Cigar Punch and Holder

Abstract

A combination cigar piercing and support device having a handle attached to an elongated member extending to a point at a distal end. The member preferably has a triangular or square cross section to form an exterior circumference of the member which when engaged to and supporting a lit cigar, will prevent spinning thereof which might place the hot ember proximate to the smoker's face. The elongated member additionally provides a tool to form draw passages through the cigar and to clean clogged cigars for easier smoking.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to tobacco devices. More particularly, it relates to a cigar punch shaped for draw passages to maximize flow through the cigar and which is configured to operate as a holder providing a not spinning engagement to the held cigar.

2. Prior Art

Cigar smoking is conventionally a thing of leisure, where frequent smokers spend a great deal of time and money finding the type of cigar and method of smoking that fits them. Cigar smoking is often more involved then cigarette smoking where one can just pull a cigarette from a pack and light up.

Conventionally, a smoker must properly prepare a cigar for a smoking session. A cigar typically includes a ‘cap’ end, also referred to as the ‘butt’ or ‘draw’ end which must be cut for proper smoking using a cutting means adapted therefor. It is this draw end which when cut properly, is adapted to engage with the smokers mouth. The cut is important and must be done with requisite care to ensure a proper burn of the lite end so that no smokeable tobacco is lost.

However, in addition to the proper cutting of the draw end of the cigar, many smokers initially or at some point during the smoking of the cigar, also follow up with, or alternatively employ, a punch cut. A punch cut is employed to pierce a typically shallow hole or passage into the cut end of the cigar, substantially parallel to the axis of the cigar, to form passages adapted to enhancing the drawing of smoke into the user's mouth. A proper punch is also a key component to ensure proper burn of the lite end, while concurrently providing axial conduits through the rolled tobacco for the drawing of smoke through the cigar, to the users mouth.

Once smoking has commenced a cigar smoker enjoys the flavor and aromatic experience for several minutes to even half an hour or longer. However, as the lit ember of the cigar edges closer to the end within the users mouth, the shortened cigar can become much more difficult to smoke. This increased difficulty is due to the decreasing size, which usually reaches only a few inches and the heat radiated by the approaching ember. Further, after a period of smoking and the continued drawing of smoke through the tobacco, in a good cigar, the formed and naturally available passages for smoke to traverse through the cigar, can become clogged or smaller due to swelling of the tobacco, smoke, moisture, and a combination thereof.

When a cigar reaches this state it is often referred to as a ‘stogie’ or ‘roach’. Sometimes the cigar is discarded at this point, but given the expensive nature of many fine cigars, disposing of what might be a third of the cigar, is often undesirable, and thus continued smoking is generally desirable. However, the heat of the ember can make holding the shortened cigar hazardous or uncomfortable. As such, it is often desired to hold the short butt of the cigar, with an implement other then the user's fingers.

Many prior art devices have been seen to accomplish the above mentioned tasks of piercing draw holes or holding the cigar. U.S. Pat. No. 232,453 to Carrington teaches a cigar holder which employs a clip to hold the end of a cigar. The clip essentially employs a biasing force on the outer circumference of the body of the cigar to engage it to the clip and includes a handle means extending therefrom to hold the apparatus and engaged cigar for smoking. However, Carrington adds an additional accessory to be carried by a smoker while only accomplishing one task, that is holding the cigar.

U.S. Pat. No. 682,026 to Muller teaches a cigar holder in which a cigar is mounted to the device and employs a mouthpiece of which the user engages to draw smoke into their mouths. However, the device takes away the direct contact the smoker has with the cigar which is often desired by the user and may inhibit the taste and experience of directly smoking a cigar.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,254 to Fleisher et. al. teaches a cigar holder employing a hollow punch means extending within the holder. The holder engages to the cap end of the cigar and is inserted into the user's mouth providing a means to draw smoke in. However, the device further eliminates direct contact of the user's mouth with the cigar which is often part of the taste and experience of the user and may be undesirable in that nature.

U.S. Pat. No. 744,893 to Bailey; U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,674 to Sielck et. al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,808 to Albarello; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,679 to Mc. Glauflin teach cigar punching devices for creating draw passages at the drawing end of a cigar. However, these and similar devices employ short piercing means which are unable to create a draw passage or conduit along the full length of the cigar. Furthermore some employ a plurality of mechanical parts that add to the manufacture and assembly costs. Still further, the structure of the prior art is essentially smooth walled which is undesirable to hold the cigar as it will tend to spin on a smooth walled holder. Additionally, the passages formed by smooth short prior art holders lack the capacity to enhance smoke flow therethrough.

