Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5687540 | Method of finishing window openings A method of finishing window cavities is described. This includes the step of flaring peripheral surfaces which define a window opening outwardly from an exterior wall toward an interior wall. Window cavities finished in accordance with the teachings of t... | 11/18/1997 |
| 5425518 | Cord/wire holder Strings of Christmas lights are usually suspended from nails or hooks which are often formed of metals which corrode when exposed to the atmosphere. A simple cord or wire holder for use with the strings of lights includes a flat base with holes for receiv... | 06/20/1995 |
| 5395182 | Road compacting apparatus In general, apparatuses or machines for compacting the shoulders of roads include a plurality of wheels in side by side relationship, which are merely rolled over the gravel shoulder of a road. Such machines rely on the weight of the wheels to effect comp... | 03/07/1995 |
| 5292130 | Golf driving mat The invention relates to a golf driving mat comprising a plurality of framed panel members assembled in edge-to-edge abutting relationship, the panel members and inner perimeter of the surrounding frame having releasable engagement means formed on the edg... | 03/08/1994 |
| 5288058 | Railing system Skeletal railing systems are usually formed of metal tubing welded together and/or interconnected by metal T-connectors, cross connectors and elbows. The assembling of such railing systems is often time consuming and expensive. A simple alternative includ... | 02/22/1994 |
| 5282435 | Mechanical system for control of a free floating dock A device for maintaining docks or other floating bodies at a given distance from and orientation to the shore by means of a ratchet assembly hinged on the side of the dock closest to shore, and a line attached to two guides, such as pulleys, on the unders... | 02/01/1994 |
| 5257885 | Round bale windrower In general, round bale carriers are somewhat bulky and expensive devices suitable for use only on larger farms. A relatively simple carrier for attachment to a baler includes a rectangular, rear wheel carried main frame for articulated connection to a bal... | 11/02/1993 |
| 5222553 | Water well pump A manually operable water well pump includes a baseplate with a casing thereon, a rocker arm pivotally mounted in the casing for reciprocating movement therein, a chain on one end of the rocker arm outside the casing for reciprocating vertical movement wi... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5207337 | Swing controlled crane A portable crane includes a bracket mounted on a shaft extending upwardly from bearings on the vehicle; a boom extending outwardly from the bracket, a spool rotatable in the bracket carrying a cable, which extends outwardly around a pulley, a hook on the ... | 05/04/1993 |
| 5136862 | Computer floppy disc lock Two versions of an improved device for preventing unauthorized access to computer, video, and audio and like disk and cassette drives are described. Drives with an existing external latch that prevents insertion or removal of the disk, such as standard 51... | 08/11/1992 |
| 5116300 | Containment system In general, confinement systems of barriers for use around oil or other storage tanks are expensive and/or difficult to install. A relatively simple protective barrier includes corrugated panels connected end-to-end to define an enclosure, a bar or cap mo... | 05/26/1992 |
| 5116232 | Double plug assembly A wall plug for use with a split circuit duplex wall outlet, including an indicator light to identify the split circuit and including switch means for selectively operating the wall plug on one or both of these two household circuits available at a standa... | 05/26/1992 |
| 5111341 | Drive device for truck mirror A relatively simple device for turning a mirror on a truck or other automotive vehicle includes a pivot for rotatably supporting one end of the mirror, and a casing on the other end of the mirror. The casing contains a reversible motor and gearbox combina... | 05/05/1992 |
| 5107559 | Horseshoeing tool The replacing of a shoe on a horse involves a plurality of separate tools, each performing a different function. Such tools have not changed substantially in decades. A relatively simple substitute for these tools includes a pair of arms for pivotal inter... | 04/28/1992 |
| 5107934 | Pile driver A relatively simple pile driver includes a tubular holder with a closed top end and an open bottom end for receiving a pile; a tubular hammer with a closed bottom end and an open top end, the hammer containing lead and being mounted on the holder; four gu... | 04/28/1992 |
| 5009271 | Drill assembly Drill tools with eccentric bits for drilling a hole having a large diameter generally include a bit for swinging out to an eccentric position for drilling, and for swinging into a non-eccentric position for removal from a tubular casing. Relatively compli... | 04/23/1991 |
| 4991384 | Grass sweeper A sweeper apparatus for sweeping grass cuttings from a lawn and depositing the cuttings in a pile includes a wheel carried frame for towing directly behind or offset with respect to a tractor type lawn mower, a drum mounted on the frame with an open top f... | 02/12/1991 |
| 4979847 | Ridge mulcher An apparatus for pulverizing and spreading the gravel ridge formed by plowing the shoulder portion of a gravel road onto the travelled portion thereof includes a frame for towing behind a vehicle, vertically adjustable rear wheels on the frame, and a pair... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4943112 | Child's collapsible car seat Because of the complicated structure and expense, collapsible seats for use by children in automobiles are a rarity. A simple device of this type includes a pair of cushioned panels hingedly interconnected end-to-end which normally define a portion of a c... | 07/24/1990 |
| 4928450 | Panel system for windows Devices for covering the interior of windows include venetian blinds, shades, drapes, curtains and shutters. A simple decorative alternative to such devices is a system including a rectangular frame for mounting in or on a window frame, the rectangular fr... | 05/29/1990 |
