Our members have created and
developed some very clever inventions. For those marketing and
manufacturing organizations that are interested in licensing or
purchasing rights to such intellectual properties, we present a select
set here. Contact information is also provided along with the
description of the invention.
PDF copies of the respective patents can be reviewed by clicking on the
patent number links. If your computer does not open PDF documents
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Adobe Reader.
Because of its alternating
power stroke, continuous action and focus on exercising muscles of the
upper body, a kayak provides an excellent aerobic exercise. This
invention simulates the action of a kayak, thereby providing excellent
aerobic exercise to the upper body. Treadmills, stair steppers, rowing
machines, cross-country ski simulators and jogging all require the use
of the user's legs. This device is for those with an injury, or a
chronic condition such as arthritis, for those who must exercise from a
wheelchair, or for those who are able to use their legs while
exercising, but just want a smaller machine.
In use, each end of a
continuous cord attaches to individual hand grips, or in the best
simulation of a kayak, to either end of a rigid shaft. The internal
mechanisms accurately simulate the action of a kayak by using inertial,
frictional, and speed-dependent retarding forces, all without the need
for storage space or a suitable body of water. Purely mechanical,
Kayaker requires no electricity.
The components are mounted on
a small, rigid base plate that can be temporarily attached to a fixed
surface such as a wall. The user can sit on a chair or wheelchair, or
even stand in front of the machine while exercising. Because there is no
large, heavy and unwieldy apparatus to take up floor or storage space,
the machine can easily be removed for storage when the exercise is
complete.
Contact: Raoul Drapeau at 703-573-6055.
The invention is a shoe sole structure that mimics the natural stability
of the bare foot by being naturally contoured to the sole of a wearer's
bare foot, including both inner and outer surfaces of the shoe sole.
This "bare foot" shoe sole invention is based on the observation that
when one stands stationary with full body weight on a bare foot on the
ground, if that bare foot is tilted sideways to the outside as far as it
will go, the foot is perfectly stable because the ankle lies above the
point of contact (photo on right). In stark contrast, the same foot when
shod in any conventional shoe is highly unstable in the same position
since the ankle lies outside the point of contact. Most ankle sprains
occur in this position and such sprains are the single most common
athletic injury. In laboratory tests, and as illustrated in the graphic,
test subjects wearing an engineering prototype could sustain peak forces
as high as 7 times their body weight pain free, whereas test subjects
with conventional high top basketball shoes sustained severe ankle pain
at peak forces of only 1/3 times body weight.
The patented design has been
licensed to Adidas America. Up to 90 percent of Adidas athletic footwear
(about 50 million pairs) will incorporate it within a few years. The
first "bare foot" shoes were introduced by Adidas in August, 1996 as
"Feet You Wear". To date over twenty models have been introduced in
nearly ever product category and have been heavily promoted in the
largest advertising campaign every undertaken by Adidas America. Steffi
Graf won the 1996 U.S. Open wearing the first tennis version of Feet You
Wear. Kobe Bryant, the youngest starter ever in a NBA All Star game,
established himself during the recent game as the apparent heir to
Michael Jordan, while wearing the sixth version of Feet You Wear
basketball shoes.
Contact: Frampton Ellis, Anatomic Research, 2895 S. Abingdon St, Arlington, VA 22206; 703-931-6111
Contact: Stephen Downer; 443 Deerwood Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22401-2214; 540-834-2396
The Headbone™ headrest is
an adjustable body support device that is designed to hang over a seat
back to support the user's head and neck. The non-skid material on the
back of the Headbone™ helps it stay in place.
The Headbone(tm) is available
in four styles and can be used in several different ways:
Contact: Victoria Closson 410-326-0468 or visit The Headbone web site.
Fabric stores often display their materials in racks. Some samples are folded and held by a device that requires that holes be drilled in the fabric and held in place on clamshell-type holders by Chicago Binding posts. In order to get the best view of the fabric, it is necessary to remove the fabric from the holder. After viewing it, you must then re-fold it carefully so that all the holes in the multiple folds of the fabric (which are often ill-defined) line up. Then you re-install the binding posts. This is a time-consuming and frustrating process that unnecessarily aggravates customers. This invention eliminates the binding posts and replaces them by simple clamps that compress the edges of the holder and firmly grip the fabric. They are simple to remove and replace and do not require punching holes in the fabric sample.
