Abstract: An electrical connector includes a socket connector engagable with a plug connector. The plug connector slides into a recess of the socket connector and is securely guided and aligned with connection terminals during insertion. Complementary joining parts on the inside of the recess and the outer surface of the socket connector engage, prevent the socket connector from damaging the connection terminals in the recess, and securely guide the socket connector during insertion and reuse.

Abstract: An elongated hollow housing is made of a conductive material. The housing includes an opened first end for receiving the male terminal and a second end connected to the power supply. A first contactor made of a conductive material is located in the housing. The first contactor contacts the male terminal received into the housing. A second contactor made of a conductive material is located in the housing at a position closer to the first end than the first contactor is. The second contactor contacts the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the housing. The second contactor is deformed to separate from the male terminal after the male terminal is separated from the first contactor when the male terminal is removed from the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a housing having a retention structure, and a plurality of contacts extending through said housing. Each contact has a medial section, a mounting portion extending from one end of the medial section, and a compressive mating portion extending from another end of the medial section and having a distal end. The retention structure of the housing engages the distal ends of the compressive mating portions of the contacts to preload the contacts. The contacts extend through the housing and exhibit a preload. A fusible element is secured to each respective one of the contacts.

Abstract: In a small boat equipped with a display panel (liquid crystal device) displaying operation information and a change-over switch (set switch) capable of switching from a normal operation in which output of an engine is not limited to a limited operation in which the output of the engine is limited low, the display panel has a display lamp (limit mode display mark) for lighting when switched to the limited operation. Since there is provided a display lamp for lighting when switched to the limited operation for a small boat capable of switching from a normal operation in which output of an engine is not limited to a limited operation in which the output of the engine is limited low, the convenience can be afforded to the operator.

Abstract: An electrical component mounting structure for a personal watercraft which simplifies a waterproof treatment of the electrical components. The structure includes an exhaust outlet of the exhaust pipe formed on one side of the body of the personal watercraft in a lateral direction. In this personal watercraft, a plurality of electrical components is disposed in the body so as to be offset on the one side from a central portion in the lateral direction. In other words, none of these electrical components is disposed in the vicinity of a wall surface on the other side of the body. The electrical components are preferably disposed in the body at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction, and at least one of a plurality of the electrical components is preferably mounted to a side wall constituting the one side of the body.

Abstract: A kit is provided permitting a retrofit conversion of an existing trolling motor to foot pedal operation.

Abstract: A marine propulsion housing arrangement includes an improved construction for inhibiting an influx of water into the housing and for protecting the components thereof. A marine outboard drive comprises a drive unit and at least a swivel bracket that supports the drive unit for pivotal movement with a steering shaft. At least one mount assembly is provided for unifying the drive unit and the steering shaft. The mount assembly includes at least one mount members affixed to the drive unit and a hub member united with the mount member. The hub member is connected to both the drive unit and the steering shaft so as to unify them. A mount cover generally covers both of the mount member and the hub member.

Abstract: A mounting support (100, 200) for a marine vessel inboard drive propulsion system used in connection with a precision driveline includes a substantially cylindrical housing (107), one or more bearing assemblies (113) positioned within the cylindrical housing (107) for promoting rotation of a drive shaft (103) and one or more seals (119) typically located at both ends of the housing (107) for preventing water from contacting one or more of the bearing assemblies (113).

Abstract: A swim fin and a method providing thrust from a kick by a swimmer are disclosed. The swim fin includes a swim fin for use by a swimmer comprising a foot pocket adapted to receive a foot of the swimmer; a blade extending from the foot pocket; a biasing system configured to allow the blade to bend within a narrow range of angles of attack under a wide range of loads. The method comprises providing a swim fin comprising a foot pocket, a blade, and one or more non-linear ribs that extend generally perpendicular to the blade. The method also comprises bending the blade relative to the foot pocket about an axis and controlling the bending of the blade by providing varying resistance by the non-linear ribs.

Abstract: A water sports device for supporting a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the device including an elongated board having a front end and a back end to which is secured a seat for supporting the buttocks of the rider in a position spaced from and roughly centered above the back one-third of the board, a binding for securing the feet of the rider over the top of the board secured to the board, an elongated hydrofoil extends downward from the board and a planing blade secured to the hydrofoil spaced from the board, so as to be generally parallel to the board so that the planing blade provides essentially no lift when the board is horizontal. The improvement resides in enabling the rider of a personal sit down hydrofoil to adjust the binding to accommodate his/her leg length and increase the amount of control the rider has when mounted to the ski.

