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 |
| 5374791 | Automatic stop device for the electric drive of a door, shutter, blind or the like A compact automatic stop device for two mechanisms for counting revolutions which consist of coaxial counting wheels (10, 10') each associated with a notched cam (14, 14') interacts with a cutoff finger (24, 24') securely fastened to a common cutoff lever... | 12/20/1994 |
| 5362934 | Push-button switch, keytop, and method of manufacturing the keytop The keytop of a push-button switch includes a keytop portion situated on the top of a resin film, and a retaining portion situated on the underside of the resin film. The keytop portion and retaining portion are formed into a unitary body by a resin-moldi... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5361950 | Carrying device The invention is directed to a carrying device capable of being supported on the inside of a vehicle door by the door, the door being of the type having a window opening with a window sill and a window glass set in a channel in the sill. The carrying devi... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5362932 | Push-button switch, keytop, and method of manufacturing the keytop The keytop of a push-button switch includes a keytop portion situated on the top of a resin film, and a retaining portion situated on the underside of the resin film. The keytop portion and retaining portion are formed into a unitary body by a resin-moldi... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5361957 | Shoulder strap cushion A shoulder strap for a carrying device such as a suitcase or the like has a cushion incorporated therewith. The cushion is an inflatable member which is either integrally formed with the strap or removably secured thereto. The cushion minimizes the strain... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5361959 | Strap tensioning system A method and apparatus for carrying one or more bicycles on a motor vehicle and a strap for securing the carrier to the motor vehicle. The strap includes a stretchable and contractible resilient web that is connected intermediate the ends of the strap. A ... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5360149 | Carrying harness for an optical device A carrying harness for an optical device is provided and consists of a strap loop worn about an upper torso of a person, while a pair of slide fasteners connect the optical device to a front portion of the strap loop. The slide fasteners will normally pos... | 11/01/1994 |
| 5358159 | Holster-type holder for electronic communications equipment A personal communication shoulder holster has a soft, flexible shoulder strap which encircles the shoulder with a size and shape to support side carriage of a small soft communication case under a user's arm. The shoulder strap is adjustable in length and... | 10/25/1994 |
| 5357070 | Slide switch on-off indicator and lock apparatus The present invention provides a means for locking "off" or locking "on" an electrical slide switch. The shape definition of the invention further serves as a position indicator, whereby even a casual glance confirms the position of the switch, even from ... | 10/18/1994 |
| 5356058 | Bicycle seat bag A bicycle seat bag comprises a tapered unitary body formed of a substantially rigid polymeric material and having a smaller forward end and a larger rearward end, an opening at the rearward end of the body, and a unitary cap member formed of a substantial... | 10/18/1994 |
| 5355537 | Environmentally controlled portable toilet An environmentally controlled portable toilet designed to neutralize and confine contaminating agents such as bacteria, odors, vapors and other airborne particles inside the bowl by generating and maintaining a cyclone-type air circulation inside the bowl... | 10/18/1994 |
| 5356059 | Basket or tray for attachment to a wheelchair An attachment to a wheel chair, which may be in the form of a basket or a tray, has a substantially rigid planar base portion, which has two sides. A pair of legs extend downwardly from each side of the base and a foot is positioned at the bottom of each ... | 10/18/1994 |
| 5353975 | Carrier for a portable stereo unit The invention is a multi-compartmented belt-type carrier for a portable stereo unit having separate speakers. Each compartment is designed to receive a speaker and has a front face that includes at least one foraminous area that functions to allow a virtu... | 10/11/1994 |
| 5351868 | Molded laminated pouch A laminated pouch includes a layer of woven synthetic fabric, a layer of polyfoam and a layer of liner material, the layers being bonded together under heat and pressure. During the molding process selected areas of the laminate material is compressed und... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5349147 | Protection device against water splashes for electric switches and the like A water-splash protected electric switch apparatus which includes a casing of electrically insulating material and fixed contacts housed within the casing. A closure wall sealingly closes off the front of the casing. A pair of control push buttons dispose... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5349145 | Circuit breaker operating handle interlock A molded case circuit breaker handle interlock unit is arranged on the top surface of the circuit breaker to lockingly prevent intentional displacement of the circuit breaker operating handle from either the ON or OFF positions. The movable clip on the un... | 09/20/1994 |
| 5347095 | Electrical receptacle for use with annunciator apparatus for monitoring electrical connections An electrical receptacle for use with an annunciator for indicating the removal of an electrical plug from the electrical receptacle. The electrical receptacle includes neutral switching contacts actuated in response to the insertion of a plug into the re... | 09/13/1994 |
| 5345050 | Switch actuating assembly A switch actuating assembly supports and actuates a limit switch of the ball and roller type. The assembly includes a housing, a plunger movably positioned within the housing, and an end cap which closes off one end of the housing. The assembly is adapted... | 09/06/1994 |
| 5344056 | Carrier case for recreational boards A carrier case for carrying a recreational board such as a skateboard, snowboard, surfboard or the like. The carrier case has a base and a first and second engagement pouch or compartment for securing a recreational board to the base.... | 09/06/1994 |
