CIGAR CUTTING APPARATUS

Abstract

A cigar cutting apparatus has a housing defining a hole for receiving a cigar head, the hole having a hole diameter and defining a hole axis central thereto. First and second cutting blades lie within and are pivotable relative to the housing about first and second pivot axes, respectively. The first and second pivot axes are disposed on a line separated from the hole axis by at least the hole diameter and separately disposed by at least the hole diameter. Each cutting blade has a cutting edge pivotable with the associated cutting blade and directed toward the cutting edge of the other cutting blade. The cutting blades cooperate with the hole to define a passageway for receiving a cigar head when the cutting blades are pivoted away from each other, and the cutting edges cooperate to slice through the cigar head as the cutting blades are pivoted towards each other. The cutting blades come together to block the passageway. A spring biases the cutting edges apart, and a latch is engageable with for retaining together the first and second cutting blades to block the passageway, and operable to release the blades to allow the spring to cause the first and second cutting edges apart to expose the passageway.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/324,691, filed on Sep. 18, 2008, the specification thereof being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention is related to cigar smoking implements and accessories. More particularly, this invention is a device for trimming the head of a cigar in preparation for smoking. This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. Letters patent application Ser. No. 11/934,812, filed on Nov. 5, 2007.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Background

Cigars consist of a filler tobacco, rolled within binder tobacco, and then rolled within wrapper tobacco. The filler is often scraps or pieces of flavorful tobacco. Larger leaves of low aesthetic quality and flavor are generally used for binders to tightly contain and compact the filler. Leaves of highest aesthetic quality are typically used for the wrapper, to provide a smooth and consistent outer surface that is attractive to the smoker and comforting to the lips.

Cigars also consist of a barrel, a head, and a foot. The barrel is the long tubular body portion. The foot it the end which is burned during smoking. The head is the tip of the cigar which the consumer places in his mouth during smoking. Cigars are sold with their heads in a “closed” state, that is, the binder and wrapper cover the head completely to retain the compacted filler and provide a neat and tapered tip. Cigars are occasionally also sold with their feet closed for the same reason. Binders and wrappers help to keep fresh the filler tobacco, so cigars that are sold with their heads and feet closed also tend to remain fresh longer. Another reason that cigars are sold with their heads closed is that cigar smokers generally prefer to open the heads themselves, according to their smoking preferences and comfort.

Cutters for slicing the tip off of the head of a cigar typically consist of one or two sharp blades that traverse and slice through the head to remove the head tip and create an opening of a size according to the slice's distance up the barrel. If the head is sliced further up the tapered barrel, the opening size will be larger. A head that is sliced closer to the narrower tip will have a smaller opening. The smoker is able to customize the size of the opening according to his smoking preference according to the distance up the barrel that he makes the slice. Cutters which have a large enough opening may also be used to open the feet of cigars that are sold with their feet closed or to trim back previously partially smoked cigars.

Cutters come primarily in two types; Scissors-type cutters and guillotine-type cutters. Scissors-type cutters are exemplified by those taught in U.S. Pat. No. 1,177,098 to Gay and U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,523 to Van Keppel et al. Guillotine-type cutters are exemplified by those taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,286 to Schad and U.S. Pat. No. 6,708,409 to Yu. Both types of cutters are characterized by having either a pair of cooperating sharp cutter blades or a sharp cutting blade and an anvil. The one or more sharp cutting blades are forced across the barrel of the cigar to slice though it and open the cigar's head.

In the case of the scissors-type cutter, the blade pair or the blade and anvil are pivotally attached and are originally brought against the cigar barrel where they contact the barrel in an angular open-jaw disposition, and are then swung through the cigar in a pinching motion to open the head. In the case of the guillotine-type cutter, the blade pair or the blade and anvil are originally disposed on opposed sides of the barrel and are slid through the cigar in a cross-cutting motion to open the head.

