Most cited mechanical engineering patents

1

Canon's 1988 patent on bubble jet printing uses a tiny heater to instantly vaporize ink, creating a bubble that pushes out a droplet of ink from the printer head.

2

This patent describes the foundational method for 3D printing, where a machine builds a three-dimensional object layer by layer by hardening a liquid material with light or other energy.

3

A method for coating pills with a specific plasticized acrylic polymer that ensures the medicine releases at a steady, predictable rate, even after sitting on a shelf for months.

4

This patent describes a method and machine for creating three-dimensional objects by precisely depositing melted material, layer by layer, from a movable nozzle onto a base.

5

This patent describes a system where a store can make a custom product for a customer, but only after getting permission and the necessary design information from a central, remote office.

6

A 1970 patent describing how to print images by using electrical pulses to bend a tiny crystal plate, squeezing individual ink drops out of a nozzle on demand.

7

The 1958 patent that defined the iconic LEGO brick with hollow tubes inside, allowing bricks to lock together firmly.

8

This 1994 patent describes the original Keurig system for brewing single cups of coffee using a special filter pod that holds coffee grounds and separates them from the brewed liquid.

9

Hewlett-Packard's 1982 patent on a two-stage electrical pulse method that preheats ink before vaporizing it, allowing thermal inkjet printers to reliably eject precise droplets without clogging.

10

A 1952 patent describing the creation of a hook-and-loop fastener by weaving synthetic loops into fabric and cutting them to create tiny, grippy hooks.

11

The foundational 1955 patent by Enrico Fermi and Leo Szilard describing the design of the first nuclear reactor capable of a self-sustaining chain reaction.

12

A 1993 patent describing a CPAP machine that lets patients choose how slowly the air pressure ramps up to their therapeutic level, making it easier to fall asleep.

13

A 2002 patent describing an autonomous floor-cleaning robot that uses sensors to navigate rooms, avoid cliffs like stairs, and sweep debris into a removable bin.

14

A method for cable modems to pre-filter data so it arrives clearly at the central office, preventing signal errors caused by the messy physical wires between them.

15

A 1959 manufacturing process that creates cushioning material by trapping air between two layers of plastic film.

16

A 1995 system for helping mobile phones automatically update their preferred network lists and find the best service provider using a data-only channel.

17

A safety system for self-balancing vehicles that monitors how much 'room' the machine has left to accelerate before it loses its ability to stay upright.

18

A 1970s invention that describes how to make lightweight, clear plastic bottles strong enough to hold carbonated drinks without exploding.

19

The 1970 patent for the X-Y position indicator, better known as the computer mouse, which allowed users to move a cursor across a screen for the first time.

20

A method for storage controllers to track and sequence data updates in a specific order, ensuring that remote backups remain consistent with the original data during a system failure.

21

A 1967 patent describing the specific aerodynamic shape and raised ribs that allow a plastic disc to fly straight and steady.

22

A 1970 patent by Procter and Gamble describing a specialized plastic top layer for diapers that allows liquid to pass through while keeping the baby's skin feeling dry.

23

A 1969 chemical discovery describing a specialized liquid mixture that allows for the creation of incredibly strong, high-performance synthetic fibers.

24

A mechanical switch design that allows a user to control directional movement in video games using a single, tilting thumb-operated button.

25

A structural design for a spherical building made of interlocking triangular frames that distribute weight efficiently to create large, stable, and lightweight spaces.

26

A 1951 invention by Edwin Land that enabled instant photography by packaging liquid developer inside a breakable pod attached to the film sheet.

27

A 1947 patent for a flexible plastic container with a unique, airtight lid that seals by pressing down on the center, creating the foundation for Tupperware.

28

This 1934 patent describes the cyclotron, a machine that uses magnetic and electric fields to whip particles into high speeds for scientific research.

29

A 1977 invention for auto-injectors that uses a physical spacer to adjust the amount of medicine inside the device before it is fired.

30

The 1954 patent for the Unimate, the first digitally controlled robotic arm that could be programmed to move objects in a factory.