Abstract: A marine buoyancy unit which fits at least partly around a marine object such as a riser with auxiliary conduits is composed of syntactic foam with an external layer or skin of harder polymeric composite. To reinforce the unit slots or channels are cut in the exterior of the unit or borings are created which extend within the unit and reinforcement in the form of webs or strips are placed into the slots or channels or borings. The reinforcement is embedded into the slots, channels or borings by introducing a curable resin.

Abstract: A method for creating an electron lens includes the steps of applying a polymer layer on an emitter surface of an electron emitter and then curing the polymer layer to reduce volatile content.

Abstract: The wirings on an electron source substrate are formed to intersect with each other in a matrix so as to address the electron emission devices on the substrate. First and second wirings intersect with each other on a crossing point. As such a crossing point, an insulating layer is placed between the first and second wirings. To ensure insulation, a plurality of insulating layers are laminated. According to the present invention, a wiring pattern is provided on the substrate with a conductive paste and baking the wiring pattern of the conductive paste to form the first wiring. Subsequently part of the first wiring is coated at the crossing point with an insulating paste and baking the insulating paste to form a first insulating layer. The coating thickness of the insulating layer formed adjacent to sidewalls of the crossing point is substanially equal to the height of the first wiring.

Abstract: A package method for an organic electro-luminescent display, which spreads a certain amount of ultra-violet curing resin or thermal curing resin on a lamination plate or a substrate, to obtain a global spreading effect by forming a trench at an of the lamination plate. The lamination plate with the trench at the edge thereon is provided by a lamination plate supply system. The lamination plate is aligned and laminated with the substrate, and ultra-violet light radiation or thermal process is performed for curing the ultra-violet or thermal curing resin, respectively. In the alignment and lamination process, the space between the lamination plate and the substrate is controlled by adjusting lamination pressure and movement of the lamination machine; thereby, the exceeding ultra-violet or thermal curing resin flows into the trench at the edge of the lamination plate, and dimension of the package can thus be controlled.

Abstract: Plasma display panels of the prior art are prone to cross talk leading to unstable image.

Abstract: A balloon device includes a plurality of aesthetically discrete balloon members, wherein at least a first one of the aesthetically discrete inflatable members defines a first aesthetic moiety, at least a second balloon member defines a second aesthetic moiety; and a connecting member connecting member that connects the balloon members has an appearance that maintains an aesthetic separation between the first and second aesthetic moieties. The connecting member may be transparent, translucent, or have a color that matches the color of a background where the balloon device is intended to be displayed.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dancing figure that includes a body defined by a torso, a head, and a pair of arms, and a pair of legs pivotally attached to the torso at a hip region. Each leg includes at least an upper leg section pivotally attached to a lower leg section at a knee region. Also included therewith is a pair of oversized feet adapted to provide support such that the figure is free-standing. The pair of oversized feet is separately and pivotally attached to one of the lower leg sections at an ankle region. Each foot houses a foot mechanism for independently pivoting the lower leg sections forwards and backwards at said ankle region, wherein the pivoting at said ankle regions causes pivoting motion at the knee regions and hip region to simulate animated movement in the figure. In addition thereto the foot mechanism may independently twist the foot to the left and right.

Abstract: A doll head defines a pair of eye apertures and a pair of outwardly extending ears. A mask also having eye apertures and ear portions is removably attached to the doll head to overlie the facial portions thereof. The mask includes a snap fit attachment which engages the ear portions of the doll head. The apertures of the mask generally align with the eye apertures of the doll head when the mask is attached. An eye change mechanism supportive within the doll head provides alternative eye images viewed through the respective eye apertures of the head and mask.

Abstract: A simulated emergency vehicle display, for providing realistic light and sound in a toy emergency vehicle having a housing, having a front, a back, and a roof. A pair of headlights are located at the front, a pair of tail lights are located at the rear, and a plurality of light bar LEDs are located on the roof. A control circuit alternately illuminates each of the headlights, alternately flashes each of the tail lights three times, and repeatedly illuminates the light bar LEDs in sequence to simulate motion by the light bar LEDs. A speaker is selectively activated to provide a realistic siren sound.