Scissors-type cutters are generally simpler and cheaper to manufacture and more convenient to use. The simple hinge configuration and pivoting motion of the blades require less components and less precision during design and manufacturing, and the simple pinching action is more natural in the hand during cutting.

Guillotine-type cutters, however, typically provide a better quality opening. While typically more expensive and complicated to manufacture, the resulting cigar openings tend to be cleaner and truer than are those made by scissors-type cutters. By acting on the cigar head from opposed sides with each blade moving directly towards the other in a symmetrical straight-across action, the cigar is less prone to be pinched and disconfigured, and the filler tobacco less prone to be loosened and disturbed as is often the case with the pinching action of a scissors-type cutter.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cigar cutting apparatus that employs and exhibits the beneficial characteristics of both types of cutters while having the disadvantages of neither.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cigar cutting apparatus that is simple to manufacture and as convenient to use as scissors-type cutters such as those exemplified by Gay and Van Keppel, while providing an opening quality as good as those obtained by guillotine-type cutters such as those exemplified by Schad and Yu.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cigar cutting apparatus whose blades are biased against each other during slicing along the slicing plane.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cigar cutting apparatus which has a compact and safe storage condition in which the blade edges are protected and unexposed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cigar cutting apparatus which automatically locks into its compact and safe storage condition at the completion of a cut.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in view of the following disclosure of an exemplary embodiment thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a cigar cutting apparatus arranged to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing simple and convenient means to slice the head of a cigar and to manufacture such an apparatus, while providing a head-opening quality equal to cutters which are more complicated to operate and manufacture. The cigar cutting apparatus may have blades are biased against each other during slicing along the slicing plane. The cigar cutting apparatus may have a compact and safe storage condition in which the blade edges are protected and unexposed. The cigar cutting apparatus may automatically lock into its compact and safe storage condition at the completion of a cut.

According to one aspect, a cigar cutting apparatus according to the invention may have a housing having a non-coaxial pair of pivots and a pair of cutting blades, wherein each of the cutting blades is pivotally affixed to the housing at a different one of the pivots. One of the cutting blades may have a sharp cutting edge directed towards the other of the cutting blades and the apparatus may have a cutting zone between the sharp edge and the other of the blades when the blades are swung apart about their associated pivots. When a cigar head is disposed in the cutting zone and the cutting blades are swung together about their associated pivots, the one sharp cutting edge may cut through the cutting zone and cigar head towards the other of the blades. Both of the cutting blades may have a sharp cutting edge and when a cigar head is disposed in the cutting zone and the cutting blades are swung together about their associated pivots, the sharp cutting edges may cut through the cutting zone and cigar head towards each other. The pivots may symmetrically straddle the cutting zone. The cutting zone may be at least 20 MM wide and the pivots may be at least 20 MM apart. The housing may have a guide for receiving the cigar head to cause the cigar head into the cutting zone and to retain the cigar head in the cutting zone during cutting.

According to another aspect of the invention, a cigar cutting apparatus according to the invention may have a housing defining a hole for receiving a cigar head, the hole having a hole width and defining a hole axis central thereto. The apparatus may also have a first cutting blade within and pivotable relative to the housing about a first pivot axis, and a second cutting blade within and pivotable relative to the housing about a second pivot axis, each cutting blade having a cutting edge pivotable with the associated cutting blade and directed toward the cutting edge of the other cutting blade. The cutting blades may cooperate with the hole to define a passageway for receiving a cigar head when the cutting blades are pivoted away from each other, and the cutting edges may cooperate to slice through the cigar head as the cutting blades are pivoted towards each other. The cutting blades may come together to block the hole. The first and second pivot axes may be non-coaxial. The first and second pivot axes may be separately disposed by at least the hole width.

