1. A method of continuously producing a melt-blown polymer filament mass comprising:
continuously producing a first set of melt-blown polymeric filaments, the first set being produced generally in-line along an axis generally parallel to a rotating collection device, wherein continuously producing the first set of melt-blown polymeric filaments comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a first nozzle to create a first polymer stream, the first polymer stream being generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the collection device; and
exposing the first polymer stream to a first attenuating gas stream;
continuously collecting the first set of filaments directly on the rotating collection device to form a tubular filament mass having a plurality of layers;
applying a second set of melt-blown polymeric filaments to the filament mass from a source positioned at an acute angle relative to an axis of rotation of the collection device, the second set being deposited on the filament mass such that polymeric filaments of the second set extend through and engage a plurality of layers of the polymeric filaments of the first set, wherein applying the second set of melt-blown filaments comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a second nozzle to create a second polymer stream, the second nozzle being closer to the collection device than the first nozzle; and
exposing the second polymer stream to a second attenuating gas stream; and
urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device, the filament mass having indefinite length with a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface being adjacent the collection device.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device includes using a press roller.
3. The method of claim 1 in which the step of continuously urging further comprises simultaneously urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device and compressing the filaments with a press roller to create a density gradient across the tubular filament mass.
4. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:
continuously urging the tubular filament mass along and off an end of the rotating collection device, the tubular mass thereby having an inner cylindrical passage formed by the collection device; and
cutting the tubular filament mass into a plurality of individual filament elements.
5. The method of claim 1 in which the step of continuously producing the first set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a third nozzle to create a third polymer stream, the third polymer stream being generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the collection device and generally parallel to the first polymer stream, the third polymer stream being adjacent the first polymer stream, the third polymer stream overlapping the first polymer stream; and
exposing the third polymer stream to a third attenuating gas stream.
6. The method of claim 5 in which the step of continuously producing the first set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a fourth nozzle to create a fourth polymer stream, the fourth polymer stream being generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the collection device and generally parallel to the first and third polymer streams, the fourth polymer stream being adjacent the third polymer stream, the fourth polymer stream overlapping the third polymer stream; and
exposing the fourth polymer stream to a fourth attenuating gas stream.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
applying the second set of polymeric filaments at a higher temperature than a temperature of the first set of polymeric filaments.
8. The method of claim 1 in which the polymeric filaments of the second set extend from one major surface to the other major surface.
9. A method of continuously producing a melt-blown polymer filament mass comprising:
continuously producing a first set of melt-blown polymeric filaments, the first set being produced generally in-line along an axis generally parallel to a rotating collection device;
continuously collecting the first set of filaments directly on the rotating collection device to form a tubular filament mass having a plurality of layers;
applying a second set of melt-blown polymeric filaments to the filament mass in a sweeping motion, the motion being oscillatory along a longitudinal dimension of the filament mass, the second set being deposited on the filament mass such that polymeric filaments of the second set extend through and engage a plurality of layers of the polymeric filaments of the first set; and
urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device, the filament mass having indefinite length with a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface being adjacent the collection device.
10. The method of claim 9 in which the sweeping motion oscillates about 3 times during each rotation of the collection device.
11. The method of claim 9 in which the sweeping motion is slower when the filaments are applied near the first major surface and the sweeping motion is faster when the filaments are applied near the second major surface.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device includes using a press roller.
13. The method of claim 9 in which the step of continuously urging further comprises simultaneously urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device and compressing the filaments with a press roller to create a density gradient across the tubular filament mass.
14. The method of claim 9 and further comprising:
continuously urging the tubular filament mass along and off an end of the rotating collection device, the tubular mass thereby having an inner cylindrical passage formed by the collection device; and
cutting the tubular filament mass into a plurality of individual filament elements.
15. The method of claim 9 in which the step of continuously producing the first set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a first nozzle to create a first polymer stream, the first polymer stream being generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the collection device; and
exposing the first polymer stream to a first attenuating gas stream.
