Abstract: A device for sharpening cosmetic pencils of the type having a core surrounded by an annular barrel includes a container with an open end and a cover mounted to the open end of the container. The cover has holes of at least three different diameters arrayed thereon. A sharpener having a receiver and a metal blade is disposed in registration with each of the holes between the container and the cover. Optionally, a case with supports and a receptacle to removably matingly receive the container can be provided. The case can include one or more of the following: compartments independent the receptacle and one another; a mirror mounted to a backing slidably connected to the supports; and a plurality of wells disposed in the supports.

Abstract: A casino game between a dealer and a player uses a deck of cards consisting essentially of the forty cards Ace through ten for each of four suits. The cards each have a value equal to the face value of the card except Aces which may be valued at one or zero. The player makes a base wager and the dealer deals one card to the player and one card to the dealer. The player forms a final hand by standing or receiving additional cards. If the player receives a card that causes the player's hand sum to exceed ten, the player automatically loses and his base wager is collected. Alternatively, if the player forms a final hand consisting essentially of only two Aces, the player automatically wins and the player is rewarded unless, in an optional embodiment, the dealer also receives a hand of two Aces. A player may optionally increase his or her base wager if the initial card dealt is an Ace. The dealer forms a final hand by drawing additional cards or standing, optionally according to house rules.

Abstract: The present invention is an emergency system for a motor vehicle having an electrical system and an engine. The emergency system includes one or more lamps optionally mounted in the passenger compartment. The lamp is electrically connected to the motor vehicle's electrical system and to a control switch for actuating the lamp. A system for disabling the motor vehicle's engine may optionally be provided. The disabling system is electrically connected to the control switch. In one optional embodiment, upon actuation, the control switch simultaneously illuminates the lamp, optionally in a blinking fashion, and optionally disables the engine of the motor vehicle. In an alternate embodiment, the lamp and disabling means are separately controlled.

Abstract: A card game begins with players making a single wager. Five cards are dealt to a banker and each player. If a player has a predetermined poker hand, the player plays his poker hand against the banker's five cards. The player's game terminates and the player loses if the banker has a higher ranking poker hand; conversely, the player's game terminates and the player wins if the player has a higher ranking poker hand. If the player does not have a predetermined poker hand, the player and banker arrange their cards into two component hands and compare the hands. The banker rewards the player if both the player's hands outrank the corresponding banker's hands and collects the player's wager if both of the banker's hands outrank or tie the player's corresponding hands. The banker and player push if only one of the player's hands outranks the corresponding banker's hand.

Abstract: A storage unit assembly kit comprising only two types of rectangular panel pieces are repetitively interlocked to form a storage array for miniature toys. The first type of panel piece includes enlargements at each corner pierced by a first and second aperture extending completely across the plane of the panel. The second type of panel piece, in turn, includes a first and second set of posts extending laterally in the panel plane for insertion in the respective ones of the apertures. The second type of panel piece may also include a bounding barrier generally dimensioned to receive and confine the toy therebetween.

Abstract: A headliner repair apparatus employed to repair a sagging automobile headliner. The headliner repair apparatus comprises a thin, flexible rod fabricated from either metal or plastic, and a rod clip, which would allow the rod to be used on automobiles that would have no headliner molding. The rod clip would have teeth on its bottom surface which would allow a headliner to be removably mounted on the bottom surface of the rod clip. The rod clip would also have an incorporated extending tab on the bottom surface of the rod clip, which would allow the rod to be inserted into the rod clip.

Abstract: An improved bidet device is set forth which includes a rotatable handle and capstan for positioning a spray tube and for opening the supply of water to the tube for spraying. A screw is received by the capstan to mount the handle and is further provided with a radial port. An actuator is coupled to the screw for rotation of the screw relative to the capstan to modulate the flow of water through the device. The actuator may be ergonometrically designed.

Abstract: The present invention is that of a newly designed toothbrush that has a replaceable head. The head of the toothbrush and the base of the toothbrush would have complimentary dove tail shapes ensuring that the pieces would fit together snugly. In addition, the present invention would have a mechanism for securing the two components together. The mechanism would either allow the brush head to be secured to the handle with a locking pin that slips through the head and into a hole in the base of the toothbrush, or alternatively, a locking tab that snaps into the hole in the brush handle.

Abstract: A method is set forth which minimizes a player's loss when wagering on the outcomes of a set of games. The player makes an initial wager for N outcomes of N(X+Y) where X is the wager for the outcome and Y is the casino's vigorish. If the player has greater than one-half of winning outcomes W of the set, they are paid W(X+Y+X). Where half or less than half of the set N are winning outcomes, the player is paid one half of the original wager.

Abstract: In a first aspect of the present invention, the system of the present invention includes motor vehicle handlebars in which the cables, wires, and lines are disposed within the bars for protection and aesthetics. The handle of the handlebars includes channels for cables, wires, lines, and the like running from the controls at the handles to the devices controlled. To accommodate the wires, the system further includes small switches in which the contacts maintain the switch in the closed position when contact is made. A second aspect of the present invention includes an oil reservoir for a hydraulic brake or clutch system. The reservoir includes a reservoir piston. The piston includes a stem, optionally removable, for bleeding air from the reservoir. The reservoir fluidly communicates with a fill hole and a master cylinder.