Contact: Raoul Drapeau, 703-573-6055
Anyone who has used a trigger sprayer knows that you must hold the bottle vertical, so that the dip tube remains in the liquid. This makes reaching some surfaces above or below the user almost impossible, since as the bottle is tilted, the dip tube will no longer be submerged. In some applications though, the user typically needs to direct the spray up or down, and not just straight ahead. This use is inconvenient for any user, but can be even painful for those with arthritis.
This invention solves this problem by modifying the spray head design to allow the spray to be directed up, down or straight ahead, simply by turning the sprayer tip to a different position. It solves the problem of the partially-full bottle, as well as the problem of it being inconvenient, if not impossible, to direct the spray in an upward or downward direction using a conventional spray tip.
Contact: Raoul Drapeau, 703-573-6055
This invention solves a problem in "video walls", wherein there is an unavoidable and annoying gap in the viewed image due to the space between adjacent monitor units. Prior art has proposed solving this effect by using full-screen, low-power cylindrical magnifying lenses to increase the image size just enough to cover the gap. However, when the viewer is off axis, the problem reasserts itself, thereby limiting the usefulness of the solution. Additionally, the cost of such large lenses is considerable. My invention uses small, simple, cylindrical-section lenses placed around the periphery of the screen in combination with modifications to the driving electronics to produce a unitary image over a wide viewing angle, and at a considerably-reduced lens cost.
Contact: Raoul Drapeau, 703-573-6055
Forearm Splint System for Prevention and Treatment
of Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome
- US Patent Number
6120472
Presenting a patent-pending invention for the treatment and/or prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome and other CTDs (cumulative trauma disorders). The device allows people whose work requires them to perform repetitive motions to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms such as numbness, tingling and/or pain in the thumb, index and middle fingers. Additionally it may help other cumulative trauma disorder symptoms in all digits of the hand and muscles of the forearm.
My invention is a functional
forearm splint system that effectively and non-invasively addresses this
widespread problem. Most splints or braces treat these problems by
immobilizing the wrist in a static position. My invention allows full
range of motion of the wrist while widening the carpal tunnel to relieve
compression of the median nerve. Due to the full range of motion allowed
by my splint system, consumers will find this device very functional
because they will be able to participate in work and/or sport activities
while wearing it. The invention works by using adjustable tensioning to
cause rotation of two curved, semi-rigid pieces of material within the
splint system that repositions the bones of the forearm to reduce the
tension in the transverse carpal ligament.
Current treatment options
include physical therapy and surgery. Physical therapy may be helpful
but can be expensive and time consuming. Often it requires two to three
visits per week for several weeks, and the symptoms may be only
temporarily relieved. Surgical attempts to solve this problem involve
cutting out this ligament. Not only is the outcome of surgery uncertain,
it may be temporarily disabling or even result in complications such as
formation of excessive scar tissue entrapping the median nerve in the
carpal tunnel. However, with the use of my brace the patient may respond
more quickly and dramatically to a course of physical therapy.
Contact: Richard Singer, Tunnel Tech Products
A medical device for introducing fluid treating material to or removing a fluid material from a body cavity of a human or animal, including: a hollow, needle-like structure having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having a beveled tip and being formed from a polymer which is sufficiently rigid at ambient temperature to permit puncture of skin by the beveled tip, and which becomes soft after a predetermined period of time exposed to body temperature and body fluids, thus preventing bodily trauma; and a hub attached to the distal end of the hollow needle-like structure and having a diameter greater than that of the hollow needle-like structure, the hub including a connector for attachment of a handle or a device for introducing fluid treating material to or removing fluid from the body cavity.
Contact: Florence Stinger
In many applications which
employ a Bourdon type pressure gage, there is really no need for the
user to know the exact pressure, but only whether it is either at, above
or below a certain critical level. This invention addresses the need for
an extremely simple, compact, rugged and inexpensive pressure-indicating
device for such applications. These patented devices are smaller than a
dime, and indicate the desired pressure by a dramatic color change
observed in an indicator window about <" in diameter. The few simple
internal components which make up the device do not move, but simply
flex with pressure, so the devices are uncommonly rugged and long-lived
The indicators may be
tailored for almost any pressure, and prototypes have been made to
indicate pressures ranging from 10 psi up to 200 psi. We have developed
two variations which, for a 150 psi example indicator of each type, are
as follows: the first variation is called "Red-Eye", and has a black
color up to 150 psi, which quickly changes to a bright fluorescent red
at pressures above that value. The second variation, is called
"Green-Eye", and will have a black indication up to 140 psi, change to
green at 150 psi, and then to yellow at 160 psi and above.
