Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing and a number of contacts received in the housing. The housing defines three aligned apertures and a partition is provided between two proximate aperture. The housing defines four recesses equiangularly disposed in a periphery of each aperture and two selected recesses thereof are respectively recessed in two partitions beside the aperture. Therefor each contact is received in a corresponding aperture and abuts against parts of the periphery of the aperture that are not recessed therein while being spaced from the partition. Thus, stress exerted on the partitions is limited thereby preventing the partitions from being crushed by the contacts.

Abstract: An angled lamp socket includes a body and a housing. The body contains therein opposing lamp retaining clips and a plurality of IDC contacts. The housing contains a plurality of holes to receive wire leads. The housing also contains a housing disc. The bottom portion of the IDC contacts are connected electrically to the wire leads and the top portion of the IDC contacts are connected to the lamp. When a lamp is inserted into the socket body, the horizontal axis of the lamp will extend at an angle in relation to the wire leads. In a preferred embodiment, such an angle is 90° thereby providing a right angle lamp socket.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing (2), a number of contacts (4) in the housing, and a shield (3) enclosing the housing. Each contact comprises a contacting portion (40) for electrically contacting a corresponding terminal of a mating connector, an engaging portion (41) for securely latching within a corresponding channel, and a joining portion (42) for electrically connecting with a circuit board. The engaging portion of each contact defines a hollow area (410) symmetrical about a center line for providing the engaging portion with appropriate resilience and for allowing the engaging portion to inwardly deform. A bent portion (43) is further formed between the engaging portion and the joining portion of each contact, and has a smaller width than other portions of the contact for facilitating a bending operation by a tool and for preventing deflection of the joining portion.

Abstract: A waterproof connector is provided. The connector includes a housing 12 having terminal accommodating chambers 15 for accommodating terminals 14 and a cover 13 overlaid on the housing 12 to define wire insertion holes 20 between the cover 13 and the housing 12. The cover 13 is provided with a fall-stop engagement part 31 which engages with respective rear ends of the terminals 14 in order to prevent them from falling out of housing 12. In order to provide the connector with a waterproof structure, a resinous cover part 3 of each covered wire 1 is welded to both housing 12 and cover 13 by ultrasonic oscillating the housing 12 under pressure while each wire 1 is inserted into the wire insertion hole 20. Further, owing to the ultrasonic oscillation, the housing 12 is also welded to the cover 13 in the resultant waterproof structure.

Abstract: A battery connector connects two wires to a battery post. The battery connector includes two identically formed L-shaped conductors electrically insulated from one another by an insulator. Each of the conductors comprises a split ring portion for making good mechanical and electrical contact with a battery post and a crimping portion for electrically connecting a wire to the conductor. The conductors and insulator are assembled and held together by cooperating and mating components.

Abstract: A connector terminal is disclosed including a cylindrical socket body with a spring contact inserted therein. The spring contact has a distal portion that establishes a press fit with the socket body. The socket body may be crimped over the distal portion to more securely hold the spring contact in the socket body. The spring contact further has a plurality of fingers which taper forwardly and inwardly to resiliently grab a male pin as it enters the socket.

Abstract: An eyelet terminal of the type used to connect an electrical wire or cable to a junction box or grounding terminal in an automotive electrical system, comprising an inverted cup-shaped eyelet adapted to be placed over a nut at the terminal and to mate with the nut with a non-rotating fit. The eyelet has a hole in an upper surface thereof to allow passage therethrough of a terminal stud or a bolt by which the eyelet terminal can be permanently secured at the terminal mounting location. The eyelet terminal is especially useful for establishing ground connections to weld nuts.