The cigar cutting apparatus may have a spring for biasing the cutting edges apart, and a latch engaging with and retaining together the first and second cutting blades to block the passageway and operable to release the blades to allow the spring to cause the first and second cutting edges apart. Each of the cutting blades may have a retention edge; the retention edges each becoming aligned with the latch as the cutting blades block the passageway. The latch may have a pawl biased to engage the aligned retention edges, the pawl may engages the aligned retention edges to retain the blades together to block the passageway, and operation of the latch may cause the pawl to release the retention edges and allow the spring to cause the blades apart and expose the passageway for receiving the cigar head.

The first and second cutting blades may share a cutting plane and the cutting edges may each be tapered to the cutting plane. At least one of the cutting edges may be crescent-shaped. The cigar cutting apparatus wherein the first and second pivot axes are separately disposed by at least the hole width. A spring may bias the cutting edges apart, and the latch may be operable to release the blades to allow the spring to cause the first and second cutting edges apart. Operation of the latch may cause the pawl to release the retention edges and allow the spring to cause the blades apart and expose the passageway for receiving the cigar head.

According to another aspect, the invention may be embodied in a method for cutting cigar heads in a cigar cutting apparatus having a housing defining a circular hole for receiving a cigar head, the hole having a hole diameter and defining a hole axis central hereto, a first cutting blade within and pivotable relative to the housing about a first pivot axis, and a second cutting blade within and pivotable relative to the housing about a second pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes disposed on a line separated from the hole axis by at least the hole diameter and separately disposed by at least the hole diameter, the each cutting blade having a cutting edge pivotable with the associated cutting blade and directed toward the cutting edge of the other cutting blade, wherein the cutting blades cooperate with the hole to define a passageway for receiving a cigar head when the cutting blades are pivoted away from each other, and the cutting edges cooperate to slice through the cigar head as the cutting blades are pivoted towards each other; and the cutting blades come together to block the passageway, a spring for biasing the cutting edges apart, and a latch engageable with for retaining together the first and second cutting blades to block the passageway, and operable to release the blades to allow the spring to cause the first and second cutting edges apart to expose the passageway. The method may include operating the latch to allow the spring to cause the first and second cutting edges apart to expose the passageway, inserting the cigar head into the passageway, forcing the cutting blades together about the separately disposed pivot axes to cause the cutting edges to slice through the cigar head, forcing the cutting blades further together to allow the latch to engage and retain together the cutting blades and block the passageway.

According to another aspect, the invention may be embodied as a cigar cutting apparatus having a frame having two sides parallel to each other, a slot there-through which has a rectangular cross section, a circular hole there-through which is perpendicular to the slot and has a diameter sized to accommodate a cigar head tip, and a first blade having a first blade hinge end, and a first blade cutter end having a first sharp edge, a second blade having a second blade hinge end, and a second blade cutter end having a second sharp edge, the first blade hingedly coupled with the frame at a first pivot point, the second blade hingedly coupled with the frame at a second pivot point the first and second blades operably mounted to the frame such that both blades may swing through the slot causing the first and second sharp edges towards and across each other and simultaneously across the hole to slice through the cigar head tip accommodated therein, wherein the first and second pivot points are separately disposed.

The first and second pivot points may be separately disposed by at least the diameter. A spring may bias the first and second blade cutter ends apart, and a latch may engage the first and second blades for retaining the first and second blade cutter ends together. The latch may be operable to release the blades to allow the spring to cause the first and second blade cutter ends apart. Each of the cutting blades may have a retention edge, the retention edges each becoming aligned with the latch as the blades swing together after swinging across the hole and approach the inward terminus of the toward movement. The latch may have a pawl biased to engage the aligned retention edges, the pawl may engage the aligned retention edges to retain the blades together such that the blades block the hole, and operation of the latch may cause the pawl to release the retention edges and allow the spring to cause the first and second blade cutter ends apart and expose the hole. The first and second cutting blades may share a cutting plane and the first and second sharp edges may be tapered to the cutting plane.

