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 |
| 7258297 | Reel assembly for a venetian blind A reel assembly includes a bracket and a reel pivotally received in the bracket. The bracket has a slanted face formed on a top face of the sidewall to be adjacent to the cutout for facilitating receiving of the extensions in the cutouts. A supporting arm is formed ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7210645 | Safety element retention reel A safety element retention system having a reel upon which a safety element or strap may be wound, a spring return mechanism, for rewinding the reel and retrieving the safety strap, and further having at least one locking plate, connected integrally with the reel, w... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7210646 | Cord seat assembly A cord seat assembly includes a seat, a spool rotatably supported by the seat, and a cord. The seat includes an end wall and a through-hole in a bottom thereof. The cord extends through the through-hole of the seat. The cord is wound around the spool and includes an... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7032854 | Cord shortener A cord shortening device includes a housing having a first portion and a second portion. One of the portions includes a post configured to windably receive a first section of a length of cord. At least one of the portions has an opening at one end for mating second ... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7021583 | Reel housing with decorative access panel A reel housing enclosing a reel assembly includes an access panel, wherein opening or removal of the access panel allows access to the interior of the housing. The exterior surface of the access panel is decorated with facial indicia so that the access panel resembl... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7017603 | Hose reel cart with tray constructed from plastic and metal structural components The present invention relates to portable hose reel carts for handling and storage of large lengths of flexible hoses, such as garden or air hoses. The cart is constructed of plastic and steel components having a centrally rotatable spool for winding of the flexible... | 03/28/2006 |
| 6905088 | Cable-winder device The invention provides a cable-winder device comprising first and second hinged-together portions, the second portion having a housing for a cable winder. In an in-use position, the device is self-supporting can be used as a stool, for example. A liftable hatch can ... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6834668 | Device and a method for supplying conditioned air to an aircraft The present invention generally relates to a device and a method for supplying conditioned air for heating and/or cooling to an aircraft. More specifically, the present invention provides a hose in a container and a retractor. The retractor may engage the hose and p... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6758314 | Portable light reel system A portable light reel system holding electro-luminescent (EL) wire and self-contained electronics, providing a stand-alone and self-contained light reel. The rotatably mounted cylindrical hub about which the EL wire is wound accommodates a battery and inverter. A wa... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6745971 | Spooling device for an optical fiber jumper cable A spooling device for storing and dispensing a cable. The device can store and deploy an optical jumper cable without exposure of excess cable cordage and without tangling. ... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6446900 | Mud flap retraction device A retractable mud flap assembly for a motor vehicle consisting of two side plates connected by rods upon which are fitted rollers such that the assembly forms a cage in which the mud flap is rolled when in the retracted position and the machinery necessar... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6182916 | Measuring tape dispenser with an impact buffer housing and tentative tape halting means A measuring tape dispenser with an impact buffer housing and tentative tape halting device, in which the housing is at least or partially covered with an impact buffer layer formed of an elastic material so as to protect the housing from being deformed or... | 02/06/2001 |
| 6076755 | Device for moving a spooled stack of optical fibers A device is provided for moving a plurality of fibers parallel to a spooling axis around which the fibers are spooled. The device can include a plurality of lifters adapted to be disposed beneath at least a bottom-most fiber from the plurality of fibers a... | 06/20/2000 |
| 6003804 | Enhanced storage system for electrical appliances, powercords and adapters A storage system for organizing, handling and storing small electrical appliances with powercords and adapters, in an orderly and efficient manner for ease of access, and especially for handling and storing loose powercords. The system comprises a powerco... | 12/21/1999 |
| 5992787 | Cord reel and storage device A cord storage device is provided which allows the simultaneous winding and unwinding of both halves of a cord while maintaining both cord ends in position for use and the device also permits unwinding of the cord from the storage device while one cord en... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5983836 | Multi-functional retractable pet leash apparatus A multi-functional retractable pet leash comprising a housing having integrally formed therewith a handle wherein the housing houses therein a first spooling mechanism which spools a flexible leash member for tethering an animal and a second spooling mech... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5975454 | Strap winder A hand held strap winder has an oval, planar base with a hand grip, a hub on which the strap is wound and a strap guide aligned on the major axis of the oval base.... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5947450 | Manual swivel winch with open bottom A manual swivel winch is pivotally attached to a D-ring of a barge deck, boat deck or the like. The manual swivel winch includes a pair of spaced side plates defining a substantially open bottom, a drum rotatably supported between the side plates, and a r... | 09/07/1999 |
| 5727745 | Enhanced storage system for electrical appliances, powercords and adapters A storage system for organizing, handling and storing small electrical appliances with powercords and adapters, in an orderly and efficient manner for ease of access, and especially for handling and storing loose powercords. The system comprises a powerco... | 03/17/1998 |
