Abstract: Racing boats compete in a simulated race including forward and return heats. In the forward heat, the racing boats are accelerated along parallel guide channels from a forward launch station into a shallow splash lake, and then hydroplane to a forward heat finish line. In the return heat, the racing boats are accelerated through the same guide channels from a return launch station located on the opposite end of the splash lake. Passengers continue to face the reverse launch station as the racing boats plunge into the shallow splash lake and hydroplane to the return heat finish line. Each racing boat is mounted on an undercarriage assembly that includes rail-mounted centering wheels. The racing boats are accelerated by linear induction drive motors mounted adjacent the guide rails.

Abstract: A hand operated hay bale lifter is of a size and weight that can be handled by one person and includes a square coupling bar that can be quickly and easily inserted into the receiver pocket of a standard tow bar trailer hitch. Mechanical lifting force produced by a hydraulic jack assembly is transferred to a fork assembly through a contact coupling provided by an open bearing cup or socket mounted on the fork assembly. The hydraulic jack assembly includes a hand pump, a hydraulic power cylinder and a piston rod mounted on an outboard support stub. The bearing cup or socket rotates in sliding engagement against the piston rod during extension and retraction. Because the piston rod and fork assembly are coupled by contact engagement only, the fork assembly can be quickly elevated by hand and locked in an upright travel/storage position.

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, divides the bet in half and places each half in two separate betting areas on a playing surface. Two cards are dealt face down to each player and to the dealer. The players inspect their cards and keep or trade one or both. If a player trades, he surrenders one-half his total wager. Replacement cards are dealt face down and the dealer collects the surrendered bets. After evaluating his hand, each player then places his cards face up in progressive order into card docks provided on the playing surface. A third card is then dealt face down to each player, but not to the dealer. 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 5) that is imprinted on the count limit card or on the playing surface, and is displayed at all times.

Abstract: A lighting control and dimming system 10 utilizes a single traveler conductor for transmitting analog data signals corresponding to a particular light intensity level of dimmers DIM 1, DIM 2, DIM 3, DIM 4, . . . , DIM N in a dimmer group. A predetermined binary data word is retrieved from the read-only memory of a controller that may be remote from the dimmers, and is transmitted serially in an analog pulse train over the traveler conductor to each dimmer unit. Remote signaling and selection of a specific scene are performed independently of the phase of the applied AC line voltage by sampling the logic values of logic high to logic low and logic low to logic high transitions of a zero cross signal. Dimmers enabled by the transmitted analog data signal produce a predetermined scene at a particular brightness level corresponding with one of the stored binary numbers.

Abstract: A lighting control and dimming system utilizes a single traveler conductor for transmitting analog data signals corresponding to a particular light intensity level of dimmers in a dimmer group. A predetermined binary data word is retrieved from the read-only memory of a remote controller and is transmitted serially in an analog pulse train over the traveler conductor to each dimmer unit. Each dimmer unit includes a microcontroller and read-only memory in which a group of binary numbers are stored. The analog data signal received by each dimmer is converted to binary and is compared bit-by-bit with each binary number stored in the dimmer memory. A serial bit comparator produces an enable signal in response to a bit-by-bit identity match between the converted analog data signal and the preset binary number stored in the dimmer ROM. Dimmers enabled by the transmitted analog data signal produce a predetermined scene at a particular brightness level corresponding with one of the stored binary numbers.

Abstract: In a snow gun, each of air and water are discharged through V-jet nozzles in the form of generally flat and V-shaped jets or sprays. The nozzles are spacially positioned and angled so that the air jet intersects the water spray along a line of intersection where they are of equal width. This provides efficient atomization of the water with the result that snow can be made at milder freezing temperature. In another aspect, a flanged connection, having dual sealed openings for passage therethrough of pressurized air and water streams, is provided to join the gun and its supporting tower.

Abstract: A travel pillow includes a block of resilient, open cell foam material that can be compressed, rolled-up and secured within an outer protective covering. The outer protective covering includes a pre-stretched, dimensionally stable compression wrapper of a hook or loop-compatible fabric material, a strip of complementary hook or loop fastener material secured along one edge portion and a compression rod secured along an opposite edge portion of the wrapper. The resilient foam pillow block and protective compression wrapper are convolutely wound together about the compression rod as the resilient foam block is rolled-up and compressed. The pillow assembly is releasably secured in the rolled-up, compressed configuration by engagement of the complementary fastener strip with the hook or loop-compatible fabric material.

Abstract: A face gasket made of a smooth, non-tacky, low durometer, chemically resistant closed cell resin foam is attached onto a goggles frame by injecting the resin into a mold cavity containing a contoured rim portion of the goggles frame. The contoured rim portion is intersected by multiple sprue openings that permit the pressurized resin to flow through the goggles frame and around the contoured rim during molding. The contoured rim portion is embedded within the molded gasket and sprue slugs extend through and fill the openings. The sprue slugs are integrally formed with the main body of the face gasket, thereby defining attachment links that permanently connect the face gasket in splash sealing engagement around the contoured rim and along internal and external sidewall surfaces of the goggles frame.

Abstract: A paper folding apparatus has a buckle chute disposed between an inlet feed roller pair and an exit feed roller pair which are arranged to provide a substantially linear feed path for a paper article being folded and fed through the apparatus. The inlet feed roller pair is mounted on respective support members which permit adjustment of the position of one of the feed rollers of the inlet feed roller pair to change the path of the leading edge of the paper article as it moves through the inlet feed roller pair toward the buckle chute. A common drive gear is meshed with drive gears on rollers on each of the feed roller pairs and the feed roller drive gears are meshed with cooperating drive gears connected to the other rollers of each roller pair, respectively.