Abstract: A weed pulling device designed to apply a substantially vertical force to the stem of a weed engaged by the device comprises a tubular body having a first end that is bifurcated to provide two opposing members having edges that define two cooperating V-shaped slots or openings positioned in confronting relationship. One of the V-shaped slots or openings is designed to engage and retain the stem of a weed while the second V-shaped slot or opening is designed to contact the stem of the weed in a non-cutting manner as the device is manipulated to cause the weed stem to wrap around the bifurcated end of the tubular body.

Abstract: A portable chair commode for either male or female medical patients with limited mobility is disclosed which comprises a frame structure designed to support an open slot toilet seat. The underside surface of the toilet seat is provided with means for removably attaching a receptacle for collection of bowel and bladder discharge. The frame structure includes a pair of substantially vertical extensions connected to the rear legs for supporting a backrest and a pair of cantilevered armrests. A preferred embodiment has the cantilevered armrests pivotally mounted so that the armrests can be moved from a horizontal rest position to a substantially vertical position to improve ease of access to the open slot toilet seat. The preferred embodiment also includes means for adjusting the height of each leg and an adjustably mounted footrest associated with the front legs of the chair commode.

Abstract: A merchandise display device is disclosed which includes a vertically disposed rear wall having opposing side edges that are attached to a pair of opposing, vertically disposed side wall assemblies. Each side wall assembly includes an inner panel facing the display section of the device, an outer panel foldably connected to the inner panel and a spacer panel interposed between substantial portions of the inner and outer panels. The inner panels of the side wall assemblies include vertically spaced, cooperating openings to accommodate shelf support members associated with shelves installed in the device. The shelves are inclined to promote gravity feed of product to the front edges of the shelves. A preferred embodiment allows the degree of shelf inclination to be quickly adjusted. An optional bin insert may be used convert one or more shelves into a bin-like structure for holding individual packages of product.

Abstract: A tray or shelf fabricated from corrugated board and designed for use in a merchandise display device is disclosed. The tray includes a folded section that forms the front wall and opposing side walls of the tray and provides improved strength. The bottom panel member of the tray which supports the merchandise being displayed is also strengthened by a bottom-reinforcing panel disposed beneath the bottom panel member. The tray may be optionally provided with one or more dividers for merchandise display purposes and in a preferred embodiment, a tray divider is provided by modifying the unitary blank from which the tray is formed. Two or more trays are preferably installed in suitable support means designed to hold the trays in a vertically spaced manner.

Abstract: An improved infant restraining device that is adapted for use with a mattress or other infant-supporting structure and which is used for dealing with infants afflicted with gastroesophageal reflux comprises an elongated flexible sheet having opposing first and second ends, two opposing side edges each provided with a flared portion capable of being wrapped around respective opposing side edges of the mattress on which the device is placed and cooperating releasable attachment means associated with the first end of the flexible sheet and with each of the flared portions to permit the infant restraining device to be firmly anchored to one end of the mattress when the opposing flared portions are attached to the first end of the flexible sheet on the underside of the mattress. The second end of the flexible sheet is designed to engage the lower torso of an infant and to restrain movement of the infant even though the mattress to which the device is anchored may be inclined at angles up to 45 degrees.

Abstract: A method and system for effecting sensory evaluation of a smoking product wherein selected smoking parameters are monitored precisely while a smoking product is being smoked ad libitum by a sensory evaluation panelist. The monitored smoking parameters are used to coordinate a sequence of instructions and prompts that is communicated to the sensory evaluation panelist and is designed to elicit sensory ratings from the panelist for the product being smoked. This allows the smoking product to be evaluated with the least possible disruption to the panelist's normal smoking patterns and leads to a better understanding of the smoking characteristics of the product being evaluated.

Abstract: A smoke filter and a method for manufacturing the filter from a continuous multifilament filter tow are described in which a portion of the filter tow is treated with a dye to impart color to a discrete elongated zone of dye-treated filaments that is in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the smoke filter.

Abstract: Tobacco smoke filters are disclosed which are useful for manufacturing filter cigarettes and which are formed from a continuous multifilament filter tow that is treated with a smoke-modifying agent during the filter manufacturing process to give a discrete elongated zone of filaments treated with the smoke-modifying agent.

Abstract: Tobacco is reclaimed from filter cigarettes by applying sufficient pressurized air to the filter end of each cigarette to eject the tobacco from the cigarettes. The method for reclaiming the tobacco involves (a) transporting a succession of filter cigarettes along a predetermined path, in a discontinuous, indexing manner, (b) temporarily engaging the filter end of each cigarette with reciprocating mouthpiece means during the pause between indexed movements and (c) applying pressurized air to each engaged cigarette via the mouthpiece means to force the tobacco from the cigarette and into a suitable collection device. Preferred apparatus is disclosed for accomplishing this method.

