WO2014051572A1

WO2014051572A1 - Cigarette cutter

Info

Publication number: WO2014051572A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/057308
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dean ELLEMAN
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-26
Filing date: 2012-09-26
Publication date: 2014-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2015-03-26

Description

Cigarette Cutter

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] The present invention relates generally to the field of cigarette cutters and more particularly to a cigarette cutter designed to cut off a portion of a lit or unlit cigarette in an easy convenient manner.

[0002] Changing attitudes toward cigarette smoking and the consequences of these changing attitudes have impacted smokers significantly. Secondhand smoke issues have forced cigarette smokers to smoke in segregated outdoor areas. In addition to the increasing numbers of smokers in these areas there is an increasing awareness of ecological issues such as effects of littering. These factors impact how smokers deal with their cigarettes both during and after smoking.

[0003] Proof of the negative health consequences of smoking and the publicity surrounding the costs to society incurred as a result have created an anti- smoking backlash in a large fraction of public opinion. These attitudes have reinforced the tendency to ban smoking in many areas and force smokers to smoke in public outdoor areas. Another consequence of changing attitudes is the imposition of extremely high taxes on sales of cigarettes. These taxes are intended to

discourage smoking by making it too costly.

[0004] Smokers' attitudes have changed in response to changing public attitudes and laws. Ssmokers have to find the time to smoke in approved areas and away from non-smokers who may disapprove. Also, smokers tend to minimize the impact of their activity to avoid additional attention. Since the cost of a pack of cigarettes in some localities is over $10 a pack, some smokers have to be

conservative in fully utilizing each cigarette to prevent unnecessary waste. This produces a conflict since a smoker's time to smoke may be limited to less than that time required to smoke an entire cigarette but each cigarette is worth considerably more than before significant restrictions were placed on the time and place for permitted smoking.

[0005] The processing of cigarettes for disposal in public areas and the conservation of the smoking material have created a need for a convenient device for cutting a cigarette safely while lit or unlit. A portion of the cigarette needs to be cut off at times to preserve the remainder of the cigarette and allow for storage free of char and ash. The portion of the cigarette cut off may be the filter portion so that the least biodegradable portion of the cigarette can be disposed of separately. [0006] Although smokers may have increased motivation for changing their behavior with regard to changing attitudes toward smoking, saving an unsmoked portion of a cigarette has been and continues to be an inconvenience to the smoker. Lacking a safe, convenient way to cut off the lit end of the cigarette, the smoker may be prone to waste the remainder of the partially smoked cigarette by discarding it. Tearing off the lit end of the cigarette in order to save it can be dirty, time consuming, and, possibly, burn the smoker's fingers.

[0007] The process of saving a portion of a lit cigarette by hand presents many problems to the smoker. The smoker must tear off the lit end of the cigarette with his/her fingers. In order to reduce the risk of being burned, the cigarette is torn away a significant distance from the lit end, thus decreasing the benefit of saving the unused portion of the cigarette. The residue can make the smoker's hands dirty and the odor of burnt tobacco often times attaches to the hands of the smoker.

[0008] The smoker then faces problem of storage and relighting a cut portion of cigarette. The unlighted portion of the cigarette will normally have an irregular tip and deformations caused by the cutting process. The irregularities in shape will make it difficult to slip the shorter cigarette portion in a cigarette pack for storage. The irregular end and other debris from the cutting operation may result in loose tobacco falling out of the irregular end into the inside of the cigarette storage receptacle. If the cut portion is returned to a cigarette pack or other cigarette storage receptacle with unused cigarettes, the debris associated with storage of the cut portion may degrade that cigarette's taste and appearance.

[0009] When relighting a cigarette that has been cut so that the end is irregular, the smoker may encounter additional unpleasant and sometimes

dangerous consequences. An irregular cut may retain burnt material with an unpleasant taste which will take away from the smoker^'s enjoyment of the cigarette. Moreover, an irregular cut coupled with deformations associated with pinching the cigarette during cutting may cause irregular burn of the cigarette with burning embers falling onto the smoker and on the ground. The dispersal of burning embers poses a fire hazard and safety hazard to the smoker.

