Abstract: A multi-ball roulette mechanism having an annular stationary rim with an upwardly curved face around which two or more roulette balls travel. A rotating roulette wheel is positioned in a central opening of the stationary rim, both of which are supported by a base. The two or more roulette balls travel from the curved face into pockets of the roulette wheel. A roulette ball launching system launches the two or more roulette balls spinning around the stationary rim in a direction opposite the roulette wheel. The curved face of the stationary rim includes a path around which the roulette balls travel. The path may include two or more separate tracks or a continual spiral. A first roulette ball is launched by the roulette ball launching system onto the path to rotate around the stationary rim while moving down the curved face toward the roulette wheel as the first roulette ball loses momentum.

Abstract: A method for using a roulette mechanism where a ball is launched onto a rim having a central opening and a face around which balls travel until falling pockets distributed around a central cone. The pockets are configured hold the balls. The pockets correspond to unique identifiers on the roulette wheel. The cone includes an edge, sub-pockets under the edge and a motor. The edge stops a ball in a pocket. The motor raises and lowers the edge so that ball move from a pocket to the sub-pocket. When a ball falls into a pocket the ball is moved to a sub-pocket. The outcome for the ball is indicated based on the pocket and then more balls are launched while the ball is in the sub-pocket.

Abstract: A roulette mechanism having a base, a stationary rim mounted on the base having a central opening and a curved face around which roulette balls travel, a rotating roulette wheel configured to spin and positioned in the central opening of the and supported by the base. The roulette wheel includes a movable central cone and pockets distributed around the movable central cone, the pockets hold one or more roulette balls that fall from the rim into pockets. Each pocket corresponds to unique identifiers on the roulette wheel. The cone includes an edge, a number of sub-pockets under the edge and a motor. The edge is configured to stop a roulette ball that has entered a pocket. The motor is configured to raise the edge so that the roulette ball moves from the pocket to the sub-pocket and to lower the edge once the roulette ball is in the sub-pocket.

Abstract: Training equipment is described, and in particular training equipment that can be punched for exercise or for training, e.g., by boxers. The training equipment includes an outer ring-shaped punchbag and an inner punchball positioned within an inner opening of the punchbag. The punchball is connected to the punchbag by a pair of flexible elongate members that can be elasticated cords, for example.

Abstract: A roulette system including two roulette machines. Standard roulette bets may be placed by a player on a first roulette machine and if no side bet is placed, only the first machine is operated. When a side bet is placed, a second roulette machine is operated in parallel with the first machine. Side bets may be based on various combinations of results from each machine, or an aggregate total of the result of both machines, and other proposition type bets. Inertial values associated with the balls of each machine may be monitored and used to adjust ball launch times, ball launch speeds, rotation velocity of roulette wheels of the machines and the braking of the roulette wheels so the machines operate in parallel.

Abstract: Training equipment is described, and in particular training equipment that can be punched for exercise or for training, e.g., by boxers. The training equipment includes an outer ring-shaped punchbag and an inner punchball positioned within an inner opening of the punchbag. The punchball is connected to the punchbag by a pair of flexible elongate members that can be elasticated cords, for example.

Abstract: Presently disclosed sliding joint kits, sliding joints, and systems including the same may be configured to join a first panel and a second panel together such that at least a portion of the first panel and second panel are in sliding contact with one another, thereby allowing movement of one panel with respect to the other. In this manner, panels may be joined together while still allowing thermal expansion and resulting movement of one panel relative to the other. For example, presently disclosed sliding joints may be used to join panels of an aircraft heat shield together, which may result in reduced buckling and/or reduced joint stress of the panels of the heat shield. Related methods of assembling a sliding joint kit to join a first panel and a second panel are also disclosed.

Abstract: Presently disclosed sliding joint kits, sliding joints, and systems including the same may be configured to join a first panel and a second panel together such that at least a portion of the first panel and second panel are in sliding contact with one another, thereby allowing movement of one panel with respect to the other. In this manner, panels may be joined together while still allowing thermal expansion and resulting movement of one panel relative to the other. For example, presently disclosed sliding joints may be used to join panels of an aircraft heat shield together, which may result in reduced buckling and/or reduced joint stress of the panels of the heat shield. Related methods of assembling a sliding joint kit to join a first panel and a second panel are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal insulation support includes a body including a first edge portion and a second edge portion extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the body. A first flange extending a first distance from the first edge portion of the body is coupled to a first wall. A second flange extending a second distance from the second edge portion of the body is coupled to a second wall.

Abstract: A thermal insulation support includes a body including a first edge portion and a second edge portion extending generally along a longitudinal axis of the body. A first flange extending a first distance from the first edge portion of the body is coupled to a first wall. A second flange extending a second distance from the second edge portion of the body is coupled to a second wall.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying talent via local, national, or worldwide talent competitions, which eliminate or minimize the costs and/or risks of identifying such talent and generate significant charitable donations. In one aspect of the present invention, artists' or bands' songs are made available to critics such as members of the public via mediums such as the Internet, radio, and television. Such individuals provide feedback during successive phases of the talent identification process, and artists and/or bands with the greatest public appeal advance to the final stages of the process. Ultimately, the artist or band receiving the most favorable feedback is awarded with, for example, a record deal. Throughout the process, revenue is generated via a variety of methods including voting/critiquing fees, advertising, promotional items, and the like. In some aspects of the present invention, at least a portion of such revenue is donated to charity.

Abstract: A jack assembly for supporting a shelter structure includes a first tubular member fixed at a first end thereof to a plate, a nut disposed in the first tubular member and fixed to the plate, the plate defining a central hole aligned with a central hole in the nut, and a threaded shaft extending through the plate central hole and threadably engaged with the nut, the shaft having thereon a flat sided base portion. A second tubular member is telescopically mounted on and moveable on the first tubular member to elongate the assembly, and a lock member is provided for locking the second tubular member to the first tubular member in a position in which the first and second tubular members overlap and the lock member is disposed in a region of the overlap.

Abstract: A jack assembly for supporting a shelter structure includes a first tubular member fixed at a first end thereof to a plate, a nut disposed in the first tubular member and fixed to the plate, the plate defining a central hole aligned with a central hole in the nut, and a threaded shaft extending through the plate central hole and threadedly engaged with the nut, the shaft having thereon a flat sided base portion. A second tubular member is telescopically mounted on and moveable on the first tubular member to elongate the assembly, and a lock member is provided for locking the second tubular member to the first tubular member in a position in which the first and second tubular members overlap and the lock member is disposed in a region of the overlap.

Abstract: A four-quadrant NMOS transconductance multiplier including plural NMOS transistors formed in a substrate to produce a pair of summer stages and a pair of squaring stages which process a pair of input signals V.sub.1, V.sub.2 to produce an output signal V.sub.o according to the quarter-square algebraic identity,V.sub.o =1/4[(V.sub.1 +V.sub.2).sup.2 -(V.sub.1 -V.sub.2).sup.2 ]=V.sub.1 V.sub.2.In a preferred embodiment, the substrate doping N.sub.A =6.7.times.10.sup.15 cm.sup.-3 and the channel width and channel length of each of the NMOS transistors forming the summer and squaring stages is greater than 10 .mu.m.