Did You Know...
...that Thomas Edison's patent application on his phonograph was approved by the Patent Office in just seven weeks? In contrast, it took Gordon Gould, the inventor of the laser, 30 years to obtain his patent -- finally awarded in 1988!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8070105 | Inflatable nested toroid structure An inflatable structure comprises at least two generally toroidal, inflatable modules. When in a deployed mode, the first, inner module has a major diameter less than that of a second, outer module and is positioned within the inner circumference of the outer module... | 12/06/2011 |
| 7740203 | Control device for deployment of inflatable structures The invention relates to a device for controlling the deployment of an inflatable structure including, in the non-deployed state, a flexible tube (12) which is folded in zigzags and fixed to one end of a plug (13) provided with a buoyant gas admission ... | 06/22/2010 |
| 7614586 | Method of traveling to Earth's orbit using lighter than air vehicles A method for transporting people and cargo from the surface of the Earth to orbit around the Earth is disclosed. The present invention uses a series of lighter-than-air vehicles to allow for a far safer and less strenuous trip to orbit than using current rocket-base... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7377783 | Modular human habitat simulator A modular human habitat simulator for providing an environment on Earth that approximates, in a controlled test situation, a number of conditions expected to exist when an inflatable modular habitat is deployed into Earth orbit. The simulator has a housing with a ri... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7309049 | Orbital debris shield An orbital debris shield for protecting the hull of a spacecraft. The shield is comprised of a number of flexible and releasably attached gores that substantially cover the hull. Interleafed between layers of the gores are layers of a spacing material. As debris col... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7295884 | System and method of designing a load bearing layer of an inflatable vessel A computer-implemented method is provided for designing a restraint layer of an inflatable vessel. The restraint layer is inflatable from an initial uninflated configuration to an inflated configuration and is constructed from a plurality of interfacing longitudinal... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7219859 | Multipurpose modular spacecraft A reentry vehicle includes a nose section, a modular section comprised of two or more connected modules, a flared section. The nose section is connected to a first end of the modular section, and the flared section is positioned proximate a second end of the modular... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7204460 | Orbital debris shield An orbital debris shield for protecting the hull of a spacecraft is claimed. The shield is comprised of a number of flexible and releasably attached gores that substantially cover the hull. Interleafed between layers of the gores are layers of a spacing material. As... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7195206 | Apparatus and method for servicing and inspecting small free-flying platforms in orbit in space A small, substantially spherical, free-flying utility platform for use in space can be docked, inspected and serviced in an apparatus including a container with a chamber therein mounted on the outside of a space vehicle or space station. A motorized closing mechani... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7100874 | Flexible structural restraint layer for use with an inflatable modular structure A flexible structural restraint layer for use with an inflatable modular structure, having a fore and aft assembly separated by a longeron and an inflatable bladder. The restraint layer is comprised of two circumferential strap assemblies, each attachedly fastened a... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7102590 | Portable telescoping line-of-sight array antenna An antenna (100) includes an array of telescoping elements (402a–d) connected to and by a conductive disk (404) that feeds a signal to the elements (402a–d) from a matching circuit (506) within a body section (... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7093804 | Foldable and deployable assembly of elements mounted on board a spacecraft According to invention, said elements (1.1 to 1.n) are secured to the same side (3) of a flexible inflatable mattress (4) and, when said elements are in the folded state, said mattress (4) is in the deflated state and is fol... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7073749 | High altitude reconnaissance vehicle An airship deployment system comprises an airship of unique shape having laminar flow over this shape to enable low power propulsion, capable remote control, comprising an inflatable body; a propeller assembly for station keeping and repositioning said airship and c... | 07/11/2006 |
| 6974109 | Apparatus for sealing and restraining the flexible pressure boundary of an inflatable spacecraft The present invention provides a sealing and restraint apparatus to establish a pressure boundary for inflatable or expandable spacecraft. The apparatus is capable of connecting the flexible pressure boundary of an inflatable spacecraft to the rigid structure of the... | 12/13/2005 |
| 4730797 | Inflatable core orbital construction method and space station An economical method for constructing large continuous-walled structures in orbit is presented. In this method a lightweight, non-elastic, topologically closed inflatable surface with thin flexible walls is transported to orbit where it is inflated to for... | 03/15/1988 |
| 4166597 | Stowable and inflatable vehicle A stowable and inflatable vehicle, adapted for use as a decoy space vehicle and as a replica of a relatively hot parent space vehicle. In addition to other components, the inventive decoy and replica vehicle includes: a telescoping central tubular member ... | 09/04/1979 |