Abstract: A watercraft includes a monitoring and control system to sense the operational state of a catalytic device and a cooling system used with an exhaust system of the watercraft. The monitoring and control system receives temperature reading from an exhaust system temperature sensor. The sensor desirably is located in a portion of the exhaust system which the cooling system cools. The monitor and control system activates a first level warning indicators if the sensed temperature of the exhaust system exceeds a preselected first warning temperature. And if the sensed temperature exceeds a presented second warning temperature, the monitoring and control system reduces engine speed and eventually stops the engine. The monitor and control system also communicate with an exhaust gas temperature sensor which is located in the vicinity of a catalytic device of the exhaust system. If the sensed temperature is within a desired temperature range, the control system activates a system-ready indicator.

Abstract: An immersed prime mover device, typically of some few cubic inches or feet in volume, cyclically vents accumulated compressed air, typically 10-200 P.S.I. and more typically 90-110 P.S.I. derived from air compressors or from storage tanks, forcibly eject a slug of water, thereby producing a propulsive force. The accumulation may be some few cubic inches per minute in a large reservoir to but cyclically occasionally or infrequently eject the slug of water, producing an intermittent propulsive force. The accumulation may be of some substantial portion of the volume of an accumulation reservoir every few seconds, frequently cyclically ejecting the slug of water to produce a nearly continuous propulsive force.

Abstract: A waterjet drive engine for the propulsion of large ships includes an elongated water conduit having a rearwardly directed exhaust portal, a forward extremity having a water intake portal, and a middle portion of larger diameter than the diameter of the exhaust portal. A hollow axially symmetrical chamber is centrally positioned within the middle portion, defining therewith an annular interstitial zone through which ambient water is caused to flow. A shaft driven by the ship's power system extends into the chamber and is provided with a circular array of propulsion blades positioned within the interstitial zone and adapted to force water rearwardly. A plurality of nozzles enter the chamber and direct high pressure steam toward the exhaust portal. The effect of the steam is to add an augmenting force to the rotative motion of the shaft.

Abstract: A boat drive has a housing, a tube shaft rotatable in the housing about a shaft axis and having axially opposite front and rear ends, a hub carried on the shaft rear end, and a plurality of radially projecting vanes pivotal on the hub. An axially shiftable core shaft extending coaxially in the tube shaft has a rear end rearward of the tube-shaft rear end and a front end forward of the tube-shaft front end. Mechanism connecting the core-shaft rear end with the vanes pivots the vanes on the hub on axial displacement of the core shaft. A pair of oppositely directed axial-thrust bearings on the core-shaft front end are contained in and surrounded by a hollow piston having front and rear faces axially flanking the thrust bearings. A cylinder fixed in the housing and surrounding the piston forms with the respective faces thereof front and rear compartments so that pressurization of the front compartment shifts the core shaft rearward and pressurization of the rear compartment shifts the core shaft forward.

Abstract: An improved arrangement of a fuel injection system within a personal watercraft reduces the likelihood that certain sensitive components of the fuel injection system will contact water, regardless of the orientation in which the watercraft floats. Because of the sporty nature of personal watercraft, these boats often are inverted or laid on their sides. The fuel injectors of the fuel injection system are positioned within an engine compartment of the watercraft so as to remain above the water surface level with the watercraft in any orientation. In one mode, the fuel injectors also are positioned above the ends of air ducts through which air is introduced into the engine compartment. The fuel injectors are also shielded by protective covers. As a result, the occurrences of water contacting the fuel injectors is reduced.

Abstract: A water jacket device for an outboard motor is designed to accommodate electrical components and improve cooling efficiency. The water jacket device has a base portion, and a cover portion hermetically coupled to the base portion for retaining a fluid between the base portion and the cover portion. The cover portion has an portion integrally formed with the cover portion, for installing an electrical component so that the electrical component is configured to be cooled by the fluid.

Abstract: An exhaust system for an outboard motor wherein the exhaust pipe which depends into the expansion chamber formed in the drive shaft housing is provided with a separate cooling jacket. Water from this separate cooling jacket is discharged into the expansion chamber at a point well below the discharge end of the exhaust pipe in a direction away from the exhaust pipe so as to avoid water ingestion into the engine through the exhaust system. A second expansion chamber communicates with an above the water exhaust gas discharge. This second expansion chamber communicates with the first expansion chamber through a restricted path formed in part by a flange of the exhaust pipe.

