Abstract: The invention relates to a method of denitrating tobacco stem material in which the tobacco stem material is input at a first point in a housing, guided through a solvent and output at a second point from the housing, the complete method being implemented at an overpressure, and to an apparatus for implementing the method with an elongated, approximately cylindrical housing and at least one rotatable feeder screw, said housing being configured pressure-tight and comprising locks or nozzles or inputting and/or outputting process flows.

Abstract: A ventilated cigarette filter having a tobacco smoke filtering core, a tubular body of air-permeable material around the core, and an outer wrapper engaged around the tubular body and providing in use for the lateral ingress of external air therethrough into the tubular body, the core comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned plugs of which one is an unwrapped buccal end plug of material which is the same as or similar to that of the surrounding tubular body so as to give a substantially uniform or integral buccal end appearance.

Abstract: An ashtray houses a fan (20) which drives air through two filters (30, 36). Air is drawn in from an ashtray well (6) and expelled from openings (17) in the base of the ashtray. A recirculation path (A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3) is provided for pre-filtering by the first filter 30.

Abstract: A cigar construction utilizing a plurality of rolled-together long filler cigar leaves with the front ends of the tubes extending from the front of the cigar to provide immediate smoker identification of the integrity of the long filler leaf construction.

Abstract: A pipe for use in smoking tobacco including a hollow stem having a mouth end structured as a small tool socket for grasping nuts and bolt heads, and for holding a removable screw driver rod. A tobacco bowl at the opposite end of the stem includes a sidewall defining an open mouth with the sidewall structured as a tool socket. The pipe can be stored by insertion into an elongated tubular hollow housing having a relatively large tool socket at one end, and a smaller tool socket at the opposite end in a sidewall of the housing. In a sidewall of the housing adjacent to the smaller socket is a receiving notch with inward extending lips. The pipe bowl extends 90 degrees to the stem and includes multiple grooves on its exterior surface to allow the bowl to be inserted into and grasped by the receiving notch lips to define a generally L-shaped or T-shaped overall tool shape for grasping by hand for use of the included sockets and screw driver.

Abstract: A smoking cessation method includes the steps of providing a patient with a tamper-resistant, timed release cigarette dispenser, programming the cigarette dispenser to initially release cigarettes from the dispenser one at a time at a first predetermined interval to regularize the smoking habits of the patient, after an initial period, reprogramming the cigarette dispenser to increase the interval at which cigarettes are dispensed to a second predetermined interval which is longer than the first predetermined interval, and continuing to increase the interval at which cigarettes are dispensed by programming the dispenser, until a critical interval is reached. Once the critical interval is reached, the method preferably includes an abrupt cessation of smoking. The time intervals are set by a person other than the patient, and the dispenser is constructed to prevent the patient from programming the time intervals or from obtaining access to the cigarettes therein except at the expiration of the time intervals.

Abstract: The striking surface of a golf club is constructed of a fiber reinforced composite insert. The insert is formed of a metal striking surface having at least one layer of backing comprising a ply of fibers in a metal matrix laminated to the back of the striking surface. The insert is secured to the face of the golf club for engagement with the ball.

Abstract: The unit for forming groups of cigarettes has at least one substantially U-shaped pocket designed to receive in succession at least two layers of cigarettes, in which the cigarettes are parallel with a longitudinal axis of the pocket, the two layers being arranged one above the other to define a respective group; the unit having at least one holding element and, if the group has at least one gap, the unit having at least one dummy positioned parallel with the axis, both being mobile, under the thrust of an actuator, between a home position and an operating position, in which the element and the dummy are positioned respectively outside and inside the pocket, to respectively lock the group of cigarettes within the pocket, and to compensate the gap.

Abstract: The lighter of the present invention provides a resiliently deformable guard that covers a portion of the striking wheel assembly. To operate the lighter, a user exerts sufficient pressure to displace the guard before rotating the striking wheel assembly. The configuration of the guard with respect to other elements of the lighter and/or one or more retention means of the guard increases the retention of the guard. Further, the lighter of the present invention may provide a brake member to prevent the rotation of the striking wheel assembly when the user attempts to release fuel or rotate the striking wheel assembly before or without displacement of the guard.

Abstract: A device for trimming a shredded tobacco layer in a cigarette manufacturing machine comprises a pair of trimming disks rotatably arranged, a peeler wheel rotatably arranged under the trimming disks, the peeler wheel having a peeling blade formed at the peripheral edge thereof to scrape surplus shredded tobacco off the shredded tobacco layer in cooperation with the trimming disks, and an air nozzle for ejecting compressed air to the scraped-off surplus shredded tobacco, thereby deflecting and separating the surplus shredded tobacco.

