Abstract: A napkin including a sheet having sides defining width and length dimensions and at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two of the four sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions for individual use.

Abstract: A napkin including a sheet having sides defining width and length dimensions and at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two of the four sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions for individual use.

Abstract: A system and method for inductively heating and then quench hardening a portion of a workpiece, such as a several threads of a screw or bolt are disclosed. The system includes a conveyor system having a rotary conveyor for separating, aligning, and transporting each of the workpieces in aligned succession through an induction heater positioned about the rotary conveyor to heat-treat at least a portion of each of the workpieces. A sensor determines whether a workpiece is heat-treated to a minimum temperature and causes an ejector to separate heat-treated workpieces that have reached the minimum temperature from heat-treated workpieces that have failed to reach the minimum temperature. The separated workpieces are then quenched in a tank & separately removed automatically.

Abstract: A method for increasing gambling operation utilization by gamblers, including the steps of determining the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation occurring as a result of variations in percentage of losses or winnings incurred by a gambler who loses or wins a particular wager at the gambling operation, communicating the percentage variation in losses or winnings on the wager correlated to the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation to gamblers or potential gamblers, and varying the percentage of losses or winnings incurred by a gambler on the wager by an amount correlated to the effect on the utilization of the gambling operation occurring as a result of the variation in the percentage of losses or winnings by the gambler, wherein the variation of the percentage of loss always results in losses less than the amount wagered and the variation in the percentage of winnings always results in winnings greater than the amount wagered.

Abstract: A system and method for inductively heating and then quench hardening a portion of a workpiece, such as a several threads of a screw or bolt are disclosed. The system includes a conveyor system having a rotary conveyor for separating, aligning, and transporting each of the workpieces in aligned succession through an induction heater positioned about the rotary conveyor to heat-treat at least a portion of each of the workpieces. A sensor determines whether a workpiece is heat-treated to a minimum temperature and causes an ejector to separate heat-treated workpieces that have reached the minimum temperature from heat-treated workpieces that have failed to reach the minimum temperature. The separated workpieces are then quenched in a tank & separately removed automatically.

Abstract: A load matching circuit is disclosed for use with a frequency controlled power supply. The load matching circuit includes an input connectable to the frequency controlled power supply and an output connectable to the load, such as an induction heating coil. A load matching section is connected between the input and the output to provide enough resonance to allow the power supply to operate at or below the maximum frequency when the load is connected to the power supply and at or above the minimum frequency when the load is disconnected from the power supply. In this manner, a solid-state variable frequency power supply can continue to run even when the external load is disconnected from the power supply.

Abstract: A transverse flux heating coil is disclosed to inductively heat a continuous run of wire. In general, the transverse flux heating coil includes a single loop conductive element having a pair of termination ends extending therefrom and connectable to a power supply. The single loop conductive element is constructed to distribute the majority of the current across a width of the single loop conductive element and forms an internal heating area in which a continuous run of wire is fed therethrough. The flux generated by the current is generally transverse to a direction of travel of the wire through the heating coil. The transverse flux heating coil includes a first conductor having a width facing an internal heating area that is substantially greater than a thickness and is constructed of planar copper bar stock.

Abstract: A snubber circuit is disclosed having a pair of series connected switches, each switch having a capacitor in parallel with the switch. The snubber circuit includes a coupling element, such as a coil winding, or air-core transformer, in close proximity to a branch circuit having the capacitor therein. The coupling element is connected to a resistor and inductively couples the resistor in series with the capacitor in the branch circuit. The resistor is preferably located remotely from the capacitor. Therefore, a relatively high value, high power-rated resistor can be inductively coupled by the coupling element into the branch circuit in series with the capacitor without introducing additional inductance into the branch circuit. The invention is particularly useful in physically constricted snubber circuit arrangements and permits the use of readily available discrete resistors with the desired power rating to obtain the desired equivalent induced resistance.

Abstract: An induction heating system having at least one power supply switching network is disclosed to provide selective power control to multiple zones of an induction heating coil to achieve a desired heat distribution in a workpiece. The power supply switching network includes a number of bidirectional switches, each connected in series with one another, and each connected in parallel with a portion, or zone, of an induction heating coil. The bidirectional switches are controlled by a computer that supplies a control signal having a duty cycle as determined by the computer and a multi-zone feedback circuit. By splitting the coils and inserting a switch in parallel with each coil, and each switch in series with one another, the coil is effectively split into multiple series connected coils, thereby being more effectively controllable while avoiding physical alterations to the heating coil.

Abstract: A disposable cover for a stethoscope for being placed in a tensioned condition over and covering a patient-contacting portion of the stethoscope. The cover includes an elastomeric material defining a disc-shaped body, a raised rim integrally-formed with and surrounding the body, and a centrally-disposed, raised dimple integrally-formed in the body for being grasped and pulled away from the stethoscope when removal of the cover from the stethoscope is desired. The cover may include perforations or some other form of weakness area which tear the cover to facilitate removal when desired.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for use in disk drive systems comprising a load beam, a flexure physically connected to the load beam, a slider physically connected to the flexure for movement with the flexure. The slider includes a transducer and n bonding pads to which the transducer is electrically connected. A flex circuit is provided having n conductors connected to the n bonding pads for providing electrical connection to the transducer, a portion of the flex circuit being routed between the flexure and the slider such that the portion, flexure and slider moves as a single unit, and a reduced stiffness area to minimize the effects on roll and pitch characteristics of the slider due to said flex circuit being connected to said n bonding pads on said slider and being routed between the flexure and slider.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for use in disk drive systems comprises a load beam, a flexure connected to the load beam, an air bearing slider connected to the flexure which includes a transducer and a plurality of bonding pads and a plurality of transducer wires, wherein each transducer wire is physically connected at a first point on the load beam and to a first location on said slider and to one of the bonding pads. The flexure, slider and first length of each transducer wire between the first location on the slider and the bonding pads form an integral unit which moves as a single unit during operation of a disk drive. The transducer wires have a second length between the first point on the load beam and the first location on the slider such that the stiffness of the second length does not restrict movement of the integral unit.