Abstract: The present personal watercraft is comprised of a hull with a center portion, and a pair of elongated side pontoons extending substantially behind the center portion. A rear-facing seat is arranged on the rear of the center portion. The rear of the hull behind the seat and between the pontoons is open for enabling a rider to kick for propulsion. The center portion and the pontoons each have a curved bottom for improving directional control. The hull includes a bow with a substantially slanted bottom, and sides that converge to a point for improving speed and gliding over seaweed. The hull is preferably made of a floatable rigid material. A watertight storage compartment is provided in the center portion for stowing equipment. Seat belts are connected across the seat for securing a rider in rough water. A removable apron is stretched across the pontoons behind the seat for use in fly fishing. A detachable harness attached to the top of the pontoons allow the watercraft to be carried on the back of a person.

Abstract: An improved process for fabricating nanotube field emitter structures is provided, in which the nanotubes protrude from a supporting base material to improve emission properties. The resulting emitter structure are useful in a variety of devices, including microwave vacuum tube devices and flat-panel, field-emission displays. To attain the protruding nanotube emitter structure, according to one embodiment of the invention, nanotubes and metal particles are mixed and consolidated into a compact, and the compact is then sectioned to expose a substantial number of nanotube ends. A layer of the metal is selectively etched from the sectioned surface, leaving the exposed nanotubes protruding from the surface. The extent of protrusion is at least twice the average diameter of the nanotubes, advantageously at least ten times the average diameter of the nanotubes.

Abstract: A hollow breakable object having a first shell section and a second shell section encapsulating a novelty item when the shell sections are affixed to each other. The sections are typically affixed by press-fitting, gluing, or taping the sections together. When the sections are affixed, they form a hollow shell, typically in an egg shape, having an enclosed internal chamber. The hollow shell may also have a scoring providing a convenient predefined break point on the object. Affixed to or incorporated as part of the interior of each section is an internal support structure to provide padding support to the novelty item. A coating is applied to the exterior of the affixed sections to form a breakable and dye absorptive surface of the object. The coating is made of either gypsum, limestone, silicate or a combination thereof and is advantageously capable of absorbing conventional egg dye. Additionally, the object is biodegradable.

Abstract: A building element for a set of toy building blocks that are capable of being interconnected in a releasable engagement includes a box with side walls, a top having one or more projections, and an open bottom providing access to interior surfaces for frictional engagement with the top projection(s). The side walls includes a plurality of grooves having entry openings of a given predominant width and a plurality of tongues having distal portions of a predominant width that is greater than the given predominant width of the groove entry openings for interconnecting in a releasable restraining engagement with grooves in another such building element. The tongues are flexible and split longitudinally into sections so that the tongues can be compressed laterally in order to effect the restraining engagement by frontally pressing the tongues into the grooves. The tongues can also be disengaged from the grooves by sliding the tongues from one end of the grooves.

Abstract: A programmable device such as a toy or novelty item has a keyboard which can be activated by a user to set up any one of multiple different motions of the toy. Sounds and lights can be activated to coordinate with the movement. The toy can be a car or other device capable of moving in the environment.

Abstract: A device which may be manipulated by the hand is useful as a toy and as an exercising device to rebuild motor skills and rebuild muscles and flexibility. The device comprises an elongate, endless member of a particular shape. The shape comprises a plurality of loops with a portion of the member passing through each loop. The device may be manipulated by bending the loops over one another or by deforming the loops along the general axis of the member so that a point on the member appears to move along the member in wave-like fashion. The member is flexible and resilient so that it may be deformed, but when released, assumes its initial shape. The initial shape may be dictated by a combination of resilience and contact between portions of the member or by the “memory” of the member.

