Famous Patents
3M employee and church chorister Art Fry needed something to temporarily mark pages in his hymnal. He was in luck because his colleague, Spencer Silver, accidentally developed a glue that was too weak for other purposes. After initially discouraging consumer response, Post-it Notes became a hit in 1979.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8100359 | Intercept system for falling bombs An intercept system for destroying a falling bomb includes a packable structure including a compressed expandable net of break resistant cords, a radio altimeter and a deployment mechanism for expanding and deploying the net below a falling bomb. The system also inc... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8056855 | Missile interceptor with net body The invention describes and claims an apparatus and method of missile interception. The missile interceptor comprises a net body with a plurality of sections and at least one missile trajectory effector. In the preferred variant, the missile trajectory effector is e... | 11/15/2011 |
| 7611094 | Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) deceleration system A system for slowing an air vehicle, including an independently supported aerodynamic drag device designed so that, after contact is made between the flying air vehicle and the aerodynamic drag device, one or more parts of the aerodynamic drag device are carried alo... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7578467 | Methods and apparatuses for indicating and/or adjusting tension in pliant tension members, including aircraft recovery lines Methods and apparatuses for measuring and adjusting tension in pliant tension members, including aircraft recovery lines. A tool for indicating tension in a pliant tension member in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, for example, can include a first su... | 08/25/2009 |
| 7410125 | Robotically assisted launch/capture platform for an unmanned air vehicle An embodiment of the invention is directed to a platform for launching and/or capturing an unmanned air vehicle (UAV), particularly a small UAV. The launch/capture platform includes a frame, a floor attached to the frame that is capable of supporting the UAV, means ... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7354020 | System for use of external secondary payloads An experiment system with six different re-entry experiment locations for testing high temperature re-entry materials, creating new thermal protection systems, proving innovative new concepts for spacecraft exterior surfaces and the incremental development of next g... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7264204 | Unmanned aerial vehicle catcher Launch and recovery of an aerial vehicle by a forwardly moving surface vehicle relies on a winch module having a winch to selectively reel out and reel in a towline and a sensor capable of sensing tension in the towline. A lifting body assembly having a pair of lift... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7219856 | UAV recovery system A UAV capture system is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the UAV capture system is coupled to the deck of a sea-faring vessel. The UAV capture system includes a single arresting line that is supported by a stanchion. In the illustrative embodiment, the sta... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7210873 | Energy absorbing system with support An energy absorbing system. The system includes an anchor, a net mechanically coupled to the anchor, and a support mechanically coupled to the net via a frangible connector, wherein the frangible connector uncouples the support from the net upon application of at le... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7204457 | Barrier net A barrier net (12) across a space defined by the fuselage (6) of an aircraft and a floor (7) of the aircraft comprising a first plurality of parallel lengths (13) orientated in a first direction transverse to a second plurality of paralle... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7201348 | Cruise missile recovery system A cruise missile recovery system, for capturing a flying cruise missile and for guiding the cruise missile to a landing spot. The cruise missile recovery system has an intercept device for capturing the flying cruise missile, a radio-controlled parafoil connected to... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7175135 | Methods and apparatuses for capturing unmanned aircraft and constraining motion of the captured aircraft Methods and apparatuses for capturing and constraining motion of unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured at an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the airc... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7121507 | Methods and apparatuses for capturing and storing unmanned aircraft, including methods and apparatuses for securing the aircraft after capture Methods and apparatuses for capturing, recovering, disassembling, and storing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to capture the aircraft in flight, a process ... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7097137 | Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and pic... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7083357 | Retractable wide-span vehicle barrier system A vehicle barrier system that stops unwanted vehicle intrusion, controls vehicle access, and protects assets and critical infrastructure. The vehicle barrier system, which can span up to 250 feet without requiring fixed intermediate supports, will stop a 15,000 lb v... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7070031 | Apparatus for exerting a resisting force An improved crash attenuator that uses a cable and shock arresting cylinder arrangement to control the rate at which a vehicle impacting the crash attenuator is decelerated to a safe stop is disclosed. The crash attenuator is comprised of a front section and a plura... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7066430 | Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft, including extendable capture devices Methods and apparatuses for capturing and recovering unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be captured at an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a recovery line to retrieve the ai... | 06/27/2006 |
| 6997637 | Deceleration-limiting roadway barrier Roadway barrier system and method are disclosed for decelerating a moving vehicle in a controlled manner and for retaining the decelerated vehicle. A net or mesh of the roadway barrier system receives and captures the moving vehicle. The net or mesh is secured to an... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6981673 | Wear resisting sleeve system for aircraft landing arresting cables The aircraft landing arrest cable has wear resisting sleeves positioned thereon in spaced relation to each other to thereby hold the cable out of contact with a non-skid landing surface in a lowered position of the cable. Stresses imposed on the cable when engaged b... | 01/03/2006 |
