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 |
| 7997370 | Surface effect sea train A multiple unit surface effect vehicle movable through an aquatic environment is provided including connected units and lift fans. The multiple unit surface effect vehicle may further include a coupling system and/or a plurality of skirt portions connecting one of t... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7581608 | Levitating platform A levitating platform, which is capable of stable flight, is disclosed. Levitating platform (100) comprises a platform structure (110), which includes a bottom extended surface (116) and a lip (114). An air movement device (120) is... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7428939 | Waterjet drive hovercraft with adjustable trim system A flexible skirt-cell system is provided for a hovercraft having a propulsion system mounted to interface with water and a flexible skirt having an upper flexible panel section and a lower flexible finger section. The panel section extends around the bow, stern and ... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7398740 | Multi-mission/purpose ground-effect craft derived from a common modular platform A multi-mission/purpose ground-effect craft is provided which is derived from a common modular platform which includes a hull; an inner floor structure adapted to be installed over the hull; a body adapted to be attached to at least one of the top surface of the hul... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7383907 | Air-cushion vehicle A light air-cushion vehicle has a thrust reverser bucket arranged at an output end of an air nozzle, at least one direction rudder having control surfaces at the output end of the air nozzle and at least one direction rudder having control surfaces in a lift contour... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7357352 | Air vehicle assembly and an associated control system and method An air vehicle assembly and a corresponding method for launching an air vehicle assembly are provided, along with corresponding control systems and methods. The air vehicle assembly may include a plurality of air vehicles releasably joined to one another during a po... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7334756 | Ground-effect craft and method for the cruising flight thereof The invention relates to flying vehicles. A centre wing is provided with aerodynamic profiles on the longitudinal sections thereof. A cigar-shaped fuselage is arranged on the central wing. A crew cabin and a cargo-passenger cabin are arranged inside the fuselage. Ho... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7290631 | Wrapped-cone fingers for skirt systems Wrapped-cone fingers for use in an air-cushion vehicle (ACV) skirt system are described. Wrapped-cone fingers may include an inner cone that is “wrapped” or generally enclosed by an outer finger. The inner cone may include an inner cone opening through which air... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7278449 | Switch, especially for branching off bulk material flows The invention relates to a switch for branching off bulk material flows, the switch includes a rotary plug (1) which is arranged in a fixed housing having preferably three connection openings. In a first position the plug establishes a connection between a fi... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7267300 | Aircraft capable of vertical and short take-off and landing Aircraft comprising an airframe having a forward end, an aft end opposite the forward end, a top extending between the forward end and the aft end, and a bottom opposite the top side. The aircraft further includes a power plant mounted on the airframe. In addition, ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7231997 | Hybrid drive powered lift platform An air-based thrust recovery system for use in a powered lift platform utilizing fixed-pitch propellers is provided. The system utilizes an air compressor coupled to the drive motor of the platform and an on-board, high pressure tank for air storage. The fixed-pitch... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7228594 | Fluid levitating caster integrating load lifting device A fluid levitating caster lifts a heavy load “(17)” off a floor “(18)” with near friction-less-ness for transport has integrated a load lifting device. This extra rise height “(ER)” lifting feature accommodates moving loads “(17)... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7219854 | Cycloidal hybrid advanced surface effects vehicle A “wing in ground effect” aerial vehicle includes a wing mounted on a fuselage, and two cycloidal propulsion units for providing lift, thrust and longitudinal control. Additional lift is provided by a lighter-than-air gas such as helium contained in the fuselage... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7210549 | Air board An air board including a platform upon which an operator of the vehicle can be supported; and a support arrangement for providing an air flow for supporting the platform above a surface, wherein the direction of movement of the air board is at least partially contro... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7188580 | Variable-geometry graduated surface-foil for wing-in-ground effect vehicles The invention is a marine wing-in-ground effect vehicle capable of sustained high speed operation in varying seas. The vehicle comprises an aerodynamic flat bottom lifting wing with a fuselage, a longitudinal keel member under the wing, a propulsion unit installed i... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7174982 | Displaceable support stand A displaceable support stand (1) includes a support stand base (5) with a support surface (6) which is adapted to rest on the ground, a lifting device for lifting the support stand base (5) and therewith the support stand (1) above... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7137592 | High-aspect ratio hybrid airship In one aspect, a hybrid airship including an outer shell, a plurality of helium filled gas envelopes, and an all-electric propulsion system can have a high-aspect ratio wing shape. In some embodiments, the hybrid airship may be launched using buoyancy lift alone and... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7093789 | Delta-winged hybrid airship In one aspect, a hybrid airship including an outer shell, a plurality of helium filled gas envelopes, and an all-electric propulsion system may have the shape of a delta-wing. In some embodiments, the hybrid airship may be launched using buoyancy lift alone and aero... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7073775 | Rotating check valve for compression equipment Methods and apparatus for controlling the flow through a compressor with a valve assembly comprising a rotating body having an outer surface. The rotating body is disposed within a valve cavity in the compressor. A non-contacting seal operates to limit the flow of f... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7059259 | Wing in ground effect vehicle with endplates A Wing In Ground Effect Vehicle has a pair of supercavitating endplates (17) which extend below the fuselage (2) such that they can be immersed in water during flight thereover. The endplates have a nose (28) defining a leading edge (20) ... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7055638 | Virtual airdam and method for a vehicle An air curtain (jet flow) replaces the conventional air-diverting baffle on the underside of a vehicle's front engine compartment to reduce drag and increase volumetric air flow for cooling. ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7051826 | Surface effect skimmer A surface effects skimmer vehicle generates a downward air flow into a tunnel under a main hull to lift the main hull off an adjacent surface, and rearward air flows for thrust. The air flows are generated by ducted fans or jet engines, and directed to the rear and/... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7040572 | Lighter-than-air aircraft with air cushion landing gear means A lighter-than-air aircraft (1) having a gas-filled hull (2) and a pair of spaced apart landing gear units (11, 12) on the underside of the hull arranged on opposite sides of a longitudinally extending central vertical plane of the hull. Each la... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7032698 | Hovercraft A hovercraft is capable of operation on either a solid surface or a liquid surface. The hovercraft includes a hull on which is mounted at least one thrust-lift fan assembly for providing an air cushion under the hovercraft and for propelling the hovercraft in a forw... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7000546 | Underwater mine countermeasure warfare system An underwater mine warfare countermeasure system is disclosed in which an air cushion vehicle carries a magnetic field generating system capable of generating a magnetic field pattern beneath the vehicle which extends sufficiently far from the vehicle in all directi... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6848650 | Ground effect airplane An extremely large aircraft which is suitable for overseas cargo transport and which includes a fuselage defining a central storage cavity, a wing assembly defining a pair of wing storage cavities, an altitude control system, and a plurality of independently steerab... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6742616 | Hybrid air boost vehicle and method for making same A hybrid air boost vehicle makes use of the porous panels and suction devices of a vehicle aerodynamic drag reduction system, and makes use of the air consumed by such a system, to provide the energy and air to power a land or water based ground effects vehicle. Ene... | 06/01/2004 |
| 6732672 | Trimaran type wing effect ship with small waterplane area A trimaran type WIG (Wing-In-Ground) effect ship with a minimum waterplane area is disclosed. This WIG ship comprises a main hull and two half-submerged sub-hulls each having a minimum waterplane area capable of minimizing the wave resistance and appendage resistanc... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6719079 | Ground effect vehicle using a frontal ram air stream and aerodynamic lift A ground effect vehicle apparatus comprising a vehicle body of integral and contiguous construction including a medial portion having an aerodynamic upper surface, and a pair of spaced apart laterally positioned portions separated by the medial portion. Lower extrem... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6611743 | Suspension for a motorcycle A motorcycle suspension system, which permits, interrelated front and rear shock absorbers of different physical characteristics and having different loading factors. However, an interrelated control is provided for balancing these differences and for pro... | 08/26/2003 |
| 6585069 | Fluid levitated caster integrating external debris scraper An assembly "(42)" including a fluid levitated caster and a debris scraper "(31)" device positioned external to a levitation membrane "(11)". Assembly "(42)" levitates heavy loads upon a near frictionless pressurized fluid, and also sweeps aside potential... | 07/01/2003 |
| 6577943 | System for distributing road surface information, system for collecting and distributing vehicle information, device for transmitting vehicle information and program for controlling vehicle A system for distributing road surface information comprising means for sensing numerical information on slipperiness of a road surface; means for sensing positional information of the travelling vehicle; means for transmitting the numerical information a... | 06/10/2003 |
| 6530444 | Controlled levitation vehicle In a controlled levitation vehicle that has a levitation apparatus where multiple air pads are connected to the undersurface of a chassis that also doubles as a duct connected to a blower, and where damper valves are connected between the blower and chass... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6520449 | Lifting platform with positive horizontal stability A novel means of stability for a lifting platform utilizing toroidal vortex airflow through air guide means. A toroidal vortex created by the airflow means efficiently maintains a raised air pressure zone beneath the lifting platform or body. Airflow is d... | 02/18/2003 |
| 6349249 | Automated guided apparatus suitable for toping applications An automated guided apparatus capable of accurately determining its position within a walled environment such as a mine or building. A mobile unit incorporating an inertial measurement unit and a gray scale vision system processor/camera and/or a laser po... | 02/19/2002 |
| 6318489 | Ground effect machine A novel Ground Effect Machine capable of operating in low airflow and low air-pressure conditions. By using an air bladder, partially filed with liquid, in lieu of a skirt, the invention is able to reduce airflow, and consequently maximize the lift provid... | 11/20/2001 |
| 6216599 | Ground effect transport system A transportation system has an air cushion vehicle in a U-shaped or W-shaped channel in the ground. The channel provides support and directional stability for the air cushion vehicle during transit along its length. This system assures high speed overland... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6200069 | Hovercraft work platform A jack up work platform is recited. The work platform comprises a hovercraft vessel outfitted with several jack up legs. The hovercraft can traverse environmentally sensitive terrain such a brackish and freshwater marshes without the need to dig canals th... | 03/13/2001 |
| 6186257 | Method and system for floating a vehicle A method and system for floating an upper vehicle part from a lower vehicle frame includes a primary floating device, coupled to either the upper vehicle part or the lower vehicle frame, floats the upper vehicle part freely separate from the lower vehicle... | 02/13/2001 |
| 6045297 | Method and apparatus for drilling rig construction and mobilization The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for drilling rig mobilization and demobilization. The rig is assembled or constructed at a remote site. It is later taken apart and transported to another remote site or back to a staging point.... | 04/04/2000 |
