A sheet material includes a fibrous substrate made of microfibers and a hydrophilic-group-containing resin applied to the fibrous substrate. The hydrophilic-group-containing resin has a microphase-separated structure that satisfies Condition I: In a phase image obtained by observing an area of 1 μm2 in a cross-section of the hydrophilic-group-containing resin applied to the fibrous substrate by phase imaging using an atomic force microscope (AFM), a standard deviation of a mode of brightness distribution of areas of 0.2 μm2 in the area of 1 μm2 is from 0 to 10. Provided are a sheet material that is produced through an eco-conscious production process and yet has such uniformity that is comparable to those of man-made leathers produced using organic-solvent-based polyurethanes, an elegant surface appearance, and a good touch, and a method for producing such a sheet material.

The present invention provides an artificial leather including an entangled fiber mass of ultrafine fibers having a monofilament fineness of 0.01 dtex or more and 0.50 dtex or less and a polymeric elastomer; wherein at least one surface is napped; the cross-sectional profile curve of the napped surface has an arithmetic mean height Pa of 26 μm or more and 100 μm or less; the arithmetic mean height Pa of the cross-sectional profile curve of the opposite surface is 20% or more and 80% or less of the cross-sectional roughness Pa of the napped side; the existence frequency of asperity peaks found in the cross-sectional profile curve of the napped surface is 1.8 or more and 20 or less per 1.0 mm; and a woven or knitted fabric lamination is present near the opposite surface at a depth position of 10% or more and 50% or less.

Provided is an elastic infill for artificial turf. The elastic infill is produced by pelletization of an elastomer composition comprising a silane coupling agent and a mixture of an olefin copolymer-containing base resin and an inorganic filler. The silane coupling agent is present in admixture with the mixture. Alternatively, the silane coupling agent may be grafted onto the olefin copolymer to allow cross-linking of the olefin copolymer in the presence of water.

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.

A laminate including a radio wave permeable member having a radio wave permeability; and a heat conducting member having an electromagnetic wave shielding property and/or a rigidity retaining member having an electromagnetic wave shielding property in the thickness direction of the radio wave permeable member; wherein the laminate has a radio wave permeable area solely constituted from the radio wave permeable member as a part of the laminate, and the radio wave permeable area is a thin area; and an integrally molded article using such laminate.

Provided is a method for manufacturing magnetic particles, in which an oxidation treatment, a reduction treatment, and a nitriding treatment are performed in that order on raw material particles with a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer is formed on the surfaces of iron microparticles, thereby nitriding the iron microparticles while maintaining the core-shell structure. Due to this configuration, granular magnetic particles with a core-shell structure in which a silicon oxide layer is formed on the surfaces of iron nitride microparticles can be obtained.

A sintered magnet body (RaT1bMcBd) coated with a powder mixture of an intermetallic compound (R1iM1j, R1xT2yM1z, R1iM1jHk), alloy (M1dM2e) or metal (M1) powder and a rare earth (R2) oxide is diffusion treated. The R2 oxide is partially reduced during the diffusion treatment, so a significant amount of R2 can be introduced near interfaces of primary phase grains within the magnet through the passages in the form of grain boundaries. The coercive force is increased while minimizing a decline of remanence.

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.

An apparatus for providing a target for a projectile comprises an elongate member extending between first and second ends, sized to span a playing surface. The apparatus further comprises first and second support legs extending from the first and second ends of the elongate member, each of the first and second support legs having a length selected to position the elongate member above and outside of a possible path of the projectile and a plurality of lights located on the elongate member selectable by a user to provide a visual target for a user. After the elongate member is positioned above and outside a possible path of the projectile a desired path for the projectile is selected and one of a plurality of lights on the elongate member to provide a visual target for a user expected to produce the desired path in the projectile is illuminated.

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.

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.

Card-reading shoes may include an input area configured to support cards therein. A card-reading system may be located within the card-reading shoe, the card-reading system including at least one sensor configured to detect at least a rank and suit of each card processed by the card-reading shoe. A toggle weight may be pivotally mounted proximate an output end of the shoe. The toggle weight may be configured to selectively rotate to enable cards to be removed from the card-reading shoe via the output end and to selectively remain stationary to prevent removed cards from being reinserted into the card-reading shoe via the output end. The card-reading shoes may optionally include a removable cartridge including a delivery end configured to enable manual removal of cards from the removable cartridge when the removable cartridge is removed from the input area.

This invention relates in general to target games and methods for animating a target game and playing an animated target game. In the present invention, a game with an animated component comprises a target structure having a first target surface and a second target surface. In some embodiments, the first target surface is separated from the second target surface by a joint. An animation mechanism is provided for moveably connecting the first target surface to the second target surface at the joint.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

Using traceable target plates triggering a LED flashing controller to make different color of LED lights flashing different patterns corresponding to shooting results. The invention can be used in airsoft gun target, archery target, or dart target.

