Celebrity Inventors
Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens) received Patent No. 121,992 for "An Improvement in Adjustable and Detachable Straps for Garments." He later received two more patents: one for a self-pasting scrapbook and one for a game to help players remember important historical dates.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8162256 | Launch and capture systems for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicles A launch and capture system for capturing a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle having a thruster and a duct configured to direct airflow generated by the thruster includes a capture plate and an extension. The capture plate is configured to alter the airfl... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8038097 | Vehicle recovery package The present disclosure includes various apparatus, system, and method embodiments for vehicle recovery. One embodiment includes an inflatable member for impact of a vehicle thereon, an inflation source for inflating the inflatable member, and where the inflatable me... | 10/18/2011 |
| 7871037 | Emergency landing apparatus The present invention discloses an apparatus for emergency landing comprising: an extraction vehicle (10), a first adjustable tower and a second adjustable tower (11), a first gearbox (4) wherein said gearbox is mounted on top of said first adju... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7798445 | Systems and methods for recovering and controlling post-recovery motion of unmanned aircraft Systems and methods for recovering unmanned aircraft and controlling post-recovery motion of the aircraft are disclosed herein. An aircraft recovery system for recovering an unmanned aircraft in flight in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, for example... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7568658 | Aircraft emergency landing assist vehicle An aircraft emergency landing assist vehicle for assisting an aircraft during an emergency landing where one or more of the retractable wheels of the aircraft landing gear is damaged, has failed to extend, or is only partially extended from the aircraft wing or fuse... | 08/04/2009 |
| 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 |
| 7391340 | Portable helicopter landing area and use method thereof The invention relates to a portable helicopter landing area and to the use method thereof. The inventive device comprises two cases (1, 2) which can be carried by the person on the ground (X) and which are intended to be disposed on the selected surface or ar... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7344108 | Landing assist apparatus interface bulkhead and method of installation An aircraft landing assist apparatus is designed to be retrofit to existing aircraft having internal constructions that have been modified to support the apparatus. The apparatus is designed so that on rough landings of the aircraft on a ship deck, the apparatus wil... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7334756 | Ground-effect craft and method for the cruising flight thereof The invention relates to flying vehicles. A centre wing is provided with aerodynamic profiles on the longitudinal sections thereof. A cigar-shaped fuselage is arranged on the central wing. A crew cabin and a cargo-passenger cabin are arranged inside the fuselage. Ho... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7261490 | Jet blast resistant vehicle arresting blocks, beds and methods Aircraft arresting beds constructed of cellular concrete at ends of runways may be subject to damaging effects of jet blast phenomena. Arresting units resistant to such effects and related methods are described. A block of compressible material, such as cellular con... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7252266 | Landing assist apparatus eccentric bushing An aircraft landing assist apparatus is designed to be retrofit to existing aircraft having internal constructions that have been modified to support the apparatus. The apparatus is designed so that on rough landings of the aircraft on a ship deck, the apparatus wil... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7198226 | Landing assist apparatus retention strap spool An aircraft landing assist apparatus is designed to be retrofit to existing aircraft having internal constructions that have been modified to support the apparatus. The apparatus is designed so that on rough landings of the aircraft on a ship deck, the apparatus wil... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7143975 | Landing arrangement for an aircraft A landing arrangement for an aircraft comprises an aircraft support assembly (22) to support the aircraft (10) when the aircraft is on the ground. The aircraft support assembly (2) is movable between a first ground engaging condition (22 | 12/05/2006 |
| 7114680 | Methods and apparatuses for launching and capturing unmanned aircraft, including a combined launch and recovery system Methods and apparatuses for launching and capturing unmanned aircraft and other flight devices or projectiles are described. In one embodiment, the aircraft can be launched from an apparatus that includes an extendable boom. The boom can be extended to deploy a reco... | 10/03/2006 |
| 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 |
| 7093790 | Mooring facility for tethered gas balloon A mooring facility for a tethered gas balloon comprises a building structure containing a hemispherical basin capable of receiving the lower portion of an inflated lighter-than-air gas balloon for mooring the balloon. The surface of the bowl structure is complementa... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7051826 | Surface effect skimmer A surface effects skimmer vehicle generates a downward air flow into a tunnel under a main hull to lift the main hull off an adjacent surface, and rearward air flows for thrust. The air flows are generated by ducted fans or jet engines, and directed to the rear and/... | 05/30/2006 |
| 6971817 | Jet blast resistant vehicle arresting blocks, beds and methods Aircraft arresting beds constructed of cellular concrete at ends of runways may be subject to damaging effects of jet blast phenomena. Arresting units resistant to such effects are described. A block of compressible material, such as cellular concrete, provides comp... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6695255 | Emergency aircraft landing system An emergency aircraft landing system for absorbing the impact from an aircraft landing under emergency conditions includes a plurality of wheeled segments coupled into a line, a steerable head unit, a drive means, each segment having a base support plate ... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6685387 | Jet blast resistant vehicle arresting blocks, beds and methods Aircraft arresting beds constructed of cellular concrete at ends of runways may be subject to damaging effects of jet blast phenomena. Arresting units resistant to such effects are described. A block of compressible material, such as cellular concrete, pr... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6540179 | In-flight loadable and refuelable unmanned aircraft system for continuous flight A method for refueling and reloading an unmanned aircraft for continuous flight is disclosed herein wherein the unmanned aircraft is maintained and supported by a support aircraft. Both aircraft maintain cargo bays and in-flight operable doors located on ... | 04/01/2003 |