As such, there is a continuing and unmet need for a cigar complementing device which can be employed to create an axial draw passage of any desired length, through a long or short cigar. Such a device should be simple in construction and therefore easily used as well as manufactured. Such a device should provide an easy means to engage and hold a cigar butt for final smoking, yet prevent the cigar butt being held, from spinning on its engagement. Additionally, such a device should in addition to forming conduits for smoke axially, should do so in a configuration which helps maintain the shape and open nature of the passage during use. Further, such a device should be configured structurally to configure passages which enhance smoke flow along the formed passage. Still further, such a device should allow for the interchangeability of components so as to provide a plurality of finger-engageable end portions to adapt to individual comfort requirements. Additionally, such a device should provide a means for displaying indicia for advertising purposes to encourage widespread use and possibly a reduction in price to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device herein disclosed and described provides a solution to the shortcomings noted above in prior art and achieves the above noted utility through the provision of a cigar piercing and holding device adapted for engagement between the compressed thumb and finger of a user. The device generally includes a handle portion at one end configured for easy and comfortable engagement with the user's thumb and finger.

A piercing means such as an elongated member or the like extends from a handle portion to piercing means such as a preferably sharp or substantially pointed distal end. The piercing means may taper to the pointed end or may be of uniform cross section upon reaching the pointed end. The piercing means so configured, provides a means to puncture the compacted tobacco of a cigar, and thereafter to compress and form an elongated passage through the compressed tobacco, along the longitudinal length of a cigar. The disclosed device is adapted to form one or a plurality of such passages to any desired depth, from the burning end of the cigar, toward the draw end, to allow the user to better draw smoke from the lit ember therethrough to the user's mouth. The piercing means also provides a means to form passages through any developed blockage from within the draw passage of the cigar which might occur as smoking progresses.

A draw passage is typically formed by a piercing through the central area surrounding the longitudinal axis of the cigar but the device herein may be inserted in any location along the length of the cigar to adjust or fine tune the draw of the smoke.

The elongated member forming the piercing means, is preferably shaped to form passages which aid in the smoke flow from one end of the cigar to the other. Such passages are formed by a compression of the compacted tobacco by the circumferential surface of the elongated member. A tornadic flow may be aided by employing an exterior surface of the member which forms a swirled depression along the conduit formed by the insertion of the member. Other shapes form elongated conduits which tend to stay open for long durations to aid the smoker over a time consuming session.

In a particularly preferred mode of the device, the piercing means may also be employed to hold a butt portion of a cigar as defined previously. Since it is undesirable to hold a cigar butt by hand due to heat from the abutting cigar ember, employing the piercing means as a means to additionally support a butt in a smoking position, reduces accessories used by a smoker and is desirable.

In use as a butt supporting means, the pointed end of the elongated member is inserted into the compacted tobacco by communicating it through the sidewall of the cigar in a direction perpendicular to the length of the cigar. The pointed end is preferably inserted at a longitudinal distance that still allows a portion of the butt to extend into or adjacent to the users mouth. It is also preferred that the pointed end be inserted as to not extend through the draw passage pierced through the cigar. In this manner the piercing of the sidewall will not affect the draw of the smoke to the users mouth.

Additionally, the piercing component of the device may be pierced entirely through both sidewalls of the cigar wherein a substantial portion of the piercing component extends through the exiting sidewall. This extending portion of the member allows a user to then engage the pointed end into a surface or into the ground as a means to temporarily store the cigar elevated above a support surface.

In a particularly preferred mode the piercing component is of circumferential shape which is not smooth such as a polygonal cross section such as a triangle, square, or a spiral. This circumferential shape or surfacing accomplishes dual functions. First, it will allow the user to better clear blockage from within a draw passage by actively rotating the device and forming a spiraled or shaped passage while inserted into the passage. Such a shaped passage as noted can help form a laminar or tornadic or other organized flow in place of the turbulent flow the smoke follows through the compacted tobacco without a formed conduit.

