Did You Know...
...that Thomas Edison's patent application on his phonograph was approved by the Patent Office in just seven weeks? In contrast, it took Gordon Gould, the inventor of the laser, 30 years to obtain his patent -- finally awarded in 1988!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7793596 | Retractable step A retractable step for a rail vehicle includes a treadable region having lateral guides, a front edge, a guide region, a first roller disposed on the rail vehicle, and a second roller disposed in a guide. The guide has a configuration that is one or more of oblique,... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7171908 | High/Low passenger ingress and egress conversion for transit vehicle A passenger ingress and egress system within a transit vehicle having a stairwell employs a movable platform apparatus in combination with at least one door of a sliding or plug type to accommodate variations in passenger ingress and egress platform facilities. The ... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7080806 | Overhead space access conversion monument and service area staircase and stowage system An overhead area access staircase stowage system (7) includes a servicing unit (10) having a stowage unit and a staircase (12) proximate to the stowage unit. The staircase (12) has a stowed state (18) and a deployed state (20 | 07/25/2006 |
| 6341563 | Door opening control apparatus A platform sensing and control system including a wireless sensor (10, 12) for sensing at least the presence of a platform (26) opposite a door (32) of a railcar and providing an output indication of at least a platform presence in response thereto, and a... | 01/29/2002 |
| 5513866 | Retractable step A retractable step including at least a first and second tube member, a step platform and a retraction device. The first tube member is attached to the vehicle. The step platform is attached to one end of the second tube member. The second tube member, wi... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5342073 | Retractable step for motor vehicles A mounted, retractable step for motor vehicles, such as passenger vans, that slides into an extended position for assisting entrance into the side of the passenger van. The step is mounted on the ends of a pair of square rods that slide horizontally under... | 08/30/1994 |
| 4943076 | Safety trailer step A safety trailer step provides improved footing for a person launching or loading a boat onto a trailer. The safety trailer step comprises a step formed with a platform and two parallel side plates. The side plates snugly receive the trailer tongue thereb... | 07/24/1990 |
| 4759682 | Vehicle entrance ramp The present invention relates to an extendible and retractable ramp device for a vehicle particularly concerned with the loading and unloading of handicapped person and which device particularly includes a power actuating mechanism disposed within the veh... | 07/26/1988 |
| 4457402 | Wheelchair lift A wheelchair lift operable to transport handicapped persons between a lower level and an upper level. The apparatus includes an elevator platform and a plurality of vertically movable stair members. When the platform is in its lower position, the stair me... | 07/03/1984 |
| 4131209 | Vehicle entrance ramp A motor bus has a side door at its forward end which when opened accommodates laterally outward extension of a ramp from a normally stowed position below the floor of the bus, a portion of the ramp adjacent its outer end serving as a step for entering the... | 12/26/1978 |
| 4108458 | Pull out-step This device consists primarily of a pipe which telescopingly receives a rod having a foot guard attached at one end. The device includes a plate welding to the pipe which bolts to the truck body, and the opposite end of the pipe is welded to a plate which... | 08/22/1978 |
| 4108457 | Camper steps This invention consists primarily of a rectangular frame having adapters for securing it to the rear of a camper. The device includes a pair of steps, which fold flat when not in use, and are provided with link rods, for enabling them to fold and open, an... | 08/22/1978 |
| 4058228 | Passenger vehicle access stair and elevator apparatus A combination access stairstep and elevator means for use in a passenger vehicle entryway. In its retracted normal position a passenger elevator platform member projects freely into the entryway part of its width below passenger deck level to serve as an ... | 11/15/1977 |
