Abstract: A balance card the always maintains a balance between $0.00 and $0.99 that provides cents amount to any transaction involving a dollar amount and cents amount. If the card balance is high enough to cover the cents amount of the transaction, that is subtracted from the card. If the card balance is not high enough, the total transaction amount is augmented by $1.00 and the change amount from this is added to the card.

Abstract: A balance card the always maintains a balance between $0.00 and $0.99 that provides cents amount to any transaction involving a dollar amount and cents amount. If the card balance is high enough to cover the cents amount of the transaction, that is subtracted from the card. If the card balance is not high enough, the total transaction amount is augmented by $1.00 and the change amount from this is added to the card.

Abstract: A system for receiving a value on, or associated with, a consumer card or cellular telephone in lieu of actually receiving coin change from a particular sale of merchandise or services at a point of sale terminal or cash register. Instead of receiving an odd amount of coin change after a purchase, the read/write device can augment a total value either stored on the card or cellular telephone itself or in an account associated with the card or cellular telephone. A consumer can redeem value up to the amount on the card or cellular telephone at participating stores as if it were a gift card.

Abstract: A system for receiving a value on or associated with a consumer card or cellular telephone in lieu of actually receiving coin change from a particular sale of merchandise or services at a point of sale terminal or cash register. Instead of receiving an odd amount of coin change after a purchase, the read/write device can augment a total value either stored on the card or cellular telephone itself or in an account associated with the card or cellular telephone. A consumer can redeem value up to the amount on the card or cellular telephone at participating stores as if it were a gift card.

Abstract: A balance card the always maintains a balance between $0.00 and $0.99 that provides cents amount to any transaction involving a dollar amount and cents amount. If the card balance is high enough to cover the cents amount of the transaction, that is subtracted from the card. If the card balance is not high enough, the total transaction amount is augmented by $1.00 and the change amount from this is added to the card.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving a value on or associated with a consumer card in lieu of actually receiving coin change. In particular embodiments, and RFID device or other card reader/writer device is connected either in place of, or parallel to, an electric coin dispenser on a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal or cash register. Instead of receiving an odd amount of coin change after a purchase, the RFID device can augment a total value either stored on the card itself or in an account associated with the card. Alternatively a clerk can cause value to be added to a card equal to the amount that would have given as coin change. A consumer can redeem value up to the amount on the value card at participating stores as if it were a gift card. In one embodiment, a customer ID, total value and optionally a password or PIN can be stored on a smartcard usually in encrypted form. Alternatively, the card or telephone can simply present a barcode which relates to an account.

Abstract: A system and method for receiving a value on or associated with a consumer card in lieu of actually receiving coin change. In particular embodiments, and RFID device or other card reader/writer device is connected either in place of, or parallel to, an electric coin dispenser on a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal or cash register. Instead of receiving an odd amount of coin change after a purchase, the RFID device can augment a total value either stored on the card itself or in an account associated with the card. Alternatively a clerk can cause value to be added to a card equal to the amount that would have given as coin change. A consumer can redeem value up to the amount on the value card at participating stores as if it were a gift card. In one embodiment, a customer ID, total value and optionally a password or PIN can be stored on a smartcard usually in encrypted form. Alternatively, the card or telephone can simply present a barcode which relates to an account.

Abstract: A sleep pattern timing apparatus for a user to record time before onset of sleep and to separately record sleep time to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of sleeping disorders can include a timer for recording awake time and sleep time of the user and preferably a plurality of switches such as a galvanic skin response switch and a tactile plunger-type switch electrically connected to the timer so that the timer records sleep time when at least one switch is released. Using an awake timer subsystem, the apparatus can also begin recording awake time when all switches are concurrently actuated and discontinues recording of awake time when at least one switch is released. A plurality of switches can reduce the opportunity for false actuation. The apparatus can be housed in a hand held housing to fall away when released to further reduce false actuation. The apparatus may be attached to the user with a wrist band for easy retrieval during sleep interruptions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for retaining a film lining within a trash receptacle. The system includes a lining, a container and a rim restraint. The rim restraint takes the form of an elongated resilient tube with first and second opened ends. The restraint further includes a multifaceted ball which is frictionally secured into one of the opened ends. The ball functions in keeping the restraint in a locked orientation. In order for the restraint to be positioned about a trash container it is formed into a closed loop. The closed loop configuration is achieved by joining the two free ends by way of a circular band. The system is completed by positioning the restraint about both a trash lining and container. Once properly positioned, restraint can be locked by pulling one of the free ends. The locked orientation is achieved when the circular band engages one of the facets of the ball. The restraint can be subsequently unlocked by pulling on the opposite free end of the restraint.