Abstract: A device and method for improving and refining a shooter's skills has a laser or light beam, when the device is turned on, emitted from a laser diode or a light emitting diode to a collimating lens and through a hollow shaft, and to a prism being rotated by a shaft and motor. The beam is deflected in different directions so that a rapid rotation of the prism permits the beam to form a substantially circular reflecting image. The diameter of the image can be adjusted by adjusting an adjustable lens. When a shooter aims at a clay target, the shooter moves the gun barrel at a sweeping line of sight along a target flight path until the moving target intersects a point on the circumference of the substantially circular image for indicating to the shooter that a proper lead has been achieved for successfully shooting the moving target. Moreover, a receiver can be mounted on the housing for allowing an instructor to evaluate how well the shooter is performing.

Abstract: A weapon simulator, particularly for simulating small arms, comprises a laser projector for attachment to the weapon. Firing the weapon initiates the production of a narrow, pulsed, beam by the laser, and this beam is scanned vertically downwardly while its pulse repetition frequency (PRF) is varied as a function of scan angle. The weapon/ammunition type can also be encoded in the laser pulses. The beam is received by a spatially diverse pair of detectors on the target, typically comprising a first detector having an annular entry aperture covering about 6 cm in the vertical direction, and a second detector disposed in the center of the annular entry aperture of the first. The central detector effectively determines the width of the beam, thus permitting the range from the weapon to the target to be computed from the beam width and the difference in the prf detected at the start and finish of the illumination of the first detector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assisting the disabled to handwrite. The apparatus comprises a stabilizing weight member. The stabilizing weight member is attached to the hand by a glove or other means. The weight member has angled finger grip protrusions for forming slots for the fingers of the hand to rest in and to hold and conrol the movement of the weight member. The weight member has a roller ball socket in its underside in which is rotatably mounted a roller ball. The weight member also has a writing instrument holder which holds the writing instrument so that it will write on a writing surface when the roller ball is against that surface. The hand moves the weight member by rolling the roller ball against the writing surface so that the writing instrument writes.

Abstract: For the checking of cigarettes for their correct formation in terms of a sufficient tobacco content, electrooptical test processes have been employed for a relatively long time. The use of these processes has hitherto made it necessary to employ high-performance sensitive sensors in order to obtain definite test results. The new process and the corresponding apparatus are intended to make it possible to check cigarettes by the reflection process, especially in a cigarette conveyor (cigarette turret), in which accurate results can be obtained in short test times by means of a simple test device. By means of a special arrangement of the electrooptical sensors for the checking of the cigarettes in test units moved relative to the cigarettes to be checked, it is possible for the cigarettes to be checked for a correct tobacco content, by contactless sensing, either during stationary phases or during rotational movement of the cigarette conveyor (cigarette turret).

Abstract: A cigarette including a tobacco rod circumscribed by a metal foil wrapper and having a cylinder of carbon fuel surrounding the metal foil wrapper tobacco rod. An air permeable outer wrapper circumscribes the cylinder of carbon fuel. A filter plug is located at one end of the cigarette.

Abstract: An ash tray consisting of three containers, embedded in one another. The intermediate container is held spacedly above the centrally-bored bottom wall of the outer container, by frictional interengagement of the side walls thereof, whereby ventilation is facilitated between the walls of these latter two containers. There is a plurality of small, cigarette-engaging compartments between the inner and intermediate containers. The top edge portion of the inner container supports an upturned, radially-inturned open ring having a few radial channels, for supporting lighted cigarettes. The cigarettes may be extinguished by engagement in one of the small compartments.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting open longitudinal seams in the continuous wrapper of cigarette or cigarette filter rod produced by a continuous rod-making machine relies on detection by a microphone (54) of disturbance caused by the defective seam to an air stream. The air stream is generated from a narrow slot (44) and normally follows a fixed, preferably flat, surface (40) closely adjacent to the longitudinal path of a rod (12). The surface (40) is part of a body (22) which contains the microphone (54) and connecting leads (56, 58), together with a passage (36) allowing sound to reach the microphone. Air is bled through a small bore (52) and through a further bore (30) containing a sound-insulating filter (66) to provide a purging air flow in the passage (36).

