...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 |
| 8182182 | Offset hook and fastener system A tie-down strap system, an offset adapter for use with a tie-down strap or rope and kits therefor are disclosed. A tie-down strap system includes an adjustable tie down strap component having a first strap secured on one end to a strap adjusting mechanism and an an... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8075231 | Air release pneumatic load binder A mechanically actuated, air release, binding device adapted for use on trucks or trailers, commonly known as a load binder, comprises a horizontally aligned frame, truck air brake cylinder, lever arm and attachment connection. The air brake includes an internal pis... | 12/13/2011 |
| 7993083 | Strap links stabilizing system for flatbed trucks and associated use therefor A coupling apparatus for trucking straps used on flatbed trailer loads intended to hold stacked loads in a more secure manner while eliminating their tendency to shift during transit is herein disclosed. The apparatus provides a connecting link which takes the form ... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7909553 | Cargo bed storage structure for a vehicle A cargo bed storage structure is provided for a vehicle. The cargo bed storage structure includes a cargo bed having a floor and a wall. The wall has a first portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the floor and a second portion extending inboard from t... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7887272 | Load security device including a coupling part with snap action A lashing device includes a stretching device which is to be fastened between two fixing points that are to be secured to one another, the stretching device including stretching device parts which are each connectible to one of the fixing points. At least a first st... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7841815 | Cargo restraint system In accordance with the present invention, a vehicle cargo restraint system comprises a cargo restraining strap and at least two tie down rings proximate the perimeter of the cargo area, positioned approximately opposite each other. In trucks and trailers, additional... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7789603 | Retractable tie down device A retractable tie down device may comprise a frame, a spool including a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted to the frame, a flexible web having one end mounted to the spool, a power spring configured to rotate the spool in a web take-up direction, a handle movably mount... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7614833 | Means for securing large construction structures to a trailer for transportation An apparatus for securing construction structure loads to a trailer for transportation which employs adjustable tubes, tie down chains, chain binders, load pads and protective flanges. The load pads being the apparatus for transferring the tie down forces to the con... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7594786 | Load binder A load binder including a clamp mechanism for clamping onto container members such side boards of a shipping container. The clamp mechanism includes arms having connecting members adapted to couple to a binding strap, as well as gripping members and a gripping pad a... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7503736 | Retractable tie-down with rotation brake The retractable tie-down provides an adjustable strap under control of a rotation brake during retraction and pay-out. The rotation brake impedes rotation of a spool on which the strap is wrapped and unwrapped during retraction and pay-out of the strap as the tie-do... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7476069 | Cap for palletised loads A cap for use on a palletized load has a main mauling providing housings at a pair or two pairs of opposite sides for a cassette in which a strap passes through a slotted crossbar between a drum and a hook having two prongs for engaging the underside of the platform... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7458757 | Apparatus and means for securing large construction structures to a trailer for transportation An apparatus for securing construction structure loads to a trailer for transportation which employs adjustable tubes, tie down chains, chain binders, load pads and protective flanges. The load pads being the apparatus for transferring the tie down forces to the con... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7416373 | Motorcycle tie down/lock down system A tie down system for a two wheeled vehicle includes a support plate providing a wheel chock for receiving the front wheel of the vehicle and a pair of diverging arms extending away from the wheel chock. An adjustable strut connects between the ends of the diverging... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7416167 | Winch removably mounted on vehicle side rails A winch assembly is designed so that it can be slidably supported on the side rail of a vehicle. The winch assembly has side walls and a top plate. Slots are formed between the top plate and the side walls. A first bar runs between the side walls at substantially th... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7410334 | Ratcheting winch tool A tool adapted to tighten tie-down straps utilized to secure cargo transported on flatbed trailers or the like. The tool includes an elongate handle having a standard ratchet mechanism fixed at one end thereof. A cylindrical socket extends from one side of the ratch... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7374379 | Winch for cargo-retaining strap A winch for a cargo restraining strap includes a frame having a base and first and second parallel spaced sidewalls. The first and second sidewalls define respective first and second apertures. A protective wall extends from the base and is spaced from the first sid... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7367765 | Lading tie snugger system for securing cargo A lading tie snugger system for railway box cars which uses lading ties comprising of flexible straps that interface with various hardware items such as strap end pins, anchor fittings, bar buckles, strap tensioning devices and cargo nets. The lading tie strap and c... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7360980 | Fuel container retractable safety strap A safety strap device for hazardous materials containers includes a hazardous materials container having an outer wall and a retractable safety strap device mounted within the hazardous materials container. The safety strap device includes an extendable and retracta... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7357612 | Strap master The invention is a strap rolling device that provides the end user with the capability of winding long cargo straps either manually or with an electric drill. An end of the tool has a shape that accommodates the chucks of most electric drills. Should no electric dri... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7350767 | Strapping apparatus A strapping apparatus includes a frame. A first strap is connected to the frame. An axle is installed on the frame. A second strap is connected to the axle. A spool is positioned around the axle. The spool defines a slit through which the second strap is directed. T... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7337726 | Wind farm An offshore wind farm comprises a plurality of wind turbines. In order to provide such a wind farm with transport between separate wind turbines that can be effected more safely and with less dependence on weather, cable connection is provided between the wind turbi... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7334972 | Retractable tie down and method of using A retractable tie down for tying a work vehicle down to a cargo vehicle is disclosed, the tie down including a retractor assembly fixed to the outer surface of a work vehicle; a belt with one end connected to the retractor assembly; and a coupling connected to the o... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7329075 | Vehicle support and retention system for a vehicle transporter A cargo retaining winch includes a rotationally secured winch shaft that is substantially longer than the width of a flexible member to be wound on the winch to secure cargo. The flexible member can be wound in one of a continuity of locations along the longitudinal... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7329074 | Cross-weave cargo restraint system and method A cross-weave load restraint system and method for securing cargo within transport containers including first and second load restraining strips wherein the first strip is formed with a cross-weave material and the second strip is composed of parallel strands of rei... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7325281 | Security strap Apparatus and method of securing opposed doors of a motor vehicle in closed positions which includes: providing each door has an arm rest forming an opening between the inside of the door and the arm rest; providin... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7318579 | Ladder hoist assembly A hoist assembly for use with an elevating device, such as a ladder, comprises a base structured for mounting the hoist assembly to the ladder or other elevating device. The hoist assembly includes a spool which is disposed in a normally secured orientation relative... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7318617 | Portable cargo container and cover system A portable cargo container and cover system includes a container portion for stowing cargo in a vehicle cargo area, a cover portion for concealing cargo from view in the cargo area, and an attachment means for removably attaching the system to the cargo area. When t... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7311484 | Cap for palletised loads A cap for use on a palletized load has a main moulding providing housings at a pair or two pairs of opposite sides for a cassette in which a strap passes through a slotted crossbar between a drum and a hook having two prongs for engaging the underside of the platfor... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7305923 | Universal boxcar with exterior metal surfaces A universal boxcar is provided with exterior metal surfaces and load carrying capabilities of a conventional uninsulated boxcar and thermal transfer ratings of an insulated boxcar. The boxcar may be formed with interior dimensions corresponding generally with interi... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7306417 | Rope tie-down An improved tie-down is provided have a self-locking lock arrangement formed in a loop of the tie-down rope so as to effect releasable locking of the rope at a readily adjustable length. The locking arrangement is formed by the rope itself rather than separate mecha... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7302859 | Device for showing tensile stress In this device for indicating (10) pretensioning forces in a tensioning element (7), such as tie-down straps or tie-down ropes, the spring surrounds the tie bolt (3) which is located on the loop of the tie-down strap, and in response to weak for... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7290969 | Overland cargo restraint system and method The present invention is directed to a load restraining system and method for securing cargo within a transport container, which is subject to shifting forces. A system includes first and second load restraining strips that cab be self-adhered onto interior wall sur... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7278808 | Cargo winch driver A driver for rewinding a cargo winch strap includes a cordless drill and an adapter. The adapter fits into the chuck of the drill and has two movable jaws. The jaws close onto and grip the collar of the cargo winch as soon as the drill is placed into reverse and ope... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7270507 | Coil sling A safety coil sling for securing an industrial metal coil on a flatbed trailer having a round or elliptical primary cable attached at one end to a first anchoring chain and at an opposite end to a second anchoring chain, and a plurality of connecting cables for conn... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7261044 | Boxcar with load restraint system A boxcar and load restraint system are provided with improved load carrying capabilities and performance characteristics of uninsulated boxcars and insulated boxcars. An insulated boxcar with the load restraint system may have increased load carrying capacity, incre... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7258516 | Vehicle cargo transport apparatus for carrying and securing a load A vehicle cargo transport apparatus is disclosed that provides a vehicle having a cargo deck having a plurality of beams, the beams being preferably positioned flush with the cargo deck, each beam having one or more beam openings or sockets. There are preferably fir... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7249907 | Spring loaded turnbuckle with quick disconnect A spring loaded tensioning device. The device includes an elongated tubular member containing a spring loaded rod which extends through a lower stop on the tubular member to an attachment feature such as a hook. At the upper end of the tubular member, a pivot housin... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7246988 | Christmas tree tie down system The present invention provides a system for easily, safely, and securely tying down a Christmas tree to the roof top of any vehicle. The system allows the tree to be secured to the vehicle in minutes by using a cable tie system which adjust to any vehicle. The syste... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7243825 | Bag holder A bag holder for use in a vehicle trunk comprising a trunk lid having trunk hinges which attach the trunk lid to the vehicle. The bag holder device comprises a band portion having two ends, the band portion being at least partially elastically stretchable and of suf... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7240944 | Cargo space cover A cargo space cover (26) for the cargo space (18) of a motor vehicle (10), which space can be closed using a rear hatch or tailgate (12). The cargo space cover (12) has a blind-like covering element (28) which can be rolled ... | 07/10/2007 |