Abstract: A semiconductor device (700) comprising a sheet-like substrate (701) of insulating material, the substrate having first and second surfaces; a plurality of conductive terminals (702) on the first substrate surface; at least one elastic member (705) protruding from each terminal; the members at least partially enclosed by a reflow element (704) attached to the respective terminal. The members are shaped to withstand mechanical stress exerted on the element; they may be one ore more straight pins, or a pin with one or more bendings. A semiconductor chip (710) is assembled on the second substrate surface.

Abstract: The semiconductor device having a bonding pad is provided. The bonding pad enables highly reliable connection and high flexibility of the selection of the area to be bonded. The semiconductor device includes a bonding pad and an area designation marking. The bonding pad includes a first region, a second region and a third region formed between the first region and the third region. The area designation marking includes a first notch for designating a first boundary of the first region and the third region and a second notch for designation a second boundary of the second region and the third region. Any of the first region and the second region can be used as the region where the scratch formed by a probing process is to be formed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit die having an active area that must remain exposed after packaging is secured by a compliant die attachment by which the integrated circuit die is held in position within a transfer mold during encapsulation. The compliant die attachment may comprise a flexible, compressible tape having pressure-sensitive adhesive, alone or with a rigid substrate support, or a compliant adhesive preferably applied only around a periphery of the die attach area. Deformation of the compliant die attachment under mold clamping pressure allows complete contact of the mold with the active area, preventing bleeding of the encapsulating material under the edge of a mold portion onto the active area.

Abstract: A chip compressing mechanism is provided. The chip compressing mechanism essentially comprises a loading component, a head component, a gimbal and a plurality of fixing pieces. The head component is disposed under the loading component, with a gap in-between. The gimbal is disposed between the loading component and the head component to support the gap therebetween. The fixing pieces run through the loading component and nail down the head component, wherein the fixing pieces can slide correlatively to the loading component.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of connection pads on an upper surface thereof, a protective film made of a resin which is provided on the semiconductor substrate, and has openings at those portions to which the respective connection pads correspond, an altered layer having a mesh-like structure formed on an upper surface of the protective film, and a metallic layer provided on upper surfaces of the connection pads and an upper surfaces of the altered layer.

Abstract: A chip module with a substrate having a top side, a chip mounted on the top side of the substrate, and an encapsulation includes an encapsulation material. The encapsulation is applied on the chip and the top side of the substrate in such a way that the chip and the top side of the substrate are at least partly covered. The encapsulation material includes a polymer composition having at least a first polymer component and a second polymer component which are chemically covalently bonded by means of a crosslinker, the first polymer component imparting resistance toward a first class of chemically reactive compounds and the second polymer component imparting resistance toward a second class of chemically reactive compounds, the reactivities differing between the first and second classes of chemically reactive compounds.

Abstract: In a liquid substance supply device, a three port two valve directional control valve is provided in a transfer line, and a substance container and the transfer line are connected together by a four port three valve directional control valve in such a way that the four port three valve directional control valve and the substance container can be removed from the transfer line as a unit. Furthermore, in a vaporizer, an orifice member is provided to surround the end portion of an internal conduit in which flows a mixture substance consisting of a gas and a liquid substance mixed therewith, and gas for atomization is spouted into a vaporization chamber through a gap defined between the internal conduit and the orifice member. Yet further, the temperature of a vaporization surface in the vaporization chamber can be controlled independently in correspondence with the nature of the liquid substance.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to a process for contacting a liquid phase and a second fluid phase, comprising: flowing the liquid phase and/or second fluid phase in a process microchannel in contact with surface features in the process microchannel, the contacting of the surface features with the liquid phase and/or second fluid phase imparting a disruptive flow to the liquid phase and/or second fluid phase; contacting the liquid phase with the second fluid phase in the process microchannel; and transferring mass from the liquid phase to the second fluid phase and/or from the second fluid phase to the liquid phase.

Abstract: An optical film manufacturing method, including steps of: casting a dope in which a thermoplastic resin is dissolved in a solvent, on a support so as to form a web; peeling and conveying the web from the support; measuring a physical property of the conveyed web at plural positions along a lateral direction of the web and obtaining a deviation among plural measurement values of the physical property at the plural positions: and drying the web by adjusting drying conditions at the plural positions to differ in accordance with the deviation.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for determining plastic components of a blended plastic material. According to a method of the present invention, a blending computer access supply data describing characteristics of each of a plurality of plastic components. The blending computer receives specification data which identifies at least one desired characteristic of the blended plastic material. The blending computer processes the supply data and the specification data to determine combinations of certain of the plastic components that may produce the blended plastic material having the at least one desired characteristic. The blending computer determines, for each combination, a preferred percentage of each of the plastic components of the combination, and reports the combinations and preferred percentages.

