...that to encourage use of his new invention, the shopping cart, market owner Sylvan Goldman hired fake shoppers to push the carts around his store in Oklahoma City? Seems his customers were reluctant to give up their hand-carried baskets.
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8141229 | Element attachable by riveting to a sheet metal part and also a component assembly and a method for the production of the component assembly An element attachable to a sheet metal part by riveting, in particular an element in the form of a centering bolt, having a shaft part and a head part, wherein the head part has at its side confronting the sheet metal part an at least approximately ring-like ring re... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8087149 | Self-piercing rivet and method of joining with bonded riveted joints A rivet configured to provide a strengthened rivet joint capable of acting as a load-bearing joint, such as in a vehicle, is provided. A method of joining a multiple member work-piece utilizing the rivet is also provided. The rivet includes a head portion and an ann... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8079130 | Method for assembling sheets by riveting The invention relates to a method for assembling sheets by riveting, comprising a step for piercing a hole through the sheets, followed by a step for placing a rivet in the pierced hole, the step for piercing a hole being executed by supplying an advance speed instr... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8061009 | Method and apparatus for connecting several cables with a component and a rivet bushing therefore In the case of the method of the invention, the cables of a cable harness are preassembled on a metallic rivet bushing by the cable harness manufacturer in that the cable shoes of the cables are pushed onto the rivet bushing and are prevented from loosening by a sub... | 11/22/2011 |
| 7971335 | Fastening apparatus and method with compensation for load-induced deformation of supporting frame Fastening apparatus comprises a frame having a pair of spaced arms supporting respective cooperable fastening members, loading of the frame during a fastening operation tends to spread the arms and cause variation of a desired predetermined relationship between the ... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7610668 | Automated sidewall assembly machine An automated sidewall assembly machine is provided for attaching a sidewall panel to a top and bottom rail of a wheeled trailer. The machine comprises a frame, a carriage for longitudinal movement relative to the frame, an automated punch mounted proximate the frame... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7475468 | Method of operating a rivet machine The invention relates to a conveyor for elongate components (12) designed with a head and a shank. The conveyor comprises a feed arrangement (7). The feed arrangement (7) comprises a transfer arrangement (8) with a transfer region (15 | 01/13/2009 |
| 7401394 | Method of attaching a fastener element to a metal panel In a method for inserting a bolt element (10) having a head portion (12) and a shaft portion (16) into a sheet metal component (52) the bolt element is passed through the sheet metal component by means of a setting head (38), with ... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7377017 | Slim-line hand operated rivet tool for setting plastic blind rivets in tight access spaces A hand-operated rivet setting tool for setting blind rivets in tight access spaces. The tool has a long and slender slim-line profile which allows a user installing a vehicle bumper to set blind rivets in the space between the tire and the vehicle's wheel well witho... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7370399 | Method for joining at least two plate-shaped workpieces In a method for joining at least two plate-shaped workpieces by a fastening tool and a device for operating the fastening tool, the fastening tool comprises a punch for exerting a punch force to perform a joining operation and a clamp for exerting a clamping force u... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7360799 | Insulation cladding for bends A half elbow used with a second similar half elbow clads insulation or other structures about a bend. Each half elbow is formed of separate segments of thin sheet material fastened together. Each segment includes first and second edges adapted to be fastened to corr... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7353686 | Press A press comprises a servo motor (6), a ball screw (9), and a roller guide (11) in which machining accuracy is enhanced while reducing the overall size and weight, noise and vibration, and power consumption of the press. ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7351159 | Complex hosel structure for a golf club head having a high degree of vibrational absorbability and elastic deformability A golf club head includes a golf club head body and a complex hosel. The golf club head body includes a neck portion located at a heel-side portion, and a connecting portion formed on the neck portion. The complex hosel is constructed from a one-piece tubular member... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7347641 | Methods and systems for joining structures One embodiment includes a system of joined structures that includes a first structure having a first aperture in a composite material. The first aperture has a first interior surface and a first minimum radial extent. The system further includes a second structure h... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7334327 | Manufacturing method of radio frequency connector A method of manufacturing a RF connector includes the following steps. First, a first workpiece with first assembly units is provided. Each first assembly unit includes a first joint piece with a first joint portion, a metal shell with a ring and soldering tags exte... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7313861 | Electric drive for a shaping die A driving mechanism for operating a shaping die to join stacked plates by a deep-drawing and swaging operation is implemented as an electric drive, such as a linear motor or a rotary motor, which is operatively connected to the shaping die. ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7313852 | Method of forming a rivet using a riveting apparatus A riveting yoke assembly (11) comprises a yoke (30), a force applying mechanism (22) and a rivet forming device (34, 36). The yoke has a first end (38), a second end (40), and a middle section (42) coupled between the... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7305755 | Processing tong A hydraulic processing tong for processing workpieces, with a tool, has a first tool part with an axially movable press ram or plunger, which with a first end or a tool located there and an opposing workpiece assembly forms a work area or work gap and with the first... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7273338 | Blind rivet and method of assembly A blind rivet and a method of assembly comprising a tubular shell and mandrel in combination. The mandrel comprises a stem and a radially-enlarged head which in use forms a blind head to the shell to set the rivet, in which either the head of the mandrel or the bore... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7267736 | Method of joining dissimilar materials The present invention provides a method of joining dissimilar materials, particularly a non-ferrous component to a ferrous component to form an assembly. In an overlapping configuration, the parts are held together under a clamping force while a self-piercing rivet ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7266876 | Apparatus and method for forming rivet joints A method and apparatus for forming rivet joints with a desired amount of clearance to allow pivotal motion of the parts interconnected by such joints. Parts to be riveted together are aligned with each other, and a rivet is placed into aligned holes. A parts clamp u... