Abstract: A method of providing incentives to customers which involves providing customers with cards having changeable display areas. During a transaction, the cards are received from the customers and an incentive image is displayed on the display areas of the cards when they are returned to the customers. The incentive images can be coupons, discount certificates, or other marketing or promotional offerings, prize notifications, loyalty rewards, etc. The cards can be credit cards, including gift cards, debit cards, ATM cards, shoppers' cards, merchants' cards, phone cards, casino cards, or any other similar cards. A transaction card that displays updated value balances on the card and a system for performing the value updates is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device that supplies electrical current to various outdoor locations via through-hole areas of building structures, such as window frames, door openings, etc. which includes a flatten portion with a male electrical outlet plug coupled to one end and one or more female electrical outlet(s) coupled to the other end. The male electrical outlet plug and/or the one or more female electrical outlet(s) can be coupled to the flattened portion by an electrical cord. The flattened portion includes two or more flat electrical conductors. A further embodiment is built into the structure of a window or the structure of a window frame and provides an interior accessible male electrical outlet plug (or electrical cord) and an accessible exterior female electrical outlet that are coupled together by wiring that extends through the window or window frame and optionally through a tube.

Abstract: A device that supplies electrical current to various outdoor locations via through-hole areas of building structures, such as window frames, door openings, etc. which includes a flatten portion with a male electrical outlet plug coupled to one end and one or more female electrical outlet(s) coupled to the other end. The male electrical outlet plug and/or the one or more female electrical outlet(s) can be coupled to the flattened portion by an electrical cord. The flattened portion includes two or more flat electrical conductors. A further embodiment is built into the structure of a window or the structure of a window frame and provides an interior accessible male electrical outlet plug (or electrical cord) and an accessible exterior female electrical outlet that are coupled together by wiring that extends through the window or window frame and optionally through a tube.

Abstract: A device that supplies electrical current to various outdoor locations via through-hole areas of building structures, such as window frames, door openings, etc. which includes a flatten portion with a male electrical outlet plug coupled to one end and one or more female electrical outlet(s) coupled to the other end. The male electrical outlet plug and/or the one or more female electrical outlet(s) can be coupled to the flattened portion by an electrical cord. The flattened portion includes two or more flat electrical conductors. A further embodiment is built into the structure of a window or the structure of a window frame and provides an interior accessible male electrical outlet plug (or electrical cord) and an accessible exterior female electrical outlet that are coupled together by wiring that extends through the window or window frame and optionally through a tube.

Abstract: A segmented microencapsulated display system that includes a substrate upon which an image is produced in a layer of microencapsulated electrophoric elements and a unit remote from the substrate that includes electronics circuitry that creates the image produced in the layer of microencapsulated electrophoric elements.

Abstract: A ground cover or landscaping material that includes a plurality of loose particles that are combined with a water activated adhesive component. When the water activated adhesive component is activated by contacting the ground cover or landscaping material with water the adhesive cures and secures the loose particles together. The water activated adhesive allows for the use of light weight particles that would be easily displaced when exposed to wind and rain or blow by lawn mowers or leaf blowers, absent being fixed together by the adhesive. Suitable particles include mulch, wood chips and synthetic materials.

Abstract: A segmented microencapsulated display system that includes a substrate upon which an image is produced in a layer of microencapsulated electrophoric elements and a unit remote from the substrate that includes electronics circuitry that creates the image produced in the layer of microencapsulated electrophoric elements.

Abstract: A method of providing incentives to customers which involves providing customers with cards having changeable display areas. During a transaction, the cards are received from the customers and an incentive image is displayed on the display areas of the cards when they are returned to the customers. The incentive images can be coupons, discount certificates, or other marketing or promotional offerings, prize notifications, loyalty rewards, etc. The cards can be credit cards, including gift cards, debit cards, ATM cards, shoppers' cards, merchants' cards, phone cards, casino cards, or any other similar cards. A transaction card that displays updated value balances on the card and a system for performing the value updates is also disclosed.

Abstract: A business method of promoting commercial activity and goodwill in a municipality which involves identifying consumers to be attracted to participate in commercial activity within a municipality, distributing at least one token to each of the identified consumers, allowing the consumers to exchange the tokens for discount cards that have a predetermined dollar discount value for commercial activity within a municipality; allowing the consumers to purchase goods and/or services from merchants within the municipality; and having the merchants from which goods and/or services are purchased discount the purchase price and deduct the discounted amount from the predetermined dollar discount value of the consumers' discount cards. The tokens can also be provided with serialized data which can be collected and recorded when the tokens are distributed and exchanged. The data can be used to determine and develop marketing strategies based on the manner in which the tokens were distributed and dispersed.