At least one of the first and second sharp edges may be crescent-shaped. The hole may define a central hole axis and the first and second pivot points may be disposed on a line separated from the hole axis by at least the diameter. A spring may bias the first and second blade cutter ends apart, and the latch may engage the first and second blades for retaining the first and second blade cutter ends together and operable to release the blades to allow the spring to cause the first and second blade cutter ends apart. Operation of the latch may cause the pawl to release the retention edges and allow the spring to cause the first and second blade cutter ends apart and expose the hole.

A latch may retain the blades in a safe and compact “storage” condition and automatically capture the blades into the storage condition at the completion of the slicing motion. During the storage condition, the blade edges may be protected for safety and to avoid damage to their sharp edges. The latch causes the blades to remain in the compact and safe storage condition against the opening bias of the blades. Release of the latch may allow the springs to push the blades outwardly into a ready condition in preparation for cutting. The smoker may select any slicing position along the cigar accurately and in full view of the cigar.

Further features and aspects of the invention are disclosed with more specificity in the Detailed Description and Drawings of an exemplary embodiment provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of a cigar cutter according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the cigar cutter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cigar cutter of FIG. 1 in its storage condition with its rear plate removed;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the cigar cutter of FIG. 1 in its ready-to-cut condition with its rear plate removed;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the cigar cutter of FIG. 1 during cutting with its rear plate removed;

FIG. 6 is a partial right cross-sectional view through the latch of the cigar cutter of FIG. 1 during its condition of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partial right cross-sectional view through the latch of the cigar cutter of FIG. 1 during its condition of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the cigar cutter of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 8, where there is shown an exemplary cigar cutter 100 according to just one of the infinite number of possible cigar cutters within the scope of the invention.

Cutter 100 has a housing 102 formed of base 104 and rear plate 105. Base 104 includes front plate 106, top frame 108 and bottom frame 112. The front plate is permanently affixed to or may be integrally formed with the top and bottom frames to form the base, and the rear plate is screwed to the top and bottom frames, and thereby to the base, to form the housing.

The plates and frames of the housing form and surround a generally rectangular internal slot 114 which traverses the housing from side to side, open at both sides, and contains front cutting blade 116A and rear cutting blade 116B, which may be identical to and positionally reversed from each other. A circular hole 122 passes through the two plates of the housing perpendicular to slot 114 and has a diameter D that is sized to accommodate the head 202 of a cigar 200. In the preferred embodiment of the drawings, the hole diameter is approximately 24 MM. The hole defines a center point 120. The hole does not need to be circular, and could be an opening of any shape or a mere avoidance, so long as it is capable of allowing the cigar head to be engaged by the blades within the housing.

Each of the front and rear blades 116A and 116B has a blade hinge end 118A and 118B, respectively, at its lower portion that includes a pivot hole 124A and 124B respectively. The pivot holes each fit over and are pivotable relative to a pivot post 126A and 126B respectively of the housing so that the blades may each swing within slot 114 from a closed position, as depicted in FIG. 3 and an open position, as depicted in FIG. 4. The pivot posts are separated horizontally by a distance W and both disposed vertically below hole 122 on a horizontal line 130 that is disposed a distance H below the center point 120 of the hole. The pivot posts are also horizontally disposed such that they symmetrically straddle center point 120. In the preferred embodiment, distance W is approximately 34 MM so that the pivot points are each approximately 17 MM away from each side of the center point and distance H is 35 MM.

Torsion springs 110A and 10B surround pivot posts 126A and 126B respectively, and engage both the housing 102 and the associated blade 116A or 116B, and bias the blade towards its open position so that a manual force is required to push the blades from their open position of FIG. 4 to their closed position of FIG. 3.

Each of the blades also has a cutting end 128A and 128B, respectively, at its upper portion that includes a sharpened cutting edge 132A and 132B, respectively. The plane 134 on which the two cutting blades contact and overlap each other forms a “cutting plane” and the sharpened edge of each blade is tapered to the cutting plane 134 and directed towards the cutting edge of the other blade. The cutting edges are each blade are crescent-shaped in the depicted embodiment, but may be straight, V-shaped, or any combination thereof. Less preferably, one of the blades could possibly also be blunt so long as at least one of the blades has a sharpened edge.

