WO2011056669A1

WO2011056669A1 - Smoker's end cap for cigar/cigarillo

Info

Publication number: WO2011056669A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/054327
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pedro R. Maal
Original assignee: Maal Pedro R
Priority date: 2009-10-28
Filing date: 2010-10-27
Publication date: 2011-05-12
Also published as: US20110094525A1

Abstract

A cigar/cigarillo having a cigar cap, a covering for the cigar butt, smoking end that the human user's mouth will contact when smoking. The cigar cap can be made from a tobacco leaf (Figs. 3-9, 16-24), or other material(s) (Figs. 10-15, 25-27). It can be shaped to the cigar butt, or any other shape, size or form, and attached at any time after the outer wrapper leaf has been applied, hygienically and physically protecting the cigar butt end, namely the smoker's smoking end. Ideally, the cigar cap's removal is unobstructed by the cigar ring. It can be attached to a band or otherwise applied to simplify its removal, and it's ideal length is between about 2.5-4 centimeters. A cigar cap can label the cigar, and/or include marketing or advertising information, etc. Also relatively non-removable cigar caps can be used to provide smokers an alternative flavor when smoking.

Description

SMOKER'S END CAP FOR CIGAR/CIGARILLO

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims benefit of priority to U.S. nonprovisional patent application Serial No. 12/913, 127, filed October 27, 2010, entitled "Smoker's End Cap for

Cigar/Cigarillo" and to provisional patent application Serial No. 61/280,024, filed October 28, 2009, entitled "Cigar Cover", the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Background

What is a Cigar?

[0002] A cigar is tobacco that has been rolled for smoking. It is usually made by rolling "filler" tobacco, inside a "binder" tobacco leaf. The resulting tobacco roll is then usually placed inside a mold to be pressed and formed to the shape of the cigar. After the tobacco roll has been pressed and formed, it is usually wrapped with an outer tobacco leaf called the "wrapper". The wrapper traverses the entire length of the cigar ensuring an airtight seal that allows the smoker to draw air through the cigar during smoking. It is not intended to be removed, and is smoked along with the rest of the tobacco leaves thereby making up an integral part of the cigar's flavor.

[0003] Wrapper leaves are usually applied starting from the end of the cigar that is to be lit, towards the cigar butt which results in the wrapper overlapping itself and holding itself in place as it is wrapped down the length of the cigar. This ensures that it does not unwrap as the cigar is smoked.

[0004] Upon reaching the end of the cigar, the wrapper is tapered and pasted down, forming the cigar butt, or the "smoker's end" of the cigar. This is the part of the cigar which is placed into the smoker's mouth, and is opposite the end of the cigar which is lit. After, the wrapper leaf is applied and the cigar butt is formed, the cigar butt is generally not altered further until reaching the final consumer.

A Cigar's Further Production

[0005] A cigar can be smoked immediately after the outer wrapper leaf has been applied. However, before it can be offered to the public, it usually undergoes many further steps in an almost totally manual production process.

[0006] First, the end that is to be lit is sheared, giving the cigar its proper length. Then the cigar is repetitively checked by one or more quality supervisors who, among other things, check for imperfections by taking it into their hands and inspecting it visually, check for an even distribution of tobacco by squeezing it from end to end to, and check the cigar's construction quality and balance by rolling it in their hands. [0007] Cigars that pass inspection are then wrapped in bundles of usually fifty (50) cigars sometimes called a "Media Vuelta" and stored to age. Occasionally a cigar will be removed from a Media Vuelta and manually re-inspected.

10008] After the cigars have aged, they are spread out to be manually sorted by shade and have cigar rings placed on them. The cigar's production culminates with the cigar being inserted into a cellophane sleeve before being either placed into a cigar box or being wrapped in a bundle of usually twenty-five (25) pieces. For some markets the cigars are boxed or bundled without being placed into cellophane sleeves.

