Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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 |
| 7356959 | Firearm authorization system with piezo-electric disabler An authorization system for a firearm (10) includes an authorizing device (32) worn by the authorized user, and a firearm (10) with a fire control system, a computer controller (28), and a piezo-electric disabler (60). The computer... | 04/15/2008 |
| 6615527 | Trigger mechanism In a firearm having a trigger assembly with a trigger nose, a hammer with a sear hook and a trigger notch, a disconnector and an automatic sear, an improvement including a notched bifurcating the sear hook of the hammer for receiving the disconnector in a... | 09/09/2003 |
| 6588136 | Decocking lever A fire control system with a decocking lever that operates to decock the hammer and also as a safety. The fire control system also has a magazine safety to complement the decocking lever's dual functions. The magazine safety is in the "safety on" position... | 07/08/2003 |
| 5320023 | Semiautomatic pistol A semi-automatic piston construction of blow-back type configuration to effect directing of projectiles from within includes construction of the pistol to employ application of the breech bolt within the upper receiver, with a return spring arrangement mo... | 06/14/1994 |
| 5216195 | Firearm The sear is rotatably supported in the frame of the firearm to rotate around an axis of rotation. The hammer is pivotally mounted in the frame to pivot around a pivot axis. The hammer includes a striking surface. The sear includes a blocking surface which... | 06/01/1993 |
| 5183959 | Semi-automatic firearm having a safety device preventing conversion to full automatic firing An anti-conversion block for use with a semi-automatic firearm and a method of manufacturing a semi-automatic firearm. The anti-conversion block prevents the conversion of the firearm into a fully automatic firearm. The block is fixedly mounted in the low... | 02/02/1993 |
| 4947730 | Firing mechanism for polymer weapon apparatus A structure for a weapon apparatus that can be made of polymer materials is provided. In addition to many novel features, including a counter-torque muzzle cap, an operating handle and gas-operated link, this weapon apparatus has a unique firing mechanism... | 08/14/1990 |
| 4867039 | Combination pump action autoloading rifle and shotgun A semiautomatic gun which can be used to fire two types of ammunition comprises first and second bolts and a selector assembly operated by a user of the gun. The selector assembly selectively permits loading and firing of one type of ammunition. The gun h... | 09/19/1989 |
| 3972142 | Shot gun A shot gun, wherein a pulled trigger causes a disconnector to push a sear for rotation, thereby disengaging a hammer from the sear; the hammer normally urged by a plunger assembly forcefully rotates when released from the sear and impinges on the firing p... | 08/03/1976 |
