Celebrity Inventors
Lawrence Welk, the bandleader who entertained millions of Americans over a generation of broadcasting his TV show, once received a patent: for a music-themed design of an ashtray.
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 |
| 5442864 | Level A hand tool for leveling operations includes level and plumb indicators in an elongated, linear support member, or body. Disposed on opposed ends of the support member are first and second telescoping extension members. By positioning the distal end of on... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5383284 | Measuring carriage for a linear measuring system A measuring carriage for a linear measuring system comprises a measurement sensing entrainment block arranged outside a tubular protective housing defining an interior chamber and a slot sealed by sealing lips in one side thereof. The block comprises a to... | 01/24/1995 |
| 5379524 | Versatile tape measure tool An improved versatile tape measure tool is provided, which consists of an elongated strip of tape marked off in a linear scale for taking measurements. A casing is for storing the tape therein in a coiled spring biased condition with the tape being extend... | 01/10/1995 |
| 5375339 | Anchor bolt hole locator A tool for locating a sole plate parallel to and a preselected distance from a foundation edge for marking locations for anchor stud bolt holes is then used for locating the holes in the sole plate to accept the studs set vertically in the foundation betw... | 12/27/1994 |
| 5317810 | Clinometer A clinometer provided with a level vial filled with a transparent liquid and a bubble, and a projector for irradiating the level vial. The clinometer includes center calculating means for calculating the center of a bubble from light receiving signals of ... | 06/07/1994 |
| 5199176 | Apparatus for the non-contact measurement of a track gage Apparatus for the non-contact measurement of the gage of a track comprises a machine frame equipped with undercarriages supporting the machine frame for mobility on the track and a wheel axle having wheels running on the track rails, and an optical sensor... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5113589 | Football exact yard marker and method for use A device for making the location of a football on a football field comprising a large view container having two opposite sides containing see through material and having a vertical line on both sides of the see through material, a spirit level under the c... | 05/19/1992 |
| 5105551 | Buffered inking template A template buffer element with cutouts which are larger than the interior cutouts of a template, attached to the template so that ink deposited on the drawing surface is separated from the working edge of the template by the buffer element, and the cutout... | 04/21/1992 |
| 5065527 | Length measuring and positive drive apparatus A mechanism for accurately measuring the length of a continuously produced product, i.e. cable, hose, chord, tube, rope, strip, wire, fiber and etc. The mechanism has a housing for retaining first and second shafts. A first rotatable member attached to th... | 11/19/1991 |
| 5025567 | Illuminated spirit level using fiber optic devices An illuminated spirit level containing fiber optic cables for the transmission of light from the self contained light source to the level vials is disclosed. The lighting system provides for several improvements over other such devices, including a light ... | 06/25/1991 |
| 5020235 | Layout device for wall mounted item A layout device for locating a wall mounted item a specified distance from a reference point such as a floor includes a bracket which is removably mounted to a measuring tape. A level attached to the bracket indicates vertical alignment of both the extend... | 06/04/1991 |
| 4979310 | Composite level including an indexing system for aligning the frame with the cover plates The composite level consists of an I-shape aluminum frame having ribbed or working surfaces and a pair of one-piece plastic cover plates integrally formed with end plates secured to the frame. A plurality of measuring vials are supported by the frame and ... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4977680 | Loft indicator and lie detector for golf club heads A clinometer releasably securable to a golf club head to indicate its loft and to detect its lie. The clinometer has a sector shape and its circumferential extent is sixty degrees of arc. An arcuate bubble tube having accompanying indicia to indicate diff... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4977675 | Apparatus for marking eyeglass lens blanks Apparatus is provided for marking a semi-finished opthalmic lens blank for a subsequent blocking operation. The marking serves to indicate the optical center, cylindrical axis, and prism axis. The apparatus has a vertically positionable head assembly havi... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4977683 | Image control board A board for precise and repeatable alignment and registration of plural workpieces includes a planar board member (10) with a plurality of registration pins (28,30,32) mounted thereon. The workpieces have holes in which the registration pins are received.... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4977684 | Apparatus and method for measuring length with a tape and a rule A device and a method for measuring linear lengths has a tape housing, a flexible measuring tape, and a rigid rule movably fastened to the housing. The rule can by itself accurately and directly measure relatively small structures and the tape and rule ar... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4974333 | Width measuring device The edge to edge width of a moving workpiece is measured as the workpiece is transferred over horizontal table rolls between a pair of spaced apart generally horizontal sideguards extending perpendicularly of the axes of the table rolls. A pair of opposed... | 12/04/1990 |
| 4972595 | Inclination sensor An inclination sensor is contemplated which includes case means having a cavity formed in the interior thereof, with this cavity having a longitudinal slope which is generally V-shaped in longitudinal profile, downwardly concave, and having a downwardly f... | 11/27/1990 |
| 4972603 | Linear measuring device The linear measuring device comprises two rails (2 and 3) arranged in parallel to each other and joined together, a measuring head (15) with measurement pickup, an adjusting element (14) connected with the measuring head (15) by way of a spring coupling, ... | 11/27/1990 |