Abstract: To accommodate computer graphics delays, the future position and orientation of a simulated vehicle are predicted in an operating sequence by separate coordinated models that are fed data signals indicating the operator's control actions. The control actions are extrapolated to provide further data signals. A suspension model and a nonlinear chassis model operate sequentially with a road model to provide one reference-state input to a prediction model. Other inputs to the prediction model are from the drive train and steering extrapolation units controlled by driver inputs.

Abstract: An interactive video display system comprising a laser disc player with a remote large-screen projector to view life-size video scenarios and a control computer. A video disc has at least one basic scenario and one or more branches of the basic scenario with one or more subbranches from any one or more of the branches and further subbranches, if desired, to any level of programming desired. The control computer is programmed for interactive control of the branching, and control of other effects that enhance the scenario, in response to detection of when the trainee has (1) drawn an infrared laser handgun from his holster, (2) fired his laser handgun, (3) taken cover, (4) advanced or retreated from the adversary on the screen, and (5) when the adversary has fired his gun at the trainee.

Abstract: A microcomputer-controlled fully automatic lighting unit has a transmission line including a motor and necessary driving mechanism which, when being started, is able to deliver cigarettes to a place where they will be lighted by an induced electric heatable wire. The unit further has another transmission line including a motor and necessary driving mechanism which may send the lighted cigarette out of the unit and thereby safely and automatically completes a cycle of cigarette lighting procedure.

Abstract: A catheter for medical or veterinary use is provided which is especially adapted for gentle and pristine introduction into a body cavity or vasculature. The catheter includes an outer and inner tube with a cylindrical membrane connecting distal ends of the two tubes. A fluid may be introduced into an annular space between the tubes to inflate the membrane, which may have a variable thickness to inflate into various configurations within the body cavity. The catheter may be advantageously provided with a guide wire for directing the catheter during insertion into the body cavity by diverting the distal end of the outer tube. The invention hereof also includes a method of using the catheter including the steps of inserting, directing and locating the catheter, extending inner tube beyond the outer tube, isolating the body cavity or vessel and then withdrawing the catheter from the body cavity or vessel.

Abstract: A simulated smoking device includes a hollow tube with a capsule of pressurized aerosol generating material located inside the tube. An air flow passage is defined between the capsule and tube wall. The capsule includes an aerosol outlet port having a valve for selectively opening and closing the outlet port. An air operated valve activator is located inside the tube downstream of the air flow passage and is operatively connected to the valve. An aerosol passage communicates with the aerosol outlet port of the capsule and has a discharge end downstream of the air passage. Air is drawn into the tube, passes through the air passages, and impacts the air operated valve activator causing the valve to move opening the aerosol outlet port of the capsule releasing aerosol into the air flow downstream of the air operated valve activator.

Abstract: Cigarettes which yield low levels of visible sidestream smoke upon use employ a paper wrapping material having about 25 weight percent magnesium hydroxide, about 15 weight percent calcium carbonate and about 60 weight percent flax. The wrapping material has an inherent permeability of about 12 CORESTA units and a net permeability of about 100 to about 130 CORESTA units. The wrapping material containing an amount of water soluble alkali metal salt and water soluble alkali earth metal salt sufficient to provide at least about 20 mg water soluble alkali metal and alkali earth metal ions per gram of dry base web. The cigarettes, when employed, provide cohesive ash which is not highly flakey.