[0010] Devices used to cut a cigarette fail to solve most of the problems smokers face in cutting a cigarette or they resort to solutions involving complicated structures in addition to a cutter. Thus, prior cutters in some instances resort to complex mechanisms associated with enclosures to segregate the cigarette and resulting debris. Some prior devices fail to make a clean cut of a lit cigarette and the geometry of the devices cause a lit ember to be prone to falling on the smoker. Cigar cutters are adapted to cutting the much stiffer and thicker cigar so that cigarettes are not cut cleanly and the other issues of cutting a lit cigarette are not addressed by the cigar cutter.

[001 1 ] Cutters which provide complicated nonstandard cutting edges are prone to becoming dull and are more expensive to maintain. A dull cutting edge will fail to cut efficiently and instead tear, pull and deform by pinching the cigarette leaving an irregular end on the cut portion of the cigarette. Deformation of the cigarette results from crushing force applied without support to maintain the cigarette shape opposite the cutting edge. Specially formed cutting blades, such as arcuate cutting edges, disperse the crushing force applied prior to the edge cutting the cigarette. However, the circumference of the cigarette opposite even an arcuate cutter is often crushed since only a single point of support tangent to the cigarette being cut supports the cigarette inadequately against deformation. Special purpose shaped cutting edges are more expensive to manufacture and maintain.

[0012] There is a need for a cigarette cutter which cuts a portion of a cigarette in a safe convenient manner so that the cut portion suffers from a minimum amount of deformation. There is a need for a cigarette cutter which is capable of being manufactured in a way that does not add undue cost to the increasing expense of smoking.

[0013] The following devices disclose cigarette cutting capabilities:

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,721 to Bowen et al. discloses a cigarette snipping device with two knife blades having cutting edges which define a V-shaped notch into which a cigarette end is inserted for snipping.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,952 discloses an apparatus with a cigarette cutter having an arcuate cutter which cuts the hot, ignited portion of a cigarette.

[0016] U.S. Pat. Application Publication US 2009/0165807 A1 by Doroff et al. discloses a butt cutter cigarette extinguisher where a cutting blade with several portions which when actuated together cause the cutting edge to extend into a compartment housing a cigarette and cut off the lit end.

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,151 ,781 by Dehler discusses an apparatus for cutting a cigarette where pressure applied from the base of a cigarette lighter presses the cigarette against the sharpened peripheral edge of the aperture thereby causing the cigarette to be cut by the sharpened peripheral edge of the aperture.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A principal object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette cutter for cutting off a portion of a cigarette safely and conveniently.

[0019] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

[0020] To achieve the objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the cigarette cutter of this invention comprises a frame having a track and a cigarette receiver, the frame has a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension; and a cutting assembly having a cutting blade for cutting through the cigarette and a slidable portion, attached to the cutting blade, operable for actuating the cutting blade to cut the portion of cigarette off, wherein the cigarette receiver supports the cigarette during cutting by the cutting blade.

[0021 ] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0022] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette cutter which incorporates the teachings of the present invention.

[0023] Fig 2 is a sectional view of the end of the frame taken along line ll-ll of

Figs. 1 and 3.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a flat plan view of the front side of the frame of the cigarette cutter in Fig. 1 .

[0025] Fig 4 is an exploded perspective view with dashed lines to illustrate the assembly of the elements of the cigarette cutter of Fig. 1 .

[0026] Fig. 5 is a flat plan view of a cutting blade for use in the cigarette cutter of Fig. 1 .

[0027] Fig. 6 is a flat plan view of alternative cutting blade configurations for use in a cigarette cutter in accordance with the present invention.

[0028] Fig. 7 is a flat plan view of the front of the assembled cigarette cutter of

Fig. 4.

[0029] Fig. 8 is a flat plan view of the back of the assembled cigarette cutter of

Fig. 7.

[0030] Fig. 9 is a flat plan view of the front facing side of an end stop for use in the cigarette cutter of the present invention.

[0031 ] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the back facing side of the end stop of

Fig. 9.

[0032] Fig. 1 1 is a flat plan view of a slidable portion for use in the cigarette cutter of Fig. 1 .