Abstract: A radio controlled toy vehicle having a frame comprised of a first frame portion and a transmission assembly portion. The transmission assembly portion having two wheels connected to an axle to support the transmission assembly and an electric motor and gear system for moving the toy vehicle in a forward or reverse direction. The toy vehicle has a gear box with an electric motor a first and second rotatable cam. A rod connected to the transmission assembly and rotatably mounted on a pin and engaging a rod from on of the first rotatable cam to act as a cam follower moving the rod in an up and down direction when the first rotatable cam rotates thereby extending the transmission assembly. A second rod connected to a third wheel and engaging a rod located on the second rotatable cam distal to the wheel and acting as a cam follower wherein the rod moves in an up and down direction when the second rotatable cam rotates, thereby extending the wheel attached at the distal end of the rod.

Abstract: An attachable breast form enhancement system comprising a pair of breast forms adjoined by a connector. The breast forms have an interior surface with a pressure sensitive adhesive layer that adjoins to the user's breasts. The pressure sensitive adhesive layer can be a permanently grown pressure sensitive adhesive that has an adhesion force to the breast forms that is greater than a cohesion force to the user's breasts. The connector adjoins the separated breast forms by attaching to the inner sides of the breast forms and pulling the user's breasts together. The connector can be either permanently or removably attached to the breast forms. Several different configurations of breast forms and connectors are available to achieve the benefits of the present breast form system. The improved breast form system allows a user to eliminate use of traditional bras by simply adhering the pair of breast forms to the user's breasts/skin, and then adjoining the breast forms with the connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for lapping a workpiece including a plurality of magnetic heads supported by a tool is disclosed. The lapping apparatus comprises a rotary-lapping table having an abrasive surface, and a lapping device assembly provided so as to be movable with respect to the abrasive surface of the lapping table. The lapping device assembly includes a device provided at a lower portion of the lapping device assembly for supporting the tool and a device for respectively applying predetermined loads to a plurality of load applying portions of the tool. The load applying portions of the tool is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the tool. The load-applying device applies the loads from a plurality of different directions to at least one of the load applying portions of the tool so that the tool is deformed into a predetermined shape.

Abstract: An integrated lapping guide (ILG) is described including at least one read-head and an electronic lapping guide (ELG). In one embodiment, the ELG is offset from the height of the read-head. Resistance between the read-head and the ELG can be measured during the lapping process. During the initial phase of the lapping process, the ELG dominates the change in ILG resistance and provides a long-range stripe-height control allowing for inclination and bending of the row of magneto-resistive (MR) heads. During the latter phases of the lapping process, the read-head dominates the change in ILG resistance and provides a short-range, uniform read-head resistance control. In this embodiment, the transition between the long-range stripe-height control and the short-range, uniform read-head resistance control is smooth, providing a marked benefit to the read-head manufacturing process.

Abstract: The substrate polishing apparatus for polishing a polishing surface of a substrate comprises a film thickness monitoring device for monitoring a state of a film thickness of a thin film on the polishing surface of the substrate during polishing. The apparatus includes a table, a polishing member fixed on a surface of the table, a substrate support member for pressing the substrate onto the polishing member, an optical system composed of an optical fiber for irradiating the polishing surface of the substrate with a light of irradiation and an optical fiber for receiving a reflected light reflected on the polishing surface of the substrate, an analysis-processing system for processing an analysis of the reflected light received with the optical system, and the film-thickness monitoring device, wherein the table is provided with a liquid-feeding opening for feeding a translucent liquid into a through-hole disposed in the polishing member.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring tension associated with a robot-controlled belt utilized in a semiconductor wafer polishing apparatus. A belt tension monitor can be adapted for use with the semiconductor wafer polishing apparatus to detect a variable tension of the robot-controlled belt. An upper tension limit and a lower tension limit of the robot-controlled belt may then be monitored utilizing the belt tension monitor to prevent a breakage of the robot-controlled belt during a semiconductor wafer polishing operation thereby extending a life of the robot-controlled belt. The belt tension monitor can be installed at an inertial pulley of a robot associated with the semiconductor wafer polishing apparatus to detect the variable tension of the robot-controlled belt.

