Famous Patents
The ice cream cone was invented at the St. Louis Worlds Fair by Ernest Hamwi in 1904. His waffle booth was next to an ice cream vendor who ran short of dishes. Hamwi rolled a waffle to hold ice cream and the cone was born.
PatentStorm News
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 |
| 8141509 | Subsea salvage operation using lifting magnet Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a subsea salvage operation using a lifting magnet. In one embodiment, a method of salvaging a submerged production platform includes deploying a salvage vessel to a wreckage site of the submerged production pl... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8061289 | Marine lifting apparatus A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second spaced apart barges. First and second frames span between the barges. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the barges in a configu... | 11/22/2011 |
| 7908988 | Method and apparatus for salvaging underwater objects A method and apparatus for removing debris from an ocean floor or seabed employs a subsea debris basket. The basket eliminates the absolute necessity of a cargo barge or any other supporting vessel that might be required to remain in a field until the objects on the... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7886676 | Marine lifting apparatus A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames ar... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7484467 | Deep water lift system remote pendant A control pendant for raising and lowering an object in water by hoist machinery allows control by a diver viewing the submerged object. The pendant has an elongate sheath defining an elongate interior extending between bitter and distal ends. The bitter end is coup... | 02/03/2009 |
| 7481173 | Floating lowering and lifting device The invention relates to a floating lowering and lifting device having a floating structure and a lifting unit lowerable from the floating structure towards the sea bed, the lifting unit having a chamber with at least one gas-inlet opening in its wall and an equaliz... | 01/27/2009 |
| 7296530 | Unmanned system for underwater object inspection, identification and/or neutralization An unmanned system performs inspection, identification and/or neutralization of underwater objects. An unmanned vehicle that operates at a water's surface stows underwater crawling and/or swimming vehicles that can operate underneath a water's surface. A winch assoc... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7040680 | Load handling device In a load handling device for use with a load having a lifting attachment, the lifting attachment being so attached to the load that, when the load is suspended by the lifting attachment, the load is free to pivot relative to the lifting attachment about at least on... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7028627 | Submersible vehicle launch and recovery system A submersible vehicle launch and recovery system comprises a grab comprising at least two arms capable of moving relative to each other, the arms being rotatable between an open position and a closed position, in which closed position the jaws of the arms are able t... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7000560 | Unmanned underwater vehicle docking station coupling system and method A docking station for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) includes a tether control system to minimize movement of the docking station when the UUV is docking therein. The docking station is a submerged station that is tethered to a floating structure via a tether ... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6928947 | Submersible vehicle A remotely controlled submersible vehicle comprises a fore section and an aft section. In use, they are held apart from each other, such as by telescopic arms, in order to define a gap within which a payload is received. This keeps the payload near the center of the... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6904857 | Boat lift securing device A device secured to a submersible portion of a boat lift to stabilize the submersible portion of the boat lift from unwanted lateral movement. Elongated pipe-like devices are attached to a submersible portion of a boat lift in proximity to a piling. The device is mo... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6904856 | Method and apparatus for accessing underwater cable or pipes A method and apparatus are provided for accessing a cable or pipe (9) buried underwater in a layer of material (10). The method comprises urging a tool (1) through the layer of material (10) by fluidising the material adjacent the tool ( | 06/14/2005 |
| 6843191 | Device and method for raising sunken objects A device and method for raising sunken objects such as crates, small boats, vessels and ships including a platform equipped with winches to lower down a basket net and a frame supporting a cryogenic apparatus to the vicinity of the object. The cryogenic apparatus is... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6767004 | Replacement motorized drive unit for boat lifts A drive motor arrangement for replacing manual drives on an existing boat lift winch shaft comprises a worm gear box with a worm driven by an integrally mounted motor on the worm gear box. A worm gear is mounted on a tubular cross shaft extending outwardly on opposi... | 07/27/2004 |
| 6698376 | Device for launching and recovering an underwater vehicle and implementation method A device for launching and recovering an underwater vehicle comprises a submersible assembly comprising a lower chassis and an upper chassis, which are connected by a flexible connection so that the distance between them is adjustable. The flexible connec... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6511261 | Method of removing or positioning a substructure of an offshore platform The method for removing or positioning a structure (103) which is erected on either an underwater bed or anchored to the underwater bed entails the use of a hoisting mechanism. When the structure (103) is being removed, it is detached from the underwater ... | 01/28/2003 |