The sharpened edges are positioned on the blades so that they pass by each other at hole 122 and interact to cut through a cigar head accommodated therein. When the blades are in their open position of FIG. 4, hole 122 and the crescent-shaped edges from a passageway 136 for receiving a cigar. As the blades are forced inwardly from the open position of FIG. 4 to the closed position of FIG. 3, the sharpened edges interact to close the passageway and slice through the cigar's head.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-5, the crescent shapes of the cutting edges are geometrically contoured in a specific J-shape that causes the sharpened edges to contact the cigar head at diametrically opposite sides of the cigar. In this way, and in combination with the disposition of the blade pivots, the cutting action is virtually identical to the straight-across cutting action experienced in a guillotine-type cutter.

The contouring and tapering of cutting edges is preferred not only because it provides an edge that is extremely sharp, but also because it is found to assist in positioning and retaining the cigar head during cutting, and it causes the blades to be self-sharpening as they slide against each other during their inward movement.

The components of the cutting apparatus so far described are preferably made of metal, with the blades preferably made of hardened and precision ground stainless steel plate the housing preferably made of a combination of steel and aluminum. Each of the cutting blades includes a blunt outer edge 142A and 142B opposite from the blade's cutting edge against which the user presses when forcing the blades from their open position to their closed position. Each of the blades preferably includes an engagement bar 144A and 144B integral with or affixed to the outer edge to broaden the contact area and improve comfort against the user's fingers during cutting. The engagement bars preferably include rubber contact pads 146 which serve both to improve gripping during cutting and to act as protective bumpers during non-use. The engagement bars and housing are cooperatively shaped such that the bars fit within voids on each side of the housing and form a continuation of the housing when the blades are in the closed position.

An advantageous feature of the cutter of the present embodiment lies in the use of two identical blade assemblies. Both blade assemblies use identical blades and engagement bars, and each blade assembly is merely an identical of the other in a flipped-over state. This not only reduces component inventory, but reduces the tooling of molds and related manufacturing costs, and ensures perfect balance between the blades and cutting edges.

Housing 102 also includes a latch 152 which includes pawl 154, spring 156, and activation button 158. The button and pawl are affixed together through and vertically slidable within slot 162 of the housing and biased upwardly by the spring. Each of the blades includes an inner retention edge 164A and 164B and an outer retention edge 166A and 166B, which cooperate with the pawl. As seen in FIG. 4, when the blades are in their open position, outer retention edges 166A and 166B are engaged by pawl 154 to prevent the further opening of the blades against the bias of spring 110A and 110B. As seen in FIG. 3, when the blades are in their closed position, inner retention edges 164A and 164B are engaged by pawl 154 to maintain the blades in the closed position. During movement from the open top the closed blade positions, pawl 154 automatically extends upward under the bias of spring 156 to engage the inner retention edges just as the blades reach their closed position. This is a safety and convenience feature that ensured the sharp blades are kept within the housing, preventing injury to users and protecting the sharpened edges from damage during non use.

Downward pressure on activation button 158 causes pawl 154 to disengage from the inner retention edges and allows torsion springs 110A and 110B to cause the blades outwardly to their open position. Whether the activation is held down or allowed to rise back up, the outer retention edges become engaged with the paw just as the blades reach their open position.

Identical and opposingly disposed preferably nylon bearing sheets 172A and 172B line the inside of housing slot 114 and provide a friction free bearing surface between cutting blades and the housing, both to avoid damaging wear and tear on the cutter and to ease the cutting action. The sheets have avoidances aligned with passageway 136 and slot 162.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to a specific exemplary embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the invention should therefore only be limited according to the following claims, including all equivalent interpretation to which they are entitled.