[0009] A cigar should be maintained in a humid environment. In order to keep cigars humidified better, and to better display them, sales venues will often remove the cigars from their cellophane wrappers, which also subjects the cigars to further handling.

Smoking a Cigar

[0010] Before a cigar can be smoked, a hole must be cut into the cigar butt which allows the smoker to draw air through the length of the cigar. A cigar can be lit in a variety of ways, and after the cigar is lit, the smoker smokes the cigar by putting the cigar butt end into his/her mouth and drawing air through the length of the cigar, thereby smoking the tobacco that makes up the body of the cigar. In this specification the end of the cigar which is placed into the smoker's mouth is termed the "smoker's end."

Current Limitations for Cigar Smokers

|0011] Cigar smokers are limited to smoking cigars with no physical or hygienic protection for the smoker's end, the part of the cigar that is placed into their mouths during smoking. This is despite the fact that after the outer wrapper leaf has been placed onto a cigar, the cigar passes through many hands during its further production and then again during the sales process in the case that the cigar is removed from the cellophane sleeve.

|0012] Cigar smokers are also unable to select a preferred flavor to have on the smoker's end of their cigar, and are instead limited to tasting the outer wrapper leaf that has been applied to that particular cigar.

Current Limitations for Cigar Manufacturers

[0013] Cigar manufacturers do not currently have a medium for applying marketing or advertising messages to the butt end of their cigars. They are also currently limited to using cigar rings to label their cigars, making it more di ficult for consumers to quickly differentiate one manufacturers cigars from others on the market.

[0014] Cigar manufacturers are also unable to direct their clients to the correct socially acceptable behavior in a specific market by making their cigar labels easily recognizable as being cither removable or non-removable.

Summary

[0015] Covering the smoker's end of a cigar with an easily removable or non-easily removable cigar cap (the subject of this application) at any time after the outer wrapper leaf has been added to the cigar, offers advantages currently unavailable to cigar consumers and

manufacturers. These include, but are not limited to: physical and hygienic protection of the cigar butt or smoker's end of the cigar from damage and/or contamination due to handling or other means; creation of a way to offer smokers additional different flavor options without changing the tobacco composition of the body of the cigar; creation of an additional surface area which can be used for marketing or advertising or as an alternative way to label cigars. A cigar cap in accordance with the invention(s) can be made to be easily removable or non-removable depending on its function.

[0016] In cases that the cigar cap is to be made easily removable, its removal can be simplified with the use of an extra band, or by wrapping it in an easily removable way. Multiple cigar caps may also be layered offering smokers a combination of different benefits.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present disclosure, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements may be given the same or analogous reference numbers and wherein:

[0018] Fig. 1 is a top view of a torpedo shaped cigar, and is ready for sale to the public in accordance with the prior art. For the purpose of this application, the principle parts of the cigar have been labeled.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a top view of a torpedo shaped cigar immediately after the outer wrapper leaf has been applied and in accordance with the prior art, and before it has been cut to its proper length.

[0020] Figs. 3-9 are top views and show the same cigar as in Fig. 2 but with cigar caps in different variations and stages of preparation, and demonstrate how a cigar cap might be made in an exemplary fashion from a tobacco leaf and with possible methods incorporated to simplify the cover's removal, and all in accordance with some of the elements of the present implementation.

[0021] Figs. 10-17 are top views of a torpedo shaped cigar with examples of possible covers made by different methods and/or from different materials.

[0022] Fig. 18 is a top view of a torpedo shaped cigar which has had multiple cigar caps applied in layers. [0023] Figs. 19A-19C are top views of a torpedo shaped cigar with an example of a cigar cap that is made from the same tobacco leaf that is used to create the cigar's outer wrapper leaf.

[0024] Figs. 20-22 arc top views of a torpedo shaped cigar with examples of various information that can be printed on either the cigar cap, and/or the additional band.

[0025] Figs. 23-26 are top views of cigars of various other shapes, with covers applied. The cigar cap can be applied to cigars made into non-standard shapes as well as novelty cigars.