Abstract: A bumper system includes a bumper beam having a face and ends, and an energy absorber mounted on the face. The energy absorber has a one-piece injection-molded non-foam piece with box sections and interconnecting straps, and a one-piece or multi-piece foam component securely insert-molded onto the injection-molded non-foam piece. Different foam molds can be used to form differently shaped front surfaces on the foam component. By this arrangement, different energy absorbing systems are provided for vehicles, such as to satisfy the need for different styling and shapes, while still using the same non-foam piece. By this arrangement, the energy absorber is a single unit that can be handled and attached to the bumper beam. At the same time, capital investment in molding dies and tooling is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a microporous plastic product using a plastic source material, a physical and/or chemical propellant and further using especially exfoliated nanoparticles. The plastic source material is treated with the propellant in a preceding process steps in the presence of nanoparticles, thereby producing microporous foamed molded plastic articles having a large number of pores and an even pore distribution. The inventive plastic molded articles are not subject to shrinkage or warpage and have an optically appealing, smooth surface as well as advantageous shock and sound absorption properties. The invention also relates to plastic source materials that contain nanoparticles and propellants.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hand access laparoscopy device having a gelcap, a retainer, a sleeve and a retention ring. The gelcap includes gel that is bonded to a cap. The cap includes an inner cylindrical wall to which the gel in bonded, thereby providing a sealing area between the device and the wound in a body wall. By securing the gel to the inner cylindrical wall, the thickness of the gel and corresponding cap is minimized along with the overall footprint of the device. With the gel thickness reduced and able to be substantially flush, the “doming” phenomenon produced by insufflation of a patient's abdomen is reduced.

Abstract: A die for extrusion-molding in accordance with the present invention comprises: a molding groove part, a material supplying part, and an outer frame for fixing a die main body comprising the molding groove part and the material supplying part to the front end of an extrusion-molding apparatus, wherein the die main body has a form in which the plate-shaped molding groove part smaller than the material supplying part is provided at almost the middle of the plate-shaped material supplying part such that it protrudes from the material supplying part, the outer frame comprises: a die holding part which is provided such that it covers the material supplying part around the molding groove part; and a peripheral part which is provided near the die holding part, and supposing that the thickness of the molding groove part is X, the thickness of the material supplying part is Y, and the thickness of the die holding part of the outer frame is Z, these X, Y and Z are allowed to satisfy the inequalities (1) about 3?X?about

Abstract: A method and system for continuously preparing a solvent cast film having a secondary component are disclosed. The method includes continuously providing a pressurized stream of polymer solution, continuously combining a fluid stream including a secondary component with the pressurized stream of polymer solution, homogeneously mixing the combination of polymer solution and fluid stream in-line, continuously applying the resulting homogeneous mixture of polymer solution and secondary component to a continuously moving surface, and then evaporating solvent from the mixture to form a polymeric film.

Abstract: A method and system for continuously preparing a crosslinked, solvent-cast film are disclosed. The method includes continuously providing a pressurized stream of polymer solution, continuously combining a fluid stream including a crosslinking agent with the pressurized stream of polymer solution, mixing the combination of polymer solution and fluid stream in-line, continuously applying the resulting mixture to a continuously moving surface, and then evaporating solvent from the mixture to form a polymeric film.

Abstract: A process for making a lightweight composite for use in at least one of a counter top, shower surround, bath tub, sink and various other preselected commercial products. The process comprises the steps of forming a surface coat having a predetermined thickness and a step of laying cotton flock and low profile tooling resin into preselected areas of the surface coat adjacent a bottom surface thereof. There is a step of applying a layer of fiber reinforcement and low profile tooling resin onto at least the cotton flock and a step of applying a resin coat to such bottom surface of the cotton flock and the surface coat. There is a step of adhering a surface of a core member to the surface of the resin coat and a step of laminating a layer of fiber reinforced, low profile tooling resin onto a radially opposed surface of the core member to form a composite. Another step is applying a weight to the composite to keep the core member from warping during curing.