| 6527226 | Flight deck handling system for landed aircraft A remotely controlled movably powered shuttle frame has foundation pads attached thereto at all four corner portions for separating skid pads of a helicopter from the flight deck of a marine vessel, wherein both the skid pads and the fight deck are outfit... | 03/04/2003 |
| 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 |
| 6371410 | Emergency landing impact absorbing system for aircraft Inflation of impact absorbing bags is effected on a portable platform positioned on an emergency landing zone after jettisoning of damaged landing gear from a helicopter fuselage. The impact absorbing bags when inflated form a cradle shape conforming to t... | 04/16/2002 |
| 6230643 | Cell-combined large size sea surface vehicle and airplane takeoff/landing platform A large size sea surface vehicle is combined by a large number of cells that are distributed along two horizontal dimensions on sea surface. Connections of the cells are elastic and flexible to prevent destructive stress. Its power system comprises a larg... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6092763 | Aircraft crash damage limitation system A runway (21) is used to retrieve aircraft from the skies. During an emergency landing (57), an aircraft crash damage limitation system is deployed from a heated underground storage area (12, 22 and encircled H). A pair of parallel guide tracks (52) lift ... | 07/25/2000 |
| 6079668 | Portable helipad A portable helipad adapted for use in rough terrain and for transport in a fully assembled state by a helicopter. A deck is supported by legs depending from the deck. Leg braces extending from the legs connect to brackets within an associated zone of atta... | 06/27/2000 |
| 5667167 | Methods and apparatus for reusable launch platform and reusable spacecraft A reusable single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft and a reusable launch assist platform provide a new system for space transportation. The platform has a frame with a cradle for supporting the spacecraft. Rocket engines attached to the launch assist platform pr... | 09/16/1997 |
| 5592159 | Control system for a flight vehicle A control system includes at least one guiding device including a long range guiding water jet generator having a plurality of first nozzles each projecting a jet of water upwardly and a first illumination apparatus projecting a plurality of beams of ligh... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5577687 | Portable helicopter landing pad A portable helicopter landing pad especially suitable for deployment on an unprepared surface comprises a number of perforated metal mats which on being joined at their edges define a heliport of predetermined size and shape. Dual-purpose connectors relea... | 11/26/1996 |
| 5560568 | Recovery system and method for capturing and securing an air vehicle to landing platform Apparatus and method for recovering and arresting an aircraft on a floating platform is disclosed. The aircraft has a fuselage, a wing, and a source of propulsion for propelling the aircraft in flight. During landing approach, an inflatable cushion attach... | 10/01/1996 |
| 5527000 | Duplex complementary carrier A duplex complementary carrier includes a flight vehicle floating above the ground, a control system moving on the ground for controlling movement of the flight vehicle, and a connecting system connecting between the control system and the flight vehicle.... | 06/18/1996 |
| 5470033 | Method for controlling a carrier which is used to carry a flight vehicle A method is provided for controlling a carrier which is used to carry a flight vehicle, the method including (a) providing a carrier and a control system mounted on a lower side thereof; (b) sending a signal to a flight vehicle to decrease a velocity ther... | 11/28/1995 |
| 5170966 | Safety device for an emergency landing of an aircraft A safety device for an emergency landing of an aircraft has a runaway. A unit for retarding the speed of the aircraft is mounted in the runway and includes a plurality of rows of juxtaposed rotary bearing members, each of which is provided with a friction... | 12/15/1992 |
| 5143323 | Airship handling system An airship handling system is disclosed. The airship handling system of the invention includes a platform which rests upon a circular track, such that the platform may be aligned with the wind in order to facilitate the handling of a suitably equipped air... | 09/01/1992 |
| 5000398 | Flying multi-purpose aircraft carrier and method of V/STOL assisted flight The Flying Multi-Purpose Aircraft Carrier (FMPAC) comprises a runway body which is provided with V/STOL capability by at least two rotary wings, located outside the two lateral ends of the runway body in a side-by-side configuration. The rotary wings are,... | 03/19/1991 |
| 4834321 | Articulated heliport pad An articulated heliport pad in which the pilot controls the rotation of a central disk for last minute changes in wind direction as well as the operation of a unique hold-down device.... | 05/30/1989 |
| 4744529 | System and method for recovery of disabled aircraft A system for the recovery of aircraft comprises a large net having sufficient length and width to accommodate an aircraft in its landing mode in water having floats around its periphery for supporting it in a body of water for receiving and supporting an ... | 05/17/1988 |
| 4700912 | Laser illumination system for aircraft launch and landing system A giant column of air is employed to assist in the vertical take-off and landing of an aircraft. The column of air is forced through movable louvers which steer the aircraft on the air column. A pressure differential occurs on top of the air column so as ... | 10/20/1987 |
| 4669683 | Moveable safety railing A pivotable safety railing for a platform such as a helicopter landing pad is disclosed. The safety railing includes a suitable hand railing of sufficient height to protect a person on the landing pad, and mounted on a pivot shaft extending along an edge ... | 06/02/1987 |
