rd App Onboarding System for Developer-Defined Creation of Search Engine Results By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A search system includes a user interface configured to receive information about a first application from a developer of the first application. The search system includes a state access module configured to obtain information about a first type of state of the first application from the developer. The information includes an action performed by the first type of state, a first access URL template, and a designation of at least one parameter for the first access URL template. The first application is configured to display a specific state of the first type of state in response to receiving an access URL formed by instantiating the first access URL template with at least one value for the at least one parameter. The search system includes a search engine configured to, in response to a query, obtain data from the first application according to the information about the first type of state. Full Article
rd Splash guard towel By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A splash guard designed to protect the gap between the back of a sink and the adjoining wall or mirror. The guard has an upper edge and a lower edge. There upper edge is attached to the mirror, preferably through the use of suction cups. The lower edge is provided with a bendable bar which a user can bend—using hand strength—into any desired shape. The bendable bar is bent into a shape which conforms the lower edge of the guard to the posterior sink geometry. The lower edge is then placed immediately behind the posterior sink geometry. Full Article
rd Drain guard By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A drain guard for a sink equipped with a garbage disposal having a flange attached to a surface of such sink and forming a sink drain opening includes a generally round and flat body member, a T-shaped grip attached to a top surface of the body member and a generally flat member extending outwardly and in a generally vertical direction from a bottom surface of the body member and which is capable of scraping solids from at least one of eating wear and such sink surface. Full Article
rd Cutter guard for a lawn mower By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cutter guard for a rotating blade of a lawn mower, particularly for a robotic, self-guided or autonomous lawn mower forms a cutting bowl in which the blade is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis. The guard comprises a generally planar guard section surrounded by an arcuate section, transverse edges of which define an opening in the cutter guard, which in operation is pointed to the front of the lawn mower, to allow uncut grass to be accessed by the cutting blades. The arcuate section comprises a plurality of apertures. Full Article
rd Windguard mechanism of a pick-up for an agricultural machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A windguard mechanism comprising a pair of arms attachable to an agricultural machine and a windguard plate extending between the pair of arms and positioned to hold down crop material processed by a pickup mechanism. The windguard plate comprises a first plate fixed between the pair of arms and a second plate positioned movably with respect to the first plate, wherein working surfaces of the first plate and of the second plate form a windguard working surface of an area independent on the position of the second plate. Full Article
rd Rotary implement having hard metallic layer and method therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotary implement includes a metallic body that is rotatable around an axis. The metallic body includes a tapered leading edge having an interface surface and an opposite, free surface. The metallic body has a first composition. A metallic layer has a first side surface that is attached to the interface surface and a free, second side surface opposite from the first side surface. The metallic layer has a second, different composition from the first composition. A rotary machine can include an actuator and the rotary implement operably coupled to the actuator. A method for making a rotary implement includes providing the metallic body that has the tapered leading edge having the interface surface and the opposite, free surface. The metallic layer is then attached to the interface surface of the metallic body. Full Article
rd Interdigitated Cellular Cushioning By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An interdigitated cellular cushioning system includes an array of void cells protruding from each of two sheet layers interdigitated between the two sheet layers. Peaks of each of the void cells are attached to the opposite sheet layer forming the interdigitated cellular cushioning system. The interdigitated cellular cushioning system may be used to absorb and distribute a source of kinetic energy incident on the interdigitated cellular cushioning system (e.g., an impact or explosion) so that the amount of force transmitted through the interdigitated cellular cushioning system is low enough that it does not cause injury to personnel or damage to personnel and/or equipment adjacent the interdigitated cellular cushioning system. Full Article
rd PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD HAVING HIGH-SPEED OR HIGH-FREQUENCY SIGNAL CONNECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A printed circuit board includes a substrate including a surface layer and a first ground layer; a high-frequency signal generation part provided in the surface layer of the substrate; at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion formed in the surface layer of the substrate; at least one high-frequency signal line formed in the surface layer of the substrate, and extend from the high-frequency signal generation part to the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion; and at least one high-frequency signal connector disposed in the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion, wherein an end of the first ground layer is exposed to a side surface of the substrate, and when the high-frequency signal connector is disposed in the at least one high-frequency signal connector mounting portion, a ground of the high-frequency signal connector is in contact with the end of the first ground layer. Full Article
