Patents Examined by Charles W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5752703
    Abstract: A table top game where attempts are made to propel a ball or other playing piece into a container or cup with the aid of a game board. A dual use game board has a generally square portion oppositely opposed to a generally rectangular portion. Present in the square and rectangular portions are two oppositely opposed tabs. Each of the tabs may fit into a container or cup, preferably a large soda pop cup. When the tab of the square portion is fitted into the cup, the cup may be stood upright so that the square portion forms a backboard. When the tab of the rectangular portion is fitted into the cup, the cup may be stably rested upon its side so that the rectangular portion forms a ramp. A first embodiment of a game piece has a flexible slat with a central spring, a post, and a bail. A ball or other projectile may be placed into the bail so that when the slat is flicked, the ball is propelled towards the upright cup with its backboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Inventor: Howard W. K. Wong
  • Patent number: 5749378
    Abstract: A tobacco product for self-preparing a cigarette, especially a filter-tipped cigarette, includes a tobacco portion (14) matched with the tobacco filling of a finished cigarette and having an air-permeable outer surface so that it cannot be smoked per se. The outer surface of the tobacco portion is completely smokeable or consumable by smoking, is dimensionally stable and its cross-section and length match the tobacco receiving space (13) of a cigarette paper tube (11) so that the outer surface of the tobacco portion engages the cigarette paper of a cigarette paper tube with the tobacco portion shape retained. An outer bar wrap (15) over the tobacco portion, open at either end, is made of non-smokeable material and transferred from the bar wrap (15) into the paper tube (11). The bar wrap (15) is formed of poorly or non-combustible material such as aluminum-laminate, synthetic plastic film, tin foil, aluminum foil or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: EFKA-Werke Fritz Kiehn GmbH
    Inventors: Heinrich W. Ruppert, Klaus G. Gatschmann
  • Patent number: 5746044
    Abstract: A method of wrapping products, whereby gripping assemblies, each for receiving a respective product and a respective sheet of wrapping material, are fed successively in steps and in a given traveling direction along a path extending through a loading station where each assembly is supplied with a respective sheet of wrapping material; and whereby, at each step, two assemblies, located one behind the other along the path, are brought into the loading station and arrested in respective loading positions to simultaneously receive respective sheets of wrapping material, which are fed to the respective loading positions along respective supply paths located side by side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: G.D Societa Per Azioni
    Inventor: Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 5746226
    Abstract: Grooved pipes incorporating a bowl tobacco bore communicating with a groove, the groove communicating with a bowl smoke bore through a bowl smoke bore mouth, and a method of filling a pipe with tobacco. Groove configurations may include a V-groove or an attic groove. The method of filling includes the steps of filling a pipe loosely with tobacco, tamping the tobacco in a direction opposite the bowl smoke bore mouth, repeating as necessary, and then pressing down on a center of tobacco within the bowl tobacco bore until slight effort is required to draw on the pipe. In addition, a cylindrical tobacco insert having a tobacco insert plenum is disclosed. The tobacco insert may rest on a bowl tobacco bore ledge, or on a conical bowl tobacco bore lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Inventor: George M. Beaver
  • Patent number: 5746231
    Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter comprising a porous substrate having a humectant, such as sodium pyroglutamate, dispersed therein to absorb moisture from the tobacco smoke thereby wet-filtering the tobacco smoke. The tobacco smoke filter can also comprise a porous substrate having microcapsules dispersed therein. The microcapsules can comprise a humectant such as sodium pyroglutamate. The microcapsules further preferably comprise one or more of methylcellulose, chlorophyllin and at least one vegetable oil. The tobacco smoke filter can also comprise a porous substrate having dry water and a porphyrin dispersed therein. The tobacco smoke filter can also comprise a porous substrate having a copper-containing porphyrin dispersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Craig Lesser
    Inventors: Craig Lesser, Reid W. Von Borstel
  • Patent number: 5746225
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining a tobacco shred filling quality includes a rotational position detector for detecting the rotational position of a driving drum of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus, a density detector for continuously detecting a tobacco shred filling density of a continuous cigarette rod, and a controller which receives the outputs of both detectors. The controller samples a density signal from the density detector every time it receives a pulse signal from the rotational position detector during a period corresponding to a distance from the beginning of the rear end portion of each double cigarette rod to the end of the front end portion of a succeeding double cigarette rod, and integrates the sampled density signal over a period corresponding to each end portion of each double cigarette rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Yutaka Okumoto, Shigemitsu Inomata
  • Patent number: 5743276