Abstract: An eyeglass lens grinding apparatus which is designed to ensure that the lens processing operation proceeds smoothly enough to streamline the overall process flow. Processing information about right and left eyeglass lenses is provided on the basis of information about configuration of the eyeglass frame and information about a layout of each eyeglass lens with respect to the eyeglass frame. The processing information about the eyeglass lenses is stored in a memory even after processing has ended. Information about size correction is entered to modify the processing information. Lens corrective processing information is provided on the basis of the entered corrective information and the processing information stored in the memory. After sequentially processing the right and left eyeglass lenses on the basis of the processing information, corrective processing is carried out on the basis of the corrective processing information.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting CSP plates into individual pellets to put them on carrier trays for transportation includes a jig rack for the storing of jigs for holding CSP plates. A taking-in and -out table takes a selected jig out from the jig rack to transport it to an area in which CSP plates are brought and laid. The apparatus also includes a cassette table on which a CSP plate cassette is put. The selected CSP plate is taken out from the cassette and is put on an associated jig, which is laid on the table. A first transport transports the CSP plate-and-jig combination from the taking-in and -out table to a working table. The CSP plate is cut with a cutting blade, while the CSP plate-and-jig combination is held on the working table. The CSP plate is cut into individual pellets. A second transport transports the jig holding the CSP plate from the working table to a washing table where the cut CSP plate-and-jig combination are washed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for polishing a workpiece including a polishing pad, and at least one polishing arm for holding a workpiece to be polished on the polishing pad. The polishing arm includes at least one plastic bearing. The plastic bearing prevents lock up of a vacuum chuck coupled to the polishing arm because it is impervious to slurry which often becomes lodged in conventional ball bearings.

Abstract: A mirror surface grinding method processes an optical glass material into a lens shape using a cup-shaped grinding stone. The grinding stone is pupplied with a polishing solution which contains charged fine particles, thereby electrically attaching the charged fine particles to the grinding stone. The grinding stone is rotated and moved relative to the optical glass material along a final shape to be generated from the optical glass material, thereby grinding an unnecessary portion of the optical glass material to remove it, using a peripheral face portion of the grinding stone, and at the same time polishing the final shape surface of the optical glass material using charged fine particles attached to an annular face portion of the rotating and moving grinding stone.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for finishing a spectacle lens after it has been cut a first time, in order to pass said spectacle lens again on the grinder, which consists in implanting thereon a prehensile block for setting it on such a grinder. The invention is characterized in that it consists in implanting the block at some point of the spectacle lens preferably close to the center, in reading the spectacle lens outline leading to a reading of the read form for said spectacle lens, and in actuating the grinder on the basis of the difference between said read form and the desired final form.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for planarizing a microelectronic-device substrate assembly on a planarizing pad. In one aspect of the invention, material is removed from the substrate assembly by pressing the substrate assembly against a planarizing surface of a planarizing pad and moving the substrate assembly across the planarizing surface through a planarizing zone. The method also includes replacing at least a portion of a used volume of planarizing solution on the planarizing surface with fresh planarizing solution during the planarization cycle of a single substrate assembly. The used planarizing solution can be replaced with fresh planarizing solution by actively removing the used planarizing solution from the pad with a removing unit and depositing fresh planarizing solution onto the pad in the planarizing zone.

Abstract: To provide a small polishing means featuring high machining efficiency that is capable of efficiently and quickly mirror-polishing an outer periphery of a chamfered workpiece (5) by bringing the outer periphery into even contact with a plurality of polishing drums (2, 2) at the same time. In an apparatus for polishing an outer periphery by bringing an outer periphery of the workpiece (5) retained by workpiece retaining means (3a, 3b) into contact with two polishing drums (2, 2) simultaneously to perform mirror polishing, the workpiece retaining means (3a, 3b) are supported by a sliding mechanism (16) such that they may move in a direction in which the two polishing drums (2, 2) are arranged, thereby to form an aligning means. In addition, the workpiece retaining means (3a, 3b) are provided with loading means (30) for absorbing a force applied to the workpiece retaining means in an X direction, the force being generated due to contact between the rotating workpiece (5) and the polishing drums (2, 2).