[0033] Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the slidable portion of Fig. 1 1 .

[0034] Fig. 13 is an end view of the slidable portion shown in Fig. 12 taken along section lines XIII-XIII.

[0035] Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view of the slidable portion taken along section lines XIV-XIV of Fig. 13.

[0036] Fig. 15 is an orthographic detail view of a portion of the cigarette cutter of Fig. 1 .

[0037] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a cigarette cutter according to the presently preferred embodiment with a portion of a cigarette being shown introduced along the direction indicated by a segmented arrow. [0038] Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the cigarette cutter of Fig. 16 immediately after operation to a cut off a cigarette portion with segmented arrows showing directions for the cutting assembly and cut cigarette portions.

[0039] Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along section line XVIII- XVIII of the cigarette cutter of Fig. 17 without the cut cigarette portions.

[0040] Fig. 19 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cigarette cutter which incorporates the teachings of the present invention.

[0041 ] Fig.20 is a schematic cross sectional view of an alternative

embodiment of a cigarette cutter which incorporates the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] A principal object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette cutter 10 for cutting a cigarette which cuts a cigarette in a safe and convenient manner.

[0043] A cigarette cutter 10 of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 1 . Cigarette cutter 10 has a frame 20 with a cigarette receiver 12 having a track 14 in which a cutting assembly 16 slides. Track 14 comprises an elongated flattened C-shape member having two spaced apart sidewalls 41 , 43 which extend forwardly along the top and bottom edges of back wall 45; and rails 51 , 53 which extend inwardly from sidewalls 41 ,43 respectively as shown in Fig. 2 at a first end 42 of frame 20 along section lines ll-ll of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. The pairs of spaced apart sidewalls 41 , 43 and rails 51 , 53 define corresponding, respective upper spaced apart sidewall 41 , lower spaced apart sidewall 43 and upper rail 51 , lower rail 53. In this preferred embodiment, track 14 is defined by the slidable surfaces of spaced apart sidewalls 41 , 43; connecting back wall 45; and rails 51 , 53 and the space inside and around rails 51 , 53. Track 14 longitudinally extends from a first end 42 of frame 20 to a second end 44 of frame 20.

[0044] In Fig. 3 a flat plan view of the front side of frame 20 shows notches 48 in upper rail 51 . These notches 48 define a plurality of possible stopping positions along track 14. In order to permit a cigarette to pass between rails 51 , 53, upper clearance notch 46 and lower clearance notch 47 are formed such that the overall annular diameter defined by the respective arcs between clearance notches 46, 47 is slightly larger than the diameter of a cigarette. Upper clearance notch 46 is formed in upper rail 51 and lower clearance notch 47 is formed in lower rail 53.

[0045] Cigarette receiver 12 supports a cigarette (not shown in Figs. 1 -3) inserted in hole 50 from a transverse direction which is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal extent of frame 20. Cigarette receiver 12 is integral to frame 20 and is formed annularly in back wall 45. The annular shape of cigarette receiver 12 includes arcuate support 54 which extends in the direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of frame 20 and toward the front side of frame 20. Arcuate support 54 is incorporated into cigarette receiver 12 along at least support portion 52 of the circumference of hole 50. (as shown in Fig. 3)

[0046] As shown in Fig. 4 and indicated by the assembly helper line, cutting assembly 16 operates to slide from first end 42 to second end 44 along track 14. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention cutting assembly 16 has a cutting blade 24 for cutting through a cigarette and a slidable portion 22 attached to cutting blade 24 operable for actuating cutting blade 24 to cut a portion of cigarette off. Cutting blade 24 attaches to slidable portion 22 by an attachment protrusion 60 being inserted into an attachment hole 62 in blade 24 as indicated by the assembly guide line in Fig. 4. This attachment fixes blade 24 longitudinally with respect to slidable portion 22 while cutting assembly 16 is in track 14.

[0047] Cutting blade 24 has a cutting edge 25 along one end as illustrated in Fig. 5. Attachment hole 62 is configured to fix the position of blade 24 relative to slidable portion 22 when attachment protrusion 60 is extended there through.

