Did You Know...
...that it was melting ice cream that inspired the invention of the outboard motor? It was a lovely August day and Ole Evinrude was rowing his boat to his favorite island picnic spot. As he rowed, he watched his ice cream melt and wished he had a faster way to get to the island. At that moment the idea for the outboard motor was born!
PatentStorm News
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 |
| 7772726 | Irrigation controller with processor power down upon module unlocking A modular irrigation controller includes a processor for executing a watering program and turning a plurality of irrigation valves ON and OFF in accordance with the watering program. The irrigation controller includes a plurality of receptacles for each receiving a ... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7508097 | High-voltage equipment housing and high-voltage connector A PCU having an inverter and the like includes a connector electrically connecting the PCU and external equipment located outside the PCU, a safety bar attaching the connector for preventing the connector from being touched, and an ECU detecting that an interlock ci... | 03/24/2009 |
| 7283615 | On-demand multiple step fluoroscope control assembly A fluoroscope includes an x-ray generator, an x-ray tube for focusing the x-rays onto an area of a patient being imaged, and a fluoroscope monitor with a display screen for viewing the image captured by the fluoroscope. An on-demand multiple step fluoroscope control... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7250695 | Controlling power supplied to a circuit using an externally applied magnetic field A power control circuit is used to control the power supplied to a circuit from a power source. The power control circuit is operable to connect and disconnect the power source from the circuit. The power control circuit connects the power source to the circuit in r... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7237633 | Reverse operation safety circuit A control circuit for a lawn tractor having an engine and a power take off driven implement. The control circuit includes an inhibit circuit component for preventing operation of a power take off driven implement with the tractor in reverse. Two versions of the inhi... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7239040 | Method and apparatus for releasing brake interlock function for vehicle audio/video display unit A method and apparatus for easily and safely releasing a brake interlock function of a vehicle audio/video system. The vehicle audio/video system is designed to enable both a driver and a passenger to watch a video with a display unit. For safety reasons, a brake in... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7235901 | Sensor and interlock on an industrial vehicle A skid steer loader has an interlock system that is responsive to sensor input to lock out such as operation of lift and tilt cylinders of the skid steer loader when the input indicates a condition has not been met. The loader is provided with a cab that has an oper... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7224088 | Mower responsive to backup sensor An interlock circuit on a mowing vehicle or tractor deactivates the engine if a signal from a single backup sensor is interrupted. The mowing vehicle or tractor has an engine, an electric power source to provide electric current to a magneto and an ignition, a trans... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7211972 | Power tool with remote stop The present invention is directed to a power tool including a wireless remote stop for terminating the flow of electricity to an electric motor. The electric motor is configured for operating a working element assembly of a power tool, such as an arbor/circular saw ... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7199491 | Intelligent circuit breaker module A replaceable circuit breaker module has a housing for supporting and enclosing elements of the module, a circuit breaker mounted in the housing in a manner that an action of installing the module connects the breaker to bridge an incoming and an outgoing conductor,... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7177393 | X-ray imaging apparatus An X-ray imaging apparatus includes a body unit including a bed unit where an object is put, an X-ray irradiation unit configured to irradiate an X-ray to the object and an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-ray passing through the object, an input unit confi... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7131509 | Reverse operation safety circuit A safety system for a riding lawn mower that prevents powered operation of a PTO driven implement while in reverse unless an override switch is “ON”. The override switch may be a sustained action two position switch and the PTO driven implement may be a lawn mow... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7128177 | Reverse operation safety circuit A safety system for a riding lawn mower that prevents powered operation of a PTO driven implement while in reverse unless an override switch is “ON”. The override switch may be a sustained action two position switch and the PTO driven implement may be a lawn mow... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7041915 | Random weight food product pricing scale with automated login capability A scale system, such as a food product scale in a perishables department of a store, includes multiple scale login enabling RF identification units for use by corresponding service personnel, and a scale adapted to identify an acceptable RF identification unit that ... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7030514 | Power transfer switch assembly A modularly attachable transfer switch assembly for operative connection to two alternate power sources and a power load is disclosed. The transfer switch can be quickly and easily installed upon existing electrical meters and therefore does not require modification... | 04/18/2006 |
| 6969928 | Magnetic proximity interface control Disclosed is a system and method employing a magnetic proximity switch to enable the transfer of power between a power supply unit and a docking unit or to transfer data between a docking unit and a peripheral module such as a disk drive or controller module. Power ... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6948398 | Joystick with enabling sensors A multi-axis vehicle control device or “joystick” includes one or more sensors defining discrete sensor zones on the handle portion thereof. The sensors are operative to passively detect the presence of a person or object in the vicinity of the handle. Location ... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6944018 | Control system input apparatus and method A control system interface integrates an electronic switching or sensing mechanism with an existing or custom-fabricated, functional or decorative equipment panel. The electronic switching or sensing mechanism is located on the rear surface of the equipment panel an... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6928855 | Zero speed indicating devices and processes for testing same The subject invention is directed to methods, processes and decisions on test outcomes for testing for faulty, therefor dangerous, performance of zero speed indicators that are used to control the opening of barriers guarding moving machine components. The indicator... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6921990 | Electronic status monitoring system for security containers An electronic monitoring system is disclosed for detecting the open and closed conditions of containers or cabinets containing confidential or classified information. The electronic monitoring system includes a current sensor that detects the presence of a locking b... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6921988 | Anti-spoofing elastomer membrane for secure electronic modules A tamper-proof elastomeric membrane device for secure electronic housings. At least one button is molded in this elastomeric membrane. The button is under pressure when the housing is closed to act on an electronic circuit, and the button is idle when the housing is... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6894439 | Portable power converter pack A portable power converter comprising input means to receive low voltage DC input, voltage converter means for converting the low voltage DC input into high DC voltage output, the voltage converter means in electrical communication with the input means, output means... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6853152 | Electric power supply safety interlock system A safety interlock apparatus for an electrical device includes a DC power supply, a ballast power supply including a ballast control circuit that controls a ballast power circuit, and a lamp. A relatively low voltage electrical connection is present between the DC p... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6784571 | Electronic safety switching device and method The present invention relates to an electronic safety switching device having at least a first and a second signal processing channel. The channels can be supplied with input signals for signal processing, and they provide redundantly processed output signals. Accor... | 08/31/2004 |
| 6720679 | Interlock circuit for a working vehicle An interlock circuit for a working vehicle having a vehicle body, a working implement attached to the vehicle body, a clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting power to the working implement, and a shifting device for determining a traveling direction of the... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6670729 | Intelligent circuit breaker module A replaceable circuit breaker module has a housing for supporting and enclosing elements of the module, a circuit breaker mounted in the housing in a manner that an action of installing the module connects the breaker to bridge an incoming and an outgoing... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6501198 | Control lever for heavy machinery with near-proximity sensing A control lever for heavy machinery includes a proximity sensor for reducing the likelihood of inadvertent activation of the heavy machinery components. The proximity sensor is disposed adjacent an operating position of the control implement and detects w... | 12/31/2002 |
| 6486573 | Portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer A portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer has a measurement head section and an operating section. An X-ray source is disposed in the measurement head section for irradiating X-rays onto a sample for analysis of the sample utilizing principles of X-ray fluor... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6424060 | Power transfer system having a lockout plate A power transfer system for supplying electrical power to a plurality of load circuits, the system including a first input adapted to being electrically connected to a power source, and a first plurality of switches electrically connected to the first inp... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6424097 | Projection lamp safety interlock apparatus and method A safety interlock apparatus for an electrical device includes a DC power supply, a ballast power supply including a ballast control circuit that controls a ballast power circuit, and a lamp. A relatively low voltage electrical connection is present betwe... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6376939 | Sensor apparatus and safety apparatus for protecting approach to machines A sensor apparatus and a safety apparatus which can ensure significantly enhanced safety by monitoring constantly whether the sensor apparatus is operating normally. An auxiliary electrode plate of a small area is disposed in parallel and in opposition to... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6301091 | Relay configuration A safety relay configuration for linking a power source to a device to be powered via at least one output wherein output contacts all have to be closed to provide power to the device, the configuration including first and second three contact relays or fo... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6285096 | Safety switch arrangement The invention relates to a safety switch arrangement for switching the power supply of a tool on and off by means of at least two actuators. The actuators are connected to a code generator. The code generator can issue a numerical word divided into two pa... | 09/04/2001 |
| 6119715 | Automated pneumatic purger An automatic control system for providing pneumatic purging protection for a sealed enclosure containing electrical equipment in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association standards. The system supplies a purge gas under a pre-ordained press... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6114779 | Sub control panel for use in maintenance work, and method for manipulating the sub control panel A sub control panel for use in maintenance work has a control switch, enable switches and manipulation prohibition members. The sub control panel is configured such that the control switch is not activated unless the enable switches are being kept ON by o... | 09/05/2000 |
| 5889265 | Power supply cut-off apparatus of a microwave oven A microwave oven includes a power cord for supplying electrical power to electrical components of the oven. Wires of the cord are connected to a first set of terminals of a switch mounted on a main body of the oven. Electrical power is conducted from the ... | 03/30/1999 |
| 5751536 | Method and apparatus for providing isolation from hazardous voltage levels in a hybrid instrumentation system An isolation system for allowing a single measurement circuit to measure both low and high voltage signals from separate low and high voltage buses, respectively, while maintaining substantial isolation protection for humans or animals potentially exposed... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5689398 | Redundant control relay circuits Improved redundant relay control circuits are set forth which prevent a load from being energized when any relay coil or contact or stop or start switch contact fails. A first circuit embodiment sets forth a plurality of branches with a cross-monitoring i... | 11/18/1997 |
| 5666010 | Safety system for machine tools A safety device and a supply power controller of a machine tool providing bidirectional communication for determining whether the safety device is appropriate for the particular machine tool, and whether the safety device is properly worn. The communicati... | 09/09/1997 |
| 5572075 | Safety interlock apparatus A safety interlock apparatus which prevents a machine from operating whenever any of the interlocking conditions are not satisfied. The apparatus provides two levels of protection, where both levels must be satisfied before permitting power to be supplied... | 11/05/1996 |
