ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 9 -- United States Patent no. 12,287,026, issued on April 29, was assigned to GESTION LAFOREST INC. (St-Hubert, Canada).

"Linear actuator with anti-rotation mechanism" was invented by Alain Forte (Boucherville, Canada), Alain Gobeil (Montreal, Canada) and Pierre Laforest (Brossard, Canada).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The linear actuator comprises elongated first and second bands that cooperate to form an extractable and retractable column. Rotatable first and second band guide members respectively guide turns of the first and second bands into intertwined engagement. A power actuator causes rotation of the first and second band guide members such that the extractable a...