Abstract: A hand held portable humidor including an upper housing and a telescopically interfitting lower housing, with a ridge structure integrally formed on the upper housing and adapted to secure both a cigar cutter and a belt clip mechanism to the upper housing. In a preferred embodiment, the lower housing is formed with substantially parallel ribs thereacross which contact the upper housing when the lower housing slides within the upper housing.

Abstract: A method for making preforms for use in a glass lens molding process and molding lenses is disclosed. A glass rod is formed preferably by dipping a bob into a homogeneous melt of a predetermined optical glass, maintaining the temperature of the homogeneous melt at least the melt temperature and producing a rod of glass from the homogeneous melt, allowing the rod of glass to cool and solidify, and then cutting the rod of glass into predetermined lengths. By withdrawing the bob at a predetermined pull rate the rod of glass can be produced with a predetermined diameter. Using a constant pull rate, the rod of glass will be cylindrical in shape and can be cut into a series of individual cylindrical preforms. The preforms can be inserted into a compression molding apparatus for the forming of a glass optical element therewith. The orientation of the preform is such that the cut planar surfaces of the preform are parallel to the direction of compression of the molding process.

Abstract: In a conveyor system with a radiant heating system, convection is provided with hollow elongated tubes having small holes for providing a gentle air flow toward a workpiece to heat the workpiece with convection and radiation.

Abstract: An automated method for recycling mixed colored cutlet glass (i.e., broken pieces of glass of mixed colors and types) into new glass products. A computer controlled process identifies the virgin glass raw materials, the desired target glass properties, the composition of a batch of mixed colored cullet, and the quantity of cullet to be used in the glass melt, and the computer controlled process automatically determines the proper amounts of raw materials to add to the batch of mixed colored cullet so that recycled glass is produced having the desired coloring oxides, redox agents, and glass structural oxides in the proper proportion. The recycled glass is then used to make glass products such as beer bottles.

Abstract: A method of preparing a high purity massive synthetic silica glass article. The method includes a homogenizing step, wherein a rod shaped synthetic silica glass material has a greater optical homogeneity in a plane perpendicular to its rotational axis than a plane parallel thereto, a step of forming the homogeneous synthetic silica glass and a step of cutting the formed synthetic silica glass.

Abstract: A method for producing a silica glass for photolithography, which comprises the following steps: jetting a starting material gas, an oxygen gas and a hydrogen gas from a burner and depositing and consolidating silica glass powder on a target to form an ingot having a growing direction, where the ingot is grown in such a manner that at least a part of glass synthesis face on the ingot having the silica glass powder deposited and consolidated is a plane substantially perpendicular to the growing direction of the ingot, thereby to obtain the ingot having a portion in which striae are substantially perpendicular to the growing direction of the ingot; and cutting out of the ingot the portion in which the striae are substantially perpendicular to the growing direction of the ingot, thereby to obtain a silica glass having striae which are substantially parallel to each other and are planar.

Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter containing a porous substrate having dry water and microcapsules dispersed therein. The microcapsules contain at least one compound selected from the group consisting of chlorophyllin, methylcellulose, sodium pyroglutamate and a vegetable oil. The tobacco smoke filter can also contain one or more substances such as a porphyrin, and sodium pyroglutamate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing an expanded tobacco material. According to the method, a tobacco material (TM) is fed into a pressure vessel (11), followed by pressurizing the interior of the pressure vessel (11) with a carbon dioxide gas to a predetermined impregnation pressure. Then, a liquid carbon dioxide (21) is supplied from above the tobacco material (TM) into the pressure vessel through a sintered metal plate (13), etc., while maintaining the impregnation pressure, thereby saturating the interior of the pressure vessel (11) with a carbon dioxide gas generated by vaporization of the supplied liquid carbon dioxide, and cooling the tobacco material by the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid carbon dioxide, so as to impregnate the tobacco material with carbon dioxide. The tobacco material impregnated with carbon dioxide is brought into contact with a hot gaseous stream within a gaseous stream dryer so as to expand the tobacco material.

Abstract: Method of patterning or forming color gradients and/or designs on a glass surface are disclosed. Patterns are formed by depositing a film of metal on at least one surface of the glass; forming a layer of photoresist over the metal; exposing the article to light through a mask which contains a desired pattern; developing the piece to remove the exposed photoresist to reveal the underlying metal; removing the underlying metal to reveal the underlying glass; and removing the unexposed photoresist to reveal the underlying metal. To form color gradients or color patterns, the glass article is further treated in hydrogen at a temperature in the range of 300-600.degree. C. to effect the desired surface coloration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for bending glass sheets. This process involves bending the glass sheet or sheets in at least two stages. The first stage employing the action of gravity leading to a shaped blank which is used in the formation of the final shape. The last stage which leads to the final shape, involves the simultaneous or nonsimultaneous, combined actions of gravity and at least one additional mechanical force. The invention also includes a bending apparatus providing at least one section having two separately useable parts with one of the parts being movable with respect to the other to permit the section to be arranged in one of two positions. In addition, the invention includes bent glazing having at least one docking angle exceeding 50.degree. and a radius of curvature below 200 mm.

