Magician Harry Houdini patented a "Diver's Suit" enabling the wearer to "quickly divest himself of the suit while being submerged and to safely escape and reach the surface of the water."
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5283845 | Multi-port tunable fiber-optic filter A multi-port tunable fiber-optic etalon filter (MTFET) having two spaced partially reflective mirrors, has three or more ports, with at least two on one side and at least one on the other side of the etalon. A single signal can be filtered with the reflec... | 02/01/1994 |
| 5239599 | Moving fiber optical fiber switch A moving fiber optical fiber switch is formed by mounting one or more optical fibers on support surfaces of two spaced support members, one or both of which are laterally movable. After mounting of the fiber or fibers, a transverse fine cut across the fib... | 08/24/1993 |
| 5106101 | Games-net support A games-net support has a flat ground plate with a central threaded aperture. A threaded rod is screwed into the aperture and extends from the bottom surface of the plate, to a variable length as desired. A hollow tube is positioned on and attached to the... | 04/21/1992 |
| 5097254 | Swimmer protection and pool safety warning device A swimmer protection and pool safety warning device comprises a portable sonic signal generating member worn by a swimmer in a pool, the signal generating member having a switch or similar device which is activated at a predetermined depth. Also included ... | 03/17/1992 |
| 4880971 | Fiber optic liquid level sensor A liquid level sensor comprises a probe containing closely spaced therein an elongate light emitter and an elongate light collector, the housing of the probe permitting light to issue from the interior from the emitter and to return to the collector. A li... | 11/14/1989 |
| 4796288 | Telephone handset with static discharge prevention A telephone handset with static discharge prevention has a dielectric membrane extending over the metal ferrule of the transmitter, the membrane spaced from the ferrule by an annular dielectric spacer. At the receiver, a metal shunt on the front of the re... | 01/03/1989 |
| 4795246 | Differential interference contrast microscope using non-uniformly deformed plastic birefringent components In a differential interference contrast microscope, including a beam splitter and a compensator beam splitter, each of the beam splitters and the compensator comprise at least one non-uniformly deformed plastic birefringent component exhibiting linearly g... | 01/03/1989 |
| 4773091 | Telephone handset for use in noisy locations A telephone handset for use in noisy locations has a noise cancelling electret transmitter which receives a normal acoustic input at the front end and a background noise acoustic input to the rear end. The input to the rear end is via a grill on the back ... | 09/20/1988 |
| 4759488 | Circuit board carrier A carrier for holding a circuit board while passing round an automated insertion line has a rectangular frame with support members extending in from the inner periphery. In a particular example, the support members on three sides have support surfaces and... | 07/26/1988 |
| 4739919 | Masking of circuit boards for wave soldering A soldering mask for soldering the leads of leaded components to a circuit pattern on a surface of a circuit board also having surface mounted components already soldered to the circuit pattern on that surface, comprises a flat metal plate having a recess... | 04/26/1988 |
| 4735481 | Fusion apparatus for joining two monomode optical fibers Fusion splicing apparatus for fusion splicing pairs of single mode optical fibers has a fusion head having two spaced guiding and locating members mounted on hinge members. One hinge member moves a guiding and locating member up and down, the other hinge ... | 04/05/1988 |
| 4731833 | Low profile circuit board mounted telephone jack A modular jack for a telephone, particularly for use in a handset, has a minimal height or profile by using a circuit board, on which the jack is mounted, as one of the walls defining the aperture into which a modular plug is inserted. The overall height ... | 03/15/1988 |
| 4709389 | Telephone hook switch with elastomeric contact member A telephone hook switch uses an elastomeric member as the contact making member. A hook switch has a pivotally mounted actuating member having two levers extending in opposite directions, one on each side of the pivot axis. One lever is moved by the posit... | 11/24/1987 |
| 4700998 | Multiple contact connector having a low insertion force A plug-in form of connector having two connecting members, one inserted into the other, has pairs of opposed contacts. Each pair of contacts is connected electrically by a pivoted contact lever, which pivots about an axis normal to its length as one conne... | 10/20/1987 |
| 4697283 | Telephone handset with integrated flux coil A telephone handset having a receiver housing at one end has a flux coil positioned at the front corner at the junction between the peripheral wall and the front wall of the housing. The flux coil is connected in series or in parallel with the receiver. T... | 09/29/1987 |
| 4682834 | Multiple contact zero insertion force connector A multiple contact connector has an elongate actuating member which is reciprocally mounted in a housing holding the contacts, the contacts in one or more linear arrays. On longitudinal reciprocation of the actuating membert it is also caused to reciproca... | 07/28/1987 |
| 4678272 | Optical fiber splice An optical fiber splice comprises two coated fibers, generally of fused silicon, fusion spliced end-to-end. The coating is removed from the ends of the fibers for a short distance prior to fusion. After fusion the uncoated ends and a short length of coate... | 07/07/1987 |
| 4661881 | Overload protector for a telephone set An overload protector for a telephone set or other telecommunications terminal comprises an electrical component having DC continuity and DC resistance mounted by leads on a circuit board, the leads soldered to the conductor pattern. On application of an ... | 04/28/1987 |
| 4652071 | Cable terminal connector with insulation displacing terminals A connector, for use for connection of local conductors to a distribution cable, in telephone systems, has an elongate body in which are a plurality of recesses. Insulation displacing terminals are positioned in the recesses, the lower part of each termin... | 03/24/1987 |
| 4651122 | Miniature electro-mechanical transducer for measuring loads and displacement A miniature electro-mechanical transducer uses a body of elastomeric material composed of alternate layers of flexible dielectric material and flexible conductive material. The ends of the layers form opposite surfaces. An actuating member moves against o... | 03/17/1987 |