Alternative configuration cutting blades 28 and 30 are shown by way of example in Fig. 6. The presently preferred embodiment of cigarette cutter 10 can be readily adapted to accept alternate blade edges 29 and 31 and corresponding, respective attachment holes 63 and 64 of cutting blades 28 and 30. These blades 24, 28, 30 can be specifically manufactured or can be stock blades from manufacturers such as Xacto.

[0048] In Fig. 1 and Fig. 7 cutting assembly 16 is shown inserted in track 14 at a home position or retracted position where cutting edge 25 does not intersect hole 50 of cigarette receiver 12. This retracted position is proximate to first end 42 where an end stop 38 prevents cutting assembly 16 from sliding out of track 14 at first end 42 as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8. [0049] Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show the corresponding, respective front side and back side of end stop 38 which is formed to fit snugly into track 14 with a clip 40 extending out and longitudinally to allow clip 40 to attach cigarette cutter 10 to flat material such as a shirt pocket. Fig.9 illustrates the front facing side of end stop 38 which shows tensioning gap 39. Tensioning gap 39 would be a manufacturing detail which may make clip 40 to be less likely to cause the plastic to break by repeated stress during use and give clip 40 more resiliency. The back side of end stop 38 is shown in Fig. 10 in a perspective view from rectangular end 41 which is inserted in track 14 to form a frictional engagement to hold end stop 38 in place to block cutting assembly 16. End stop 38 is inserted into track 14 with clip 40 extending

longitudinally down the back of frame 20 over back wall 45 as illustrated by Fig. 8 and by the cross sectional view in Fig. 18 which is discussed below.

[0050] Slidable portion 22 is shown with leaf spring 22 inserted in Fig. 1 1 which is a flat plan view of the side of slidable portion 22 which faces back wall 45 when slidable portion 22 is inserted in track 14. Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of slidable portion 22 featuring inner layer 102, which has an extending tongue 58 where attachment protrusion 60 is formed. Slidable portion 22 has inner layer 102, middle layer 104, and outer layer 106 as illustrated by the end view of slider 22 as shown in Fig. 13 which is taken along section lines XIII -XI 11 from Fig. 12.

[0051 ] As illustrated in Fig. 13 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention slidable portion 22 is formed with engagement portions 108, 1 10 each of which operatively couples cutting assembly 16 to track 14 by acting as races in which, corresponding, respective rails 51 , 53 run. All of inner layer 102 slidably engages track 14 since inner layer 102 is inserted into track 14 in a preferred embodiment and cutting assembly 16 slides within track 14. Engagement portions 108, 1 10 correspond to the respective one of rails 51 , 53 which engages slidable portion 22. Thus, upper rail 51 runs in upper engagement portion 108 and lower rail 53 runs in lower engagement portion 1 10. Engagement portions 108, 1 10 are linear troughs, i.e., races, running in the direction of the longitudinal dimension of frame 20 and having cross section where sides are defined by surfaces of inner layer 102 and outer layer 106 and the bottom is defined by the edge of middle layer 104.

[0052] Outer layer 106 has a push pad 1 12 to facilitate actuation of cutting assembly 16 by frictional engagement with the user's thumb or fingers. Push pad 1 12 may be some type of textured or raised, knurled area. [0053]As best shown in Figs. 1 1 and 12 layer 102 has a gap 1 14 and access opening 1 16 which is an elongated opening arranged to allow insertion of leaf spring 32. Extending arms 34, 36 of leaf spring 32 are visible through access opening 1 16 in Fig. 1 1 and in cross section in Fig. 14 spring 32 is shown in position in the cross sectional view of Fig. 14 where the section is taken along section lines XIV-XIV shown in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13. Leaf spring 32 is configured with extending arms 34 36 to tension catch 37. As shown in Fig. 14 extending arms 34, 36 press against bearing surface 71 and provide tension in the opposite direction to arcuate portion of leaf spring 32 which defines catch 37.