rd Engine Block Heater Cord Set By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An engine block heater cord set. The cord set comprises an electrical power cord engagable with the engine block heater. A connector includes a plurality of power contacts, where the number of power contacts is four or more and a multiple of two. Each of the power contacts is electrically bonded to one of first and second electrical conductors. The power contacts are positioned symmetrically relative to one another on the connector with diagonally opposite contacts having a different polarity and spaced apart by a distance generally equal to the distance between the electrical terminals of the engine block heater. Full Article
rd CARD HOLDING MEMBER AND CARD CONNECTOR SET By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A card holding member able to be inserted into a card connector via an insertion slot in an outer member and able to hold a card equipped with terminal members, the card holding member comprising a card accommodating portion able to accommodate the card, a connecting base portion connected to the card accommodating portion, a movable sleeve mounted on the connecting base portion slidably in the insertion and ejection directions of the card holding member, a first sealing member forming a seal between the connecting base portion and the movable sleeve, and a second sealing member forming a seal between the insertion slot and the movable sleeve. Full Article
rd ELECTRICAL CORD CONNECTION COVERING TECHNIQUES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An electrical cord covering system includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The housing portions each include compression portions around their respective rims. The compression portions each have two recessed areas. When the housing portions are in a closed position a hollow region is formed to cover mated electrical cord plugs. A rim seal is formed with the compression portions. Two apertures are formed in the rim seal from the recessed apertures. The cable apertures form seals against electrical cords running to the electrical cord plugs. Full Article
rd CARD EDGE CONNECTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A card edge connector includes an insultive housing, a plurality of conductive terminals retained in the insultive housing and a metal frame retained in the insultive housing. The insultive housing defines two sidewalls extending along a longitudinal direction and two endwalls connected to the longitudinal ends of the sidewalls. The metal frame is integrally formed in the insulative housing and defines an elongated flat portion and a pair of fixing portions extending downwardly from both longitudinal ends of the flat portion, the flat portion is embedded into an upper portion of the insulative housing. Full Article
rd Polycrystalline ultra-hard material with microstructure substantially free of catalyst material eruptions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Polycrystalline ultra-hard materials and compacts comprise an ultra-hard material body having a polycrystalline matrix of bonded together ultra-hard particles, e.g., diamond crystals, and a catalyst material disposed in interstitial regions within the polycrystalline matrix. The material microstructure is substantially free of localized concentrations, regions or volumes of the catalyst material or other substrate constituent. The body can include a region extending a depth from a body working surface and that is substantially free of the catalyst material. The compact is produced using a multi-stage HPHT process, e.g., comprising two HPHT process conditions, wherein during a first stage HPHT process the catalyst material is melted and only partially infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material, and during a second stage further catalyst material infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material to produce a fully sintered compact. Full Article
rd Super-hard construction and method for making same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for making a super-hard construction comprising a first structure comprising a first material joined to a second structure comprising a second material, in which the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and Young's moduli of the materials of each material are substantially different from each other. The method includes forming an assembly comprising the first material, the second material and a binder material arranged to be capable of bonding the first and second materials together, the binder material comprising metal; subjecting the assembly to a sufficiently high temperature for the binder material to be in the liquid state and to a first pressure at which the super-hard material is thermodynamically stable; reducing the pressure to a second pressure at which the super-hard material is thermodynamically stable, the temperature being maintained sufficiently high to maintain the binder material in the liquid state; reducing the temperature to solidify the binder material; and reducing the pressure and the temperature to an ambient condition to provide the super-hard construction. Full Article
