Famous Patents
3M employee and church chorister Art Fry needed something to temporarily mark pages in his hymnal. He was in luck because his colleague, Spencer Silver, accidentally developed a glue that was too weak for other purposes. After initially discouraging consumer response, Post-it Notes became a hit in 1979.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7997952 | Light up bouncing and entertainment apparatuses The present invention relates to a pogo stick structure, more particularly, a pogo stick comprising a housing unit, foot support plate, piston, spring mechanism, and handlebars. The external portion of the housing unit includes a plurality of LED lights that light i... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7988520 | Sculpture device A sculpture device may comprise a base, at least one figure, a cover and a control element. The base may have upper and lower surfaces. The figure may be movable along the upper surface. The cover may be coupled to the base and may have a lens mounted therein to whi... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7582003 | Illuminatable aerodynamic disc or saucer An illuminatable translucent disc that spins and flies when thrown including chemiluminescent receiving clips that extend radially across the disc so when the disc spins in darkness, the entire disc appears illuminated. The central disc portion has a smooth lower su... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7578719 | Sculpture method utilizing new means of simulating, viewing, and displaying sporting, undersea and other environments This invention is directed toward a sculpture, and the method of making the sculpture, utilizing a mold and manufacturing method in which the underside of the mold mimics the top of an ocean bottom, or other underwater environment, which can be painted to realistica... | 08/25/2009 |
| 7575499 | Toy with elongated light source A lighting apparatus is disclosed for providing illumination to an object or surface. In one illustrative embodiment, the light apparatus is used to help improve the visibility of a vehicle by providing illumination to at least part of the vehicle. In other illustra... | 08/18/2009 |
| 7500899 | Artificial marble using multicolor chip and method for preparing the same Disclosed herein are an artificial marble using multicolor chips, particularly striped chips, and a method for preparing the artificial marble. Since the artificial marble comprises multicolor chips in a new form together with conventional single-color chips, it ena... | 03/10/2009 |
| 7430038 | Apparatus for enhancing visualization of mechanical stress Photoelastic elements are formed deliberately with stress concentrations so that, when evaluated with a polariscope, more pronounced isochromatic bands or fringes result when loads are applied to these elements or to assemblies of these elements. A toy for producing... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7413494 | Inflatable bag for emitting light The present invention is to provide an inflatable bag comprising an airtight container, a cavity and a light-emitting unit. The cavity is formed at a top of the container. The cavity comprises a top opening flush with the top of the container, the opening being in c... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7364488 | Methods and apparatus for enhancing inflatable devices Methods and apparatus for enhancing an inflatable device. In one example, a first component adapted to generate at least one of light and sound is coupled to a second component that is adapted to facilitate insertion into an inflatable device. The first component ma... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7361413 | Electroluminescent device and methods for its production and use A luminescent device comprises an electroluminescent phosphor in operative contact with a light-emitting material wherein excitation of the electroluminescent phosphor by an alternating current electrical field causes the emission of light by the light-emitting mate... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7361075 | Hand-held amusement devices and methods involving same A hand-held amusement device has a variety of features that encourage manipulative activities in and/or by a person's hand. These features may include various combinations of a base that is configured for rocking back and forth on a support surface; a cylinder that ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7351148 | Electronic sequence matching game and method of game play using same The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a method of game play for an electronic sequence matching game the may include a pair of elongated stick member that may be operatively coupled together by an electrical cord so the game play for the electronic m... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7347758 | Illuminated flying disc A recreational or competitive flying disc includes an illumination system employing an array of flexible optical fibers to distribute the light of a single light emitting diode (LED) from the rotational center of the disc to its outside periphery. A small water-resi... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7344267 | Illuminated toy balloon An apparatus for illuminating the interior of a balloon includes a cylindrical plug with an integrally-formed radially extending integral flange insertable within the balloon neck. A light element is affixed to the plug and disposed within the neck. A battery is ele... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7303827 | Light-emitting phosphor particles and electroluminescent devices employing same Phosphor particles having coatings comprising certain light emitting small molecules and light-emitting devices employing these phosphor particles and light-emitting small molecules are provided. Also provided are light-emitting devices employing a layer of phosphor... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7296282 | Interactive optical cards and other hand-held devices with increased connectivity A system for deriving benefits from the reception and processing of composite video signals by a hand-held device, such as a smart card. Video signals are modulated with auxiliary data creating composite video signals. The composite video signals are then transmitte... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7261432 | Illuminated ball and mating element for forming such ball An illuminated ball formed by two substantially identical mating elements. Each mating element has an exterior surface bounded by an edge, an annular surface joined to said exterior surface at the edge, two opposed radial recesses formed in the annular surface, a we... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7253951 | Viewing device A viewing device includes a housing defining an interior chamber through which light can pass. The housing includes first and second spaced apart openings communicating with the interior chamber such that light entering the first opening is viewed by a user looking ... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7247076 | Pulse width modulation drive and method for ornaments with movable components A decoration device may include a low-friction drive line and a PWM controlled motor that reduces or eliminates the gearing needed to achieve appropriate speed and torque at the motor output shaft. In preferred embodiments, the decoration device is an ornament that ... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7237922 | Pumpkin illumination stake Lighting units for use in a variety of enclosures/containers, such as Jack-O-Lanterns formed from hollowed-out pumpkin gourds, that define an interior region for receipt of a lighting unit, are provided. The enclosure/container and the lighting unit are combined to ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7230178 | Handy musical instrument responsive to grip action In a music system, an input unit is manipulated for inputting a signal representative of a performance operation amount rendered by a performer, and an output unit is provided for outputting a music sound in response to the signal fed from the input unit. The input ... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7222977 | Light and sound mirror assembly with appearing characters A combination mirror and amusement system for entertaining and amusing a child in a vehicle. A mirror assembly attachable to a vehicle seat includes a mirror and a frame surrounding the mirror. The frame has at least one ornamented portion and at least one appearing... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7214118 | Rotatable disk illuminated picture board with disk offset engaging and orienting structures An image generating apparatus includes an image display board having an array of member ports; a light source behind the display board; a translucent pigment sheet positioned between the image display board and the light source, the translucent pigment sheet includi... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7207081 | Random motion cleaner A self-propelled floor cleaner is provided having a random motion generator which enhances the maneuverability of the floor cleaner. The random motion generator is rotatably attached to the frame of the cleaner and propels the cleaner across the floor in a random mo... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7204740 | Internal balloon illumination apparatus and method An apparatus for illuminating a balloon from within includes an illumination assembly mounted on a power supply unit. The assembly includes a hollow cylindrical body having a light source (e.g., LED) disposed at one end and electrical inputs protruding from another ... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7198539 | Artificial eye for doll or the like An improved artificial eye for use in dolls, stuffed animals, other toys, and the like, and for use as a prosthetic eye for human beings. The improved artificial eye consists of a sclera, a lens, and a lamina. The lens can be made of any of a variety of materials su... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7192152 | Actuated battery operated lighted garment An outer garment or vestment comprising a front panel and rear panel that includes an electrical circuit of neon wire, a battery operated power pack and toggle switch so as to be illuminated to allow play, such as touch football, tag and the like, in the darkness wh... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7166011 | Block toy sorting Building block toy sets having pieces with similar shape can be segregated into proper toy sets by providing each building block toy set with a distinctive dye code material responsive to optical radiation of a specific wave length. When block pieces of diverse buil... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7165276 | Medical assist device A medical assist device relocates patients from a first support such as a bed to a second support such as a chair or wheelchair. Upon location of the assist device to a position adjacent such first support, the patient may stand on a rotatable platform of the assist... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7140972 | Chemiluminescent golf ball An illuminated golf ball comprised of an outer translucent layer and cover, and a spherical inner core of translucent plastic, filled with chemiluminescent liquid, such as Cyalume.TM. The two components of the chemiluminescent liquid are held separate by a membrane ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7142301 | Method and apparatus for adjusting illumination angle A machine-vision system that provides quick changing and/or automatic adjustment of illumination angle, dispersion, intensity, and/or color of illumination. One such system includes a light source emitting polarized light, a machine-vision imager, an image processor... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7134078 | Handheld portable user device and method for the presentation of images A presentation system and a user device for use as a presentation aid is disclosed. The system comprises presentation means (5) for presenting images that associate with a presentation. Pointer means (4) are used for provision of a pointer on an image ... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7128848 | Photoluminescent fibers and fabrics with high luminance and enhanced mechanical properties A photoluminescent thermoplastic multi-component fiber comprising a pigmented component and processing enhanced luminescence and mechanical properties. Most suitably, the pigmented component comprises between 5% and 30% by weight of photoluminescent pigment and the ... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7122248 | Security articles This invention provides security articles comprising fibers, threads and fiber sections (“dots”) possessing multiple verification characteristics. The fibers possess unique and difficulty duplicated combinations of complex cross-sections, components, and multipl... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7108576 | Foam projectile exhibiting an illuminating element A projectile adapted for being discharged from a suitable firing device such as a gun, slingshot, cannon and the like. The device includes a three-dimensional shaped body constructed of a foam material and which may include such as a disc shaped, conical arrow shape... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7108913 | Light reflecting polymeric articles containing benzoxazolyl-napthalene optical brighteners The present invention provides a highly reflective fluorescent polymer composition comprising a benzoxzolyl naphthalene optical brightener and a polymeric substrate support material formed into three dimensional articles or fibers. The enhanced light reflectivity of... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7104800 | Article and method for selection of individualized personal care products A diagnostic article and method is disclosed wherein the article includes a mirror, a plurality of attribute selection sites arranged along or associated with the mirror with each of the sites having a plurality of choice selectors, and an output for recommending at... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7097532 | Mobile device with color discrimination A mobile device with color discrimination for producing one of a plurality of pre-determined physical actions when disposed on an action surface includes a body having a set of wheels and a third point of contact with the action surface; means for executing a physic... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7090367 | Rotating light fixture and method of making same A rotating light fixture and method of creating the same is provided. A plurality of members, such as strings and rods, are attached to a rotational device. Each member has a plurality of light sources connected to it. The plurality of members can expand upon rotati... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7077553 | Lighted balloons A balloon apparatus includes a balloon having an inflation opening that can be closed for keeping the balloon inflated. The apparatus also includes a light source inside the balloon, wiring connecting a power source to the light source, and a tube through which the ... | 07/18/2006 |
