Famous Patents
3M employee and church chorister Art Fry needed something to temporarily mark pages in his hymnal. He was in luck because his colleague, Spencer Silver, accidentally developed a glue that was too weak for other purposes. After initially discouraging consumer response, Post-it Notes became a hit in 1979.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7963739 | Method and apparatus for level ride lift A lift having a platform with a substantially level ride is described. The lift also reduces the distance between the ground and the platform in the ground position. An extension plate having receiving portions for accommodating portions of the lift when the platfor... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7819619 | Retractable ramp system A retractable ramp system mounts a slideable ramp between lateral rail members which extend the length of a truck chassis and a container mounted thereon. The ramp is slideably suspended from a guide rail running parallel to the lateral rail members by means of a ca... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7367770 | Retractable tail-lift for a vehicle A retractable tail-lift for a vehicle comprises a lifting mechanism (30) for lifting and lowering a platform (50), and guiding rails (21) in which the lifting mechanism (30) with one vertical carriage (32) each is suspended and can... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7354090 | Self-supporting tailgate table/extension A tailgate adaptation for motor vehicles, preferably pick-up trucks, with at least two flat panels that are constructed of aluminum, molded fiberglass, plastic, or other suitable materials, and which convert an ordinary tailgate into a surface that provides a number... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7326024 | Wheelchair lift assembly having a compact stowed profile A lift assembly 20 includes an enclosure 24 secured to the bottom floor F of the baggage compartment BC, a carriage 28 reciprocally mounted within the enclosure 24, and a lift platform 32 pivotally coupled to the carriage 28... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7219768 | Multiple locking position safety leg for lifts A lift with a multiple locking position safety leg includes a lift bed for engaging in objects to be lifted together with a fluid cylinder to be connected to the lift bed and extendable and retractable to move the lift bed between two extreme positions including a f... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7179040 | Luggage storage structure for automobile and lifter A luggage storage structure for an automobile includes: a storage concave portion formed so as to project downward on a floor panel and capable of storing luggage, a plate member for approximately closing an upper part of the storage concave portion, and a transfer ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7025548 | Transport carts configured to be locked to the sidewalls of a transportation vehicle for distributing product A series of transport carts are positioned in side by side relation in fore and aft extending spaced apart rows disposed along a delivery van to leave an aisle between them. The carts have wheel supported upright frames with bottom supports for the products disposed... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6948903 | Unitary liftgate The invention is a unitary cantilever liftgate that attaches to the vehicle body instead of the vehicle chassis. The liftgate may be fully assembled and tested prior to installation on the vehicle body. This greatly reduces installation time while improving performa... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6846150 | Pivoting trailer hitch A trailer hitch assembly adapted for use with a foldable liftgate assembly on a truck. The trailer hitch assembly is able to be pivoted out of the way of the liftgate assembly as the liftgate is deployed from a stowed position beneath the truck chassis. The liftgate... | 01/25/2005 |
| 6739825 | Underfloor lifts An underfloor lift assembly (1) includes a saddle member (3) fully mounted in an underfloor cavity (3a) and adapted slidably to receive a stowage box (4). The stowage box (4) provides a further location for a lifting mechani... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6688835 | Side ramp assembly for a trailer A combination trailer and ramp assembly (20) is provided. The combination trailer and ramp assembly includes a trailer (24) having a floor assembly (30) including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a length. The trailer further includes first and seco... | 02/10/2004 |
| 6589006 | Pivoting trailer hitch A trailer hitch assembly adapted for use with a foldable liftgate assembly on a truck. The trailer hitch assembly is able to be pivoted out of the way of the liftgate assembly as the liftgate is deployed from a stowed position beneath the truck chassis. T... | 07/08/2003 |
| 6558106 | Foldaway lifting device for disabled people in wheelchairs and children's pushchairs Lifting device (1) for disabled people in wheelchairs and children's pushchairs, comprising a supporting frame (2), permanently applied to a motor vehicle or a fixed installation, and a sliding foldaway platform (3) moving between a retracted position and... | 05/06/2003 |
| 6398479 | Under-vehicle lift with folding platform A wheelchair lifting platform for transporting a wheelchair passenger into and out of the rear door of a vehicle such as a van. The platform may be folded and stowed beneath the floor of the van behind the rear axle. The platform further includes rollstop... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6299403 | Spare tire carrier A spare tire carrier having a housing fixed to the automobile body, a roller assembly rotatably mounted at a rotary shaft of the housing and constructed with a plurality of closely-adhered roller plates to allow a wire to wind and unwind therebetween, and... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6244608 | Ramp-accommodating movable subframe for a semi-trailer A movable subframe or slider for a semi-trailer is modified to provide a storage bay between the slider and semi-trailer for accommodating a walk ramp and its carrier hardware. A reinforced elongated spacer cap is mounted on the uppermost surface of each ... | 06/12/2001 |
| 6190112 | Lifting device for installation in the frame of a motor vehicle A lifting device that can be installed in the frame of a motor vehicle is disclosed. A portion of the frame is removed to accommodate the lifting device and the motor vehicle has a subframe attached under the existing frame across the location where the l... | 02/20/2001 |
| 6183187 | Integrated lift and tow hitch A integrated lift gate and hitch system, configured to be secured to a vehicle chassis, includes two support brackets, a cross brace extending between and secured to the support brackets, and a tow hitch secured to the cross brace. The cross brace and tow... | 02/06/2001 |
