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 |
| 8052080 | Rope breaking device A rope braking device includes a housing having a chamber and an orifice communicative with each other, an eyelet engaged in the orifice of the housing and having a bore for engaging with a rope, a pulley having a hub mounted on a shaft, a follower gear mounted on t... | 11/08/2011 |
| 7350734 | Seat belt pretensioner An in-line seat belt pretensioner is provided that includes a frame containing a first guide member and a second guide member for tensioning of seat belt webbing upon pretensioner activation. As the pretensioner is activated, the seat belt is tensioned by activation... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7334808 | Tow device A tow device having a mounting bracket adapted for vehicle mounting, a spring-loaded bobbin, a hollow telescoping rod, a tow line, and a handle. The hollow telescoping rod, which can be automatically extended, has one end attached to the mounting bracket while the o... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7228651 | Holder for an identification card An identification card holder, on the front side of which a replaceable identification card can be placed. A spring-loaded yo-yo is fastened and positioned on the reverse side of the holder, such that the yo-yo remains partially or completely invisible as the card, ... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7168385 | Watercraft tethering apparatus A tethering apparatus for a watercraft includes an elongated flexible line, a spool and a biasing member adapted to urge the spool to automatically uptake portions of the elongated flexible line. A locking device is attached to an end portion of the elongated flexib... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7097127 | Mass trim mechanism The invention discloses an apparatus and method for adjusting the position of the center of mass of a mechanical structure. A typical apparatus includes a storage spool, an output spool and a flexible material having a first end coupled to the storage spool and a se... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7080800 | Controlling method of seat belt retractor In controlling a seat belt retractor, at least one of signals selected from a state signal showing a movement of an occupant wearing a seat belt and an external signal obtained from detecting means installed in a vehicle during running thereof is received. Then, a r... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7073529 | Retractable garden hose reel A retractable garden hose reel that obviates the need for a hand crank to reel in the garden hose includes a pair of wheels pivotally mounted to a frame that includes a handle and a base with a reel shaft and a slide track extending between and interconnected to sid... | 07/11/2006 |
| 6964114 | Structure tape rule An improved structure tape rule in which the blade spool has space at one side of one-piece construction for containing the coiled spring, enabling the blade spool to accommodate the winding of a ruler blade that is approximately two to three times longer than a bla... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6929209 | Self-orienting retractable ID card holder Disclosed is an automatically retracting cardholder or accessory holder which, when worn, retains and automatically reestablishes the desired orientation of the card or accessory to user. A longitudinally flexible tape is used, with a non-circular cross-sectional ge... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6918458 | Load management system and method for motor vehicle restraints A load management system and method for controlling the activation sequence and times of activation of motor vehicle occupant restraints when a high g event, such as a crash, occurs. The system includes a microprocessor that processes inputs from a number of devices... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6904872 | Retractable leash for animals The invention relates to a retractable leash for animals, having a housing containing a spring-biased reel in which the remaining length of leash can be taken up and which is stoppable by an actuating mechanism for adjustment of the maximum extension length of the l... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6866128 | Retractable anti-static devices and methods of using same A retractable anti-static device includes a conductive grounding line that can be unwound from a wrist strap for use and wound back to the wrist strap when not being used. The conductive line, therefore, can be attached to ground when being used but can retract out ... | 03/15/2005 |
| 6626389 | Retractable modem cord device with spinning display A retractable modem cord device wherein a window in the front face of the case of the device is provided, through which a design, such as a pattern, inscription, or logo can be seen. When a retractable cord of this device is pulled out of the case it caus... | 09/30/2003 |
| 6474584 | Fly tying method and apparatus A spring-loaded bobbin for use in tying fly fishing lures has a simple frame carrying a support mechanism having a centered bearing by which an off-the-shelf spool of tying thread is rotatably mounted. The frame carries a thread guide tube that is centere... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6443793 | Recoil mechanism and device utilizing same A recoil module is provided for use in toy airplanes or other suitable devices. The recoil module includes an outer shell including an outer surface and an interior cavity within the shell. A recoil spool is retained within the cavity of the shell and is ... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6425541 | Belt retractor and method of controlling operation of an occupant restraint system In a belt retractor the absolute angle of rotation of the belt reel is sensed by an incremental counter. The incremental counter is calibrated by sensing the angle of rotation of a control disc coupled to the belt reel by a reduction gear unit. The count ... | 07/30/2002 |
| 6364237 | Retractable badgeholder with spinning display A retractable badgeholder wherein a window in the front face of the case of the badgeholder is provided, through which a design, such as a pattern, inscription, or logo can be seen. When a retractable cord of this improved badgeholder is pulled out of the... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6302346 | Seat belt webbing energy management device An energy management device (10) for seat belt webbing (18) for restraining a vehicle occupant includes a base (40) for attachment to the vehicle. The device (10) also includes a plastically deformable torsion bar (60) having a first portion (66) fixed re... | 10/16/2001 |
