Abstract: A case system and method includes a first case and a second case. The first case has wheels and an extendable handle having two handle shafts. The second case has two parallel grooves which receive the two handle shafts. The second case also has two latches which lock the two handle shafts in place within the two parallel grooves, so that the two case are secured together and may be wheeled about as a single unit. In a second embodiment of the invention, the first case has a top half and a bottom half, the top half being removable from the bottom half. When the bottom half is stacked on top of the top half, two cavities in the top half receive the two wheels of the bottom half so that the bottom half resides in a level orientation.

Abstract: A clamp (200) for clamping stacked lumber (72) to prevent twisting and bending of the lumber or theft is disclosed. A horizontal member (274) goes under the lumber and is attached to a vertical member (214) at the back. A pressure bar (206) hinged to the vertical member goes on top of the lumber. When the front of the pressure bar is lowered to the top of stack, an automatic lock (222) retains the rear of the pressure bar at a fixed position on the vertical member. A brace (204) between the front of the pressure bar and the vertical member holds the pressure bar in position. The effective length of the brace is increased by means of a lever operated cam (202) which places 2000 pounds of pressure on the front of the pressure bar to clamp the stack.

Abstract: A system 20 for measuring the initial velocity vector of a ball 500 includes a first light sensing array 24, a first light source 28, a second light sensing array 30, and a second light source 32. The ball 500 has an initial position 22. When the ball 500 is struck, at time T1 it casts a first shadow position 36 on first light sensing array 24, and at time T2 it casts a second shadow position 42 on second light sensing array 30. A first plane 38 is formed by initial position 22, first light source 28, and first shadow position 36. A second plane 44 is formed by initial position 22, second light source 32, and second shadow position 42. The line of flight 37 of ball 500 is defined by the intersection of planes 38 and 44. A slant distance D.sub.s is determined, whereby the speed S.sub.b of ball 500 is defined as S.sub.b =D.sub.s /(T2-T1). The velocity vector is then S.sub.b in the direction of line of flight 37.

Abstract: A patient rotator (50) for assisting a patient having limited motion capabilities in lying down on a bed (500) and getting up to the side (502) and method of use are disclosed. The rotator has a frame (52) with a person support member (66) rotatably mounted on the frame at an axis (68) coplanar with the top (504) of the bed and perpendicular to the side. The patient uses a controller (94) to rotate himself on the person support member between vertical and horizontal orientations as desired while he remains on his side.

Abstract: A game board (20) for playing chess or checkers, and the like, for two or more players. Each side of the game board (20) has seven edge stations or playing squares, (e1) through (e7), of two alternating contrasting colors, seven first interior stations, (f1) through (f7), also of two alternating contrasting colors, seven second interior stations, (s1) through (s7), also of two alternating contrasting colors, and a central area (ca). In a preferred embodiment in the initial playing position a first castle occupies e1, a first bishop occupies e2, a first knight occupies e3, a king and a queen occupy e4, a second bishop occupies e5, a second knight occupies e6, and a second castle occupies e7.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game 20 between a plurality of players includes dealing four-card hands from a standard 52 card deck to each player, including a player-banker. The cards have numerical values, ace equals one, face cards equal ten, and two through ten equal their respective face values. The players are afforded the opportunity to (a) draw one additional card, or (b) stand with the dealt cards. The object of the game 20 is to have three cards which total to one of ten, twenty, or thirty. The winning hand is then determined by either (a) the fourth card with the highest numerical value, or (b) the least significant digit of the total of the fourth and fifth cards with the highest numerical value. If neither player has three cards which total to one of ten, twenty, or thirty, then the hand is a push and no wager 500 is won by either player.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game 20 between a plurality of players includes first determining if the hand is to be played even or odd, and then dealing two-card hands from a standard 52 card deck to each player, including a player-banker. The cards have numerical values, ace equals one, face cards equal zero, and two through ten equal their respective face values. The players are afforded the opportunity to (a) draw one additional card, or (b) stand with the dealt cards. The object of the game 20 is to have the highest least significant digit of the total of the cards, either two or three cards as may be the case, and to have the least significant digit (LSD) be even if the hand is played even or have LSD be odd if the hand is played odd. If the least significant digit of the total of the cards of neither player is even if even was selected, or is odd if odd was selected, the hand is a push (tie) and no wager 500 is won by either player.

