Abstract: An improved golf putter club is disclosed in which the club head, hosel, shaft and grip are so configured that the club's total weight is perfectly centered and balanced about the club's shaft axis, resulting in multi-directional stability, i.e., infinite balancing, against any static forces causing the putter club head to rotate off line about the shaft, grip, and hosel axis. Such rotational stability eliminates any inherent twisting forces of the putter head during use. An extremely high moment of inertia about the club head's center of gravity results from use of a relatively heavyweight material for the ball striking face, the club heel and toe ends, and the adjacent sole portions, while an insert formed of a relatively lightweight material is used to fill in the club head's central area where heavyweight material is absent. This high rotational moment of inertia assures that when a golf ball is hit off-center (i.e.

Abstract: A conversion system is described for adapting a home-play electronic game to coin-operated play. The electronic game has at least one access port for communicating with a remote controller, the access port including DC level connections and a plurality of signal line connections. The game exhibits both Attract and Play modes, the Attract mode being operative when power is first applied to the game, but not when the Play mode is in progress. The conversion system comprises a replacement user control panel that includes a start indicator and game control signalling devices. A power supply and coin receipt indicator are also provided. A timer is responsive to a coin deposit to enable the operation of the start indicator for a predetermined time interval. A register is provided which is connected to the signal line ports of the game and provides thereto, signals from both the start indicator and game signalling devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for including a progressive jackpot component in a live casino table game. In addition to playing a live casino table game, each player makes an additional wager at the beginning of each hand that makes that player eligible to win all of part of a jackpot. If during the play of the hand a player is dealt a predetermined arrangement of cards, the player wins a preselected percentage of the jackpot amount. The jackpot is progressive in that unwon amounts of the jackpot carry over to the next hand. Apparatus is provided to receive each gaming token wagered for the jackpot component, to increment the jackpot meter which displays the jackpot amount, to decrement the jackpot meter whenever a winning hand is paid and to reset the apparatus for the next hand.

Abstract: Golf clubs are disclosed having weighted tips and weighted hosels so as to achieve a predetermined weight distribution in both the horizontal and vertical direction. The distance between the hosel and tip weights is maximized as a result of their respective geometries relative to the center of gravity of the club head, and the stability of the club head is increased both about a horizontal axis and about a vertical axis through the center of gravity. In one version the tip weight is at least twice the weight at the hosel and in another version these weights are substantially indentical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf club head and a method of making the same. The golf club head has a reinforced fiber member integrally formed with metal or resin which forms a metal or resin layer positioned in a front face. In the method for making the golf club head of the present invention, the reinforced fiber member is disposed on the front face side of the insert core, then under the state that the reinforced fiber member is pressed to be fixed against the insert core by a mold, the molten metal or resin is flown into the space formed between the reinforced fiber member and the insert core, thereby integrally forming the reinforced fiber member with the above metal or resin.

Abstract: Card game components comprising a playing board (10), a series of program cards (24), and a set of input cards (34). Input cards (34) are randomly drawn from a draw pile area (12) and placed in a memory area (16) according to the order indicated on a program card (24) in the program card area (14). Input cards (34) not immediately playable are placed in a temporary storage area (18). Input cards (34) may be taken from the temporary storage area (18) as they become playable in any one of the four segments (20) of the memory area (16). The program card (24) contains four columns (30) of a series of characters (32) arranged in a non-repetitive sequence that is unique from other series on the card (24).

Abstract: A controller electrically interfaced to a video game computer or the like for the purpose of controlling a progression of the video game or the like is selectively actuated by discrete motions and forces the locations, magnitudes, and orientations of which are variably predetermined by the user. Pressure, or proximity, sensor units, normally four in number, are independently placeable upon any surface, and normally upon a floor, in any desired pattern and over any desired area. An optional multi-channel hand-held remote control transmitter is affixed with a variable weight. The signals produced by the arbitrarily located pressure or proximity sensors, and by the optional hand-held transmitter, are received by a video game control unit and used to produce electrical signals suitable to be received by a conventional video game computer or the like for the purpose of controlling the progression of the video game.

Abstract: A wood golf clubhead assembly is provided having a substantial metal swingweight, located approximately parallel to the flat striking face, within a peripheral groove and bonded therein with adhesive. The new metal swingweight extends to the contour of the wood clubhead and is made to incorporate peripheral weight distribution, including heel and toe, as desired.

Abstract: A mechanism for lifting bowling balls from the pit area of a bowling alley to a ball return runway at or above the level of the bowling alley includes a ball elevator mechanism in which a bowling ball is moved upwards along a track by frictional engagement with a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is driven by two pulleys mounted on a support rod which is itself pivotal about a rolling pivot in response to an eccentric cam arrangement which moves the lower pulley away from the track in order to provide clearance for the ball, and then moves the lower pulley towards the track so that the belt securely engages the ball and moves it up the track. An oscillating paddle is driven by a spherical cam arranged on a speed reduction pulley which also drives the eccentric cam arrangement so that the paddle and elevator mechanism move in synchronism via a common drive.

