...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 |
| 8157070 | Marine reduction and reverse gear unit A marine reduction and reverse gear unit having an output shaft disposed at an acute (or obtuse) angle with respect to an input shaft 7 comprises: a drive gear 15 for transmitting torque from the input shaft 7; first and second driven gears 3... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8066107 | Modulatable marine transmission clutches including fluid-operated nonrotating pistons for clutch engagement A marine reverse and reduction transmission with modulatable marine transmission clutches including fluid operated nonrotating pistons for effecting clutch engagement by compression of the plates, the pistons generating thrust that is transferred through bearings be... | 11/29/2011 |
| 7997398 | Hydraulically actuated marine transmission A marine transmission provides a cylindrical spool valve that is disposed within the gear case of the transmission and has a movable portion that is axially movable in a vertical direction to select forward, neutral, and reverse gear positions of the transmission. A... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7291048 | Actuator device for a marine propulsion transmission An actuator of a marine propulsion transmission is attached to a movable clutch member through the use of a coupler which comprises a generally spherical member formed as a portion of the actuator and a chuck device formed as part of the clutch member. The generally... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7270224 | Device for the optimization of hydraulically controlled engagement of clutches used in marine transmissions Optimization of hydraulically controlled engagement of clutches in marine transmissions by a device having two clutch control pistons, two solenoid valves arranged between the pumps, aid pistons, a bistable valve connected between the solenoid valves and pistons, a ... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7247114 | Automatic transmission A forward/reverse change-over mechanism (3) of an automatic transmission comprises a forward clutch (5) inside a drum (7) with the base (7c) which rotates together with an input shaft (1). The forward clutch (5) engag... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7243575 | Braking mechanism for a gear An indexing and braking mechanism for a manual transmission having a shifting mechanism and at least one rotatable drive shaft is disclosed. The mechanism includes an indexing mechanism for controlling movement of the shifting mechanism between at least a first posi... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7210567 | Transmission device for two or more shafts A transmission device for two or more shafts is provided having two first cylindrical sleeves which are connected to the first shaft and can be mechanically coupled or uncoupled with two second cylindrical sleeves connected to the second shaft or to a third shaft al... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7140932 | Outboard motor shift mechanism In a shift mechanism for an outboard motor mounted on a stem of a boat and having an internal combustion engine at its upper portion and a propeller at its lower portion that is powered by the engine to propel the boat, having an electric motor installed in the outb... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7048104 | Selective bypass of solenoid-controlled supply to friction elements of an automatic transmission A hydraulic system for controlling the engagement and disengagement of a friction element includes a source of line pressure, a source of exhaust pressure, a manual valve having a forward state and a reverse state, connected to the exhaust pressure source and line p... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7007780 | Variable speed clutch A variable speed slip clutch is provided. The clutch has an output shaft, a first and second input hub, and output hub, a wrap spring and a control hub. In one embodiment, the clutch includes a source coupler coupled to a first and a second input drive. The output s... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6955627 | Multi-speed transmission and integrated drive transfer mechanism A multiple speed transmission capable of producing five underdrive gear ratios, one direct drive ratio, four overdrive ratios, and four reverse ratios includes four interconnected planetary gearsets, multi-plate clutches and brakes controlling the gearset elements, ... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6851328 | Control apparatus for transmission A transmission control apparatus includes transmission lines disposed between a pair of transmission shafts and a hydraulic multiple disc transmission clutch disposed on one side of the transmission lines. Power from an engine is transmitted via one of the transmiss... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6681909 | Walk-behind implement having wrap spring wheel clutches A reversible implement including an engine, an axle driven by the engine, a pair of ground engaging wheels with a wheel located at each axle end, a pair of input hubs rotatably fixed to the axle, a pair of wheel hubs with a wheel hub located at each axle ... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6679740 | Method of hydraulically controlling a marine speed reducing and reversing machine in crash astern operation In carrying out a crash-go-astern operation for switching operating means (2a) of a hydraulic clutch mechanism (100) provided to a marine reduction and reverse gear (1) from a forward setting (F) to a reverse setting in a stroke so as to abruptly stop in ... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6666312 | Modulatable power transmission clutch and a marine transmission A transmission housing having a modulatable power transmission therein which includes a clutch having interleaved clutch plates and having a central power transmitting shaft extending axially through the clutch. The clutch includes a fluid operated movabl... | 12/23/2003 |
| 6557678 | Transmission A transmission assembly comprising an overrunning clutch assembly comprising a race having an inner annular contact surface, a plurality of sprags provided along the inner annular contact surface of the race, and defining a drive space, means for retainin... | 05/06/2003 |
| 6544083 | Shift mechanism for a marine propulsion system A gear shift mechanism is provided in which a cam structure comprises a protrusion that is shaped to extend into a channel formed in a cam follower structure. The cam follower structure can be provided with first and second channels that allow the protrus... | 04/08/2003 |
