Abstract: Provided is a sleep aid for use in reducing the risk of plagiocephaly including a cushion and a sleep position indicator. The cushion includes an elongate pad to accommodate a person in a reposed position such that the person extends along a longitudinal axis of the pad. The cushion also includes a casing surrounding the pad that has bottom and top panels. The sleep position indicator has an elongate dimension and is slideably supported by the cushion. A medial portion of the sleep position indicator is adapted to move transversely to the longitudinal axis within a slideway. The indicator may be moved between a first position where it visibly protrudes from a first side of the cushion to inform a first head orientation, and a second position where it visibly protrudes from a second side of the cushion to inform a second head orientation.

Abstract: A body pillow including an elongate cushion having first and second ends. The cushion includes an arcuate first portion and an arcuate second portion, and a mid-portion extending therebetween. The cushion is configurable between a relaxed configuration and a coiled configuration. In the relaxed configuration the first portion extends arcuately in a first direction about a majority of a circumference of a circle and the second portion extends arcuately in a second direction different than the first direction about less than a majority of a circumference of a circle. In the coiled configuration the second portion is congruent with a least some of the first portion. The body pillow may further include an interior panel joined to an inner periphery of the first portion for retaining the first portion in its arcuate position.

Abstract: A changing pad includes a resilient support that has a generally flat base with a bottom surface. A peripheral wall extends upwardly of the base to form a region wherein an infant may be placed. A strap assembly includes a first and second strap portions, each of which having one end secured to the resilient support proximately to the first and second bottom side edges, respectively. Cooperative fastening elements releasably connect to other ends of the two strap portions. The locations of the connections of the strap portions to the bottom edges may be set back an inset distance to allow use with fitted coverings.

Abstract: A food preparation system includes a non-contact power supply for energizing a cooking appliance. The food preparation system includes a communication system for enabling communication between a food appliance and the system. The appliance transmits an identifier to the system. If the appliance does not have a transmitter, the system attempts to determine the type of appliance from a characterization of the power consumption by the appliance. If the appliance cannot be characterized, the food preparation system can be operated manually.

Abstract: Two-way communications between casino games and diverse master controllers using a universal game module there between allows routing event messages with standard protocols. The universal game module with a computer processor, circuitry, connection ports, interfaces and protocols allows the communications by evaluating, prioritizing, polling and routing communications. A jackpot group of differing games is possible because the win cycles of the various games can be equalized. The volatility of the games in the group is increased by randomly segregating a percentage of the machines to be eligible to win the progressive jackpot for a limited time period. A life changing jackpot is thus payable for a variety of games in a casino on a relatively frequent basis.

Abstract: A power supply for inductively powering a remote device has an inverter operating at an operating frequency and a primary coil. A phase comparator compares the phase of the voltage or current delivered by the power supply. If the phase relationship detected by the comparator is unacceptable, the inverter is disabled. After a period of time, the inverter is re-enabled, and the phase relationship is again determined.

Abstract: An inductive power supply includes a transceiver for sending information between the remote device and the inductive power supply. The remote device determines the actual voltage and then sends a command to the inductive power supply to change the operating frequency if the actual voltage is different from the desired voltage. In order to determine the actual voltage, the remote device determines a peak voltage and then applies a correction factor.

Abstract: An inductively powered gas discharge lamp including both a power coil and a heating coils associated with each filament. The heating coils enable the filaments to be preheated before the starting voltage is applied through the power coils. The inductive power coils and the inductive heater coils are contained within the lamp envelope, allowing the lamp to be entirely sealed. A method of dimming the lamp also is disclosed. The lamp is dimmed by both decreasing the power applied to the power coils and increasing the power applied to the heating coils so as to prevent the arc from extinguishing under lower voltage conditions.

Abstract: Two-way communications between casino games and diverse master controllers using a universal game module there between allows routing event messages with standard protocols. The universal game module with a computer processor, circuitry, connection ports, interfaces and protocols allows the communications by evaluating, prioritizing, polling and routing communications. A jackpot group of differing games is possible because the win cycles of the various games can be equalized. The volatility of the games in the group is increased by randomly segregating a percentage of the machines to be eligible to win the progressive jackpot for a limited time period. A life changing jackpot is thus payable for a variety of games in a casino on a relatively frequent basis.

Abstract: A changing station is provided to support an infant while changing the infant's diapers and garments. It generally includes a support base having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end, and a second end longitudinally spaced therefrom, with a bay disposed proximately to the first end, and a cover panel extending above and across the bay. The bay and cover panel define a chamber to receive a roll of dispensable sheet liner whereby a section of the sheet liner is dispensed from the chamber and across the support base's upper surface. A method is also provided, including the step of supporting a roll of dispensable sheet liner at one end of the support base, advancing a section of sheet liner across the upper surface, changing the infant's diapers or garments, and thereafter moving away the advanced section of sheet liner from the upper surface of the support base.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring playing cards in a live casino game by reading card attributes stored in each playing card at a player position with a radio frequency reading system. Each card has a radio frequency identification tag containing at least value and suit attributes. The tracking of the dealt cards to each player position occurs in sequence and based upon wagers placed monitors play of the live card game according to rules of the live card game.

Abstract: Two-way communications between casino games and diverse master controllers using a universal game module there between allows routing event messages with standard protocols. The universal game module with a computer processor, circuitry, connection ports, interfaces and protocols allows the communications by evaluating, prioritizing, polling and routing communications. A jackpot group of differing games is possible because the win cycles of the various games can be equalized. The volatility of the games in the group is increased by randomly segregating a percentage of the machines to be eligible to win the progressive jackpot for a limited time period. A life changing jackpot is thus payable for a variety of games in a casino on a relatively frequent basis.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved injection molding filter assembly to be located between the molding machine and the mold. The assembly has an elongated inner torpedo member with a generally cylindrical outer surface which is centrally located in a passage through a hollow outer member. The passage is defined by a generally cylindrical inner wall which is interrupted by an even number of inwardly opening longitudinally extending channels. Inlet channels extending from the inlet of the assembly and dead ending adjacent the outlet alternate with outlet channels extending from the outlet of the assembly and dead ending adjacent the inlet. Filtering apertures are formed between the outer surface of the torpedo member and the lands between the inlet and outlet channels through which the melt flows from the inlet channels to the outlet channels.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved injection molding filter assembly to be located between the molding machine and the mold. The assembly has an elongated inner torpedo member with a generally cylindrical outer surface which is centrally located in a passage through a hollow outer member. The passage is defined by a generally cylindrical inner wall which is interrupted by an even number of inwardly opening longitudinally extending channels. Inlet channels extending from the inlet of the assembly and dead ending adjacent the outlet alternate with outlet channels extending from the outlet of the assembly and dead ending adjacent the inlet. Uniform width elongated filtering slits are thus formed between the outer surface of the torpedo member and the lands between the inlet and outlet channels. The melt flows into the inlet channels, through the adjacent filtering slits, and out the outlet channels.