William F. Semple, a dentist, was awarded the first US Patent on chewing gum in 1869. His recipe contained powdered chalk.
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 |
| 7313848 | Canopy release buckle with dual action release lever A dual action canopy release for releasably holding a parachute harness securement strap in a buckle. The canopy release may be activated by a forward movement of a lever arm or a rearward movement of the lever arm. The lever arm cooperates with an actuating lever h... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7305824 | Power-off hold element A power-off hold element for operating in cooperation with an actuator is disclosed. The power-off hold element comprises a material having selectively adjustable rigidity wherein a position or shape of said material is adjustable when energy is applied to increase ... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7263749 | Non-inertial release safety restraint belt buckle system Body restraint systems for vehicles that include buckles for latching and retaining latch plates associated with safety belts. The buckle of each system includes a pair of oppositely biased latching mechanisms that are operative in such a manner that a force applied... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7261338 | Single actuator power close latch mechanism with failsafe A latch mechanism includes a claw rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, and an actuator motor. A toggle link that includes a first end, a second end, and a joint between the first end and the second end of the toggle link has one end attach... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7162978 | Retractable leash assembly with a quick connect coupling assembly A retractable leash assembly structured to facilitate quick connection of at least one animal to at least one lead interconnected at a proximal end to an activation assembly and to a quick connect coupling assembly at a distal end. The quick connect coupling assembl... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7144037 | Safety device A safety device is disclosed which is configured to be actuated by the supply of gas. The safety device incorporates an outlet vent pipe which is sealed by a releasable clip. The releasable clip has a first elongate main gripping element and a second elongate moveab... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7044151 | Piston-activated valve and methods and apparatus for restraining free play in a device Apparatus and methods for fitting mechanical parts to minimize prevent free play are described. An apparatus having a piston is designed so as to restrain the piston before actuation, and so as to allow the piston to gain momentum before striking an object. The desc... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7013538 | Electroactive polymer releasable fastening system and method of use A releasable fastening system for retaining two surfaces at each other or disengaging the two surfaces from each other comprises a first electrode disposed at a first surface, a second electrode disposed at a second surface, and a polymer film disposed between the f... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6973701 | Releasable fastening system based on ionic polymer metal composites and method of use A releasable fastening system comprises a knob portion comprising a knob element, a cavity portion comprising a cavity configured to receive the knob element, and an ionic polymer metal composite actuator disposed at the knob element. The ionic polymer metal composi... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6942185 | Pneumatic riser release An automated quick release mechanism for a three ring release includes a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder with a hardened metal pin. The pin engages a string loop of the three ring release. An internal spring holds the pin in an extended position. A controller extern... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6910361 | Coupling device A coupling device for releaseably securing together two objects. The coupling device comprises a first housing securable to a first object, a second housing securable to a second object, and an actuator secured to the first housing. The second housing has a hollow b... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6763557 | Buckle with a buckle release system A buckle including a buckle release system for releasing a parachute canopy from a harness. The buckle comprises a lock lever, a manual release lever, a spring biased catch, and a latch positioned in a frame. A slide member is provided. The slide member operates to ... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6357091 | Latch sensing seat belt buckle An apparatus includes a lockable element (16) and a buckle (12). The buckle (12) includes a base (28) that defines a passage (32) into which the lockable element (16) is insertable, and a latch (42) movable to lock the lockable element against movement in... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6205629 | Latch sensing seatbelt buckle A ferromagnetic latch (42) is moveable from a first position to a second position in which the latch locks a lockable element (16) against movement in a passage (22) in a buckle (12). The buckle (12) also includes a switch (60) which includes a ferromagne... | 03/27/2001 |
| 6123166 | Release apparatus for a seat belt buckle A buckle release apparatus (42) includes a seat belt buckle (36) which may be mounted in a vehicle. The buckle (36) is operable to receive and retain a buckle tongue (28) within the buckle (36). A sensor (56), which senses a vehicle emergency condition, i... | 09/26/2000 |
| 6000110 | Buckle for safety belts in vehicles A buckle for safety belts in vehicles comprises a load bearing housing in which an insertion path for receiving an insert tongue is formed. A movable latch is mounted on the housing. A casing is provided which surrounds the housing. The casing is provided... | 12/14/1999 |
| 5970587 | Seat belt buckle A buckle for receiving and locking a tongue connected to a vehicle safety belt, the buckle comprising: a locking element for locking a tongue to the buckle; a sensor to sense locking of the tongue to the buckle; and an indicator arrangement actuable by an... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5941337 | Anti-theft seat belt A seat belt arrangement selectively enables vehicle drivability when a buckle member carried on a restraint belt is engaged with a mounted buckle receiving mechanism. The buckle member is removable from the restraint belt, and may be hidden or carried on ... | 08/24/1999 |
| 5857247 | Buckle system for manual or automatic release of crew member harness from parachute A buckle system for release of a crew member's harness from a parachute. The buckle system has a frame which holds the harness. A tang assembly holds the parachute strap and snaps into the frame. The tang assembly is held by a latch which pivots between a... | 01/12/1999 |
