US20090133705A1

US20090133705A1 - Cigar punching tool

Info

Publication number: US20090133705A1
Application number: US12/106,721
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew Smith
Original assignee: Colibri Corp
Current assignee: MONT D'OR OF AMERICA LLC
Priority date: 2007-11-28
Filing date: 2008-04-21
Publication date: 2009-05-28

Abstract

A cigar punching tool has a tubular housing and a tubular gripping portion surrounding the housing and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a forward position and a rearward position displaced rearwardly there-from. A tubular blade is surrounded by the housing and has a hollow interior and a circular cutting edge disposed forwardly of the gripping portion. The blade is longitudinally movable relative to the housing between a storage position in which the cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into the housing and a cutting position in which the cutting edge projects forwardly from the housing. A spring engages the housing and blade and biases the cutting edge to the storage position, and a lever pivotally engages the housing at a hinge and has a first lever arm engaged and pivoted rearwardly by the gripping portion when the gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward position, and has a second lever arm pivoted forwardly and engaging the blade when the gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward position to cause movement of the cutting edge from the storage position to the cutting position.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/298,069, filed on Nov. 28, 2007, the specification and drawings of which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to cigar smoking implements and accessories. More particularly, this invention is a tool for punching a hole in the head of a cigar in preparation for smoking.

BACKGROUND

Structurally, 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.
In regards to shape and terminology, cigars consist of a barrel, a head, and a foot. The barrel is the long tubular body portion. The foot is the end which is burned during smoking. The head is the end of the cigar which the consumer places in his mouth during smoking. Cigars are typically 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.
Additionally, binders and wrappers help to keep fresh the filler tobacco, so cigars that are sold with their heads closed tend to remain fresh longer.
Implements for opening the heads of cigars come in two main types, cutters and punches. Cutters typically include one or two sharp blades that traverse and slice through the head to remove the head tip and create an opening. Punches, on the other hand, are tubular cutting tools that create a longitudinal hole into the head. The diameter of the hole is always the same as the size of the punch, and is therefore perfectly consistent from cigar to cigar.
A shortcoming in the prior art exists in the lack of a cigar punching tool which combines, in whole or in part, the following aspects;

- a) Simple and reliable blade extension for cutting,
- b) Simple and easy to use,
- c) Simple and reliable blade retraction for storage,
- d) Neat, compact and safe storage configuration,
- e) Equally configured for right hand or left hand use,
- f) Automatically ejects the punched-out cigar plug,

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide all of these aspects, in whole or in various combinations. 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 punching tool arranged to advance and overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing means for: simple and reliable blade extension for cutting; means for simple and easy use; means for simple and reliable blade retraction for storage; a neat, compact and safe storage configuration; a configuration allowing equal use by the right or left hand, and automatic ejection of the punched-out cigar plug.
As such, a punching tool according to the invention may have a tubular housing and a tubular gripping portion surrounding the housing and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a forward position and a rearward position displaced rearwardly there-from. A tubular blade may be surrounded by the housing and may have a hollow interior and a circular cutting edge disposed forwardly of the gripping portion. The blade may be longitudinally movable relative to the housing between a storage position in which the cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into the housing and a cutting position in which the cutting edge projects forwardly from the housing. A spring may engage the housing and blade and bias the cutting edge to the storage position, and a lever may be pivotally engaged to the housing at a hinge and have a first lever arm engaged and pivoted rearwardly by the gripping portion when the gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward position, and have a second lever arm pivoted forwardly and engaging the blade when the gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward position to cause movement of the cutting edge from the storage position to the cutting position.
The punching tool may be sized and shaped to allow it to be carried and stored in the slots or channels typically found in cigar boxes and humidors for receiving cigars, or may be equipped with a key ring for carrying on a key chain.
During the storage condition, the blade edge may be protected for safety and to avoid damage to the sharp edge.
Further potential 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 a perspective view of a cigar punching tool according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade in the storage position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade in the cutting position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded top view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional top view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade in the storage position;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade in the storage position;

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade being moved from the storage position to the cutting position;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1 with its blade in the cutting position;