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7237314 | Method of securing a nut plate to a wall defined by an aperture through a workpiece A method of securing a nut plate to a workpiece includes the step of providing a nut plate include a nut, a holding bracket having tubular and bracket portions, and a stem. The tubular portion has an aperture therethrough which is inwardly tapered from a first end t... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7238543 | Methods for marking a bare semiconductor die including applying a tape having energy-markable properties A method used for marking a semiconductor wafer or device. The method and apparatus have particular application to wafers or devices which have been subjected to a thinning process, including backgrinding in particular. The present method comprises reducing the cros... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7200914 | Apparatus and method for loading a riveting module with blind rivet nuts The invention relates to a device for loading a rivet module (10), which can be vertically displaced between a lower placement position and an upper loading position, with blind rivet nuts (100) using a rivet feed (22). The invention is characte... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7197721 | Weight compression/decompression system According to some embodiments, provided are a pseudo-random sequence generator to generate a pseudo-random sequence of data values, a decoder to receive compressed weight values and to generate decompressed weight values, and a weighting unit to receive the pseudo-r... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7165312 | Method of attaching a locator stud on a panel A locator stud including a shank and a flange portion integral and coaxially aligned with the shank and a bearing surface between the shank and the flange portion, a method of installation in a panel, including forming an opening in the panel, inserting the flange p... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7162789 | Method for drilling holes and optionally inserting fasteners The method and apparatus for drilling holes and optionally inserting fasteners of the present invention provide for efficiently drilling holes through a multiple-layer structure because the layers are securely held together during the drilling by an electromagnet an... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7159291 | Continuous riveter and continuously caulking method of blind rivets Disclosed is a continuous riveter capable of firing blind rivets in succession to caulk sheet metal or the like. A seal member 71 located on the oil chamber 6 side and a seal member 72 located on the air chamber 4 side are provided in an ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7160047 | Functional element arrangement, functional element, auxiliary assembly element, assembled component and method for producing an assembled component A functional element arrangement which includes a functional element which is to be mounted on a component, especially but not exclusively on a brittle or non-rigid component made of a material containing cavities or pores, e.g. plastic, wood, metal foams, plastic o... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7155798 | Method for the attachment of a functional element to a sheet metal part and also a component assembly A method for the attachment of a functional element, for example in the form of an RSN or RND element of the company Profil Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, is described in which the hole in the sheet metal part is so formed that the sheet metal part lies in one pl... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7143497 | Method for anchoring an elongate fastener A self-drilling anchor for use in a friable material comprises a body having an axis, a flanged rear end, a drilling front end and a generally cylindrical portion therebetween having an outer surface with a thread disposed thereon, wherein the body forks, beginning ... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7123982 | Riveting system and process for forming a riveted joint A method of manufacturing, using a riveting system, is operable to join two or more workpieces with a rivet. In another aspect of the present invention, a self-piercing rivet is employed. Still another aspect of the present invention employs an electronic control un... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7100272 | Apparatus for forming rivet joints A method and apparatus for forming rivet joints with a desired amount of clearance to allow pivotal motion of the parts interconnected by such joints. Parts to be riveted together are aligned with each other, and a rivet is placed into aligned holes. A parts clamp u... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7094618 | Methods for marking a packaged semiconductor die including applying tape and subsequently marking the tape The present invention provides a method and apparatus for marking a semiconductor wafer or device. The method and apparatus have particular application to wafers or devices which have been subjected to a thinning process, including backgrinding in particular. The pr... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7076856 | Adjustable system and method for supporting and joining structural members An apparatus and associated method for joining structural members are provided. The apparatus includes a support structure of extendable members, each with an adjustable support surface for engaging the structural members so that structural members of different size... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7077249 | Drum brakes with interconnected multi-degrees-of-freedom shoes This invention is a new type of drum brake and its variants for motor vehicles, the shoe mechanism assembly of which has at least one set of interconnected shoe mechanism and automatic adjusting mechanism of brake clearance. The interconnected shoe mechanism consist... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7047847 | Toolkit with chain tool A toolkit includes a frame, at least one tool set and a chain tool. The tool set is pivotally connected with the frame. The chain tool is attached to the frame in a detachable manner. The chain tool is located in the frame in a manner that it supports the frame.... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7032296 | Self-piercing fastening system The preferred embodiment of a fastening system includes a self-piercing fastener having a thread-like pattern. In another aspect of the present invention, a fastener insertion machine employs an electromagnetic actuator without fluid actuation. A further aspect of t... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7024746 | Method and apparatus for monitoring blind fastener setting A method of monitoring the setting operation for a blind fastener comprising the step of measuring, as a function of time, an electronic signal indicative of the load being applied to the fastener during the setting operation and, from which, determining a mandrel e... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7021856 | Splicing for interconnected thin-walled metal structures A rivet splice that holds an upper and a lower sheet metal end portion together includes at least one row (6) of rivets that is subject to dynamic loads and a further row (7) of rivets that holds the sheet metal end portions together so that a limited ... | 04/04/2006 |