Did You Know...
...that the x-ray was discovered purely by accident? When German physicist Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen was experimenting with cathode rays in 1895, he put an activated Crookes tube in a book and went out to lunch. When he returned, he discovered that a key that had also been placed in the book showed up as an image on the developed film!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7870934 | Self-retracting lanyard and braking mechanism with pawl lockout A self-retracting lanyard having a housing; a rotatable drum in that housing; a line for winding about that drum; and an improved braking mechanism for preventing the drum in that housing from ratcheting due to line rebounding after a fall arrest event. The braking ... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7237651 | Rappelling apparatus A rappelling apparatus providing controlled constant speed to a cable unwinding from a rotating spool in frictional engagement with a stationary arcuate surface. Rotations of the spool are responded to by a centrifugal brake acting in inverse proportion to the rotat... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7237650 | Tension device for use with a self-retracting lifeline A tension device for use with a self-retracting lifeline having a drum includes a lifeline and an elastic member. The lifeline has a retracting end, an intermediate portion, and a connecting end. The retracting end is operatively connected to the drum, and the conne... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7222697 | Elevator An elevator is described, comprising a first series connected pulley set installed in a fixing frame, a carriage located below the first series connected pulley set, a second series connected pulley set installed on the top of the carriage, a rotary wheel installed ... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7210645 | Safety element retention reel A safety element retention system having a reel upon which a safety element or strap may be wound, a spring return mechanism, for rewinding the reel and retrieving the safety strap, and further having at least one locking plate, connected integrally with the reel, w... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7195100 | System and method for an escapable multistory building A system and method for allowing escape of many persons from a multistory building over a short period of time. The method and system include strategic placement and use of anchor points and components in conjunction with escape kits or devices so as to allow increa... | 03/27/2007 |
| 6966407 | Escape-Right The Escape-Right is an emergency escape system comprising: a passenger harness, a cable, a reel, a shaft fixed to the reel permitting rotation of the reel as the cable is unrolled, a reduction gear assembly, a centrifugal brake assembly, a housing enclosing the brak... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6964319 | Retractable lanyard systems, anchoring brackets for retractable lanyards and methods of anchoring retractable lanyards An anchoring system includes an anchor member to anchor the lifeline and at least one extending unit to extend the anchor member out to a working position beyond (horizontally) and above (vertically) an edge to provide for an overhead anchoring point. The anchoring ... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6962235 | Apparatus for exterior evacuation from buildings An apparatus for safely evacuating a person within a prescribed weight range from a multistory building by enabling the person to exit from the interior of the building to the outside very quickly and to descend to the ground or lower surface alongside the exterior ... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6918464 | Energy absorber An energy absorber comprises a housing (1), a store (15) of plastically deformable material (8) mounted in the housing and having an endstop (27), an attachment (3) for attaching the energy absorber to a structure, another attachme... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6868942 | Emergency escape system An emergency escape system includes an escape apparatus and a door. The escape apparatus is connected to the door. The escape apparatus includes a cord and a release mechanism. The release mechanism is configured to provide a controlled lowering of a person being lo... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6607055 | Emergency escape pulley structure An emergency escape pulley structure includes a main shaft on which a plurality of rope wheels are mounted. The main shaft actuates a deceleration gear set, so as to link a braking wheel. The rope wheels are controlled by a control member to turn independ... | 08/19/2003 |
| 6279682 | Speed responsive coupling device especially for fall arrest apparatus A speed responsive coupling device for locking a first member with respect to a second against relative rotation in at least one direction, which device comprises a ratchet wheel carried by said first member which is engageable by a pawl carried by the se... | 08/28/2001 |
| 5996921 | Centrifugal braking apparatus for baitcasting reel A centrifugal braking apparatus for a baitcasting reel comprises a spool, pivot shafts, brake levers, and a ring-shaped braking member. The spool is rotatably supported between both side plates of a reel main body. Each of the pivot shafts is disposed on ... | 12/07/1999 |
| 5918701 | Roping device A roping device having an automatic emergency brake includes a generally elongate body having an attachment means at one end, a first rotatable sheave mounted on the body having an annular groove defining a generally semi-circular guide path for a rope, a... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5771993 | Safety devices for fall restraint The present invention provides a retractable lifeline safety device in which the side of the housing thereof comprises at least two extruded metal housing member which are connected to form the side of the housing. The present invention also provides a re... | 06/30/1998 |
| 5738339 | Rope traction device with connected locking units A rope traction device has locking units that include a sheave on which a traction rope is wound. The rope traction device is adapted to be moved along with the traction rope and includes a traction rope inlet for feeding the traction rope to the sheave a... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5701972 | Device for roping down or hoisting persons and/or loads from or to great heights A device for lowering or raising people and/or loads over heights, in which the rope pulley is rotatably fitted on a base plate via a brake disc. A brake pad is allocated to the brake disc on one side of the base plate and on the other on a pressure plate... | 12/30/1997 |