Abstract: In a resin sealing and molding method of an electronic component, a mold assembly of a three-piece structure of upper, intermediate and lower molds, and a mold release film are used. When the mold release film covers a cavity surface, it is forcibly attracted toward a lower mold cavity surface. Thus, the entire surface of the cavity, including a cavity surface formed of cavity side surface, cavity partition surface and communication path surface, in addition to the lower mold cavity surface, is covered with the mold release film applied with tension. Molten resin within the cavity is distributed uniformly into blocks constituting the cavity, via a communication path, and the electronic component in each block is sealed and molded while being completely immersed in the molten resin. This ensures close contact of the mold release film with the cavity along its shape, and prevents warpage of the finished, sealed substrate.

Abstract: A movable platen (4) capable of advance and retraction with respect to a fixed plate is provided with a tie bar connecting device (12) for meshing a split nut (18) with the multiple groove portion (16) of a tie bar (10), and a mold clamping cylinder (20) operable with the split nut (18) serving as a reaction force point. The mold clamping cylinder (20) comprises a primary piston (22) contacting the split nut (18) and a secondary piston (24) movable relative to the primary piston (22). It is arranged that the movable platen (4) is stopped just before the position at which the movable mold contacts the fixed mold, and in this state the split nut (18) is reliably meshed with the multiple groove portion (16). Thereafter, the secondary piston (24) and primary piston (22) are moved integrally with respect to the movable platen (4) so as to effect mold contacting and mold clamping. After molding, the secondary piston (24) and the primary piston (22) are relatively moved to effect mold release.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of molding a resin coated bearing. When a molten resin is injected toward a substantially central portion of a disk space of forming dies from a sprue formed on an upper die, the molten resin is filled into a cavity through a film gate after the molten resin is led to the disk space from a pin gate, so that any weld is absent on a resin member, which covers an outer race, thus enabling uniformizing a coating member in resin strength and suppressing generation of crack on the coating member even at the time of high loading. Also, since the film gate formed on a whole peripheral edge of the disk space is formed from a lower die and an upper die, there is an advantage that after working suffices to take out a resin coated bearing from the both dies and to cut a runner in the disk space.

Abstract: In order to allow vertical ventilation in a plurality of circumferential locations around the contour surface of a mold in the process of molding and regulate the temperature, the ventilation is carried out using an abutting path formed between the abutting surfaces of inner and outer members forming the contour surface part and its outer peripheral part of the mold, thereby achieving cooling. In this way, various shapes based on the axially changing shape of the contour surface are obtained readily and inexpensively, and temperature control suitable for the axially changing shape of the contour surface is carried out with high cooling effect.

Abstract: A manufacturing method is provided for enhancing density of a three-dimensional object defining at least one or more substantially flat surfaces. The method comprises the steps of: (a) applying a layer of powder at a target plane; (b) completely melting selected locations of the layer corresponding to a cross sectional slice of the object, the cross sectional slice defining a portion of the flat surface; and (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) to create successive layers to form the flat surface of the object in layerwise fashion, wherein at least one flat surface is oriented at an angle with respect to the target plane to mitigate against “burn through,” warping, and “swelling” of the object. The complete melting of the powder and the orientation of the flat surface tend to provide dimensional accuracy, homogenous microstructure, and enhanced strength characteristics for the object.

Abstract: The invention includes embodiments that relate to a method of improving the abrasion resistance of a plastic article. The method comprises: (a) providing a composition comprising at least one e-beam active thermoplastic polymeric material; (b) forming an article from the composition of step (a); and (c) exposing the article formed in step (b) to an electron beam source. The invention also includes embodiments that relate to an article comprising an abrasion resistant surface.

Abstract: A module for heating a plastic container perform, includes a longitudinal heating tunnel bounded transversely by the longitudinal vertical internal faces of two walls, one a heating wall, being equipped with a heating system, and the other wall having aeration orifices that are intended to let the air blown by a blower pass through them transversely from the upstream, and in which module a first portion of the preform is heated in the heating tunnel, while a second portion of the preform is held outside the heating tunnel through a longitudinal opening. The blower includes a deflector that deflects a portion of the air blown towards the second portion of the preform so as to prevent it from being heated up to its softening point, characterized in that the upstream end of the deflector is aerodynamically profiled.