Abstract: A practice sight (20) for a putter (26) is shown. The sight is attached to the top (60) and hosel (80) of the head (22). The sight has a planar mirror (44) at a 45.degree. angle to the face (30) of the putter. Front and rear sight pins 46 and 48 attached to the base (52) of the sight in front of the mirror provide a reference for adjusting the attitude of the head. The golfer looks down at the mirror and sees the sight pins, a golf ball (26), and a golf ball hole (34) or flag. He lines up the putter head with the hole by rotating the head of the putter until the front sight pin disappears behind the rear sight pin while keeping the golf ball and hole in view in the mirror and centered on the center line of the mirror.

Abstract: A holder (20) for golf clubs includes an upper rack (22) for woods, a lower rack (44) for irons, and a central support tube (36). Woods are downwardly inserted into sockets (26) in the upper rack (22) with the club shafts and grips residing inside the support tube (36). Mesas (30) on the upper rack (22) capture the head of the wood and prevent it from rotating or otherwise contacting the heads of adjacent clubs. Irons are downwardly inserted into sockets (58) in the lower rack (44). In the playing position, the blade (600) of the iron protrudes outwardly from the lower rack (44) for easy access. In the storage position, the blade (600) of the iron is retained by a pair of pegs (60). A centering means (40) is attached to the support tube (36) to keep the holder 20 centered within a golf bag 700.

Abstract: An improved banking method for wagering games having a player-banker includes the selection of a secondary player-banker who replaces the player-banker in the event that the remaining bank (amount at risk) of the original player-banker is reduced to zero. The secondary player-banker sequentially continues to compare hands and settle wagers with the remaining players who have not as yet received "action". In a preferred embodiment, the secondary player-banker is selected from the group of players who have not yet compared hands with the player-banker, the selected secondary player-banker being the player from this group who has placed the largest wager.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for practicing sliding into a baseball base (502) includes a first baseball (22) connected by a first tether (24) to a support structure (30). The length (L) of first tether (24) is adjusted so that first baseball (22) is suspended between approximately one and six inches above the ground (500). First baseball (22) is swung in pendulum fashion, and a sliding player attempts to touch a baseball base (502) without being hit by the swinging first baseball (22). In another embodiment, a second swinging baseball (42) is added.

Abstract: A set of blocks cut from the limbs and trunks of small trees is shown for making natural appearing stacks (20, 60). Each block has parallel upper and lower cuts (82, 84, 170, 171) across the blocks spaced a predetermined increment "I" or a multiple of increment "I" from each other. The remaining outer surfaces (90, 92) remain in their natural states complete with bark, protrusions, and other anomalies.

Abstract: A modified version of the game of BLACKJACK includes a player playing first and second hands. The improvement of the present invention comprises the player receiving (a) a first supplemental payoff if the first and second hands both equal the hand of the dealers (b) a second supplemental payoff if the first and second hands are equal, or (c) a third supplemental payoff if either the first hand or the second hand equal the dealer's hand. In a preferred embodiment 20, the supplemental payoffs are offered at no additional cost to the player. In a second embodiment 120, the player places a side bet and the supplemental payoffs are adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: A positioning device (20) which permits precise adjustment and retention of the longitudinal position of a screw member (30) within a threaded receptacle (22) in incremental detent steps includes the screw member (30) having at least one spring member (42) and the threaded receptacle (22) having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves (28). As the screw member (30) is rotated within the threaded receptacle (22), the spring member (42) sequentially engages the spaced longitudinal grooves (28) in incremental detent steps. The engagement between the spring member (42) and a longitudinal groove (28) retains the screw member (30) in a desired detent position, thereby resisting unwanted rotation as from vibration or thermal cycling.

Abstract: An improved method 20 of playing the game of poker between which can be applied as an adjunct to virtually any of the numerous variations of the game. Each player places a wager 500 of the same amount. The conventional game is then played in accordance with the selected rules of play. After the conclusion of conventional play, an action player is selected. The action player compares hands with a first sequential player. The Winner of the comparison takes the wager 500 of the other player and then compares hands with the next sequential player. The Winner of that comparison takes the wager 500 of the other player and then compares hands with the next sequential player. This sequence continues until all players have participated.

Abstract: A method of apportioning wagers between a plurality of game players includes each player receiving two cards, and having the option of drawing one additional card. The playing cards have numerical values of, ace equals one, picture cards equal zero, and all other cards equaling their face value. The cards in each player's hand are summed to form a numerical total. The least significant digit of the numerical total determines the winner, wherein a least significant digit of nine or closest thereto is the best hand. Additional game features include (1) a provision which eliminates ties (pushes), (2) a set of special dice (300/400) which are used to determine an action player, (3) a secondary player-banker who takes over for the player-banker if the bank does not reach all the players, and (4) a fast-action-bank feature in which the role of the player-banker may change during a round of play.