Abstract: A method for operating an account includes several steps. The account is provided for holding assets of a customer, the account having a variable value controlled by the customer. At least a portion of the assets are held in the account for a time period that includes a plurality of cycles. At least a portion of the assets are invested during the time period, and earnings on the investment are transmitted to the customer. A plurality of average cycle values of the account are calculated, with each average cycle value calculated over one of the plurality of cycles. A minimum average cycle value is selected from the plurality of average cycle values, and a bonus is calculated based on the minimum average cycle value. The bonus is transmitted to the customer, and the customer chooses whether to repeat the process.

Abstract: A method for operating an account includes several steps. The account is provided for holding assets of a customer, the account having a variable value controlled by the customer. At least a portion of the assets are held in the account for a time period that includes a plurality of cycles. At least a portion of the assets are invested during the time period, and earnings on the investment are transmitted to the customer. A plurality of average cycle values of the account are calculated, with each average cycle value calculated over one of the plurality of cycles. A minimum average cycle value is selected from the plurality of average cycle values, and a bonus is calculated based on the minimum average cycle value. The bonus is transmitted to the customer, and the customer chooses whether to repeat the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to the manufacture of electric lamps containing fluorine in their gas fill. Fluorine can be accurately and conveniently introduced into an electric lamp envelope in the form of a fluorocarbon polymer. If a soluble fluorocarbon polymer, such as a degraded PTFE, is dissolved in a suitable solvent, for example a fluorine-substituted hydrocarbon or halocarbon solvent, the resulting solution can be metered with great accuracy into the lamp envelope and the solvent subsequently evaporated. The invention avoids the difficulties otherwise inherent in dispensing accurate quantities of an extremely reactive gaseous material.

Abstract: Tungsten-halogen lamps of extended life are obtained by coating internal surfaces of the discharge tube and exposed surfaces of internal components with metal phosphate or arsenate glasses. The preferred glass is aluminium titanium phosphate. The coatings may be formed by applying a liquid composition capable of generating the desired phosphate or arsenate to the surfaces to be coated, and subsequently heating them to remove the liquid medium and form a vitreous coating. The medium may be water or an organic solvent such as an alcohol, and may contain a dissolved compound of the metal and an oxyacid of phosphorus or arsenic.