Abstract: A fixing device for mounting wall elements for constructing a wall, includes: a support profile, A securing element which is designed to extend between the wall elements and can be twisted relative to the support profile between a first position in which an engagement element of the securing element remains separate from the support profile, and a second position in which the engagement element engages on the support profile for fixing and secures the wall elements; and a closing profile which in the second position is attachable to the securing element and comprises a blocking element for preventing the securing element from twisting back.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for aiding in manual handling of a work piece during machining, which method comprises the steps of: reading a predetermined work plan, comprising a required orientation of the work piece for each machining step of the work plan; detecting the orientation of the work piece; comparing the detected orientation of the work piece with the required orientation; and projecting an indication on the work piece for aiding to manually orient the work piece to the required orientation for the machining step to be performed. Al disclosed is a device for performing the method.

Abstract: Generation of an engineering change case is initiated by associating an identified problem for a product with an engineering change case template. The engineering change case can include a plurality of structured folders that can be populated with content characterizing the identified problem as well as proposed solutions to the identified problem with each folder being assignable to one or more users and having associated deliverables for such users. The various users populate the folders with content associated with the deliverables with at least a portion of the deliverables being delegable and requiring completion in a sequential order. Thereafter, generation of the engineering case can be finalized when an indication is received that all deliverables requiring approval have been completed. Otherwise, the engineering change case can be canceled. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: Generation of an engineering change case is initiated by associating an identified problem for a product with an engineering change case template. The engineering change case can include a plurality of structured folders that can be populated with content characterizing the identified problem as well as proposed solutions to the identified problem with each folder being assignable to one or more users and having associated deliverables for such users. The various users populate the folders with content associated with the deliverables with at least a portion of the deliverables being delegable and requiring completion in a sequential order. Thereafter, generation of the engineering case can be finalized when an indication is received that all deliverables requiring approval have been completed. Otherwise, the engineering change case can be canceled. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A card game includes constructing a matrix of card positions by dealing a row of cards, discarding zero or more cards, and receiving replacements for discarded cards. Optionally discarded cards are displayed. As each row is dealt, the discarded cards are unavailable for dealing. After the matrix is filled, the cards in one or more rows or columns may be rearranged. The rearrangement may be displayed or the hands with which the rearranged cards are evaluated is indicated. The final matrix is evaluated by comparing each row and column to a value table.

Abstract: After making a wager to participate in a game, a player is dealt two distinct hands at the beginning of the game, each hand being dealt from a separate deck of playing cards. The card values for only one of the hands is fully revealed to the player, and the player is required to select which of the two hands will be played in the game. The unselected hand is removed from further play. If the fully revealed hand is not selected, the value of any remaining unknown cards is revealed to the player, and play proceeds in a conventional manner. If the hand having card values not fully revealed is selected by the player, the payout table is modified by removing a previous winning result to accommodate the changed odds in the player's favor.

Abstract: After making a wager to participate in a game, a player is dealt two distinct hands at the beginning of the game, each hand being dealt from a separate deck of playing cards. The card values for only one of the hands is fully revealed to the player, and the player is required to select which of the two hands will be played in the game. The unselected hand is removed from further play. If the fully revealed hand is not selected, the value of any remaining unknown cards is revealed to the player, and play proceeds in a conventional manner. If the hand having card values not fully revealed is selected by the player, the payout table is modified by removing a previous winning result to accommodate the changed odds in the player's favor.

Abstract: An electronic video gaming machine is programmed to play a multi-hand video poker game which initially displays to the player a five-by-five matrix of twenty-five cards. This five-by-five matrix generates twelve five card hands—the five horizontal rows, the five vertical columns and the two diagonals. The player makes a wager of fifty credits which makes the player eligible for all twelve hands, with five credits applied to each hand, in effect given the player two free hands at five credits each. Five separate decks of playing cards are used with the five cards in each horizontal row being dealt from a separate deck of cards. The player may select one card from each horizontal row to be held and the selected card is also duplicated into an adjacent row location in that row. Replacement cards for the discarded cards are dealt into each horizontal row. Each of the twelve different five card hands are analyzed to determine its poker hand ranking and winning hands are paid in accordance with a pay table.

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: Disclosed is a modular assembly for an enclosure for the equipment of a device, such as a gaming device, the assembly comprising panels that are adapted to be affixed to each other quickly and easily to form an enclosure using fasteners such as pop rivets in a manner that conceals the fasteners from view, and includes a top, bottom, back, and opposing side panels, each panel having four sides, a planar portion, and flanged edges along each side. A first type of flanged edge is bent through two right angles to provide one flanged member perpendicular to the planar portion and a second flange member spaced from, and parallel to the planar portion, and having holes spaced apart there along. The other type of panel edge is a single lip at right angles to the periphery to the planar portion and it has a plurality of spaced-apart holes along is length.

