Abstract: A self-contained assay facility housed in a fixed-wing or rotary wing aircraft that is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid in cash, in bullion, by wire transfer, or by an open hedge. A transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots are securely stored in a safe within the assay facility.

Abstract: A transportable, self-contained assay facility built in a modified standard shipping container that is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid in cash, by bullion, wire transfer, or by an open hedge. A transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots may be securely stored in a safe within the assay facility.

Abstract: A self-contained assay facility housed in a fixed-wing or rotary wing aircraft that is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid in cash, in bullion, by wire transfer, or by an open hedge. A transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots are securely stored in a safe within the assay facility.

Abstract: A transportable, self-contained assay facility built in a modified standard shipping container that is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid in cash, by bullion, wire transfer, or by an open hedge. A transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots may be securely stored in a safe within the assay facility.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitation selective rotation of a sportboard binding relative to a sportboard interposed between the binding and the sportboard. An electro-magnetically actuated locking mechanism controls the rotation of a retaining ring assembly relative to a bottom capture plate and a top plate assembly. The bottom capture plate is attached to the sportboard. The retaining ring assembly is attached to the binding by teeth on an outer perimeter thereof. One or more pairs of diametrically opposed ferromagnetic inserts placed in the retaining ring assembly define specific angular positions at which the binding may be locked. An external power source (e.g., a battery) is connected to the electro-magnetically actuated locking mechanism via a switch adapted to be operated by a rider of the sportboard such that the rider can selectively control the locking and unlocking of the mechanism to allow rotation of the binding as desired.

Abstract: There is provided a method for modifying an armored truck to create a self-contained, mobile smelting and assaying facility for the processing of precious metals. There is further provided a method for using the mobile facility to visit a client site, receive precious metal from the client, smelt the metal, pour an ingot therefrom, assay the ingot and pay the client for the received precious metal based on a current market price obtained within the mobile facility. A security/surveillance system included interior and exterior cameras whose images are both recorded and transmitted to a remote location. The communications system provides continuous Internet access within the facility.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitation selective rotation of a sportboard binding relative to a sportboard interposed between the binding and the sportboard. An electro-magnetically actuated locking mechanism controls the rotation of a retaining ring assembly relative to a bottom capture plate and a top plate assembly. The bottom capture plate is attached to the sportboard. The retaining ring assembly is attached to the binding by teeth on an outer perimeter thereof. One or more pairs of diametrically opposed ferromagnetic inserts placed in the retaining ring assembly define specific angular positions at which the binding may be locked. An external power source (e.g., a battery) is connected to the electro-magnetically actuated locking mechanism via a switch adapted to be operated by a rider of the sportboard such that he or she can selectively control the locking and unlocking of the mechanism to allow rotation of the binding as desired.

Abstract: A self contained, mobile assay facility built in a modified armored truck is completely equipped to smelt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid cash or by wire transfer that may be initiated and confirmed from within the mobile assay facility. The ingots may be safely stored or shipped directly from the mobile facility to a wholesaler for further processing.

Abstract: A method for making customizable liquid-filled glass jewelry wherein a hollow glass vessel is blown or otherwise manufactured and then partially filled with small diamonds, gems, stones, pieces of metal, etc. Thereafter, the hollow glass vessel is completely filled with a semi-viscous liquid having a specific index of refraction. Once filled with liquid, a sealing cap is attached to the glass vessel, the cap typically being decorative. With a properly selected index of refraction, the vessel appears to be solid glass with the small diamonds, etc. being suspended therein. Colorized diamonds produced by irradiation produce particularly attractive results. A process for creating custom molds for blowing custom glass vessels is described. Molds are created using instructions derived from images generated by 3-D solid rendering software to direct a numerically controlled milling machine or other such machine tool.

Abstract: A self-contained, mobile assay facility built in a modified armored truck is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid cash, by bullion, wire transfer, or by an open hedge. Either a transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots may be safely stored or shipped directly from the mobile facility to a wholesaler for further processing.

Abstract: A transportable, self-contained assay facility built in a modified standard shipping container that is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid in cash, by bullion, wire transfer, or by an open hedge. A transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots may be securely stored in a safe within the assay facility.