Abstract: A universal tax stamping assembly for applying tax stamp decals to the bottoms of cigarette packs in cartons utilizes a rotatable drum carton conveyor having carton pocket forming inserts. The cartons are placed within the pockets of the rotatable drum which is indexed past one or more tax stamp applying stations. Each station includes a ribbon roll assembly, having a plurality of individual rolls of tax stamp decal carrying ribbons and position adjusting spacers, if necessary. These ribbons are advanced by feed rollers underneath heater bars which transfer the decals to the cigarette packs. Several of these stations can be placed in a serial manner about the periphery of the rotatable drum with each station applying a different tax stamp decal to each cigarette pack. Variations in carton size and pack configuration are accommodated by the universal tax stamping assembly.

Abstract: An air conditioning system is disclosed which employs an air washer for treating variable volumes of air moving through the air washer per unit of time. The air washer includes a moisture eliminator that is provided with means for changing its effective face area in response to changes in the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for treating particulate material with a liquid additive in a rotatable cylinder involves the use of a pressurized fluid such as steam directed obliquely against the inner wall of the cylinder to effect a cleaning action on the inner wall as the cylinder is rotated and to augment agitation action produced by the rotational movement of the cylinder and gravitational forces acting on the particulate material. Strategically located spray nozzles apply controlled amounts of liquid additive to the particulate material as it is undergoing agitation by the combined effects of the applied forces. The method and apparatus disclosed are particularly suited to the treatment of tobacco with casing materials.

Abstract: A method and system for effecting sensory evaluations of smoking products are disclosed wherein a plurality of spaced points or segments are designated along an elongated body of smokable material and sensory evaluation panelists are requested to assign an intensity rating for one or more selected attributes as the fire cone reaches each of the spaced points or segments. In a preferred embodiment programmable computer means are employed to lead the sensory evaluation panelists through the evaluation procedure and to receive the assigned intensity ratings and other responses from the panelists.

Abstract: The crowns of mature pineapples ready for harvest are treated with an aqueous medium containing sufficient amounts of a gibberellin to retard withering and senescense of the crowns. The medium is preferably applied to the crowns soon after the pineapples have been harvested. The pineapples treated in accordance with this invention retain a freshly harvested appearance for an extended period of time and make them ideally suited for sale in the fresh fruit market.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing the peel from a pineapple comprises a tubular knife provided with a toothed cutting edge designed to cut through a pineapple and fixed elongated guide means telescopically positioned within the tubular knife and adapted to direct the toothed cutting edge toward a pineapple that is interposed between the guide means and a cutting pad positioned in opposing relationship to the toothed cutting edge. The mechanism for moving the tubular knife towards the cutting pad and through the body of a pineapple includes leveraged means designed to reduce the force required to move the tubular knife through the pineapple. The elongated guide means is adapted to accommodate quickly interchangeable caps which increase the effective diameter of the guide means and which cooperate with annular spacer elements mounted on the inside wall of a tubular knife. This allows the apparatus to be used with different diameter tubular knives for different size pineapples.

Abstract: A smoking product having an improved flavor is prepared by applying a naturally occurring terpenoid glycoside sweetener to the portion of the product that is intended to be contacted by the smoker's lips.

Abstract: An air conditioning system is disclosed which employs an air washer for treating variable volumes of air moving through the air washer per unit of time. The air washer includes a moisture eliminator that is provided with means for changing its effective face area in response to changes in the volume of air moving through the air washer per unit of time.

Abstract: The crowns of mature pineapples ready for harvest are treated with an aqueous medium containing sufficient amounts of a gibberellin to retard withering and senescense of the crowns. The medium is preferably applied to the crowns soon after the pineapples have been harvested. The pineapples treated in accordance with this invention retain a freshly harvested appearance for an extended period of time and make them ideally suited for sale in the fresh fruit market.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing the peel from a pineapple comprises a cylindrical body provided with a toothed cutting edge designed to cut through a pineapple and fixed guide means telescopically positioned within the cylindrical body and adapted to direct the toothed cutting edge of the cylindrical body towards a pineapple that is placed on a cutting pad positioned in opposing relationship to the toothed cutting edge. The apparatus is optionally provided with a core tube slidably disposed in a passageway extending through the guide means and designed to cut through the central core of a pineapple placed on the cutting pad. The apparatus is also provided with means for simultaneously or separately moving the cylindrical body and the core tube towards the pineapple and the cutting pad.

Abstract: A composition for use in smoking products is prepared from thermally degraded tobacco plant materials and a water-soluble polysaccharide gum.