16. The method of claim 15 in which the step of continuously producing the second set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a second nozzle to create a second polymer stream, the second nozzle being closer to the collection device than the first nozzle; and
exposing the second polymer stream to a second attenuating gas stream.
17. The method of claim 16 in which the step of continuously producing the first set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a third nozzle to create a third polymer stream, the third polymer stream being generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the collection device and generally parallel to the first polymer stream, the third polymer stream being adjacent the first polymer stream, the third polymer stream overlapping the first polymer stream; and
exposing the third polymer stream to a third attenuating gas stream.
18. The method of claim 17 in which the step of continuously producing the first set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a fourth nozzle to create a fourth polymer stream, the fourth polymer stream being generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the collection device and generally parallel to the first and third polymer streams, the fourth polymer stream being adjacent the third polymer stream, the fourth polymer stream overlapping the third polymer stream; and
exposing the fourth polymer stream to a fourth attenuating gas stream.
19. The method of claim 9 further comprising:
applying the second set of polymeric filaments at a higher temperature than a temperature of the first set of polymeric filaments.
20. The method of claim 9 in which the polymeric filaments of the second set extend from one major surface to the other major surface.
21. A method of continuously producing a melt-blown polymer filament mass comprising:
continuously producing a first set of melt-blown polymeric filaments, the first set being produced generally in-line along an axis generally parallel to a rotating collection device;
continuously collecting the first set of filaments directly on the rotating collection device to form a tubular filament mass having a plurality of layers;
applying a second set of melt-blown polymeric filaments to the filament mass, the second set being deposited on the filament mass such that polymeric filaments of the second set extend through and engage a plurality of layers of the polymeric filaments of the first set;
applying a third set of polymeric filaments to the filament mass, in a sweeping motion, the motion being oscillatory alone a longitudinal dimension of the filament mass, the third set being deposited on the filament mass such that the polymeric filaments of the third set extend through and engage a plurality of layers of the polymeric filaments of the first set; and
urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device, the filament mass having indefinite length with a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface being adjacent the collection device.
22. The method of claim 21 in which the sweeping motion is slower when the filaments are applied near the first major surface and the sweeping motion is faster when the filaments are applied near the second major surface.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of applying a third set of polymeric filaments to the filament mass comprises applying the third set of polymeric filaments from a source positioned at an acute angle relative to an axis of rotation of the collection device.
24. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
applying a fourth set of polymeric filaments to the filament mass, the fourth set being deposited on the second major surface of the filament mass.
25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:
applying the third set of polymeric filaments at a higher temperature than a temperature of the first set of polymeric filaments.
26. The method of claim 21 in which the polymeric filaments of the third set extend from one major surface to the other major surface.
27. A method of producing a melt-blown polymer filament mass comprising:
producing a first set of melt-blown polymeric filaments, the first set being produced generally in-line along an axis generally parallel to a rotating collection device; wherein producing the first set comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a first nozzle to create a first polymer stream, the first polymer stream being generally perpendicular to the collection device; and
exposing the first polymer stream to a first attenuating gas stream;
collecting the first set of filaments directly on the rotating collection device to form a tubular filament mass having a radial depth dimension, a longitudinal dimension, and a circumferential dimension; and
applying a second set of melt-blown polymeric filaments to the filament mass, the second set being deposited on the filament mass such that polymeric filaments of the second set extend generally in the depth, longitudinal, and circumferential dimensions and engage polymeric filaments of the first set, the filament mass having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface being adjacent the collection device; wherein applying the second set comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a second nozzle to create a second polymer stream, the second nozzle being closer to the collection device than the first nozzle; and
exposing the second polymer stream to a second attenuating gas stream.
28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:
urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device to create a tubular filament mass of indefinite length.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device includes using a press roller.
30. The method of claim 27 further comprising:
applying the second set of polymeric filaments at a higher temperature than a temperature of the first set of polymeric filaments.
31. The method of claim 27 in which the polymeric filaments of the second set extend from one major surface to the other major surface.
