Abstract: A wagering card game is played with a standard fifty-two card poker deck and a count limit card that is permanently assigned as the third card of the dealer's hand. Each player makes a bet. Three cards are dealt face down to each player, to the dealer and to the bonus hand. The players inspect their cards and have the option of trading one card. The dealer burns his top card and reveals his first two cards. The dealer's third card is a count limit card or the representation of a count limit card having a predetermined count value (for example 3) that is imprinted on the count limit card or on the playing surface, and is displayed at all times. The dealer combines his dealt cards with his count limit card and states his total. He then turns over each player's cards one at a time, compares each player's hand with the dealer's hand, determines whether the player is a loser or winner, pays or collects on the winner's and loser's hands, respectively.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive burn-in and test mounting for high terminal density grid array packages is formed by a support base which carries a plurality of C-shaped spring finger contacts. One end of each spring finger contact is attached to the first face of the support base at the edge of a hole corresponding to the outline of the LGA package and extends through the hole. The contacts are curved so that the second end of each contact is supported above and spaced from the opposite side of the support base. Each spring finger is curved to define a knee which lies in a plane parallel with the faces of the support base. The spring fingers are arranged so that the knees are in register with lands on an LGA package. When the LGA package is moved toward the support base, the knees contact the lands on the LGA package. Electrical communication may be established with either end of the finger, thus permitting spreading of input/output terminal connections.

Abstract: A forward/reverse transmission, shiftable under servo-control, includes a movable clutch bell and a free-wheeling, one-way centrifugal lock-out clutch that permits a gear change from forward to reverse or reverse to forward only while the engine is operating at or below idle speed. The centrifugal lock-out clutch includes a spring-loaded pawl which is yieldably biased by a compression spring and held in a non-interfering, shiftable position when the engine is being operated at or below idle speed. As the engine rpm increases above idle, the centripetal acceleration force overcomes the bias force of the compression spring and the pawl is extended radially outwardly for engagement with a torque transfer pin. In the radially extended position, the pawl is disposed for interference contact against the clutch bell housing, thus preventing clutch engagement/disengagement.

Abstract: Passenger boats are mounted on an undercarriage assembly that includes rail-mounted centering wheels. The passenger boats are accelerated by linear induction drive motors mounted on a guide rail structure. Thrust is applied to the racing boats by magnetically conductive reaction plates that are attached to the undercarriage assembly and are movable through linear flux slots formed in the induction stators of the linear induction motors. The submerged guide track structure is arranged in various closed loop courses, including “Figure-Eight,” an hour-glass, serpentine and oval patterns, as well as parallel guide track structures that extend between a launch station and a return station. A dual “Figure-Eight” watercourse includes a simulated jump ramp and an underground tunnel arrangement. In the continuous loop guide structure, two or more boats are launched and separation is maintained by a safety block arrangement.

Abstract: A roof-mounted wind turbine includes turbine vanes that are linear-shaped and do not have the conventional convex curvature. Additionally, the turbine vanes are made in common with one another or with a common turbine component, so that each vane does not require individual handling nor individual attachment to the turbine assembly as is required in the construction of conventional wind turbines that are commercially available today. This is accomplished by producing the vanes by molding or extruding techniques that are commonly used in making plastic assemblies or components.

Abstract: Master discs and similar devices used in the production of digital data storage and recording discs and the like are produced with a substrate member which is provided with a layer of material which is applied to the substrate member in liquid form of a thickness greater than the surface roughness of the substrate member and of a thickness greater than any particulates present on the substrate member. The material layer is preferably a polymer such as epoxy, acrylic or styrene and is hardenable by exposure to UV light, heat, air circulation or catalytic reaction to provide a substantially smooth flat surface for receiving a data bearing film. The film may be treated to generate bumps or pits representing digital signals, for example, which are free of any defects resulting from surface roughness or contamination of the substrate member.

Abstract: An improved downhole fluid pressure powered reciprocating rotary drilling motor includes an automatic fluid valve means and a fluid controller that in combination provide a fluid driven periodic forcing function to excite a drill bit both axially and rotationally for enhanced drill bit penetration in oil well work-over and oil well open hole earth borings on both rotating and non-rotating drill strings.

Abstract: A buoyant lounge chair supports a swimmer in an upright, semi-reclining or fully reclining position while the chair is floating in a swimming pool. Interconnected rigid frame members collectively form an open chair frame including a seat frame, left and right arm frames attached to the seat frame, and a back frame pivotally coupled to the seat frame. The back frame is pivotally coupled to the seat frame on opposite sides by dual axle shafts. A manually operable clutch is mounted on each axle shaft for releasably connecting the seat frame to the back frame. Each clutch is manually releasable to permit pivotal movement of the back frame relative to the seat frame, and is manually engagable to fix the angle of recline of the back frame with respect to the seat frame.

Abstract: A mascara applicator includes a brush attached to a wand which is preformed with a predetermined bend angle which presents the brush in an offset orientation that makes it easier and more convenient to apply mascara to eyelashes. In a first embodiment, the wand is a narrow gauge wire or tube of a shape memory alloy which is characterized by pseudo-elasticity, and the wire or tube is deformed by a predetermined longitudinal bend angle in its relaxed memory recovery state. In an alternative embodiment, the wand includes link segments of a narrow gauge rod or tube of relatively stiff plastic material. At least two of the segments are joined together by a living hinge section which permits the wand to flex preferentially at the living hinge in response to a bending force. The living hinge is also characterized by flex memory recovery in which it automatically assumes a predetermined bend angle in the absence of a bending force.

