Abstract: A playing card deck particularly suited for the play of the card game of blackjack where indicia that is irrelevant to play of the game has been eliminated to facilitate play and increase the pace of play of the game. The invention comprises a deck of fifty two playing cards with the cards of the deck having no indications for suits and having four cards each with value indications of ace, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and nine, with the remaining sixteen cards having value indications of ten.

Abstract: A drainage support/diverter system for use in connection with a perforated pipe drainage system within a drainage trench, comprising a number of drainage support/diverters that create impermeable barriers to moisture flow along the length of the trench outside the perforated pipe, such drainage support/diverters are positioned upon intervals along the drainage trench with their lower ends placed to a depth at least as deep as lowest depth of the drainage trench where each drainage support/diverter is placed, extend laterally at least as wide as the widest point of the drainage trench where each drainage support/diverter is placed and are formed at their upper ends with a recess corresponding to a portion of the diameter of the perforated pipe such that moisture outside the perforated pipe is forced to enter the perforated pipe at the point of each drainage support/diverter.

Abstract: An asbestos free, calcium silicate insulating material suitable for use in the casting of molten non-ferrous metals, and suitable for use in applications where a fire resistant, heat insulating, electrical insulating, and corrosion resistant material is desirable. The calcium silicate insulating material is produced by combining lime, a siliceous component, alumina silica microspheres, wollastonite and organic fibrous material in the presence of water to form a slurry. The slurry is then placed under steam pressure, to react the lime, siliceous component and water, dried, and heat treated if necessary.

Abstract: The integral keyboard and storage organizer of the present invention provides a keyboard with a housing that can be hingably or slideably opened to access an integral storage organizer cavity. It provides for convenient organized storage of traditional desktop supplies, sundry computer related items and personal items, at no appreciable additional cost to that of a standard keyboard, and without occupying any valuable desktop space in addition to that required by the footprint of the keyboard.

Abstract: A drainage system for collecting, isolating and relocating moisture incorporating cascading chutes which collect moisture and create an inner channel from which collected moisture cannot escape to re-infiltrate surrounding soil prior to its discharge point.

Abstract: An excavation machine for hard rock mining which is relatively inexpensive, is mobile and versatile, is relatively light in weight (weighing no more than eight metric tons including power and control units and equipment for automation) and has the ability to make tight turns in any direction to follow a mineral vein and thereby avoid needless evacuation of undesired rock. The machine uses a cutter and reaming head mounted on a boom with two activator or rocker cylinders and excavates by applying a large impact or crushing cutting force in a repetitive manner, generally known as impact ripping.

Abstract: A low cost analog deflection sensor assembled from a single component part which lends itself for use as a joystick. A central contact is surrounded by peripheral contacts and aligned by a dielectric spacer. Application of deflectional force results in one or more signals of measurable resistance which can be translated into speed and directional vectors.

Abstract: A self service sales and security system for use in the retail sales environment including a means for identifying the presence, removal, and addition of each item of inventory on a merchandise rack and correlating the removal or addition of each item of inventory to an identifiable customer so that the customers can be automatically billed or charged for the items of inventory that the customer removes, and a report of which items need to be ordered to replenish inventory can be automatically prepared. The self service sales and security system includes customer records which may include credit information to selectively allow customers to remove only such items of inventory as their credit information allows; and an alarm is included to indicate tampering or the unauthorized removal of any item of inventory.

Abstract: An improved downhill ski binding adapter, which allows a downhill ski boot to pivot near the toe on a downhill ski with a downhill ski binding, having a structurally stable stationary mount unit and being fully adjustable to accommodate all standard size ski boots and standard downhill ski binding spacings without interference with the downhill ski binding.