32. A method of producing a melt-blown polymer filament mass comprising:
producing a first set of melt-blown polymeric filaments, the first set being produced generally in-line along an axis generally parallel to a rotating collection device;
collecting the first set of filaments directly on the rotating collection device to form a tubular filament mass having a radial depth dimension; and
applying a second set of melt-blown polymeric filaments to the filament mass in a sweeping motion, the motion being oscillatory along a longitudinal dimension of the filament mass, the second set being deposited on the filament mass such that polymeric filaments of the second set extend generally in the depth dimension and engage polymeric filaments of the first set, the filament mass having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface being adjacent the collection device.
33. The method of claim 32 in which the sweeping motion oscillates about 3 times during each rotation of the collection device.
34. The method of claim 32 in which the sweeping motion is slower when the filaments are applied near the first major surface and the sweeping motion is faster when the filaments are applied near the second major surface.
35. The method of claim 32 wherein the step of applying a second set of polymeric filaments to the filament mass comprises applying the second set of polymeric filaments from a source positioned at an acute angle relative to an axis of rotation of the collection device.
36. The method of claim 32 in which the step of continuously urging further comprises simultaneously urging the filament mass along the rotating collection device and compressing the filaments with a press roller to create a density gradient across the tubular filament mass.
37. The method of claim 32 and further comprising:
continuously urging the tubular filament mass along and off an end of the rotating collection device, the tubular mass thereby having an inner cylindrical passage formed by the collection device; and
cutting the tubular filament mass into a plurality of individual filament elements.
38. The method of claim 32 in which the step of continuously producing the first set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a first nozzle to create a first polymer stream, the first polymer stream being generally perpendicular to the collection device; and
exposing the first polymer stream to a first attenuating gas stream.
39. The method of claim 38 in which the step of continuously producing the second set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a second nozzle to create a second polymer stream, the second nozzle being closer to the collection device than the first nozzle; and
exposing the second polymer stream to a second attenuating gas stream.
40. The method of claim 39 in which the step of continuously producing the first set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a third nozzle to create a third polymer stream, the third polymer stream being generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the collection device and generally parallel to the first polymer stream, the third polymer stream being adjacent the first polymer stream, the third polymer stream overlapping the first polymer stream; and
exposing the third polymer stream to a third attenuating gas stream.
41. The method of claim 40 in which the step of continuously producing the first set of polymeric filaments further comprises:
extruding polymeric material through a fourth nozzle to create a fourth polymer stream, the fourth polymer stream being generally perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the collection device and generally parallel to the first and third polymer streams, the fourth polymer stream being adjacent the third polymer stream, the fourth polymer stream overlapping the third polymer stream; and
exposing the fourth polymer stream to a fourth attenuating gas stream.
42. A method of producing a melt-blown polymer filament mass comprising:
producing a first set of melt-blown polymeric filaments, the first set being produced generally in-line along an axis generally parallel to a rotating collection device;
collecting the first set of filaments directly on the rotating collection device to form a tubular filament mass having a radial depth dimension;
applying a second set of melt-blown polymeric filaments to the filament mass in a sweeping motion, the motion being oscillatory along a longitudinal dimension of the filament mass, the second set being deposited on the filament mass such that polymeric filaments of the second set extend generally in the depth dimension and engage polymeric filaments of the first set, the filament mass having a first major surface and a second major surface, the first major surface being adjacent the collection device; and
applying a third set of polymeric filaments to the filament mass, the third set being deposited on the filament mass such that the polymeric filaments of the third set extend through and engage a plurality of layers of the polymeric filaments of the first set.
43. The method of claim 35 in which the sweeping motion is slower when the filaments are applied near the first major surface and the sweeping motion is faster when the filaments are applied near the second major surface.
44. The method of claim 42 wherein the step of applying a third set of polymeric filaments to the filament mass comprises applying the third set of polymeric filaments from a source positioned at an acute angle relative to an axis of rotation of the collection device.
