Did You Know...
...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7428439 | Wireless foot control system with optical transmitter and transceiver A wireless foot control system includes a receiver and at least one transmitter. The transmitter includes a medium generator for emitting a communication medium, a power supply and at least one foot pedal. The power supply includes a power source, a capacitor bank h... | 09/23/2008 |
| 7364534 | Exercise device for foot, ankle and/or shin An exercise device for providing resisted movement of the ankle through the full range of motion thereof to exercise the muscles in the ankle, foot, lower leg and especially shin area. This exercise device comprises: (a) a base; and (b) a foot receiving member havin... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7322904 | Lower limb function training device A lower limb function training device which the patient themselves can use safely with no sense of fear, which is used to prevent or improve a drop foot contracture or to expand the excursion of a joint while preventing the patient from using it over an appropriate ... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7300092 | Pedals and floor mat configuration for an industrial vehicle A presence detection system may include a pedal assembly that is located underneath a vehicle floor. The pedal assembly in one embodiment is recessed within the underside of a floor mat to eliminate trip hazards on the vehicle floor. Other embodiments may include a ... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7270028 | Adjustable pedal assembly with step-over control An adjustable pedal assembly for controlling step-over between pedal levers (16, 24) is provided. A first pedal lever (16) is supported for rotation about an operational axis. A first adjustment mechanism (20) adjusts the first pedal lever (1... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7219562 | Angle sensor The invention provides an angular position sensor (1) comprising two magnets (32, 33) attached to the inside face of a rotor (31) for generating a magnetic field (50) and a magnetism detection device (43) disposed in the magnetic f... | 05/22/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7127964 | Pedal arrangement for a motor vehicle with a displacement sensor unit The invention relates to a sensor unit, integrated in a pedal-box, for the determination of the angular position of a pedal lever (1), in the form of an inductive non-contact separation sensor, comprising a stationary sensor head (3) and a sensor eleme... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7064502 | 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 ... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7055466 | Control system for a portable instant hot water heater A portable instant water heater. Water is delivered to a base unit of the instant hot water heater by a pump that draws water from a reservoir through a flow control valve. The water flows into a pre-heater that wraps around a base of the burner and that is heated b... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7007619 | Foot controller connection error detection device for sewing machines A foot controller connection error detection device of the present invention includes a foot controller to output a start/stop instruction and a rotation speed instruction of a sewing machine motor to a control unit to control the sewing machine motor, a plug to dis... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6979963 | Method of wirelessly controlling a sewing machine In a method of wirelessly controlling a sewing machine, a wireless receiver module receives an initial signal transmitted wirelessly and continuously from a speed control module in response to a treading action thereon, and stores a preset security code portion of t... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6931962 | Foot or hand operated control A control has a pivotal part with an operating surface that can be depressed by a person's foot or hand, with pivoting being sensed by a pivot sensor. A spring-operated mechanism urges the pivotal part toward an initial position while allowing it to pivot in both cl... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6903721 | Method and apparatus for compensating for position slip in interface devices Method and apparatus for compensating for position slip in interface devices that may occur between a manipulandum and a sensor of the device due to a mechanical transmission. A device position delta is determined from a sensed position of a manipulandum of an inter... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6882124 | Sensor for adjustable vehicle systems The present invention provides a sensor for an adjustable system of a vehicle. The sensor is utilized to facilitate monitoring of adjustment positions with respect to a reference in the system. The sensor comprises a mechanical interface that allows for the input of... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6566831 | Sensor for adjustable vehicle systems The present invention provides a sensor for an adjustable system of a vehicle. The sensor is utilized to facilitate monitoring of adjustment positions with respect to a reference in the system. The sensor comprises a mechanical interface that allows for t... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6407526 | Safety switching systems for preventing serious misalignment of adjustable control pedals in automotive vehicles Some automobiles have mechanisms for adjusting the height of accelerator and brake pedals, and any clutch pedal, so that drivers large and small can adjust the pedals to the best height. All pedals are adjusted by a single reversible electric motor having... | 06/18/2002 |
| 6316897 | System for controlling adjustable pedals An adjustable pedal system 10 for an automotive vehicle. The system 10 substantially ensures that adjustable pedals 20 are not adjusted when any one or more of the pedals 20 are depressed and/or when the vehicle is being driven.... | 11/13/2001 |
| 5969495 | Accelerator device for electromotive vehicles An accelerator device is used for electromotive vehicles which has an electric motor adapted to cause the vehicles to move forwards and backwards. The accelerator device includes an accelerator pedal depressible to swing between a rest position and a most... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5631530 | Key element for the control of electromotors, especially for cranes and other hoisting equipment A key element for the control of electromotors, especially for cranes and other hoisting equipment. The key element includes a key switch pestle, a permanent magnet attached to the key switch pestle and a Hall sensor. The key switch pestle and permanent m... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5587634 | Human body actuated control apparatus and system for commercial sewing machines An electronic control system and apparatus is provided for controlling the operation of an industrial machine, such as a sewing machine. A body actuated apparatus is mounted in a spaced apart relationship from ground level and in approximate adjacency to ... | 12/24/1996 |
