Abstract: Apparatus for building a continuous tobacco stream at one side of an air-permeable conveyor, the other side of which is adjacent to a suction chamber, has two sidewalls which define with the one side of the conveyor a tobacco channel receiving tobacco particles along the concave side of a third wall which can merge into one of the sidewalls and is provided with inclined passages for the flow of compressed air in directions having components in the direction of travel of the tobacco stream. This ensures that all or nearly all particles of tobacco are accelerated in the direction of travel of the stream even before they enter the channel on their way toward the one side of the air-permeable conveyor.

Abstract: Shoulder patting device comprising a grip stick, two resilient plates which extend from one end of the grip stick in the form of Y-shape and first and second tip members which are respectively secured to the tips of the resilient plates.

Abstract: A universal arm sling suitable for support of either a left arm or a right arm and adjustable to the size of the wearer having an elongated cloth panel with a plurality of tubular passageways at the lower portion. A belt is passed through one tubular passageway selected to yield the appropriate vertical size of the sling and is crossed behind the wearer's back and attached to the upper portion of the elongated cloth.

Abstract: A device for applying filters to cigarettes, in which a conveyor roller, provided with a plurality of peripheral axial seats for respective groups constituted by at least one cigarette and a filter tip which are axially aligned, cooperates with a rolling device provided with a support member rotatable about a first axis and rotatably supporting in an eccentric position a support element carrying at least two rolling plates which are selectively mobile from and towards a rolling position in contact with the cigarette and filter groups to retain the cigarette and filter groups against the conveyor roller at a rolling station.

Abstract: A tobacco treating apparatus including an outer, rotatable, hollow drum having a tobacco inlet at one end and a tobacco outlet at the opposite end with an inner, hollow drum extending through the tobacco inlet end, generally coaxial with the outer drum and extending a distance longitudinally into the outer drum a distance less than the entire length of the outer drum. The outer and inner drums cooperate to define an annular gas flow-through passageway which is open to an exhaust chamber. Tobacco to be treated is introduced into the inner drum and flows therefrom into the outer drum while a stream of tobacco treating gas is introduced into the tobacco outlet end to flow in counter-current direction to the flow of tobacco through the outer drum so that virtually all of the tobacco is contacted and treated by the gas. The treating gas leaves the outer drum through the annular flow-through passageway and into the exhaust air chamber from which it is exhausted from the apparatus.

Abstract: A gas-fueled cigarette lighter having front and rear walls defined by plates which are joined together by a plurality of ribs to resist pressure produced by the gas, wherein the lighter has a flat ultra-thin format which lends itself to insertion between the inner and outer wrappers of a standard cigarette pack so that the smoker is never at a loss for a light and the inserted lighter functions as a stiffener to prevent crushing of the pack. The lighter is constituted by a card-like body having a shallow reservoir therein filled with liquified gas. Fitting into a corner cut-out in the body is a lighter assembly whose thickness is not greater than that of the body. The assembly includes a valve-controlled nozzle coupled to the reservoir and an adjacent thumb wheel against which a flint is pressed such that when the wheel is turned it abrades the flint to generate sparks that ignite vapor emitted from the nozzle.

Abstract: Apparatus for expelling moisture from a continuous stream of tobacco which passes through a conditioning zone defined by a hollow rotary drum-shaped dryer has a control unit employing a computer whose output signal is indicative of the quantity of moisture to be expelled from tobacco per unit of time during travel through the dryer in order to ensure that the final moisture content of tobacco will match a predetermined value. The signal which is generated by the computer is used to regulate a valve in a conduit connecting the conditioning zone with a source of steam. The rate of steam admission or the pressure of admitted steam increases when the quantity of moisture which is contained in tobacco entering the dryer per unit of time decreases and vice versa. This ensures that the total quantity of moisture in the conditioning zone remains at least substantially constant even though the moisture content and/or the quantity of tobacco in the stream entering the dryer varies within a wide range.

Abstract: Production of cigarette filter rod is controlled by monitoring the tow (12) or rod (18) to provide signals indicative of tow consumption rate and varying the composition of the rod in accordance with the signals, e.g. to maintain a constant proportion by weight in the rod of tow and a plasticizer applied to the tow by an applicator device (18). The tow feed rate or the plasticizer supply rate may be varied in accordance with the signals. The monitoring device may comprise a tow bale weight sensor (48), a rod scanning head (54), or a weight band (33,57).

Abstract: A running web of tipping paper in a filter tipping machine is attracted to the peripheral surface of a rotary suction conveyor constituting a counterknife for a set of equidistant knives which are radially movably mounted in axially parallel grooves of a rotary knife carrier. Each knife is adjustable radially of the carrier by a discrete first adjusting device, and all of the knives are adjustable simultaneously by a common adjusting device having a support movable axially of the carrier and mounting all of the first adjusting devices. Simultaneous radial adjustment of all of the knives by the common adjusting device is effected after certain periods of use and attendant wear upon the cutting edges of the knives.

Abstract: A physiologic device having a fluid filled compartment. This is surrounded by an outer sheath fastened to the foot. The sheath holds the compartment under the instep and directs the hydraulic forces into the ankle and lower leg. Pressure produced by walking on the fluid compartment is used to compress the lower leg. This prevents swelling and it can heal ulcers due to bad veins.