45. The method of claim 42 further comprising:
applying a fourth set of polymeric filaments to the filament mass, the fourth set being deposited on the second major surface of the filament mass.
46. The method of claim 42 further comprising:
applying the third set of polymeric filaments at a higher temperature than a temperature of the first set of polymeric filaments.
47. The method of claim 42 in which the polymeric filaments of the third set extend from one major surface to the other major surface.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A gaming system comprising:
at least one input device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to:
(a) enable a player to place a wager to play a primary game; and
(b) if an individual bonus game triggering event occurs:
(i) determine one of a plurality of different individual bonus games,
(ii) determine a community game,
(iii) enable the player to select any one of:
(A) a play of the determined individual bonus game,
(B) a play of the determined community game, and
(C) a deferral of the play of the determined community game,
(iv) if the player selects the play of the determined individual bonus game:
(A) determine an individual bonus game award,
(B) provide the determined individual bonus game award to the player, and
(C) not provide any community game award to the player,
(v) if the player selects the play of the determined community game:
(A) determine a community game award,
(B) provide the determined community game award to the player, and
(C) not provide any individual bonus game award to the player, and
(vi) if the player selects the deferral of the play of the determined community game:
(A) accumulate a community game entry for the player, said accumulated community game entry being associated with the determined community game, and
(B) not provide any individual bonus game award to the player.
2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to:
(I) enable the player to redeem any accumulated community game entries, and
(II) for each redeemed community game entry, display a play of the determined community game associated with the redeemed community game entry.
3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to determine, based on at least one player input, at least one of: the individual bonus game and the individual bonus game award.
4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to determine, based, at least in part, on at least one player input, at least one of: the determined community game and the determined community game award.
5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to determine the community game based, at least in part, on an average expected payout of the determined individual bonus game.
6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the determined individual bonus game has a first average expected payout and the determined community game has the first average expected payout.
7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to operate with at least one community display device to display at least one of: any determined community game awards and any accumulated community game entries for the player.
8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to determine the community game based at least in part on the determined individual bonus game.
9. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including at least one input device;
at least one display device associated with at least one of said gaming devices; and
at least one controller configured to operate with each of said gaming devices and said at least one display device to:
(a) maintain a community game; and
(b) if an individual bonus game triggering event occurs in association with one of the gaming devices:
(i) determine one of a plurality of different individual bonus games,
(ii) determine at least one feature associated with the maintained community game,
(iii) enable a player of said gaming device to select any one of:
(A) a play of the determined individual bonus game,
(B) a play of the maintained community game associated with the at least one determined feature, and
(C) a deferral of the play of the maintained community game associated with the at least one determined feature,
(iv) if the player selects the play of the determined individual bonus game:
(A) determine an individual bonus game award,
(B) provide the determined individual bonus game award to the player, and
(C) not provide any community game award to the player,
(v) if the player selects the play of the maintained community game:
(A) determine a community game award, said determined based, at least in part, on the at least one determined feature,
(B) provide the determined community game award to the player, and
(C) not provide any individual bonus game award to the player, and
(vi) if the player selects the deferral of the play of the maintained community game:
(A) accumulate a community game entry for the player, said accumulated community game entry being associated with the maintained community game associated with the at least one determined feature, and
(B) not provide any individual bonus game award to the player.
10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the at least one controller is configured to:
(I) enable any player of any of the gaming devices to redeem any accumulated community game entries, and
(II) for each redeemed community game entry, display a play of the maintained community game associated with the redeemed community game entry.
11. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine, based on at least one player input, at least one of: the individual bonus game and the individual bonus game award.
12. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine, based, at least in part, on at least one player input, at least one of: the at least one feature associated with the community game and the community game award.
13. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine the at least one feature associated with the maintained community game based, at least in part, on an average expected payout of the determined individual bonus game.
14. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the determined individual bonus game has a first average expected payout and the maintained community game associated with the at least one determined feature has the first average expected payout.
15. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the at least one controller is configured to operate with at least one community display device to display at least one of: any determined community game awards and any accumulated community game entries for any of the players.
16. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions causes the at least one processor to determine the at least one feature associated with the maintained community game based at least in part on the determined individual bonus game.
17. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
(a) enabling a player to place a wager to play a primary game; and
(b) if an individual bonus game triggering event occurs:
(i) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine one of a plurality of different individual bonus games,
(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a community game,
(iii) enabling the player to select any one of:
(A) a play of the determined individual bonus game,
(B) a play of the determined community game, and
(C) a deferral of the play of the determined community game,
(iv) if the player selects the play of the determined individual bonus game:
(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an individual bonus game award,
(B) providing the determined individual bonus game award to the player, and
(C) not providing any community game award to the player,
(v) if the player selects the play of the determined community game:
(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a community game award,
(B) providing the determined community game award to the player, and
(C) not providing any individual bonus game award to the player, and
(vi) if the player selects the deferral of the play of the determined community game:
(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to accumulate a community game entry for the player, said accumulated community game entry being associated with the determined community game, and
(B) not providing any individual bonus game award to the player.
18. The method of claim 17, which includes:
(I) enabling the player to redeem any accumulated community game entries, and
(II) for each redeemed community game entry, causing at least one display device to display a play of the determined community game associated with the redeemed community game entry.
19. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based on at least one player input, at least one of: the individual bonus game and the individual bonus game award.
20. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based, at least in part, on at least one player input, at least one of: the determined community game and the determined community game award
21. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the community game based, at least in part, on an average expected payout of the determined individual bonus game.
22. The method of claim 17, wherein the determined individual bonus game has a first average expected payout and the determined community game has the first average expected payout.
23. The method of claim 17, which includes causing at least one community display device to display at least one of: any determined community game awards and any accumulated community game entries for the player.
24. The method of claim 17, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the community game based at least in part on the determined individual bonus game.
25. The method of claim 17, which is provided through a data network.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data network is the internet.
27. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain a community game; and
(b) if an individual bonus game triggering event occurs in association with one of the gaming devices:
(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine one of a plurality of different individual bonus games,
(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine at least one feature associated with the maintained community game,
(iii) enabling a player of said gaming device to select any one of:
(A) a play of the determined individual bonus game,
(B) a play of the maintained community game associated with the at least one determined feature, and
(C) a deferral of the play of the maintained community game associated with the at least one determined feature,
(iv) if the player selects the play of the determined individual bonus game:
(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an individual bonus game award,
(B) providing the determined individual bonus game award to the player, and
(C) not providing any community game award to the player,
(v) if the player selects the play of the maintained community game:
(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a community game award, said determined based, at least in part, on the at least one determined feature,
(B) providing the determined community game award to the player, and
(C) not providing any individual bonus game award to the player, and
(vi) if the player selects the deferral of the play of the maintained community game:
(A) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to accumulate a community game entry for the player, said accumulated community game entry being associated with the maintained community game associated with the at least one determined feature, and
(B) not providing any individual bonus game award to the player.
28. The method of claim 27, which includes:
(I) enabling any player of any of the gaming devices to redeem any accumulated community game entries, and
(II) for each redeemed community game entry, causing at least one display device to display a play of the maintained community game associated with the redeemed community game entry.
29. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based on at least one player input, at least one of: the individual bonus game and the individual bonus game award.
30. The method of claim 2, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based, at least in part, on at least one player input, at least one of: the at least one feature associated with the community game and the community game award.
31. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the at least one feature associated with the maintained community game based, at least in part, on an average expected payout of the determined individual bonus game.
32. The method of claim 27, wherein the determined individual bonus game has a first average expected payout and the maintained community game associated with the at least one determined feature has the first average expected payout.
33. The method of claim 27, which includes causing at least one community display device to display at least one of: any determined community game awards and any accumulated community game entries for any of the players.
34. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the at least one feature associated with the maintained community game based at least in part on the determined individual bonus game.
35. The method of claim 27, which is provided through a data network.
36. The method of claim 35, wherein the data network is the internet.