Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8066108 | Vessel escape slides and associated equipment Systems for inhibiting installation of emergency escape slides behind bustles (or other covers) when removable safety pins (or similar objects) remain intact are addressed. Versions of the systems mechanically interfere with installation of the bustles as long as th... | 11/29/2011 |
| 7588134 | Deformable/inflatable wear liner A deformable/inflatable wear liner is attached to an inner surface of a wall of a granular material delivery passage. Pressurized air may be introduced into a space between the wall and the wear liner to inflate the wear liner, thereby preventing solids from buildin... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7287727 | Aircraft evacuation slide inflator having valve leakage trap and safety vent An inflatable aircraft evacuation slide system includes a primary valve, a bust disk and a valve leakage trap operatively disposed between the primary valve and the burst disk. The valve leakage trap comprises a small exhaust vent opening into a flow restriction ori... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7115010 | Floatation system including life raft A floatation system for attachment to a helicopter landing skid includes a girt dimensioned to be attached to a landing skid and a plurality of floats attached to the elongate girt, wherein the plurality of floats are adapted to be converted from a packed configurat... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7090168 | Catenary girt arrangement for emergency evacuation slides A girt assembly for releasably connecting an evacuation slide to an aircraft includes superimposed flexible panels that are continuous at a pair of spaced connection points for connection with the aircraft. One or more catenary loops are formed in each panel for dis... | 08/15/2006 |
| 6966414 | Elevated inflatable emergency evacuation slide illumination An inflatable evacuation slide includes a flexible slide surface that is supported by longitudinal main support members. Illumination of the slide surface is provided by a plurality of illumination sources that are supported above the upper surface of the main suppo... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6877696 | Evacuation slide with leading edge spoiler An inflatable evacuation slide is presented that includes an aerodynamic spoiler to kill the lift caused by air flowing laterally over the slide. The slide preferably comprises a fabric sliding surface stretched between two longitudinal main side members. The spoile... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6814183 | Extensible evacuation slide An inflatable evacuation slide system (10) is selectively deployable in either a foreshortened or lengthened configuration. The foot end (50) of the escape slide (12) includes a compartment (92) containing an extensible slide portion (... | 11/09/2004 |
| 6536715 | Inflatable evacuation slide with arch support An inflatable evacuation device includes an inflatable slide portion and an inflatable arch-shaped support portion for supporting the inflatable slide portion. The inflatable slide portion has a support frame with a first inflatable elongate beam and a se... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6454220 | Evacuation slide with toe end center support member An inflatable evacuation slide includes a feature to ensure against buckling of the sliding surface under load. In one embodiment, the slide is made from a fabric sliding surface stretched between two lateral side rail tubes. The lateral side rail tubes a... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6298970 | Inflatable evacuation slide with adjustable decelerator An inflatable evacuation slide for use in aircraft, watercraft, buildings, and other structures, includes a first inflatable tubular member, a second inflatable tubular member spaced from the first inflatable tubular member, and a floor extending between ... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6199676 | Inflatable tubular structure with spiral seam An inflatable structure comprises an inflatable tubular member that is constructed of an elongate, flexible strip of woven fabric that is impervious to air and water. The elongate strip has a first elongate edge and a second elongate edge and is spiraled ... | 03/13/2001 |
| 5975467 | Inflatable evacuation slide An inflatable evacuation slide for an aircraft comprising upper and lower sliding regions interconnected by an intermediate sliding region and including a flexible sliding support surface. An inflatable support structure extends outwardly from the upper s... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5967254 | Energy dissipating emergency evacuation slide An emergency evacuation slide has an internal energy dissipation characteristic so that the slide is especially suitable for evacuation of persons from a relatively great height. By dissipating the energy internally in the slide rather than by frictional ... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5906340 | Inflatable escape slide assembly An escape slide and life raft assembly for evacuating personnel from an aircraft, with the slide having side tubes and cross tubes along with a slide panel that extends the full length of the slide. The slide has a head end and a toe end with one of the c... | 05/25/1999 |
| 5875868 | Inflatable evacuation slide An inflatable evacuation slide for an aircraft consists of first and second longitudinal support beams, upper and lower transverse support members and a flexible sliding support surface. The first and second longitudinal support members are spaced from ea... | 03/02/1999 |
| 5871180 | Inflatable escape slide An inflatable escape slide that includes a plurality of inflatable tubes that are held in a folded condition and elastic strap members at the site of the fold of the folded tubes that puckers up the material at the fold site to maintain an unobstructed pa... | 02/16/1999 |
| 5820773 | Escape slide with support tube assembly An aircraft slide assembly used for evacuating personnel from an aircraft or other elevated structure having a longitudinally extending inflatable escape slide and a stabilizing support tube assembly attached to the underneath portion thereof closely adja... | 10/13/1998 |