[0054] The cross sectional view of a part of slidable portion 22in Fig. 14 shows inner layer 102 and middle layer 104 with a part of upper engagement portion 108 located along the top of the figure. In Fig. 14 leaf spring 32 has been inserted through access opening 1 16 into leaf spring chamber 1 18 with catch 37 pushed through detent opening 120. Catch 37 extends out of detent opening 120 into upper engagement portion 108 with spring tension so that if catch 37 is pressed down into spring chamber 1 18 it will return to extending out into upper engagement portion 108 with tension.

[0055] Preferably, the detent mechanism is referred to generally by reference numeral 122 and, as shown in Fig. 15, includes the illustrated combination of elements to define a plurality of stopping positions limiting sliding of cutting assembly 16 until released. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention detent mechanism 122 includes catch 37 which interacts with notches 48 as shown in Fig. 15. When cutting assembly 16 is slidably actuated so that upper rail 51 moves relative to middle layer 104 in detent mechanism 122 then catch 37 is pressed down and out of one of notches 48 so that catch 37 is released from notches 48. Thus, notches 48 define corresponding, respective stopping positions.

[0056] Tension to engage catch 37 in one of notches 48 is produced by spring force stored in leaf spring 32 causing catch 37 to be extended out of detent opening 120. Spring forces are tensioned against bearing surface 71 by extending arms 34, 36 and the inside of spring chamber 1 18 proximate to detent opening 120 by spring shoulders 33, 35. These spring forces include restorative forces after deformation from materials used to manufacture leaf spring 32, such as spring steel as is known in the area of leaf spring manufacture. Release of catch 37 from engagement with one of notches 48 occurs due to downward force on catch 37 by the relative sliding motion of upper rail 51 bringing a flat portion of rail 51 between notches 48 over detent opening 120.

[0057] At second end 44 track 14 reduces in thickness in the transverse direction where the separation between back wall 45 and rails 51 , 53 reduces starting from shoulder 74. The cross sectional dimension reduces to allow cutting blade 24 to slide into track 14 and restrict transverse motion of cutting blade 24 while blocking cutting assembly 16 by being too narrow transversely for slidable portion 22. This narrow portion of track 14 may preferably extend so that blade edge 25 is exposed beyond second end 44. Blade edge 25 may then act to cut other materials from a stopping position of cutting assembly 16 defined by one of the notches. In an alternative embodiment the narrow portion at second end 44 may extend to sufficient length so that blade 24 cannot extend beyond end 44 and operates to protect blade edge 25 and block further sliding.

[0058] Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 show operation of cigarette cutter 10 for cutting a portion 80 of a cigarette 76. Cutting assembly 16 is in a retracted position with cigarette 76 approaching along the direction of the segmented arrow to insert lit or burnt end 78 into cigarette receiver hole 50 as shown in Fig. 16. Cutting assembly 16 operates to slide between first end 42 at a retracted position and second end 44 by frictional engagement of push pad 1 12 of slidable portion 22. The arrow over push pad 1 12 in Fig. 17 indicates the direction of a force applied to actuate the sliding of cutting assembly 16 from the retracted position to the position which effects the cutting off of cigarette end 80 from cigarette portion 82. The segmented arrow from cigarette end 80 indicates that cut end 80 with the lit or burnt end 78 is intended to fall away from cigarette cutter 10 as waste. The segmented arrow from blade 24 to cigarette portion 82 indicates that the remainder after cutting is removed for further processing, such as storage or disposal.

[0059] Once blade edge 25 has crossed hole 50 and transected cigarette 76 cutting assembly 16 may be prevented from moving by catch 37 engaging an appropriately placed one of notches 48. This position of assembly 16 along track 14 shown in Fig. 17 is a cut position stop which may be the last stop position formed by detent mechanism 122 before blade 24 begins to extend beyond second end 44. These positions extending beyond the cut stop position are preferably defined by one or more of notches 48 in the manner described previously for defining stopping positions by detent mechanism 122. [0060] A different kind of stopping position can be used to block cutting assembly 16 from sliding longitudinally beyond second end 44 by providing a blocking tab (not shown) which extends from one of rails 51 , 53 to block middle layer 104 in an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention. This alternative second end stop at second end 44 may be formed by an extension of one or both of rails 51 , 53 so there would be insufficient separation between rails 51 , 53 for middle layer 104 of slidable portion 22 to slide further down track 14. This second end stop preferably would not be releasable since it would block engagement of rails 51 , 53 beyond the second end stop.

