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 |
| 7364211 | Vehicle lock controlled by a shape memory alloy actuator A contractible shape memory alloy (SMA) wire is used to throw a lever in a latch. The SMA actuator provides weight and space savings. In one embodiment, the SMA actuator is incorporated in the handle of the latch in order to provide a child lock or double lock funct... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7341305 | Customs seal for freight container door The present invention comprises: a freight container having two access doors hingedly mounted at one end of the container via respective sets of hinges and mounting brackets which connect one edge of each door to a respective container door post; characterised in th... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7331616 | Hood latch assemblies utilizing active materials and methods of use A latch for engaging and disengaging two opposing surfaces includes a pin disposed on one surface and a gate disposed on an opposite surface; an active material in operative communication with the pin or the gate; an activation device in operative communication with... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7303224 | Apparatus for locking a trunk of a vehicle An apparatus for locking a trunk of a vehicle includes a trunk lid, a driving unit for locking disposed on the trunk lid, a driven unit for locking disposed on the trunk lid, a connecting rod connecting the driven unit to the driving unit, and a support unit support... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7302818 | Apparatus for locking and unlocking vehicle door In an apparatus for locking and unlocking a vehicle door, an inner cable, with one end connected to a rotor to make a twisting operation in response to the rotation of the rotor of a cylinder lock and the other end connected to a key operation input shaft of a door ... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7224259 | Unlocking system for automobile vehicle doors and the like A system for unlocking a key cylinderless automobile vehicle door includes a portable object having an identifier and a circuit for interrogating the object. The circuit powers the object and interrogates the object when it is outside the vehicle. The interrogating ... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7213428 | Apparatus for locking and unlocking vehicle door An apparatus for locking and unlocking a vehicle door includes a cylinder lock having a rotor, a door lock mechanism including a key operation input shaft which rotates to switch a locked state and an unlocked state of a door, and a torque cable for transmitting rot... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7210319 | Multifunctional vehicle lock A multifunctional vehicle lock including a cylinder lock comprising a rotatable tumbler, a coupling member rotationally linked to the tumbler, wherein rotation of the tumbler rotates the coupling member, a first vehicle locking element connected to the coupling memb... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7210713 | Door member opener apparatus for vehicle A door member opener apparatus for a vehicle includes an engaging mechanism, a lock mechanism, a clearing mechanism, and an ECU (electronic control unit). The engaging mechanism includes a striker and a claw member that rotatively moves to engage with the striker. T... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7210715 | Door handle device A door handle device includes a frame fixed to the inside of an outer panel of a vehicle door and a grip provided on the frame from the outside of a vehicle and including an electrical component. The frame is integrally provided with a circuit electrically connected... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7201029 | Computer physical security device An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a ... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7194881 | Closure panel lock and opener handle The invention relates to an actuating apparatus for a lock mechanism, in particular of a door or panel of a motor vehicle having a handle body, in which an actuating device for driving an actuating element for the lock mechanism is mounted in a handle-body end regio... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7176413 | Method and system for controlling one or more shape mercury actuators A method and a system for controlling a plurality of shape-memory actuators, for instance installed on board a motor vehicle, control the electric supply current of each shape-memory elements as a function of one or more parameters referring to environmental conditi... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7171832 | Door lock device A door lock device has a lock mechanism configured to allow and not allow opening of a door in an unlocked state and a locked state respectively, and an input shaft configured to switch the lock mechanism between these states when a force is applied to the input sha... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7140211 | Tamper detection security for a tank trailer This invention relates to a security system aimed at closing and locking a cover of an opening of a tank trailer to avoid any tampering of its content and to prove that the content of the tank has not been tampered. The security system comprises a locking member mov... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7104583 | Vehicle with storage/utility system A truck with one or more storage compartments in the bed adjacent the side panels and in which a hinged panel in the side panel or fender allows access to a storage compartment. The side panels maintain the appearance of a conventional pickup truck without storage c... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7100404 | Computer physical security device An apparatus which inhibits the theft of equipment such as personal computers is disclosed. The equipment must have an external wall provided with a specially designed, approximately rectangular slot having preselected dimensions. An attachment mechanism includes a ... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7102487 | Detector and lock controller using same A lock controller has main apparatus provided to a lockable door and a detector for detecting an approaching or retreating target object. The detector includes an oscillator device for generating a transmission wave, a branching device for branching the transmission... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7097226 | Safety system for a compartment of a vehicle A safety sensing and/or release system for a closed compartment of a vehicle is operable to detect an occupant within the vehicle compartment. The system may be operable to sense ambient conditions in the vehicle compartment, and may generate a control signal in res... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7086257 | Lock system with a function controlling mechanism A lock system is provided with a function controlling mechanism for control of the lock states unlocked, locked and optionally theft secure and child safety. The lock system is characterized by very short times for controlling the desired locking states and good sui... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7070214 | Lock mechanism A lock mechanism has a manually actuable element, a lock lever and an actuator, with the manually actuable element connected to the lock lever via a transmission path. The transmission path includes a rigid link with an end defining an abutment for selectively drivi... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7071818 | Device used for protecting a car against thievery A device includes a base secured in a car, a stopping block displaceable on the base, an actuating member for displacing the stopping block with, and a lock block secured around a steel rope of a control of a hood of the car, which control can be used to pull the st... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7070018 | Motor vehicle door and door lock unit as well as motor vehicle locking system A motor vehicle door with a door lock unit located on the edge side with mechanical latching elements such as a latch and ratchet, with a preferably electrical opening drive for triggering the latching elements which is preferably integrated into the door lock unit,... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7040675 | Linkage operated latching system A latching system includes a control unit that houses a remote signal responsive relay and a crank arm that is pivoted by the armature of the relay when the relay is energized to oppositely move a pair of elongate links each of which is connected to a separate latch... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7029039 | Method for actuating a pawl in a lock with a rotary latch for a motor vehicle According to the inventive method, a pawl which in a normal mode of operation is rotatably mounted about a point of rotation when it is in a closed position can be rotated by means of a first actuator, which is controlled by a main power supply and by means of a too... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7029056 | Closure lockdown assemblies and methods utilizing active materials In combination with a vehicle and a closure, one or more lockdown regions disposed between the closure and the vehicle body, the one or more lockdown includes a device including an active material disposed in operative communication with the closure and the vehicle ... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7010948 | Remote-controlled lock A remote-controlled lock includes a bottom base, a transmission motor, a connecting rod, a slide member, a deadbolt, a coil spring and a casing. By pressing the unlocking press button of a remote controller, the transmission motor is started to rotate clockwise and ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 6959949 | Device for securing a door leaf against unintentional deflection A driven part can be pivotably mounted to the door frame so that, in a starting position, it engages a driving part fixed to the leaf frame in order to fix the position of the door leaf with respect to the door frame. An electromagnetic brake generates a moment to r... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6923479 | Door opening/closing control apparatus for a vehicle A vehicle door opening/closing control apparatus includes a first operating member assembled to an inner side of a vehicle door for operating an actuator capable of opening/closing the vehicle door by manual operation, a controlling means for controlling the actuato... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6919797 | Remote-controlled lock A remote-controlled lock includes a bottom base, a transmission motor, a connecting rod, a sleeve, a deadbolt, a spring and a casing. The transmission motor is started to rotate clockwise together with the stop member on its shaft by pressing the unlocking button of... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6918275 | Manual internal release assembly for a vehicle decklid latch A combination key lock and latch assembly for a vehicle trunk lid having the key lock located separately and closely adjacent the latch assembly without requiring modification of an existing latch assembly. A sliding actuator is attached to an existing latch assembl... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6904777 | Remote controlled steering column ignition lock for motorcycles A steering column ignition lock for a motorcycle comprises a lock housing, a closing cylinder, which can be rotated in the lock housing, and closing pins which can be moved in the closing cylinder and can be activated with a key, so that the closing cylinder can be ... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6877347 | Remote key turning tool and method for using the same A tool for remotely turning a key includes a key unit including an engagement assembly adapted to engage the key and an operator unit including a control assembly. At least one cable segment is provided linking the key unit and the operator unit such that the engage... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6871519 | Lock for doors A lock for doors, for example doors of homes, offices, hotel rooms or similar, as well as doors of motor vehicles, includes a lock opening control assembly having a control device located at a distance from the lock and a mechanical transmission connecting the contr... | 03/29/2005 |
| 6857496 | Vehicle steering apparatus with anti-steer security device A steering apparatus (10) comprises a steering feel motor (14) that is operatively connected to a steering shaft (16) of the vehicle (12). A sensor (20) detects operator applied steering inputs to the steering shaft (16) and... | 02/22/2005 |
| 6793110 | Motorcycle saddlebag assembly An automated motorcycle saddlebag including a storage tub for stowing items on the motorcycle. A lid is pivotally connected to the storage tub for covering the interior storage space of the storage tub. A powered lid actuator is carried by the storage tub for pivoti... | 09/21/2004 |
| 6779372 | Motor vehicle door lock with a lock unit and a control unit which are separate from one another A motor vehicle door lock with mechanical lock elements in a lock unit, the door lock includes a lock mechanism with several interacting elements in a control unit which is arranged at a location that is spatially separate from the lock unit in or on a motor vehicle... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6758071 | Automobile anti-theft system An automobile anti-theft device comprises a decoupling assembly having a first decoupling portion that couples to an accelerator system and a second decoupling portion that couples to a throttle system. The first decoupling portion and the second decoupling portion ... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6739163 | Motor vehicle locking device with a shaft as the coupling means A motor vehicle locking device with a motor vehicle lock (1) with a connection coupling (2), a lock actuation unit (3) located at a distance from the lock, with a connection coupling (5), and a shaft (7) as the coupling between the... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6701760 | Remote key turning tool and method for using the same A tool for remotely turning a key includes a key unit including an engagement assembly adapted to engage the key and an operator unit including a control assembly. At least one cable segment is provided linking the key unit and the operator unit such that... | 03/09/2004 |