| 6523655 | Shift linkage for a marine drive unit A shift linkage for a marine drive unit is provided with a groove that is aligned along a path which is nonperpendicular to an axis of rotation of the shift linkage. The groove, and its nonperpendicularity to the axis of rotation, allow a detent ball to s... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6505529 | Reversing gear-box which can be shifted when under load A reversing transmission shiftable under load in which the reversing clutches (1, 2) are automatically evacuated by the flow of pressure medium through the clutch (1, 2) not subjected to pressure wherein bores (9, 24), which in this shifting state, are co... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6491150 | Switchable silent ratchet A switchable clamp-type locking mechanism with an output shaft (3) that rotates in relation to a housing (1) is provided. Furthermore, clamping elements, in particular clamping balls or clamping rollers (4) are provided that are pushed by a spring force i... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6470763 | Shift control device for automatic transmission The present invention provides a shift control valve that controls the supply of engagement control hydraulic pressure to a drive friction engagement element and a reverse friction engagement element, having first and second main pressure oil lines (such ... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6443286 | Modulatable power transmission clutch and a marine transmission A modulatable power transmission clutch including interleaved clutch plates and having a central power transmitting shaft extending axially through the clutch. The clutch includes a fluid operated movable piston for effecting clutch operation by compressi... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6401560 | Shift mechanism of outboard engine A shift mechanism of an outboard engine has a shift cam which is remotely-operable to effect change-over of the direction of rotation of a propeller shaft in a gear case. A shift cam support member is a member separate from and detachably secured to the g... | 06/11/2002 |
| 6386350 | Clutch mechanism of outboard engine A clutch mechanism of an outboard engine provides improved feel of shifting operation while allowing a detent mechanism and a stopper to fully perform their functions. The clutch mechanism has a shift cam which is remotely operable through a clutch rod an... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6148982 | Coupling control device A coupling control device for a coupling has at least one valve for controlling at least one coupling, and at least one throttle arrangement arranged between the at least one valve and the at least one coupling.... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6110071 | Electronic transmission range selection An electro-hydraulic transmission control has a pair of solenoid valves which are energized individually to provide a forward drive or a reverse drive. A mode mechanism downstream of the solenoid valves is actuated to a forward or reverse mode depending o... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6085880 | Power shift transmission The power shift for vehicles has clutches and brakes in the form of multi-disc clutches which consist of disc sets; instead of the multi-disc brake for the reverse drive range, a form-locking clutch such as a disc synchronization is provided which in enga... | 07/11/2000 |
| 6062360 | Synchronizer for a gear shift mechanism for a marine propulsion system A synchronized gear shift mechanism is provided for a marine propulsion system. Using a hub and a sleeve that are axially movable relative to an output shaft but rotationally fixed to the shaft and to each other, the gear shift mechanism uses associated f... | 05/16/2000 |
| 6024198 | Dual clutch reverser actuating mechanism A dual clutch forward/reverse unit includes a pair of spring engaged clutch units and a pair of lifter pins, each pin operable to disengage a corresponding one of the clutches. An actuator mechanism for the forward/reverse unit includes a housing, a shaft... | 02/15/2000 |
| 6019552 | Thread cutter A thread cutter, particularly a reversing chuck with a spindle which can be pulled out, has pressure equalizing pipelines which discharge into an equalizing chamber which is sealed from the outside air by a movable wall.... | 02/01/2000 |
| 5992599 | Control system for intermittently pulsing a valve controlling forward and reverse clutches a transmission and transmission fitted therewith A control system for an engine transmission provided with a coupling mechanism for engaging or disengaging coupling of the transmission. The control system has one or more valves movable between two positions for controlling engagement and disengagement o... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5918716 | Solenoid actuated reversing mechanism A magnetic flux path mechanism for a solenoid actuated device includes a stationary coil for generating lines of magnetic flux when energized, a stationary case enclosing the stationary coil on an outside perimeter of the coil, and a rotatable sleeve disp... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5879210 | Power transfer device for inboard/outboard motor A power transfer device for an inboard/outboard motor which includes a propeller unit mounted on the hull of a vessel, the propeller unit including an input shaft for drive connection to an output shaft of the inboard/outboard motor, an intermediate shaft... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5829564 | Marine drive shift mechanism with chamfered shift rings, stepped cams, and self-centering clutch A marine drive shift mechanism includes a shift ring (200) having a chamfer zone (204) along an arcuate portion of its outer circumference facilitating ease of shifting. A stepped camming surface (222) provides step function shifting movement. Neutral pos... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5715728 | Transmission device, especially a reversing gear for boats Reversing gears for boats, comprising an angle gear with two gears (4,5) which are rotatably mounted on a secondary shaft (8) and are alternately lockable to the shaft by means of a clutch sleeve (11). The clutch sleeve has exterior clutch cones (12,13), ... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5709130 | Transmission clutch A reversing transmission for marine propulsion units or the like. The reversing transmission includes a multiple disc clutch assembly that is cooperative with a pair of bevel gear and clutch assemblies. These bevel gear and clutch assemblies are made up o... | 01/20/1998 |
| 5628593 | Readily disassembleable tapping attachment with quick change replaceable and maintainable parts and method A self-reversing tapping attachment comprises a housing including a tap holding spindle member, a forward drive member and a reverse drive member the latter two members being interchangeable with one another; at least one internal removable fastener with ... | 05/13/1997 |
| 5568387 | Method and arrangement for adaptive switching off of the exhaust brake in connection with upshift The invention relates to an improved method and an arrangement for implementation of that method for obtaining safer and quicker upshifts while maintaining gear change comfort, using computer-assisted systems for gear change in mechanical gearboxes in mot... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5547056 | Oil dam coupling An oil dam coupling for connecting an output shaft of a transmission arrangement to an input shaft of a pump assembly. The oil dam coupling includes a first member splined to the output shaft and a second member splined to the input shaft. The first membe... | 08/20/1996 |