[0026] Figs. 27-29 are sequential views of a consumer removing the cigar cap, the subject of this application, and smoking his/her cigar, with Figs. 25 and 26 being top views and with Fig. 27 showing the smoker with the cap completely removed and resting separately on an exemplary table top. In these figures, the consumer benefits from the cover's hygienic protection, and the manufacturer benefits from the cover's advertising impact.

Detailed Descriptions

[0027] Covering the smoker's end of a cigar with a removable or non-removable cigar cap at any time after the outer wrapper leaf has been added to the cigar, offers cigar consumers flavor advantages as well as physical and hygienic protection of the smoker's end of their cigar. It also offers manufacturers marketing and advertising possibilities and a more easily recognizable alternative for labeling their cigars. A removable band onto which advertising can also be printed, can be added to assist in removal of the cigar cap.

Hygienic and Physical Protection

[0028] Adding a removable cigar cap to the smoker's end of a cigar at any time after the outer wrapper leaf has been added offers manufacturers a means of physically and hygienically protecting the smoker's end.

[0029] From the moment that a cigar cap is applied, until it is removed, the smoker's end is physically and hygienically protected from physical damage, and/or from possible contamination by handling or other means. The protective benefits are maximized if a cigar cap is applied

immediately after the outer wrapper leaf has been applied; however, a cigar cap can be added at any time before the cigar is smoked.

Flavoring

[0030] Adding a cigar cap to the smoker's end of a cigar affords manufacturers a way to offer consumers a wider variety of flavor options. For example, manufacturers would be able to add a cigar cap of a different type of tobacco leaf - Connecticut Maduro, Mata Fina, Cameroon, etc.— and/or of a material that is otherwise flavored (chocolate, lemon, kiwi-vanilla, etc.). Smokers would no longer be limited to tasting the flavor of the cigar's wrapper leaf during smoking, and instead would be able to choose a flavor they prefer, all without changing the tobacco composition of the body of the cigar.

[0031] Multiple flavored cigar caps could be added in layers, allowing smokers to select their flavor by peeling the cigar caps off until reaching the one they prefer.

Area For Marketing, Advertising Or Other Information

[0032] A cigar cap offers manufacturers a medium onto which manufacturers will be able to put marketing, advertising or other information, that might associate the cigar with a brand or product through the choice of material, shape, color, or some other identifying feature. For example, a cigar cap could be made into the shape of a brand, or include the name and/or date of a celebrated event, like a birth, wedding, tournament, inauguration, etc.

[0033] A removable thin band of any color or material can be added to assist in the cigar cap's removal and onto which advertising or other information can also be printed.

Alternative Labeling Method

10034] Labeling a cigar with a cigar cap offers manufacturers a more easily recognizable alternative for labeling their cigars, so that consumers would be able to easily differentiate that manufacturer's cigars from other cigars on the market, all of which are currently labeled with cigar rings.

Removable or Non-Removable

[0035] Depending on how the cigar cap is to be used, a manufacturer could choose to use easily removable and/or non-easily removable cigar caps. For example, non-easily removable cigar caps would be useful in cases where tasting the cigar cap's flavor is meant to be part of the cigar experience and/or in cases where the manufacturer wants to steer customers towards leaving cigar labels on during smoking.

10036] Likewise, easily removable cigar caps might be chosen for uses such as hygienic protection, where the consumer would remove the cigar cap before putting the smoking end into their mouth, safe in the knowledge that the smoking end has not been handled or otherwise open to contamination from the moment that the cigar cap was applied to the outer wrapper leaf. Easily removable cigar caps could also be used to label cigars in markets where local cigar smoking customs frown upon leaving cigar labels on during smoking.