Further, the employment of a shaped circumference of the elongated member, when employed as a butt holder, will prevent the butt from rotating about the member as it will with a round or oval or similar smooth circumferential surface. Such conventional cylindrical cross sectional shapes, with smooth outer surfaces where the butt engages, will generally almost always rotate due to its own weight, or when the user puts pressure on the draw end with their mouth. This combined ability to form shaped conduits and prevent spinning when engaged as a support for the butt, is of great advantage over prior art since the disclosed simple and relatively small device can be used to securely hold a cigar butt without being cumbersome and overly complex.

In another particularly preferred mode of the device, the piercing component extends in a spiral fashion from handle end to the pointed end. This spiral mode of the circumferential shape, as noted above, also accomplishes dual functions. Employed as a passage piercing means, the spiral construction better compresses the tobacco along the passage and creates a riffled passage. The shaped passage creates a tornadic flow in the smoke traversing towards the user's mouth with greater efficiency than a simple straight passage. In addition the spiral piercing component may be rotatably engaged to the handle, so as to effortlessly rotate in and out of the cigar creating the riffled passage. The rotating means may also be selectively locked when employed as a stationary handle when the device is employed as a butt holding means.

The spiral construction of the piercing component achieves the similar above mentioned goal of inhibiting a cigar butt from rotating when employed as a cigar butt holder. The spiraled piercing means is essentially screwed into the sidewall to securely support a butt. If the elongated member is rotationally engaged to the grip, a forward pressure along the line of the elongated member will cause it to rotate inward and form the spiral passage. A force in the reverse direction will cause the elongated member to spin and disengage from the passage. Thereafter the engagement to the handle may be temporarily locked to prevent further spinning and allow the user to use the device as a support means for the butt.

In all preferred modes of the device it is a further particularly preferred mode that the handle component of the device be removably engaged to the piercing component by a removable engagement means. Such removable engagement means include, but are not limited to, threaded screw engagement, magnets, snap fit, and the like. The handle component preferably includes a viewable portion such as a planar surface to employ inscribed, etched, or printed indicia. Such indicia can be company logos of a particular cigar lounge, name, picture, etc. Similar to the manner that golfers will often collect ball makers from different golf courses, an avid cigar smoker may collect handles from different cigar lounges, stores, golf courses, etc. A smoker can selectively interchange the handle portion of the device and show off to friends that they have been to “Big Joe's Smoking Lounge” in “So 'n So City, AR” for example. This of course provides business owners with the opportunity to advertise a name, logo, etc. as desired.

In addition, the handle portion of the device itself may include a removably engaged substantially planar component. This planar component can be employed as a golf ball marker and include indicia as previously mentioned. In this fashion the device will allow a golfer to support the butt above the surface of the ground, and to concurrently employ the planar component to mark their ball if needed.

Finally, in another preferred mode of the device, which may be employed in all noted modes, the elongated member form having a distal end providing a piercing means, may be formed in interlocking sections which telescope for use, and compact for storage.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cigar piercing device comprising a handle and piercing component extending therefor to a pointed end for insertion into a cigar.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cigar piercing device that can clear blockage from within the smoke draw passage of a cigar.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cigar piercing device that will concurrently provide a means to securely support a cigar butt when held by the user.

An additional object of the invention herein, is the provision of a cigar piercing and draw enhancing device, which will also support the cigar temporarily above the ground or a support surface it engages with.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a piercing means that is polygonal in cross section.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a piercing means that spirals in order to create a riffled passage in which to draw smoke through in or tornadic fashion.

It is still yet another object of the invention to provide a piercing means that is telescopic for compact storage.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rotatably and removably engaged handle.

A still further object of the invention is to allow business owners and users alike to employ customized indica on the handle portion for advertising and other purposes.

It is still yet another object of the invention to provide a handle portion that is rotationally engaged to the piercing component by a rotational engagement means.

Yet a further object of the invention is a means to rigidly lock the rotational engagement means of the handle portion and piercing component.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a golf ball marker that is removably engaged to the handle portion.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent upon further description of the preferred modes of the device set forth below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the device.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device.

FIG. 3a is a particularly preferred cross section of the piercing component of the device.

FIG. 3b shows another particularly preferred cross section of the piercing component of the device.