Abstract: A one-pack, low VOC, waterborne adhesion coating composition and method of making and using the same. The composition includes a coalescing agent, a halogenated resin, a modified anionic polyurethane dispersion blend, and a wetting and dispersing agent. It is suitable for coating a variety of substrates including polyolefinic substrates, in particular thermoplastic olefin resins, polypropylene, and operates without the addition of an adhesion promoter step at a low curing temperature.

Abstract: A test mounting for LGA packages uses curved contact fingers to make electrical contact between lands on the LGA package and surface mount circuitry on a circuit board or the like. The mounting includes a guide member with guide apertures therein spaced from a support base with corresponding guide apertures. A bending plate positioned between the guide plate and the support base is moved laterally with respect thereto to increase or decrease the distance between the ends of each contact finger and thereby connect or disconnect the ends of the contact fingers with an LGA package mounted adjacent the guide plate and circuit pads on a circuit board on which the test mounting is mounted.

Abstract: Test and/or burn-in sockets for high frequency electronic device packages are formed using contact pins having parallel ends joined by a support beam supported so that one end of the pin extends through a guide into a cavity in the socket and the other end extends through a second guide displaced from the first guide. The outer ends of the contact pins are arranged to contact input/output lands of a external circuitry such as a burn-in board or the like and the inner ends arranged to contact input/output leads or lands on an electronic LGA package. The end portions of the contact pins are constrained in parallel guides which are arranged to precisely align the ends of the pins with the terminal lands and the length and size of the contact pins are minimized to minimize signal distortion.

Abstract: A freezer chest for storing and displaying frozen foods such as packaged ice cream products for sale to retail customers includes a modular storage bin in which a product stack plate is mounted on a helical support spring. Packaged ice cream products are loaded onto the product stack plate. The product stack plate, urged by the helical spring, advances the stack of frozen products to the top of the storage bin as products are removed by customers. A permanent magnet mounted on the product stack plate generates a magnetic field that couples with position sensors mounted in a vertical array along the storage bin. Each sensor produces an output signal in response to coupling alignment of the magnetic field with the sensor as the stack plate moves through the storage bin. The helical support spring extends the stack plate incrementally in proportion to the weight load removed as each packaged product is unloaded.

Abstract: A hair clip includes a clasp and a leaf spring clamp connected on one end. A layer of a compressible, resilient cushion material such as natural rubber or elastomer synthetic resin material, or cellular plastic foam is bonded onto the hair engaging surfaces. A thin non-porous outer coating layer is applied to the compressible cushion layers for providing smooth, low-friction, non-sticking surfaces for directly engaging the hair. The hair clip easily attaches onto hair and is retained securely on the hair without slipping and without damaging the hair, and is easily removed from the hair without snagging.

Abstract: A security mailbox assembly includes a mail storage module enclosing a mail storage vault and a mail drop port. A mailbox is mounted on the mail storage module directly over the mail drop port. The mailbox includes a pivot door that is movable to an open position for presenting outgoing mail and for receiving incoming mail. The pivot door includes a trap door panel covering the mail drop port when the pivot door is in the open position, with the trap door panel being rotatable through the mail drop port and into the security vault as the pivot door is moved to the closed position. A mail tray is attached to the pivot door for holding outgoing mail, and a rotatable disc flag is coupled to the mailbox.

Abstract: A retractable airfoil assembly (20) augments the wing surface area (28) of an aircraft (22) enabling it to fly without stalling at reduced speeds during takeoff and landing. The airfoil assembly includes flexible sails (42, 44) and a furling mast (24) for extending and retracting the sails. The furling mast includes a furling drum mounted for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation on a static tube (50). The flexible sail assembly also includes guide tracks (80) located along a leading edge (101) or tailing edge (40) of the wings. The tracks guide the flexible sails during extension and retraction. A drive cable (26) extends and retracts the sails (42, 44) along the guide tracks and maintains tension in the sails while they are extended.

Abstract: Passenger boats are mounted on an undercarriage assembly that includes rail-mounted centering wheels. The passenger boats are accelerated by linear induction drive motors mounted on a guide rail structure. Thrust is applied to the racing boats by magnetically conductive reaction plates that are attached to the undercarriage assembly and are movable through linear flux slots formed in the induction stators of the linear induction motors. The submerged guide track structure is arranged in various closed loop courses, including “Figure-Eight,” an hour-glass, serpentine and oval patterns, as well as parallel guide track structures that extend between a launch station and a return station. A dual “Figure-Eight” watercourse includes a simulated jump ramp and an underground tunnel arrangement. In the continuous loop guide structure, two or more boats are launched and separation is maintained by a safety block arrangement.

Abstract: A portable power tool provides operating torque for a rotary load. The portable power tool includes an offset rotary sleeve for coupling attachment to the power input shaft of the rotary load. A gearing assembly provides right angle torque transfer from an in-line D.C. motor. The gearing assembly is driven by an output power shaft which is powered by a DC electrical motor. The rotary sleeve coupling is supported on opposite ends by a first bearing on an upper portion of the rotary sleeve coupling and by a second bearing on a lower portion of the rotary sleeve coupling. The D.C. motor is powered by a rechargeable battery.