[0061 ] Details of cigarette receiver 12 are shown in Fig. 18 in a cross sectional view taken along section lines XVIII— XVIII of Fig. 17 with cigarette portion 80 not shown in this cross section. The cross sectional view of Fig. 18 shows dotted lines indicating the phantom position of lower rail 53 since the cross section is taken in the middle of track 14. Cigarette receiver 12 is sized to be slightly larger than cigarette 76 so that cigarette 76 can be inserted into hole 50 and supported along the outside circumference. During cutting of cigarette 76, force exerted by blade 24 at edge 25 will push the cigarette in a direction away from the cut toward the opposite side of hole 50 and the amount of force will depend on the shape of blade edge 25 and the sharpness of blade edge 25 in addition to other factors, such as properties of the cigarette leading to resistance to the cutting. Support portion 52 of cigarette receiver 12 which is closer to second end 44 applies the force opposing the force of blade 24.

[0062] Support portion 52 in contact with a cigarette being cut applies an opposing force which, depending on shape and dimension, may result in deformation or an uneven cut due to cigarette receiver 12 breaking or cutting the cigarette on the side opposite blade edge 25. Through experimentation with different configurations of support portion 52 it was found that modification including rounding and increasing the thickness of the area around hole 50 decreased the deformation and uneven cut problems. Arcuate support 54 extends outwardly from back wall 45 of frame 20 and its axis is coincident with the long dimension of cigarette 76 inserted to be cut.

Increasing the area of support portion 52 supplying the opposing force to cutting edge 25 with arcuate support 54 decreases the force per unit area applied to the circumference of cigarette 76. It is not necessary for arcuate support portion 54 to extend substantially since a small amount increases the support as compared to a single edge contact.

[0063] Since it is only necessary to distribute the force opposing cutting edge 25, arcuate support 54 preferably extends circumferentially around only a support portion 52 of hole 50. As shown in Fig. 17 after cutting cigarette 76 lit or burnt end 78 should fall away from cigarette cutter 10, especially for safety reasons if the end is burning. In a preferred embodiment of the invention cigarette receiver 12 has a bevel 55 countersunk into the edge of hole 50. Bevel 50 can improve the cutting operation by minimizing the angles of the surfaces opposing cutting edge 25; minimizing contacting surface around the entire circumference which may catch and hold cut portion 80 to cigarette receiver 12; and minimize fragmentation by using the cutting forces to push back and pack the edge material into cut portion 80. Minimizing retention of cut portion 80 with lit end 78 in contact with cigarette receiver 12 after cutting is a reason to restrict the extent of arcuate support 54 to support portion 52. Support portion 52 is located along the circumference of hole 50 on the side opposite the side of hole 50 which blade edge 25 crosses first with an extent which in a preferred embodiment is less than half the circumference of hole 50.

[0064] The direction and extent of support along support portion 52 also depends on the configuration of alternative rails and alternative tracks where, for example, the blade may transect the cigarette immediately flush with a back wall 45 in which cigarette receiver 12 is formed. In such an alternative situation, an

alternative arcuate support (not shown) would have to extend out in the transverse direction on the opposite side of back wall 45 to allow clearance for the blade of this alternative embodiment configuration. The close proximity of the blade to cigarette receiver 12 may reduce the size of arcuate support 54 to the thickness of the backwall 45 or whatever thickness is necessary to reduce deformation during cutting.