FIG. 4a depicts a particularly preferred mode of the device showing the piercing component employing concentrically engage telescoping segments in the open mode.

FIG. 4b depicts the telescoping piercing component of the device.

FIG. 4c shows the closed mode of the particularly preferred telescoping employment of the piercing component of the device.

FIG. 5 shows still another particularly preferred mode of the device where the piercing component employs a spiral construction.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a particularly preferred removable engagement means of the handle component and piercing component employing a magnet.

FIG. 7 is a view of another particularly preferred removable engagement means of the handle component and piercing component employing screw type engagement.

FIG. 8 is a view of yet another particularly preferred removable engagement means of the handle component and piercing component employing snap fit type engagement.

FIG. 9 shows a particularly preferred rotational engagement means of the handle component and piercing component employing a swivel.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the device depicting the concavity of the handle portion.

FIG. 11 shows the device with a complementary container to store the device and a cigar, with the cap component of the container employing an aperture to aid in engaging the piercing component into a cigar.

FIG. 12 shows the device in the as used mode as a means to hold and secure a cigar butt.

FIG. 13 shows the device in the as-used position as a means to temporarily support a cigar above a support surface engaged with the distal end.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the device with handle portion employing a removably engageable golf ball marker component.

FIG. 15 is side view of the device wherein the golf ball marker component is removed from engagement to the handle component.

FIG. 16 is a front view of the ball marker component showing a magnet as the means for removable engagement to the handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-16, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 a front view of a particularly preferred mode of the device 10. The device 10 generally consists of a handle component 12 employed as a gripping means with a first 15 and second 17 planar surface; a substantial sidewall 13 extending therebetween; and a piercing component 14. The piercing component 14 extends from the sidewall of the handle component 12 at a length to generally be employable for all cigar lengths but can be manufactured at any desired length. The piercing component 14 may be of a rigid plastic, metal reinforced plastic, or metal such as stainless steel or titanium. The distal end of the piercing component 14 extends to a substantially pointed end 16 for easy engagement and passage within the compacted tobacco forming the interior of a cigar.

As seen in the side view of the device 10 in FIG. 2 the handle component 12 is substantially planar to allow for easy engagement between a finger and the thumb of the user. The elongated member forming the piercing component 14 extends from an engagement with the sidewall 13 of the handle component 12. Those skilled in the art would recognize other modes of handle component 12 construction may be employed as a finger-gripping means for the device 10. It must be noted that the description and depictions set forth for the handle component 12 are preferred in that it forms an easy means for engagement between the thumb and finger of a user's hand, the depicted modes should be considered merely for demonstrative purposes and should therefor not be considered limiting in it's intended scope. Any construction of a handle component 12 configured to provide an easy engagement between a user's thumb and finger, or with a closed hand of a user, as would occur to those skilled in the art, is considered within the scope of this patent. As an example the handle 12 may be ornamentally designed to resemble a golf ball, and thereby allow for easy engagement with the hand or the thumb and a finger or fingers of the user.

Preferred cross sections of the particularly preferred modes of the elongated member forming the piercing component 14 of the device 10 are shown briefly in FIGS. 3a and 3b. FIG. 3a shows a particularly preferred mode of the elongated member forming the piercing component 14′ employing a triangular cross section. In the as-used position, used for forming and/or clearing a draw passage in a cigar, a user can actively rotate the piercing component 14′ while inserted into the cigar to better clear the draw passage and clear any blockage. Concurrently, when the device 10 with this shaped elongated member is employed as a cigar butt holder (FIG. 12), the definite sidewalls converging at pointed intersections provided by the triangular cross section impede the rotation of the cigar butt about the piercing component 14. This rotation prevention as noted is particularly preferred in all modes of the device 10 so that the cigar does not rotate under its own weight while the user is attempting to smoke, which might cause burns to the user's face from contact with the ember. Rotation also makes it extremely hard for a user to target the draw end of the cigar when supported by the device 10 because a cigar rotating under its own weight will continually present the user a moving target for their mouth.

