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 |
| 8096089 | Suspended ceiling cloud with flexible panel In a suspended ceiling segment known as a cloud, lengths of flat, flexible sheets form panels that are held on the main beams of the segment by flexible, plastic tracks adhesively fixed on the panels that engage plastic tracks hooked onto flanges of the main beams o... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8016785 | Gastrojejunal feeding tube A feeding tube apparatus is shown, with self propelled features that provide for placement in the postpyloric region of a patient. ... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7998066 | Evacuation chamber During cryotherapy, using an endoscope that extends within a patient to a cold treatment site, the device of the invention vacuums gas from the site through radial intake ports to a cylindrical space in an evacuation chamber held elastically circumferentially about ... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7926238 | Stab-in connector A stab-in connector that locks with an opposing identical connector, through a slot in the main beam of a suspended ceiling grid. The connector has a straight locking latch that is cantilevered from a bend at a base of the connector. The bend is in the form of an ar... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7788872 | Seismic main beam connection In a suspended ceiling for earthquake prone locations, a line of seismic main beam connections of the invention between main beams separates the ceiling into segments that move independently of each other during a quake, to limit a build-up in ceiling momentum. A sl... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7748098 | Method of testing a seal The present invention is for a method of testing a seal on a collapsible tube dispensing orifice during the manufacturing process in an assembly line. Air pressure is applied within the tube wall, at a station in the line, on one side of the seal, and the pressure i... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7673429 | Suspended ceiling grid network utilizing seismic separation joint clips A ceiling system having a primary grid network which includes a plurality of grid members that are in generally perpendicular relation and form points of intersection. The ceiling system includes one or more joint clips, each of which is attached to the grid network... | 03/09/2010 |
| 7669374 | Beam for a drywall ceiling soffit A straight rollformed beam made for use in a suspended horizontal drywall ceiling is modified so that it can be used in a drywall ceiling underhang known as a drywall ceiling soffit. The beam is made with repetitive configurations along the length of the beam that a... | 03/02/2010 |
| 7661236 | Stab-in connector with expansion relief A V-shaped indent is formed in a stab-in connector for a suspended ceiling grid. The indent forms a vertical bend line. In a fire, the connector bends along the vertical bend line to permit a cross beam in the grid to expand while keeping the grid intact, and... | 02/16/2010 |
| 7614195 | Suspended ceiling grid network utilizing seismic separation joint clips Joint clips of the invention are used in grids for suspended ceilings, at selected intersections, to create separate areas of ceiling that move independently of one another during an earthquake, to prevent a buildup of momentum in the entire ceiling. In one embodime... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7578107 | Suspended ceiling segment A horizontally extending suspended ceiling segment that appears to float in space. Support hangers in an upper tier connect to a grid that forms a lower tier, and cantilever the outward ends of the beams in the lower tier. A perimeter trim strip surrounds the... | 08/25/2009 |
| 7520095 | Hook connector with plastic fire relief The invention relates to a right-angle connection in the grid of a suspended ceiling, between inverted T-beams having a vertical web extending between a bulb at the top and flanges at the bottom. A connector on the end of a cross beam hooks into a slot in the web of... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7293393 | Perimeter clip for seismic ceilings A perimeter clip attached to a wall molding that supports a beam in a suspended ceiling intended to survive seismic disturbances. The clip is capable, during an earthquake, of permitting an end of a beam at one end of a connected line of beams, in a grid, to slide w... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7278243 | Molding for suspended panel ceiling A wall molding for a panel suspended ceiling having a vertical leg that is attached to a wall, and a horizontal ledge that supports a beam extending outwardly from the wall, with the ledge having a pair of tabs and a ratchet tooth lanced from the ledge at regular in... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7240460 | Molding for drywall ceiling grid A wall molding for a drywall ceiling grid having a vertical leg that is attached to a wall, and a horizontal ledge that supports a beam extending outwardly from the wall, with the ledge having a pair of tabs and a ratchet tooth at regular intervals along the ledge t... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7220253 | Gastrojejunal feeding tube An adjustable size balloon at the distal end of a feeding tube is used to aid in positioning, along with an endoscope, the tube in the jejunum or small bowel of a patient, without creating an obstruction in the intestines. The balloon is fully inflated when t... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7062886 | Hold down clip A clip to hold panels in place in grid openings in a suspended ceiling. The clip is integrally formed and includes relatively flexible hinges that bias relatively rigid sections against the panels. ... | 06/20/2006 |
