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 |
| 7065429 | Method and apparatus for producing an aqueous paint composition from a plurality of premixed compositions The present invention is directed to the provision of premixed aqueous compositions which are used to provide a paint composition of varying finish characteristics at the point of sale. Thus, the merchant distributing the paint composition made from the subject prem... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7046779 | Video conference system and methods for use at multi-station sites A video conference system includes at each of several sites multiple participant stations and a control station. A conference coordinator (e.g., a guard or receptionist) operating the control station receives notice from the control station that a scheduled conferen... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7042167 | Back light device for liquid crystal displays Disclosed herein is a back light device for LCDs. The back light device includes an inverter to supply an alternating current or a pulse, a plurality of fluorescent lamps to radiate visible light, a reflection member to reflect the light radiated from the fluorescen... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7014580 | Reconfigurable ball bat and method A baseball or softball bat configured to allow the removal and replacement of a barrel assembly of the bat for enabling selection of a barrel having particular performance characteristics or simply if the barrel is damaged. Alternatively, the barrel assembly may be ... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6976814 | Workpiece clamping device for automated machining processes A workpiece engraving machine provides for a way to clamp, align and identify a workpiece for engraving. An engravable band with a permanently embedded flexible engravable tag and a method of engraving the tag in the engraving machine. In a first aspect, a workpiece... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6960891 | Direct-type back light device The object of this invention is to provide a direct-type back light device, capable of maintaining uniform luminance, and reducing manufacturing costs and power consumption, in addition to being easy to assemble and to accomplish thinness. The back light device incl... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6952339 | Tantalum capacitor case with increased volumetric efficiency A capacitor and a method for assembling a capacitor. A capacitor is assembled from a case, which contains an anode that is electrically insulated from the case by isolators. A washer is placed above the anode. This washer transfers force from a capacitor cap to the ... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6950060 | Satellite positioning system A satellite positioning system and method of maintaining the positioning and clock data of a satellite using as few as one or two monitoring stations is disclosed. Each satellite of the positioning system determines its own positioning and clock data relative to oth... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6928943 | Boat plug key system Embodiments of the present invention provide a boat plug key system for storing, installing, and removing a boat plug consist of a canister, a canister lid, and a boat plug. The use of a boat plug key system of the present invention reduces the probability of forget... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6930251 | Base for electrical outlet and related method A base for an electrical outlet. The electrical outlet includes a mounting screw aperture disposed along a longitudinal axis for receiving a mounting screw having a mounting screw head to mount the electrical outlet to a box. The mounting screw head has a mounting s... | 08/16/2005 |
| RE38765 | Combination screen/conveyor device removably attachable to a vehicle In combination a screen, a shaker, a conveyor and carbody device which is attachable to a vehicle of choice, such as an hydraulic excavator, a backhoe, etc., and when installed thereon allows the vehicle to perform as a padding machine. ... | 08/02/2005 |
| D505802 | Prepackaged food display | 06/07/2005 |
| 6896644 | Weight stand for free weights A weight stand having a weight support that extends between opposing side frame members of a frame assembly is disclosed. The opposing side frame members are provided with a series of pegs adapted to maintain the weight support at various heights. The space between ... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6872887 | Universal cover plate An electrical cover plate includes a base having a planar member. A first set of removable tabs is connected to the base so that removal of the first set of removable tabs forms a first set aperture, and a second set of removable tabs is connected to the base so tha... | 03/29/2005 |
| 6857607 | Collapsible display stand A collapsible display stand with a foot-and-bar base is disclosed. The foot-and-bar base provides improved adaptability to uneven surfaces. The foot provides a flexible connection between a vertical support member and two adjustable strut braces. The strut braces ha... | 02/22/2005 |
| 6854421 | Animal litter and methods of fabricating same An improved animal litter with granules having high hardness coupled with high absorbency, thereby rendering the animal litter long lasting and durable, dust and odor free, easy to clean and maintain, and inexpensive in contrast to conventional animal litters. The i... | 02/15/2005 |
| 6851487 | Power tool and beam location device A power tool having a location sensor for identifying beams or studs behind a wall. Wherein the location sensor is moveably attached to the power tool between advanced and retracted position such that when the center portion of the stud is located, the power tool wo... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6820887 | Dolly for towing trailers Disclosed embodiments of a dolly for towing trailers generally include a main framework, a tongue assembly, stabilizing shocks, an axle, an axle platform, a steering assembly, and/or tire-wheel assemblies. The use of these dolly embodiments reduce the probability of... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6810831 | Animal arena surface amendment A soil amendment for use in the running surface of an animal competition arena comprises highly absorbent and durable calcined clay granules. The clay granules are porous and contain micropores and microstructures to capture and retain moisture for release over time... | 11/02/2004 |
| 6770816 | Convertible electrical device cover and method for installing same A convertible electrical device cover including a base plate and an adapter plate that are both configured to accommodate an electrical device. When the convertible electrical device cover is placed in an operative position over the electrical device the adapter pla... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6770815 | Base and electrical outlet having an expandable base mounting aperture and method for making same A base for an electrical outlet cover, an electrical outlet, and manufacturing method, the base including a backing member containing various mounting apertures designed to permit the passage of fastening devices, other apertures to allow access to portions of the e... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6758071 | Automobile anti-theft system An automobile anti-theft device comprises a decoupling assembly having a first decoupling portion that couples to an accelerator system and a second decoupling portion that couples to a throttle system. The first decoupling portion and the second decoupling portion ... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6735347 | Method and apparatus for text extraction from cut image The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a method and apparatus for copying images from a source document to a destination document in a computer user interface. The preferred embodiment provides a user interface that gives the user the option to c... | 05/11/2004 |