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.

A roulette wheel apparatus comprising a rotatable roulette wheel located in a wheel bowl and a ball launcher adapted to launch a roulette ball into the wheel bowl with a predetermined variable launch speed, the ball launcher comprising at least one rotatable element adapted to accelerate a roulette ball in contact with the rotatable element and/or at least one element adapted to spin a roulette ball in contact with the element.

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.

A kit and a method of playing a game with a kit having: (a) a plurality of stackable objects including one or more images thereon; (b) one or more target selectors including one or more images thereon which correspond to the one or more images of the plurality of stackable objects; and (c) one or more aiming objects.

A ballistic picture frame for holding two dimensional paper targets, photographs or print art used for dry-fire training. The ballistic picture frame holds paper targets, photographs, or other two dimensional graphics or prints like conventional picture frames, but also provides a ballistic barrier for enhanced safety during dry-fire training. The ballistic frame includes a back panel constructed of ballistic materials that prevent projectile penetration through the frame in the event of a negligent discharge.

A bag target and a method of manufacturing the bag target configured to substantively decrease in size for storage, shipment and/or display. The bag target is further configured to absorb and dissipate essentially all of the kinetic energy of a high energy projectile such as an arrow or a crossbow bolt.

A portable control module autonomously positions a target deployed in a combat simulation course. The module chassis is bullet-resistant and angled to deflect errant shots, and encloses a control circuit having an adjustable target exposure delay, an adjustable target exposure duration, means for receiving a trigger signal representing movement of a human body, means for revealing the target when the exposure delay lapses after triggering, means for enabling, only when the target is revealed, hit detection means detecting a shot striking the target, and means for concealing the target responsive to earliest occurrence of the shot detection or lapse of the target exposure duration. The module may include means for relaying the trigger signal to other modules within a cooperative decentralized target control system. A method for the autonomous position control is also disclosed.

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.

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.

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.

A toy apparatus includes a base piece having a distal end, a movable elongated member having a first end and a second end, and a tether coupled to the first end of the movable elongated member. Tension applied to the tether moves the movable elongated member from an open first position to a closed second position. The toy apparatus is configured to freely slide on a surface due to momentum generated when an initial pushing force is applied to the toy apparatus. The tension applied to the tether causes the tether to become taut, without other human contact to the toy apparatus. In the closed second position, the second end of the movable elongated member is closer to the distal end of the base elongated member, and the base elongated member and the movable elongated member are capable of retaining a target piece.

A wheel game apparatus comprising an inner ring mounted for rotational motion about a central shaft having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, a central cone mounted for rotational motion about the shaft in an axial adjacent position to the upper side of the inner ring and including a plurality of markers thereon, and aligning and engagement features whereby the cone can be rotated relative to the inner ring such that each of the markers will align with a slot and the cone will remain engaged while the inner ring is rotated.

A novelty apparel includes multiple attached conformable, selectable and viewable occupational role playing indicia. A baseball cap includes a dome shaped crown of compound curves and a forward facing sun visor brim portion, a display region in a central front face portion of the dome shaped crown, where the display region displays a first permanent occupational status identifier and a mounting region for a secondary occupational status identifier selectable from a number of different indicia carried on a display surface conformable to said dome shaped crown. The selected indicium is displayed centered above the brim. The display surface conforms to the curved exterior of the dome shaped crown, wherein the baseball cap does not deviate substantially from the look of a typical baseball cap with a single permanent indicium.

The Archery Target Having a Replaceable Cube Core includes a replaceable cube core, a target frame, and a support base. The target frame houses the replaceable cube core at the center of the target frame. The support base is attached to the target frame and the replaceable cube core abuts the support base. The replaceable cube core provides a visual target display for archers to aim and shoot. The support base ensures that the cube core is firmly held within the confines of the target frame and the support base to prevent the replaceable cube core from shifting or moving under impact from the arrows. The replaceable cube core is formed as a cube having six (6) useable target surfaces. Each target surface provides a consistent penetration depth on each surface for predictable results, regardless of the face that is used for the target surface.

Disclosed is a dart game apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in order to implement the aforementioned object. The dart game apparatus includes: a dart target having a plurality of score areas; a sensing module configured to sense an electrical signal changed as a dart pin hits the dart target; a controller configured to control an overall operation of the dart game apparatus; and a camera module configured to include a plurality of camera units, wherein the camera module includes a first camera unit configured to photograph a throw line which is a location where a player throws a dart and a whole body of the player, a second camera unit configured to photograph at least a part of a body for identifying the player, a third camera unit configured to photograph the entirety of the dart target, and a fourth camera unit configured to photograph at least a partial area in an area formed between the throw line and the dart game apparatus in order to photograph a blind zone which is not photographed by the first camera unit, the second camera unit, and the third camera unit.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A target may allow target practice and/or simulate the shape of one or more animals. In various implementations, a target may include a target body and/or stand. The target body may be capable of receiving shots from arrows and/or ammunition. A target body may include a first aiming zone and a second aiming zone on an opposing surface. In some implementations, the first aiming zone and/or the second aiming zone may be off center. The orientation of the target body may be altered to select an aiming zone of the target body based upon user preference, in some implementations. The overlay may have shape similar to a predetermined animal. The overlay may be replaceable. The stand may support the target body. In various implementations, an overlay may be coupled to the target body and/or stand.