Abstract: A lapping method includes a step of moving a substantially bar-shaped workpiece in a radial direction of a surface of a rotary lapping plate while simultaneously oscillating the workpiece pivotally about a central point in a longitudinal direction of the workpiece in a plane parallel to the surface of the rotary lapping plate.

Abstract: An invention is provided for a carrier head that includes a metal plate having an opening formed in a central location. The metal plate has a wafer side, which faces the backside of a wafer during a CMP operation, and a non-wafer side. Positioned above the non-wafer side of the metal plate, and located above the opening in the metal plate, is a bladder or membrane. To facilitate uniformity during polishing, an inflating pressure is applied to the bladder, or membrane, that is substantially equivalent to a polishing pressure utilized during the CMP operation. To facilitate transporting the wafer, a vacuum can be applied to the opening in the metal plate to adhere the wafer to the carrier head. Further, to release the wafer from the carrier head, the bladder, or membrane, can be inflated such that it protrudes through the opening in the metal plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an abrasive article formed of a binder, abrasive particles associated with the binder, and a lubricating particulate additive comprising polytetrafluoroethylene associated with the binder. The abrasive article of the invention is useful in the polishing of fiber optic connectors because the lubricating particulate additive allows the polishing rate of the softer glass fiber material to be slower than the polishing rate of the harder ceramic ferrule material. Methods of manufacture and methods of polishing a fiber optic connector is also provided.

Abstract: A polishing surface cleaning method and apparatus are capable of effectively removing the polishing residue from the polishing surface of a polishing table in a polisher by using a minimal amount of cleaning liquid. In the polisher, a workpiece to be polished is pressed against the polishing surface of the polishing table to polish the workpiece by relative motion between the polishing surface and the workpiece. The polishing surface cleaning apparatus uses mixing spray nozzles for mixing together a cleaning liquid and a gas and spraying the resulting fluid mixture on the polishing surface to clean it.

Abstract: A centrifugal barrel finishing apparatus centrifugally polishing, grinding or otherwise finishing workpieces includes a revolving member mounted on a first rotatable shaft so as to be rotated with the first shaft, a barrel mounted to be rotated about a second shaft, the barrel having both axial ends, a stopper mounted on the second shaft so as to be abutted against one axial end side of the barrel, and a fluid pressure cylinder including a piston and mounted on the second shaft so that the piston pushes the other axial end side of the barrel so that the barrel is held between the stopper and the cylinder.

Abstract: A portable grinding machine for grinding or restoring a relief angle (34) onto the rotary blades of a grass mowing machine in a transverse reciprocal movement the grinding machine comprising a blade support means for automatically maintaining the rotary blades (2, 102) of said mowing machine in contact with the grinding wheel (5, 105) during the reciprocal movement of the grinding machine along a blade.

Abstract: An orbital sander is provided having a number of novel features including a high speed permanent magnet DC motor having a relatively flat rpm versus torque curve. The sander includes an AC to DC power supply, a remotely located on/off switch operated by a switch actuator bar extending transversely through the housing enabling the operator to actuate the on/off switch by alternatively pushing opposed ends of the actuator bar. The orbital sander further includes a fan having non-uniformly spaced blades, eliminating the need for a conventional counterweight, and a dust outlet adapted to be alternatively connected to a dust canister or alternate size collector vacuum hoses.

Abstract: A combination abrasive disc and backing plate provide workpiece viewing and blowing collectively through aligned viewing apertures. The backing plate has a bottom surface adapted to support the abrasive disc and an opposed top surface. Coordinated alignment of the viewing apertures of the disc and plate allows observation of a workpiece collectively through the disc and plate during rotary drive thereof. The plate's viewing aperture is partially adjoined by a scoop formation on the plate's top surface. The scoop is arranged for deflecting air from above the plate's top surface and consequently forcing such in a current collectively through the aligned viewing apertures of the disc and plate. This blowing current acts to both blow away debris from the field of view and thereby reduce viewing impairment, as well as to provide some cooling to the workpiece.

Abstract: A bevel edging wheel is described which has differing hardness abrasive matrices on the bevel cutting surfaces. The bevel edging wheel, which is suitable for edge finishing of an optical lens, includes: (1) a hub portion for attachment to a rotary power source: and (2) an outer circumferential cutting surface having a width, the surface including a bevel edging portion including a first abrasive surface and a second abrasive surface adapted for forming a bevel edge on a lens. The first abrasive surface comprises a first abrasive matrix, and the second abrasive surface comprises a second abrasive matrix wherein one of the first abrasive matrix or the second abrasive matrix has an effective hardness greater than the other.