| 6443660 | Method and system for manipulating an object located underwater An apparatus for manipulating an object located proximate an underwater floor is disclosed, in a preferred embodiment comprising a foundation implantable in the underwater floor; a lifting frame extending between the foundation; and a multiplicity of slin... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6390012 | Apparatus and method for deploying, recovering, servicing, and operating an autonomous underwater vehicle An apparatus and methods for deploying, recovering, and servicing an AUV are disclosed. The apparatus includes a linelatch system that is made up of a tether management system connected to a flying latch vehicle by a tether. The linelatch system can be co... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6364574 | Method and apparatus for the offshore installation of multi-ton packages such as deck packages and jackets A method and apparatus for the installation or removal of large multi-ton prefabricated deck packages includes the use of usually two barges defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load. A variable dimensional truss assembly is supported by the... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6223681 | REMUS positive lock securing apparatus The present invention is an apparatus for launching or retrieving a vessel. This apparatus includes a first vertical member having a top and a bottom end. A lower vessel engagement hook is positioned at the lower end of the vertical member. A second verti... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6217053 | Recreational vehicle support apparatus An apparatus which is transformable from a boat lift to a trailer. The apparatus is movable on skids in a boat lift mode and on wheels in a trailer mode. A pair of posts on a main frame supports a pantographic linkwork to which is affixed a watercraft lif... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6152065 | Apparatus for launching and recovery of boats A dock, for launching and recovery of a lifeboat, rescue boat or like small boat on a vessel, a floating platform or a fixed installation. The boat (14) is normally stored on the dock. The dock is provided with buoyant elements (1) fixed to a frame (3). T... | 11/28/2000 |
| 6149350 | Method and apparatus for the offshore installation of multi-ton packages such as deck packages and jackets A method and apparatus for the installation or removal of large multi-ton prefabricated deck packages includes the use of usually two barges defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load. A variable dimensional truss assembly is supported by the... | 11/21/2000 |
| 5970813 | Drive system A flat plate drive system for controlling the axial rotational motion of a drive shaft for raising and lowering a load, that optimizes frictional engagement while maximizing heat dissipation away from the moving parts of the drive system. The drive system... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5800093 | Method and apparatus for the offshore installation of multi-ton packages such as deck packages, jackets, and sunken vessels A method and apparatus for the installation or removal of large multi-ton prefabricated deck packages includes the use of usually two barges defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load. A variable dimensional truss assembly is supported by the... | 09/01/1998 |
| 5666898 | Equipment for raising sunken vessels Equipment for the raising, sunken vessels, specifically small to medium sized ships which are submerged in depths to which human descent for purposes of rigging retrieval gear to the ship is impractical or unsafe. The equipment can be employed remotely us... | 09/16/1997 |
| 5378851 | System for handling a remotely operated vessel A system for handling a remote vessel from a mother vessel comprising: a messenger/manipulating line intercepting member extending upwardly from the remote vessel; a line capturing device associated with the line intercepting member; line traversing devic... | 01/03/1995 |
| 5253606 | Machine for gripping, securing and handling underwater vehicles and the like A machine for gripping and handling underwater vehicles and the like includes a gripping device provided with a guiding member made integral at its upper end, an articulated member connected with a rod sliding inside a guide attached to a free end of a ji... | 10/19/1993 |
| 5083953 | Transferrable and reusable marker and retrieval system for water transport objects subject to possible sinking An improved apparatus for use in association with a vessel to facilitate raising the vessel and/or cargo carried thereby should it become sunken. The apparatus is readily attachable to or mountable on any equipment and includes a float having an upper por... | 01/28/1992 |
| 4986203 | Method for raising any object lying on the bottom of the sea, a river or basin, and apparatus used thereby Method and apparatus for raising an object from a sea, river or basin bottom. A lifting platform is arranged adjacent the object to be raised, from the platform supporting tubes are arranged at an angle relative to the bottom from 10° to 90° to lay a co... | 01/22/1991 |
| 4984527 | Device for the remote assembly of two members A device for the remote assembly of two members using at least one oblong assembly element, comprising an anchoring arrangement for anchoring its assembly element on one of said members, or first member, a remote control arrangement for tensioning said as... | 01/15/1991 |
| 4843995 | Automatic boat bottom cleaner A mechanical device for cleaning the bottom of a boat moored in a body of water includes a line with a central scrubber section, ends affixed above the boat's water line and means for urging the scrubber section upward. Passing the boat over the line forc... | 07/04/1989 |
| 4746157 | Lifting device for setting floating objects afloat in the water and raising them, particularly boats A lifting device is provided for rapidly coupling and uncoupling a floating load, such as a boat, when it is set afloat or raised from the water. It includes essentially a hook secured to the load and a coupling element connected by cables to a lifting ap... | 05/24/1988 |
| 4729503 | Method and equipment for underwater attachment An attachment device adapted to be fused to an underwater object which includes a housing having a fuel chamber in generally surrounding relationship to an ignition chamber, a closure normally closed in communication between the chambers, an ignition devi... | 03/08/1988 |
| 4686920 | Cradle type boat lifts A boat lift for a berth having permanently positioned piles in pairs spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the boat to be berthed thereat to move between the paired piles while in the water includes a cradle having fore and aft transverse members u... | 08/18/1987 |
| 4516517 | Float recovery system A method and apparatus are provided for recovering a towed body to onboard a towing ship while the towing ship is underway. A saddle is employed in cooperation with a rudder to engage one end of the towed body and, subsequent to engagement, the saddle mea... | 05/14/1985 |
| 4499840 | Method for the salvage of a sunken vessel This invention discloses a method for the salvage of a sunken vessel able to be carried out either in deep or shallow sea area by utilizing electromagnets to direct a conventional clamping apparatus in precisely and effectively clamping as well as lifting... | 02/19/1985 |
| 4280430 | Linked-spar motion-compensated lifting system A system for operating a lifting cable over the side of a ship at sea in ch a spar buoy having an adjustable lifting capacity is coupled to the ship by a rigid linkage which is free to pivot on an axis attached to the deck. The lifting cable is suspended... | 07/28/1981 |
| 4245578 | Process and apparatus for handling a diving machine Apparatus for handling a submersible device, such as a diving bell, includes a winch mounted on a support structure and having a suspension cable with a free end at which the submersible device is suspended, a guide structure fixed to the support structur... | 01/20/1981 |
