantially airtight seal, and having a diameter less than the diameter of the said top tube section.

2. A device as in claim 1 whereas said slidable means and said coupling means consist of a plurality of integrally molded flanges of equal length on the inner walls of said top tube section engaging a plurality of integrally molded grooves or recesses of equal length on the outer walls of said bottom tube section.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 whereby said slidable means and said coupling means include the use of a screw to stop and to regulate the sliding movement of said assembly.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 whereby said assembly of two tube sections has an inner circumference sized to received a cigar or tobacco product up to 54 ring gauge.

5. A device as set forth in claim 3 whereby said assembly has a means to secure said assembly to or within a person's cloths, luggage, or other portable article.

6. A device as set forth in claim 3 whereby said movable bottom cap can be detached from said bottom tube-like section.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1 whereby said movable top cap is attached to said top tube section so that said top cap will create an airtight seal in a first position and will expose the hollow cavity in a second position.