rd ON-BOARD RADAR APPARATUS AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A radar apparatus generates a strength distribution indicating a correspondence relationship between a relative speed parameter related to an observation point relative speed and a reflection strength parameter related to reflection strength of radar waves reflected at an observation point, for a plurality of observation points. Furthermore, the radar apparatus determines that a traveling vehicle is detected when the reflection strength parameter decreases as the relative speed parameter increases from a center relative speed parameter that is the relative speed parameter corresponding to a peak in the reflection strength, the reflection strength parameter decreases as the relative speed parameter decreases from the center relative speed parameter, and a distribution of the reflection strength parameter is symmetrical with the center relative speed parameter at the center. Full Article
rd ON-BOARD RADAR APPARATUS, NOTIFICATION SYSTEM, AND TRAVELLING VEHICLE DETECTION METHOD OF ON-BOARD RADAR APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A radar apparatus detects an observation point distance and an observation point azimuth. In addition, the radar apparatus calculates an observation point lateral position and an observation point vertical position based on the observation point distance and the observation point azimuth. Furthermore, the radar apparatus determines that a traveling vehicle is detected when a number of observation points included within a side determination range is equal to or greater than a predetermined traveling vehicle determination count, based on the observation point lateral position and the observation point vertical position. The side determination range is set so as to include a passing determination line so as to extend in a direction at 90 degrees relative to a front-rear direction of the vehicle to the side of the vehicle. Full Article
rd Aquaponic vertical garden with integrated air channel for plant-based air filtration By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments are described for a closed-loop, vertical garden system for growing plants and filtering air and water comprising: a support structure; a composite, grow media configured to physically support the growth of plants and distribute water to the roots of the plants through capillary action through the area of the grow media; a water source coupled to the grow media through a pump and plumbing system, wherein the plumbing system is configured to draw water from the water source through the grow media and back to the water source in substantially closed loop aquatic system; and an air flow subsystem configured to draw outside air through the plants and transmit filtered air back out of the support structure. Full Article
rd Combined on-board hydride slurry storage and reactor system and process for hydrogen-powered vehicles and devices By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST An on-board hydride storage system and process are described. The system includes a slurry storage system that includes a slurry reactor and a variable concentration slurry. In one preferred configuration, the storage system stores a slurry containing a hydride storage material in a carrier fluid at a first concentration of hydride solids. The slurry reactor receives the slurry containing a second concentration of the hydride storage material and releases hydrogen as a fuel to hydrogen-power devices and vehicles. Full Article
rd HARDCOAT FILM, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING HARDCOAT FILM, POLARIZING PLATE, AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a hardcoat film having a film thickness of 25 μm or less in which a polymerized substance of a compound having an energy ray-curable group and a resin are mixed across an entire region in a film thickness direction, in which a percentage of a mass concentration of the resin which is represented by the Expression (1) as defined herein has a distribution in which the percentage is maximized on at least one of two opposed surfaces, in the film thickness direction, of the hardcoat film or at a central part, in the film thickness direction, of the hardcoat film. Full Article
rd ADHESION LAYER COMPOSITION, METHOD FOR FORMING FILM BY NANOIMPRINTING, METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OPTICAL COMPONENT, CIRCUIT BOARD AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT In nanoimprinting processes, photo-cured products often separate from the substrate and stick to the mold due to insufficient adhesion between the photo-cured product and the substrate. This causes a defect of pattern separation. An adhesion layer composition used for forming an adhesion layer between a substrate and a photocurable composition includes a compound (A) having at least two functional groups, and a solvent (B). The functional groups include at least one functional group capable of being bound to the substrate, selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, carboxy, thiol, amino, epoxy, and (blocked) isocyanate, and at least one hydrogen donating group as a functional group capable of being bound to the photocurable composition. Full Article
rd BASE FOR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A base for a magnetic recording medium includes, a substrate made of an Al alloy, and a film made of a NiP-based alloy and provided on the substrate. The Al alloy of the substrate includes Mg in a range of 0.2 mass % to 6 mass %, Si in a range of 3 mass % to 17 mass %, Zn in a range of 0.05 mass % to 2 mass %, and Sr in a range of 0.001 mass % to 1 mass %. An average grain diameter of Si grains in an alloy structure of the substrate is 2 μm or less. The film has a thickness of 10 μm or greater. The substrate has an outer diameter of 53 mm or greater, a thickness of 0.9 mm or less, and a Young's modulus of 79 GPa or higher. Full Article
