Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7438422 | Simplified night sky display system A portable structure, simply constructed with inexpensive and generally lightweight materials, for displaying a selected portion of the night sky and selected planets, satellites, comets and other astronomically observable objects that are visually perceptible withi... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7428780 | Viewing and display apparatus position determination algorithms Celestial object location devices with sensor arrays of having less that one sensor for each of three orthogonal components of gravity and magnetic field vectors. The accuracy of position sensing is enhanced by estimating “missing” sensor input based on input fr... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7155833 | Viewing and display apparatus position determination algorithms Celestial object location devices with sensor arrays of having less that one sensor for each of three orthogonal components of gravity and magnetic field vectors. The accuracy of position sensing is enhanced by estimating “missing” sensor input based on input fr... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7010862 | Viewing and display apparatus position determination algorithms Celestial object location devices with sensor arrays of having less that one sensor for each of three orthogonal components of gravity and magnetic field vectors. The accuracy of position sensing is enhanced by estimating “missing” sensor input based on input fr... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7004588 | Planetarium and point light source for use in same Featured is a portable planetarium device suitable for use in projecting clear bright images of stars, planets, and other celestial objects onto a curved viewing surface. The portable planetarium devices of the invention comprise a point light source generators, a l... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6928032 | Mechanism for displaying the moon phases A mechanism for displaying the moon phases which has an upper disc or moon dial (1) and a lower disc or moon indicator (2) that is mounted concentrically to it. One of these discs is mounted rotatably relative to the other. The moon dial (1) has... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6885614 | Moon phase display device, particularly for a timepiece The device includes an indicator (3) in the shape of a plate, moving behind a dial (1) having a circular aperture (2), which represents the lunar disc. The indicator includes an S-shaped line of separation (6) between a dark zone (4 | 04/26/2005 |
| 6821125 | Planetarium A planetarium has a planet projection system comprising: a rotatable stage positioned concentrically with a precession axis of a fixed star projection globe and performing an X-axis motion; and a sleeve-type planet projector positioned at an eccentric position with ... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6625085 | Universal timepiece from which latitude and longitude can be determined A universal timepiece from which a latitude and a longitude can be determined. A bottom plate which has the names of the main cities in the world, scales and the relative longitudes according to the real longitudes of the cities on the circumference there... | 09/23/2003 |
| 6565360 | Orrery An orrery for teaching a user about the solar system. The orrery includes a generally hollow sphere and has an outer surface and an inner surface. The sphere is generally transparent. Each of plurality of rings has consecutively descending smaller diamete... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6507536 | Moon-phase dial mechanism A moon-phase dial mechanism comprising two overlapping, rotatable discs behind a substantially circular window capable of exhibiting a representation of the phases of the moon in a lunar cycle.... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6343938 | Moon phase demonstration system An educational astronautical system for instructing students in the cause and result of the phases of the moon. A hollow outer sphere has a smaller inner sphere mounted in the center of the inside space of the outer sphere. The inner sphere resembles the ... | 02/05/2002 |
| 6238216 | Planetary teaching age A science teaching aid in the form of a blue-coated thin metal plate depicting the sky is removably attached to a classroom wall or ceiling. The center of the plate defines a yellow circle depicting the sun. Attached to the plate in various positions arou... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6176705 | Solar system teaching aid A solar system teaching aid for teaching relationships between astral bodies of the solar system. The solar system teaching aid includes a bracket having a securing means. The securing means is adapted for securing the bracket to the ceiling. A plurality ... | 01/23/2001 |
| 6056554 | Apparatus and method for finding and identifying nighttime sky objects Apparatus and methods for finding and identifying objects in a nighttime sky include a lighted map arrangement, an electronic compass, and means to operate and view the apparatus in the dark to either find the objective in the nighttime sky or to identify... | 05/02/2000 |
| 6048210 | Planetarium In a planetarium apparatus, a first controller controls a projector for projecting a state of celestial bodies as observed from a selected first viewpoint onto a dome, and a second controller controls a display and/or a video projector for displaying said... | 04/11/2000 |
| 6033230 | Planetarium A planetarium of the present invention has a plurality of projectors for projecting astronomical bodies and the like, input device and the like for entering data relating to the attitude of said projector, controller for controlling the attitude of said p... | 03/07/2000 |
