Did You Know...
...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!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7999207 | Apparatus for machining plate-shaped or cylindrical workpieces comprising cutting teeth The invention concerns a device (10) for machining slab-shaped or cylindrical workpieces (70) which are provided with cutting teeth (S), with a machine base (12), a machining device (14) which can be displaced relative to the machine base... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7847207 | Method and system to attach carbon nanotube probe to scanning probe microscopy tips An easy and controllable method and system to attach a carbon nanotube to a scanning probe tip such as a scanning probe microscopy (SPM) tip using a focus ion beam (FIB) technique. The method and system includes selecting a carbon fiber by a Focus Ion Beam micromani... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7667156 | Bidirectional thermal trimming of electrical resistance There are described various methods and circuits for trimming the parameter value of a thermally mutable electrical component in two directions. A sequence of heat pulses is selected as a function of thermal history using an adaptive trimming algorithm, where parame... | 02/23/2010 |
| 7557323 | Wire retrieving device for cutting machine A wire retrieving device for a cutting machine includes a block connected with an air source and a blowing path is defined through the block. A suction path is defined in a side of the block and has an oblique port formed in a surface of the block through which the ... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7356907 | Method of manufacturing a carriage assembly of a hard disk drive A method of manufacturing a cartridge assembly of a hard disk drive, including a step of forming a part of a wiring circuit into flying leads and a step of forming a coating layer on the respective opposite surfaces of the bonding surfaces of the flying leads, which... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7303809 | Process for forming electrodes Substantially transparent electrodes are formed upon a substrate by forming on the substrate, in order, a high index layer, a metallic conductive layer, and a conductive or semi-conductive top layer; and patterning the top layer and the conductive layer, preferably ... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7286148 | Line head and image forming apparatus incorporating the same A first power line is adapted to be electrically connected to a power source. A second power line is adapted to be grounded. A plurality of photo emitters are arrayed in a first direction, each of which is electrically connected between the first power line and the ... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7227095 | Wire bonders and methods of wire-bonding Wire bonders and methods of wire-bonding are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes attaching a wire to a terminal of a microelectronic component and generating an arc between a first electrode and a second electrode to sever the wire at a point at l... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7198043 | Method for extending diamond tool life in diamond machining of materials that chemically react with diamond The present invention provides a method for extending diamond tool life in diamond machining of materials that chemically react with the diamond tool in which the surface electric potential of the workpiece is adjusted or tuned to be adequate to inhibit the chemical... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7115843 | High-frequency pulse oscillator The present invention generally relates to a high-frequency pulse oscillator, and more particularly to a high-frequency pulse oscillator adapted to provide pulse currents having a high frequency and large amplitude so as to transition metallic materials into a plast... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7115193 | Sputtering target producing very few particles, backing plate or apparatus within sputtering device and roughening method by electric discharge machining Provided is a sputtering target, backing plate or apparatus inside a sputtering device in which an electrical discharge machining mark is formed on the face to which unwanted films during sputtering are deposited, and the electrical discharge machining mark is forme... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7084368 | Thermal cutting machine and cutting method using same A thermal cutting machine and a cutting method using the same are described, which employ a simple, long-life torch hood for effectively shutting off spatter, the torch hood enabling easy supervision of the cut condition of a workpiece and easy replacement of the co... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7067759 | Metal working A method of working metal in which molten metal particles are ejected from, for example, a welding electrode or from a metal workpiece being cut or drilled. The ejected molten metal particles are caused to pass through a contact region in which they make contact wit... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7034243 | Apparatus for electrically disintegrating hypodermic needle A device used to disable hypodermic needles uses a power supply (10) and two electrodes (12,14) in a housing. One electrode is placed over the other electrode and slants down towards the other. A collar is used to ensure that when the hypodermic needle... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7024761 | Device for destroying sharp, pointed objects which is fitted with means for automatically unscrewing injecting needles and similar A sharp cutting object disposal device provided with means for automatic unscrewing of venopuncture needles and the like, consisting of a tube to which a pair of motors or a gear wheel are fixed, the wheel which, actuated by a geared part that upon sliding on the ge... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7015411 | Erosion system having an erosion head for removing metallic connection elements Spark erosion system for removing connection elements from a structure (W, 60), having a drill head (3) [(4)?], a rotational drive (10) by means of which a tool is caused to rotate, a positioning system (15) for moving the tool as ... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6969817 | Apparatus and method for machining in confined spaces A machining apparatus is provided. The machining apparatus includes a discharge machining head assembly and a slide assembly supporting the head assembly. The machining apparatus also includes an electromagnet configured to support the slide assembly in a position o... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6956174 | Tip structures An interconnection contact structure assembly including an electronic component having a surface and a conductive contact carried by the electronic component and accessible at the surface. The contact structure includes an internal flexible elongate member having fi... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6943314 | Method for producing a double-sided Rabies I.D. tag A method for making a double sided, metal Rabies I.D. tag with an electronic engraving machine capable of inscribing data on both sides such as one side of the I.D. tag has inscribed personal contact information along with the name of the pet, and the other side has... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6912762 | Pallet de-banding machine with improved analytical abilities An automated de-banding machine which can perform by scanning the surface of the pallet to determine the number and position of bands to be removed. The machine also is capable of analyzing to determine the overlay bands from underlay bands. The overlay bands are re... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6881687 | Method for laser cleaning of a substrate surface using a solid sacrificial film An improved semiconductor wafer processing apparatus 10 includes a series of processing stations combined in one form, coupled together by computer-controlled cluster tooling. Wafers are supplied in a pod to an input station 28 which initiates a data r... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6829816 | Method of manufacturing nonreciprocal circuit device A compact and highly reliable nonreciprocal circuit device can be manufactured at low cost. Marking is clearly performed on a surface of the nonreciprocal circuit device. In a method of manufacturing the nonreciprocal circuit device, after components constituting th... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6777637 | Sharpening method of nanotubes A method for sharpening a nanotube including the steps of: connecting the base end portion of a nanotube to an electrode with the tip end portion of the nanotube protruded from the electrode; connecting the tip end portion of the nanotube to another electrode; apply... | 08/17/2004 |
| 6759619 | Surgical scalpel electrical incinerating device A surgical scalpel incinerator an electromechanism for thermally destroying and sterilizing scalpels: a cabinet having a door through which a scalpel blade is inserted and supported by supports above several metal plates. Closing the door withdraws the supports, aft... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6681668 | Device and process for thermally cutting a moving web of textile material A device for cutting a moving web of textile material as it passes the device, and for sealing the cut edges of the material, having an electrically heated cutting member capable of severing the material as it passes the cutting member, and an electricall... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6649857 | Needle destruction device A needle destruction device is provided. This device has a housing with a first electrode and a second electrode positioned therein in such a way as to create an annular space between the electrodes. In use, a needle is inserted into an opening in the hou... | 11/18/2003 |
| 6621031 | Syringe and needle destruction device A device that operates to reduce the hazard involved in the disposal of conventional hypodermic needles used throughout the medical world. When the needle is presented to the inventive device, while still attached to the syringe, it is vaporized an electr... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6621034 | Method of manufacturing die The method includes the steps of preparing a die main body; performing batch supply hole machining with respect to one principal plane of the die main body to form batch supply holes; using a cutting apparatus to perform slit machining with respect to the... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6580047 | Apparatus for destroying syringe-type needles by electrical current The invention is directed to an apparatus for destroying metal needles having a shaft, hub, and a tip comprising first and second electrodes spaced in an overlapping relationship. The first electrode is generally disc shaped and the second electrode is ge... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6545242 | Apparatus and method for removing a needle from a syringe A method and apparatus for removing the needle portion of a hypodermic syringe and simultaneously sterilizing and destroying the needle portion of a hypodermic syringe, thereby eliminating the risk of infection by microorganisms that may be present in or ... | 04/08/2003 |
| 6417635 | Apparatus and method for electrically disposing of hypodermic needle An apparatus and method for electrically disposing of a hypodermic needle, which provide electric power to the hypodermic needle to generate heat and eliminate the needle with the heat, comprising: an insertion hole through which the hypodermic needle is ... | 07/09/2002 |
| 6384362 | Method and apparatus for destroying needles Biohazardous needles are destroyed by the application of an electrical arc that progressively destroys the needle and seals hollow needles. An elongate electrode that slopes up and away from the needle supports is used to strike an then progressively supp... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6376792 | Method and apparatus for individual destruction of syringe needles by melting under the effect of electric current A process and an apparatus for the individual destruction of syringe needles by melting under the effect of a high-intensity electric current. The apparatus includes a lower electrode adapted to accommodate the free end of a needle and to form therewith a... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6348667 | Wire electrode for the spark-erosive cutting of hard metal A method and a wire electrode for the spark-erosive cutting of hard metal, whereby the wire electrode has a core and at least one outer coat surrounding the core and wearing during cutting. To avoid corrosion, as, for example, pitting, a wire electrode is... | 02/19/2002 |
| 6338291 | Cost-effective side-coupling polymer fiber optics for optical interconnections A unidirectional and bidirectional optical fiber couplers using polymer optical fibers having mirrors formed within the polymer optical fibers for reflecting optical signals. The mirrors comprise a notch having at least one surface angled with respect to ... | 01/15/2002 |
| 6337454 | Method and apparatus for destroying a medical instrument A method and apparatus for destroying the metallic portion of an elongate medical instrument, such as a hypodermic needle, by locating the instrument in the apparatus in a position where the tip of the instrument electrically engages a contact surface of ... | 01/08/2002 |
| 6326575 | Needle incinerator The invention provides an incinerator adapted for disintegrating metal needles and lancets such as are used in the medical profession. An incinerator is provided that includes first and second electrodes, each having a contact edge spaced apart in an over... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6284994 | Electrode system for perforating synthetic plastic films An apparatus for perforating a film has one or more electrodes in electrode holders to lightly contact the film, a return electrode to support the film, and a voltage coupler to produce a discharge between the electrodes to perforate the film. A water jet... | 09/04/2001 |
| 6236030 | Method and means for hot-air cutting A method and device for hot-air cutting, wherein compressed air is forced into a hot-air unit in which the compressed air is heated, the hot air is then conducted through a cutting nozzle for hot-air cutting. A compressed-air unit is connected to a hot-ai... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6169260 | Apparatus for melting a needle using an electric current A needle disposal apparatus for melting a needle to be disposed of by passage of electrical current through it, has a guide member having an inlet which permits the needle to be inserted; an upper electrode roller, to which a first voltage is applied, the... | 01/02/2001 |