Abstract: Systems for abrasive action include machinery for creating a vacuum and positive pressure to enable flow control while providing adequate vacuum to both retrieve and capture the spent abrasive material and the abraded material. A first embodiment includes a vacuum and boost operation facilitated by the use of a foot control for high control of abrasion, cleaning and polishing. A second embodiment is for use with human tissue and includes a vacuum only system with filtered air. A third embodiment includes vacuum with automatic boost for skilled medical personnel use and uses a minimum vacuum level to trigger a pre-set boost operation. The system utilizes air filtration, ultra violet, heat oven sterilization and secure waste storage. A manual contact tool is used closely with the area to be abraded supplanting any other control other than the pressing of the manual contact tool against the surface to be abraded, to create sufficient vacuum to trigger boost operation.

Abstract: A lapping or polishing machine which processes the surface of silicon wafer or other work piece by rotating a platen with constant supply of lapping or polishing compound. Said platen of the lapping or polishing machine is connected directly to a direct drive motor and driven by the direct drive motor, and the point to point control of said platen is carried out by a rotary encoder.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting fiber-cement siding. A fiber-cement siding cutting tool in accordance with the invention may have a hand-held motor unit with a housing, a motor inside the housing, and a switch operatively coupled to the motor to selectively activate the motor. A head having a casing may be attached to the housing of the motor unit The head may have a reciprocating drive assembly coupled to the motor. The hand-held cutting tool also has a blade set with first and second fingers attached to either the casing or the motor housing, and a reciprocating cutting member between the first and second fingers. The first finger may have a first guide surface and a first interior surface. Similarly, the second finger may have a second straight guide surface and a second interior surface. The reciprocating cutting member has a body and a blade projecting from the body.

Abstract: Lapping machine comprising a revolving turret (11) carrying at least several laps (13 to 17) that can be brought selectively into the machining position so that the laps can machine, in turn, one and the same cylindrical internal surface of a component. The laps comprise at least one expansion lap (17) and several progressive laps (15). The expansion lap (17) preferably has a stationary connector part (20) on its non-rotating part that can be coupled automatically to a moving connector part (21) when the expansion lap is in the machining position.

Abstract: A substrate holder for holding a substrate to be polished thereon and pressing the substrate against a polishing pad includes a substrate-holding head for holding the substrate thereon and pressing the substrate against the polishing pad. The substrate-holding head is disposed to be vertically movable toward/away from the polishing pad. A pressing member for pressing a peripheral region of the substrate, except for an outer edge region thereof, against the polishing pad is attached to the substrate-holding head.

Abstract: Systems and methods for polishing a substrate with reduced contamination are described. Moist air is directed to one or more surfaces in proximity to the polishing surface and exposed to airborne slurry particles generated during polishing. By maintaining the atmosphere in the vicinity of the exposed surfaces at an elevated relative humidity level, airborne slurry particles adhering to the exposed surfaces remain in suspension and, therefore, may be easily cleaned, e.g., during a high pressure rinse cycle. This feature reduces the likelihood that slurry particles will accumulate on exposed surfaces of the polishing apparatus and flake off while a substrate is being polished, reducing the likelihood of substrate defects caused by such slurry contamination.

Abstract: Surface treating articles and methods for the manufacture of such articles are provided. The articles of the invention comprise a rotatable core; a plurality of surface treating segments, the segments having first ends adjacent the core and second ends opposite the first ends; and a cured, expanded adhesive composition bonding the surface treating segment to the core, the adhesive composition comprising (a) an organic epoxide compound having an epoxide functionality of at least 1, (b) an epoxide hardener, (c) a film-forming material, and (d) a foaming agent; wherein the expanded adhesive provides a substantially continuous bond area extending from the core into and around the first end of the segments.

