Abstract: Interface circuitry for facilitating the installation of a control device is presented. One embodiment includes an interface circuit with first and second terminals that can be coupled interchangeably to a load and the utility hot of an AC power source, thus eliminating the time-consuming requirement that a particular wire be coupled to a particular terminal. The interface circuit also limits the amount of current supplied to the control device during periods of low current demand, thus reducing current and power consumption. An additional feature further facilitates installation of a control device when that device is being installed in a metallic electrical enclosure that is itself coupled to utility return. The device's return terminal is automatically coupled to the power source's utility return upon mounting of the control device in the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an occupancy detector device that is capable of regulating the on/off status of electrical appliances, such as lights, depending on the presence of people in a given monitored area. The occupancy detector of the present invention relies on the combined functioning of a passive infrared sensor and a sound sensor. Signals from the passive infrared sensor or the sound sensor operate to maintain the electrical appliances in the on state. If no signals are received from these sensors after a predetermined time interval, the off state of the electrical appliances is initiated. Following the initiation of the off state there may be a predetermined grace period during which a sound signal can reinitiate the on state of the electrical appliance. If no sound signal is received during that grace period, only a signal from the passive infrared sensor can subsequently reinitiate the on state.

Abstract: A fabric cover is described for curtain rods and curtain rings. The fabric cover provides a valance or top treatment for a curtain and a pleasing effect to a room while suspending the curtain. Another embodiment provides a one piece curtain and curtain rod and ring cover.

Abstract: A shower curtain ensemble is provided with a curtain member that has a plurality of apertures along the top thereof for engagement by a plurality of plastic hooks that have been covered with a tubular fabric that matches the curtain member and creates the pleasing effect of being completely fabric in appearance. Also, a process for covering the hooks with fabric by initially creating a tube of fabric and slipping it over the hooks is disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed which may be installed on most commonly-available household electrical cords without tools and with no need to either slit or strip the cords. An internal channel in the connector is designed so that the various sizes of cords are compressed and distorted by the force of closing of the connector housing with the result that the conductor elements of the cord are aligned with piercing prongs despite variations in the size and spacing of the conductor elements and insulation thickness.

Abstract: A process is provided for the selective removal of basic materials from plant products, in particular, for removing nicotine from tobacco without materially affecting the content of the other components of the tobacco. Tobacco is traversed with a solvent at high pressure and in a physical state which is either a liquid at a pressure of from about 500-300 atmospheres or a supercritical fluid wherein nicotine and the other components dissolve in the solvent. As the single means of removing substances from the solvent, the solvent is then passed through an acid-containing trap where the solvent is essentially freed of nicotine. The solvent, depleted of nicotine and enriched in the other components, is then recycled to the tobacco to reextract nicotine.

Abstract: A composite expanded web for making a cigarette wrapper is provided, the web comprising a laminate of a first web of generally flat sheet material and a second web of expanded sheet material. The expanded web is formed by passing a web of sheet material through rotary shearing and forming dies to impart to the web a configuration having longitudinally disposed rows of generally sinusoidal convolutions extending above and below the original plane of the web, each row of convolutions lying 180.degree. out of phase from its abutting rows. The composite web is formed into a wrapper for a smoking article by curling it about its longitudinal axis, securing the overlapping edges of the first web with a glue seam, and cutting it to the desired length.

Abstract: An exchange system is provided for connecting a remote, manipulable element, such as a robot arm tool gripper, to a central control source, such as a robot arm and its associated programmable control. An upper exchange unit attaches to the robot arm and receives control signals which pass through the body of the upper unit to a matable lower exchange unit. A plurality of lower exchange units are provided, each attached to an individual tool gripper and relaying control signals to the gripper. The mating upper and lower exchange units provide for serial connection of the robot arm to any desired one of an array of tool grippers and for communication of control signals through the mated units to each tool gripper without the need for separate control umbilicals between each tool gripper and the control signal source.

Abstract: An apparatus having rotary shearing and forming dies which expand a web of formable material by imparting to the web a surface configuration having rows of generally sinusoidal convolutions extending longitudinally along the web, each row lying 180.degree. out of phase from abutting rows. The meshing rotary dies include flat portions defining a neutral zone wherein no web deformation occurs, with the result that each convolution in a row is joined to the next longitudinally succeeding convolution by a flat web section lying in the original plane of the formable sheet material. The expanded web is laminated to a flat web of paper-like material and the resulting composite web is converted to expanded cigarette wrappers.

Abstract: A folding carton is provided with a three-dimensional scene collapsed upon the outer face of one sidewall of the carton. The scene may be folded out, with all elements popping into position simultaneously, to provide a game or other diversion after the primary use of the carton is completed. An auxiliary sidewall is provided with punch out figures or tokens for use in conjunction with the three-dimensional scene.

Abstract: A transducer is provided for measuring very low pressures, on the order of 1.5 inches of water. A fluid-tight elastomeric barrier formed with convolutions to allow relatively large linear deflections is bonded to stiff sensing element of minimum mass, the deflection of which is sensed by strain gauges mounted on a neck connecting the sensing element to the transducer housing.

Abstract: In the manufacture of low density air laid webs of predominantly ligno-cellulosic material, the method and apparatus for bonding the dry web with binder and compacting the web with a wet, fabric covered surface so as to increase tensile strength and delamination resistance while reducing binder content and cost is described. Wet compaction of the binder laden web enables controlled penetration of the web with a smaller amount of binder than is possible without wet compaction, and also reduces energy consumption in drying due to the use of less binder.