rd SURFACE-TREATED COPPER FOIL, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME, COPPER-CLAD LAMINATE FOR PRINTED WIRING BOARD, AND PRINTED WIRING BOARD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT There is provided a surface-treated copper foil including a surface coating layer provided on at least one surface of a copper foil, the surface coating layer being mainly composed of silicon with a hydrogen content of 1 to 35 atomic % and/or a carbon content of 1 to 15 atomic %. This foil can be manufactured by forming a surface coating layer composed mainly of silicon with the above hydrogen and carbon contents on at least one surface of the copper foil by PVD or CVD. The present invention can provide a copper foil with a surface coating layer that can achieve a high bonding strength to a resin layer even if the copper foil has an extremely smooth surface such as one formed by vapor deposition, for example, sputtering and also has a desirable insulation resistance suitable for achieving a fine pitch in a printed wiring board. Full Article
rd TRADING CARD GAME METHOD OF PLAY WITH INTEGRATED INFORMATIONAL WRIST BADGE GAME COMPONENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT This invention combines the use of double sided reversible informational wrist badges (badges) with trading card games. The badges are worn on the inside and the outside of the wrist and coupled with the trading cards introduce a further degree of randomness in the game play. The objective of the game is to reduce the health indicator of the other player to zero, where the player is forced to play another character until one player remains with no surviving characters. Badges are utilized in primarily two or more ways, technical data is labeled on each side of the battle badge, the player turns the badge over to show the attribute they wish imbued on their character (such as additional health, strength, aid another character, shields/defense, and offense/attacks). Badges may also be shifted from the front to the back of the wrist to communicate a further degree of game play information. Full Article
rd CARD SHUFFLING APPARATUSES AND RELATED METHODS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT Card shuffler apparatuses include a card repositioner used to randomly reposition a plurality of cards on-edge over an aperture extending through a card support surface to allow cards to sequentially pass through the aperture in a random order. The apparatuses may be capable of continuously and sequentially forming playing card hands for use in a game. Shuffler apparatuses may be used to obtain a measurement relating to a thickness of the deck of cards. Methods involve the use of card shuffler apparatuses to form one or more playing card hands in a playing card game. Additional methods involve counting playing cards present within a stack of playing cards using a shuffler apparatus. In further methods, a number of shuffler apparatuses and a lesser number of shuffler activation devices are provided in a gaming establishment so as to preclude simultaneous use of all the shuffler apparatuses in the establishment. Full Article
rd PERSONAL PORTABLE TERMINAL FOR PERFORMING BOARD GAME, AND BOARD GAME SYSTEM USING SAME AND GAME BOARD THEREFOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention board relates to a game system using a portable terminals and a game board therefor. According to the present invention, there is provided a board game system, including: one or more pieces configured to correspond to respective game players; a game board configured to display a path through which the pieces move, and to detect a changed location of each of the pieces on the path; and one or more personal portable terminals each configured to check the changed location of the piece detected by the game board while communicating with the game board, and to output information about operations, which will be performed by each of the game players, or options, which can be selected by each of the game players based on a location of one of the pieces corresponding to each of the game players. Full Article
rd NETWORK CONNECTION FRAMEWORK FOR CONNECTING A DARTBOARD TO A PORTABLE DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 04 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A network connection framework for connecting a dartboard to a portable device includes: a cloud server; a communication device communicating with the cloud server via a communication network; a dartboard including a dartboard unit, a sensing unit and a dartboard wireless communication unit which connects the dartboard to the cloud server via wireless signal, the dartboard wireless communication unit serves to receive and transmit the score signal to the could server; and a portable device with a portable device wireless communication device which connects the portable device to the cloud server via wireless signal. When the user registration information is inputted in the portable device, the score corresponding to the score signal will be displayed. Therefore, the dart game can be played by players in different venues, and consequently is not restricted by the number of the players and the size and location of the venue. Full Article
rd MOBILE FREEWHEELING PLAYING CARD CART By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT What is disclosed is a mobile freewheeling playing card cart. The cart has a tray positioned upon a rolling base that is capable of holding two or more stacks of playing cards. The tray features barriers and depressions around the card stacks that make the cards more easily accessible. The cart includes one or more handles used to maneuver the cart. The cart may be motorized through the use of an integrated battery and remote control. Full Article
rd ProBound Football Board Game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A football board game for playing a game board version of football between opposing players is provided. The game comprises a game table having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side wall around the complete perimeter of the game table. First and second legs are secured to the bottom surface of the game table with the legs extendable to support the game table above a surface and retractable to a position against the bottom surface of the game table. A carpeted football field is mounted to the top surface of the game table and configured to represent a standard football field and marked appropriately with yard lines, goal lines, and yardage. Two field goalposts are positionable on opposite ends of the football field. Also included are a set of thirty-two NFL cards, a pair of dice, two team figure helmets, and two yellow time out cards. Full Article
