Cigar Ventilation Implement with Sequential Punch and Needle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cigar ventilation methods, such as cutting or piercing, either result in wastefulness, skill requirements, or limited smoke passage, failing to provide a user-friendly and customizable smoking experience.
Innovation Solution
A cigar ventilation implement combining a cylindrical punch and an elongated piercing member, with sequential extension and retraction mechanisms using rotating cylinders and a detent mechanism, allowing for both punch-cutting and piercing in a single unit, enabling adjustable smoke passage and easy operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a needle or spike is used to pierce the closed end of the cigar, then the device size is reduced and portability is improved, but the smoke passage diameter becomes too small resulting in duller flavor
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the piercing function (needle) from the smoke passage creation function (punch), allowing each to be optimized independently. The needle creates a pilot hole for precise positioning, while the punch creates the actual smoke passage with adequate diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle performs a preliminary piercing action to create a guide hole before the punch is deployed. This preliminary action enables the punch to be accurately positioned and inserted through the needle's path, ensuring precise smoke passage creation without requiring the punch to force its way through intact cigar material.
2Quantity of substance
If a cylindrical punch is used to remove a circular piece of the end wrapper, then a large diameter opening is created for full cross-section smoke passage, but the user cannot control the depth of the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The punch is made dynamically adjustable through a threaded engagement mechanism with the needle assembly. The user can rotate the punch relative to the needle to extend or retract it to the desired depth, transforming a static fixed-depth punch into a dynamically adjustable tool that adapts to different smoking preferences and cigar types.
3Ease of operation
If a cutter is used to slice off the closed end of the cigar, then ventilation is achieved, but loose tobacco bits are created and skill/dexterity is required
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of slicing away a portion of the cigar end (which creates loose bits), the punch extracts a clean cylindrical core through the cigar. This extraction method removes tobacco in a controlled, contained manner through the pre-made needle pilot hole, eliminating the creation of loose scattered tobacco bits that occur with cutting methods.
4Adaptability or versatility
If both punch and piercing member are combined in a single implement, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a nested configuration where the punch is housed within the needle assembly. The punch can be extended through the needle when needed, and both components share common structural elements such as the threaded engagement mechanism and housing, reducing overall complexity compared to separate devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A cigar ventilating implement includes both a cylindrical punch and a piercing member such as a needle or spike. The punch and piercing member are sequentially extendable in response to a continuous twisting motion of a knob, with the sequencing being controlled by multiple slotted guide cylinders, a pair of actuator/driving cylinders, and a detent mechanism that initially prevents and subsequently enables relative rotation of the actuator and guide cylinders. Retraction of the punch and piercing members is carried out upon reverse rotation of the knob.