Abstract: A device for extinguishing a cigarette without damaging the cigarette thereby allowing the cigarette to be relit for continued smoking without the bad taste normally accompanying a relit cigarette includes an air compartment with an entrance into the compartment through which the lighted end of a cigarette is inserted. The compartment is configured so that upon insertion of the cigarette, a substantially closed air chamber is formed communicating with the end of the cigarette. The cigarette itself substantially blocks the entrance to the air chamber so that air flow into the chamber, other than through the cigarette itself, is substantially blocked. The air chamber is sized to provide enough air to support continued burning of the cigarette for a preset time, usually about five seconds, after insertion. The invention also includes a device for allowing the cigarette to continue to burn between drags on the cigarette but to reduce the smoke output and rate of burn.

Abstract: Marksmanship training apparatus is used with air guns or weapons firing blank cartridges and comprises a housing member with an attached muzzle alignment tube for insertion into the bore of the barrel of the weapon and includes sealing apparatus around the muzzle alignment tube to minimize leakage of gas between the bore and the muzzle alignment tube and to prevent the gas from pushing the muzzle alignment tube out of the bore. The housing member includes a switch which is activated by the gas to complete an electrical circuit positioned in the housing to cause light energy to be emitted from the housing member.

Abstract: A method and system for grading free response tests including the use of highly accurate machine-readable data codes to uniquely associate test-taker, test and reader/grader, and a portable sensing device which stores codes read by the device for subsequent entry into a host computer. The method permits multiple readers/graders to evaluate the same test without one reader/grader influencing another, while reducing paper handling and key entry of data inherent in large volume paper and pencil testing techniques.

Abstract: An injection apparatus has a jacket having a front end and a cartridge for containing a liquid having a rubber membrane closing a front end of the cartridge at the front end of the jacket. A double-ended needle is held in a needle holder such that both ends thereof are exposed and oriented, one end at the membrane for piercing the membrane to obtain the liquid from the cartridge, and the opposite end for injecting the liquid. First cooperative threads on a cap and the jacket are for screwing the cap onto the jacket and unscrewing the cap therefrom, the first cooperative threads having a first pitch and a first rotational hand.

Abstract: A method and combination are provided for facilitating identification of human character types and compatibility among respective individuals. The combination includes object pieces associated with respective character types. The manner in which object pieces may be interfaced provides an indication of the relative levels of compatibility among associated character types.

Abstract: This invention relates to the machines for manufacturing filter-tip cigarettes by forming successive groups (S+2F+S) each formed by two aligned cigarettes (S) and one interposed double filter (2F), and by wrapping and glueing a covering strip (T) around the double filter (2F) and adjacent ends of the two cigarettes (S). The formation of the groups (S+2F+S) is carried out on a composition drum (1) whereon the double filters (2F) and the pairs of cigarettes (S) are held by suction. The application of the strip (T) may be carried out either on said composition drum (1) or on a successive assembling drum (6), and the strips are fed by a strip-carrying drum (7) whereon they are held by suction. In the absence of a component, e.g. a double filter (2F), in a group (S+2F+S), all the other components of the same group, i.e. the two cigarettes (S) and covering strip (T), are discarded automatically by affecting for this purpose only the suction exerted on the components to be discarded.

Abstract: A shredded tobacco leaf pellet is composed of tobacco leaf shreds bound together with a nicotine-non-absorptive thermoplastic binder while retaining air permeability. The pellet is produced by mixing tobacco leaf shreds and a nicotine-non-absorptive thermoplastic binder, forming the resultant mixture into a desired shape while retaining air permeability, and then subjecting the thus-formed mixture to a heat treatment. A cigarette-like snuff is composed of at least one shredded tobacco leaf pellet of the above-described type and an outer envelope surrounding the pellet therein.

Abstract: A cardiac assist cuirass is disclosed that acts to alternately apply compression and vacuum to the torso of a patient. This draws venous blood back from the periphery into the lungs and forces oxygenated blood out from the lungs through the left heart to the rest of the body, while at the same time ventilating the lungs. Thus, it can maintain life even during complete cardio-pulmonary arrest. It can also be synchronized with a weakly beating heart for assistance in congestive heart failure or cardiogenic shock. It is adjustable for a wide range of body sizes, does not interfere with routine nursing care or intensive medical care. It is hand portable, uses standard electric supply and is easily adjustable for a wide range of cardiac and pulmonary purposes.

Abstract: A non-spillable portable cigarette ashtray has an ash receptacle open at its top, and a holder also having an open top and a flat bottom supporting the ashtray in an upright position. The ashtray is pivotally mounted to the holder and includes a weight which is effective, should the holder inadvertently be moved to a non-upright position, to cause the ash receptacle to pivot and to remain in an upright position, thereby preventing spilling out of the contents of the ash receptacle.

Abstract: The method of presenting events such as audio and video instructions to a computer user including the recording instructions in the form of an audio soudtrack 15 on a recording tape 10, assigning coded indicia 16 to the various instructional events of a computer program recorded in a memory 31 and recording the coded indicia and instructional events in a table lookup 29, recording a mulitplicity of each indicia on the recording tape adjacent the soundtrack portion the computer program event is to occur, and reading back the recording tape while feeding the audio signal to an audio output 36 and the indicia signal to the table lookup to cause the events or instructions to occur in synchronism.

Abstract: A syringe holder for administering the contents of prefilled cartridge-cannula units comprises generally a cartridge holding barrel rotatably connected to a push rod guiding sleeve, and a push rod slidably mounted in the sleeve.