rd Multilevel educational alphabet corresponding numbers word game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT An educational word game designed to be played with cards or with card squares with three level and three series. The game is entertaining and competitive and functions for the entire family with its multitude of games. It is a developmental tool, a teaching tool and an ongoing learning process of vocabulary building skills. In the Level I game the three letters selected are used independently of each other in the first position of each word, Level II Game in the second position, and Level III in the third position. The first series focus on single letters for all three game levels, the second series on the double letters, and the third series on triple letters. The alphabet letters and the corresponding numbers guideline have many useful purposes. Full Article
rd MULTI-CONTACT TYPE POSITION DETECTION APPARATUS FOR TARGET BOARD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A multi-contact type position detection apparatus for a target board includes a first membrane board having a plurality of first signal lines formed in a first direction, a second membrane board having a plurality of second signal lines formed in a second direction, and a plurality of dots which are formed on the first membrane board or the second membrane board such that the first membrane plate and the second membrane plate are spaced at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein the plurality of dots can be arranged at a distance of “k/2±A (A is 1%˜2% of k)” when a magnetic body diameter of a pin attached on the target board is “kmm”. Full Article
rd Matching Card Game and Method of Play By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT An interactive image matching game and method of play. The matching game includes a plurality of expression cards each having a first indicia indicating a descriptive word and a plurality of sheets of paper each having a second indicia showing a partial image. In play, a player selects an expression card and then completes a first picture incorporating the second indicia within the first picture. The player places the first picture in a secret container and selects a second picture drawn by a second player from the container. The first player guesses the identity of the second player based on the second picture. Further, the first player guesses the word displayed on the expression card received by the second player based on the second picture. Points are acquired with correct guesses. A timer is used to account for a duration in which a player has to complete a first drawing. Full Article
rd Shuffled Playing Cards and Manufacturing Method Thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides shuffled playing cards which eliminate the need for a game host to shuffle cards before games by taking a lot of time as well as eliminate the possibility of cheating. A shuffled playing cards (1) obtained by shuffling a predetermined number of decks of playing cards (12) using a shuffling machine is packaged as an individual pack. The shuffled playing cards (1) is individually packaged and sealed with an adhesive label (13). A bar code (13a) which represents a unique shuffled card ID has been printed on the adhesive label (13). The shuffled card ID is registered in a database by being associated with information which allows identification of a shuffling machine used to shuffle the playing card set. Full Article
rd CARD RANDOMIZING METHOD FOR WAGERING GAMES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for providing a randomized card engine for use in wagering card games which thwarts advantage play methods in live or electronic gaming formats, which includes the steps of shuffling, or simulating the shuffling of, a plurality of standard decks of physical playing cards to form a set of playing cards in a randomly-ordered condition, dividing the set of randomly-ordered playing cards into a plurality of subsets, and providing each subset of the plurality of subsets for independent use in a respective card wagering game. Full Article
rd CARD HANDLING DEVICES AND RELATED ASSEMBLIES AND COMPONENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Card handling devices may include a card shuffling apparatus and a card output portion having a card buffer area positioned at an interface of the card shuffling apparatus and the card output portion. The card output portion may be configured to move relative to the card shuffling apparatus and alter the orientation of the card buffer area. Card handling devices having a substantially flat card output area may include an interface portion having an at least substantially flat draw surface. The substantially flat card output area may permit playing cards to be drawn from an outlet of the substantially flat card output area in a plurality of at least substantially horizontal directions. Methods of shuffling playing cards may include altering an orientation of a card buffer area and inserting cards into the card buffer area at both a top and a bottom of a group of cards within the card buffer area. Full Article
rd Chess-Like Board Game By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A chess-like board game with a commercial name of Starship Chess provides a one-on-one tactical space combat game, like the game of chess between two versatile playing pieces. The game is played by two players and each player has a fully maneuverable starship, complete with manageable resources, engines, weapons, and shields. Each player must navigate his starship in order to gain an advantage over the player's opponent with respect to direction and position. A starship can engage, withdraw, replenish, and reposition to plan out attacks. Players must learn to think ahead, predict opposing player's tactics, and outwit the opponent to win. Full Article