[0037] Manufactures can demonstrate that a cap is meant to remain on the cigar during smoking through any number o methods, including but not limited to attaching the cigar cap to a band that is recognizable by it's size, shape, or color as being non-removable. Or, a cigar cap that is not meant to be removed can be pasted down firmly or otherwise be made difficult to remove,

[0038] Likewise, manufacturers can show that a cigar cap is meant to be removed before a cigar is smoked through any number of methods, including but not limited to attaching the cigar cap to a band of any size, shape or color that is recognizable and that simplifies the cigar caps removal. Or the cigar cap can be wrapped onto the cigar butt in an easily removable fashion, or have a grip added which simplifies it's removal.

[0039] Manufacturers would be able to use a combination of easily removable, and non- easily removable cigar caps, offering customers multiple benefits.

Other Details of the Cigar Cap

[0040] The cigar cap can be made of any material, including but not limited to, for example, leather, plant based product, tobacco leaf, glass, plastic aluminum or other foil, paper, plastic, metal, wax, or wax covered with another material, cloth or other textile, etc. The cigar cap can be made into any shape, including but not limited to, for example, a shape formed to the shape of the cigar, a scroll-like shape, a tubular shape, a tubular shape with the opening sealed off on one side, a conical shape, a truncated cone-like shape, a disc-like shape, etc. The cigar cap can be applied or attached by any method, including but not limited to attaching it with cigar or other glue, attaching it with a band, using a material that holds it's shape to attach itself to the cigar, any method either manual or mechanical, etc.

[0041 ] The cigar cap can be applied to the cigar at any time after the outer wrapper leaf of a cigar has been applied, including but not limited to attaching it immediately after the outer wrapper leaf has been applied, even before the cigar has been sheared, attaching it to the cigar later in the production process when the cigars are sorted, attaching it when the cigar rings are added to the cigars, attaching it to the cigar after the cigar is removed from the box or bundle by either a distributor or a consumer, attaching it to the cigar immediately before it is given to the final consumer, etc. The cigar cap can but must not include elements to simplify the cover's removal, including but not limited to wrapping it in a way that includes an easy to grab grip made from the same material as the cover or another material, or separately adding an easy to grab grip, or attaching the cover to a removable band, etc.

[0042] The cigar cap can be made in any length or thickness. The cigar cap can have added flavors including but not limited to natural flavors like Mata Fina tobacco leaf, Connecticut tobacco leaf, Maduro tobacco leaf, Cameroon tobacco leaf, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, etc., or artificial flavors, such as vanilla, chocolate, passion fruit, energy drink, chicken, bacon, etc.

[0043] An ideal cover would be made from a tobacco leaf, with the thickness being the thickness of a leaf of tobacco, factored by the number of times the leaf would overlap around itself to create the cover. A cigar leaf can vary in thickness because of the v eins which run through the leaf, and the varying thicknesses of the different tobacco leaves. However, the leaf at its thickest might be about half (0.5) a millimeter thick, and the final cover can be less than one (1.0) millimeter thick.

[0044] An ideal cover would be the length necessary to cover the part of the cigar that the smoker will place into his/her mouth, without interfering with placement of a cigar ring, or approximately between two and a half (2.5) to four (4) centimeters (about 1 - 1 .5+ inches) long.

[0045] Ideally, the cigar cap would then be attached to a removable or non removable band onto which advertising had been printed. The band would alert if the cigar cap was meant to be removed or not. If it were a removable cigar cap, the band would assist in the cigar cap's removal. The band could be about three to eight (3-8) millimeters wide.

Details of the Drawings

[0046] Cigars come in many different shapes and sizes, and the cigar cap can be applied to any and all of them. To simplify, drawings are directed to the use of a torpedo shaped cigar.

[0047] Placing the cigar cap on the smoker's end, immediately after the outer wrapper leaf has been applied would maximize some of the cigar cap's benefits. Therefore, unless otherwise noted, the drawings show cigars in this early phase of the cigar's complete production process, even before they have been sheared to their proper length. This is made evident by the shaggy ending on the cigars.

[0048] Although a cigar cap can be applied to a cigar without forming it to the shape of the smoker's end, unless otherwise noted, the drawings will show cigar caps that have been formed to the shape of the smoker's end, which we consider to be a more exemplary example of the invention.

