CIGAR CLIPPER AND CIGAR CLIPPER SHARPENER

Abstract

A cigar clipper sharpener includes a guide plate having a plurality of slots cut therein as well as a central sharpener support opening. A slender, angled sharpening tool can fit into the sharpener support opening, which may, itself, have a guiding surface to guide the sharpening tool at the proper angle for sharpening the blade of a cigar clipper. The plurality of slots allow cigar clipper supports to adjust to hold various sizes of cigar clippers on the guide plate. The retention members slide in the slots and can be positioned to hold both the body and the blade handles of the cigar clipper to the guide plate. The sharpener can be used on guillotine style, scissor style, callibri style and hole punch types of cigar clippers. The sharpener may be used on replaceable blades for replaceable blade cigar clippers.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/433,646, filed Dec. 13, 2016 and U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/357,238, filed Jun. 30, 2016, the contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

One or more embodiments of the invention relates generally to cigar accessories. More particularly, the invention relates to cigar accessory devices and, more particularly, to a cigar clipper and cigar clipper sharpener.

2. Description of Prior Art and Related Information

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

Cigar clippers are relatively simple devices having a blade that can move across an opening. A user inserts their cigar into the opening and closes the blade over the opening to cut an end off the cigar.

After use, the blades begin to dull. Many users simply purchase a new cigar clipper, contributing to increased cost and waste. Some cigar cutters may have sentimental value to the user, by being received as a gift or by having engraving, or the like. For these, a user may try to replace the blades, but conventional cigar clippers are not designed for opening and blade removal or replacement. In other attempts to prolong the life of their cigar clipper, a user may try to sharpen the blade. This, however, can prove difficult where the blade is not removable and has limited access.

As can be seen, there is a need for improvements in the field of cigar clippers and related accessories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a

Embodiments of the present invention further provide a

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a cigar clipper sharpener in the process of sharpening a cigar clipper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed top perspective view of the cigar clipper sharpener of FIG. 1 sharpening a cigar clipper;

FIG. 3 illustrates a partially exploded perspective view of the cigar clipper sharpener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of a sharpening tool having a handle, usable in the cigar clipper sharpener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a cigar clipper, in a closed configuration, having replaceable blades, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the cigar clipper of FIG. 5, in an open configuration;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the cigar clipper of FIG. 5, where components are hingedly connected;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the cigar clipper of FIG. 5, where components are connected with connectors, such as screws;

FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of the cigar clipper of FIG. 5 with a top cover removed to expose the blades;

FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of a replaceable blade set for the cigar clipper of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an end perspective view of a sharpener build into the end of the sharpening tool of FIG. 4.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimal configuration of a commercial implementation of any system, and in particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may be configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a cigar clipper sharpener that includes a guide plate having a plurality of slots cut therein as well as a central sharpener support opening. A slender, angled sharpening tool can fit into the sharpener support opening, which may, itself, have a guiding surface to guide the sharpening tool at the proper angle for sharpening the blade of a cigar clipper. The plurality of slots allow cigar clipper supports to adjust to hold various sizes of cigar clippers on the guide plate. The retention members slide in the slots and can be positioned to hold both the body and the blade handles of the cigar clipper to the guide plate. The sharpener can be used on guillotine style, scissor style, callibri style and hole punch types of cigar clippers. The sharpener may also be used to sharpen fish hooks, scissors, nail clippers, beard and eyebrow snips, vegetable and potato peelers, cheese cutters, and with the easy slide on safety handle, it sharpens any style or size knife, even serrated knives.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, in some embodiments, a cigar clipper sharpener 10 may include a flat guide plate 12 having a plurality of clamps 14 that slidably engage with slots 18 formed in the guide plate 12. While FIG. 1 shows the slots 18 disposed with one slot extending along a longitudinal axis, two slots disposed perpendicular to this one slot, and four slots extending diagonally from the intersection of the perpendicular slots, the guide plate 12 may include various other configuration of slots, provided that the slots are positioned to retain the cigar clipper 30 therein. The clamps 14 may include, as best seen in FIG. 3, an L-shaped clamp member 17 having a screw 16 extending therethrough with a retention nut 15 fitting onto threads of the screw 16. A washer 13 may be used to help provide smooth sliding of the clamps 14 in the slots 18.

A hole or a divot 19 (not going through the guide plate 12) may be disposed along a top side (to which the cigar clipper 30 is clamped) of the guide plate 12. The hole or divot 19 may be visible through the opening of the cigar clipper 30 so that a sharpener 20 may be disposed therethrough to sharpen the blades 32 of the cigar clipper 30. The sharpener 20 may be configured similar to a sharpened pencil in shape, with an abrasive surface 22 configured adjacent the pointed end thereof, to sharpen the blade 32. The sharpener 20 may pivot in the hole or divot 19 to reach the blade 32. In some embodiments, a plurality of holes or divots 19 may be disposed in the guide plate 12 (as best seen in FIG. 3) to permit use with various sizes and types of cigar clippers.