Abstract: An inflatable hollow body of a complex configuration is manufactured by blow molding a tubular preform using a mold with a cavity configured to correspond to the hollow body in an inflated state. In a preferred embodiment, the mold comprises a plurality of mold body portions, each mold body portion having a cavity portion, which together with other cavity portions forms a single continuous cavity of the mold. The preferred method of manufacture comprises providing a tubular preform and a mold, fitting the tubular preform in the cavity of the mold, heating the mold to a drawing temperature, drawing the tubular preform, heating the mold to a blowing temperature, inflating the tubular preform, cooling the mold, deflating and releasing manufactured hollow body from the mold.

Abstract: A method of making a toy ball having a toy figurine fixed therein includes the steps of: preparing an upper mold and a lower mold; preparing a toy figurine; inserting and fixing the toy figurine to an iron needle of the lower mold; injecting liquid polyurethane glue into the upper mold, combing the lower mold with the upper mold, and turning the combined mold upside down; placing the combined mold on a rotational molding machine for spin-molding the polyurethane glue; cooling the liquid polyurethane glue, and then opening the upper mold and taking out the toy ball from the lower mold; injecting liquid doping with glitter powder or fluorescent powder into the toy ball; sealing a through hole of the toy ball using a plastic sealing needle and then cutting a part of the plastic sealing needle that remains outside the toy ball.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device which is used to blow-form containers (2). A preform (1) is stretched inside a blow form (4) by a horizontal bar (11) after thermal conditioning and is shaped in the container by means of blow pressure effects. At least one part of the pressurised gas is guided towards the base area of the container (2). One particular advantage of said invention is that the flow path ends in the vicinity of the base area. At least one part of the pressurised gas (2) is guided into the container by the horizontal bar (11).

Abstract: The self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut with an internal level control includes a cylinder having a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber, both chambers being at least partially filled with oil, the high-pressure chamber further comprising a gas cushion acting as a spring element. The spring strut also has an axially movable hollow piston rod arranged within the cylinder and carrying a working piston separating two working spaces arranged in the cylinder, one of the working spaces being connected to the high-pressure chamber, and a piston pump, which is driven by movements of the spring element, thus conveying oil from the low-pressure chamber to the working space connected to the high-pressure chamber. The piston pump includes a flow connection, which connects the high-pressure chamber to the low-pressure chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorbing member made by soft material includes a shank with a head and a spherical member connected to a first end and a second end of the shank. A plurality of shock absorbing plates extend radially outward from the shank and located at two positions along the shank. A source of vibration such as a fan is clamped between the two groups of shock absorbing plates.

Abstract: A fluid filled type vibration damping device includes: a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting first and second mounting members; a partition member supported by the second mounting member; a pressure-receiving chamber partially defined by the elastic body and having a non-compressible fluid sealed therein; an equilibrium chamber partially defined by a flexible film and having the non-compressible fluid therein. The chambers are formed to either side of the partition member and an orifice passage permits a fluid communication between the two chambers. A short-circuit passage is formed so that the pressure-receiving and equilibrium chambers are able to be short-circuited through the short-circuit passage. A valve is used for switching the short-circuit passage, and a metal spring is used for holding the valve in a closed state at a predetermined initial level of elastic deformation.

Abstract: A shock absorbing member includes a tubular body with two flanges extending radially outward from two ends of the tubular body. A passage is defined axially through the body. The body is engaged with a hole in one object and the two flanges are in contact with the top surface and the bottom surface of the object. A bolt extends through the passage of the shock absorbing member and is threadedly connected to another object.

Abstract: A damping alloy member 1 is constructed in such a manner that the improvement consists of a twin crystal type damping alloy made of Cu—Al—Mn alloy, Mg—Zr alloy, Mn—Cu alloy, Mn—Cu—Ni—Fe alloy, Cu—Al—Ni alloy, Ti—Ni alloy, Al—Zn alloy, Cu—Zn—Al alloy, Mg alloy, Cu—Si alloy, Fe—Mn—Si alloy, Fe—Ni—Co—Ti alloy, Fe—Ni—C alloy, Fe—Cr—Ni—Mn—Si—Co alloy and Ni—Al alloy, and has a shape of a flake, a wire or a spring for optimizing a deformation of the alloy. Moreover, a rubber vibration isolator, a floor vibration damping apparatus, a tire, a steel cord and a quake-absorbing rubber are constructed by using the damping apply member.