Abstract: A hand-held sharpening device for sharpening a blade including an elongated sharpening polygon having a plurality of substantially planar sharpening surfaces for receiving the edge of a blade, opposite ends on the elongated sharpening polygon, a plastic cap covering each of the ends, a graspable extension extending outwardly from one of the caps, and a tie in the form of a chain secured to the graspable extension.

Abstract: A device under the control of a programmable logic controller, cuts poultry carcasses into a predetermined amount of pieces that remain together and are deposited into a compartmentalized conveyor for continued separation until the cut up carcass or carcasses are deposited into the final packaging configuration. The device, can cut the tail, breast tip, drumsticks, split the breast into two halves in the front, remove internal organs not removed in the evisceration process, cut wings, split the back from the top of the breast to the bottom of the thigh, cut the breast portion from the thigh portion, and remove the leaf fat from the bottom of the thigh. The disclosed device can also skip some of the above cuts to generate different end products.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for holding the carcass of an animal in a selected position for removing skin from the carcass of the animal having a horizontal bench like platform supported by multiple legs. The animal which is to be skinned is placed on the horizontal platform with each of the four legs of the animal having attachment means to one each of four arms which are angularly attached to the horizontal bench. The animal's legs are attached to the arms by adjustable chains or the like and the carcass is held securely in position while it is skinned.

Abstract: A device for dynamically separating two zones by a bufer zone and two clean air curtains. When transferring objects at high speed between two zones, a buffer zone which is connected to the two zones, forms a dynamic lock in order to separate them. a dynamic confinement system placed between each pair of adjacent communication zones forms an air curtain including two or three clean air jets. The buffer zone includes a blower ceiling and an intake grill facing it.

Abstract: An air diffuser plenum for use with climate control systems to direct air to desired locations within the interior of a building. An inlet receives air from the climate control system. Within the air diffuser plenum is a cavity which receives the incoming air. The bottom of the housing has a diffuser insert mounted thereon which directs air from the cavity to outlets connected to the sides of the diffuser. The diffuser has a rectangular inlet to cooperate with a transition duct which preferably installed from the roof into a building. The diffuser also has a transition portion directing air from the inlet to a substantially square cross section area prior to directing air out of the vents. A method for making the diffuser is also disclosed.

Abstract: A husker roll for use in an agricultural product separating apparatus, such as a corn husking apparatus. The husker roll includes a plurality of axially extending ridges or flights which protrude radially from a cylindrical base segment of the roll. The cylindrical base segment may have a circular or elliptical cross-section. The axially extending flights may extend substantially straight or in a helical fashion along the length of the roll. The flights are spaced apart around the circumference of the base segment so as to define grooves between the flights, wherein the circumferential width of the grooves is larger than the circumferential width of the flights themselves. Preferably, the circumferential width of the grooves between the flights is approximately three times the circumferential width of the base portion of the flights.

Abstract: A straw chopper for a combine harvester having a chopper housing mounted to a combine for rotation about a transverse axis. The housing is movable from a chopping position, in which the chopper receives straw from the separator of the combine and chops and spreads the straw over a wide area, to a rearwardly raised windrowing position, in which straw falls from the combine to the ground in front of the chopper housing. By rotating the housing rearward and upward, increased access into the rear of the combine is possible. An electric motor driven lift actuator is provided to raise the chopper housing to the windrowing position where a mechanical latch locks the housing to the combine structure.

Abstract: A game machine of a type that a player object is moved on a map to encounter with a character includes a program storage storing a game program, a clock at least clocking a time, an operation device for operating the player object, and an image processor for varying a display image based on the operation of the operation device. The game program storage stores a program for varying an appearance condition of the character appearing on the game map based on time information of the clock.

