Abstract: A cap, a magic kit, and methods for performing a magic trick are described. The cap can include a circular top end having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a side wall extending radially from the circular top end, an open bottom end, a thread on a side wall interior surface, a groove proximal the interior surface of the circular top end and a portion of the side wall, and a marker. The cap may be used to perform a magic trick where the groove retains a coin in the cap when the cap is flipped over.

Abstract: A magic kit and methods of use thereof are described. The magic kit may include three pairs of shoelaces, each shoelace in each pair having a magnetic end and an aglet end, and at least one shoelace having two aglet ends. The magic kit may be used to perform a magic trick where the shoelaces are removably coupled and uncoupled from each other.

Abstract: A magic trick apparatus and methods of use is described. The magic trick apparatus may include a half sphere having a rounded side and a flat surface with a coin attached to the flat surface of the half sphere. The magic trick apparatus may further include a band and a ridge on the rounded side and a hole extending into the half sphere. The magic trick apparatus may be used to “transform” a coin into a lollipop.

Abstract: A scale apparatus is described. The scale apparatus may include a housing sized to fit within a playing card tuck box; a pressure plate operable to measure a weight of a plurality of objects; a wireless transmitter; and a microcontroller in communication with the pressure plate and the wireless transmitter. The microcontroller may be configured to: continuously measure the weight on the pressure plate; when the weight holds steady for a sequence of measurements, transmit a first weight measurement via the wireless transmitter; measure a change in the weight; and when the change in the weight is steady, transmit a second weight measurement via the wireless transmitter.

Abstract: An indirect haptic device includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a plurality of haptic electrodes and a plurality of island electrodes arranged on the top surface. The device further includes a plurality of transmit electrodes and a plurality of receive electrodes arranged on the bottom surface, a position sensor, and a friction modulator. The device further includes a control device configured to apply bipolar electrical signals to the plurality of transmit electrodes to detect touch locations of a user's appendage and to modulate the friction between the user's appendage and the touch surface. Each of the plurality of haptic electrodes are substantially aligned with and capacitively coupled to a corresponding two of the plurality of transmit electrodes.

Abstract: A two-card sleeve apparatus is described. The two-card sleeve apparatus may include a first transparent layer, an opaque layer, and a second transparent layer. The two-card sleeve apparatus may be used to safely store or display two or more trading cards.

Abstract: A magic kit and methods of use thereof are described. The magic kit may include a first handheld object and a second handheld object that appear to be identical but have different weights. The magic kit may be used to perform a magic trick where the second handheld object appears to levitate using an elastic band.

Abstract: A scale apparatus is described. The scale apparatus may include a housing sized to fit within a playing card tuck box; a pressure plate operable to measure a weight of a plurality of objects; a wireless transmitter; and a microcontroller in communication with the pressure plate and the wireless transmitter. The microcontroller may be configured to: continuously measure the weight on the pressure plate; when the weight holds steady for a sequence of measurements, transmit a first weight measurement via the wireless transmitter; measure a change in the weight; and when the change in the weight is steady, transmit a second weight measurement via the wireless transmitter.

Abstract: A scale apparatus is described. The scale apparatus may include a housing sized to fit within a playing card tuck box; a pressure plate operable to measure a weight of a plurality of objects; a wireless transmitter; and a microcontroller in communication with the pressure plate and the wireless transmitter. The microcontroller may be configured to: continuously measure the weight on the pressure plate; when the weight holds steady for a sequence of measurements, transmit a first weight measurement via the wireless transmitter; measure a change in the weight; and when the change in the weight is steady, transmit a second weight measurement via the wireless transmitter.

Abstract: A magic kit and methods of use thereof is described. The magic kit may have a set of cards, each card comprising a plurality of holes and an order marker. The plurality of holes on each card are arranged in a different order. When the set of cards are stacked on top of each other in a specific order, using the order markers as guides, only some of the holes of all the cards in the set align to form a pattern.

Abstract: A haptic interface unit may include an application in the operating system of a device in communication with a driver layer. A plurality of sensors and actuators may be in communication with the driver layer. The driver layer analyzes information from the sensors to generate an output signal based on an interaction model stored in the driver layer. The application updates the interaction model in the driver layer.

Abstract: A scale apparatus is described. The scale apparatus may include a housing sized to fit within a playing card tuck box; a pressure plate operable to measure a weight of a plurality of objects; a wireless transmitter; and a microcontroller in communication with the pressure plate and the wireless transmitter. The microcontroller may be configured to: continuously measure the weight on the pressure plate; when the weight holds steady for a sequence of measurements, transmit a first weight measurement via the wireless transmitter; measure a change in the weight; and when the change in the weight is steady, transmit a second weight measurement via the wireless transmitter.

Abstract: A two-card sleeve apparatus is described. The two-card sleeve apparatus may include a first transparent layer, an opaque layer, and a second transparent layer. The two-card sleeve apparatus may be used to safely store or display two or more trading cards.

Abstract: A system and method for aligning and installing graphical dies onto an embossing press or foil stamping press is provided. The system includes a number of die support panels having a number of threaded openings disposed in columns and rows in a grid like fashion and identified with x and y axis indicia. The system also includes a number of dies with a number of apertures each identified with a pair of x and y axis indicia. Fasteners and indicia are used to align and attach the dies to the die support panels in a predetermined position. The system preferable further comprises one or more adjusters used to make minute positioning adjustments to the die after it is installed on the panel.

Abstract: An exercise machine to facilitate a leg extension exercise by a user. A rigid frame supports a pair of spaced-apart guide rails. A foot plate assembly is adapted to move along the guide rails and includes a foot support surface at a selected angle to support a sole of a foot of the user. A wing flange extends upwardly along an inner side of the foot support surface to align the foot during extension and retraction of the foot plate assembly along the guide rails. Rollers are arranged along each side of the guide rails to support the foot plate assembly. The rollers are arranged into sets of at least three rollers including two upper rollers and at least one lower roller in a triangular configuration. At least one of the lower rollers is offset horizontally from and disposed between the at least two of the upper rollers.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a position of tagged objects by their proximity to each other, where the position of a target object is provided as common names of other objects nearby. This allows new ways of tracking objects that are required to be together with each other, or to be within a certain area, while reducing the power consumption of electronic tags and tag readers.

Abstract: A snowboard controller includes a base placeable on an upper surface of a board for a snowboard, a plurality of joints that join the base to the upper surface of the board. The plurality of joints include one joint being a direct joint at which the base is directly joinable to the board in a rotatable manner, and other joints being indirect joints at which the base is indirectly joinable to the board with joining members. The indirect joints control bending of the board using the direct joint as a base point.