rd DELIVERY SHOE WITH MASKING CAPABILITY FOR CARD BACKS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of using a dealer shoe that is configured to provide access to and removal of playing cards from within the dealer shoe includes: a base, a front plate forming a lower gap with the plate through which individual playing cards can pass, a top, and opposed sides joining the base, top, two sides and the front plate to form a card-carrying cavity. The front plate further is associated with a light producing element configured to shine light (e.g., in patterns, in colors, and the like) over a back of a first playing card extending out of the lower gap; and the wavelength and intensity and qualities of the shone light being sufficient to reduce optical contrast of different colors and/or shades on the back of the first playing card or otherwise disrupt optical viewing of printed images on the backs of playing cards. Full Article
rd DELIVERY SHOE WITH MASKING CAPABILITY FOR CARD BACKS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of using a dealer shoe that is configured to provide access to and removal of playing cards from within the dealer shoe includes: a base, a front plate forming a lower gap with the plate through which individual playing cards can pass, a top, and opposed sides joining the base, top, two sides and the front plate to form a card-carrying cavity. The front plate further is associated with a light producing element configured to shine light (e.g., in patterns, in colors, and the like) over a back of a first playing card extending out of the lower gap; and the wavelength and intensity and qualities of the shone light being sufficient to reduce optical contrast of different colors and/or shades on the back of the first playing card or otherwise disrupt optical viewing of printed images on the backs of playing cards. Full Article
rd METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING A CARD DECK LIBRARY AND MASTER IMAGES FOR A DECK OF CARDS, AND A RELATED CARD PROCESSING APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of automatically generating a calibration file for a card handling device comprises automatically generating a calibration file stored in memory of a main control system for a card handling device. Automatically generating the calibration file comprises identifying at least one parameter associated with a rank area around a rank of at least a portion of the card, identifying at least one parameter associated with a suit area around a suit of the at least a portion of the card, and storing the at least one parameter associated with the rank area and the at least one parameter associated with the suit area in the calibration file. Additionally, a method of automatically generating deck libraries for one or more decks of cards comprises automatically generating a plurality of master images for the cards of the first deck type using the parameters from the calibration file. Full Article
rd AUTOMATED CARD SHUFFLING AND DEALING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An automated playing card, shuffling and dealing device in turn shuffles and in turn deals playing cards of two playing card sets, includes two card slot assemblies each disposed with a shuffled card box and a dealt card box. A control unit controls a dealing element to align with the playing card set in the shuffled card box of the card slot assembly at a card drawing position, sequentially draw the cards in the playing card set, and move the uncovered cards to the corresponding dealt card box. Meanwhile, the control unit controls a shuffling machine to align with the playing card set in the dealt card box of the card slot assembly at a card shuffling position. After the dealing process is complete, the control unit exchanges the positions of two card slot assemblies. Accordingly, shuffling and dealing in turn are completed in an uninterrupted and automated manner. Full Article
rd ENHANCED DATA COMPRESSION FOR SPARSE MULTIDIMENSIONAL ORDERED SERIES DATA By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are methods and systems for significantly compressing sparse multidimensional ordered series data comprised of indexed data sets, wherein each data set comprises an index, a first variable and a second variable. The methods and systems are particularly suited for compression of data recorded in double precision floating point format. Full Article
rd METHOD FOR DETECTING END OF RECORD IN VARIABLE LENGTH CODED BIT STREAM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Modifying a digital data stream that includes immediately consecutive code words of different length by segmenting, based on a certain block grid, the digital data stream. Each block of the block grid includes a fixed number of bits. It is determined whether all bits of the last block associated with the digital data stream are occupied by data of the digital data stream. If not all bits of the last block are occupied, the unoccupied bits of the last block are padded with bits of an end-of-record (EOR) indicator. If all bits of the last block are occupied, attaching an EOR indicator to the digital data stream is skipped. Full Article
rd Modular Photoelectric-switch Keyboard Key By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a modular photoelectric-switch keyboard key, including modular photoelectric switch, base, keymodule and elastic element, the said modular photoelectric switch is mounted in the said base, the said keymodule is slideably placed in the sliding cavity of the said base and the said elastic element is placed between the said base and the said keymodule; the said modular photoelectric switch comprises transmitting tube, receiving tube and distance piece, the said transmitting tube and the said receiving tube are placed oppositely and are electrically connected with the circuit board; the said distance piece is connected with the said keymodule and located between the said transmitting tube and the said receiving tube. Full Article