[0049] In the drawings, the cigar's wrappers are shown with downward slanting diagonal lines, and the cigar caps made from a piece of tobacco leaf are differentiated by being shown with more horizontal lines.

[0050] With the use of the associated figures, some possible examples of the invention are illustrated. An effort has been made to number the details in the drawings in the same order as to which they are referred.

[0051 ] Figure 1 is a torpedo shaped, prior art cigar that is ready to be offered to the public. It has been cut to the proper length, and includes a cigar ring, one of the final steps in the cigar's production process. For clarification, the different parts of the cigar have been labeled. They are: the cigar butt, or smoker's end (1) - this is the end of the cigar which is placed into the smoker's mouth through which the smoker draws air when smoking. The cigar ring (2) - this is a label that allows people to identify a cigar, onto which can also be printed marketing, advertising or other information. The cigar ring never covers the cigar butt, and is placed so that it does not interfere with the smoker's mouth during smoking. The cigar body (3) - this is the part of the cigar that burns during the smoking process and is in essence "smoked". The end of the cigar which is lit (4) - this is the end of the cigar which is lit, and is opposite the smoker's end. The end which is lit is usually sheared to give the cigar its proper length.

10052] Figure 2 is a prior art cigar immediately after the application of its outer wrapper leaf. The end of the cigar that is to be lit has not yet been sheared to gi ve the cigar its proper length and therefore has a shaggy ending (5). In the figure, the cigar cap has not yet been placed over the smoker's end (1A).

[0053] Applying a cigar cap at this phase of the cigar's production maximizes the cigar cap's physical and hygienic protection benefits.

[0054] Figure 3 is the same cigar as in Figure 2 which has been laid over a piece of tobacco leaf (6) that will be used to create a cigar cap in accordance with some of the elements of the present invention. In the drawing, the cigar cap is wrapped in the opposite direction as the wrapper, starting from the smoker's end and going towards the end of the cigar that is lit.

[0055] Figure 4 is the same cigar as in Figure 2 which has been laid over a piece of tobacco leaf (6A) that will be used to create a cigar cap in accordance with some of the elements of the present invention, but with the cigar cap being applied by starting from the cigar body and wrapping the tobacco leaf towards the smoker's end, similar to how the wrapper was wrapped onto the cigar.

[0056] Figure 5 is the same cigar as in Figure 3 but shown after the extra tobacco leaf has been made into a cigar cap that has been formed to the shape of the cigar (7).

[0057] Figure 6 is the same cigar as in Figure 4 but shown after the extra tobacco leaf has been made into a cigar cap that has been formed to the shape of the cigar, and has been wrapped so that there is a grip for easy removal (8).

[0058] Figure 7 is the same cigar as in Figure 4 after the extra tobacco leaf has been made into a cigar cap that has NOT been formed to the shape of the cigar (9).

10059] Figure 8 is the same cigar as in Figure 5 but with the cigar cap attached to a band (10) to simplify the cigar cap's removal.

[0060] Figure 9 is the same cigar as in Figure 8 after having continued along the cigar's further production process to the point that it is ready for sale to the public. Specifically, the cigar has been cut to the appropriate length (4A), checked and controlled, bundled, stored, aged, sorted and had the cigar ring attached (2A), and has had a cigar cap added (7A), which has been attached to a band (10A) for easier removal.

[0061 ] Figure 10 is the same cigar as in Figure 2, but which has been laid over a piece of material (11 ) which will be used to create the cigar cap. [0062] Figure 11 is the same cigar as in Figure 10, but with a cigar cap made from the extra piece of material that holds itself in place. (12).

[0063] Figure 12 is the same cigar as in Figure 10, but with a cigar cap made from the extra piece of material (13) and held into place with a band (10B).

[0064] Figure 13 is the same cigar as in Figure 2, but with a cigar cap made of glass (14).