| 6299091 | Seat belt retractor spool and torsion bar A seat belt retractor spool has a spool body with opposed end flanges. A ratchet wheel is arranged on one end flange. A torsion bar is located in a bore in the spool body and is coupled to the ratchet wheel by means of a toothed portion at one end thereof... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6243921 | Clip assembly for a pacifier A clip assembly for a pacifier includes a fastener, a cover having one side fixedly engaged with the fastener and another side provided with a resilient projection, a circular container having radial outlet and an axle at a central portion thereof, a reel... | 06/12/2001 |
| 6179104 | Self-winding cable reel A self-winding cable reel having a base plate which receives the cable drum on a bearing spindle. The technical problem is a stable and concentrated construction of all the functional parts on a base plate and a contact arrangement comprising a small numb... | 01/30/2001 |
| 5749535 | Deceleration device A self-adjusting deceleration device comprises a rewind spool-laden base and pneumatic chamber. A linear medium, attached to the spool, passes into the pneumatic chamber, attaches to a piston, and passes back through the base and out of the device. An ene... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5699975 | Extension member anchor A spring drive retractor having a case with an inner space for a spring and a reel, with one end of the spring connected to the case and the other end of the spring connected to the reel, with an extension member having one end connected to the reel and t... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5555589 | Golf club and golf shoe cleaning device A golf club and golf shoe cleaning device with an extendable tether (12) that is attachable to a golf bag or other convenient surface. The device includes a container (10) with two opposed ends. A back end (17) which has a surface suitable for printing an... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5539945 | Emergency stretcher and evacuation system A system for transporting a person on a stretcher between upper and lower platforms connected by a stairway includes a retractable cable source located at the upper level whereby with one end of stretcher attached to the cable, an assistant to grasp the o... | 07/30/1996 |
| 5490805 | Retractable surfboard leash An improved retractable leash is provided for attaching a surfboard to a surfer. The leash consists of an elongated line with a storage unit for the line. Elements are for mounting the storage unit onto the surfboard and to allow the storage unit to rotat... | 02/13/1996 |
| 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 |
| 5346152 | Belt pretensioner for vehicle safety belt systems A belt pretensioner for a safety belt system including a belt retractor (10) fitted with an automatic locking system, and a deflection fitting (12), from which the belt (14) extends in a straight line to the belt retractor (10), comprises a U-like frame (... | 09/13/1994 |
| 5323983 | Cassettee rewinding apparatus A manual cassette rewinding apparatus for allowing the user to rewind a cassette using an ergonomical pulling action on a string. The rewinding apparatus has a pulley rotatably mounted inside a housing. A string is winded around the pulley. A driving pin ... | 06/28/1994 |
| 5236144 | Cable extension linear position transducer The present invention provides a cable extension linear position transducer which according to one aspect of the invention, has an integrated support structure including a base and a housing. A potentiometer is attached to the housing and includes a shaft... | 08/17/1993 |
| 5181739 | Seat belt system with comfort control A rotatable spool has seat belt webbing wound around the spool. A motor, when actuated, rotates the spool in the belt withdrawal direction. A spring has a biasing force which rotates the spool to wind the belt webbing onto the spool. A worm gear mechanism... | 01/26/1993 |
| 4969610 | Rope rewinding device for a ski boat An automatic ski rope rewinding device is presented used to rewind a ski rope when the rope is not pulling a skier. The invention utilizes a standard rope or cord rewinding mechanism which is mounted by L-shaped brackets to the body of the boat. The rewin... | 11/13/1990 |
| 4869439 | Seat belt system A seat belt system provided with a take-up apparatus for taking up a webbing to be placed around an occupant in layers around a take-up shaft comprises high-friction portions which are provided in a portion remaining wound around the take-up shaft when th... | 09/26/1989 |
| 4858953 | Apparatus for driving an intermediate portion of webbing An apparatus for driving an intermediate portion of a webbing for use in a seatbelt system for restraining an occupant of a vehicle by means of a webbing having one end accommodated in a webbing accommodating device through a biasing force is arranged to ... | 08/22/1989 |
| 4787569 | Webbing retractor A webbing retractor for a vehicle includes a webbing take-up shaft which winds up an occupant restraining webbing with a relatively weak biasing force from a spiral spring, thus reducing the pressure applied to the body of an occupant from the webbing. Wh... | 11/29/1988 |
| 4644791 | Moving apparatus for a hollow curved pipe-arrangement and an operating method in the pipe-arrangement by using the moving apparatus A moving apparatus for moving a moving member within a hollow curved pipe arrangement and method of performing operations within the pipe arrangement by using the apparatus, with the apparatus including a long moving member made of a material having an el... | 02/24/1987 |
| 4637630 | Webbing tension adjusting apparatus A webbing tension adjusting apparatus is arranged such that, when the occupant leaves the vehicle, a motor is rotated forwardly, and a takeup shaft for winding up an occupant restraining webbing thereon is thereby rotated in the webbing wind-off direction... | 01/20/1987 |
| 4570866 | Line retractor A retractor for storage of a long, flexible line includes a thin, flat, elongated strip spring member of tough, resilient, inelastic resin, preferably an oriented polyester resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, the spring having an arcuate configurati... | 02/18/1986 |
| 4447816 | Stiffening clamp for self-erecting antenna A flattened resilient sheet metal band prestressed to assume the shape of an extended tubular rod when unstressed, is stored as a coil wound on a spool. The end of the band is fixed to a post. When the coil is released, the band assumes its tubular shape ... | 05/08/1984 |
