...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 |
| 8091737 | Method and apparatus for a multiple flavor beverage mixing nozzle A multiple flavor beverage dispensing nozzle includes at least one disposable beverage flavor syrup injector for injecting flavor syrup into a mixing fluid. The flavor syrup injector injects flavor syrup at an angle towards the longitudinal axis of the nozzle exit o... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8074842 | Method and apparatus for a modular dispensing tower A dispenser including a plurality of tower sections allows an operator to remove one or more tower sections from the fluid dispenser without removing the fluid dispenser from a dispensing location. A housing of the dispenser includes multiple arrays of outlets from ... | 12/13/2011 |
| D649219 | Jighead | 11/22/2011 |
| 8002147 | Method and apparatus for a drip tray screen A drip tray trap divides a cavity of the drip tray into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. The trap includes perforations to permit the passage of liquids, and to restrict the movement of foreign objects and ice cubes to a drip tray outlet, thereby removing the... | 08/23/2011 |
| D642409 | Table | 08/02/2011 |
| D642408 | Table | 08/02/2011 |
| D642407 | Table | 08/02/2011 |
| 7975989 | Multiple brand ice beverage dispenser A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverages includes a touch panel assembly, removable fittings in a carbonator, a carbonator probe, and a carbonator pump assembly removable from a front of the beverage dispenser. The touch panel assembly includes a light source f... | 07/12/2011 |
| D640947 | Combination barlight and lighted sign | 07/05/2011 |
| D640946 | Barlight | 07/05/2011 |
| 7967170 | Method and apparatus for a front access removable agitator motor An agitator motor assembly is removable from a front of an ice dispenser for servicing, thereby eliminating the need to gain entrance into a storage bin to uncouple the agitator motor assembly from an agitator bar assembly. The ice dispenser includes the storage bin... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7946550 | Concealment device A device for concealing a space between an object and a planar surface includes a first interlocking strip and a second interlocking strip engageable with the first interlocking strip. The first and second interlocking strips move relative to each other such that th... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7910047 | Through fittings and a method for gas assist molding of through fittings A method for molding through parts employs gas-assist molding techniques. The method includes closing a mold to create a part cavity, injecting resin into the mold, injecting a gas into a resin stream to create hollow sections in the part, opening the mold, and ejec... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7889182 | Multiple brand ice beverage dispenser A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverages includes a touch panel assembly, removable fittings in a carbonator, a carbonator probe, and a carbonator pump assembly removable from a front of the beverage dispenser. The touch panel assembly includes a light source f... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7885833 | System and method of treating Tempro Mandibular Disorders utilizing a protocol of examinations, diagnostics, procedures and treatments to generate letters, reports and coded insurance claim forms to maximize benefit payments An interactive system and a method for diagnosing, evaluating and treating the condition of Temporomandibular Disorder, where through a series of steps, consultations, procedures and protocols associated with individual appointments, information is gathered and ente... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7879771 | Non-flammable, non-aqueous group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinkers and fracturing fluid compositions incorporating same A non-aqueous, non-flammable Group IVB metal alkoxide crosslinker composition includes a non-aqueous, non-flammable Group IVB metal alkoxide, wherein the metal is chemically bonded to a glycol containing 4 or more carbons, to an alkoxy group containing 6 or more car... | 02/01/2011 |
| D630836 | Strategic nerve antidote pouch | 01/18/2011 |
| 7813834 | Beverage dispenser including an improved electronic control system A beverage dispenser includes an electronic control system for controlling beverage dispenser components. The beverage dispenser components include at least a user interface, a dispensing valve, and a valve interface for regulating the delivery of a beverage from th... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7810676 | Multiple brand ice beverage dispenser A beverage dispenser for dispensing beverages includes a touch panel assembly, removable fittings in a carbonator, a carbonator probe, and a carbonator pump assembly removable from a front of the beverage dispenser. The touch panel assembly includes a light source f... | 10/12/2010 |
| D625417 | Barbed staple | 10/12/2010 |