[0065] Figure 14 is the same cigar as in Figure 2, but with a cigar cap made of wax (15).

[0066] Figure 15 is the same cigar as in Figure 2, but with a cigar cap made of folded paper

(16).

[0067] Figure 16 is the same cigar as in Figure 2, but with a cigar cap made from a piece of material that has been wrapped over the smoker's end of the cigar and hold's itself in place (17).

1 068] Figure 17 is the same cigar as in Figure 2, but with a cigar cap made from a piece of material that has been wrapped over the smoker's end of the cigar (18) and is held into place with a band. (IOC)

[0069] Figure 18 is the same cigar as in Figure 2, but with multiple, separately removable cigar caps attached (19).

[0070] Figure 19A shows a cigar before the outer wrapper has been applied (20). In the drawing, the cigar is laid over a wrapper leaf which is cut so that after the wrapper has been applied, a piece of tobacco leaf will remain at the end which can be used to make the cigar cap, all from the same tobacco leaf (21).

[0071] Figure 19B is the same cigar as in Figure 19 A, but after the wrapper leaf has been attached to the cigar and before the remainder of the leaf (22) has been used to make the cigar cap.

[0072] Figure 19C is the same cigar as in Figure 19B but after the extra piece has been made into a cigar cap (7B).

[0073] Figure 20 is the same cigar as in Figure 5 but with a cigar cap that has a marketing message added to the cigar cap (23).

[0074] Figure 21 is the same cigar as in Figure 5 but with a cigar cap that is used to label the cigar, as an alternative to labeling the cigar with a cigar ring (24).

[0075] Figure 22 is the same cigar as in Figure 9 with a marketing message (25) added to the removable band which is attached to the cigar cap (7C).

[0076] Figure 23 is a similar cigar as in Figure 22, differing only in the shape of the cigar onto which the cigar cap (7D) has been attached. The cigar in Figure 23 is of a more standard tubular shape. The cigar cap is attached to a band for easier removal (10D).

[0077] Figure 24 is a similar cigar as in Figure 22, differing only in the shape of the cigar onto which the cigar cap (7E) has been attached. The cigar in Figure 24 is of a shape with a wide middle which tapers at the smoker's end and at the opposite end which is to be lit. The cigar cap is attached to a band for easier removal (lOE).

[0078] Figure 25 is a similar cigar as in Figure 22, differing only in the shape of the cigar onto which the cigar cap (7F) has been attached. The cigar in Figure 25 is in the shape of a

Piramide cigar, which flares out from the smoker's end towards the opposite end which is to be lit. The cigar cap is attached to a band for easier removal (10F).

[0079] Figure 26 is a similar cigar as in Figure 22, differing only in the shape of the cigar onto which the cigar cap (7G) has been attached. The cigar in Figure 26 has been made into the novelty shape of an American football. The cigar cap is attached to a band for easier removal (10G).

[0080] Figure 27 is the same cigar as in Figure 9 that has continued further along the production process to the point that it has been cut to the appropriate length (4B) and is ready for sale to the public, but with the consumer beginning to remove the removable band (10H) in order to remove the cigar cap which has an advertisement on it (23A), onto which the removable band is attached.

[0081] Figure 28 is the same cigar as in Figure 27 but after the cigar cap has begun to also be removed from the cigar by the consumer's continuous pulling on the cigar band (101), so that the cigar cap with an advertisement on it (23B) begins to also unwrap from the cigar.

[0082] Figure 29 is a perspective view of a consumer who is smoking a cigar from which he has completely removed the cigar cap prior to smoking. The removed cigar cap (26) has been placed on the exemplary table next to him.

[0083] Thus, after the outer wrapper leaf has been placed and the cigar is complete for smoking, a further covering, a "cigar cap" (the subject of this application), can be applied to the smoker's end, ideally only attached at the smoker's end, where the consumer will eventually put his/her mouth when smoking. The cigar cap protects the smoker's end from further handling, and/or offers an area for applying marketing and advertising information, and/or provides a method for manufacturers to offer different flavors for their cigar, and/or offers manufacturers an alternative for labeling their cigars, something currently done with cigar rings, etc.

