...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7731041 | Gantry stacker with two side-by-side spreaders A gantry stacker for transporting and stacking freight containers consists of two chassis beams with steerable wheels, supports, a hoist, an overhead frame, a lifting beam a driver's cab and engines. There are at least two spreaders that are movable in a horizontal ... | 06/08/2010 |
| 7690520 | Inventory storage and retrieval system and method with guidance for load-handling vehicle An inventory storage and retrieval system and method are provided for a shipping or storage facility. In an embodiment, the system includes: (a) a mobile computer and radio on a load-handing vehicle; (b) sensors on the vehicle to determine the ground location and or... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7503460 | Gantry crane A gantry crane has a rigid open three-dimensional truss cross-beam. A lower I-beam and parallel upper X-beams are interconnected with angular gussets and angle irons forming a triangular open beam bounded by three trusses. Angular gussets on the sides are as paralle... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7353959 | Variable-speed load-dependent drive and hoist system In an embodiment, a crane including a hoisting (i.e., load-lifting) mechanism is provided with a variable-speed load-dependent control system and method for operating functions of the crane. An exemplary control system includes an actuator subsystem for performing a... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7344037 | Inventory storage and retrieval system and method with guidance for load-handling vehicle An inventory storage and retrieval system and method are provided for a shipping or storage facility. In an embodiment, the system includes: (a) a mobile computer and radio on a load-handing vehicle; (b) sensors on the vehicle to determine the ground location and or... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7310917 | Hinged frame spreader A hinged spreader board of a pre-set length with shaped ends is pivoted open inside a frame to mate with the inside faces of the sides of a frame and maintain the sides apart by the length of the board while attaching the frame to a wall. Additional hinged sections ... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7300067 | Trailer for a boat A trailer adaped for a boat that includes a U-shaped chassis having wheels and a number of struts supported by the chassis and slings or the like oriented between struts coordinated in pairs is described. The slings support the boat by abutting against an outer surf... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7255238 | Transporting apparatus having vertically movable holding portion The present invention provides a transporting apparatus provided with a sensor for detecting information relating to a relative position in the vertical direction between an article to be transported and a holding portion for holding the article, and a controller th... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7252299 | Steering system for crane A steering system (10) for a vehicle, such as a gantry crane (12). The gantry crane (12) generally includes a support structure (14) having a first front wheel (32) and a second opposing front wheel (36) connected proximate ... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7198452 | Bar stock loading table and apparatus A bar stock loader for an elongate member and a method for use is includes a support apparatus with a support surface for supporting the elongate member and a translation apparatus proximate to the support apparatus. The translation apparatus is moveable and has an ... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7168724 | Steering system for crane A steering system (10) for a vehicle, such as a gantry crane (12). The gantry crane (12) generally includes a support structure (14) having a first front wheel (32) and a second opposing front wheel (36) connected proximate ... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7150366 | Hanger chain anti-sway device for gantry crane A sway dampener is provided for reducing sway motion of a gantry crane spreader that is suspended from hanger chains. The sway dampener is configured to resist motion of the hanger chain relative to the spreader, thereby retarding sway. The dampener includes first a... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7137470 | Drive device for an industrial truck A drive device for an industrial truck includes a pivoted bolster rotatable around a vertical axis (V), two drive wheels (4, 5) mounted on the pivoted bolster and a device located axially between the drive wheels (4, 5) to generate a differential actio... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7070060 | Gantry crane with elevating operator cab A gantry crane has first and second side support frames spaced by a pair of trolley beams. A load lifting mechanism is connected to the trolley beams and includes a lift frame for engaging a load to be lifted. An operator cab is mounted on the first side support fra... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7032763 | System and method for automatically guiding a gantry crane An automatic guidance system and method are provided for a gantry crane to permit accurate tracking along a path, including a curved path. The position of the crane is determined from two spaced apart GPS receivers fixed to the crane. A guidance controller determine... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6789995 | Vehicle for handling sheet metal coils The invention pertains to a vehicle for handling coils (2), particularly sheet metal coils, or the like. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises a bridgelike frame structure (1) which forms a tunnel (3) all along the vehicle, for the p... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6732871 | Cargo transport and handling device An apparatus is disclosed for handling cargo that includes a motorized electric pallet truck (12) to which a tower (30) having two or more legs (32) is attached, the tower (30) includes a transverse member (34) connected to the two... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6695159 | Shock absorbing bumper for gantry cranes In a gantry crane having a vertically movable, horizontal stabilizer beam spaced between upright columns, a shock absorbent bumper assembly is mounted to ends of the stabilizer beam to prevent direct contact against the columns. The bumper assembly includ... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6691882 | Handling machine for the combined handling of containers and bulk materials A rail-borne handling machine for handling containers and bulk materials in seaports and inland harbors includes a framework for carrying load bearing means and includes gantry supports arranged on the framework. Rail-based traveling gears are connected t... | 02/17/2004 |