Abstract: A dispensing container includes container walls formed from a stiff deformable material to define a shell enclosing a chamber. A small dispensing opening provides access to the chamber. Optionally, the container has a separate fill opening. A protective cap covers the dispensing opening. Optionally, the cap forms an air pocket over the dispensing opening. In use, the cap is ruptured by tearing the cap or by applying pressure to the cap to burst the air pocket. The container may additionally include a thin film between the cap and the dispensing opening to prevent leakage when the cap is ruptured. The thin film is ruptured by applying pressure to the container contents by squeezing the container. Alternatively, a tooth is disposed between the cap and the film such that displacement of the cap causes the tooth to rupture the film.

Abstract: A toilet flushing and cleaning device includes a reservoir with a cylinder and a mixing tube disposed therein. The cylinder communicates with a water source. A plunger is slidably disposed in the cylinder. A plurality of spray nozzles communicate with the mixing tube. When a flush valve is opened to allow water into the cylinder, the piston is driven upwards. The increase in air pressure drives pressurized air and water into the mixing tube such that the spray nozzles clean the toilet with a burst of air-water mixture. In a further embodiment, a funnel is disposed in the toilet bowl and a bucket is suspended at the lower opening of the funnel. When the piston is driven upwards, the bucket is pivoted to release its contents. Additionally, a blower disposed between the funnel and the toilet bowl may be used to drawing air and odors from inside said funnel and directing air into said toilet bowl for release through the existing drain pipe and vent pipe.

Abstract: A method for playing a casino game is set forth wherein, in a table game format, players make a pot and an outcome wager. Each player is dealt a plurality of cards and a plurality of cards, some face up and some face down, some dealt as community cards. Players are given the option of increasing their outcome wagers and raising the pot during play. The pot won by the player with the highest ranking hand and outcome wager(s) are won based upon a schedule of winning outcomes. For an electronic version, the method includes the player making wagers as indicia are revealed and given the opportunity of holding or discarding indicia during play. In certain embodiments, the casino wins at least a portion of the pot based upon either certain community or non-dealt card combinations thus foregoing exacting a levy.

Abstract: A thermoelectric cooling system includes a control assembly and a direct current (“d.c.”) power source providing direct current to an interface that creates a thermal flow across a thermoelectric module having at least one heat sink and at least one heat source. The d.c. power source, the interface, the control assembly, and the thermoelectric module are connected to each other in series. The control assembly optionally includes a relay and a voltage generating thermocouple. When voltage from the thermocouple reaches a predetermined threshold, the relay trips and supplies sufficient voltage to the interface to prevent thermal reversal of the heat source and heat sink. To control moisture, a metal strap may be used to restrict heat flow. Alternatively or additionally, a moisture control pad may be used to absorb and re-evaporate moisture to substantially maintain a desired humidity range. In an optional embodiment, the load to be cooled may be placed below the heat source and cooled by convection.

Abstract: A removable storage pocket is securable to the surface of an object. The pocket includes a front panel and a rear panel secured to one another around the margins thereof to form a pocket. The pocket is secured to the object using a mating fastener having first and second removably mating elements. Optionally, the fastener is a hook and pile fastener. A first element of said mating fastener is secured to the rear surface of the rear panel around a portion of the margin thereof. Optionally, the first fastener element surrounds less than all the margin of the rear panel. A second element of said mating fastener is removably adhered to the surface of said object using adhesive having a bonding strength greater than the force required to disengage the mating fastener.

Abstract: A modular drawer system for mounting a movable drawer within a cabinet having a floor includes a drawer having a bottom and side walls. Rollers are mounted to and extend from the side walls. Two guide rails adapted to receive the rollers to mount and guide movement of the drawer are secured to a continuous base plate. The guide rails are fixed in a substantially parallel relationship at a fixed spacing substantially equal to the spacing between the rollers. The system includes means for securing the base plate to the cabinet floor.

Abstract: A method for playing a casino game is set forth wherein, in a table game format, players make an ante and an outcome wager. Each player is dealt a plurality of cards and a plurality of cards, some face up and some face down, are dealt as community cards. Players are given the option of discarding or holding cards and increasing their outcome wagers before revelation of community cards. Ante wagers are won by the player with the highest ranking hand and outcome wager(s) are won based upon a schedule of winning outcomes. For an electronic version, the method includes the player making wagers as indicia are revealed and given the opportunity of holding or discarding indicia during play.

Abstract: A casino card game between a casino and at least one player using at least one deck of fifty-two cards begins with the player placing a wager on either a first hand or a second hand. A dealer deals three cards to a first hand and three cards to a second hand. If either hand has a predetermined three-card combination, optionally a three of a kind, the first hand is compared to the second hand. The winning hand is the hand with the higher ranking three-card combination. If both hands have three-card combinations of equal rank, a push is declared and the player's wagers are returned. If neither hand has the predetermined three-card combination, the hands are into a two-card component hand and a single-card component hand. The component hands are compared.

Abstract: A device is provided for diagnosing internal disc disruption in an intervertebral disc in a patient's spine. A needle is used for injecting a contrast media with increasing pressure into the nucleus pulposis of one of the patient's intervertebral discs suspected to be disrupted are provided. As the pressure of the contrast media in the patient's intervertebral disc is increased, a measurement of the pressure, photographic images of the patient's facial expressions, x-ray images of the patient's intervertebral disc are displayed simultaneously and in real time on a display. In addition, the patient's vocalizations are captured and broadcast by the display. A recorder for recording the images on the display and the vocalizations may also be provided.