| 6948896 | Load restraining device A load restraining device provides a system in which straps extending from one side of a web strap arrangement initially run parallel to the wall to which they are connected, as opposed to extending perpendicular to the wall as in the prior art. The anchor itself is... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6874729 | Launch and recovery system for unmanned aerial vehicles A method of launching and retrieving a UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) (10). The preferred method of launch involves carrying the UAV (10) up to altitude using a parasail (8) similar to that used to carry tourists aloft. The UAV is dropped and pic... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6843613 | Energy absorbing system A heavy duty ground retractable automobile barrier for a railroad crossing. Concrete bunkers are placed at each side of a roadway. An upstanding concrete-filled steel pipe fixed in each bunker has a sleeve for rotational and axial movement. Shock absorbers are mount... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6789979 | Highway safety net A highway safety net for catching and controlling a vehicle travelling towards the opposite direction of traffic comprises netting connected to a lower cable. A first post top is connected to the netting for supporting the netting. A second post top is connected to ... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6779756 | Low-profile brake-in-spool aircraft arresting systems Arresting systems attachable to a tail-hook cable or other device for aircraft arrestment may have a total height of one foot, enabling above-ground installation at the edge of a runway. Arresting tapes are provided on horizontally positioned dual tape spools in a b... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6758440 | Electromagnetic aircraft arrestor system A system and method for electromagnetically arresting an aircraft landing on an undersized runway, as on an aircraft carrier. The system preferably comprises a cross-deck pendant cable coupled to two purchase cables that are wound around low inertia purchase cable s... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6604732 | Airplane crash barrier A barrier, which is intended to intercept a crashing airplane before it reaches a target, comprises an array of spaced towers. Each tower is several hundred feet tall. Each tower comprises a trusswork including three steel tubes, which are filled with a c... | 08/12/2003 |
| 6581875 | Anchoring systems for aircraft arresting nets Anchoring systems for aircraft arresting nets utilize frangible anchor links around lower horizontal straps of each net element of a composite arresting net. Each anchor link may be formed from flexible plastic sheet material, with openings through which ... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6394390 | Hook cable support assembly A hook cable support assembly is arranged to support a hook cable above a runway surface for arrestment of an aircraft having a tail hook. The operating mechanism of the support assembly is mounted to the detachable cover of an enclosure. A cable support ... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6394391 | Landing truck for an aircraft in a forced landing A landing truck for receiving an aircraft in a forced landing constituted with a wheeled vehicle independently driven by front and rear engines and steered synchronously via front and rear steering compartments, a landing frame controllably operative in c... | 05/28/2002 |
| 6264140 | Method for retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft without a runway A method and apparatus for retrieving an aircraft in a confined space involves hanging a cable, for example from a kite or mast, across the aircraft's flight path. The aircraft approaches the cable in steady forward flight, and may strike the cable at any... | 07/24/2001 |
| 6123294 | Airplane barrier net A cargo barrier net (10) for retaining cargo within an aircraft fuselage in the event of a hard landing, crash landing, or in-flight turbulence is provided having a net structure made from Kevlar.RTM. or other materials having a high strength-to-weight ra... | 09/26/2000 |
| 5207302 | Shock absorbing structure for a stretched cable, particularly for cable retaining rock wall fences, rock fill retaining grids or fences, snow fences, and the like To permit absorption of sudden impacts or shock overloads, or gradual overloads, on a cable stretched to retain stones, rocks or snow masses, for example in road or railway cuts, a tube is bent to form an open loop, the end portions of which are held toge... | 05/04/1993 |
| 5092540 | Apparatus for capturing, securing and traversing remotely piloted vehicles and methods therefor A system for capturing a remotely piloted vehicle, the remotely piloted vehicle including a snagging line having a mechanism to be snagged at the end thereof. The system includes a snag mechanism for snagging the line of the remotely piloted vehicle, and ... | 03/03/1992 |
| 5042750 | Aircraft arresting system An apparatus for controlling the rate of deceleration of a moving body. The apparatus has a cable or net for engaging a moving body and tape connected to the cable or net. The tape is wound onto a reel at the start of a deceleration and is unwindable from... | 08/27/1991 |
| 5039034 | Apparatus for capturing, securing and traversing remotely piloted vehicles and methods therefor An RPV, comprising means for engaging a snag line carried as part of a securing system which "snags" means (for example hook) on an RPV and assists the RPV to a safe landing, the snag line extending from a winch unit proximate the proposed landing area of... | 08/13/1991 |
| 4979701 | Aircraft arresting elemental net with multiple independent bottom horizontal straps An elemental net for a multiple element aircraft arresting net system. The elemental net has a single upper horizontal strap, several vertical straps having top ends and bottom ends, and at least two lower horizontal straps. The top ends of the vertical s... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4824049 | Mechanical coupling for tape An improved coupling for connecting an arresting pendant and the woven tape utilized in an aircraft arresting system is provided. The coupling consists of an elongated hollow body having at least one open end and a longitudinal slot which extends into its... | 04/25/1989 |
| 4819915 | Flexible barrier for arresting falling rocks A flexible barrier is provided for arresting falling rocks comprising posts and a rock collecting and arresting net. Each post pivots upon a ground-anchored base plate and is stayed by windbracing cables secured to the top of the post. Two of the cables e... | 04/11/1989 |
| 4817492 | Device for generating transverse force on ballistic missile mock-ups during air tests A device for generating transverse force on a ballistic missile mock-up for air tests by means of an installation including a mock-up launching tube adapted to slant at an angle and a recovery mock-up gantry composed of a support structure for the mock-up... | 04/04/1989 |
| 4809933 | Portable aircraft arresting apparatus Portable aircraft arresting apparatus is comprised of a towable wheeled trailer providing a platform adapted to be anchored along a runway or landing strip and which carries component parts to selectively provide a cable-type or net-type aircraft arrestin... | 03/07/1989 |