Abstract: An improved cigar cutter capable of cutting a cylindrical plug from the end of a cigar is described. The cigar cutter includes a sharpened cylindrical blade slidably mounted on a cylindrical mandrel. The cylindrical blade has a radial orifice adjacent to its upper end sized to permit a ball bearing to extend partially through the orifice. The mandrel includes a helical groove extending about the circumference of the mandrel. The helical groove is sized to receive a portion of the ball bearing when the cylindrical blade is mounted on the mandrel. A cylindrical cover is provided having an inside diameter only slightly greater than the outside diameter of the cylindrical blade and a rectilinear slot extending downwardly from the top of the cover. The cover slides over the cylindrical blade with the radially outer portion of the protruding ball bearing being seated in the rectilinear slot. At least one spring-loaded pin and matching orifice is provided to retain the cover in position over the cylindrical blade.

Abstract: A method and device for tip-up conveying packets of cigarettes, whereby packets of cigarettes, fed successively to an input of a guide, are transferred to an output of the guide by a screw transferring member rotating about a respective axis; the screw defining at least one substantially helical channel along which the packets slide as the screw rotates, and which winds by an angle of 90.degree. about its own longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A wheel for conveying products, in particular packets of cigarettes, is mounted for rotation about an axis, and presents at least one manipulating unit, the outer casing of which is fitted with a pocket for a packet and with a number of manipulating elements, and houses a control shaft presenting cams for controlling the manipulating elements; the casing is fitted releasably to a frame of the wheel; and the control shaft is connected to a countershaft by a face joint.

Abstract: The density of a wrapped rod-like filler of tobacco or filter material for tobacco smoke is ascertained by causing successive increments of the filler to traverse beams of X-rays which, after having penetrated through small portions of the filler, impinge upon detectors forming a linear array and serving to generate (first) signals denoting the intensities of the respective beams. Such intensities are affected by the densities of the respective portions of the filler. The first signals are processed in a circuit together with one or more additional signals denoting the intensity or intensities of one or more beams which bypass the filler, and with one or more further signals furnished by one or more detectors which are shielded from the source of X-rays. The thus obtained (second) signal denotes the densities of successive increments of the filler and is used to correct the density of the filler, if and when necessary.

Abstract: A metal wood-type golf club head has an improved weight distribution and configuration through the inclusion of a ledge interfacing with the ball striking face and upper surface and a peripheral mass positioned along at least the majority of the ball striking face and the crown of the club head and vertical masses behind the ball striking face thereby providing added strength and stability to the club head and minimizing pinging of the club head when the ball contact is made. The club head also has an extended hosel integrally connected to the club head body, and the hosel is preferably connected to the peripheral mass.

Abstract: Reconstituted tobacco sheets prepared and packaged such that a consumer may roll a smokable tobacco product from a single sheet of reconstituted tobacco. The preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of rectangular sheets of reconstituted tobacco, each sheet precut to a predetermined rectangular dimension of standardized width and length so that the sheets, when rolled, conform to the various standard lengths and sizes of commercially available tobacco products. Each sheet is provided with a gummed edge for sealing of a rolled tobacco product. A plurality of sheets may be stacked and bound along one side to each other to form a pad of sheets for convenient commercial packaging and sale to the consumer.

Abstract: Water disintegratability of a tobacco filter is improved by incorporating a super absorbent resin into a tobacco smoke filter medium in a tobacco filter comprising a main constitutive element of the tobacco smoke filter medium, and a water-soluble polymer as a binder for shaping the constitutive element. The constitutive element includes particulate or fibrous cellulose and cellulose esters (e.g. cellulose acetate). The water-absorption ratio of the super absorbent resin is about 10 to 1,000 times, and the amount of the resin is about 0.05 to 50 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the main constitutive element of the tobacco smoke filter medium.

Abstract: A pipe tool and method of filling. The pipe tool comprises a handle rigidly attached to a spade at an angle of approximately 225 degrees. A cross-sectional shape of an upper extreme of the spade is that of an arc of approximately 70 degrees, and a lower extreme whose shape is that of a spherical section. A cross-sectional thickness of said spade decreases linearly from the spade upper extreme to the spade lower extreme. The handle has a tamper which is shaped like a half-circle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is given for a low residence time redrying of strip tobacco. The apparatus thoroughly and evenly dries and cools the tobacco consistently through the entire tobacco bed as it passes through the dryer and cooler. The apparatus utilizes a plurality of individually controlled fluidized bed heating zones for drying the tobacco. An additional fluidized bed cooling zone is provided to cool the tobacco prior to reordering. A continuous conveyor extends through the heating zones and cooling zones. A steam tunnel is utilized to raise the moisture content of the dried tobacco to preselected moisture levels. A vibrating conveyor moves the tobacco through the steam tunnel.

Abstract: A cigarette extinguishing and storage device is of tubular shape and provided by telescoping elements which define an enclosure in which a lit cigarette is received to extinguish the same and in which the extinguished cigarette is stored until the smoker wishes to relight the same. Charcoal or other suitable deodorant means is provided at the internal surface of the enclosure to absorb condensates from tobacco smoke. The device preferably is made of one or more plies of paper, so as to be disposable.