| 4972597 | Three-dimensional displacement gage A three-dimensional displacement gauge comprising a housing, a probe rotatably and slidably mounted on the housing, the probe is slidable along a first direction and having a contact member attached at one end thereof, two emitting members mounted on the ... | 11/27/1990 |
| 4967478 | Perspective bow sight An aiming device for archery bows comprising a non-sight restricting tube, the said tube housing a front cross-hair sight and a rear multiple range compensating rear peep sight; the said tube being detachably secured to a mounting and adjusting apparatus ... | 11/06/1990 |
| 4961266 | Auto body repair gauge assembly An auto body repair gauge assembly comprises a frame or jig having a pair of spaced apart longitudinal bars supporting two or more lateral bars slidably mounted thereon for placing over the engine compartment of a motor vehicle whose body has been bent or... | 10/09/1990 |
| 4958441 | Center punch block device A center punch block device is set forth wherein a main body includes a level pivotally mounted thereto within a slot transversely oriented within the block and transversely arranged to an elongate "V" slot formed within a lowermost surface of the body to... | 09/25/1990 |
| 4958436 | Trailer hitch guide A trailer hitch guide includes a plurality of visual guides that are stored in an out-of-the way location and are deployed automatically as the element being carried on the trailer moves off of that trailer. The visual guides are located to provide an exa... | 09/25/1990 |
| 4958437 | Coordinate measuring machine with vibration damper A vibration damper disposed in a gantry-type coordinate measuring machine. The vibration damper includes a block having a substantial mass suspended from the moving gantry-type structure by highly energy absorbent pads having a low rebound resilience. The... | 09/25/1990 |
| 4951396 | Basic formula of an active layout drawing in skirts tailoring A method of drawing a pattern for custom-tailored skirts in terms of taking into account a person's bodily dimensions, including measures around the waistline, around the largest part of the abdomen, another part of the abdomen thereabove, around the lowe... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4949468 | Roll measuring device The invention concerns a measuring device for measuring the diameter of a rotationally symmetric body, for instance a roll, with a measuring jaw that wraps around the peripheral surface of the body and features two arms, and with two styli of which each i... | 08/21/1990 |
| 4947557 | Coordinate measuring machine A coordinate measuring machine comprises a base (1), a portal (3), a rigid cross member (13) associated with posts (4, 5) of the portal (3), a mechanisms (14) for placement of the portal (3) interacting with the member (13), a measuring system of displace... | 08/14/1990 |
| 4947556 | Plumber's level A spirit level assembly attachable to a free end of a pipe section being installed includes a housing block of generally rectangular cross-section in which a series of viewing ports are formed through opposed side walls thereof. Fitted into each of the vi... | 08/14/1990 |
| 4945646 | Arrangement in a luminous dot sighting instrument The invention relates to an arrangement of a luminous dot sighting instrument (1) for use together with a telescopic attachment (2). The invention is characterized in that the optical system of the luminous dot sighting instrument, i.e. the portion (15) c... | 08/07/1990 |
| 4945642 | Quilting template A template for guiding a cutting tool for cutting cloth, paper, or the like is provided having a transparent body, a marked seam allowance, and a handle for accurate repetitive cutting of simple or complex pattern shapes.... | 08/07/1990 |
| 4941264 | Device for reading directly from a chart the heading to be followed by an air or sea-going vehicle A device is provided for directly reading from a chart the heading to be followed by an air or sea-going vehicle, comprising a disk with, at its periphery, a circular coaxial graduation of the "compass card" type movable in rotation with respect to this d... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4934059 | Gauging of threads of varying pitch A gauge and gauging method for measuring a thread of varying pitch by screwing a threaded gauge element into engagement with the thread of varying pitch and to a point at which the threads have a light binding relationship resisting further advancement of... | 06/19/1990 |
| 4930227 | Coilable tape rule with improved end hook A spring powered coilable rule has a coilable metal tape with a tape hook at the end thereof. The tape hook has an elongated body portion extending along the surface of the tape a length greater than the width of the tape and a depending leg portion which... | 06/05/1990 |
| 4930226 | Sensor adjustment gauge A gauge includes a hollow ferrule which slidably receives a pin member therein. The gauge is inserted into a housing bore so that the pin engages an actuating member. The pin moves relative to the ferrule and separates a pair of abutment surfaces thereon ... | 06/05/1990 |
| 4928396 | Coordinate measuring machine with improved carriage drive system A coordinate measuring machine (10) having an improved carriage drive system including a flexible toothed belt (89) mounted on a rigid spar member (88) to be stretched along the carriage (X) axis. The spar member (88) absorbs the tension loading of the st... | 05/29/1990 |
| 4926559 | Measuring device for determining the position of workpiece faces A device for determining the position of a workpiece face comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal bore concentric with the longitudinal axis; an extendable member having a first end movable within the bore along the axis, an arran... | 05/22/1990 |
| 4920653 | Fabric marking system A fabric-marking system employs applicator pads resiliently urged into opposed contact with upper and lower surfaces of a fabric for affixing a defect marker onto one or both surfaces of the fabric. The defect markers are supplied on a tape-type carrier s... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4920655 | High speed well surveying and land navigation Land vehicle navigation apparatus combining an inertial angular rate sensor having a sensitive axis, with an inertial acceleration or tilt sensor having at least two sensitive axes, these sensitive axes having a known relationship to the inertial angular ... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4918826 | Index table and method of alignment An index table utilizing eccentric pins for the accurate alignment thereof, and a method of alignment using a laser tarnsmitter/receiver and optical prism.... | 04/24/1990 |