| 7793678 | Method and apparatus for converter valve A converter valve allows product dispenser operator to change from a first fluid source to a second fluid source without fluid crossover. The converter valve includes a first port in fluid communication with a dispense point, a second port in fluid communication wit... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7790774 | Preparation of guar suspension from guar splits A continuous process forms liquid or semi-solid suspensions of water-hydratable guar particles in a non-aqueous solvent directly from hydrated guar splits. In particular, guar splits are hydrated, compressed to form wet guar flakes, and then dried. The dried guar fl... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7789156 | Flapper valve for use in downhole applications A downhole valve comprises a body defining a through bore and a valve member for location in the body and movable between an open position and a closed position. The valve has a first configuration in which the valve member is normally closed, and will hold a pressu... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7748571 | Method and apparatus for a front access removable agitator motor An agitator motor assembly is removable from a front of an ice dispenser for servicing, thereby eliminating the need to gain entrance into a storage bin to uncouple the agitator motor assembly from an agitator bar assembly. The ice dispenser includes the storage bin... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7743946 | Method and apparatus for switching flow circuits in a product dispenser A switch over device provides a product dispenser with the capability to switch from a first diluent flow circuit to a second diluent flow circuit. The switch over device attaches to the dispenser, and includes a manifold having a first diluent inlet and a second di... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7729800 | Distributed architecture for food and beverage dispensers A method and apparatus wherein traditional design methodologies directed toward obtaining minimized component costs are largely set aside in favor of mass customization, reduced design and ownership costs, and shorter design cycles. The distributed architecture cont... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7671753 | Slurry monitoring system and method System and method are disclosed for monitoring slurry from a central location and replenishing the slurry as needed. The method/system allows a slurry supplier to track various properties of the slurry, as well as monitor various aspects of the slurry storage and de... | 03/02/2010 |
| 7658006 | Method of manufacturing a handle for a beverage dispensing head In a method of manufacturing a beverage dispensing head, a first section is molded to include an exit channel and a first portion of a valve bore. A second section is molded to include an entry channel, a passage through the second section, and a second portion of t... | 02/09/2010 |
| D609526 | Dumbbell-shaped drink pitcher with integral straw | 02/09/2010 |
| 7641074 | Multiple flow circuits for a product dispenser A flow circuit connector provides the capability to change the flow paths of a product valve in a beverage dispenser. The flow circuit connector includes a first member that connects two unconnected flow paths, and a second member that stops the flow of fluid within... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7631984 | Modular flashlight and method of use therefor A flashlight includes a flashlight head assembly that may be used with either one or two batteries. For use with one battery, a body receives a battery therein and the flashlight head assembly is secured to the body. For use with two batteries, an extension unit is ... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7624895 | Tower dispenser A beverage dispenser includes a tower head disposed atop a tower, and at least one beverage syrup flow path having at least one control module disposed within the tower to regulate the flow of a beverage syrup through the flow path, thereby reducing the size require... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7603834 | Method of calibrating a dispensing station An evacuation system including an evacuation member engages a product package and applies pressure thereto, such that a product in the product package moves toward an outlet in the product package for dispensing. A controller monitors the force applied by a driver t... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7568305 | Floating decoy adapter for land use A floating decoy adapter for land use includes an attachment plate, a vertical support plate and a base section. The attachment plate extends substantially perpendicular from one end of the vertical support and the base section extends substantially perpendicular fr... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7559439 | Self-defense and safety tool A tool for self-defense and safety includes a body defining a canister compartment and a flashlight compartment. A flashlight head is securable to the body at a first end. A switch assembly is housed by the body and regulates power delivery to the flashlight head fr... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7543410 | Pneumatically operated system for controlling door operations A simplified pneumatic door control system provides door control operations for opening, closing, stopping and reversing a door. The door control system includes as control inputs a gas source, a pneumatic motor, a first pilot valve, and pressurized manual check val... | 06/09/2009 |
| 7520355 | Hybrid electric vehicle chassis with removable battery module A hybrid-electric powered vehicle includes a chassis defining a battery module compartment and a battery module insertable into the battery module compartment. The hybrid-electric powered vehicle includes provisions for recharging a battery module compartment of the... | 04/21/2009 |
| 7497223 | Method and apparatus for sanitizing a product dispenser drip tray A drip tray sanitizing system includes a pump connectable to a sanitizer solution container and a valve connectable to a diluent source. A spray manifold disposed in the drip tray receives a mixture of the two streams and sprays the mixture into the drip tray in a p... | 03/03/2009 |
| D586915 | Soft tissue staple | 02/17/2009 |
| 7484573 | Slip grip drilling tool A directional drilling apparatus for mounting a drill bit on a rotatable drill support comprises a member for transmitting rotation from the drill support to a drill bit, and a body mounted to the member. The body is configurable to offset a portion of the member re... | 02/03/2009 |