Another particularly preferred mode of the cross section of the member forming the piercing component 14″ is shown in FIG. 3b. In this mode the cross section is substantially square 14″. This mode similarly achieves the above noted goals of the triangular cross section, by providing planar sides converging at pointed intersections and inhibiting spinning, and is merely shown for additional demonstrative purposes. It must further be noted that the construction of the piercing component 14 of the device 10 can employ any polygonal cross section which will engage the tobacco of a cigar and inhibit or prevent rotation thereon and thereby achieve the above objects is considered to fall within the scope of the invention. However, because the diameter of the member forming the piecing component is small, a triangular shape is preferred due to the longer planar walls and a rectangle would also be preferred. Too many planar surfaces, however, on a small cross sectional member should be avoided as the resistance to spinning diminishes when the planar sections are too small.

Another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 is shown in FIG. 4a. In this mode, the piercing component 14 employs a plurality of concentrically engaged segments 18. The segments 18 are generally hollow and thereby allow for a telescopic engagement with one another. FIG. 4b shows an intermediate position of the segments 18 of the telescoping piercing component 14. FIG. 4c shows the closed mode of the telescoping piercing component 14 for compact storage and transport position of the segments 18. Similarly, the pointed end 16 is safely sheathed within the segments 18. When extended, the segments 18 are removably locked in position by frictional engagement points 21 where the rear end of one segment 18 engages the front of a trailing segment 18. A number of conventional means for such engagement are available and as herein shown there is a slightly larger exterior diameter of the inner segment 18 at the point of intersection, so as to substantially increase the frictional engagement with the interior of the outer positioned segment 18. The piercing component will remain elongated for its piercing and support functions as the force required for compaction is more than the force required to pierce a cigar. To compact the piercing component 14 the user places the distal end on a substantially solid surface and pushes upon the handle with slightly more force than is required to pierce a cigar, and the piercing component contracts. The pointed end 16 will contract within the first segment thereby providing a means to prevent injury or other problems a pointed end exposed might cause.

Still another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 can be seen in FIG. 5. The piercing component 14 is constructed in a spiral configuration 19 of the exterior surface. This mode allows the user to create a riffled draw passage within a cigar to draw smoke in tornadic flow. The user simply twists the piercing component 14 into a cigar in one direction and twists it out in the other, creating the riffled passage. This motion is simplified by rotational engagement of the handle portion 12 with the piercing component 14 as will be set forth shortly in FIG. 9.

Cigar smoking is often considered a leisure activity of the wealthy similar to golfing. Cigar smoking, just like golfing, carries with it the idea of prestige, class, and status. The golfing industry has capitalized on this aspect in that golfers may purchase ball markers or other golf accessories that display the name of the golf course or city in which the golf course is located. A golfer and collector can use these markers or other accessories as mementoes for a well played round, a successful business trip, or simply to show off to friends and colleagues. Therefor, it would be advantageous for the device of the present invention to allow golf courses, smoking lounges, and business owners of the like to achieve the same level of advertisement and customer loyalty gained by the employment of removable engaged components that can be customized with logos, names, and indicia of the like.

As depicted in FIGS. 6-8 the handle component 12 may be removably engaged to the piercing component 14 to allow a user to replace any desired handle component displaying a certain indicia. Either surface 15,17 may include visually discernable indicia 40 such as writing, logos, or any combination thereof. The indicia 40 can be inscribed, etched, printed, or otherwise imparted in a manner to provide indicia which is relatively easy to view and discern.

FIG. 6 shows a particularly preferred mode of the device 10 where the handle component 12 is removably engaged to the piercing component 14. While any means for an easy removable engagement as may occur to those skilled in the art may be employed and be considered in the scope of this invention, the depicted provision of one a plurality of magnets 20 is preferred. This is because a bayonet or screw type mount when employed at a golf course is liable to become hard to use due to grass, dirt, and rust. The handle component 12 generally employs a rigidly engaged magnetic portion 20 that cooperatively engages within a receiving cavity 22 on the proximal end of the preferable ferrous metal piercing component 14. However, if the piercing component is plastic or non-ferrous metal, the cavity 22 may operatively employ a permanently engaged magnet (not shown) to allow for removable engagement with the magnet portion 20 on the handle component 12.

FIG. 7 shows another means for removable engagement of the handle component 12 with the piercing component 14. In this mode the handle portion 12 employs a threaded extension 24 for cooperative screw type engagement with a threaded cavity 26 within the piercing component 14. Like other removable handles, this allows the user to place new handles upon the piercing component such as those that bear indicia from a special occasion or venue.