Claims

1. A cigar cutting apparatus comprising:

a housing having a non-coaxial pair of pivots; and

a pair of cutting blades;

wherein each of said cutting blades is pivotally affixed to said housing at a different one of said pivots.

2. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said cutting blades has a sharp cutting edge directed towards the other of said cutting blades and the apparatus comprises a cutting zone between said sharp edge and the other of said blades when said blades are swung apart about their associated pivots, and wherein when a cigar head is disposed in said cutting zone and said cutting blades are swung together about their associated pivots, the sharp cutting edge cuts through said cutting zone and cigar head towards the other of said cutting blades.

3. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 2 wherein both of said cutting blades has a sharp cutting edge and wherein when a cigar head is disposed in said cutting zone and said cutting blades are swung together about their associated pivots, the sharp cutting edges cut through said cutting zone and cigar head towards each other.

4. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said pivots symmetrically straddle said cutting zone.

5. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cutting zone is at least 20 MM wide and said pivots are at least 20 MM apart.

6. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 5 wherein said housing further comprises a guide for receiving the cigar head to cause the cigar head into said cutting zone and to retain the cigar head in said cutting zone during cutting.

7. A cigar cutting apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a hole for receiving a cigar head, said hole having a hole width and defining a hole axis central thereto;

a first cutting blade within and pivotable relative to said housing about a first pivot axis; and

a second cutting blade within and pivotable relative to said housing about a second pivot axis;

said each cutting blade having a cutting edge pivotable with said associated cutting blade and directed toward the cutting edge of the other cutting blade, wherein said cutting blades cooperate with said hole to define a passageway for receiving a cigar head when said cutting blades are pivoted away from each other, and said cutting edges cooperate to slice through the cigar head as said cutting blades are pivoted towards each other; and said cutting blades come together to block said hole; and

wherein said first and second pivot axes are not co-axial.

8. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first and second pivot axes are separately disposed by at least said hole width.

9. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

one or more springs for biasing said cutting edges apart; and

a latch engaging and retaining together said first and second cutting blades to block said passageway, and operable to release said blades to allow said one or more springs to cause said first and second cutting edges apart.

10. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 9 wherein:

each of said cutting blades comprises a retention edge;

said retention edges each become aligned with said latch as said cutting blades block said passageway;

said latch comprises a pawl biased to engage said aligned retention edges;

said pawl engages said aligned retention edges to retain said blades together to block said passageway; and

operation of said latch causes said pawl to release said retention edges and allow said spring to cause said blades apart and expose said passageway for receiving the cigar head.

11. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first and second cutting blades share a cutting plane and said cutting edges are each tapered to said cutting plane.

12. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least one of said cutting edges is crescent-shaped.

13. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first and second pivot axes are disposed on a line separated from said hole axis by at least said hole width.

14. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first and second pivot axes are separately disposed by at least said hole width.

15. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a spring for biasing said cutting edges apart; and

a latch engageable with for retaining together said first and second cutting blades to block said passageway, and operable to release said blades to allow said on or more springs to cause said first and second cutting edges apart.

16. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

each of said cutting blades comprises a retention edge;

said retention edges each become aligned with said latch as said cutting blades block said passageway;

said latch comprises a pawl biased to engage said aligned retention edges;

said pawl engages said aligned retention edges to retain said blades together and blocking said passageway; and

operation of said latch causes said pawl to release said retention edges and allow said one or more springs to cause said blades apart and expose said passageway for receiving the cigar head.

17. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 16 wherein said first and second cutting blades share a cutting plane and said cutting edges are each tapered to said cutting plane.

18. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 17 wherein at least one of said cutting edges is crescent-shaped.