FIG. 8A is a partial close-up view of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the cigar punching tool of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 through 9, where there is shown an exemplary cigar punching tool 100 according to just one of the infinite number of possible cigar cutters within the scope of the invention.
Punching tool 100 has a tubular housing 102, a tubular gripping portion 104 surrounding the housing and longitudinally movable relative thereto between the forward position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, and a rearward position shown in FIGS. 3 and 8. As shown, the rearward position is displaced rearwardly from the forward position.
A tubular blade 106 is surrounded by the housing and has a hollow interior 108 and a circular cutting edge 110 disposed forwardly of the gripping portion and longitudinally movable relative to the housing between the storage position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, in which the cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into the housing and the cutting position shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, in which the cutting edge projects forwardly from the housing for punching a hole in the head of a cigar. A compression spring 112 engages the housing and blade and biases the cutting edge to the storage position.
When the cutting edge is extended forwardly into its cutting position of FIGS. 3 and 7, it is ready to be pushed into the head of a cigar to punch a hole therein by removing a cylindrically shaped plug of tobacco from the cigar head. When the cutting edge is retracted rearwardly into its storage position, the sharp cutting edge is protected within the housing and the user is protected from the sharp cutting edge, and the tool is thereby configured for safe and compact storage.
The cooperation between the gripping portion and blade to cause the cutting edge to move between its cutting and storage positions as the gripping portion is moved between its rearward and forward positions is shown in FIGS. 6 through 8. Lever 114 is pivotally engaged to housing 102 at hinge pin 116 and has a first lever arm 118 engaged and pivoted rearwardly by the gripping portion when the gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward position. The lever also has a second lever arm 122 pivoted forwardly and engaging the blade when the gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward position to cause movement of said cutting edge from the storage position to the cutting position.
Gripping portion 104 traps first lever arm 118 rearwardly when the gripping portion is in its rearward position, to retain cutting edge 108 in its cutting position against the bias of spring 112. This prevents the rearwardly-acting force from the cigar trying to push the cutting edge back into the housing during punching from doing so. Spring 112 forces the blade rearwardly, and thereby forces the cutting edge into its storage position, as the gripping portion is moved from its rearward position to its forward portion and releases first lever arm 118.
Ejector 124 is disposed within the hollow interior of blade 106 and affixed to the housing by pin 126. The blade is longitudinally movable relative to the ejector such that cutting edge 108 is substantially forward of the ejector's forward end 128 when the cutting edge is in the cutting position, as shown in FIG. 8, and is substantially adjacent to the forward end when the cutting edge is in said retracted position, as shown in FIG. 6. When spring 112 causes the cutting edge to be retracted into the housing, the cutting edge also moves rearwardly relative to the forward end of the ejector, forcing the punched cigar plug from interior 108.
Tubular housing 106 and gripping portion 104 are cylindrically shaped and coaxial, and cooperate when the gripping portion is in the forward position to form a cylinder approximately nine-sixteenths of an inch in diameter and approximately three inches long, which allows the tool to be carried and stored in the slots or channels typically found in cigar boxes and humidors. The cylindrically shaped structure is equally useful for right-handed and left-handed users. The circular cutting edge is coaxial with the housing and gripping portion, which improves the feel and balance during holding and punching.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the tool may have a key ring 170 for carrying on a key chain, which is preferably affixed to the rearward end of the gripping portion so that the tool hangs vertically downwardly from the key chain.
Housing 102 is preferably constructed of three components; tubular base 102A, collar 102B and tip 102C. The tubular base receives blade 106 within its interior chamber 132. Key 134 of the blade and key way 136 of the base to prevent rotation while allowing longitudinal movement of the blade within the chamber. Tip 102C is internally threaded at its rearward end to mate with external threading 138 at the forward end of the base.
Cylindrical collar 102B may be externally knurled as shown, or may have some other surface finish or color to improve gripping and the aesthetics of the tool. The collar slides over the rear end of the tip prior to affixing the tip to the base. Inserting the blade into the base and the spring into the tip and then threading of the tip onto the base creates a unitary housing that captures within the blade 106 and spring 112 with the blade biased towards its storage position.
Ejector 124 is next inserted through hollow interior 108 and fully rearward though slots 142 in the rearward end 144 of the blade until holes 146 of the ejector align with holes 148 of the base, and pin 126 is inserted to immovably secure the ejector to the base.
Gripping portion 104 is constructed of three components; slotted liner 104A, grip 104B, and rear tip 104C. Slotted liner 104A is inserted over the rear end of base 102A and has an internal key which is received by slot 152 of the base to prevent rotation while allowing longitudinal movement of the liner on the base. Slot 150 of the liner is aligned with slot 152 of the base, to receive lever 114. Second lever arm 122 is inserted into the slots until hinge hole 154 of the lever is aligned with hinge holes 156 of the base and clearance slots 158 of the liner, and hinge pin 116 is inserted there-though to pivotally affix the lever to the base and to affix the liner to the base while allowing the liner to move longitudinally relative to the base within the limits of clearance slot 158.