    Abstract: A cigar caddie divot repair tool comprises a ball mark repairer for repairing dents and divots in a golf green which is hingedly interconnected to a tray body to selectively and releaseably achieve a closed position wherein the ball mark repairer is substantially parallel to the tray body or an open position wherein said ball mark repairer is substantially perpendicular to the tray body. The tray body can support of a cigar, cigarette, or other object placed thereon and may serve as a grip concavity suited to receive a user's thumb when the ball mark repairer is being used to repair turf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Stephanie A. Tamayo-Rivera
    Inventors: Stephanie A. Tamayo-Rivera, Ken A. Arnswald
  • Patent number: 5743067
    Abstract: A device for loading storage containersfor elongated articles, particularly tobacco products, wherein a feedbox for the articles presents an output window facing a horizontal platefor supporting an orderly mass of articles; the output window is defined by the side by side output openings of a number of side by side channels for respective columns of articles; the horizontal plate is movable vertically along a storage container positioned with its input opening facing the output window, and presents side by side seats on top for respective articles; each output opening faces a rib separating two respective adjacent seats on the horizontal plate;and the channels are all inclined to the same side in relation to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventor: Carlo Trimani
  • Patent number: 5740816
    Abstract: A smoking accessory which functions as a cigar hole punch. The implement contains a hidden and detachable cigar hole punch and puncturing awl. The outward or exterior element of the device serves as a storage compartment for housing the puncturing awl and cigar hole punch when they are not in use. The implement itself should be manufactured of a material which enables a user to display the implement as an item of jewelry. Such an implement serves the dual purpose of denoting status for the user as well as providing the user with a useful device for cutting or otherwise opening the sealed end of a cigar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Inventors: Raffi Ghazarian, Vahe Ghazarian
  • Patent number: 5738118
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting cigarette smoke, ashes and cigarette ends is provided with a water path tube 5 disposed below a base plate 2 and has an appropriate inclination angle. Ash tray sections 3 are disposed on the upper surface of the base plate 2 at appropriate intervals. A water circuit includes a water tank 6 disposed at the downstream side of the water path tube 5, a pump 7 for feeding water in the water tank 6 to the upstream side of the water path tube 5 and a water feeding tube 8 connecting the pump 7 and the upstream side of the water path tube 5. A water splash prevention section 9 is fitted on the upper end of the water tank 6. A suction port 10 is disposed on the upper surface of the water path tube 5, a suction tube 11 communicates with the suction port 10, and a suction section 12 consisting of a blower is connected to the suction tube 11 for sucking smoke into the water path tube 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Profix Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Ikoma
  • Patent number: 5738115
    Abstract: Fragments of plastic fibers, such as cellulose acetate fibers, forming part of mouthpieces of filter cigarettes or like rod-shaped smokers' products tend to become separated from the respective filter mouthpieces at the end faces which develop in response to the making of cuts across filter rod sections of double unit length between pairs of plain cigarettes to obtain filter cigarettes of unit length. The fragments of fibers which tend to become separated and to contaminate the area around the filter cigarette making machine are either bonded (e.g., by heat and/or by a solvent) to the respective mouthpieces, or are removed by suction and/or by resorting to electrostatic precipitation. It is also contemplated to cause smoke-permeable layers of filter material to overlie the end faces of the mouthpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau AG
    Inventors: Firdausia Chehab, Stefan Fietkau, Peter-Franz Arnold, Thomas Juschus, Clemens Schmick
  • Patent number: 5738117
    Abstract: A combination cigar cutter and lighter device for cutting off an end of a cigar and lighting same includes a casing having a body, a lighting mechanism for producing a flame, and a cavity formed in the body, and a cigar cutter having a planar ring member with a central opening and a narrow slot formed therein. A narrow blade holder is positioned within the narrow slot of the ring member, the blade holder being movable between a first position in which the blade holder is substantially removed from the slot and a second position in which the blade holder is completely received within the slot. The blade holder has a blade secured thereto for cutting off the end of the cigar upon moving the blade holder from its first position to its second position. The ring member of the cigar cutter is pivotally secured to the casing for movement between an open use position and a closed non-use position in which the ring member is disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Colibri Corporation
    Inventor: Walter G. Fontaine, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5738116
    Abstract: An improved fluid-cooled smoking device wherein the smoke is bubbled up through the fluid contained in one reservoir or housing and then mixes and flows with this fluid as it is flowing into another fluid containing reservoir or housing, which the smoke also bubbles up through, resulting in a cooler and cleaner smoking experience. Also the improved fluid-cooled smoking device allows for conveniently drawing in the smoke through the nose allowing one to smell the "bouquet" of a fine tobacco or to draw medicinal herb smoke into and through the sinus cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Michael T. Truelove