Abstract: Coated abrasive articles comprise a backing and an abrasive layer, wherein at the abrasive layer comprises a reaction product of components comprising polyfunctional acrylate, alicyclic polyepoxide, and aromatic polyepoxide having an average epoxy functionality of at least 2.5.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for planarizing a microelectronic substrate. In one embodiment, a planarizing pad for mechanical or chemical-mechanical planarization includes a base section and a plurality of embedded sections. The base section has a planarizing surface, and the base section is composed of a first material. The embedded sections are arranged in a desired pattern of voids, and each embedded section has a top surface below the planarizing surface to define a plurality of voids in the base section. The embedded sections are composed of a second material that is selectively removable from the first material. A planarizing pad in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be made by constructing the embedded sections in the base section and then removing a portion of the embedded sections from the base section. By removing only a portion of the embedded sections, this procedure creates the plurality of voids in the base section and leaves the remaining portions of the embedded sections.

Abstract: A coin or token sorting apparatus is disclosed. In this apparatus, a hopper within which coins are placed is provided with a floor, the floor also serving as a dispenser for spreading the coins out in generally across the floor. From one side of the floor the coins are provided to a plurality of V-shaped troughs being bisected longitudinally so as to create a coin path down each inner side of each trough. Coins are oriented in a single file as they move down each side of a respective trough. After being so oriented, the coins enter a region of a respective trough having a slot in a bottom thereof, with the coins riding along a narrow ridge of the slot. For each diameter of coin or token, a diverter is provided along the slot so that a coin to be sorted engages the diverter and is lifted off the ridge and directed through the slot. As such, larger coins are sorted first, with smaller coins moving unaffected past a diverter for a larger coin.

Abstract: A coin processing apparatus has an opening for receiving a plurality of coins of different types, a coin sensor adapted to determine a respective type of individual coins among the plurality of coins, a controller operatively coupled to the coin sensor, a coin separator operatively coupled to the controller and capable of separating the individual coins from the plurality of coins under control of the controller. Moreover, the apparatus has a coin packaging device comprising a coin inlet, a supply of packaging material and a packaging mechanism capable of producing a plurality of coin bags from the supply, so that at least two different coin types are packaged in the coin bags in a continuous operation.

Abstract: A damper for an air passageway comprises a rigid carrier plate having opposed faces defined by a periphery with a shape generally corresponding to but smaller than the shape of a cross-section of the air passageway and formed of a material having a melting point above an activation temperature range; a heat-expandable sealing material mounted to at least one of the opposed faces of the rigid carrier plate and which is adapted to expand at a temperature in the activation temperature range; the sealing material, when activated, is adapted to expand radially from the rigid carrier plate to form an integral seal with the carrier plate. The heat-expandable sealing material can be integrally molded to the outer periphery of the carrier plate. A process for making the damper with integral seal is also disclosed.

Abstract: An air quality system for controlling air quality in a cabin of a vehicle is provided. The air quality system utilizes three air quality sensors for detecting three air quality parameters. A controller is responsive to the air quality sensors. The controller is programmed to determine a current value of the air quality parameters from the air quality sensors and to determine whether the current value of any of the air quality parameters exceeds a predetermined limit. The predetermined limits for the air quality parameters are based on levels indicative of poor air quality for the cabin. The controller is operable between purging and non-purging modes to purge the air from the cabin in the purging mode when the current value of any of the measured air quality parameters exceeds the respective predetermined limit.

Abstract: In an initial stage of a cool down operation of a vehicle air conditioner, a rapid cooling operation is performed while cool air is directly blown to a passenger from direct air outlets. In a later stage of the cool down operation of the vehicle air conditioner, a temperature of an inner wall portion of a passenger compartment is reduced while cool air is indirectly supplied to the passenger of the passenger compartment from the indirect air outlet. Accordingly, cool air can be locally blown to the passenger in the initial stage, and cool air can be supplied to the entire passenger compartment while restricting an adverse effect due to heat radiation of the inner wall portion in the later stage. Thus, operation performance of the air conditioner can be improved while comfortable air conditioning feeling can be given to the passenger in the passenger compartment.

