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 |
| 7942393 | Angle adjusting device and display module testing apparatus using the same An exemplary device (27) for adjusting angle of a base plate (2710) includes: two side walls (21) being parallel to and spaced apart from each other, each of the side walls including a pivot hole (217); a base plate disposed between the t... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7686287 | Method and device for positioning a workpiece A device for positioning a workpiece includes a socket body rotatably held on a metallic ball by an array of permanent magnets arranged into a partial socket. An air delivery system controls a flow of air passing between the magnets and the ball to alter the frictio... | 03/30/2010 |
| 7341017 | Hydraulically locked boat accessory mounting device An apparatus for a hydraulically locked accessory mounting device for attaching accessories to a boat, or vessel. The mounting device includes a base for attaching to the boat and a ball head that is attached to an accessory, which can be moved to a selected positio... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7337483 | Surgical positioning apparatus A surgical positioning apparatus can be secured to a floor of an operating room or directly to an operating room table. The surgical positioning apparatus supports a limb of a patient using a telescoping strut mounted on a spherical joint. A disposable cradling devi... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7300043 | Rotating positioning vise A rotating positioning vise for use in hand working operations. The positioning mechanism utilizes a permanent magnet that is lifted off the surface of a turntable by the means of a lever. The user pushes on the lever, moves the vise in the position desired and then... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7290760 | Rotating, positioning and tilting mechanism with cam locks A locking positioning mechanism utilizing cam locks. The invention provides lever operated cam locking mechanisms for locking a rotating, tilting and positioning vise. ... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7248941 | Automatic programming method and device An automatic programming method includes a first processing including detecting a turning surface having a largest diameter in the product model, and determining a central axis of rotation on the turning surface detected as a turning axis of the product model; a sec... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7241070 | Pivot joint A pivot joint has a first structure comprising a ball mounted in a receptacle, wherein the location of the ball is held with respect to the receptacle, and a second structure mounted on and movable with respect to the ball, wherein the second structure has at least ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7222403 | Pad gripping and removal apparatuses Apparatuses and methods for gripping a pad are disclosed. ... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7169346 | Rotating inertial pin blank stops for pressware die sets In an apparatus for manufacturing pressware containers from container blanks there is provided a plurality of inertial blank stop pins disposed so as to position a container blank prior to press forming. The stop pins are rotatable in order to absorb the kinetic ene... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7165762 | Electronic soldering aid An apparatus for holding and positioning a work piece in a desired position includes a hand-operated clamp for securing the apparatus to a fixed support, such as a table or workbench, a flexible, multi-segmented arm having one end secured to the hand-operated clamp ... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7127323 | Automatic programming method and device An automatic programming method includes a first processing including detecting a turning surface having a largest diameter in the product model, and determining a central axis of rotation on the turning surface detected as a turning axis of the product model; a sec... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7111836 | Universal work positioning device The present invention is a workpiece positioner comprising a spherical ball having an aperture, a upper spherical dome housing having a groove through the housing beginning at the apex of the dome and extending down the side of the housing to approximately 90 degree... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7073952 | Stable mechanical devices for precision optical alignment and packaging An optical alignment device holds fiber collimators in place with extremely good mechanical and environmental stability. The device includes a ball with a hole traversing the ball, an upper clamping block with a first inner concave spherical surface and a lower clam... | 07/11/2006 |
| 6904664 | Work-piece positioner and method A positioner includes a cantilever arm that defines a first axis and has a first end and a second end. A support arm defines a second axis and has a first end and a second end. The support arm is attached to the cantilever arm second end. A mounting head engages the... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6799755 | Non-distortion clamp A clamp for gripping a part or workpiece is provided in which the arms of the clamp securely engage the part before being locked in place relative to the body of the clamp. The clamp includes a body and first and second arms extending from the body. The clamp furthe... | 10/05/2004 |
| 6698738 | Multi-direction swivel vise A multi-position swivel vise includes a base structure and a generally spherical vise ball which is movably and rotatably supported on the base structure. A crown is mounted on the base structure above the vise ball, and a jack device such as an hydraulic... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6641323 | Spherical locking device A cylindrical body has a first part-spherical socket portion in the top, fittingly receiving a ball. A ball retainer has a second part-spherical socket portion facing the first part-spherical socket portion and receiving the ball therein. A post has a pro... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6578801 | Gripper mounting bracket A gripper or workpiece holder mounting bracket includes a center element and a pair of opposite end elements which are connectable to the center element via one or more fasteners. The mounting bracket defines a generally circular opening between the cente... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6575443 | Swivel-base work-manipulating platform A swivel-base work platform is disclosed that comprises a hemisphere unit rotatably disposed within a base unit, wherein a work piece is secured to a work surface of the hemisphere unit and is manipulated to a variety of positions. The swivel-base work pl... | 06/10/2003 |
