Abstract: Exercising apparatus for the gripping and wrist muscles including weights and a pulley system threaded with lines to support the weights and so tensioned bias a finger grip which is restrained for translationally rectilinear motion. There are two embodiments of the hand grasping mechanism containing finger grips. One embodiment uses principally rolling bearings to ensure translational motion of the finger grip and the other use a slide and a rolling bearing combined at the top and bottom respectively of the finger grip.

Abstract: An exercise machine that allows essentially unlimited number of lifting exercises to be performed that operates like free weights but with the safety of a universal gym including one or more stacks of weights connected through a pulley system extending vertically upwardly to a frame and then downwardly along vertical frame members from point locations to connect to two separate connection points on an exercise grasping device all in a single plane wherein movement of either connection point lifts the weights using an adjustable weight supply device comprising a vertical rod and tube centrally positioned in a vertical hole through the weight stack to allow both the choice of number of weights as well as the height at which the weight is first lifted.

Abstract: The specification discloses a cigarette filter modifier and related method in which the pattern of tar and nicotine collection in a conventional cigarette filter is modified by the insertion into the filter of a hollow probe having apertures therein which communicate with the interior passageway of the probe, combined with a base shield radiating from and surrounding said probe so as to block the passage of smoke, thereby forcing cigarette smoke to travel through the apertures and interior passageway of said probe. The base shield is approximately the diameter of the cigarette, and its perimeter thereof defines the lateral extremes of the device so as to minimize its visibility.

Abstract: A device comprised of a hook, threaded bar and angled base can be loaded with weight plates and attached by the hooks to each end of a barbell. The height of the hook can be adjusted so that the device detaches from the barbell at the low point of the barbell desired by the lifter.

Abstract: A physical training accessory comprises a garment or harness for securing the accessory to the body of a wearer, and a gatherable sail which is either permanently or detachably attached to the garment or harness. The sail, which may be comprised of any suitable gatherable material, is so fashioned that ground locomotion of the wearer, e.g., walking, running, skiing or skating, deploys the sail from a slack condition to a billowed condition, which increases air resistance which must be overcome by the wearer to continue the ground locomotion and so provides a valuable, extremely lightweight and compact training device. Fasteners may be provided to hold the sail in the slack condition for those times when the wearer does not wish to sustain the added air-resistance provided by the billowed sail.

Abstract: A dumbbell is provided which is collapsible for storage and/or convenient transportability and can be expanded, when required for purposes of exercising, by introduction therein of fluid such as water and sand. The dumbbell comprises a hollow, collapsible container comprising a closed loop of hollow tube having an elliptical or doughnut shape, a hollow handle traversing the gap between the inner walls of the closed loop and a fluid inlet provided with a plug seal. The outer peripheral wall of the closed loop is provided with accordion pleats biased into the closed portion but expandable against the bias under the influence of pressure generated by introduction of fluid into the container. The amount of fluid so introduced is a matter of choice of the user to achieve the desired overall weight of the device. Advantageously the dumbbells are integrally molded from thermoplastic resin.

Abstract: A cat litter box with a mechanism for screening and draining reuseable, liquid-impervious granular material contained in the box, the box having a housing with a container, the container having an inner compartment with holes for holding the granular material and draining liquids, and an outer compartment for receiving drained liquids, the inner compartment having a screen, wherein the mechanism both raises the screen through the granular material to separate solid wastes, and tips the container to drain the liquid wastes and separated solids into a collection box for removal, and lowers the container, returning the screen to the inner compartment and redistributing the granular material over the screen before the container seats in the housing for reuse.

Abstract: A collapsible weight system provides a collapsible/expandable diaphragm for containing a liquid which includes a closed hub disposed on one end thereof and an open hub disposed on another end thereof. A tubular cap is provided to seal the collapsible/expandable diaphragm while engaging both the closed hub and the open hub to provide axial support of the diaphragm. A pin locking system is provided in order to lock the tubular cap to a bar for lifting the weights. When the bar is engaged and locked with the cap, it extends therethrough providing additional strength and support for the collapsible/expandable diaphragm.

Abstract: An exercise machine wherein mechanisms are arranged to work selected muscle groups against an appropriate weight. More particularly, the exercise device includes a support frame, a shaft rotatably mounted to the support frame, a lever arm attached to the shaft for angular positioning thereof, an exercise lever arm, an incrementally adjustable weight system, a movable bench and an adjustably positioned exercise bar which exercise device allows an individual, when used in combination, to perform all of the conventional muscle group exercises required to maintain a fully-rounded fitness program.

Abstract: The invention refers to a continuous cigarette rod deflecting and breaking device in a cigarette making machine, which device (1) is arranged upstream of the unit for cutting the rod (B) into individual cigarette lengths, and comprises a deflecting member (2) which upon control is movable between an uplifted active position in which it downwardly deflects the rod from its normal path along the rod-forming line (L), and a lowered down rest position in which it is located under the normal rod path, and leaves the rod free to travel toward the cutting unit. The said deflecting member (2) is integral with a severing element (6) which is caused to cross the path of rod (B) so as to cut the said rod as the deflecting member (2) is moved either from its uplifted active position into its lowered down rest position, or from its lowered down rest position into its uplifted active position.

Abstract: A method of physical exercise is described utilizing a machine configured to support the user during exercise in a specific suspended position to immobilize and isolate certain muscle groups while exercising others. The method and device is particularly well suited and designed for exercise of the abdominal musculature, but is conveniently adaptable for exercise of other muscle groups and design of unique exercise methods utilizing short restricted movements culminating in a isometrically tensioned exercise position.