[0065] Blade 24 can be taken out of cigarette cutter 10 for replacement or sharpening by sliding cutting assembly 16 out of track 14 at first end 42 of frame 20. End stop 38 must be removed from track 14 before cutting assembly 16 can slide out. Preferably, end stop 38 is held in place by frictional engagement with track 14 due to its snug fit. Alternatively, a first end stop to prevent removal of cutting assembly 16 may be provided by a removable protrusion through a hole in back wall 45 proximate to first end 42. For example, a key ring could be removably inserted into a hole in back wall 45 to prevent cutting assembly 16 from sliding beyond first end 42. [0066] Fig. 19 illustrates an alternative outer layer 106 of slidable portion 22 which has a thumb pad 126 defined by a built up broad arcuate depression to accept a thumb or other finger. Thumb pad 126 serves as a push pad variant where the arcuate depression is a surface for frictional engagement to operate alternate cutting assembly 128 to actuate cutting blade 25. In the embodiment of Fig. 19 preferably alternate slidable portion 130 is the same as slidable portion 22 with the addition of thumb pad 126. Thumb pad 126 is an extension of material in alternate outer layer 124 extending around upper rail 51 and over upper spaced apart sidewall 41 .

[0067] In an alternative preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 20 cigarette cutter 210 has an alternate slidable portion 222 which couples to a track 214 along rails 251 , 253 which are located rotated 90 degrees around the longitudinal axis compared to track 14 and rails 51 , 53 of a preferred embodiment of cigarette cutter 10. Fig. 20 is a schematic cross sectional view of frame 220 showing cross hatched areas representing the location of cigarette receivers 212 and 213 with a segmented arrow to represent the transverse direction along which a cigarette would be inserted into cigarette receivers 212 and 213 for cutting. The schematic representation of the portion of cigarette receivers 212, 213 does not show the hole for a cigarette or features surrounding the hole which support a cigarette around a portion of the circumference as discussed above with reference to cigarette receiver 12; the same support surfaces and structures are used in cigarette receivers 212 and 213 in order to prevent deformation, minimize contact with the cigarette, and minimize

fragmentation of the cigarette.

[0068] Frame 220 defines track 214 within back wall 245, bottom sidewall 243, front wall 246, and rails 251 , 253. Cutting assembly 216 has slidable portion 222 attached to cutting blade 224 which is shown schematically where the details of such attachment may include attachment from the top or extensions or other mechanisms of attachment. Cigarette receiver 212 is formed with in back wall 245 in the same manner that cigarette receiver 12 is formed in back wall 45. Fig. 20 shows forward cigarette receiver 213 formed in forward wall 246. In Fig. 20 cutting blade 224 is schematically illustrated sliding between back wall 245 and front wall 246. In an alternative embodiment encompassed by the schematic illustration Fig. 20 frame 220, track 214 and cutting assembly 216 may be configured so that the cutting blade 224 is positioned to slide against the inside surface of back wall 245. Additional stabilization of cutting assembly 216 in order to direct and support cutting blade 224 during cutting of a cigarette may be achieved by means such as runners or races along bottom sidewall 243 and changing the separation between back wall 245 and front wall 246 which are not shown in Fig. 20.

[0069] In this embodiment of the invention the cigarette to be cut is inserted in cigarette receivers 212 and 213 which are indicated schematically by cross hatching in Fig. 20. The design considerations and configuration of cigarette receiver 12 apply to the design of receivers 212 and 213. Thus, receivers 212, 213 will have a hole which will be sufficient in size to pass the cigarette generally orthogonally to the longitudinal direction of track 214 and either one or both will provide support along the circumference of the cigarette. The support along the circumference will be opposite the side of the cigarette where the cut is being made and will extend as appropriate for the orientation of cutting blade 224 in accordance with the design principles discussed with reference to cigarette receiver 12. Accordingly in the alternative embodiment of Fig 20 with cutting blade 224 sliding against back wall 245, cigarette receiver 213 may be configured to include an arcuate extension extending out from the front wall 246 in said transverse direction from the inside surface of said front wall located along a portion of the circumference of forward cigarette receiver 213 (not shown).

[0070] A further embodiment of the present invention includes a frame coupled to a second track similar to the track for cigarette cutters 10 and 210 configured to hold a cutter assembly for a general utility cutter. This alternative embodiment includes the advantages of the presently preferred embodiments with the convenience of having a dual purpose device.

