Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8137222 | Accessory drive tensioner system An accessory drive tensioner system may include a bracket, a coupling mechanism, and a biasing member. The bracket may have an aperture therethrough and a tensioner hub coupled thereto. The coupling mechanism may extend through the aperture to rotatably couple the b... | 03/20/2012 |
| 7736254 | Compact cable tension tender device A compact cable tension tender device includes a movable member having a first stop and a second stop spaced apart from the first stop. A first attachment may be provided on the moveable member for cable that extends in a first direction. The first attachment may en... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7442137 | Eccentric mounting and adjustment system for belt driven devices An eccentric adjustment and mounting system is useful for belt engaging engine components such as alternators or water pumps. The system includes a housing fixed to the engine, a socket rotatable in pawl-and-ratchet fashion within the housing, and a socket aperture ... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7370542 | Flat belt durability tester The apparatus is a multi-speed flat belt durability tester that can simultaneously test several belts of different lengths. The tester can apply different tensions to each belt with a tension pulley powered by a hydraulic cylinder, and it monitors the tracking of th... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7360624 | Electric power steering apparatus An electric power steering apparatus includes a speed reducing mechanism for decelerating the rotation of a rotatable shaft in an electric motor and a converting mechanism for converting the output rotation of the speed reducing mechanism into the axial movement of ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7349749 | Audio signal mixer for long mix editing An audio signal mixer capable of performing a long mix editing with simple manipulations. A second audio signal producing means is prevented from producing a second audio signal when an operating member is positioned at a first end, while a first audio signal produc... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7338399 | Chain power-transmission system with mechanical tightener A mechanical power-transmission system with chain including a mechanical tightener acting on a branch of the chain and having in turn a base, a tightening shoe in dragging contact with the chain and a sliding wedge under the thrust of a first spring in an irreversib... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7331891 | Tensioner for a chain or belt A chain or belt tensioner comprises a plunger displaceable in a bore of a housing between retracted and extended positions. The plunger and the bore between them define a variable volume chamber for receipt of pressurised hydraulic fluid. The tensioner is designed f... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7320262 | Tensioner A tensioner comprising a base having a toothed portion, a pivot arm pivotally engaged with the base, a pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a spring disposed between the base and the pivot arm for biasing the pivot arm in a first direction, a mechanism disposed on th... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7311626 | Crank shaft power takeoff system and method A crank shaft power takeoff system, including an appliance intended for use in connection with lawns and/or gardens, the appliance including an engine that includes a crank shaft, the system further including an accessory used in conjunction with the appliance, and ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7275735 | Fan drive for fluid cooler with evaporative heat exchanger A cooling tower and/or a fan drive system are provided which enhance cooling performance, are able to reduce lateral temperature gradients at least to some degree, provide for easy removal of debris and/or provide for easy fan adjustment. ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7252610 | Automotive engine accessory drive system In a belt drive system 20 for transmitting torque at a crankshaft 11 of an automotive engine 10 to a supercharger (engine accessory) 130a, an output pulley unit 40 formed of a first flat pulley 50 and a second flat pu... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7247109 | Pulley fixing apparatus of image forming apparatus A pulley fixing apparatus of an office machine having a pulley fixing part rotatably fixing a driven pulley on a frame, a sliding part movably supporting the pulley fixing part on the frame, and an automatic tension adjusting part elastically urging the pulley fixin... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7241239 | Auto tensioner In an auto tensioner, a high pressure oil chamber sectioned by a leading end portion of a cylinder and a plunger is provided within the cylinder. A gas chamber and an oil reservoir chamber are sectioned in a sealed manner in an outer periphery of the cylinder and th... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7241241 | Device for setting a direction A direction setting device has a frame and a rotatably mounted shaft which supports a first belt pulley whose rotational position defines a direction to be set. A rotary motor on the frame supports a second belt pulley, and an endless belt extends around the first a... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7239828 | Image forming apparatus with adjustment of belt member The image forming apparatus includes a belt member having a convex portion, effecting a circular movement, a first support member and a second support member for supporting the belt member, and a drive receiving unit for receiving force from circular movement of the... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7237647 | Electric power steering apparatus An electric power steering apparatus includes a speed reducing mechanism for decelerating the rotation of a rotatable shaft in an electric motor and a converting mechanism for converting the output rotation of the speed reducing mechanism into the axial movement of ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7231981 | Inline compensator for a floating drill rig An apparatus and method for protecting against the problems associated with heave of a floating drilling rig are disclosed. The disclosed invention is a unique inline compensator in which a plurality of cylinders housed within a tubular housing and a plurality of lo... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7220198 | Electric actuator An electric actuator comprises a rotary driving source, a timing belt which is circled or orbited under the driving action of the rotary driving source, a slider which is displaced by the timing belt in the axial direction, and a belt-adjusting mechanism which is co... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7217206 | Active tensioner An automatic tensioner having a load cell for detecting and controlling a power transmission belt tension. The tensioner comprises a lead screw driven by an electric motor for setting a lever arm/pulley position and thereby a belt load. The tensioner also comprises ... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7217210 | Tooth shear resistant power transmission belt A belt has a plurality of spaced apart teeth, at least one tensile cord extending along the belt spaced from the teeth, and a tooth stock material filling the teeth and encapsulating the tensile cord. A reinforcement cord is incorporated into the belt to generally f... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7217207 | Tensioner A tensioner comprising a base having a toothed portion, a pivot arm pivotally engaged with the base, a pulley journalled to the pivot arm, a spring disposed between the base and the pivot arm for biasing the pivot arm in a first direction, a mechanism disposed on th... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7214153 | Method of changing the duty cycle frequency of a PWM solenoid on a CAM phaser to increase compliance in a timing drive A chain drive having a phaser such as a hydraulic vane phaser interposed between a timing chain and a driving or driven shaft is provided. The phaser or the vane are controlled to oscillate more at certain engine speeds to thereby reduce the tensioning force on the ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7204773 | Tensioning device for an internal combustion engine A tensioning device for a chain drive of an internal combustion engine, having a support member (1) which is pivotally mounted thereupon and is axially snapped onto and retained on a bearing journal (4) of the support member (1) via a bearing lu... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7186195 | Chain-tensioner with mechanical locking A tensioner for endless driving elements, such as chains and belts, comprising a tensioning piston provided with locking means, and a locking piston which is adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from the locking means so as to arrest or release the movement of ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7185839 | Razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus A razor wire dispensing and retrieving apparatus for installing razor wire along a perimeter to create a protective border and collecting the wire when the border is no longer desired. The razor wire dispensing and receiving apparatus essentially comprises a frame w... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7182707 | Belt-drive system driven by internal combustion engine mounted on automotive vehicle Plural auxiliary devices such as a water pump and a generator coupled to a serpentine belt-drive system are driven by an internal combustion engine mounted on an automobile vehicle. The generator is divided into a first generator having a pulley in which a one-way c... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7174799 | Hydraulic tensioner In a hydraulic tensioner, a deairing valve unit comprising a synthetic resin ball guide, a check ball a biasing spring, a ball seat, and a retaining disc, is press-fit into a hollow plunger, and disposed adjacent the protruding end of the plunger. The ball and seat ... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7172218 | Pretensioner A pretensioner including a cylinder in which a piston slides. A side of the pipe attached to a bracket is curved at a predetermined angle. One linear portion of the pipe serves as the cylinder, and the other linear portion of the pipe serves as a gas-generator accom... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7152464 | Belt tensioning apparatus and method for alternator testing An apparatus for testing an alternator has a base, a motor mounted to the base and a pulley extending from the motor. A belt is connected to the motor pulley and the alternator. A mount mounts the alternator to the base, and a pivoting idler arm pivotally is mounted... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7137870 | Apparatus adapted to sense broken platen belt Embodiments of a wafer polishing and broken platen belt sensing apparatus are disclosed, wherein the apparatus comprises a polishing platen, a motor, a platen belt, a photo sensor, and an encoder connected to the motor and adapted to output a first signal in accorda... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7131922 | Ram-type tensioner assembly having integral hydraulic fluid accumulator The invention is directed to a tensioner assembly for providing tensile force from a floating vessel at the surface of the ocean to the blowout preventer stack, or production tree, which is connected to the wellhead at the sea floor. The tensioner assembly compensat... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7115056 | Dual spring tensioner A drive belt tensioning method and assembly using a dual spring tensioner. A pulley from a drive belt/pulley system is mounted onto a pivot arm having a pivot point. A tensioner spring mounts between the machine frame and the pivot arm, such that is causes rotation ... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7108621 | Chain tensioner A tensioner for a chain, includes a tensioner piston bearing upon a chain and guided by a cylinder for movement in the direction of the chain. The cylinder and the piston define a pressure chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid, wherein hydraulic fluid is able to esc... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7097579 | Pivoting chain guide and tensioner assembly A pivoting chain guide and tensioner assembly for use with an endless chain loop comprising: at least one bracket plate, a tensioner attached to the at least one bracket plate, and a guide attached to the bracket plates. The bracket plate surrounds the chain at leas... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7090605 | Apparatus for processing a prosthetic component An idler or tensioning assembly for an electronically controlled sanding/polishing machine is provided, the sanding/polishing machine utilizing a plurality of exchangeable polishing wheel assemblies of which the idler assembly is one. Each polishing wheel assembly i... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7090604 | Belt tensioning device An adjusting device provided on a transmission belt to adjust the tension of the transmission belt. The adjusting device includes a housing and a fastener fixed on the housing, the fastener engaging the transmission belt so that there is no relative displacement bet... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7077772 | Tensioner A tensioner, in which an outer body and an inner body, which can deal with a tensioner mounting form required by various engines and a tension-imparting function, can be assembled. The inner body and a movement backward preventing mechanism, which form an inner body... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7074145 | Sliding contact guide for transmission device In a sliding contact guide for a flexible power transmission medium such as a chain or belt, the guide body includes a shoe and a plate-receiving portion integrally molded as a unit from a synthetic resin. A reinforcing plate is inserted into a slot in the plate-rec... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7063634 | Chain tension-imparting device A chain tensioner has a spring-biased plunger with rack teeth engageable with teeth of wedge-shaped cam chips cooperating with a spring-biased cam-receiving ring in a recess formed in a tensioner housing. A seal plate, having a central hole through which the plunger... | 06/20/2006 |