| 6505825 | Universal work holder arrangement A work holder support arm for supporting a work article at a desired orientation with respect to a support structure is provided with a first clamp (12) having clamped and unclamped states for coupling with the support structure. The first clamp (12) has ... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6502808 | Vacuum cup with precision hard stop A method and apparatus for holding a part on a fixture in a precisely known predetermined position includes pressing a surface of the part against a vacuum head and sealing an annular elastomeric sealing ring against the part surface. A valve button of a ... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6371425 | Articulated mechanism A joint for an articulated mechanism includes a housing and a rotatable member within the housing. There is a friction member mounted on the housing between the housing and the rotatable member. There is a spring normally biasing the friction member again... | 04/16/2002 |
| 6364299 | Vacuum holding apparatus A vacuum holding apparatus with at least one base and a suction unit supported by the base, on which the workpiece to be held can be placed and is vacuum-held by the suction unit, wherein the suction unit has a first gripping surface on the side facing th... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6361480 | Martial arts training device There is provided a martial arts training device for use by a martial arts practitioner to develop hand coordination, hand spacing, speed and timing in close quarter combat training exercises. The training device consists of two rigid rings held together ... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6322063 | Clamping device for workpieces A clamping device (1) is disclosed for one or several workpieces (2), especially bodywork parts. The clamping device (1) includes one or several clamps (4) which can be positioned on a clamping table. Several parts can be displaced along at least one axis... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6083333 | Self leveling weld fixture A welding fixture (30) can hold a part (12) that is to be welded by a weld head (22) that has a flat head surface (32) that must press against a flat part surface (56), where the fixture automatically tilts to assure that the surfaces lie coplanar so the ... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6059278 | Universal work holder arrangement A work holder support arm for supporting a work article at a desired orientation with respect to a support structure is provided with a first clamp having clamped and unclamped states for coupling with the support structure. The first clamp has an opening... | 05/09/2000 |
| 6012711 | Alignment device for establishing a coplanar relationship between first and second surfaces An alignment device for establishing alignment between the surfaces of abutting components. A rotary table supports a base plate for rotation in a plane. An air bearing connected to the base plate in turn supports a support plate. The air bearing includes... | 01/11/2000 |
| 5957445 | Ergonomic workholder with positional control A ball and socket workpiece holder is provided that may be locked to hold a workpiece in a predetermined position on a workholder arm. The workholder may be unlocked to permit the workholder arm and workpiece to rotate through a limited predetermined angl... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5941513 | Mounting bracket for modular workpiece holder A mounting bracket for a workpiece holder which includes a pair of plates which can be coupled together so as to define two openings at their coupled surfaces. The plates are coupled together by threaded members which are located on either side of each of... | 08/24/1999 |
| 5893533 | Combination space station handrail clamp and pointing device A device for attaching an experiment carrier to a space station handrail is provided. The device has two major components, a clamping mechanism for attachment to a space station handrail, and a pointing carrier on which an experiment package can be mounte... | 04/13/1999 |
| 5826867 | Mechanical fly tying device A mechanical vise for holding fish hooks of various sizes while tying various imitation insect patterns thereon for use in the sport of fly fishing wherein the fish hooks are held in the teeth of the chuck which in turn can be removed or spun on a shaft c... | 10/27/1998 |
| 5775679 | Tying vise for fly-fishing Tying vise for an artificial fly. The tying vise has a clamp for attachment to a support and, connected to the clamp, a gripping jaw unit for gripping a fishhook, wherein the gripping jaw unit is connected to the clamp across an articulated arm equipped w... | 07/07/1998 |
| 5738344 | Ergonomic workpiece positioner A workpiece support is provided that is locked in its normal state. A balanced system of spring force is provided to lock the positioner in a chosen position. It will remain in the selected position until fluid pressure is provided to release it. The unit... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5722647 | Workpiece holder, particularly adapted for holding eyeglasses lenses A workpiece holder, particularly adapted for holding eyeglasses lenses (L), comprises a support (12) on which there are arranged two clamps (14, 17, 117) for clamping each a portion of a lense. Each clamp defines an axis (A) which is substantially perpend... | 03/03/1998 |
| 5662317 | Pallet support assembly for use in manufacturing stators A stator support assembly for use during the manufacture of electric motor stator assemblies includes a pallet, a rotatable stator support nest mounted on the pallet, and a lock arrangement that resists rotation of the nest from plural, locked, rotary ori... | 09/02/1997 |
| 5590870 | Universal holding system for a contoured workpiece A universal system for supporting and holding a workpiece having a contoured work holding surface is provided with a spaced array of work holding fixtures mounted on a base. Each fixture includes a work engaging head having a vacuum cup and three work eng... | 01/07/1997 |
| 5556085 | Work holder for eyeglasses Work holder comprising a first adjustable jaw having spaced holding surfaces thereon and a second jaw comprising a pair of arms pivoted in the housing and having holding surfaces on their distal ends, the arms adapted to be drawn together by a threaded ad... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5465946 | Positioning fixture for welding operations having a lockable ball joint A positioning fixture which allows two or more parts to be positioned in proper spatial relationship to one another and then allows the parts which are clamped together to be repositioned while maintaining the spatial relationship between the parts. The p... | 11/14/1995 |