Grip 104B is next slid over the rear end of liner 104A to hide the inner workings of the tool and provide a smooth cylindrical gripping surface, and is affixed to the liner by rear tip 104C, which screws into the rear end of the liner to trap the grip and create a unitary gripping portion 104, which is longitudinally movable relative to the housing within the limits of clearance slot 158. The rear tip is equipped with a hole 162 for optionally receiving a key ring.
An advantageous feature of this embodiment lies in the interaction of the lever 114 with the rear end 144 of the blade, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 8A. Referring to FIG. 7, as gripping portion 104 is being pulled rearwardly, the forward edge 150F of slot 150 engages first lever arm 118, forcing it rearwardly, and thereby pivoting lever 114 so that second lever arm 122 pushes against the rear end 244 of the blade and forced the blade forwardly.
As the gripping portion reaches its fully rearward position of FIG. 8, shown in close-up in FIG. 8A, forward edge 150 has pivoted lever 114 clockwise (as seen in FIG. 8) sufficiently that the contact point of the second lever arm 122 and the rear end 144 of the blade is over-center of the lever's hinge pin 116 that is to say, the contact point is further left than the hinge pin (as shown in FIG. 8A) and has pivoted clockwise down passed the nadir of its motion, just starting back upward as the rearward movement of the gripping portion reaches its limit. While the gripping portion remains in the fully rearward position of FIG. 8, forward edge 150F holds first lever arm 118 in this fully clockwise position and thereby locks the blade in its forward position.
Upon initial forward movement of the gripping portion back towards its forward position, forward edge 150F is disengaged from first lever arm 118, but the lever arm is temporarily held in its fully clockwise position because of the over-center arrangement in cooperation with the rearward bias that spring 112 is exerting on the blade. The force of the blade attempting to move the blade further rearwardly prevents the lever from pivoting back counter-clockwise to allow the blade to be retracted.
As the gripping portion is and further forwardly moved, the rear edge 150R of slot 150 engages first lever arm 118, forcing it to pivot counter-clockwise, initially against the force of spring 112 until second lever arm 122 passes counter-clockwise back beyond its nadir and begins to move forwardly again, whereby the spring suddenly begins to accelerate the counter-clockwise pivoting of the lever arm. This causes cutting edge 110 to suddenly snap back into housing 102, which causes the distance between the forward end 128 of the ejector and the cutting edge to close rapidly, which has the effect of shooting the cigar plug out of the blade more forcefully. The result is a rapid ejection of the cigar plug which allows the user to shoot the plug into a nearby trash can or such.
In summary, the invention may be embodied as a cigar punching tool having a tubular housing, a tubular gripping portion surrounding the housing and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a forward position and a rearward position displaced rearwardly there-from. A tubular blade is surrounded by the housing and has a hollow interior and a circular cutting edge disposed forwardly of the gripping portion and is longitudinally movable relative to the housing between a storage position in which the cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into the housing and a cutting position in which the cutting edge projects forwardly from the housing.
A spring may engage the housing and blade and bias the cutting edge to the storage position, and a lever may be pivotally engaged to the housing at a hinge and have a first lever arm engaged and pivoted rearwardly by the gripping portion when the gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward position, and have a second lever arm pivoted forwardly and engaging the blade when the gripping portion is moved from the forward position to the rearward position to cause movement of the cutting edge from the storage position to the cutting position.
The cigar punching tool may further have an ejector disposed within the hollow interior and affixed to the housing, wherein the tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to the ejector such that the cutting edge is substantially forward of the ejector when the cutting edge is in the cutting position and is substantially adjacent to the ejector when the cutting edge is in the retracted position.
The gripping portion may trap the first lever arm rearwardly when the gripping portion is in the rearward position to retain the cutting edge in the cutting position against the bias of the spring. The spring may force the cutting edge into the storage position as the gripping portion is moved from the rearward position to the forward portion.
The tubular housing may be substantially cylindrically shaped and the circular cutting edge may be coaxial therewith. The tubular housing and gripping portion may both be substantially cylindrically-shaped and coaxial. The tubular housing, blade, and gripping portion may all be substantially cylindrically-shaped and coaxial, and the circular cutting edge may be coaxial therewith.
The housing and gripping portion may cooperate to form a cylinder less than approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter and less than approximately seven inches long when the gripping portion is in the forward position so that it can be carried and stored in the slots or channels typically found in cigar boxes and humidors for receiving cigars.
The cigar punching tool may have a key ring for carrying on a key chain, which may be affixed to the rearward end of the gripping portion.
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 punching tool comprising:

a tubular housing;

a tubular gripping portion surrounding said housing and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a forward position and a rearward position displaced rearwardly there-from;

a tubular blade surrounded by said housing and comprising a hollow interior and a circular cutting edge disposed forwardly of said gripping portion and longitudinally movable relative to said housing between a storage position in which said cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into said housing and a cutting position in which said cutting edge projects forwardly from said housing;

a spring engaging said housing and blade and biasing said cutting edge to said storage position; and

a lever pivotally engaged to said housing at a hinge and having a first lever arm engaged and pivoted rearwardly by said gripping portion when said gripping portion is moved from said forward position to said rearward position, and having a second lever arm pivoted forwardly and engaging said blade when said gripping portion is moved from said forward position to said rearward position to cause movement of said cutting edge from said storage position to said cutting position.

2. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 further comprising an ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.

3. The cigar punching tool of claim 2 wherein said gripping portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said spring.

4. The cigar punching tool of claim 3 wherein said spring forces said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward portion.

5. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing is substantially cylindrically shaped and said circular cutting edge is coaxial therewith.

6. The cigar punching tool of claim 5 further comprising an ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.

7. The cigar punching tool of claim 6 wherein said gripping portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said spring.

8. The cigar punching tool of claim 7 wherein said spring forces said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward portion.

9. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing and gripping portion are substantially cylindrically-shaped and coaxial.

10. The cigar punching tool of claim 9 further comprising an ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.

11. The cigar punching tool of claim 10 wherein said gripping portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said spring.

12. The cigar punching tool of claim 11 wherein said spring forces said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward portion.

13. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing, blade, and gripping portion are substantially cylindrically-shaped and coaxial, and said circular cutting edge is coaxial therewith.

14. The cigar punching tool of claim 13 further comprising an ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.

15. The cigar punching tool of claim 14 wherein said gripping portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said spring.

16. The cigar punching tool of claim 15 wherein said spring forces said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward portion.

17. The cigar punching tool of claim 16 wherein said housing and gripping portion cooperate to form a cylinder less than approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter and less than approximately seven inches long when said gripping portion is in said forward position.

18. The cigar punching tool of claim 16 further comprising a key ring.

19. The cigar punching tool of claim 18 wherein said key ring is affixed to said gripping portion.

20. The cigar punching tool of claim 19 wherein said key ring is affixed to said gripping portion at a rearward end thereof.

21. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing is substantially circular and said circular cutting edge is coaxial therewith.

22. The cigar punching tool of claim 21 further comprising an ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.

23. The cigar punching tool of claim 22 wherein said gripping portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said spring.

24. The cigar punching tool of claim 23 wherein said spring forces said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward portion.

25. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing and gripping portion are substantially circular and coaxial.

26. The cigar punching tool of claim 25 further comprising an ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.

27. The cigar punching tool of claim 26 wherein said gripping portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said spring.

28. The cigar punching tool of claim 27 wherein said spring forces said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward portion.

29. The cigar punching tool of claim 1 wherein said tubular housing, blade, and gripping portion are substantially circular and coaxial, and said circular cutting edge is coaxial therewith.

30. The cigar punching tool of claim 29 further comprising an ejector disposed within said hollow interior and affixed to said housing; and wherein said tubular blade is longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said cutting edge is substantially forward of said ejector when said cutting edge is in said cutting position and is substantially adjacent to said ejector when said cutting edge is in said retracted position.

31. The cigar punching tool of claim 30 wherein said gripping portion traps said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is in said rearward position to retain said cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said spring.

32. The cigar punching tool of claim 31 wherein said spring forces said cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward portion.

33. The cigar punching tool of claim 32 wherein said housing and gripping portion cooperate to form a circular body no more than approximately three-quarters of an inch in diameter and no more than approximately seven inches long when said gripping portion is in said forward position.

34. The cigar punching tool of claim 32 further comprising a key ring.

35. The cigar punching tool of claim 34 wherein said key ring is affixed to said gripping portion.

36. The cigar punching tool of claim 35 wherein said key ring is affixed to said gripping portion at a rearward end thereof.