Abstract: A tobacco plug cutter and loader is disclosed herein having an elongated hollow sleeve enclosing a slidable plunger or ram member adapted to move between limit stops so as to determine the size of a storage cavity defined between the open end of the sleeve and adjacent end of the plunger. The limit stop includes an elongated slot in the side of the sleeve slidably receiving a stop pin for engaging with the opposite ends of the slot. The adjacent ends of the plunger and the sleeve are wedge-shaped to form a cutting edge for penetrating into a supply of semi-hardened product such as tobacco.

Abstract: An improved tobacco smoke filter is characterized by grooves defined in its outer periphery and extending to the smoke discharging end of the filter. The grooves are totally exposed to ambient air along their entire length and serve as open air dilution passages to conduct air into the smoker's mouth with each puff or draw. In one embodiment, the filter rod contains no plug wrap and is joined to a tobacco rod with tipping paper, the grooves being defined in both the tipping paper and the filter rod. These grooves may be defined in the final assembled product by forming the grooves in the tipping paper and the filter rod at the same time. Alternatively, the filter rod is pre-grooved and the tipping paper is attached thereto so as to conform to the grooves.

Abstract: A chiropractic instrument for adjusting a patient's spine by striking the instrument against the vertebrae of the spine. The instrument has an elongated body piece with a longitudinal opening. The longitudinal opening contains a spring and two elongated members. When the instrument is struck against a patient, one of the elongated members moves to compress the spring and imparts a force through the instrument.

Abstract: This massager utilizes percussion waves produced by a powerful hand-held or stationary drive, such as an electric hammer, magnetic hammer or pneumatic hammer, for massaging human bodies. The massager includes an intermediate idler connected to an oscillator rod operated by a drive unit and a hitting pad connected to the intermediate idler. A lower end of the oscillator rod slides freely inside an upper axial cavity in the upper part of the intermediate idler. A lower part of the intermediate idler is linked to a hitting pad through a control spring. This control spring creates a gap for vibration between the lower end of the intermediate idler and the hitting pad.

Abstract: A hand held device that simultaneously massages and applies a beneficial fluid to the skin, the device being particularly adapted for facial applications. The device includes a handle assembly having separable upper and lower portions, and the upper portion has a bifurcated extension each branch of which supports a freely rotatable ball member. The two ball members are disposed relative to one another so that they coact in a desirable manner when engaging the area to be massaged. The lower portion of the handle assembly supports a replaceable cartridge containing fluid under pressure that is to be applied by the ball members. The cartridge is provided with a valve that permits metered amounts of the fluid to be dispensed from the cartridge and this fluid is carried by suitable conduits to an area on the surface of each ball member. A depressor accessible from the exterior of the massage device is positioned in the upper portion of the handle assembly for actuating the cartridge valve.

Abstract: A chiropractic instrument for applying therapeutic pressure consisting of a one-piece integral structure having a planar star-like configuration which includes three legs radiating from a central hub and adapted to be grasped and used in various orientations to simulate thumb, knuckle and finger pressure on the patient's body.

Abstract: A smoking device composed of a tubular body having a one-way valve between an inlet and an outlet which is adapted to permit smoke to flow from the inlet to the outlet and wherein ports are provided between the one-way valve and the outlet so that when smoke is expelled through the device it will pass through the ports and down tubular lengths which are provided and connected in fluid communication with the ports and each of which contains a one-way valve to permit exhaust of the smoke.

Abstract: Needle for bone marrow biopsies including a cannula, a cannula housing supporting the cannula including a partially threaded lower member, a stylet including a stylet cap supporting the stylet and a threaded depth stop for engaging over the cannula wherein the stylet engages into the cannula in a predetermined relationship, the stylet cap interlocks to the cannula housing, and the threaded member determines the depth of penetration of the needle. The sternum needle is constructed to be either disposable or reusable depending upon the cannula housing and stylet cap material. The cannula housing includes vertical wings extending outwardly from the housing for engagement with the palm of a physician's hand, a cannula clip having ends which are soldered onto the cannula and secure into the cannula housing, and an elongated button extending outwardly from the top of the cannula housing for detent locking with the stylet cap providing for alignment of the stylet to the cannula of the sternum needle.

Abstract: A powered ashtray assembly (100) is disclosed for use in automobiles or similar vehicles. The ashtray assembly (100) includes a movable assembly frame (106) slidably mounted within an assembly housing (104). A manually operable switch (140) selectively applies activating signals to a motor (148) secured to frame (106). The motor (148) drives a spline (170) threaded to a stationary shaft (172) secured to a stationary frame (124). Activation of the motor (148) causes the spline (170) to be driven along the shaft (172) so as to selectively extend and retract the assembly frame (106) relative to the assembly housing (104).

Abstract: An orthopedic appliance of resilient material conforming to the lower back of a person and held in proper position by a waist band. The antilordosis belt device improves ones posture and prevents back injury to the lower back while lifting by reinforcing the muscles associated with the lower spine without unduly interferring with one's normal articulated freedom of motion. The body supporting device prevents increased lordosis by the provision of a relatively wide front belt which girdles the front of the abdomen, and three back belts which extend from attachment at the terminal ends of the abdomen belt and girdles the rear or back of the body. The three rear belts are made up of straps, and comprise a rear belt of medium width which fits above the small of the back and two small belts which fit over the hips.