Abstract: A sighting assembly for providing a reference laser beam in the course of connecting pipe segments to each other includes an elongate body in which a laser pointing course is received and which is pivotally engaged at its front end to an straight edged arm. The body may further include a magnetic compass and a level assembly, both proximate its rear end, to provide a visual indication of the azimuth and inclination thereof. These are achieved by an azimuth ring on the compass projecting into lateral cutouts in the body for manipulative convenience. In one example the arm supports two spaced posts, each including spaced projections for contacting the pipe segment, and when the arm is collapsed below the body for storage the posts are received in the cutouts.

Abstract: An eye shield assembly useful for selective attachment to the visor of a baseball cap for providing lateral shielding from direct or reflected glare includes, in its first preferred implementation, an elongate planar shielding surface defined by a forward and rearward end and an upper and lower edge. A front and rear attachment extends from the upper edge for selective engagement to the visor edge and the cap, with the shielding alignment further determined by a planar projection extending beyond the upper edge, intermediate the front and rear attachments, conformed for captured receipt between the cap and the skull of the wearer. The attachments may take the form of tined structures flexibly secured to the shielding surface to effect attachment along either side of the cap, or may take the form of convolved strips conformed for selective receipt of the cap edges in selected convolutions.

Abstract: A system and method is set forth for tracking the play of players playing gaming devices such as slot machines through passive identification of the players. Passive identification can be achieved by analysis of a player, such as facial image photography, infrared scan, scans of a player's iris or other features of the eye, and the like. Players provide identification information and physical recognition data is acquired as by a digital or video camera. For each player an account file and a file of the image data is stored. When the player plays the slot machine, a camera scans the player and acquires image data which is compared to stored data to identify the player. The identified player's account file is opened and data from the device representing parameters of play, e.g. amounts wagered, is allocated to the identified player's account file for the purpose of providing comps and other benefits to the player.

Abstract: A device and method are set forth for tensioning elevator cables. The device includes a platform supporting a plurality of hydraulic cylinders each adapted to be coupled to a thimble rod for a cable. Hydraulic fluid is supplied to each cylinder at the same pressure until each cable load is transferred from the cable system hitch plate to the platform indicating that each cable is now under the same tension. The thimble rods are adjusted with the cables now at the same tension and the hydraulic fluid is vented from the cylinders to transfer the cable loads back to the hitch plate.

Abstract: A protective skirt is disposed on the surface of a gaming table of the type having a player area and a dealer area. The gaming table additionally includes a rail covering the margin of the gaming table proximate the player area. The skirt includes an inner edge, which may be optionally tapered, and an outer edge disposed proximate the rail such that the skirt extends onto the gaming table surface to overlay at least a portion of the player area of the gaming table. Optionally, the outer edge has a shape to substantially conform to the shape of the gaming table. Thus, for a gaming table that is arcuate, the outer edge is substantially arcuate. In an optional embodiment, the skirt may be fixed by securing the outer edge between the rail and the gaming table.

Abstract: A cloth retention strip is folded to have two plies. The retention strip is sewn onto an oval shaped cloth panel along a border thereof. A draw string is retained between the plies. The draw string is operable to draw the panel over the toe and around the heel of a shoe that is worn by a user. The draw string may be held in place by fastening two cloth tabs on the draw string to each other or to a third fastener on the shoe covering. A non-skid material may be sewn, baked, or deposited onto the outside surface to provide a non-skid surface.

Abstract: A method and system for generating displays related to the play of Baccarat is provided. Cards dealt to each of the Banker's and Player's hands are identified as by scanning and data signals are generated. The card identification data signals are processed to determine the outcome of the hand. Displays in various formats to be used by bettors are created from the processed identification signals including the cards of the hand played, historical records of outcomes and the like. The display can also show bettors expected outcomes and historical bests. Bettors can refer to the display in making betting decisions.

Abstract: A plurality of gaming machines are linked together and controlled by a central computer. A bonus system is incorporated into the play of the gaming machines and the central computer tracks the bonus system activity and makes the appropriates payouts. In the play of the gaming machines, a portion of the coins wagered are allocated to a bonus payout. Each player plays his gaming machines for a fixed time period (say 30 seconds) and the player with the highest payout during that time period wins the bonus jackpot. However, if two players tie during the time period, then the bonus payout money carries over to the next round of play. This allows the bonus payout to accumulate to a potentially large sum of money over a series of time periods if two or more players repeatedly tie each round of play. Eventually, a single player will have the highest winning amount during a time period and, not having been tied by another player, win a large bonus payout.

Abstract: A device and magazine are set for dispensing articles of value such as pre-paid telephone calling cards. The closed magazine has a gate moveable between a closed to an open position to permit articles to be dispensed therefrom by a dispensing mechanism. A one cycle gate operating mechanism is included which has an actuator moveable from a first position to a second position to secure the magazine to the dispensing mechanism and open the gate. Should the actuator be moved to close the gate, the gate is locked in the closed position and cannot be re-opened. Surreptitious opening of the gate to remove cards and then closing the gate prevents the gate from re-opening and prevents securing the magazine to the dispensing mechanism.