| 5343006 | Panel mount switch assembly A panel mount switch assembly for mounting a push-button actuator switch on an opening in a panel. The switch assembly including a switch base holder connected to the switch base, a pair of legs connected to the base holder and positioned to protrude thro... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5343009 | Data processing device and plug-in package In a data processing device, when exchanging a plug-in package with another without breaking off the power to be supplied to the data processing device, a package removing lever is equipped with a locking piece. The lever does not move and the package hen... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5341973 | Anatomic low profile pack system with quick release fire shelter A low profile backpack system is provided which includes a mechanism for allowing free movement of the shoulder straps as the wearer moves, bends, twists from side to side, etc. The inventive mechanism comprises a buckle having a pair of transverse elonga... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5341521 | Environmentally controlled standard toilet An environmentally controlled standard toilet designed to neutralize and confine contaminating agents such as bacteria, odors, vapors and other airborne particles inside the bowl by generating and maintaining a cyclone-type air circulation inside the exis... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5340004 | Automotive storage net A storage net useful in the storage area of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The storage net comprises a storage area having a front, a back and two sides, the front and back being pivotally connected at one end. A mechanism is included for providing a prede... | 08/23/1994 |
| 5338909 | Rocker-type support assembly A support assembly for supporting two poppel-type actuation switches at a housing, such as a radiotelephone handset housing. The actuation switches are positioned beneath a support body of the support assembly and maintained in a desired orientation relat... | 08/16/1994 |
| 5337936 | Concealed belt-mounted valuables holder A holder for valuables includes a thin flat container body with one or more compartments with an open top edge and a closure flap extending from a back panel and fastening onto a front panel. A pair of elongate narrow strips of material each have a first ... | 08/16/1994 |
| 5337934 | Flipover carrying device A flipover carrying device for use by a wearer to carry possessions on the wearer's back and comprising a back panel supported adjacent a wearer's back, a moveable pouch supported adjacent the back panel in a first position and supportable adjacent the we... | 08/16/1994 |
| 5337932 | Multilevel bicycle rack for motor vehicles A multilevel bicycle rack comprising a pair of vertical supports having two pair of rearwardly extending arms to support a plurality of bicycles or, optionally, bicycles in combination with other items. A pair of diagonal cross braces extend upwardly from... | 08/16/1994 |
| 5336857 | Roller contact device To achieve a small-sized roller contact device having an increased capacity of current flow, the front and rear roller contacts 4a and 4b are arranged such that they face each other with the contact portions 1a and 2a of the first and second fixed contact... | 08/09/1994 |
| 5336859 | Illuminated switch An illuminated rocker switch having a transparent actuator in the form of a light pipe pivoted on the switch housing. The light pipe has a set of generally parallel spaced arms each transmitting light to a separate projection surface on each arm from the ... | 08/09/1994 |
| 5337210 | Drawout type switch gear In a drawout type switch gear, rotation of the lead screw (7) is locked automatically at the connected position and the test position of the drawout/push-in unit (R), symbols or marks for representing these positions are provided on an indicator plate (18... | 08/09/1994 |
| 5334809 | Particle enhanced joining of metal surfaces A temporary electrical junction includes a first electrical contact having a first metal surface; a second electrical contact having a second metal surface; and a plurality of particulate cores having a hardness greater than that of the first and second m... | 08/02/1994 |
| 5333769 | Infant carrier apparatus and method An infant carrier configured to serve also as a diaper bag, bassinet, and changing surface for an infant. Adjustable straps securely support the infant carrier when the straps are worn across the body and over the shoulder of the person. The infant carrie... | 08/02/1994 |
| 5333321 | Environmentally controlled commercial/public toilet An environmentally controlled commercial/public toilet designed to neutralize and confine contaminating agents such as bacteria, odors, vapors and other airborne particles inside the bowl by generating and maintaining a cyclone-type air circulation inside... | 08/02/1994 |
| 5334810 | Combination lock and switch mount A one piece mount for mounting switches is disclosed. The mount includes a face plate provided with an aperture in which a push button switch or a key operated switch may be located. A support bracket is located on the rear face of the face plate being fo... | 08/02/1994 |
| 5333767 | Wrist mounted magnetic holder A wrist mounted magnetic holder for small articles such as screws, nails, bolts, drill bits and the like having a non-ferrous material housing with a ceramic magnet polarized into two distinct regions and a flux concentrator for increasing the magnetic fl... | 08/02/1994 |
| 5332134 | Bicycle luggage-carrier A bicycle luggage-carrier consisted of a carrier plate having an oblique front extension tube, a front mounting plate having one end fastened to the split front open end of the front extension tube and an opposite end fastened to the seat tube of the bicy... | 07/26/1994 |
| 5330084 | Bicycle rack apparatus A rack structure mounted to a vehicular hitch socket is provided to include a first support tube received within the hitch socket, with a second support tube pivotally mounted in a selective latching arrangement relative to the first support tube, with a ... | 07/19/1994 |
| 5329083 | On-line switch having water-proof protection An on-line switch includes a switch housing formed by combining an upper half shell on a lower half shell, a push-button switching device encased in the housing having a push button reciprocatively held in a button holder of the switching device and norma... | 07/12/1994 |
| 5324903 | Arm switch assembly An arm switch assembly, for an electrical instrument having a casing and electrical contacts, comprises an elongated insulating body member with a conductive member moved into engagement with and disengagement from the electrical contacts in response to o... | 06/28/1994 |