Abstract: An impact-absorbing member includes tabular ribs extending in a direction orthogonal to an impact load input direction, and disposed spaced apart in the impact load input direction and parallel to one another; and a load transmitting member connected with width-wise opposite ends of the respective tabular ribs to extend between the tabular ribs on a diagonal with respect to the impact load input direction, for transmitting to each of the tabular ribs an impact load in a form of tensile load directed in a lateral direction, wherein differing levels are established for at least one of: tensile stiffness in the plurality of tabular ribs per se; and transmission efficiency of the tensile load by the load transmitting member, so that load-deformation characteristics of some of the plurality of tabular ribs differ in the impact load input direction.

Abstract: An elastomeric bush bearing is designed as a slotted bush. To reach a high ratio of static radial stiffness to torsion spring rate along with a high axial stiffness at the same time, a beading is formed at least at one axial end but preferably at both axial ends of the slotted bush. In case of an especially advantageous embodiment, a slotted bush with additional intermediate parts inserted into the elastomeric bearing body, two encapsulated rubber packets are created by the simultaneous special geometric design of the inner part. The individual stiffnesses of the two rubber packets are thus compensated and thus there is a homogeneous increase in the overall stiffness of the bush. The beadings are prepared before the components of the bearing are assembled and vulcanized to the parts of the later outer sleeve.

Abstract: A device for moving a tire assembly. The device has a first roller and a second roller operatively connected to a frame. The device has a third roller operatively connected to the frame. The first roller and the second roller are positioned generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the third roller.

Abstract: This tool is a new tool in the construction world. It is easy to use and is very functional. It is light weight and can either be made from flat metal, plastic, aluminum or any other alloy.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which enables the user to easily remove a sheet bundle left in the apparatus after a bookbinding-mode job is stopped in the middle of execution thereof. In a bookbinding mode of the apparatus, in a sheet stacking section, a plurality of sheets having images formed thereon are stacked as a sheet bundle; in a gluing section, glue is applied to an end face of the sheet bundle; and in a bonding section, a cover sheet is bonded to the sheet bundle to wrap the sheet bundle in the cover sheet. When a bookbinding-mode job is canceled during execution thereof, in the gluing section, glue is applied to the sheet bundle stacked in the stacking section before the job is stopped, and a discharge section discharges the glue-applied sheet bundle which is neither wrapped nor trimmed.

Abstract: A multi-function peripheral including: a printing portion; a scanning portion reading an image from a document; a discharge portion disposed between the printing portion and the scanning portion, and loading sheets of print media on which images are formed; and a finisher installed on the discharge portion to post-process the print media, on which the image is formed. The finisher includes: a plurality of fixing units including a first fixing portion disposed on a lower portion of the finisher in order to prevent the finisher from moving upward and a second fixing portion that can rotate so as to prevent the finisher from moving in an attaching direction on the discharge portion.

Abstract: In a document feeder, a driving control unit feeds a document by a switch-back feeding unit, guides again the document from a document feed path to a bidirectional feed path, and then discharges the document from the document feed path to a document discharging section, when the feeding of the document is in a double-sided scanning feeding mode and in a status during first side feeding. The driving control unit feeds the document by the switch-back feeding unit and then discharges the document from the document feed path, when the feeding of the document is in the double-sided scanning feeding mode and in the status during second side feeding. The driving control unit discharges the document from the document feed path without feeding the document in the switch-back manner, when the feeding of the document is in the double-sided scanning feeding mode and after the second side feeding.

Abstract: A device for singulating overlapping flat mailings in an upright position in a path of travel has several singulating sections arranged along the path of travel. Each singulating section has conveyor belts spaced apart from each other and above each other and transporting the mailings. At an opposite side of the path of travel, each singulating section has retaining elements acting on the mailings with a friction force and at a height between the conveyor belts. A speed of travel of the conveyor belts in each singulating section is higher than the speed of travel of the conveyor belts of the respective singulating section upstream in the direction of travel. Further, individually mounted deflection rollers of the conveyor belts of both adjacent singulating sections are arranged at different heights along a common axis at each transition between the singulating sections.