Abstract: A vehicle interior structure includes an air vent wall. The air vent wall has a nonpermeable layer, a nonpermeable surface layer and a permeable layer. The permeable layer has a three-dimensional net construction and is disposed between the nonpermeable layer and the nonpermeable surface layer. The permeable layer has two welded nonpermeable portions, which are extended linearly. An air passage is formed between the welded nonpermeable portions. The vehicle interior structure is applied to a vehicle temperature control system including an air conditioning unit and an air blower unit. The interior of the vehicle is ventilated through the air passage of the air vent wall.

Abstract: An air partitioning device for a vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system to divide a hot air stream into separate portions comprises an L-shaped front portion including a base leg and a dividing leg, and also comprises a tail portion extending from a back of the front portion, the tail portion oriented angularly to the dividing leg.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for venting interior cores of composite structures. Generally, the venting system includes a mounting assembly and a venting medium. The mounting assembly generally interconnects the venting system to the composite structure generally with respect to a first air hole of the composite structure. The venting medium may have a perimeter region and an airflow region disposed inwardly of the perimeter region. In one aspect, this airflow region of the venting medium may be free from direct contact with any other portion of the venting system. In another aspect, the venting medium may be made of a fluorocarbon polymer/copolymer. Upon implementation of the present invention, airflow that is generally directed through the first air hole and that passes between the core of the composite structure and an exterior environment (e.g., a payload compartment) generally passes through the venting medium of the venting system.

Abstract: A method for controlling building interior air pressure that is different from external environment air pressure, wherein the internal and external air pressure difference can be significantly large. The internal and external air pressure difference is maintained through partitioning the internal airway using permeable porous walls. A method for building the permeable porous walls using unit permeable porous blocks including boxes of granular particulates is provided to ease not only the installation but also the repair and replacement of the permeable porous walls, and also to maximize the reusability of the materials used to build the walls.

Abstract: A tool that is provided for the removal and the installation of a threshing concave is disclosed. The tool has a pair of spaced support arms for slideably receiving end sections of a threshing concave. The support arms are provided with mechanism for attachment of the arm to the housing. The housing has an inner arm section that extends to one side of the attachment mechanism for supporting the concave inside the housing when the support arm is attached to the housing. The outer arm section extends to the other side of the attachment mechanism for supporting a threshing concave outside the housing when the support arm is attached to the housing.

Abstract: An invention creating a new method for providing customized interactive entertainment over a communications network. A method for selecting a player from a player database and for selecting a character with specific character attributes from a character database. These characters are made available at different prices or subscription rates based on criteria such as power, rarity, or importance to ongoing plot lines in the context of the game. The invention is made available via a plurality of networks to a plurality of players playing a plurality of games.

Abstract: The present invention is a gaming device and preferably a bonus round game of a gaming device that, after setting a count initially to zero, enables an input to be sent to the processor upon a player's selection of one of a plurality of displayed choices. After receiving the input, the game randomly generates a component from a preferably weighted database associated with the choice or with the order of the selection. The game adds the generated component to the count. The game awards the player if the updated count is below a predetermined game termination condition. The game ends if the updated count satisfies the game terminating condition. The game repeats this process until the updated count satisfies the game terminating condition.

Abstract: In a gambling game a collateral gambling game which can be won by players on at least one specific event occurring in the principal game, the collateral game being separate from the principal game but one when any of the possible winning events occur in the principal game, the payment to the player being calculated from the total value available for the game divided by the total number of players who bet on the specific winning event. The game gives a possibility for a large number of players to share in the success of a single player who has successfully won the main game. It may be used with various types of games including those using electronic gaming machines.

Abstract: A gaming machine of the type that disgorges a payout is provided a signal that defines an enhanced payout interval of selective duration. A count down display provides a visual and/or audible indication of the time remaining for the enhanced payout interval. The machine disgorges an enhanced payout in concurrent response to the signal and a payout event. In one embodiment, a signal generator periodically provides a timing pulse to the gaming machine of a duration that comprises the enhanced payout interval. When a payout event occurs during the enhanced payout interval, the machine disgorges an enhanced payout. The enhanced payout may be inhibited when the coin in of the machine between timing pulses is less than a predetermined amount. In another embodiment, clock pulses increment an activity counter during a pre-selected activity interval. The enhanced payout signal may be provided to the gaming machine after the activity interval.