37. A cigar punching tool comprising:

a tubular housing;

a tubular gripping portion surrounding said housing and longitudinally movable relative thereto between a forward position and a rearward position, said rearward position displaced rearwardly from said forward position

a tubular blade surrounded by said housing and comprising a hollow interior and a sharp circular cutting edge disposed forwardly of said gripping portion and longitudinally movable relative to said housing between a storage position, in which said sharp circular cutting edge is rearwardly retracted into said housing, and a cutting position, in which said sharp circular cutting edge projects forwardly from said housing for punching a hole in a cigar;

a compression spring engaging said housing and said blade and biasing said sharp circular cutting edge to said storage position;

a lever pivotally engaged to said housing, said lever comprising:

a first lever arm engaged and pivoted rearwardly by said gripping portion when said gripping portion is moved from said forward position to said rearward position;

a second lever arm pivoted forwardly and engaging said blade when the gripping portion is moved from said forward position to said rearward position to cause movement of said sharp circular cutting edge from the storage position to the cutting position;

an ejector disposed within said hollow interior of said blade and affixed to said housing, said ejector having a forward ejecting end;

wherein said blade is longitudinally movable relative to said ejector such that said sharp circular cutting edge is substantially forward of said forward ejecting end when said sharp circular cutting edge is in said cutting position, and is substantially adjacent to said forward ejecting end when said sharp circular cutting edge is in said retracted position;

wherein when said cutting edge is extended forwardly into said cutting position, it is disposed for pushing into the cigar to punch a hole therein by removing a cylindrically shaped plug of tobacco from the cigar;

wherein said gripping portion retains said first lever arm rearwardly when said gripping portion is in said rearward position to retain said sharp circular cutting edge in said cutting position against the bias of said compression spring, thereby preventing a rearwardly-acting force against the sharp circular cutting edge from pushing said sharp circular the cutting edge back into said housing during punching;

wherein said compression spring forces said blade rearwardly and thereby forces said sharp circular cutting edge into said storage position as said gripping portion is moved from said rearward position to said forward position and releases said first lever arm; and

wherein when said cutting edge is retracted rearwardly into said storage position, said sharp circular cutting edge is protected within said housing such that a user is protected from said sharp circular cutting edge.

38. The cigar punching tool of claim 37 wherein said blade further comprises a key and said housing comprises a tubular base and a tip;

said tubular base comprises a key way receiving said key to prevent relative rotation while allowing relative longitudinal movement between said housing and blade;

said tip receives said compression spring and comprises a rearward end threadedly engageable to a forward end of said tubular base; and

wherein reception of said blade into said tubular base and reception of said compression spring into said tip, and subsequent threaded engagement of said tip to said tubular base, forms said housing and captures there-within said blade and spring.

39. The cigar punching tool of claim 38 wherein said ejector is disposed into said hollow interior of said blade and though a rearward end of said blade and affixed to said housing rearwardly thereof.

40. The cigar punching tool of claim 39 wherein said ejector comprises one or more holes aligning with one or more holes of said housing when said ejector is disposed through said rearward end of said blade, and wherein a dowel pin is disposed through said aligned holes of said ejector and said housing to affix said ejector to said housing.

41. The cigar punching tool of claim 40 wherein:

said housing comprises a second key way, a first lever slot, and a first hinge pin hole;

said lever comprises a second hinge pin hole;

said gripping portion comprises a slotted liner, and wherein;

said slotted liner comprises a second key, a second lever slot, and a hinge pin slot;

a rear end of said housing is disposed into said slotted liner and said second key is received by said second key way to prevent relative rotation while allowing relative longitudinal movement between said housing and slotted liner;

said first and second lever slots are aligned when said rear end of said housing is disposed into said slotted liner and said lever is received therein;

said hinge pin slot, first hinge pin hole, and said second hinge pin hole are aligned when said rear end of said housing is disposed into said slotted liner and when said lever is received therein;

a hinge pin is disposed through said hinge pin slot and said first and second hinge pin holes to pivotally engage said lever to said housing; wherein

said hinge pin cooperates with said hinge pin slot to limited longitudinal relative movement between said slotted liner and said housing.

42. The cigar punching tool of claim 41 wherein said gripping portion further comprises a rear tip receiving said slotted liner and threadedly engageable thereto to form said gripping portion and capture said hinge pin there-within.

43. The cigar punching tool of claim 42 wherein said rear tip comprises a key ring.