Abstract: A method of playing a stud poker game in a player-versus-dealer gaming table environment is disclosed. In a preferred method, the player places an "ante" wager whereupon he and the dealer receive a three-card portion of a five-card poker hand with two of the dealer's three cards face up. The player may then compare his partial three-card poker hand with the dealer's two up cards and exercise his option of either "surrendering" the original "ante" wager or placing an additional "challenge" wager to receive the remainder of his five-card poker hand. After he and the dealer have received their entire five-card poker hand, an ordinary showdown takes place. If the player's poker hand beats the dealer's, then the house pays even money on the original "ante" wager and on the challenge wager. In a preferred embodiment, the player must have at least an ace high hand to prevail.

Abstract: A sunshade consisting of one or more panels for all type windows and particularly side and rear vehicle windows. The sunshade is made of a tear resistant corrugated board material with die cuts that provide a plurality of louver apertures. Die cut notches may be provided for joining and interlocking one panel to the another permitting the sunshade to be made wider or narrower. The panels may also include integral stiffening members that double as mounting support legs so that the panels stiffly traverse large areas. The aperture flaps may be individually moved to any desirable angle that prevents sun glare and blaze from penetrating the windows of a moving vehicle, but without obstructing the ambient daylight or overall vision of the occupant. When parked, the flaps may be pressed back into the die cut aperture cavities so as to provide opaque panels for full sun blockage.

Abstract: An image reader for reading an image on a document having apparatus for projecting an image of the document optically to permit optical magnification. An image reading device transforms the projected optical image into electrical signals which can be transformed into bi-level signals with the picture element density of the bi-level signals varied. Apparatus is provided for designating picture element density and for controlling the optical magnification in accordance with the designated picture element density.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multicomponent brochure display system comprised of a plurality of interconnectable brochure pockets and variable height brochure support shelves that interconnect with the brochure pockets. The preferred brochure pocket includes an open front enclosure having a bottom back wall and two side walls, the brochure pocket open front providing access to the back wall for mounting of the variable height brochure support shelves. One brochure pocket may serve as the front wall of a rearward brochure pocket when they are interconnected. A separate member is provided to serve as a front wall of the forwardmost brochure pocket. Also provided are an optional vertical divider and optical antisag tabs.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting apparatus for automatically adjusting a focus condition of an objective lens, the automatic focus adjusting apparatus repetitively effecting focus detection, in-focus judgement, and lens driving. If the lens cannot be regarded as being in focus as a result of a standard focus detection, then on the one hand, when the deviation from the in-focus point is small, lens driving is effected and in-focus is judged to quickly arrive at a judgement of in-focus, and on the other hand, when the deviation from the in-focus point is large, a judgment of in-focus based on the deviation from the in-focus point being small is inhibited to thereby enable the lens to be fully driven and a standard in-focus judging operation to be accomplished.

Abstract: A system for recognizing a detachable article attached to an apparatus, and judging whether the article as mounted in position is genuine. The article can be identified by the predetermined device, whereas the apparatus includes a detector for detecting the device. The apparatus is driven according to a result obtained by the detector. The system of the present invention is particularly suited for a toner bottle, PC unit and so on attached to a copier, printer or other image-forming apparatus.

Abstract: A movable fitting member such as a bathtub drain stopper can be constructed so as to be useful with different drain fittings which differ by having post holders with different sized openings into which a guide post can be threaded. Such a movable fitting member is constructed so as to use a body having a sleeve located around a post holder and having an enlarged cavity around the post holder within the body. The guide post used is double ended; one end is threaded into the post holder in a drain fitting and the other end is located within the cavity. A nut is located on this other end; it is sufficiently large so that it cannot pass through the sleeve. As a result of this the body cannot normally be separated from the guide post during the use of the fitting member.

Abstract: A magnetron sputtering device for coating planar substrates with sputtered ions. The sputtering occurs from the internal wall of a cylindrical hollow flanged cathode target that includes a slot longitudinally disposed in a sidewall of the cathode. A first portion of sputtered atoms travel through the slot and onto a planar substrate moving relative to the sputtering device and a second portion of sputtered atoms simply redeposit on the internal wall of the cathode target such that the target cathode evenly erodes.

Abstract: Concrete barrier structures for use in forming holes in concrete slabs or the like can be constructed so as to include a peripheral wall shaped as the frustum of a right circular cone having an upper end and a lower end. A closure is provided to close off the upper end of the peripheral wall. A series of equally spaced, identical upper supports are located on the exterior of this peripheral wall intermediate the ends of this wall. Grooves are provided on the interior of the peripheral wall for accommodating the upper supports on an adjacent, nested barrier structure.

Abstract: An improved dispenser for dispensing note sheets from a pad of note sheets that are releasably adhered to one another with a narrow strip of adhesive on opposite alternative edges thereof. The dispenser includes a base member for supporting the pad of note sheets and a lid member supported from the base member at a fixed distance relative thereto. The dispenser further includes a movable weighted member located between the base member and the lid member so as to rest upon the top of the note pad and a guide member being provided to restrain the weighted member between the base member and the lid member during a dispensing operation or upon mishandling of the dispenser. The base member and lid member may constitute a full enclosure and be releasably locked to one another.

Abstract: In a microprocessor based interactive audio game for two users to play against one another, or for one user to play against the computer, the game having the ability to store and retrieve sets of statistical data corresponding to the performance of actual players, keys for the users to affect the state of the game, and an audio output for communicating the state of the game or the results of a game play to the users, the audio output for a particular game state or game play result being variable in order to maintain user interest. A plurality of visual indicators are arranged in a grid that represents the flight of a thrown ball through a vertical cross section of the strike zone. Visual indicators are sequentially flashed a predetermined number of times and in a predetermined pattern for a particular variety of pitch.

Abstract: A measuring device for allowing a user to rapidly determine that an article such as a tortilla is properly sized and shaped. The measuring device consists of a transparent disc that is supported by a handle. The transparent disc includes a minimum size line and a maximum size line such that the user may place the transparent disc over the tortilla and then rapidly verify whether or not the edge of the tortilla falls between the minimum and maximum lines. The device may further include an optimum size line. The central portion of the disc is preferably transparent so that the user can inspect the surface of the tortilla. However, the central portion of the disc may also be opaque so that the user may focus his attention on whether or not the edge of the tortilla lies between the minimum and maximum lines.

Abstract: A desirable seal structure for use in forming a seal around the exterior of a pipe or the like can be constructed so as to use a retainer member, a compression member, a sealing member located generally within the retainer member and generally between the compression and retainer members and bolts for compressing the retainer and compression members against the sealing member. The compression and retainer members are provided with beveled surfaces which are complementary to corresponding tapered surfaces on the sealing member. The sealing member is shaped so that it will move inwardly when compressed between the compression and retainer members.

Abstract: A desirable sign structure can be formed using a hollow, integral, self-supporting thermoplastic polymer body shaped so as to include a hollow border or peripheral frame carrying front and back walls of the sign structure. Grooves adapted to carry extensions on interchangeable letters may be provided in the front wall. When such grooves are used, the back wall preferably includes grooves or furrows reinforcing the front wall. A slot can be provided in the front and back walls in such a manner as to separate the front and back walls into two panels or panel sections. When such a slot is used, guides or tracks are preferably employed so as to mount a shutter in the slots, the shutter being capable of movement in order to cover or uncover one of the panels or panel sections.