Abstract: The cigarette lighter of the invention has an igniter member which promotes smooth burning of the fuel gas ejected from the gas nozzle. The igniter member is composed of an igniting element which is a coiled wire of platinum metal or a platinum-based alloy having a specified dimensions and a supporting member made of a wire of a refractory metal or alloy. The coil of platinum wire preferably has a flattened configuration to cover a larger front of the flame. The supporting member made of a wire of a refractory metal or alloy, around which the coil is wound, is preferably coated with a coating layer of a ceramic material, e.g., alumina. A simple but very reliable structure for mounting the igniter member in the fire bowl of the cigarette lighter is described.

Abstract: An educational visual display system for teaching geography in which objects having some geographical or topographical significance, e.g., states of the Union, may be detachably affixed and arranged to demonstrate relationship between the objects. The preferred system includes (1) a primary background surface of iron velvet fabric material to which hook type fasteners may be detachably adhered, (2) a plurality of primary objects having geographical significance and comprising a soft foam core with a layer of iron velvet fabric on one side and a plurality of hook type fasteners on the other side, the primary objects being arrangeable to represent in combination a larger geographical unit, and (3) a plurality of secondary objects each having geographical or topographical significance and having hook type fasteners on one side thereof for being detachably affixable to the layer of iron velvet fabric of the primary objects.

Abstract: An interactive and programmable tone generator with scenarios is disclosed nd described as a training device. Sounds are recorded as they are heard in their actual environment. The recording then can be combined with a coded track that triggers a graphics demonstration previously prepared from notations taken during the recordings that describe the actual environment that corresponds to the respective sound. Also, selections can be taken from the recording that present a best example of a sound to be learned, looped for repetition, and then rerecorded digitally onto micro-floppy diskettes. When played-back the diskettes provide challenging interactive training for the novice and expert alike in a variety of available modes using both computer generated graphics and sounds reconverted from digital storage.

Abstract: A depilatory device for removing body hair comprises a manually-grippable housing and a hair-plucker body supported in an arcuate position and rotated by a motor within the housing. The hair-plucker body is formed with gaps which open at the convex side and close at the concave side during the rotation of the body in order to catch, pluck and eject hair on the surface over which the body is moved. The hair-plucker body and the housing include quickly-attachable connectors which enable the hair-plucker body to be conveniently removed for cleaning or replacement, or for purposes of enabling each different user to have a personal hair-plucker body.

Abstract: An external introducer for a ventricular catheter that is part of a hydrocephalus shunt system. The introducer includes a stylet assembly that mates with a cannula assembly. The cannula assembly comprises a cannula having a bent tip and an opening on the sidewall of the cannula, and a cannula hub into which a catheter is clipped. The stylet assembly includes a flexible stylet attached to a stylet hub. When the stylet hub is locked to the cannula hub, the stylet protrudes slightly from the end of the cannula at an angle. The introducer holds the catheter approximately straight for insertion into the ventricle of the brain.

Abstract: An educational device includes a generally L-shaped visual blocking stand for obstructing visual contact between a question asking individual and a question answering individual. A representation of a human eye is formed on one side of a vertical portion of the stand and includes two different colored electric lamps connected for selectively illuminating the eye to indicate a correct or wrong answer. A plurality of cards each have a question relating to a particular curriculum on a first side and a multiple choice group of answers on an opposite side. A slot is formed in the vertical stand portion for conveying information on one of the cards. A plurality of switches are operative to illuminate the different colored electric lamps to indicate when a correct or wrong answer has been given.

Abstract: A method of aiding in the reduction of incidence of tobacco smoking. The method comprises applying a patch containing nicotine to the skin of a person with whom smoking reduction is desired and allowing the nicotine to transdermally migrate into the person's bloodstream to achieve a desired systemic nicotine level. The method also comprises the simultaneous administration of a nicotine containing aerosol spray to the oral cavity of the user in order to provide the desired sensations in the respiratory tract to which the user is accustomed from normal tobacco smoke. A combination of the spray and transdermal patch is also provided such that an occlusive patch is applied to the skin of the person with whom smoking reduction is desired and the nicotine containing aerosol spray is delivered to the oral cavity simultaneously with the application of the nicotine from the patch.