rd VIBRATION MOTOR, VIBRATOR-ATTACHED BOARD, SILENT NOTIFICATION DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING VIBRATION MOTOR By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A vibration motor includes a base portion arranged to extend perpendicularly to a central axis extending in a vertical direction; a shaft having a lower end fixed to the base portion, and arranged to project upward along the central axis; a circuit board; a coil portion; a bearing portion; a rotor holder; a magnet portion; an eccentric weight; a cover portion; and a motor electrode portion electrically connected to the circuit board, and arranged to project downward below a lower surface of the base portion. The entire base portion and the entire circuit board are arranged inside of an outer circumferential edge of a lower end of the cover portion. Full Article
rd DISPLAY DEVICE FOR PRACTICE OF KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT DIAGRAMED WITH BLACK KEYS AS MARKERS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 11 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT In the present invention, images of a keyboard can be efficiently input into a learner's brain by using a display device in which two kinds of parallel black keys on a keyboard instrument are diagrammed as marker figures which are a substantially n-shaped figure and a substantially m-shaped figure, and the positions of pressed keys are plotted onto the marker figures. The display device can be configured using, for example, printed matter (e.g., a sheet or a card), a font set, an electronic display, and a three-dimensional object, and is provided as a sheet for writing music, performance or practice sheet music, learning cards, or a three-dimensional mimic keyboard. Altogether, provided is a novel music education method based on the images of a keyboard. Full Article
rd GUITAR PEDAL BOARD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT This disclosure generally relates to a guitar pedal board configured to maintain an open position and a closed position. In one embodiment, a surface of a guitar pedal board is configured to receive and hold guitar pedals on a surface that may be inclined relative to a surface on which the guitar pedal board rests. In another embodiment, the guitar pedal board includes one or more retainer stands that hold the guitar pedal board in a closed position. In another embodiment, the guitar pedal board includes a support member that holds the guitar pedal board in an open position. In another embodiment, a first guitar pedal board includes an attachment foot configured to attach one or more guitar pedal boards to the first guitar pedal board. Full Article
rd LED COLOR ORGAN PICKGUARD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A pickguard having a color organ circuit integrated with the pickguard. Full Article
rd Marching Drum which Enables Forwards and Downwards Visibility By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT [Problem] To provide a marching drum which ensures forwards and downwards visibility and ensures the field of view during marching. [Solution] [Effect] By eliminating all or some members of the body of the drum, or by adopting transparent members, this marching drum which enables forwards and downwards visibility ensures the performer's field of view during marching. Full Article
rd KEYBOARD WITH ADJUSTABLE TOUCH FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A keyboard with adjustable touch for a musical instrument, each key being a lever divided into front and rear arms, front arm forms on its upper part an operation surface and its lower part interacts with a centering guide, and the rear arm comprises, on its upper part, a counterweight and its lower part interacts with a stop each key comprises a key magnet (KM) mounted on the rear side, facing another magnet (SM) that is mounted on a regulation device which is affixed to the musical instrument chassis, the magnets (KM and SM) are substantially placed face to face, opposed by their equivalent polar faces, the relative position they have to each other is set by the regulation device and generating the effect on the keyboard touch. Full Article
rd Sandwich board assembly having thermoplastic joining element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An assembly including a joining element and an object, the object having a first outer layer, a second outer layer, and a middle layer between the first and second outer layers. The object has an opening that extends through the first outer layer and the middle layer, and the joining element is anchored in the opening. The joining element includes a proximal end, a distal end, a contact face in the area of the proximal end, a wall anchoring portion, and a tubular portion. The contact face is engaged by a vibrating tool that applies mechanical vibration and axial force to the joining element. The joining element includes a thermoplastic material at least at the circumferential surface of the wall anchoring portion and at the distal end to anchor the joining element to the first and second outer layers, respectively. Full Article
rd Oral orthotic systems, devices and methods for use in connection with sleep-disordered breathing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of forming oral orthotic systems includes providing an upper dental member adapted to be placed in connection with upper dentition of the patient, providing a lower dental member adapted to be placed in connection with lower dentition of the patient and providing a plurality of posterior mounting structures. Each of the posterior mounting structure is configured to be attached to one of the upper dental member or the lower dental member at a posterior, buccal position thereon. Force may be applied to the mandible of the patient via at least one of a plurality of different types mechanisms via attachment of a component of a selected type mechanism to at least one of the posterior mounting structures. Full Article