Abstract: A shooting video game machine comprising a mock gun having a trigger, a monitor which presents flying characters and characters other than flying characters to form a game playing display while causing a bullet to travel in a predetermined direction in synchronization of the pulling of the trigger, and a controller module comprising a game controller and a graphic controller. The graphic controller comprises a graphic processor, a character control block, a bullet control block, a hit determining block, and a proximity determining block. The hit determining block determines whether the bullet hits each of the characters, and the proximity determining block determines whether the bullet hits the proximity area of each flying character, when the hit determining block determines that the bullet hits none of the characters. When the hit determining block determines that the bullet hits a character, a strike display is presented.

Abstract: The game system comprises an image display device; an operation input device issuing a signal corresponding to an operation of a player; a mode select device for selecting one mode between a breeding mode in which a breeding game is prepared and a competition mode in which a competition game is prepared; a breeding game control device for controlling a progress of the breeding game, and a competition game control device.

Abstract: A gaming machine having a display and game control, the game control being arranged to play a game wherein a plurality of symbols are randomly selected from a predetermined set of symbols and displayed in rows on the display and if a winning combination of symbols results, the machine pays a prize. In a first aspect, a triggering event invokes a game feature in which a sprite randomly designates one or more of the symbols displayed on the display to be treated as special symbols for that particular game and a prize is awarded for any winning combinations formed with one or more of the special symbols. Embodiments of the special symbol include a wild card symbol and a scatter symbol. In a second aspect, the sprite designates the win meter or the credit meter, causing the amounts shown on the win meter and credit meter to increase.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a game unit controller for controlling a game unit in a manner that simulates the feel of a bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, snowmobile, jet ski, or the like. The game unit controller includes a base with a clamp coupled thereto for securing the base to a peripheral edge of a table. Also included is a pivoting unit movably coupled to the base for generating control signals upon movement thereof. A handlebar assembly is coupled to the pivoting unit for being gripped by a user and moving the pivoting unit, thereby effecting the generation of the control signals which in turn control the associated game unit.

Abstract: A lottery on a network like the Internet can be more easily attained by preventing impersonation and validating participation. In a preferred embodiment, the opportunity to participate in the lottery is a reward for viewing an advertisement. When the advertisement is viewed a lottery ticket issuing number is displayed as an image file on the browser of the user viewing the advertisement. The image file is sent from the server providing the lottery service to the browser with HTML source to display the number. The image file on the lottery server is deleted after being sent, so that if the user requests re-display of the ticket issuing number display, the number cannot be obtained. The lottery server maintains a database of date and time stamped. requests for lottery ticket issuing numbers to prevent multiple requests during a single session. The user is requested to input the number displayed by the browser to find out whether it is a winning number.

Abstract: A method for conducting a promotional game or lottery in which the awards are access to one or more predetermined internet-based services or sites. Validation codes are distributed to customers on game cards or purchase receipts. The validation code is entered into a computer which is communicatively connected to the internet, and a number of e-points are awarded if the input validation code matches one of a plurality of validation codes stored at a remote site. The e-points are a measure of an amount of a benefit which is spent like money or elapses like time in response to usage of a designated internet service or site. The greater the number of e-points, the greater the benefit conferred upon the player. The e-points are exchangeable for limited access to the designated sites or services on the internet. The magnitude of the e-point reward may be based upon purchase transactions made in a retail store.

Abstract: A clutch disk assembly (1) is provided between an input shaft and an output shaft to selectively transmit rotation therebetween. The clutch disk assembly (1) is provided with a dampening mechanism (4) to provide smooth transition during engagement and disengagement of the clutch disk assembly. The dampening mechanism (4) has a more durable second retaining plate (32) with a rectangular window portion for transmitting torque. This second retaining plate (32) has a second receptacle (36) to support a first spring (16). The second retaining plate (32) includes a disk-like plate main body. The second receptacle (36) is formed from that plate main body. The second receptacle (36) projects in an axial direction from the plate main body. The second receptacle (36) includes an axially supporting part (36a) and a circular supporting part (36b). The axially supporting part (36a) supports an axially outside part of the first spring (16) and continues in a radial direction.