| 5645129 | Fire extinguisher dispenser A dispenser reel assembly for automatically dispensing a fire extinguisher upon activation. This dispenser reel assembly is typically supported from an overhead support well above the floor, thereby protecting the fire extinguisher from damage and/or thef... | 07/08/1997 |
| 5628341 | Mounting assembly for flexible tubing The invention relates to a mounting assembly for retaining a length of flexible tubing in ready communication with a source of liquid. The assembly provides for the use of a reel portion which retains the flexible tubing and a mounting portion which suppo... | 05/13/1997 |
| 5591524 | Device for the laying of yarn on a cross-wound bobbin The invention relates to a yarn guidance rod and to a device for the laying of a yarn on a cross-wound bobbin in a textile machine. A plurality of winding stations installed next to each other is serviced by a yarn guidance rod made of a carbon fiber rein... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5566898 | Hose storage system A hose storage system comprising a cylindrical core with opposed ends and a central hose supporting extent therebetween; a bracket having a centrally disposed horizontal central component and vertically disposed end components with apertures rotatably rec... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5513816 | Line flaking system A dual pivoted hook line stowing or flaking system is provided for storing coiled line either vertically as on a mast or horizontally as on a deck, in which both of the hooks contain tabs rotatable in a plane parallel to the plane of the loops from outwar... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5402814 | Hose storage and reel assembly and method A reel assembly for storing, coiling, and decoiling a flexible elongate member, such as a water hose, includes a stationary base and an enclosure rotatably mounted relative to the stationary base. The hose enclosure is designed such that the coiled hose c... | 04/04/1995 |
| 5335687 | Hose storage and reel assembly and method A reel assembly for storing, coiling, and decoiling a flexible elongate member, such as a water hose, includes a stationary base and an enclosure rotatably mounted relative to the stationary base. The hose enclosure is designed such that the coiled hose c... | 08/09/1994 |
| 5279468 | Bowden-cable window-lifter drive for vehicles A bowden-cable window-lifter drive including a cable reel in a covered housing. The reel is provided at its end face with drive pins and a coupling component connected to it so as to rotate jointly with a crank bolt engaging between the drive pins. The dr... | 01/18/1994 |
| 5265369 | Floating jug fishing device A device for use in a jug fishing apparatus has a closure lid portion adapted to be securable onto a male threaded lip of a conventional wide-mouth plastic jar. A spool portion forwardly emergent from the closure lid portion and having axial and radial bo... | 11/30/1993 |
| 5104056 | Motor assembly A motor assembly useful for rotating a drum comprising: a hub adapted to be removably secured to the drum so that the drum rotates in response to rotation of the hub, the hub including a first outer surface adapted to face toward the drum and a second out... | 04/14/1992 |
| 5056698 | Electric cord holder for automotive vehicle A relatively simple carrier for an electrical extension cord and a license plate includes a rectangular casing with an open front end, a spool slidably mounted in the open front end of the casing for movement between a closed position in which the spool i... | 10/15/1991 |
| 4998680 | Webbing drive apparatus for a seat belt system A webbing drive apparatus for a seat belt system which is adapted to fasten a webbing, that is retained by a wire, around a seat occupant of a vehicle or cancelling the application thereof by taking up the wire onto an outer periphery of a rotating drum o... | 03/12/1991 |
| 4969610 | Rope rewinding device for a ski boat An automatic ski rope rewinding device is presented used to rewind a ski rope when the rope is not pulling a skier. The invention utilizes a standard rope or cord rewinding mechanism which is mounted by L-shaped brackets to the body of the boat. The rewin... | 11/13/1990 |
| 4961544 | Cable tensioner with a winding drum for a ski boot A cable tensioner comprising a winding drum (2) driveable in rotation by means of a handle (12) by the agency of a pinion (10) meshing with a gear wheel (7). The pinion (10) forms part of a non-return device (13, 14). Pressure on the handle (12) releases ... | 10/09/1990 |
| 4955250 | Multiple forearm robotic elbow configuration A dual forearmed robotic elbow configuration comprises a main arm having a double elbow from which two coplanar forearms depend, two actuators carried in the double elbow for moving the forearms, and separate, independent end effectors, operated by a cabl... | 09/11/1990 |
| 4826098 | Brake, particularly for the locking of tensioning elements provided in ski boots Brake, particularly for the locking of tensioning elements provided on ski boots, constituted by an arm eccentrically pivoted to a containment body and having a curved portion engaging the groove of a pulley adapted to wind a traction element such as a ca... | 05/02/1989 |
| 4773612 | Wading tagline reel A lightweight plastic reel for retaining and dispensing tagline used in the measurement of small wadable streams and rivers is disclosed which comprises an outer plastic casing, a hollow plastic handle connected to the casing capable of receiving a suppor... | 09/27/1988 |
| 4757838 | Fire hose reel An improved swivel fire hose reel is particularly suitable for use with fire safety equipment for industrial installations. A reel having a substantially vertical axis is pivotably mounted on a base, enabling the reel to rotate 360° and allow the hose to... | 07/19/1988 |
| 4727897 | Stabilizing bracket for an awning of a recreational vehicle A stabilizing bracket automatically secures a rolled awning of a recreational vehicle, and automatically releases the awning for its unrolled deployment. The bracket prevents the rolled awning from sagging and rattling against the sidewall of the vehicle ... | 03/01/1988 |
| 4603481 | Bumper indicator A bumper indicator is disclosed which is adapted to be used on the tape rule of a measuring tool. The bumper indicator is a one piece resilient member having front and rear surfaces and a transverse slit whose configuration is selected to be generally com... | 08/05/1986 |
| 4578867 | Spring coilable top reading rule with improved guide structure for coilable blade A top reading power return rule has a shock-absorbing rib adjacent the spool, to prevent kinking upon retraction of the blade. The rib is positioned so as to be normally out of contact with the blade, but to intercept the blade when engagement of the hook... | 04/01/1986 |