| 6030227 | Digital solar system model A digital solar system model includes a display with a center representing the sun, and discrete lamps arranged in concentric loops around the sun representing the planetary orbits. The lamps are controlled by a processor. The orbital motion of each plane... | 02/29/2000 |
| 5967791 | Astronomical display apparatus An astronomical display apparatus for providing a 3-dimensional view of a plurality of scaled astronomical bodies, wherein the bodies may be elevated (to float) upon a column of air while being slowly rotated. The display apparatus includes a base having ... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5931678 | Apparatus for demonstration of earth's rotation about the sun An apparatus for demonstrating various phenomena associated with the earth's movement about the sun, having an upright fixedly attached to a base, at least one arm having two ends and being mounted on the upright in such a way as to be rotatable in a vert... | 08/03/1999 |
| 5704653 | System for identifying stars, planets, deep sky objects and constellations A system to help a viewer find stars, planets, deep sky objects and constellations is disclosed. The system has a series of sky maps showing different views of the sky. One or more tables is provided for each map. The tables assist in corresponding the sk... | 01/06/1998 |
| 5701678 | Space-time tracker A space-time tracker for announcing the time and tracking the celestrial bodies on the spot of observation comprises a clock mechanism with clock hands on a dial of 24 hours and a synchronic motor for driving a star atlas and a plurality of planet driving... | 12/30/1997 |
| 5649827 | Method of and system for drawing an image over stars in the sky with a laser beam A system capable of drawing a constellation picture over actual stars in the sky in a superimposed manner therewith. A screen, which allows light from outside the screen to pass, is stretched up above the ground. A laser beam scanner is located on the gro... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5529500 | Two-dimensional earth-moon-sun instructional model A disk that illustrates a polar view of the earth rotatably mounted on a flat supporting base representing a celestial plane through the earth's equator. A radial arm is provided with its proximal end pivotally mounted on the center of the earth disk and ... | 06/25/1996 |
| 5230631 | Educational amusement device and jewelry item A pair of spaced-apart, parallel rings is provided, with each ring provided with a plurality of semicircular loop portions pivotally connected to the respective ring about its circumference. Each ring has two sets of a plurality of semicircular loops, a f... | 07/27/1993 |
| 5217763 | Simulated three-dimensional night sky pattern kit and method of using same A simulated three-dimensional night sky kit for a substantially flat surface includes a plurality of groups of discrete star-shaped bodies. Each of the bodies is a rigid, planar member formed of a plastic material exhibiting phosphorescent properties. The... | 06/08/1993 |
| 5192212 | Flexible hypresurface orbital model A hypersurface orbital model is presented that orbits a ball on a surface called a hypersurface. A stepper motor drive arrangement, with two-degrees of freedom, is used to change the hypersurface viewed by the ball as a function of time. System control is... | 03/09/1993 |
| 5186630 | Universal sun-path dial The invention described herein is a mechanical device that appearing uncrowded with lines, numbers, and other markings, depicts the sun's daily path and gives sunlight information, for any interested latitude, date, and time. A major dial is rotated on a ... | 02/16/1993 |
| 5114348 | Tutorial device for observing lunar phase The invention provides a tutorial device for observing lunar phase. A base sheet is inscribed with a time scale, a ring of moon pictures and a ring of moon phases. Outer circles on the base sheet define the months, and times of moonrise, moonset and moons... | 05/19/1992 |
| 4938697 | Multi-dimensional astral position finding device A multi-dimensional astral position finding device for facilitating viewing selected sky areas such as constellations in the zodiacal band and elsewhere. A device which in combination with a pre-selected field of view facilitates positioning of the eye of... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4887250 | Apparatus for reproducing the appearance of heavenly bodies An apparatus for reproducing the appearance of heavenly bodies including a cover having an opaque wall defining a substantially circular opening, and a disc-like or spherical part representative of a heavenly body sized to substantially fill the opening i... | 12/12/1989 |
| 4251930 | Astronomical/astrological chart An astronomical chart and projection system for mapping celestial movement plots the longitudinal positions of planets, as measured along the ecliptic, against time in a rectilinear coordinate system with each of the planets being represented by a line on... | 02/24/1981 |
| 4222180 | Visual teaching device Disclosed herein is a device conformed as a cylindrical structure having a bore axially bending partly therethrough, the end surface around the bore being coated with a phosphorescent coating and the bore surfaces being coated with black paint. By virtue ... | 09/16/1980 |
| 4164829 | Inflatable structure A self-supporting inflatable structure useful, for example, as an inexpensive, readily assembled planetarium, such structure being made of an extensible material having a plurality of panels, each shaped so as to form, when inflated, a hemispherical dome-... | 08/21/1979 |
| 4142306 | Time-space clock An educational time-space clock having an oval dial provided with astronomical information; and indicating hands which rotate counterclockwise in proper sequence; as well as the current hour and minute or second indicating hands which also rotate counterc... | 03/06/1979 |
