"Transmission of documents via telephone wires is possible in principle, but the apparatus required is so expensive that it will never become a practical proposition."
Dennis Gabor, British physicist
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7370725 | Motorized rungless ladder A device supported by a ground surface and a structure for at least one of elevating and descending a user. The device includes a first guide rail having a first channel extending along a length thereof and a second guide rail having a second channel extending along... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7314019 | Retractable step with secure locking mechanism A retractable U-shaped ladder assembly preferably for a craft such as a watercraft has a rotatably retracted ladder which is attached to the craft by brackets. A torsion spring is used to bias the ladder into the retracted position. While the ladder is in an in-use ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7264253 | Truck tailgate step A tailgate step for use on a vehicle. The step includes a guide rail bracket. A sliding member is arranged within the guide rail bracket. A support arm is pivotally connected to an end of the sliding member. A fact plate is secured to the guide rail bracket. The ste... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7195262 | Hitch-mounted step for a vehicle and method therefor A hitch-mounted step for a vehicle that extends beyond a deployed fold-down tailgate of a vehicle and allows people and pets to more easily enter and exit the rear cargo area of a vehicle. The hitch-mounted step is easily stored and deployed without the need to remo... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7140587 | Support device A support device may be used by a technician when performing elevated line work, for example. The support device may include a body portion having a ring portion extending from one end of the body portion. The support device also may include first and second hanger ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7134524 | Methods and apparatus for threadably coupling a hook to a structure A tree-climbing assembly includes at least one tree step and a tool for rotating the tree step relative to a tree such that the tree step is threadingly coupled to the tree. The tree step includes a threaded first portion, a foot peg, and a second portion that exten... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7059449 | Foldable tire step apparatus An apparatus and method that attaches to a tire and supplies a step to enable access to the engine compartment or rooftop of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus is adjustable to better fit with a variety of different sized tires. The apparatus is also adjustable to... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7055839 | Retractable vehicle step A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, a second arm, a motor and a stop. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7055838 | Folding tailgate mounted step assembly A folding step assembly for the tailgate of a truck that provides two steps projecting rearwardly and downward and has grab handles for safe and convenient access into the bed of a truck. The step assembly is completely supported by the tailgate and does not touch t... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7025365 | Elevatable and extendable platform A stowable platform for use with a vehicle movable from the stowed to the extended position in a single plane. Once extended, the platform support is locked, preventing further movement, and the platform itself is capable of further extension or elevation. ... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7017708 | Recessed step This device will allow the user access to a platform and also use the device as an additional step. It will be easy to move and easy to stow. Unlike a footstool it can be easily stowed under cabinets or chairs. A hole in the center section, which is the step, allows... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7007961 | Retractable vehicle step A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, a second arm, a motor and a stop. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. ... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6994362 | Attachment means for facilitating user access to vehicle platforms Improved selectively rotatable multipositionable step attachment for a vehicle platform and the like for not only facilitating safe user access to the platform, for loading and unloading same, when the step attachment is in an operative position, but also when it is... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6942233 | Retractable vehicle step A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, a second arm, a motor and a stop. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. ... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6938909 | Retractable vehicle step A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, a second arm, a motor and a stop. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. ... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6938572 | Swim lift platform A swim lift platform using hydraulic force to lift a swimmer between positions in which the platform is above water level to a submerged position. The movement is under the control of a swimmer occupying the platform. ... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6932021 | Dock swivel step A dock swivel step is attached to a dock pole by clamps. The swivel step has vertical outer and inner tubes. The vertical tube is clamped to the dock pole. An inner L shaped tube slides inside the outer tube. Attached to the horizontal part of the inner tube is an o... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6880673 | Step having stored and deployed configurations A step assembly is stored in the overhang area of a kitchen counter when not in use. The step assembly is deployed into an extended position by kicking a vertically disposed front wall. Springs then cause a linkage to deploy that positions the vertical front wall aw... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6834875 | Retractable vehicle step A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, a second arm, a motor and a stop. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. ... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6830257 | Retractable vehicle step A retractable step for use with a vehicle comprises a stepping member having a stepping deck, a first arm, a second arm, a motor and a stop. The first arm has a first end pivotally attached to the vehicle, and a second end pivotally attached to the stepping member. ... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6729437 | Tree step tool and method Mounting for portable, removable steps on tree trunks or other supports and particularly pertaining to a tool and method for easy, conveniently mounting conventional tree steps. The tool as described includes a handle axially aligned with a channel member containing... | 05/04/2004 |