| 6957517 | Splice plate for faceted radius grid A splice plate for a faceted curved beam formed in the field from a straight beam. The splice plate can be used to fix the bends of either a convex or a concave curved beam used in the grid of a curved suspended drywall ceiling so that the cross beams in the grid ar... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6763642 | Grid for a suspended ceiling In a ceiling grid for a suspended ceiling having 2 ft.×2 ft. openings that support panels, a connection in the grid between a main beam and 4 ft. cross beam is made tighter than a connection in the grid between a 2 ft. cross beam and a 4 ft. cross beam. Both connec... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6751922 | Faceted radius grid A straight roll formed beam for a curved suspended ceiling capable of being formed into a curve at the job site. The straight beam has cutouts that leave a segment of the bulb of the beam in place to give the straight beam rigidity after it is roll formed from metal... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6722098 | Beam for drywall ceiling A beam for a grid in a ceiling that has drywall affixed to the grid by self-tapping screws. The beam has a hem rolled downwardly and inwardly along the edge of both flanges of the beam. The hem prevents the flange from bending upward and sliding off the screw... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6701686 | Ceiling grid with seal A beam for a suspended ceiling in a clean room has soft plastic flaps on top of the flanges. The flaps form a seal when a ceiling panel is supported on the beam. The flaps, formed continuously as the beam emerges from a roll forming operation, are integra... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6599496 | Endoscopy tissue stain An endoscopic stain is provided that includes a carbon pigment and a suspending/viscosity-increasing agent in a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle, wherein the carbon pigment has a total level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) of not gre... | 07/29/2003 |
| 6523313 | Main beam connection An end-to-end connection for main beams in a ceiling grid for a suspended ceiling. A connector is formed at the end of a beam by combining a clip, fastened to the beam, with a configuration in the end of the beam. The connections are engaged to form a con... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6508697 | Polishing pad conditioning system A system for conditioning rotatable polishing pads used to planarize and polish surfaces of thin film integrated circuits deposited on semiconductor wafer substrates, microelectronic, and optical system. The system has a pad conditioning apparatus, proces... | 01/21/2003 |
| 6482388 | Combined body length in the selective breeding of thoroughbred racehorses To increase the chances of breeding an elite racehorse, a genetic dominance tree (GDT) of the prospective dam, and a GDT of the prospective sire, are constructed. A GDT has indicia for determining whether the horse has any dominant and substantially const... | 11/19/2002 |
| 6446406 | Direct attached grid In a panel ceiling, a grid that supports panels has main beams and cross beams. In assembly, the main beams are directly attached to an overhead structure and the cross beams and panels are assembled onto the main beams. Stepped slots in the main beams en... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6351919 | Compression relief section A compression relief section in a beam in a grid for a suspended ceiling that permits controlled collapse of the section during a fire, whereby the ceiling is kept relatively intact. The section has a channel formed from the web portion of the beam, and a... | 03/05/2002 |
| 6280702 | Endoscopy tissue stain An endoscopic tissue staining composition comprises carbon and suspending/viscosity-increasing agent in a pharmaceutically acceptable delivery vehicle. In an embodiment, the composition includes carbon black, activated carbon or unactivated carbon, suspen... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6220277 | Flow metering solenoid valve A control for oil flow in a hydraulic system wherein a standard open closed type solenoid valve is modified so that the rate of flow through the valve relates to the electrical power supplied to the valve solenoid coil.... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6199343 | Connector assembly for ceiling grid A hook type assembly that interlocks a pair of intersecting cross-beams and a main beam in a grid for a suspended ceiling. A gapped ridge in a clip on each cross-beam engages the other gapped ridge in a vertical movement that is part of a hooking action w... | 03/13/2001 |
| 6138416 | Beam A beam for grid in a suspended ceiling that has an increased effective beam height over prior art beams. The beam has a peak at the top, which conforms to the shape of a standard light fixture box frame supported by the beam in the ceiling. The beam does ... | 10/31/2000 |
| 5992573 | Elevator up start A drive control system for an hydraulic elevator that reduces the time delay between the starting of an hydraulic pump in the system, and the first upward movement of the elevator.... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5894225 | Test fixture A test fixture for printed circuit boards wherein the circuit board being tested is clamped to a vacuum actuated diaphragm plate by the same vacuum that actuates the diaphragm plate. The vacuum is automatically applied to both the diaphragm plate and the ... | 04/13/1999 |
| 5846567 | Clot dissolving method A method, composition and kit for effecting hemostasis of a bleeding point and/or dissociating an adherent blood clot at a lesion site on an internal organ, include a composition comprising hydrogen peroxide and surfactant. The composition is applied to t... | 12/08/1998 |
| 5842557 | Automatic tortilla stack transfer An automatic system for arranging stacks of tortillas, first into rows, and then into a single file. The stacks of tortillas emerge at random from a stacker in a baking line or lines and are formed successively into a row, and then into a file of uniforml... | 12/01/1998 |
| 5839246 | Grid framework for suspended ceiling A grid framework for a suspended ceiling wherein reinforced cross members are allowed to expand; without collapsing or buckling, during a fire. Clips at the end of the members create barriers that are successfully overcome, in stages, to relieve any exces... | 11/24/1998 |
| 5810118 | Elevator position lock A clamping system for selectively keeping a hydraulic elevator stationary at a selected floor level.... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5771877 | Field barbecue apparatus A plurality of separable racks for stacking vertically within a sheet metal enclosure of a field barbecue apparatus. The racks permit optimum utilization of a body of still hot air within the enclosure and above the fire box of the apparatus.... | 06/30/1998 |
| 5708982 | Hair towel A hair towel that can be first used as a cape during hair washing and treatment, and then fashioned into a bag about the head by pulling a drawstring. The towel can then be secured to the head by tying the drawstring.... | 01/20/1998 |