| 5583407 | Manipulating device having three degree freedom A manipulating foot pedal device used with a video game machine or the like is operable to provide a three-dimensional operation. The device includes a base member movable in a forward/backward direction relative. A rotatable member is mounted on a top of... | 12/10/1996 |
| 5532564 | Control unit for an electric drive motor of industrial processing machinery A control unit for an electric drive motor of industrial processing machinery includes a control arrangement which drives a pair of magnets generating a magnetic flux and a Hall effect sensor disposed between the magnets so as to be swept by the magnetic ... | 07/02/1996 |
| 5510685 | Electric motor control based on conductive contact of machine component with operator for injury prevention A unit for controlling the operation of the electric motor is provided together with a control device, electrically connected to the body of the operator, to act on the control unit via a relay means in such a manner as to halt and reverse the rotation of... | 04/23/1996 |
| 5477116 | Golf car having modular accelerator pedal assembly with non-contacting position sensor An automobile is provided with a speed control system operably connected to a drive system of the automobile. The speed control system includes an accelerator pedal assembly having an accelerator pedal movably connected to a frame of the assembly, an actu... | 12/19/1995 |
| 5382891 | Man/machine interface In a system including clock pulse data such as a network for sequencing music or multi-media data, a man/machine interface is provided which can be driven either by the operator or by a motor and transmission system. The man/machine interface contains enc... | 01/17/1995 |
| 5336981 | Control unit for an electric drive motor of industrial processing machinery A control unit for an electric drive motor of industrial processing machinery includes a control arrangement which drives a pair of magnets generating a magnetic flux and a Hall effect sensor disposed between the magnets so as to be swept by the magnetic ... | 08/09/1994 |
| 5321383 | Control system for a variable input device having a slider A control system for a variable input device 2 having a slider 14 has a box 1 housing a trigger 3 capable of moving in translation between two positions relative to the box. One of the two positions constitutes a rest position. Springs 13 apply a resilien... | 06/14/1994 |
| 5268624 | Foot pedal control with user-selectable operational ranges A method is provided for the operation of phacoemulsifier apparatus in the performance of a phacoemulsification in which three modes of operation are required. The method for the establishment of an angular range of foot pedal operation to each of the mod... | 12/07/1993 |
| 5233277 | Apparatus for controlling the operation of electric motors in sewing machines The electric motor and the needle locating device of a sewing machine are adjusted by a pivotable treadle controlling a radiation directing member which is located in the path of radiation issuing from one end of one or more first optical fibers the other... | 08/03/1993 |
| 5233278 | Universal motor speed signal converter Circuitry is provided capable of converting input motor speed control signals from one of two sewing machine motor speed switches into output signals adapted to control the speed of a particular type motor used to drive a sewing machine. Values are preset... | 08/03/1993 |
| 5227706 | Function control device for machines A functional control device (1), designed to be used in primarily textile machines (20), in which the speed must be varied in a simple fashion. Its function involves a conversion of a pressure of a gaseous or liquid medium to a code, which is adapted to t... | 07/13/1993 |
| 5214360 | Programmable adjustable chair for medical and dental applications A position programmable adjustable chair particularly useful in dental and medical procedures. The chair is hydraulically powered and controlled by microprocessors which enable chair seat and back positions to be memorized and automatically captured upon ... | 05/25/1993 |
| 5208520 | Pedal assembly in sewing machine with potentiometer control device In the pedal assembly of a sewing machine drive device, a potentiometer operating member is guided by a mounting stand secured to the pedal stand, to control the slide shaft of a direct acting type potentiometer, and a speed changing pedal including a dep... | 05/04/1993 |
| 5178083 | Sewing machine A sewing machine is disclosed having an electric circuit divided into a first high-voltage section and a second low voltage section. The second section is supplied via a step-down transformer connected to the first section. The second section has a rectif... | 01/12/1993 |
| 4517909 | Sewing machine having a digital command circuit A sewing machine comprises a pedal position detector for detecting the position of the manually operated foot pedal of the machine and generating therefrom a pedal position indicating digital signal comprising a set of a predetermined number of binary dig... | 05/21/1985 |
| 4500820 | Protective control apparatus for electrical vehicle A control apparatus for electric vehicles by using a chopper circuit which turns on or off a d-c drive motor responsive to the instruction of a microcomputer. The control apparatus of the present invention is characterized by the provision of a protection... | 02/19/1985 |
| 4399393 | Accelerator control for electric vehicles An accelerator control for field-controlled DC motors, or other applications requiring non-linear response to linear control input. The control uses a photodetector detecting light reflecting from a movable vane connected to the control input.... | 08/16/1983 |
| 4316130 | Pneumatic device to control the speed of an electric motor Device to control the speed of an electric motor from a pneumatic pedal, characterized in that it includes an element deformable with the pressure controlled by the pneumatic pedal, an element of magnetic material forming a mechanical unit with the elemen... | 02/16/1982 |
| 4310788 | Speed control device of sewing machines A speed control device for a sewing machine which is adapted to control a speed of the machine motor. The device includes a plurality of photo-conductive fibers arranged in two sets, one set being optically positioned opposite to another. The device also ... | 01/12/1982 |
