Combination Lighter and Cigar Splitter with Adjustable Blade

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for splitting cigars are inaccurate, dangerous, and require additional standalone devices, which are inconvenient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A combination lighter and cigar splitter device with an aperture and adjustable cutting blade integrated into the lighter body, allowing for safe and precise splitting of cigars without the need for a separate device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional methods (razor blade or box cutter) are used to split cigars, then the cutting function is achieved, but accuracy and safety deteriorate due to inconsistent cuts and risk of injury

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting accuracyVSAvoidrisk of injury

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guided aperture as an intermediary structure between the user and the cutting blade. This aperture serves as a mediator that constrains the cigar's position and guides it through the cutting point, ensuring consistent depth and angle without requiring the user to manually control the blade's positioning, thereby eliminating inconsistent cuts and safety risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical control system (user holding and guiding a loose blade) with a fixed mechanical guide system (aperture with integrated blade). The aperture's physical structure substitutes for human skill and control, automatically ensuring proper cutting geometry through its designed dimensions and blade positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a standalone cigar splitter device is used, then cutting accuracy improves, but device complexity and storage convenience deteriorate due to requiring an additional separate device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting accuracyVSAvoidnumber of devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two previously separate functions (lighter and cigar splitter) into a single integrated device. The cutting blade and aperture are incorporated into the lighter's body structure, allowing the user to perform both lighting and cutting functions with one device, thereby reducing the total number of devices needed while maintaining cutting precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighter device is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating a cutting blade within its aperture structure. This universal design allows the single device to serve dual purposes: igniting cigars through the aperture and splitting cigars using the same aperture as a guide, eliminating the need for separate specialized tools

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10226072B2Combination lighter and cigar splitter

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 NELSON MACARIO

AI summary

A combination lighter and cigar-splitter device can include an aperture extending through a portion of the lighter body. A cutting blade can be positioned within the aperture, or proximate to the aperture in the case of an adjustable cutting blade. For example, the cutting blade can be retractable such that when the cutting blade is fully retracted, no portion of the cutting blade is exposed within the aperture. The cutting blade can also be adjustable to one of a plurality of positions to accommodate different diameter cigars.