| 5738305 | Inflation system An inflation system for use in inflating an inflatable foldable escape slide or foldable container for use in evacuating personnel from an aircraft, platform or other device in cases of emergencies. The slide has a gas source such as a bottle member havin... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5542629 | Escape device for aircraft In an escape device for an aircraft having a pair of air bags formed of sheet members and a slide surface, the sheet members have a high tear strength and excellent flame retardancy. The sheet members forming the air bags are a rubber covered fabric havin... | 08/06/1996 |
| 5542628 | Escape device for aircraft An escape device for aircrafts having a pair of gas bags and a slide member joined to the gas bags. The escape device provides a high resistance to radiation heat and reliable bonding between the sheet members. The sheet member forming the gas bags and th... | 08/06/1996 |
| 5400985 | Airplane escape slide system and rotational girt bar therefor An emergency escape slide for a commercial passenger airplane includes a girt bar which connects the slide to the airplane. The girt bar includes a middle portion having a rectangular cross section to which the slide is connected, and cylindrical end fitt... | 03/28/1995 |
| 5360186 | Inflatable slide raft assembly An aircraft life raft escape slide assembly for evacuating passengers from an aircraft and thereafter for providing a floating support when the evacuation is over water. Such assembly has an inflatable slide structure releasably connected to an inflatable... | 11/01/1994 |
| 5161754 | Safety device for pressure bottle firing lanyard A safety device for an aircraft inflatable escape slide which functions to prevent inadvertent inflation of the slide during shipping. The safety device incorporates a rotatable hook means which retains the firing lanyard in a fixed position and is adapte... | 11/10/1992 |
| 5102070 | Inflatable aircraft evacuation slide arrangement An arrangement which permits installation of an inflatable aircraft evacuation slide in an enclosure disposed in a non-pressurized cavity beneath an aircraft exit. The enclosure is opened when activated by the gas used to inflate the slide and the arrange... | 04/07/1992 |
| 5060753 | Fire escape chute A fire escape chute for a home includes a housing secured to a building wall below a window having a first chamber for a compressed air tank having an outlet with a normally closed release valve and a second storage chamber. A yieldable chute support pan ... | 10/29/1991 |
| 4846422 | Single piece evacuation system for aircraft or the like An improved inflatable over-the-wing evacuation slide. The slide is provided with an inflatable wing ramp section projecting from the foot of the wing exit door to a point on the aircraft wing remote from the door. The wing ramp section also includes a ge... | 07/11/1989 |
| 4732233 | Apparatus for reduced tear propagation An improved emergency slide evacuation device wherein a second ply substantially parallels a sliding ply of the emergency slide evacuation device but remains substantially unattached to the sliding ply except for edge portions of the second ply whereby th... | 03/22/1988 |
| 4723628 | Evacuation slide An inflatable escape slide having an inflatable platform that provide a horizontal walkway from an elevated vehicle such as a train. An inflatable slide portion is connected to the platform and is deployable in a longitudinal direction that is in the same... | 02/09/1988 |
| 4684079 | Inflatable evacuation device An inflatable evacuation device to simultaneously evacuate from both an overwing aircraft exit and an aircraft exit aft of the trailing edge of the aircraft wing.... | 08/04/1987 |
| 4654098 | Radiant heat reflective inflatable structure and methods for making same Radiant head resistant fluid-distendable structure and methods for making same.... | 03/31/1987 |
| 4652199 | Dust canopy The off loading of bulk particulate cargo from self unloading ships creates considerable dust. A self erecting canopy arrangement is described which connects between a ship's boom and a dockside hopper and which can adjust to sudden movement of the boom c... | 03/24/1987 |
| 4567977 | Delayed restraint release device for inflatable escape slides A delayed restraint releaseable device utilized to restrain and controllably release the lower end of an inflating escape slide at a predetermined pressure, orientation and time. The device combines two distinct restraint mechanisms into one combination u... | 02/04/1986 |
| 4541517 | Selectively extensible chute assembly A selectively extendable chute assembly includes a fabric chute covering member having a plurality of extender tubes secured thereto. A coil spring is secured inside each extender tube to continuously urge the extender tube into a retracted position. Pres... | 09/17/1985 |
| 4534445 | Aircraft slide packing fixture A packboard fixture device consisting of a support cradle, aluminum vacuum caps, pressure block and cargo strap assembly. The support cradle is an aluminum structure with a base, side supports, and two vertical end walls, the shorter of which is hinged to... | 08/13/1985 |
| 4526262 | Inflatable evacuation slide A sequenced, directional restraint system for an inflatable evacuation slide wherein three separate restraints are provided across the width of the fluid distensible member of the inflatable evacuation slide and a sequenced, directional method of deployin... | 07/02/1985 |
| 4519782 | Escape slide and life raft An escape slide and life raft assembly for evacuating personnel from an aircraft or other elevated place and thereafter providing a floating support when the evacuation is on water. A slide portion of the assembly has side tubes connected to transverse an... | 05/28/1985 |
| 4460062 | Delayed restraint release device for inflatable escape slides A strap restrains full extension of an evacuation slide until a bag on the slide inflates to extend and unlace a cord to separate the strap coupling the restrained segments of the slide. The device is especially useful as a back-up restraint in escape sli... | 07/17/1984 |
| 4460343 | Inflatable container packing system The container (12) has an inflation opening (46) which is closed by a valve (56) with seals (66) compressed by spring (90) pressure during the packing process. Air is removed from the container (12) for deflation by a vacuum pump (20) and excessive vacuum... | 07/17/1984 |
| 4444290 | Rescue apparatus Rescue apparatus is described for use in the rescue of persons from high rise and other buildings which includes an inflatable funnel of fabric carried by a bracket which is secured to an interior portion of a building, the funnel preferably being located... | 04/24/1984 |