A further particularly preferred means for removable engagement of the handle component 12 with the piercing component 14 is shown in FIG. 8. The handle component 12 employs a biasing protrusion 28 that cooperatively engages into a receiving cavity 30 in the proximal end of the piercing component 14 with an additional cavity 32 to receive the protrusion 28 of the handle component 12. This is essentially a snap fit type removable engagement.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate other means to achieve removable engagement while those depicted are shown merely as preferred modes and should not be considered limiting in the intended scope of the device. Furthermore, it must be noted that these and other removable engagement means not explicitly disclosed can be employed on any of the preferred modes of the device previously set forth and are not limited to one in particular.

In another mode, a means for creating a riffled draw passage as previously described is depicted in FIG. 5 above can be particularly simplified through the provision of a rotatable engagement means, such as a swivel 34, of the handle component 12 to the piercing component 14. As depicted in FIG. 9 the means for rotational engagement is shown as a swivel 34, however, those skilled in the art would appreciate a plurality of various other means for rotational engagement while the depiction set forth in the figure was given for the simplest demonstrative purpose and should not be considered limiting in the intended scope of the invention. It must be noted that a means for rotational engagement of the handle component 12 and piercing component 14 may be employed on any of the preferred modes of the device 10 previously disclosed and is not limited to any one in particular. It is also particularly preferred that the swivel 34 or other rotational engagement means employ a means to lock the rotational movement to a stationary, rigid, engagement means. This can be provided as a rotational lock in any of a number of conventional means to prevent rotation such as the depicted slide 35 which will translate a small member into a slot 37 on the swivel 34.

FIG. 10 shows a top view of the device 10 where the surfaces 15,17 of the handle component 12 are concave 36 as an improved gripping means for a user's fingers. This is particularly preferred as are other means to increase the ability of the user to maintain their frictional engagement between compressed fingers and the thumb of the hand.

FIG. 11 shows a view of the device 10 with a complementary container 50. The container 50 includes a cap 52 for operative engagement to the open end 54. In use, a cigar 100 is engaged within the container and the cap 52 is placed over the open end 54. The cap 52 includes a substantially central aperture 54 to guide and align the piercing component 14 of the device 10 upon engagement with a cigar 100 for creating a draw passage along the longitudinal length of the cigar as desired. The cap 52 may operatively employ a plurality of alignment apertures 54 and should not be considered limiting by the depiction set forth. Furthermore, the container 50 can be sized to receive any size and length of cigar 100 or can be selectively manufactured to any desired size and length. The container 50 may also be used to store and house the device 10 when not in use.

Employment of the device 10 as a cigar butt holder is depicted in FIG. 12. The sharp end 16 providing a means for piercing the tobacco located at the distal end of the piercing component 14 of the device 10 is shown engaged within the sidewall 102 of a cigar butt 101. The orientation, depth of engagement, and longitudinal position of the engagement of the piercing component 14 can be selectively determined by a user and should not be considered limiting in its intended scope by the depiction set forth. As previously noted, it is particularly preferred that the piercing component 14 be polygonal in cross section or spiral 19 in construction as a means to prevent or to inhibit rotation of the cigar butt 101 about the exterior of the elongated member forming the piercing component 14 when employed as such.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the device employed in yet another particularly preferred mode as a temporary storage means for the device 10 and cigar 101 secured thereon. In this mode the piercing component 14 is pierced completely through cigar 101 such that a substantial portion of the piercing component 14 extends from the sidewall 102 of the cigar 101. This allows the user to pierce the pointed end 16 and any desired length of extending piercing component 14 into the ground 200 for temporary storage.

FIG. 14 shows still yet another particularly preferred mode of the device 10 that includes a handle 12 with a removably engaged portion 60 adapted with a means for removable engagement with the remaining handle portion 12 of the device 10. The removably engaged portion 60 is substantially planar and preferably employed as a golf ball marker. Therefor it must be noted that the removable portion 60 may be constructed to resemble golf ball markers known in the art and should not be considered limited by the depiction. FIG. 15 shows the portion 60 removed from the remaining handle 12 of the device 10.