| 6685418 | Buffer jib crane for cargo container handling operations A buffer crane for supplementing a quay crane operation and formed to operate thereunder with a landing deck for supporting a multiple of cargo containers above dockside cargo transport operations and for moving cargo containers therebetween by means of a... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6675719 | Railroad car wheel handler and method A railroad car wheel changer assembly (10), adapted to be mounted on a gantry crane (12), is provided. The railroad car wheel changer assembly (10) includes a base assembly (60), a beam member (62) and a grappler assembly (64). The base assembly (60) is a... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6604904 | Method for buffer crane operation in cargo container handling A method for buffer crane operation for supplementing a quay crane operation and formed to operate thereunder with a landing deck for supporting a multiple of cargo containers in buffer operation above dockside cargo transport operations and for moving ca... | 08/12/2003 |
| 6602036 | Buffer bridge crane for cargo container handling operations A buffer crane for supplementing a quay crane operation and formed to operate thereunder with a landing deck for supporting a multiple of cargo containers above dockside cargo transport operations and for moving cargo containers therebetween by means of a... | 08/05/2003 |
| 6554145 | Universal traversing assembly for legs of cranes or the like A universal traversing assembly for legs of cranes or the like comprises: a platform provided with a series of driving wheels and supporting wheels which are aligned and are adapted to roll on a long underlying rail for the traversing motion of the leg; a... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6328524 | Cask transporter A cask transporter for engaging, lifting and safely transporting casks containing nuclear waste material. The cask transporter comprises a gantry structure including a plurality of extendible telescoping boom assemblies coupled to a beam. A platform is co... | 12/11/2001 |
| 6286695 | Engine lifting and positioning assembly In an aspect, the invention features a base structure and a main column vertically attached to the base structure, the main column having a mounting plate affixed above the base structure, the mounting plate adapted to attach to an engine. A rod is connec... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6286696 | Hoist system anti-drift device A gantry crane including a lifting grappler is provided with a hoist locking mechanism to prevent undesired downward drifting of the grappler, especially during periods when the crane is parked and not in operation. The hoist locking device can selectivel... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6230911 | Rail wheel system for supporting loads on a road-traveling gantry crane A gantry crane is provided which is equipped with standard wheels having rubber tires for free maneuverability on a road surface, such as asphalt, gravel, pavement, etc., wherein the crane is additionally equipped with a plurality of railwheels to provide... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6193086 | Gantry crane with improved manually variable controls for movable components A crane is disclosed, with one or more moveable components. Manually-articulable controls (such as joysticks) are provided for controlling movement of the components. First, second, and third control circuits responsive to varied positions of the control ... | 02/27/2001 |
| 6158602 | Railwheel system for supporting loads on a road-traveling gantry crane A gantry crane is provided which is equipped with standard wheels having rubber tires for free maneuverability on a road surface, such as asphalt, gravel, pavement, etc., wherein the crane is additionally equipped with a plurality of railwheels to provide... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6081292 | Grappler guidance system for a gantry crane In a gantry crane having a movable grappler adapted for lifting standard containers, a system is provided to aid in positioning the grappler relative to the container. The grappler is equipped with at least two corner video devices located near corners of... | 06/27/2000 |
| 6062403 | Variable elevating cabin Apparatus for the handling of truck trailers or transport containers and more particularly to an apparatus and method for a variable elevating cabin apparatus operable for controlled vertical movement within the framework of a gantry crane, wherein an ope... | 05/16/2000 |
| 5967348 | Method and equipment for turning the wheels of a crane moving on rubber-tired wheels The invention relates to a method for turning a pair of wheels in a crane (1) moving on rubber-tired wheels or the like. The crane comprises an electric motor (28) with gearing (16), the electric motor functioning as traversing gear. When the wheels of th... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5826734 | Variable elevating cabin Apparatus for the handling of truck trailers or transport containers and more particularly to an apparatus and method for a variable elevating cabin apparatus operable for controlled vertical movement within the framework of a gantry crane, wherein an ope... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5810183 | Gantry crane with elevating operator cab A gantry crane has first and second side support frames spaced by a pair of trolley beams. A lifting mechanism is connected to the trolley beams and includes a lift frame for engaging a load to be lifted. An operator cab is mounted on the first side suppo... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5735416 | Traversing gear arrangement for a crane moving on rubber tired wheels or the like The invention relates to a traversing gear arrangement for a crane moving on rubber-tired wheels or the like. The crane having an electric motor functioning as the traversing gear and including gearing and wheels arranged in pairs. The wheels in each of t... | 04/07/1998 |
| 5718771 | Retractable traversing trash rake and method for cleaning weedscreen A retractable traversing trash rake is provided for cleaning weedscreens or bar grates at an installation for generating power, filtering water, or the like. The trash rake includes a frame carrying a troney movable from a position inside the frame to a p... | 02/17/1998 |
| 5715958 | Stabilizer for a gantry crane lift frame A gantry crane 10 is provided having a gantry structure 12 with a pair of front support legs 18 and 20 and a pair of rear support legs 26 and 28. A lift frame 14, having opposed first and second ends 14a and 14b, is suspended from the gantry structure 12.... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5649636 | Adjustable load lifting device An adjustable system for lifting and transferring load containers which comprises a frame, a container lifting device, and a cable attached to the frame and lifting device. A first actuator is provided for raising and lowering the lifting device, which li... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5575607 | Jet engine transport vehicle lift system and a build cell A system for building, testing, and repairing gas turbine engines and for transporting gas turbine engines from one location to another includes a transporter and a build cell. The build cell is a frame structure supported by a plurality of pedestals for ... | 11/19/1996 |