19. In a cigar cutting apparatus having: a method for cutting the cigar head comprising:

a housing defining a circular hole for receiving a cigar head, the hole having a hole diameter and defining a hole axis central thereto;

a first cutting blade within and pivotable relative to the housing about a first pivot axis; and

a second cutting blade within and pivotable relative to the housing about a second pivot axis;

the first and second pivot axes disposed on a line separated from the hole axis by at least the hole diameter and separately disposed by at least the hole diameter;

the each cutting blade having a cutting edge pivotable with the associated cutting blade and directed toward the cutting edge of the other cutting blade, wherein the cutting blades cooperate with the hole to define a passageway for receiving a cigar head when the cutting blades are pivoted away from each other, and the cutting edges cooperate to slice through the cigar head as the cutting blades are pivoted towards each other; and the cutting blades come together to block the passageway;

one or more springs for biasing the cutting edges apart; and

a latch engageable with for retaining together the first and second cutting blades to block the passageway, and operable to release the blades to allow the one or more springs to cause the first and second cutting edges apart to expose the passageway;

operating the latch to allow the one or more springs to cause the first and second cutting edges apart to expose the passageway;

inserting the cigar head into the passageway;

forcing the cutting blades together about the separately disposed pivot axes to cause the cutting edges to slice through the cigar head;

forcing the cutting blades further together to allow the latch to engage and retain together the cutting blades and block the passageway.

20. A cigar cutting apparatus comprising:

a pair of parallel plates surrounding a frame to form a housing; a rectangular slot through said housing; a circular hole through said housing perpendicular to said slot and having a diameter sized to accommodate a cigar head; first and second pivot points non-coaxially disposed;

a first blade having a first blade hinge end and a first blade cutting end having a first sharp edge;

a second blade having a second blade hinge end and a second blade cutting end having a second sharp edge; said first blade hingedly coupled with said housing at said first pivot point; said second blade hingedly coupled with said housing at said second pivot point; said first and second blades operably mounted to said housing such that both blades may swing through said slot causing said first and second sharp edges towards and across each other and simultaneously across said hole to slice through the cigar head accommodated therein.

21. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first and second pivot points are separated by at least said diameter.

22. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

one or more springs for biasing said first and second blade cutting ends apart; and

a latch engaging said first and second blades for retaining said first and second blade cutting ends together and operable to release said blades to allow said one or more springs to cause said first and second blade cutting ends apart.

23. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 22 wherein:

each of said cutting blades comprises a retention edge;

said retention edges each become aligned with said latch as said blades swing together after swinging across said hole;

said latch comprises a pawl biased to engage said aligned retention edges;

said pawl engages said aligned retention edges to retain said blades together such that said blades block said hole; and

operation of said latch causes said pawl to release said retention edges and allow said one or more springs to cause said first and second blade cutting ends apart and expose said hole.

24. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 23 wherein said first and second cutting blades share a cutting plane and said first and second sharp edges are tapered to said cutting plane.

25. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 24 wherein at least one of said first and second sharp edges is crescent-shaped.

26. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 20 wherein said hole defines a central hole axis and said first and second pivot points are disposed on a line separated from said hole axis by at least said diameter.

27. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 26 wherein said first and second pivot points are separated by at least said diameter.

28. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 27 further comprising:

a spring for biasing said first and second blade cutting ends apart; and

a latch engaging said first and second blades for retaining said first and second blade cutting ends together and operable to release said blades to allow said one or more springs to cause said first and second blade cutter ends apart.

29. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 28 wherein:

each of said cutting blades comprises a retention edge;

said retention edges each become aligned with said latch as said blades swing together after swinging across said hole;

said latch comprises a pawl biased to engage said aligned retention edges;

said pawl engages said aligned retention edges to retain said blades together such that said blades block said hole; and

operation of said latch causes said pawl to release said retention edges and allow said one or more springs to cause said first and second blade cutting ends apart and expose said hole.

30. The cigar cutting apparatus of claim 29 wherein said first and second cutting blades share a cutting plane and said first and second sharp edges are tapered to said cutting plane.