Abstract: A machine wherein a mobile partition divides a flow of tobacco particles into several streams each of which carries a surplus of tobacco particles. The surplus is removed from the streams by discrete trimming devices to convert the streams into fillers which are draped into webs of cigarette paper. The removed surplus is measured independently for each stream and the signals which are generated to denote the quantities of removed surplus are used to change the position of the partition in a sense to ensure that each stream contains a predetermined quantity of surplus. A device which monitors the density of at least one filler generates signals serving to adjust the trimming devices in a sense to ensure that the density of all fillers matches a preselected density.

Abstract: A hydraulic exercise device including an elongated base having first and second ends and a standard projecting upwardly from the first end of the base having a first end of a horizontal bench pivotally supported therefrom for oscillation about a horizontal transverse axis. The second end of the bench is disposed over the second end of the base and supported therefrom by generally vertical legs including upper and lower portions pivotally anchored to the bench and base, respectively. A lever has one thereof pivotally supported from the standard above the first end of the bench and the second end of the lever projects toward the second end of the base. A double acting hydraulic cylinder has one end connected to the second end of the lever and the other end connected to the standard at a point spaced vertically therealong from the first end of the lever.

Abstract: An upper body exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. The apparatus includes a frame having a base, a platform parallel to the base for the exerciser to stand on, chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame, a system to oscillate the platform vertically between a lower position and an upper position while maintaining the platform parallel to the base and while avoiding any angular displacement, a pneumatic cylinder for providing a force to the oscillating system which is opposite the weight of the exerciser, and a control and monitor whereby the force is controlled and the oscillation of the platform is monitored.

Abstract: The driver training simulator system of the present invention includes a visual display system and a student station. The student station has simulated automotive control elements such as a steering wheel, brake pedal, accelerator pedal, etc. The visual display system includes an arrangement for presenting images to the student, for example it may include a motion picture projector and an associated display screen. The images which are presented to the student include a plurality of separate sections. Each of the separate sections of the image is recorded by a separate camera. One of the sections of the image presented to the student is a conventional front looking "driver point of view" image, that is, the image that a driver would see looking through his front windshield. Another section of the images consists of images that were recorded by one or more cameras which were facing rearward.

Abstract: A dumbbell consisting of a heavy core (1) around which there is an impact absorbing layer (2) capable of being shaped covered with a splinter-proof layer (3) on which a number of straps or bands (4) is provided.The impact absorbing layer and the splinter-proof cover that the dumbbells can hit against each other. The dumbbells are also protected by the two layers in case they are dropped--just as the risk of causing bodily injuries if the dumbbell falls down is reduced. Straps or bands on the dumbbell serving the purpose of fastening it to the hand moreover means that the risk of dropping the dumbbell is reduced. The straps/bands furthermore makes it possible to perform faster and longer movements of body and limbs in order to strengthen muscles and circulation without dropping the dumbbells. The construction with the major part of the weight of the dumbbell resting in the hollow of the hand reduces the wear on several of the sinews of the hand by varying courses of movement.

Abstract: Comminuted tobacco material expanding apparatus which includes a cellular wheel feeder and an expansion chamber integrated in the cellular wheel feeder. A nozzle opening in a wall of the expansion chamber provides for the introduction of a mixture of air and stream for accelerating the tobacco material under a pressure drop to at least 50 m/s with a residence time of the tobacco material in the expansion chamber of less than about 1/10 s. At least one nozzle opening is located in an end wall of the expansion chamber near the bottom so that an adjustable stream/air mixture moves the tobacco material substantially at a right-angle out of the expansion chamber. The expansion chamber is connected to an acceleration tube with converging cross-section which is connected to a delay tube.

Abstract: A stretching machine for stretching the legs of an individual which includes a pair of leg bars and a pair of leg decks. Each leg deck is slidingly and pivotingly connected to one of the leg bars to permit adjustments for different leg lengths of individuals. The leg bars are moveable in a general arc from a rest position to stretch positions by a hydraulic jack comprising a jack base, a base jack rod slidingly disposed in the jack base and a connecting rod disposed in the base jack rod. A linkage connects the connecting rod to the leg bars. A channel is slidingly connected to each leg bar and one end of the a pin is connected to the channel, the opposite end of the pin being pivotally disposed in a pivot opening in the leg deck.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus for performing a variety of exercises, including chest and incline shoulder press exercises during which the user sits on a seat with a backrest which is adjustably secured in upright and forwardly inclined positions for supporting the user's upper body in the proper positions for these exercises. The exercises all utilize the same weight stack or other device for resisting the exercise motions of the user. The apparatus has a plurality of exercise members mounted on a frame for different prescribed exercise movements by the user, a resisting force producing arrangement, and a cable for selectively connecting the resisting force to the different exercise members. The cable is guided and supported by pulleys, one of which is adjustable from one position to another to accommodate the different exercises.

Abstract: A mass-producing filter tipping machine wherein two coaxial plain cigarettes of unit length are simultaneously severed to yield pairs of coaxial plain cigarettes of unit length which are moved apart to provide spaces for filter mouthpieces of double unit length. The filter mouthpieces are connected with the respective pairs of cigarettes of unit length by adhesive-coated uniting bands, and the resulting filter cigarettes of double unit length are subdivided into pairs of filter cigarettes of unit length. These filter cigarettes are converted into a single row wherein the filter mouthpieces of all filter cigarettes face in the same direction.