The sharpener 20 can include an optional handle 26 disposed about the sharpener 20, a sharpening section 22, and a swivel neck portion 24, where the neck portion has a neck diameter. The sharpening section 22 can be made from various abrasive materials, depending on the material of the cigar clipper blade 32. Typically, the sharpening section 22 can be round, where turning the handle causes the sharpening section to turn against the clipper blade, thereby sharpening the blade. However, an alternate form of a sharpener 20A is shown in FIG. 3, where its sharpening section may be flattened. The sharpener 20A may be used for sharpening other surfaces, depending on the particular application.

The end of the sharpener 20 may fit into the hole or divot 19 of the guide plate 12 to secure the sharpener 20 in place, while allowing the sharpener 20 to turn. The user may secure the swivel neck portion 24 while turning the sharpener 20, thereby allowing the user to more easily retain the sharpening angle with one hand while turning the sharpener with the other hand. To that end, a handle 26 may be disposed about the sharpener 20, as shown in FIG. 4, to provide a surface for the user to turn the sharpener 20 while the user retains the neck portion 24 at the proper angle to sharpen the cigar clipper blade 32.

The diameter of the sharpener section 22 of the sharpener 20 may vary, depending on the size of the blade 32 of the cigar cutter 30. In some embodiments, when the cigar cutter 30 has a rounded blade shape, the sharpener section 22 may have a diameter approximating the size and shape of the cigar cutter blade 32, thus allowing sharpening of the majority of the blade 32 at the same time. In some embodiments, the sharpening section 22 may be smaller than the opening formed by the blade 32. In this case, the user can swivel the sharpening section, by moving the handle 26 and pivoting on the swivel neck 24, to contact the majority of the cigar cutter blade 32.

In some embodiments, the sharpener 20 may be motorized to automatically turn. In one exemplary configuration, the handle of the sharpener may be configured to hold a power source and small motor to permit the sharpening section to turn. In some embodiments, a power port may be present in the handle to allow a power connection to the sharpener.

In some embodiments, the swivel neck will turn with the turning of the sharpening section. In other embodiments, the sharpening section may be rotatably connected to the swivel neck, where turning of the sharpening section does not require turning of the swivel neck.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 11, the distal end of the sharpener, at the swivel neck 24, may include an inset with a sharpening surface. In this embodiment, a cigar punch 60 may fit into the inset and, by turning the sharpener (or the cigar punch), a user may sharpen their cigar punch with the same tool used to sharpen the cigar clipper. In addition, in some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer surface of the sharpener (for example, the outer surface surrounding the inset) may be formed as a sharpening or rough surface for deburring the cigar clipper blade after sharpening, if necessary. Thus, the sharpener may have multiple functions—sharpening and deburring a cigar clipper blade, as well as sharpening a cigar punch.

As shown in FIGS. 5 through 10, alternatively, to solve the issue of disposing of an entire cigar clipper when the blades get dull, embodiments of the present invention provide a cigar clipper 50 with an openable and re-closable housing 52, where the user may be provided access to remove and replace the cigar clipper blades 54. Various mechanisms, as may be known in the art, may be used to provide opening and closing of the cigar clipper to provide access to the blade. While the figures show a hinged connection 56 that may be accessed by screws 58, in some embodiments, the hinges may not be necessary and the housing for the cigar clipper may simply attach together via fasteners, such as screws, nuts, clips and the like. The replaceable blades 54 may be simply removed once the user opens the cigar clipper 50 and a new blade may be installed. In this manner, the user only has to replace the blade and may retain the cigar clipper housing 52. A user may be provided replacement blades 54 with the cigar clipper or may be able to purchase blades separately in single or multi-packs. In some embodiments, the cigar clipper blades may be identical in size and shape, so it does not matter which is installed in which side of the cigar clipper. In some embodiment, the replacement blades 54 will fit into the handles 60 of the cigar clipper 50, as shown in FIG. 10, while in other embodiments, the replacement blades 54 may be provided with the handles already attached thereto.

All the features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered solely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numbering and lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken to indicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species.

The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Claims

1. A cigar cutter sharpener comprising:

a sharpening tool having, on at least a portion of an outer surface thereof, a sharpening surface operable to sharpen a metal blade;

a base having a plurality of slots cut therein;

one of a hole or a divot formed in a central portion of the base, the hole or divot configured to receive an end of the sharpening tool therein;

a plurality of clamping members slidable within one or more of the plurality of slots, the plurality of clamping members operable to fix a cigar cutter on the base.