Contact: Charles H. Popenoe, 301-320-3303
DTI fasteners are the only tension-indicating fastener system that provides an eye-catching visual indication of proper tension, thereby helping avoid dangerous situations. They provide a means of determining fastener tension by visual inspection alone, and without contact. The cost of DTI indicating bolts is a fraction of bolt4.gif (27506 bytes)that of strain-strain-gauged bolts, because the only instrument needed is the human eye. They are reliable, reusable and reproducible through countless cycles of tensioning and loosening. The operation of DTI indicating bolts is based on the response of an optical micro indicator element to the deflection of one internal portion of a fastener relative to another, as the fastener elongates under tensile loading. The micro indicator is a miniaturized optical absorptance cell that reproducibly changes its spectral characteristics as cell thickness is varied. The indicator in a precision-grade bolt begins to turn color from red-orange at 80% of proof load (17,000 foot pounds for a 1/2-13 x 2.75" bolt), and has completely turned to black at 100%.
Contact: Charles H. Popenoe, 301-320-3303, Smartbolt website
This is a suite of patents
describing several applications of segmented, actuated, spoiler systems
for use on aircraft to interrupt the normal laminar airflow, and thereby
reduce stress on various airframe members and also to provide additional
means of control.
Patent 5,564,656 describes a
specific type of actuated spoiler, the segmented disk. The disks are
placed in parallel arrays below a slot in the airfoil surface, and rise
into the airstream upon actuation. They can be used on the nose, top of
wings, forward surfaces of horizontal and vertical stabilizers and in
the intake sections of gas turbine engines.
Patent 5,588,620 describes
arcs of segmented spoilers mounted on intake airfoil surface of
cantilever-suspended jet engines. In combination with strain sensors,
spoiler surfaces are actuated to release radial forces generated during
takeoff.
Patent 5,445,346 describes
the use of actuated spoilers on the forward top and bottom elevator tail
surface for independent backup pitch control of the aircraft in the
event of loss of hydraulic elevator control.
Patent 5,458,304 describes
disk spoilers mounted on both surfaces of the vertical stabilizer of an
aircraft to augment rudder and aileron controls. These spoilers are used
in combination with data from pressure sensors, also mounted on the tail
surface, to minimize tail drag and structural flight stress.
Contact: Raymond D. Gilbert, 6501 Inwood Drive, Springfield, VA 22150
This group of patents describes an "automatic transmission" for bicycles
that shifts a chain derailleur in response to a rider-selected range of
pedal pressures. Automatic shifting in response to sensed pedal force
protects the rider's leg muscles from undue strain and operates the
bicycle with near optimum pedal-to-wheel ratios. The patented
pedal-force shifter technology senses pedal force shift limits and uses
the output of a mechanical or electronic computer to communicate
"faster" or "slower" signals to adjust derailleur positions on front and
rear chain-sprockets.
In operation, a
cable-movement distributor is attached to a bicycle's right chain
stay,
passing short cables to front and rear derailleurs. A sensing module
reaches around the top length of chain which rocks the computer-linked
sensors continuously sensing pedal pressure. The rider's energy is thus
efficiently transmitted to the rear wheel with an energy cost of the
automatic features limited to spring-recoverable sensing forces.
Contact: Raymond D. Gilbert, 6501 Inwood Drive; Springfield, VA 22150
When you visit a doctor's office for the first time, they make copies of both sides of your health cards in two separate passes, flipping the card(s) over between scans. This process is inefficient and often uses two sheets of paper. This invention allows the office staff to make copies of both sides of several documents in one pass of the office copier. It does this by placing the cards in a transparent, hinged, spring-loaded holder that is placed on the copier platen. The first side is copied normally. Then, as the scanner passes by the trailing edge of the cards in the holder, a latch releases, and the holder quickly flips. The other side of the cards is now exposed to the scanner, which completes the copying process. Copies of both sides of the cards are now on the same side of a single sheet of paper.
Contact: Raoul Drapeau, 703-573-6055
Magnetic Brainwave Stimulation Apparatus - US Patent Number 6978179
The present invention relates to a streamlined magnetic brain wave stimulation apparatus, which receives electronic signals based upon pre-recorded brain wave patterns. The brain wave patterns actuate electromagnets placed on a user's neck adjacent to the user's brainstem, to create a plurality of magnetic pulses to influence a user's brain centers to influence a desired mental state.
Contact: Glen Kotapish (co-inventor), 410-391-7573
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