Abstract: A slot machine has a memory in which first judgment data and second judgment data are stored. These first judgment data show for any first random number, whether any one of a group of prize-winning symbols can be selected, and the second judgment data show, for any second random number, the particular prize-winning combination to be displayed. A judgment is thus performed twice, using random numbers sequentially sampled from a random number generator, using the first and second data. According to the result of these two judgments, the stopped position of each reel is controlled such that the symbol combination of this specific winning combination will be displayed.

Abstract: A self-contained puzzle has a plurality of slide elements having faces displaying indicia. The elements form a mosaic geometric surface characterized by the absence of one of the elements leaving a slot. A slide element adjacent the slot may be slid into the slot, leaving behind a slot in the position from which the slide element was slid. Rotation of a row adjacent the row containing the slot will bring a new slide element adjacent the slot to be slid thereinto. Accordingly, the plurality of slide elements may be manipulated about so as to juxtapose indicia to bring about an overall composition that is a solution to the puzzle. One embodiment has a solution that is frustum shaped.

Abstract: A matrix address decoder for rolling ball games performs decoding of a sequential identification number and a base address into an offset address corresponding to a memory location containing status information for playfield features or switches. The matrix address decoder also generates a mask byte for use in subsequent logical operations involving the status information contained in memory. The decoded information is returned to the main microprocessor via the system bus. An alternate function returns only the mask byte when the offset address is known by the main microprocessor.

Abstract: A reusable, fabric-covered heat exchange bag is provided which includes a thermoplastic waterproof liner means having an interior containment area and an opening for receiving a hot or cold medium, such as hot water or ice. Disposed on a significant portion of the exterior surface of the liner is a thermoplastic fabric-like cover which is joined to the liner to define a peripheral region of the reusable heat exchange bag. The heat seal arrangement which forms the peripheral region of the bag also facilitates the severing of the reusable heat exchange bag from a sheet of stock material.

Abstract: A tapered wall shaft with a reinforced tip includes a rear portion, a front portion and an interconnecting portion. The interconnecting portion has a smoothly decreasing outer diameter and a smoothly increasing wall thickness. The tapered wall shaft with a reinforced tip is formed by a rotary swaging operation, a sink drawing operation and a rotary swaging operation.

Abstract: A table top football game apparatus includes a table like base having a generally horizontal playing surface. A plurality of elongated parallel slots are provided on the playing surface and a plurality of football player figurines are moveably mounted upon the plurality of slots for sliding travel thereupon, between end portions of the playing surface which are respective goal lines. The players are moved in the slots and independently of one another by a plurality of controls mounted at the end portions of the table which correspond to the opposing goal lines. At least some of the figurines face in opposite directions thus defining offensive and defensive players. The spaced offensive and defensive controls move the respective players up and down the slots and contacts are provided for forming a connection between two players facing in opposite direction to signify a tackle for example.

Abstract: A two-level scratch game is disclosed which comprises a substrate on which is printed a first grid of randomly selected numbers, each number being printed in a separate box which forms part of the grid. At least one instant price in the form of a price amount or of a game symbol is printed in at least one of the boxes of the first grid. A scratchable rub-off coating is applied onto the first grid to hide the numbers and instant prices printed in the boxes of this first grid. A second grid identical in size to the first grid and containing the same randomly selected numbers is printed on the rub-off coating exactly over the first grid.

Abstract: An improved bearing structure for a rod which permits both rotational and axial movement of the rod in conjunction with longitudinal bending thereof. Two semi-cylindrical pieces are assembled along an axial line of separation. A first cylindrical bearing half engages a second cylindrical bearing half integrally formed for matingly receiving the first half. The two halves of the bearing each include an outer, radially extending flange and are each passed through opposite sides of an aperture in a wall and are assembled into a complete bearing by threadably engaging one another within the wall aperture. The rod to be journaled is inserted through an axial opening formed through the bearing. Each semi-cylindrical bearing half is constructed with an expansion slot formed in an outer mounting flange for facilitating the flexure thereof during installation to prevent binding of the actuation rod therein.

Abstract: A vaginal speculum having padded surfaces on the patient contacting area of the blades thereof serving to minimize patient discomfort and shock immediately prior to and during gynecological examination and/or treatment. A smooth and essentially silent, cam action, mechanism is also provided for opening and locking the instrument in open position.

Abstract: The method of playing a game utilizes one or more decks of cards. One card is dealt to a first player and one card is dealt to a second player. The numerical value of the first player's card is compared to the numerical value of the second player's card. If the numerical values are the same, the game is over and the deal is declared a tie. If the numerical value of the first player's hand is not the same as the value of the second player's hand, another card is dealt to the player having the lower numerical value. Again the total numerical values are compared. If a tie now exists, again the game is over and the hand is declared a tie. The dealing of cards to the hand having the lower total numerical value continues until a tie exists or until one of the hands exceeds a predetermined value. Once one of the hands exceeds the predetermined value, the other hand wins.

Abstract: An improved golf putter having a T-shaped putter head is provided with an elongated sighting surface for assisting a player in aligning a putt. The sighting surface has a relatively light color and a relatively dark line or groove down the center. A portion of the bottom of the putter head is concaved to provide a cushioning effect as the putter head glides over the ground and air is trapped in the concaved region. The stem of the golf putter is mounted to the side of the putter head substantially rearward of the striking face.