Abstract: Degradation of tobacco brought about by refuser and recycle procedures in conventional cigarette-making machine operations is eliminated by feeding, metering and opening tobacco from a reservoir directly onto the external surface of a rotary or rectilinear transportation device which conveys the tobacco to rod formation. Specific modifications to the Molins Mark IX and Hauni Protos cigarette-making machines are described.

Abstract: Cigarettes are produced by gathering shredded tobacco into a stream which is moved longitudinally and is draped into a web of cigarette paper to form a rod which is subdivided into cigarettes of desired length. In order to impart to the cigarettes predictable characteristics, particularly hardness, draw resistance, number of puffs per cigarette, nicotine content, carbon monoxide content and tar content, the operation of the trimming device which removes the surplus from the stream prior to draping is regulated as a function of third signals which are generated on the basis of first signals denoting the monitored density of the stream, second signals denoting the monitored or calculated filling power of tobacco, and a number of functional equations which denote predetermined regular relationships between the parameters denoted by the first and second signals and the aforementioned characteristics of cigarettes.

Abstract: An educational puzzle includes a base panel and a set of puzzle pieces. The base panel has a number of holes through it, while the puzzle pieces have mating pegs extending through them, to both sides. The arrangement is such that the puzzle pieces can be arranged in on the front face of the base panel and with the pegs registering with the holes in the base panel, and arranged in another array on the bottom of the base panel, with the puzzle pieces inverted. The base panel and the puzzle pieces are marked with corresponding or related indicia on their front faces. They may carry similar markings on their back faces, where the puzzle pieces may be arranged with sequential markings designating the sequence in which the puzzle pieces are to be assembled. The puzzle may be used from either side of the base panel as two puzzle features to teach very different yet related concepts: number sequencing or number counting; alphabetical sequencing or word recognition; and other skills.

Abstract: Degradation of tobacco brought about by refuser and recycle procedure in conventional cigarette-making machine operations is eliminated by feeding, metering and opening tobacco from a reservoir directly onto the external surface of a rotary or rectilinear transportation device which conveys the tobacco to rod formation. Specific modifications to the Molins Mark IX and Hauni Protos cigarette-making machines are described.

Abstract: A communication aid for a handicapped patient having only eye movement. The aid comprises a rigid transparent panel having a central opening therein and a plurality of transparent overlays each having a central aperture are individually mounted flatwise on the panel with the aperture in the overlay aligned with the opening. Each overlay contains a plurality of illustrations depicting objects or needs of the patient and the illustrations are spaced around the central aperture. An observer looking through the aligned aperture and opening can observe the eye movement of the patient and determine the illustration at which the patient is looking. The overlays are provided with identification indicia, such as a colored margin, with the color on each overlay being different than the color on other overlays, so that each overlay can be readily identified by the patient.

Abstract: In apparatus for feeding tobacco to cigarette-making machines, the tobacco (9) is conveyed by suction from a feed receptacle (1). One end (14) of a duct (3) facing the receptacle above the level (19) of the tobacco is provided with a device (16) for regulating the rate of tobacco delivery in order to allow continuous feeding of the cigarette-making machine. The regulating device comprises a movable sleeve (17) slidable on the end portion (14) of the duct so that the bottom rim (18) of the sleeve is always at a required distance H from the level of the tobacco, this distance being continuously detected by a sensor (25), and the quantity of tobacco drawn into the duct to be adapted to the rate of production being a function of H. The other end (15) of the duct opens out into a tangential separator (12). The regulating device combined with the tangential separator makes it possible to reduce damage to the particles of tobacco.

Abstract: An improved breastpump has a valve which closes off a path to a milk container in the presence of a negative pressure in the valve, and opens the path when the pressure is removed. The valve consists of a housing and a thin flexible membrane that is removably attached to the valve housing and covers a first opening in the housing through which milk can flow. The thin flexible membrane is preferably circular in shape with a knob formed in its center. The knob fits in a second opening in the housing in a snap-fit. This construction for the membrane assumes that it can never be mounted improperly. Raised bosses in the form of cone-shaped elevations are arranged around the perimeter of the flexible membrane. The cone-shaped bosses reinforce the membrane material and prevent the membrane from being drawn into the first opening.

Abstract: A cigarette-type smoking article has a short tobacco-containing fuel element, a passageway for mainstream tobacco smoke flow, a flavor source which provides enhanced flavor to the tobacco smoke which passes therethrough, and a mouthend piece. The article is highly air diluted and the air dilution is provided through the periphery of the article as perforations in a region immediately behind the fuel element. Such an article delivers highly flavored mainstream tobacco smoke and relatively low levels of pyrolysis and/or combustion derived wet total particulate matter.

Abstract: Cigarettes have a smokable filler blend comprising 60 to 75 percent tobacco cut filler and 25 to 40 percent of a second smokable cut filler consisting essentially of 50 to 70 percent calcium carbonate, 15 to 45 percent pyrolyzed cotton linters, and 7 to 12 percent polysaccharide binder. The blend is contained in a paper wrapper having a permeability from about 40 to about 75 CORESTA units. Cigarettes normally include a filter element and are air diluted to an air dilution level of from 40 to 65 percent. The smokable blend preferably is blended with a tobacco essence, and the nicotine content of the blend is greater than 2 percent. Cigarettes exhibit resistances to draw between 80 and 150 mm water pressure drop at 17.5 cc/sec. air flow. Cigarettes exhibit FTC "tar" to nicotine ratios less than 9.