Abstract: A tape dispenser, particularly suited for masking tape or like low-tensile strength adhesive tape, and having a frame with a hub portion that provides a cylindrical surface for rotatably mounting a roll of tape and having a central finger-receiving aperture therein. A support wall extends radially from a first side of the hub portion to hold an axially extending flange spaced from a minor segment of the cylindrical surface, whereby the finger-receiving aperture and the flange provide means for grasping the dispenser and not interfering with the rotation of a roll of tape mounted on the dispenser. A swinging arm has one end mounted to the first side of the hub portion, at a location generally radially opposite the flange for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface, and has an application roller mounted at its other end to also rotate about an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A massaging machine includes a base support frame, at least one conveyor belt assembly having a pair of horizontally spaced apart drums rotatable on horizontal axes and supporting an endless belt, and a plurality of free-turning belt-spanning rolers engaging the under surface of the upper run of the endless belt to rollingly support it generally in a horizontal plane, and means for driving the endless belt in reciprocal motion. A bed of massage disc is supported by the endless belt and includes a plurality of horizontally spaced parallel axles with their outer ends linked together by pivotable links, and each axle rotatably supporting a pluraltity of free-turning massage discs, and the length of the bed of massage discs being shorter than the endless belt by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: An open-topped coin collection box is mounted within a cabinet-like enclosure upon which is mounted a slot machine which is adapted to discharge coins downwardly to the collection box. The collection box is slidably supported on an inclined surface which slopes to an opening in the front wall of the cabinet through which the coin box, supported on the inclined surface, may slidably move outward of the cabinet enclosure under the urging of gravitational force. The coin box has a key operated lock for securing it in a fully enclosed position in which the front wall of the coin box will cover the front wall opening.

Abstract: Apparatus for lifting and rendering mobile for movement about a floor, a stand upon which a plurality of slot machines are mounted, the stand having a front wall and a rear wall, and a top wall upon which the slot machines are mounted, the invention including wheel-equipped lifting assemblies that are removably mountable to the stand, and each lifting assembly comprising a horizontally extending cross-bar that spans the stand top and lies adjacent thereto, and a pair of wheeled upright members attachable to opposite ends of the cross-bar and lying adjacent the stand side walls, the upper part of each upright being adapted to slidably embrace the cross-bar to firmly hold it at about 90.degree. to the cross bar and to be adjustable therealong with a device to releasably clamp the cross-bar to the upright member.

Abstract: Bolting apparatus for use with countertop panels and the like of wooden and laminate construction, for securing a first such panel to a second panel, with an edge of the first panel engaging an edge of the second panel, the disclosure including a draw bolt and attached pressure plate members for engaging depressions in the underside of the two panels and the draw bolt spanning the engaging panel edges, the draw bolt being quickly tightenable to draw the engaging panel edges tightly together.

Abstract: A toilet, particularly adapted for handling liquid and solid bodily waste in a zero gravity environment, including a housing with a main wall having a central waste-receiving opening therein, and a plurality of toroidal elements in close stacked relationship in a coaxial array that extends inwardly of the housing from the central opening, and a flexible, resilient inner wall of each element being inwardly expandable and retractable, and air compression and suction means in flow communication with each element for pneumatically expanding and contracting the flexible wall of each element. A flexible bag has an open end that mounts about the central opening, an elongated neck portion that is embraced by the toroidal elements, and another portion for accumulating waste material. The bag is porous to gases and impervious to solids and liquids. Spray means can inject a water spray at the central opening, and housing exhaust means can cause airflow into the open end of the bag and out through its porous walls.

Abstract: System for rescuing occupants of a tall building having at least one generally planar windowed face is disclosed, which system includes a first and a second boom mounted respectively at opposite sides of the building face at a building level above that face. Each boom has a retracted position and is shiftable to a cantilevered position in which its outer end overhangs the side of the building. A first and a second hoist cable extends respectively from the outer ends of the booms. A rescue cage has a top, a bottom and a flexible, collapsible, heat-shielding wall extending between the peripheries of the top and bottom to provide a shielded compartment. A pair of hoists are mounted to the cage top and engage individually the first and second hoist cables in order to drivingly support the cage adjacent the building face. The hoists are controllable so as to be driven differentially to move the cage transversely of the building face, and driven in the same direction for vertical motion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stroage rack system for cylindrical cans which has a limted number of standardized component parts that allow assembly into a rack of any capacity desired. There are at least two rectangular panels each of which in its disassembled state has both of its major surfaces grooved with mortises. Flexible elongated moldings have tenon portions which are insertable in the panel mortises to form can-supporting rails. The assembled rack includes at least two upright panels, horizontally spaced apart and laterally aligned, with horizontally extending rod connectors supporting the panels in their spaced relationship.

Abstract: A device for storing and retrieving disc-shaped articles, such as compact recording discs, and including a support frame adapted to rest on a horizontal surface and including a tiltable housing that is pivotally mounted within the support frame for limited rotation about a horizontal axis from a rest position to a dispensing position, the housing including first and second spaced apart side walls. Mounted to the tiltable housing is slotted means for storing a multiplicity of upright, side-by-side discs, and there is a multiplicity of release elements adapted to releasably hold discs mounted in storage against forward movement out of their storage locations. A disc carrier, with a through-slot for releasably holding a disc, is slidably mounted on horizontal guide means for movement from one end of the disc storing means to its other end. The carrier is alignable with any selected one of the slotted disc storage locations.