Abstract: An improved segment wheel assembly for an article packaging machine is provided for picking individual carton blanks from a magazine and delivering the carton blanks to a conveyor to be carried to a packaging station of the machine. The segment wheel assembly has a pair of generally cylindrical segment wheels spaced apart from each other in end-to-end relationship. An unobstructed space is defined between the spaced segment wheels and each segment wheel has a generally rectangular cutout with the cutouts being aligned. A pick arm assembly including suction cups is disposed within the unobstructed space. A drive train rotates the segment wheels in unison and, simultaneously, oscillates the suction cup back and forth within the unobstructed space. The suction cup repeatedly grabs single carton blanks from the magazine and pulls them toward the rotating segment wheels, whose cutouts engage each carton blank and urges it toward and into the conveyor.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder has a separation roller that separates a document into individual sheets. The document is supplied from a document supply tray. A friction pad is formed to contact one side of the separation roller to supply a friction force for separating the document. A pad holder supports the friction pad. A cover member covers the separation roller. An interlocking unit pressurizes or separates the pad holder toward or from the separation roller in association with an opening or a closing of the cover member. The interlocking unit includes a pinion gear rotating in association with the opening or the closing of the cover member. A rack gear linearly moves in a normal direction of a plane contacting the separation roller and the friction pad according to a rotation direction of the pinion gear. A connecting unit connects the rack gear and the pad holder. An elastic member elastically supports the pad holder to face the separation roller.

Abstract: A paper sheet separation and transfer apparatus has a take-out roller which takes out stacked paper sheets onto a transfer path, a first separation unit, and a second separation unit. When the front end of a first paper sheet in the transfer direction reaches a nip of the second separation unit, the take-out roller and first feed roller are “decelerated”.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus includes a receptacle for holding a stack of sheet media, an image sensor, and a sheet media edge detector. The image sensor generates image data in response to light received from a view encompassing edges of ones of the sheet media held in the receptacle. The sheet media edge detector detects edges of individual ones of the sheet media in the image data generated by the image sensor. In another aspect, a stack of sheet media is held. Image data is generated in response to light received from a view encompassing edges of ones of the sheet media in the stack. Edges of individual ones of the sheet media are detected in the image data.

Abstract: The invention is relates to a simple, inexpensive high capacity output catch tray for copiers and other document production machines. The output tray automatically increases in capacity as the stack of copies in it accumulates, without external power source or control, while maintaining a relatively constant elevation relative to the copier output port, and automatically returns to its original position when partially or completely unloaded.

Abstract: An electrostatographic and/or xerographic machine includes a media path adapted to move a media sheet. Sensors are positioned adjacent the media path. The media sheet has a leading edge and a trailing edge and the sensors are adapted to identify locations of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the media sheet. A marking device is positioned adjacent the media path. The marking device is adapted to print first items on a first side of the media sheet and print second items on a second side of the media sheet. A registration controller is operatively connected to the media path and to the sensors. The registration controller determines a length between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the media sheet using output from the sensors, and determines the parallelism between the leading edge and the trailing edge of the media sheet using output from the sensors.

Abstract: A gaming device and method directed to a primary game having chess pieces displayed in the primary game outcomes. After completion of the primary game, the chess pieces “move” according to chess movement rules to “capture” other chess pieces. Credits are awarded for each “capture”. Embodiments include activation of all chess pieces for play or activation of individual types of pieces based on player wagering.

Abstract: A multi-panel gaming apparatus is provided that uses interchangeable panels to create a structure that is used in playing a game. The panels interlock together to form the gaming apparatus and each panel has an active side and an inactive side. The active side is initially placed on the exterior surface of the structure and includes information relevant to the playing of the game. When a panel is eliminated from the game, the panel can be disconnected from the structure and turned over and then reconnected to the structure with the inactive side placed on the exterior surface. The gaming apparatus can have four sides, six sides, eight sides, twelve sides, or any other number of sides that allows for the interlocking panels to define a multi-panel structure.

Abstract: A system and method using codes or symbols for solving word, numbers or trivia puzzles or game in which a correct answer or portion of an answer to one part of the puzzle provides the player with the correct answer or portion of the correct answer for the remaining unanswered portions of the puzzle.

Abstract: Provided herein are puzzles useful primarily by children, but also enjoyable by young adults and others. The puzzles of the invention permit a user to remove a piece of the puzzle from the overall construct, to reveal an image, the identity of which is customizable either by the user themselves, or by another person, which often may comprise a parent of the intended user. The images so revealed may thus be any image placed into the puzzle at the will of a person so capable, but are anticipated to often comprise images of the user's relations, including family members, famous persons, siblings and others. Additionally, geographical locations, images of outer space, images of famous persons, famous places, landmarks, pets, etc. are within the realm of potential images viewed. The instant puzzles are especially well suited to inspire learning in toddler-aged users, for stimulating cognizance of images, commensurate with provoking a physical response by the child.