  • Patent number: 5735294
    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 depress the guard before rotating the striking wheel assembly. The present invention provides retention mechanisms to make removal of the guard more difficult. Further, the lighter of the present invention provides brake members to prevent the rotation of the striking wheel assembly when the user attempts to release fuel prior to rotating the striking wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Bic Corporation
    Inventors: James M. McDonough, Gerald J. Doiron, Paul H. Adams, Chris A. Barone, Floyd B. Fairbanks
  • Patent number: 5735293
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating the seam consisting of an adhesive layer between the longitudinally extending overlapping marginal portions of a running tubular wrapper for tobacco or tobacco filter material has an adjustable elongated infrared heater disposed at a level above and extending in parallel with the path for the wrapper, and a heatable heat transfer member which contacts the seam of the running wrapper. A mirror surrounds the infrared heater and reflects radiant energy toward the heat transfer member. The heater is adjustable in dependency upon the temperature of the seam and/or in dependency upon the speed of the wrapper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignees: Decoufle s.a.r.l., RICA
    Inventors: Antoine Coniglio, Peter Sandkamp, Robert Calvairac
  • Patent number: 5730159
    Abstract: A unit for supplying layers of cigarettes, wherein a supply outlet, presenting an open bottom end and a number of channels converging towards the bottom end, feeds a succession of layers of cigarettes along the channels to the bottom end; and an extracting device is associated with the outlet to expel the layers one by one in an extraction direction parallel to the cigarettes in the layer and on to a fixed pickup plate presenting a bottom surface for releasably retaining the cigarettes in a single layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventors: Fiorenzo Draghetti, Fulvio Boldrini
  • Patent number: 5730667
    Abstract: A basketball goal is movable from a position wherein ball may be played to an out-of-play position wherein the ball may not be played. A locking mechanism, operable from the ground, maintains the goal in either the play or out-of-play positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Inventor: George B. Jones
  • Patent number: 5730277
    Abstract: Successive block-shaped arrays of cigarettes are advanced by one or more pushers on an endless conveyor through an elongated channel, defined by a stationary guide, on their way into a receptacle of a wrapping unit for the arrays. The pusher or pushers are decelerated during advancement through the discharge end of the channel, and the arrays are braked during such deceleration to maintain them in uninterrupted contact with the pusher or with the respective pushers until the arrays complete their movement into a predetermined portion of the receptacle. For example, the arrays can be braked by one or more mechanical devices and/or by one or more pneumatic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Topack Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Meinke, Jens Collin, Nikolaos Georgitsis
  • Patent number: 5730160
    Abstract: The invention relates to a segmented filter cigarette comprising a tobacco rod including at least two segments of differing tobacco fillings, a wrapping for said tobacco rod, and a filter, said at least two segments of said tobacco rod having a coaxial structure, each comprising an inner core of tobacco material, a wrapping for said inner core, a jacket of a different tobacco material and a wrapping for said jacket; the tobaccos of said inner cores of said segments have the same or a very similar condensate potential; the tobaccos of said jackets of said segments have the same or a very similar condensate potential which differs, however, from the condensate potential of said inner cores; by defining the resistances to draw of said inner cores and of said jackets of said segments and by adapting said filter it is achieved that the smoke is drawn substantially from the region having a high condensate potential of the first-burning segment during smoking of the segmented filter cigarette, and the smoke is drawn
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: British-American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Schneider
  • Patent number: 5727573
    Abstract: The smoker's article comprises a filter, a tobacco rod and a wrapper. The tobacco rod contains a catalyst consisting of a hydrated zeolite or a zeolite-like molecular sieve, the said zeolite or zeolite-like material being defined by the following formula:M.sub.m' M'.sub.n' M".sub.p ?a'AlO.sub.2 .multidot.b'SiO.sub.2 .multidot.c'TO.sub.2 !q'Qwherein M is a monovalent cationM' is a divalent cationM" is a trivalent cationa', b', c', n', m', p and q' are numbers which reflect the stoichiometric proportions,m', n', p or c' can also be zero,Al and Si are tetrahedrally coordinated Al and Si atoms,T is a tetrahedrally coordinated atom being able to replace Al or Si andQ is a sorbate capable of passing the pore system of the zeolite,or of mixtures thereof. The said catalyst consisting of a zeolite or the zeolite-like material, enclosed in the tobacco rod is present optionally in the H form and has a thermally stable structure. The sorbate Q is mainly water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: F. J. Burrus SA
    Inventors: Walter M. Meier, Jost Wild, Francis P. Scanlan