[0071 ] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the disclosed preferred embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Various suggestion and examples of modifications and variations were discussed above with reference to blade configurations; options for stopping positions; options for end stops; configuration variations for cigarette receiver 12; and track changes including orientation and blocking extensions. Various materials and manufacturing techniques, such as plastic or metal molding or shaped metal, may be used to manufacture the elements of the invention as is appropriate, Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their legally permissive equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS I claim:

Claim 1 . A cigarette cutter for cutting off a portion of a cigarette comprising:

a frame having a track and a cigarette receiver; and

a cutting assembly having a cutting blade for cutting through the cigarette and a slidable portion, attached to said cutting blade, operable for actuating said cutting blade to cut the portion of cigarette off,

wherein said frame has a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension orthogonal to said longitudinal dimension, and said cigarette receiver supports the cigarette during cutting by said cutting blade.

Claim 2. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 1 , said frame having a first end and a second end located at opposing ends of said frame in said longitudinal dimension, wherein

said track extends along said longitudinal direction between said first end and said second end,

said slidable portion includes an engagement portion operatively coupling said cutting assembly to said track,

said cutting assembly operates to slide between said first end and said second end, and

said frame being formed with a cigarette receiver which supports the cigarette oriented parallel to said transverse direction and supports the cigarette along a portion of the outer circumference of the cigarette surface.

Claim 3. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 2, said cigarette receiver includes an arcuate extension extending out from said frame in said transverse direction located along a portion of the circumference of said cigarette receiver.

Claim 4. A cigarette cutter according to Claims 2 including a detent mechanism having a plurality of stopping positions, said plurality of stopping positions limiting sliding of said cutting assembly until released.

Claim 5. A cigarette cutter according to Clainn 2, wherein said track includes a first rail and a second rail and said engagement portion having at least one contacting surface in slidable contact with said first rail.

Claim 6. A cigarette cutter according to Claims 5 including a detent mechanism having a plurality of stopping positions, said plurality of stopping positions limiting sliding of said cutting assembly until released.

Claim 7. A cigarette cutter according to Claims 6 including a detent mechanism having a plurality of stopping positions, said plurality of stopping positions limiting sliding of said cutting assembly until released.

Claim 8. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 7, said detent mechanism including a catch and a plurality of notches, wherein said plurality of notches are located in said first rail and correspond to respective ones of said stopping positions and said catch releasably engages one of said plurality of notches.

Claim 9. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 2 including a first end stop located at said first end for preventing said cutting assembly from sliding off said track at said first end.

Claim 10. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 9, wherein said first end stop includes an end block formed to fit snuggly into said track and capable of removal from said track.

Claim 1 1 . A cigarette cutter according to Claim 9, wherein said first end stop includes a removably protrusion through said frame proximate to said first end.

Claim 12. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 1 1 wherein said removable protrusion is a key ring.

Claim 13. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 2, further including spring bias operatively coupled to said cutting assembly for actuating sliding of said cutting assembly.

Claim 14. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 2 wherein said frame further includes a back wall and a front wall and said cutting blade is positioned to slide against the inside surface of said back wall.

Claim 15. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 14 wherein said cigarette receiver is formed in said back wall and said frame further includes a forward cigarette receiver formed in said front wall, said forward cigarette receiver includes an arcuate extension extending out from said front wall in said transverse direction from the inside surface of said front wall located along a portion of the the circumference of said forward cigarette receiver.

Claim 16. A cigarette cutter according to Claim 1 , said slidable portion includes a push pad having a surface for frictional engagement to operate said cutting assembly to actuate said cutting blade to cut the portion of cigarette off.

Claim 17. A cigarette cutter for cutting off a portion of a cigarette comprising:

a frame having a longitudinal dimension, a transverse dimension orthogonal to said longitudinal dimension, a first end and a second end wherein said first end and second end are respectively located at opposing ends of said frame in said longitudinal dimension, said frame including:

a track extending along said longitudinal direction between first end and said second end, and

a cigarette receiver for supporting the cigarette having an arcuate extension out from said frame in said transverse direction located along a portion of the circumference of said cigarette receiver; and

a cutting assembly having a cutting blade for cutting through the cigarette and a slidable portion attached to said cutting blade, operable for actuating said cutting blade to cut the portion of cigarette off.