Abstract: In joining an optical fiber containing twin cores to a corresponding optical fiber of standard type having a single core and having the same outer diameter, so that a core in the twin-core fiber is aligned with the core in the standard fiber, a conventional automatic splicing machine for optical fibers is used. The twin-core fiber is placed with its cores for instance located in a vertical plane. Then the fibers are spliced in a conventional manner with an alignment of the outer surfaces of the fiber ends and during the splicing procedure or from the finished splice the lateral offset of for instance the upper core of the twin-core fiber and the single core is determined. This can be carried out by capturing an image of the fiber splice in a heated state, when the splice is performed by fusion-welding. The determined offset value then gives the offset, which is to exist between the outer surfaces of the fiber ends for providing the correct alignment of the fiber cores.

Abstract: This invention provides a contamination-resistant float glass showing even quality in durability and its good quality sufficienty. The film for contamination-resistance is formed only on the top-side surface of a float glass. The surface, free from tin diffused from a float bath, can be identified by ultraviolet irradation. A solution including a chemical adsorbent like fluoroalkyltrichlorosilane is applied to the top-side surface by a roller coater. The adsorbent can be prevented from hydrolyzing with dry air around the coating portion of the coater. Surplus solution can be removed with dry air blown on the surface to make the contamination-resistant property and the appearance better. The chemical adsorbent is bonded to the surface via a siloxane bond to form a thin film. The contamination-resistant float glass is installed in the front door of an apparatus like a toaster oven with the film facing the inside of the oven.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a rectangular bar have a gradient composition. In optical or ophthalmic applications, the gradient of composition ensures formation of a corresponding gradient of optical property, such as refractive index or optical density. The glass material is manufactured using a device containing several reservoirs, all designed to contain glass in the fluid state. According to the invention, the composition of the glass varies from one reservoir to the other so that the refractive indices, for example, of the three compositions are different, with an incremental progression. The fluid glass is deposited one composition on top of the next and then heated, creating a certain degree of interdiffusion between the layers. The glass is then heat-treated to create the desired property profile.

Abstract: The paper for rolling a smoking article of the present invention contains particle-form calcium carbonate (30 to 60 wt %), calcined clay (5 to 30 wt %) and pulp. Furthermore, an alkaline metal salt is contained as a chemical additive. In addition, kaolin is contained in the paper. The basis weight of the paper falls within the range of 20 to 70 g/m.sup.2. Optical characteristics of the paper and the burning characteristics and ash characteristics of a cigarette are improved and the side stream smoke is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a connecting member for facilitating connecting of optical fibers, and a connecting method in which the loss due to connecting is small. An optical fiber connecting member is composed of: a retaining portion having through-holes each of which has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of optical fibers to be connected; and introduction portions which are integrally formed with and on the opposite end sides of the retaining portion and each of which has introduction grooves communicated with the through-holes to thereby make it easy to insert ends of the optical fibers into the through-holes. Further, the inner diameter of each of the through-holes is reduced by heating the connecting member to thereby make axis alignment of the optical fibers automatically to obtain connecting in which the connecting loss is reduced.

Abstract: A composition for inclusion within a quantity of smokeless tobacco. The composition of antioxidants is capable of reducing free radical damage to the oro-pharyngeal cavity of a user resulting from consumption of smokeless tobacco. The composition includes L-glutathione and a source of selenium.

Abstract: This invention provides a contamination-resistant float glass showing even quality in durability and its good quality sufficienty. The film for contamination-resistance is formed only on the top-side surface of a float glass. The surface, free from tin diffused from a float bath, can be identified by ultraviolet irradiation. A solution including a chemical adsorbent like fluoroalkyltrichlorosilane is applied to the top-side surface by a roller coater. The adsorbent can be prevented from hydrolyzing with dry air around the coating portion of the coater. Surplus solution can be removed with dry air blown on the surface to make the contamination-resistant property and the appearance better. The chemical adsorbent is bonded to the surface via a siloxane bond to form a thin film. The contamination-resistant float glass is installed in the front door of an apparatus like a toaster oven with the film facing the inside of the oven.

Abstract: A method for drawing a glass ingot into a rod having a given outer diameter is described. The method is characterized in that when the glass ingot is fed into a heating zone at a final tapered portion thereof, a temperature in the heating zone is decreased so that the final tapered portion is prevented from being drawn in excess owing to the heat from the heating zone.

Abstract: A forehearth (20) for cooling glass from a melting furnace as it flows to a feeder bowl (28) from which it is discharged to a forming machine. The forehearth is in the form of an elongate, horizontally extending insulated trough (26) with a roof formed by a longitudinally extending series of roof block elements (30), each of which is of one-piece construction and extends completely across the width of the insulated trough. The downwardly facing surface of each roof block element is contoured to incorporate concave portions (30a, 30b) near the edges of the forehearth, a concave portion (30c) above the center of the forehearth and convex portions (30d, 30e) separating the center concave portion from the side concave portions to substantially impede heat transfer between the side concave portions and the center concave portion.

Abstract: Methods of plastically forming an axially extended zone of the interior surface of a hollow glass tube heated to its forming temperature employ a generally cylindrical embossing mandrel connected to a driving shaft. The hollow glass tube and the embossing mandrel are brought together at a predetermined start position for the embossing mandrel inside the glass tube and are brought into contact in an area in which the zone is to be formed on the interior surface of the glass tube. A relative rolling off planetary motion between the embossing mandrel and the glass tube is provided while plastically forming the zone of the glass tube and creating depressions therein.