| 6681892 | Ladder and associated method for securing same to object A ladder for negotiating an object includes a frame and a lever coupled to the frame. The lever is movable relative to the frame in response to an actuating force applied to the lever to move the lever into engagement with the object to secure the ladder ... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6659224 | Articulating step assembly An articulating step assembly comprising: a side member which includes a guide slot having a first end and a second end; a drop linkage, wherein a portion of the drop linkage is slidably positioned within the guide slot; a pivot linkage, wherein the pivot... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6655706 | Extendable-retractable RV step and method of assembling same An extendable-retractable step system for a recreational vehicle (RV) has a step tread attached to a slider rod via side arms that include one or more locking tabs, and includes a pair of end plates having tab-receiving slots and notched slider slots that... | 12/02/2003 |
| 6612596 | Foldable footstool device for a vehicle A foldable footstool device for a vehicle of the present invention comprises a main beam fixed to a lower surface of a lower part of a vehicle and having hinge holes and stoppers at left and right sides thereof, respectively; a footstool installed rotatab... | 09/02/2003 |
| 6471002 | Folding foot step with anti-skid surface A folding foot step of the type used on vehicles has an improved anti-skid, friction grip, stand-on surface with a clover-leaflet-shaped perimeter. The stand-on surface is interrupted by three elongate openings that are spaced inwardly from the perimeter ... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6464038 | Footrest for rock climbing A footrest for rock climbing includes a rest member for supporting the foot of a climber, a pair of support bars collapsibly connected to opposite ends of the rest member, respectively, and a hook arrangement for fixing free ends of the support bars with ... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6435534 | Side runner assembly for a vehicle having a dropping step A retractable step which is adequately functional, and which virtually automatically shifts between its in-use and storage position. A side runner assembly having a dropping step for a vehicle includes: an elongate member having a front and rear portion, ... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6378720 | Combination trash receptacle and step stool The present invention provides a new and unusual combination trash receptacle and step stool, which is portable, compact, safe, and includes a novel storage compartment and garbage bag installation means.... | 04/30/2002 |
| 6345691 | Ladder latch system A Ladder Latch System for securing telescoping ladders in the retracted position is described. The latching system is a component of a telescoping ladder system, which has as its main components a plurality of telescoping ladder legs, a ladder-mounting br... | 02/12/2002 |
| 6170843 | Trailer hitch step A step holding member has a first end which is insertable into a receiver-type trailer hitch and a second end which is adapted for holding a step member for stepping onto the tailgate of a pickup truck. In another embodiment of the invention the step hold... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6168176 | Accessing step construction on downwardly curved vehicle bumpers and methods of operating and constructing it An accessing step, mounted on a vehicle having a bumper attached to the vehicle frame, comprises a step part and a mount assembly fixedly supported on the bumper and frame, mounting the step part for swinging movement from a first operative position in wh... | 01/02/2001 |
| 6135526 | Folding step with integrated storage compartment for folding camping trailer A folding camping trailer having a folding step with an integrated storage compartment generally includes a trailer body defining a doorway opening, a platform having a first side and a second side and a storage compartment connected to the platform. At l... | 10/24/2000 |
| 6094964 | Automobile frame machine An automobile frame machine includes a platform, one or more pull towers pivotally connected about a vertical axis fixed to the platform, and a step assembly which provides simple access to the platform of the frame machine at a strategic location near on... | 08/01/2000 |
| 6021733 | Automatically retractable telescopic and rotatable steps for watercraft A retractable ladder assembly for a watercraft has a rotatably mounted ladder which is attached to the craft by brackets. The ladder is pivotably mounted to the brackets. There is a plate biased to engage and rotatably retract the ladder from a use positi... | 02/08/2000 |
| 5967255 | Step stool attachment A step stool attachment for attachment to vertical structures such as a wall or the inside of a cabinet door to permit users to reach higher locations. The step stool attachment includes a backboard designed for attachment to a vertical structure. A step ... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5957237 | Motorized collapsible step A collapsible step assembly has upper and lower steps, and a housing which mounts below the door of a vehicle. The steps and housing are interconnected by pivotally mounted linkages. A pivot rod extends transversely through the housing with a linkage fast... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5927433 | Boat step with improved support and retraction mechanism A retractable step assembly has a U-shaped step, a rotatable joint including a bracket, a first member to fix the bracket to the rear of a boat or personal watercraft, to a fixed step, a pivotable rod, and a second member to fix the U-shaped step to it fo... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5842709 | Retractable, swing down step assembly A retractable step assembly (10) includes a step (12) pinned to the lower ends of a pair of swing arms (14, 16) depending downwardly from a bracket (30) for mounting the step assembly to the underside of a vehicle. An electric motor (20) powers the upper ... | 12/01/1998 |
| 5826900 | Vehicle foot peg A vehicle foot peg is disclosed for use with a motorcycle, ATV, or similar vehicle. The vehicle foot pegs are used in pairs and attached to the supplied foot peg brackets on the vehicle. The vehicle foot pegs are configured such that the outer ends of the... | 10/27/1998 |