As further shown in FIG. 16 a front view of the removably engaged portion 60 includes a first surface 17′ that employs a means for removable engagement such as a magnet 62. As such a complimentary magnet 64 is employed on the handle 12 of the device 10 for operative removable engagement. It must be noted that the provision of a removably engaged portion 60 may be employed on any of the previously disclosed particularly preferred modes of the device 10 while the depiction and description set forth was given merely for simple demonstrative purposes of the intended scope of the device and should not be considered limiting.

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A cigar piercing and support apparatus, comprising:

a handle, said handle having a first side surface and a second side surface and having a sidewall extending therebetween, and

an elongated member extending from said handle to a distal end; and

said distal end having a point, said point providing a piercing means to aid in translation of said member within compressed tobacco of a cigar in a first direction parallel to an axis of said cigar in a formation of an axial passage therein, or, in a second direction traverse to said axis in an engagement of said elongated member with said cigar providing a means to support said cigar at said distal end of said elongated member.

2. A cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said elongated member having a polygonal cross section; and

said polygonal cross section defining a circumferential surface of said elongated member, said circumferential surface providing a means to prevent a rotation of said cigar while in said engagement to said elongated member.

3. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 2 wherein said polygonal cross section is triangular.

4. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 2 wherein said polygonal cross section is rectangular.

5. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said elongated member having an exterior surface having a spiral shape;

said translation of said elongated member in said first direction imparting said spiral shape to said axial passage; and

said spiral shape of said axial passage providing means impart a tornadic flow of smoke drawn through said axial passage and thereby enhance smoke flow through said cigar.

6. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 5 additionally comprising:

means for rotational engagement of said elongated member to said handle.

7. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising:

said first side surface having a recessed central portion;

said second side surface having a recessed central portion; and

said recessed central portions of said first and second surface providing means for enhanced frictional engagement between a user's thumb and finger whereby less compression force is required of said user to maintain an engagement of said handle between said thumb and finger.

8. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising:

said first side surface having a recessed central portion;

said second side surface having a recessed central portion; and

said recessed central portions of said first and second surface providing means for enhanced frictional engagement between a user's thumb and finger whereby less compression force is required of said user to maintain engagement of said handle between said thumb and finger.

9. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 6 additionally comprising:

said first side surface having a recessed central portion;

said second side surface having a recessed central portion; and

said recessed central portions of said first and second surface providing means for enhanced frictional engagement between a user's thumb and finger whereby less compression force is required of said user to maintain engagement of said handle between said thumb and finger.

10. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising:

indicia located on either or both of said first or second side surfaces; and

said indicia relating to a venue where said cigar piercing and support apparatus originated, thereby rendering said cigar piercing and support apparatus a souvenir to a user having an affinity for said venue.

11. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

means for removable engagement between said elongated member and said handle.

12. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising:

means for removable engagement between said elongated member and said handle.

13. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

a container, said container including a cap; and

said cap having an aperture, said aperture providing means for aligning and guiding said elongated member for a said translation in said first direction with a cigar positioned within said container.

14. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said handle having a removable substantially planar section;

means for removable engagement of said planar section to said handle; and

said planar section removable to a remote position as a golf ball marker.

15. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising:

said handle having a removable substantially planar section;

means for removable engagement of said planar section to said handle; and

said planar section removable to a remote position as a golf ball marker.

16. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising:

said handle having a removable substantially planar section;

means for removable engagement of said planar section to said handle; and

said planar section removable to a remote position as a golf ball marker.

17. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 5 additionally comprising:

said handle having a removable substantially planar section;

means for removable engagement of said planar section to said handle; and

said planar section removable to a remote position as a golf ball marker.

18. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 6 additionally comprising:

said handle having a removable substantially planar section;

means for removable engagement of said planar section to said handle; and

said planar section removable to a remote position as a golf ball marker.

19. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 7 additionally comprising:

said handle having a removable substantially planar section;

means for removable engagement of said planar section to said handle; and

said planar section removable to a remote position as a golf ball marker.

20. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising:

said elongated member formed of sections;

said sections being telescopically engaged;

said member having an elongated position with said point positioned for said translation of said member within said compressed tobacco of a cigar; and

said member having a contracted position with said point recessed within a surrounding section.

21. The cigar piercing and support apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising:

said elongated member formed of sections;

said sections being telescopically engaged;

said member having an elongated position with said point positioned for said translation of said member within said compressed tobacco of a cigar; and

said member having a contracted position with said point recessed within a surrounding section.