| 4647728 | Programming switch assembly for communication terminals Programming of a communications terminal is carried out by insertable programming members carrying a plurality of actuators. Each actuator has at least one and usually two actuating members which engage with a circuit to modify the electrical characterist... | 03/03/1987 |
| 4647729 | Circuit board with contact positions, as used for telecommunications terminals and other apparatus A circuit pattern on a circuit board, as used in telecommunications systems and other electrical apparatus, often has contact positions for switches, such as pushbutton switches, and for other purposes. The normal copper circuit pattern is covered at the ... | 03/03/1987 |
| 4645114 | Shaped solder pad for surface mounting electronic devices and a surface mounting position incorporating such shaped pads Solder pads for surface mounting of devices on a circuit board are given predetermined shapes. By shaping of a solder pad, or contact pad, a device will be held in, or moved to, a desired position on melting of the solder at the pad. Improved alignment an... | 02/24/1987 |
| 4638116 | Masking of holes in circuit patterns on circuit boards prior to flow soldering A circuit pattern on a circuit board usually has a number of contact areas to which components are soldered. Some of the contact areas have holes extending through the board for insertion of leads of leaded components, the leads then being flow soldered t... | 01/20/1987 |
| 4636591 | Integral transmitter and modular jack assembly for a telephone set An integral transmitter and modular jack assembly for a telephone set has a hollow housing for the transmitter and the modular jack molded as one member connected by a web. In one form the axes of the housing transmitter and acoustic chamber at the front ... | 01/13/1987 |
| 4634816 | Communications headset A communications headset has two earpieces mounted on a headband, one at each end. The earpieces are mounted on the headband by arcuate members or stirrups which provide for pivoting of the earpieces about an axis in the plane of the headband, or parallel... | 01/06/1987 |
| 4605153 | Shaped solder pad for reflow soldering of surface mounting cylindrical devices on a circuit board A solder pad is provided at each end of a mounting position for a cylindrical electronic device on a circuit board. Each solder pad has two humps of solder spaced apart in a direction normal to the axis of the device, the humps defining a channel in which... | 08/12/1986 |
| 4598176 | Telephone handset cord guide and retainer Handsets for communications terminals can cause interference with operation of keyboards and the like because the handset cord can obstruct the keyboard when "on-hook". By clipping a cord guide and retainer on to the end of the handset, the cord can be gu... | 07/01/1986 |
| 4598175 | Telephone set with two position mounting with alternate seating of handset A telephone set for optional two position mounting, on a wall or desk, has a flat rectangular main body portion of the base with a projecting portion extending forwardly and upwardly from the top edge of the body portion. The projecting portion includes t... | 07/01/1986 |
| 4594478 | Transmitter assembly for a telephone handset A transmitter assembly for a telephone set uses a commercially available cartridge electric transmitter, by modifying the response curve. This is obtained by an adapter housing the transmitter with a first volume defined between the end of the transmitter... | 06/10/1986 |
| 4593159 | Base plate for telephone set base A base-plate for a telephone set base has a bottom web or panel, with a wall extending upward around the panel for the majority of its periphery. At one side an inclined web extends inward and upward and a wall extends round the periphery of the web, with... | 06/03/1986 |
| 4589720 | Planar electronic filter element and a connector embodying such a filter A planar electronic filter has at least two dielectric plates with a ground plate between them and a plurality of parallel spaced electrodes on the outer surface of each plate. A contact area on at least one end surface connects with the ground plate. Usu... | 05/20/1986 |
| 4580192 | Latching and withdrawing assembly for plug-in circuit packs Plug-in circuit packs, as used in telecommunications systems are planar assemblies which slide into position in a support frame, with electrical connections usually made at the inner or rear end. Assistance in withdrawal, and latching when in position are... | 04/01/1986 |
| 4574272 | Tone ringer for telephone sets and other telecommunications apparatus The vibratory element of a tone ringer, as used for a telephone set for example, is gripped at its periphery between a ledge on a base housing and a thin deformable extension on a top housing. Interengaging clamping members and wedging members force the t... | 03/04/1986 |
| 4569001 | Mounting for line cards on circuit boards in telecommunications apparatus A mounting for line cards on circuit boards, as used in telecommunications systems comprises a molded plastic frame having a plurality of mounting positions for ceramic circuit members. Each position comprises two parallel, spaced guide and support member... | 02/04/1986 |
| 4568929 | Liquid crystal displays for telephone sets and other telecommunications terminals Liquid crystal display (LCD) devices are becoming more widespread in use because of low power requirements, but such devices are expensive to mount singly at present, being restricted for economy reasons to strips of devices. Elastomeric members are also ... | 02/04/1986 |
| 4556763 | Simplified line switch for a telephone set A line switch assembly for a telephone switch has a unitary switch having a base within which are cantilevered contacts and a cap over the base, the cap having cam formations which actuate the contacts on reciprocal movement of the cap. An actuating membe... | 12/03/1985 |
| 4549776 | Connecting member for connecting two communications terminal units Communications terminals, such as telephone sets and additional terminals for particular services, are connected together by a connecting member which is attached to each terminal. Conveniently a recess is formed in each side wall of a terminal, the reces... | 10/29/1985 |
| 4546214 | Line use indicator for telephone sets sharing a single line Where several telephone sets are connected to a single telephone line, it would be convenient to have a visual indication that the line is in use, to avoid lifting a handset to see if there is a conversation, for example. A circuit is installed across the... | 10/08/1985 |
| 4544823 | Arc percussion welding a plated pin to a thin tab of dissimilar metal To obtain acceptable arc percussion welding of tin plated copper pins to thin brass strip members, the tin must be prevented from becoming trapped in the weld zone and gaseous and other forms of material also being trapped. By giving the end of a pin a sm... | 10/01/1985 |