| 5857246 | Liquid activated buckle release mechanism The present invention is directed to a liquid activated buckle release mechanism for safety belt harnesses and restraint devices used in moving crafts such as airplanes, boats, land based vehicles and the like. The buckle includes a latch for receiving an... | 01/12/1999 |
| 5815895 | Remote control latch system A latch system for joining a first strap section or section of flexible support to a second strap section or section of flexible support. Attached to the second strap section is a rod that is adapted for insertion into the latch system, and for releasing ... | 10/06/1998 |
| 5749130 | Child-proof seat belt buckle assembly A locking seat belt buckle assembly is configured for placement and operation within a standard seat belt buckle and tongue. In one embodiment, the seat belt buckle includes a latch that engages the tongue and a latch release plate to disengage the latch ... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5742986 | Seat belt buckle with hall effect locking indicator and method of use A seat belt buckle (12) includes a latch mechanism (20) and a Hall effect assembly (26). The latch mechanism (20) releasably interlocks with a seat belt tongue (16). The Hall effect assembly (26) has a first output if the seat belt tongue (16) is not inte... | 04/28/1998 |
| 5692275 | Remotely actuatable clasp and method A remotely actuatable clasp responsive to photonic energy beams is provided. The clasp has a housing that defines a longitudinally extending latch cavity with a latch window. A photonic receiver circuit converts received photonic energy into an electrical... | 12/02/1997 |
| 5435046 | Automatic buckling device A tongue includes a tongue base which can project therefrom. A solenoid at the forward end of a buckle attracts a tongue face plate. After the tongue base is inserted into the buckle, the tongue base is drawn deep into the buckle by the pawl portion of a ... | 07/25/1995 |
| 5375304 | Automatic buckling device An automatic buckling device comprising a tongue attached to a seat belt and a buckle for latching the tongue. The tongue includes a cover case, a tongue plate which can project from the forward end of the cover case, a spring for urging the tongue plate ... | 12/27/1994 |
| 5359756 | Automatic buckling device A tongue includes a tongue base which can project therefrom and a tongue face plate at the forward end thereof. A buckle includes a solenoid provided at the forward end so as to attract the tongue face plate. After the tongue base is inserted into the buc... | 11/01/1994 |
| 5353482 | Releasable latching apparatus with an electrical engagement monitoring means A releasable latching apparatus having a monitoring means for electrically indicating whether the latching apparatus is in the engaged or disengaged positions. The apparatus includes a main housing with a tab member selectively engageable therewith. A tri... | 10/11/1994 |
| 5313690 | Buckle pretensioner for seat belt systems A buckle pretensioner for a seat belt system includes a support member on which a buckle is mounted for movement generally downwardly from a normal upper position to a pretensioning lower position in which pretension is applied to the seat belt. A rotary ... | 05/24/1994 |
| 5274890 | Seat belt tongue retaining device A seat belt tongue retaining device which comprises a buckle unit having an insertion passage into which a tongue is inserted, and a latch pawl capable of getting into and out of the insertion passage. A tongue has a latch hole for allowing the latch pawl... | 01/04/1994 |
| 5218746 | Buckle of a seat belt device A buckle of a seat belt device, for securing a tongue of the seat belt device, comprises: an insertion path into which the tongue is inserted; and a latch unit, provided in the insertion path, for hindering a removal of the tongue. An engaging device whic... | 06/15/1993 |
| 5205665 | Fitting release utilizing bolt action An aviator harness fitting includes a releasable member secured to a buckle member by means of a movable bolt. A pressure inlet is provided to enable translational motion of the bolt in the manner of a piston. When actuated, the bolt moves to a release po... | 04/27/1993 |
| 5182836 | Pressure activated seat belt locking mechanism A pressure activated seat belt locking device is disclosed for allowing an operator from a remote location to control the locking or unlocking of seat belts such as those used on amusement park type rides, or elsewhere. The seat belt locking device has a ... | 02/02/1993 |
| 5095595 | Actuator for restraint/release (R/R) devices, particularly for space applications A strip of copper-based shape memory alloy is used as an actuator element in a restraint/release device (R/R) for a deployment mechanism particularly for space applications; the strip heated by a resistance bends and acts on a lever of a latch means to di... | 03/17/1992 |
| 5029368 | Release mechanism A mechanism for releasing one member from another. A piston is disposed partially in the bore of one member and partially in the bore of the other member to bridge the gap therebetween for maintaining attachment thereof. The piston is responsive to a prop... | 07/09/1991 |
| 4964199 | Securing arrangement A security arrangement for grooved shafts or bolts uses a plurality of toothed collet members held in securing abutment by a cap member. The cap member is held in position by a displaceable chock member. The chock member is readily displaceable such that ... | 10/23/1990 |
| 4944629 | Quick change tool holder A quick change tool holder including two basic component assemblies, the first component assembly having a central boss portion and the second component assembly having a recess to receive the boss portion when the two component assemblies are attached to... | 07/31/1990 |
| 4920619 | Safety belt with integrated lock release A pin of a retracting or ejecting pyrotechnical power element preferably mounted on the side of a belt lock facing away from the engaged belt is connected to a trigger key in such a way that, upon initiation of the charge of the pyrotechnical power elemen... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4903382 | Pressure armed release device A mechanical release of an object occurs after a release device is subjec to a first pressure and then is brought to a second pressure which is less than the first. The first pressure enables or arms the device so that its actuation or release takes plac... | 02/27/1990 |
| 4902156 | Mounting device for image cylinders An apparatus is disclosed on the basis whereof the image cylinders seated in cantilevered fashion in drum scanners can be mounted in the scanner in a short time running centrally regardless of the dexterity of the operator. This thus enables the preparati... | 02/20/1990 |