| 4921302 | Table A structurally simple table and bench combination includes a rectangular planar table top pivotally connected to two pairs of legs, one pair of legs at one end of the table top being non-extensible, and the other pair of legs at the other end of the table... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4892290 | Combination hoist and stand The majority of combination lifts and carrying frames for use on vehicles such as pickup trucks are complicated including fixed and movable frames, pulleys, chains and even winches. A relatively simple combination lift and stand for use on such a vehicle ... | 01/09/1990 |
| 4884659 | Collapsible ladder A relatively simple, lighweight, portable, collapsible ladder includes a plurality of H-shaped sections pivotally interconnected end-to-end to define a flat bundle in the stored or non-use condition. The sections can be unfolded to a flat, extended condit... | 12/05/1989 |
| 4883582 | Vis-breaking heavy crude oils for pumpability Crude oils are normally so viscous that they cannot be pumped through pipelines without periodic heating. The usual practice is to pump the oil from one heat station to another, with part of the crude oil being used to generate heat. This problem is solve... | 11/28/1989 |
| 4881388 | Lock for a brake valve A simple lock device for use on a valve of the push-pull or plunger operated type includes a tubular casing defined by a outer shell and an inner core, which is connected to the plunger of a valve so that the valve can be operated by pushing the casing ag... | 11/21/1989 |
| 4862996 | Apparatus for applying a liquid to a wire rope Liquid is applied to a wire rope by passing the rope through an elongated casing in which liquid is sprayed against the rope, excess liquid being discharged through annular grooves containing discharge openings upstream and downstream of the liquid inlet.... | 09/05/1989 |
| 4854503 | Boom spraying apparatus A vehicle having a boom assembly for applying herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers in fluid form, i.e. as liquid, powders or granules, over tracts of land, has opposite end-portions of the boom projecting away from respective opposite sides of the vehic... | 08/08/1989 |
| 4848597 | Granular material dispenser Granular cattle feed is normally dispensed manually using pails, sacks or open trucks, or from hoppers. Such methods are usually labor intensive, time consuming and wasteful of feed. A solution to the problem involves a large cylindrical drum having a dia... | 07/18/1989 |
| 4827506 | Telephone receiver adaptor The conventional earpiece for a telephone handset includes a raised outer periphery surrounding a depression, the bottom of which is perforated for facilitating the transmission of sound from a receiver to the ear of the user. During normal usage, the rai... | 05/02/1989 |
| 4817955 | Golf ball dispenser and tee apparatus A golf ball dispenser and tee apparatus includes a cylindrical hopper for carrying a plurality of golf balls, a rotatable disc mounted in the hopper above the floor thereof with a plurality of holes, a cover for covering one of the holes when the hole is ... | 04/04/1989 |
| 4815260 | Plant harvester A harvester for plants and weeds, particularly aquatic plants, pulls the plants by winding them onto a rotating, endless cable. Tension in the cable is controlled, and an operative portion of the cable is positionable for varying its height and angle to t... | 03/28/1989 |
| 4814651 | Explosion-proof electrical generator system An explosion-proof electrical generator includes a generally toroidal casing with one open end and a central circular end wall or plate or cylindrical fan-containing cup extending across and closing the center of the torus; a circular cover closing the op... | 03/21/1989 |
| 4789461 | Method for removing water from crude oil containing same A method and apparatus for removing residual water from heavy crude oil comprising a casing, an inlet for admitting liquid crude oil into the casing so as to establish a liquid surface in the casing, an outlet passage for discharging dehydrated liquid cru... | 12/06/1988 |
| 4782527 | Telephone head/hand set A simple combination handset and headset device includes an elongated, preferably flexible body with a mouthpiece at one end thereof and an earpiece at the other end thereof, and a tubular arm pivotally connected to the mouthpiece for rotation between han... | 11/01/1988 |
| 4779874 | Oil exploration game A relatively simple, easy to play oil exploration game includes a rectangular parallelepipedic casing with a bottom drawer in one end thereof for carrying the game pieces. A horizontal bottom wall extends between the sides and ends of the casing defining ... | 10/25/1988 |
| 4779661 | Vertical blind clips A bracket for supporting an additional vane or vanes on the end of a vertical blind track to hide the blind controls or the side of the window opening containing the blind includes an extensible body defined by slidably interconnected front and rear clips... | 10/25/1988 |
| 4778322 | Round bale retriever/feeder A multi-function bale handling apparatus for use on small trucks or other farm vehicles is defined by a metal frame, which is mounted on the vehicle, a loading device defined by a prong pivotally mounted on the end of an arm, which is also pivotally mount... | 10/18/1988 |
| 4777723 | Abrasive pipe saw A portable pipe cutter primarily intended for concrete lined pipe includes a pair of annular tracks, which are mounted in fixed, parallel relationship to each other on a pipe, a pair of rectangular plates carrying rollers for movably mounting the plates o... | 10/18/1988 |
| 4773906 | Diaper In a reusable diaper, it is known to sew layered absorbent material together and apply a variable width fastening system to make an absorbent diaper which does not require folding or pinning. A structurally simple, multi-layered diaper includes a generall... | 09/27/1988 |
| 4757670 | Agricultural crop defoliator The leaves and stalks of plants have previously been topped using pick-up fingers for raising the leaves and stalks to an elevated more or less vertical position, and blades for cutting the thus elevated plant tops. The plant tops can be elevated more eff... | 07/19/1988 |