[0084] A cigar cap can be applied to a cigar of any shape or size, and can be made in any shape and size and of any material. The cigar cap can be attached to a removable or non-removable band with a marketing message added to it.

[0085] In an industrial application the invention can be used during a finished cigar's further production or during its later sale process.

[0086] The embodiments and exemplary applications described herein generally and/or in detail were for exemplary purposes and are, of course, subject to many different variations. Because many varying and different embodiments and applications may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments and applications herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein generally may be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0087] In the claims and the foregoing the term or word "cigar" when used by itself is considered to include "cigarillo," unless otherwise noted.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A cover for a cigar/cigarillo with a butt, or smoking end and an outer wrapper leaf, said cover being thereafter placed on said butt, or smoking end of a cigar/cigarillo, opposite the end to be lit, after the outer wrapper leaf has been applied for smoking but before the completed cigar/cigarillo is used by the end user for smoking.

2. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cigar/cigarillo has a wrapper and said cover is made from the same tobacco leaf as that used for said wrapper.

3. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cover protects said smoker's end of the cigar/cigarillo and can be removed without affecting the integrity of the cigar/cigarillo.

4. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cover has an added flavor.

5. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cover extends along the cigar/cigarillo a distance of between about two and a half (2.5) to about four (4) centimeters long.

6. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cover is designed to be associated with a product by means of its shape, printing, coordinating colors, or other means.

7. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cover is designed to be associated with a brand by means of its shape, printing, coordinating colors, or other means.

8. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cover includes a marketing message.

9. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cover has a grip for easier removal.

10. The cover of Claim 1, wherein said cover is attached to a band of any shape or size.

11. The cover of Claim 10, wherein said band is removable.

12. The cover of Claim 1, wherein there is a final consumer for smoking the cigar/cigarillo, and wherein said cover remains on said cigar/cigarillo until it reaches said final consumer for putting said cigar/cigarillo in the mouth.

13. A method of protecting a smoker before the smoker smokes a cigar/cigarillo, comprising the steps of:

- putting a cigar cap on the smoking end of a complete cigar/cigarillo, covering the exterior surrounding area on which the smoker will put the smoker's mouth during smoking of the cigar/cigarillo, before a smoker receives the cigar/cigarillo for smoking, but allowing the removal of the cap before the smoker begins smoking, exposing the exterior surrounding area of the smoking end to the smoker for smoking.

14. The method of Claim 13, wherein the method includes the step of: attaching the cigar cap to the smoking end to make the cigar cap relatively easy to remove before the smoker puts the cigar/cigarillo in the mouth.

15. The method of Claim 13, wherein the method includes the step of: the cigar cap being put on the cigar/cigarillo by the manufacturer of the cigar/cigarillo.

16. A cigar/cigarillo for smoking in the mouth of the end user at the smoker's end, comprising: a complete cigar/cigarillo for smoking and separately a protective cover cap, said cover cap being only attached to the smoker's end covering the exterior surrounding area of the smoker's end for protection of the smoker's mouth.

17. The cigar/cigarillo of Claim 16, further comprising: said cover cap being relatively easy to remove before the smoker begins putting said cigar/cigarillo in the mouth.

18. The cigar/cigarillo of Claim 16, further comprising: said cover cap completely covering only said smoker's end of said cigar/cigarillo.

19. The cigar/cigarillo of Claim 16, further comprising: said cover cap having the same shape as said smoker's end.

20. The cigar/cigarillo of Claim 1 , further comprising: said cover cap extending along said cigar/cigarillo a distance of between about two and a half (2.5) to about four (4) centimeters long.

21. The cover of Claim 1, wherein the thickness of said covering is less than about one millimeter.

22. The cigar/cigarillo of Claim 16, wherein the thickness of said cover is less than about one millimeter.