Abstract: A pad for the blade of hockey sticks is provided which includes an elastic body having a plurality of ridges and knobs for contacting the puck or ball and controlling the same. A self-adhesive layer is provided for adhering the pad to the blade of the stick.

Abstract: A cabinet and hopper combination is set forth for slot machines which includes a cabinet structure having an opening for coins to drop from the machine into the hopper. The hopper is removably mounted in the cabinet and has a door slidable between a closed and an open position. A handle at the outside of the cabinet operates a linkage coupled to the door to open the hopper to dispense coins or tokens therein through the front of the cabinet. Also included are controls to lock the handle against unauthorized dispensing of coins or tokens.

Abstract: An electronic video draw poker machine is provided with a multi-hand screen display that can show a plurality of five card draw poker hands. A separate five card poker hand is displayed in each quadrant of the screen display with each five card hand being dealt from its associated, separate deck of playing cards. The initial deal of each five card hand is two cards face up and three cards face down. The player selects one of the sets of two face up cards to continue play. After the player has selected which set of two face up cards he wishes to play, the selected two face up cards are duplicated into the other three hand positions to replace the two face up cards in that hand position. The remaining face down cards in each hand are then revealed. The game then continues in the conventional manner with the player discarding and drawing replacement cards with respect to each of the four separate five card hands in an attempt to improve each hand.

Abstract: A system and method is set forth for passively tracking the play of players playing gaming devices such as slot machines. Players provide identification information and facial recognition data is acquired as by a digital or video camera. For each player an account file and a file of the facial image data is stored. When the player plays the slot machine, a camera scans the player and acquires facial image data which is compared to stored data to identify the player. The identified player's account file is opened and data from the device representing parameters of play, e.g. amounts wagered is allocated to the identified player's account file for the purpose of providing comps and other benefits to the player. Doe image data and account files can be stored to allocate parameters for unidentified players. Further the device acquired image data can be compared with stored image data to identify undesirables such as slot cheats or the like.

Abstract: An electronic video draw poker machine is provided with a multi-hand screen display that can show a plurality of five card draw poker hands at the same time. In the preferred embodiment, four separate hands are displayed. A separate five card poker is displayed on a quadrant of the screen display with each five card hand being dealt from its associated deck of playing cards. The initial deal of each five card hand is two cards face up and three cards face down. After the player has selected which five card hand he wishes to play, the game continues in the conventional manner with the player discarding and drawing replacement cards. After the draw step is completed, the final five card hand is compared to a pay table based on poker hand ranking to determine if the player has achieved a winning combination. The amount of the payout to the player for a winning combination is based on the number of coins, tokens or credits wagered by the player and the type of winning hand achieved.

Abstract: When played as a casino table game, the poker-type game of the present invention consists of a dealer and from one to six players and is played with a standard 52 card deck. After each player places an ante wager, the dealer deals three cards face down to each player. Each player then either folds and loses his bet or stays by placing a second wagering bet. A fourth face down card is then dealt to each player who either folds or places an additional raise bet. A fifth face-up card is then dealt to each remaining player. Losing hands are locked-up and winning hands are paid by the dealer according to the odds listed in a payout table. The object of the game is for a player to form a five card poker hand that has the highest possible poker hand ranking. The electronic version of the game is played in essentially the same manner except that only one hand is dealt. After the player inserts a coin or otherwise places his ante wager, three cards are dealt face up.

Abstract: A coin selector is provided which is adapted to electronically sample coins and compare the sampling data to stored data for genuine coins. The stored data can be preset or can be acquired and stored in memory by using a key coin. Data stored determines if a key coin is authentic and if it is, places the selector processor in a condition to accept and store new or modified data for determining the authenticity of other coins.

Abstract: A gaming device and method for offering a primary and secondary game is set forth. The primary game may be a video poker game. When the player obtains a predetermined outcome in the primary game such as a flush, the player receives a reward and the secondary game is initiated wherein the player is presented with a field of game choice symbols representing hidden values. The player selects symbols which reveal the selected hidden values. If the revealed hidden values correspond to a secondary winning outcome, the player receives an additional reward.

Abstract: An adjustable replacement toilet ring for securing a toilet in fluid communication with the flange of a sewer pipe is disclosed. The ring includes at least two ring segments which may be adjustably assembled around a sewer pipe and may be secured to a toilet. The ring segments have a flat collar portion and an end portion perpendicular to the flat collar portion. The ring segments are preferably adjustably assembled through holes in the end portions through which a bolt may be disposed. The bolt both holds the segments together but also allows the diameter of the ring to be adjusted.

Abstract: A method and system are set forth of providing for a super jackpot to be awarded should a qualifying super jackpot combination be obtained by any player playing gaming machines supplied by a supplier to a host facility. The machines are independent, each having a super jackpot combination obtainable based upon a predetermined probability. The host facilities each pay periodic contributions which go to a super jackpot fund. The contribution stream is sufficient to at least fund the super jackpot prior to having to pay it out to a player. The periodic contributions may be fixed. The super jackpot fund may progressively increase over time until the winning combination is obtained.