| 5450923 | Fire escape device A fire escape device includes a frame, two supports disposed on the frame, a rod having two ends extended through the supports a pulley fixed on the rod, a cable engaged over the pulley, a supporting member coupled to the cable for supporting persons, and... | 09/19/1995 |
| 5447280 | Fall-arrest safety anchorages A fall-arrest safety anchorage has a safety line drum (10) and braking components assembled to a spine plate (1). The braking components comprise a rotatable brake component (2) and fixed brake components (1,7) one of which is constituted by the spine pla... | 09/05/1995 |
| 5351906 | Safety anchorages for controlling pay-out of a safety line A fall-arrest safety anchorage has a safety line drum 10 and braking mechanism assembled to a spine plate (1). The braking mechanism comprises a rotatable brake component (2) and fixed brake components (1,7) which are relatively rotated against a friction... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5343976 | Safety device A safety device for preventing injuries to a worker as a result of a fall includes a housing which is intended to be mounted at an elevated position where the worker is working and a cable which is adapted to be connected to a harness or belt worn by the ... | 09/06/1994 |
| 5127631 | Chain hoist with integral safety device A chain hoist for supporting and selectively raising and lowering a load includes a powered gearwheel that is connected through a frictional lock with one or more friction disks fixed for rotation with the hoist drive shaft so as to provide a slip clutch ... | 07/07/1992 |
| 5102063 | Aerodynamically braked towed vehicle deployment device This invention relates to an aerodynamically braked vehicle deployment device. The deployment device system generally comprises a spool member. A tow line is bifilar wound about the spool member in a manner wherein one end of the tow line is attached to a... | 04/07/1992 |
| 5094405 | Mechanically braked towed vehicle deployment device This invention relates to a mechanically braked vehicle deployment device. The deployment device comprises a spool member having a guide member rigidly connected thereto. A tow line is bifilar wound about the spool member in a manner wherein one end of th... | 03/10/1992 |
| 5076395 | Portable slow descender A portable slow-descending device is provided in which a lifeline in the form of a tape is selectively dispensed from a reel around which the lifeline is wound. A planetary gear mechanism and a centrifugal brake mechanism are housed within a cylinder port... | 12/31/1991 |
| 5060758 | Emergency descending device An emergency descending device comprising a rotary wheel and a cam mounted between a pair of side plates, with a main rope passing between the rotary wheel and the cam. The rotation of the rotary wheel caused by the main rope generates a centrifugal force... | 10/29/1991 |
| 4986390 | Portable slow descender The slow-descending device of this invention is so small and light that anybody can easily carry it in a traveling bag, or the like. Therefore, it is useful as an emergency evacuation device which enables him to escape from a fire in a hotel, apartment ho... | 01/22/1991 |
| 4949812 | Descent system A lowering device for assisting persons to escape from multi-storied buildings in an emergency situation, and adapted to engage a cable or rope of twisted configuration. The device includes an inner rotatable sleeve surrounding and engaging the cable to f... | 08/21/1990 |
| 4941548 | Fall arresting device for climbers A fall arresting device attached to a climber's safety harness having an open-sided elongated housing joined together near its center by a spindle, a drum rotatably mounted on the spindle, a clove hitch knot formed in a safety rope and tied around the dru... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4941549 | Fire escape apparatus A fire escaping apparatus being of a small bulk, requiring no energy source and capable of continuously transporting escaping persons is provided. The apparatus includes a housing attached to a place from where relevant persons can escape a fire, a hollow... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4934660 | Device for raising and lowering loads A device for raising and lowering a load has a braking device, brake indicator, and a one-way pulley. The braking device uses a wedge-shaped braking element to stop the advancement of a cord. The brake indicator indicates when the braking device is enable... | 06/19/1990 |
| 4729454 | Self-braking safety apparatus for the rapid descent of persons in cases of emergency A self-braking apparatus is provided for cases of emergency in which a rapid descent of persons threatened by fire or danger is required on the outside of buildings or the like. The apparatus can be secured to a fixed point from which the descent is to be... | 03/08/1988 |
| 4687077 | Portable manually operated rescue and lowering cable This specification describes a portable manually operated rescue and lowering device. It consists of a coaster-brake bicycle hub with its flanges extended enough to form a drum to accommodate about 40 meters of fine aircraft cable. To permit hand operatio... | 08/18/1987 |
| 4671384 | Window escape descent control device The window escape descent control device for emergency use from upper windows of tall buildings comprises a body harness supported on the end of a rope wound around a flanged spool. The spool, when turned by the unwinding rope pulled by the weight of an e... | 06/09/1987 |
| 4653609 | Controlled descent apparatus A controlled descent apparatus for lowering a person from an elevated place includes a cable which is wound on a drum and is unwound from the drum by the weight of the person to effect the descent. To limit the rate of descent, the drum turns as the cable... | 03/31/1987 |
| 4640388 | Escape device An escape device uses multiple discardable cable spools. The escape device casing is fitted to a window ledge by front and rear locking feet. A person attempting to escape uses hand grips to position himself below the roller spool for the cable and at a p... | 02/03/1987 |
| 4623038 | Portable escape device The present invention is directed to a new and improved design associated with the fabrication and construction of a portable escape device wherein a cable is wound around a drum physically encased therein, said drum being mechanically interrelated with t... | 11/18/1986 |
| 4611688 | Re-windable fire escape There is disclosed herein a fire escape for the lowering of a plurality of escapees to the ground. Included in the present structure is a shaft, a spool journalled upon the shaft, a cable having a first and second end, the first end secured to the journal... | 09/16/1986 |
| 4603759 | Fire escape descender A fire escape descender capable of controlling the descending speed, thereby ensuring that the escaper can escape from the burning building at a desired speed, wherein the speed controlling is effected either manually or automatically.... | 08/05/1986 |