A method and system for suspending a target above a surface that provides for supporting a support member above the surface. A hanger is used to suspend a target from the support member. When the target is hanging from the support member, it is induced into an angle so that its top portion is closer to a shooter. When the target is struck by an incoming projectile, it is allowed to pivot downward from its initial position and the target is also restrained from rotating about the axis of suspension.

A heat exchanger may include at least one fluid passageway adjacent a heat transfer plate and a plurality of heat transfer elements positioned in the at least one fluid passageway and joined with the heat transfer plate. The heat transfer elements may be positioned with first spacings therebetween at an inlet end of the at least one fluid passageway. The heat transfer elements may be positioned with second spacings therebetween at an outlet end of the at least one fluid passageway. The first spacings may be smaller than the second spacings.

A discharge system that includes a flexitank having product stored therein and a discharge port. The discharge port is selectively fluidly connected to a first or second heat exchanger input port. The first heat exchanger has an outlet port that is in selective communication with either a second heat exchanger input port, or a discharge location. The second heat exchanger has an outlet port in selective fluid communication with discharge location. The first heat exchanger transfers heat to product flowing through the first heat exchanger; and the second heat exchanger removes heat from product flowing through the second heat exchanger.

To provide a solution conveying and cooling apparatus that enables removal of a deposit of solid material, or a fouling deposit, inside the apparatus with extremely simple work equipment by fewer on-site workers in a short tune without any dangerous work such as hydroblasting. The solution conveying and cooling apparatus has a rigid outer tube for a cooling medium and a plurality of rigid outer tubes for solution arranged parallel to each other inside the rigid outer tube for a cooling medium. A thin inner tube is disposed inside each of the rigid outer tubes for solution, this thin inner tube having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the rigid outer tube for solution at normal temperature and pressure, and expanding by an increase in at least one of temperature and pressure of a solution conveyed and as a result contacting with an inner surface of the rigid outer tube for solution that is cooled by the cooling medium.

Provided are a heat recovery apparatus based on a fuel cell and an operating method thereof. In the fuel cell-based heat recovery apparatus and the operating method thereof, hot water and steam may be generated by using heat generated while a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) operates to supply the generated hot water or steam to buildings, thereby reducing a rate of operation in cooling/heating equipment using electricity so as to reduce air-conditioning costs.

In a cooled component system, a heat exchanger mounted on a surface of the industrial component is housed in an isolated access compartment adjacent to but separated from the primary compartment containing the industrial component. Housing the heat exchanger in a separately accessible compartment permits access to the heat exchanger for cleaning or other purposes without having to shut down the industrial component being cooled. A means for moving a cooling media over the surface a the heat exchanger might also be included to maximize heat exchange.

The present invention aims to provide a technology capable of enhancing the effect of reducing differential data in size. A bit shift unit shifts either of old data and new data in a forward direction and a backward direction of its bit string by each of 0, 1, 2, . . . , and n bit(s) to generate a plurality of data. A copy bit string extracting unit extracts information on copy bit strings based on the plurality of data and other non-shifted data. An additional bit string extracting unit excludes copy bit strings from the new data to extract information on additional bit strings. A differential data generating unit creates differential data based on the information on copy bit strings and the information on additional bit strings.

Methods and apparatus to parallelize data decompression are disclosed. An example method adjusting a first one of initial starting positions to determine a first adjusted starting position by decoding the bitstream starting at a training position in the bitstream, the decoding including traversing the bitstream from the training position as though first data located at the training position is a valid token; and merging, by executing an instruction with the processor, first decoded data generated by decoding a first segment of the compressed data bitstream starting from the first adjusted starting position with second decoded data generated by decoding a second segment of the compressed data bitstream, the decoding of the second segment starting from a second position in the compressed data bitstream and being performed in parallel with the decoding of the first segment, and the second segment preceding the first segment in the compressed data bitstream.

A level shifter circuit includes a level shifting unit configured to receive signals that may vary in a first range via a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal, respectively and to output signals that may vary in a second range to a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, respectively, where the second range is larger than the first range, a first pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge the positive output terminal to a predetermined level when a clock is in a first level, and a second pre-charging unit configured to pre-charge the negative output terminal to the predetermined level when the clock is in the first level.

Disclosed are an apparatus and method for compressing continuous data. The apparatus for compressing continuous data may include a data generator configured to calculate differences between adjacent values in original continuous data and generate data based on the calculated differences.

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.