| 6179546 | Externally stowed wheelchair lift The present invention provides a robust, highly stable and vertically compact when folded-up wheelchair lift suitable for placement on a variety of vehicles such as vans and mini-vans. The lift has an elongate horizontal support member that is pivotally a... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6178364 | Method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly A method of controlling a retractable stairway assembly for a vehicle includes monitoring at least one vehicle status condition such as (a) whether the vehicle is stopped, (b) whether the parking brake is set, (c) whether the cab is tilted in excess of a ... | 01/23/2001 |
| 6102648 | Driving mechanism for vehicle lifts A vehicle lift for use in conjunction with a vehicle to facilitate passengers boarding and leaving the vehicle. The vehicle lift has an improved driving mechanism for moving a platform between a stowed position to a deployed position. The driving mechanis... | 08/15/2000 |
| 6089817 | Wheelchair lift with single lifting mechanism A wheelchair lift having a single piston and cylinder mechanism for both raising and lowering the wheelchair lift and for pushing the wheelchair lift out to an operating configuration from underneath the vehicle and pulling the wheelchair lift back to a s... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6062805 | Vehicular wheelchair step lift A vehicular wheelchair step lift for persons who are physically challenged or otherwise have limited mobility. The lift includes a platform structure which is mounted to an elevator frame which is then mounted to an elevator housing for vertical movements... | 05/16/2000 |
| 5853150 | Aircraft loading and unloading system A system for conversion of existing boarding bridges which are adapted for large aircraft for additional and/or alternating use with small aircraft. The invention is useful for allowing passengers to enplane and deplane between an airport terminal and eit... | 12/29/1998 |
| 5725348 | Dumpster and vehicle mounted lifting arm therefor The present invention provides a dumpster and a lifting arm for lifting the dumpster and dumping the contents of the dumpster into a storage box. The dumpster includes an open top and is for storing garbage or some other material and is supported on the g... | 03/10/1998 |
| 5556250 | Vehicle lifts A vehicle lift, as for wheelchairs, incorporates a horizontally disposed load platform pivotally affixed to a laterally spaced-apart parallelogram elevating frame which is in turn pivotally affixed to a carriage, allowing a composite travelling assembly (... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5257894 | Small vehicle stowable ramp system A stowable loading ramp assembly for small vehicles, such as pickup trucks, vans and trailers, which includes a stowing chamber and an extendable loading ramp. The assembly is installable in a truck bed, or the like, with the stowed loading ramp access po... | 11/02/1993 |
| 5253973 | Vehicles and vehicle lifts A lift for attachment to a vehicle for moving mobility-impaired passengers between lowered and raised positions for entry and exit. A platform (27) is affixed to an unequal modified parallelogram structure (20), the combination being supported on movable ... | 10/19/1993 |
| 5122026 | Cargo platform with plural storage positions A cargo platform system particularly structured for use with, e.g., a truck body's cargo opening. The system includes a mast asembly with a mast guide and a mast movably supported by the guide, the mast assembly being fixed to one vertical side edge of th... | 06/16/1992 |
| 5007794 | Load-carrying attachment for motor vehicles A load-carrying attachment for a vehicle to unload cargo from or load cargo onto the vehicle. The attachment includes a pair of spaced horizontal support beam assemblies having first and second ends. A cross beam connects the first ends of the beam assemb... | 04/16/1991 |
| 4978271 | Recycleable material handling apparatus The invention relates to a vehicular apparatus for use in handling recycleable material which includes a pair of end-to-end first containers supported on each side of the vehicle and each having a side opening into which such material may be loaded at a p... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4958979 | Arrangement for a lift adapted to a motor vehicle Arrangement for a lift adapted to a motor vehicle, comprising a lifting platform capable of moving between the vehicle and a floor. The invention provides a simple device for achieving a reliable and efficient lift arrangement, for example, for use by ind... | 09/25/1990 |
| 4909700 | Lift for wheelchairs The lift is installed under the cargo floor proximate to the side door of the van. In the retracted position it is entirely concealed and does not obstruct the normal van usage. Stationary track members are attached to the van. Slidably mounted within the... | 03/20/1990 |
| 4836736 | Level ride liftgate with ramping action platform A main frame pivotally supports the forward ends of a laterally spaced apart pair of parallelogram linkage systems. Each linkage system comprises an upper link and a two section lower link, rear ends of which are pivotally interconnected to a rear shackle... | 06/06/1989 |
| 4763487 | Gate control apparatus for refrigerated cargo container A refrigerated mobile cargo container having side and rear platforms for loading and unloading cargo and hydraulic control valves for regulating the raising and lowering of the platforms. Fluid to the control valves can be supplied from either a primary p... | 08/16/1988 |
| 4741658 | Receptacle dumping apparatus and method A lifter for emptying a container into a cavity of a vehicle. The lifter has a first plate pivotally connected to the vehicle, and a second plate extending at an angle from the first plate. The lifter has a third plate slidably mounted on the second plate... | 05/03/1988 |
| 4722651 | Hydraulic bumper lift device for a pickup truck A device for attachment to the rear of a pickup truck as a replacement for the rear bumper includes a transverse frame member which is pivotally mounted on brackets carried on the chassis. The frame member carries a pair of arms each of which is pivoted a... | 02/02/1988 |
| 4711613 | Vehicle lift devices A vehicle lift device comprises structure 23 which is fixed to the chassis beneath the vehicle floor 11, a parallel linkage 21 carrying a platform 50 and connected to the structure 23 for movement at a level beneath floor 11 about vertical axis 22 so that... | 12/08/1987 |
| 4710087 | Bale accumulator and discharger A bale accumulator is provided for use in conjunction with a baler from which, during operation, bales successively are discharged. The accumulator comprises a bale receiving table movable between a home position for receiving a bale from the baler and a ... | 12/01/1987 |
