Did You Know...
...Chester Carlson was a patent agent who tired of having to make multiple copies of patent applications using the only duplication method available at the time: carbon paper. In 1959 he came up with a new copying system and took it to IBM for evaluation. The "experts" at IBM determined potential sales to be only 5,000 units because people wouldn't want to use a bulky machine when they had carbon paper. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, the company founded on the system is Xerox.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7299950 | Dispensing apparatus A product-dispensing apparatus for manually dispensing a quantity of product, such as a herbicide with a foam consistency, includes a gripping member in the form of a handle and a cooperating container holder that is assembled with the gripping member and is constru... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7293558 | System for launching lightweight elements during festive events A system for projecting light elements in the air, including: a casing connected to a reservoir containing the light elements and including an opening extending along a determined direction; a slide capable of sliding in the opening along the determined direction; a... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7284412 | Moisture detection apparatus A moisture detection apparatus is installed within a building below a critical area of the building's envelope and has a casing, which may be telescoping, and which as a window on one or both ends. An absorbent material is disposed within an interior chamber of the ... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7175106 | Paint striper and methods of construction A series of improved paint stripers and methods for their construction, the use of lightweight, inexpensive, readily available construction materials, and specialized nozzles and actuators. ... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7048151 | Aerosol can holding and operating device A aerosol can holding and operating device includes an elongated pole having a bottom end and a top end. The top end is open and an aperture extends into an interior of the pole. A notch extends into the top end such that a lip is defined that is spaced from the top... | 05/23/2006 |
| 6802278 | Marker setting device and marker A device for inserting a utility marker is described that includes an elongated handle with upper and lower ends; a marker extractor adjacent the handle lower end that is moveable along a vertical pathway, and a marker magazine adjacent the handle lower end adapted ... | 10/12/2004 |
| 6609855 | Color-pigmented utility conveyance A utility conveyance (10), such as a pipe, cable or duct, designed for burial in surrounding earth (12) carries a passive warning mechanism (16), preferably a water-soluble dye embedded in the conveyance. The dye, when exposed to moisture (e.g., rainwater... | 08/26/2003 |
| 6546638 | Self-illuminated attitude indicator and method for self-rescue from avalanche A self-illuminating attitude indicator for use by persons who have been buried in snow or the earth. The attitude indicator has a container partially filled with liquid and a manually operated light to illuminate the container. The liquid may be removed f... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6439152 | Device for marking the path along the ground of a rolling wheel Disclosed is a device for marking the path along the ground of a rolling wheel, comprising: a container having a perimeter, and a single opening along the perimeter for dispensing a marking substance contained within the container, and a sliding gate cove... | 08/27/2002 |
| 6435129 | Marker setting device and marker A device for inserting a utility marker is described that includes an elongated handle with upper and lower ends; a marker extractor adjacent the handle lower end that is moveable along a vertical pathway, and a marker magazine adjacent the handle lower e... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6325773 | Hinge appliance for minimizing knee injuries A knee hinge appliance has a pair of hinge assemblies that are secured on the leg of a wearer on opposed lateral sides of the knee joint. Each hinge assembly is formed of juxtaposed first and second disks that rotate relative to one another about a transv... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6260508 | Position indicating device and method of use A position indicator device for marking the location of an aircraft that has crashed has a buoyant housing containing a radio beacon, a dye dispenser, and a visual beacon. Upon the crash of the aircraft, the buoyant housing is deployed by an air bag eject... | 07/17/2001 |
| 6246329 | Water-pressure sensitive dye release life saving apparatus A swimmer's safety device including a housing having a source of battery power, a water pressure sensitive switch, a timer and a solenoid valve electronically connected with a circuit board within the housing, arranged to allow a mix of water reactive che... | 06/12/2001 |
| 6129036 | Water-pressure sensitive dye release apparatus A swimmer's safety device including a casing having a top surface with a plurality of perforations to allow water to enter once submerged, and having a deflectable membrane along with a plunger to penetrate a dye material and puncture a rupturable bottom ... | 10/10/2000 |
| 6125786 | Underground warning system for underground conduits or pipes The invention provides a warning to the excavation above a pipe, conduit or cable laid underground by a service utility by the directional drilling method by providing a coloured area of drilling mud and/or soil about the pipe, conduit or cable. A colouri... | 10/03/2000 |
| 6029600 | Clean hands assured A device for assuring that restroom users are effectively reminded to wash and cleanse their hands. A spray pump is attached adjacent to an exterior door-handle to a restroom and is activated either by the turning of the handle or by the opening of the do... | 02/29/2000 |
| 5967079 | Surface marking device and method A device (10) for marking the ground above a buried conveyance includes an upper and lower shells (12, 14) of a fracturable material joined at their edges to form a sealed body. A separator layer (16) devises the void between the two shells into an upper ... | 10/19/1999 |
| 5964179 | Method for indicating the extent of land subjected to an agricultural operation There is provided a method for marking the treated areas of soil or ground surface wherein the boundary markers have a high degree of visibility, thereby permitting the boundary markers to be distinguishable from a distance and in less than ideal lighting... | 10/12/1999 |
| 5918565 | Flag and paint marking device A flag and paint marking device for marking a path on a ground surface with paint and/or flags to indicate the path of an underground line or pipe, which includes a paint marker for dispensing paint and a flag receptacle for receiving a supply of flags an... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5587703 | Universal merchandise tag A purchase item security and information tag apparatus for attachment to a purchase item in a store includes a tag body, a purchase item information display mechanism for retaining item data in machine readable form, and a tag engagement security mechanis... | 12/24/1996 |
| 5405416 | Marine dye composition A marine dye composition comprising a water soluble or dispersible dye, particles of a density controlling material having a bulk density and being present in an amount so as to cause said composition to have a relative density of about 1 and to be capabl... | 04/11/1995 |
| 5367287 | Device for marking motor vehicles A device for marking motor vehicles in order to assist law enforcement officers in identifying and apprehending a motor vehicle that has illegally fled after being stopped. The vehicle marking device comprises plastic pouches or sacs containing dye, and e... | 11/22/1994 |
| 5341132 | Vehicle position alarm apparatus A unitary flexible housing includes a top wall, having first and second contact plates mounted within a housing alarm cavity positioned between the top wall and the bottom wall, wherein a control housing is arranged to effect actuation of an audible alarm... | 08/23/1994 |
| 5323494 | Boxing goggles Boxing goggles include a unitary housing, having a resilient band mounted to side walls of the housing, with through-extending apertures directed through the housing extending from the rear wall through the front wall. The resilient housing structure is a... | 06/28/1994 |
| 5265640 | System for identifying unauthorized liquid waste and waste water discharges A system for marking unauthorized discharge of liquid waste product includes a supply for containing a dye tracer product within the confines of a factory, refinery, or vessel, an interface line for adding the dye product via a flow line to the discharge ... | 11/30/1993 |
| 5247900 | Location marker stake A marker stake includes a ribbed spike having converging ribs directed towards a lowermost end for barring rotation of the spike, with the spike arranged for mounting an indicator shaft. The indicator shaft is arranged for removable mounting relative to t... | 09/28/1993 |
| 5234277 | Business card filing organization A rotary filing system is arranged to include a plurality of card holders, with each card holder including at least a forward transparent window arranged to coextensively extend over a pocket to receive a business card. A modification of the invention inc... | 08/10/1993 |
| 5007368 | Emergency ski altering device and method A compressed gas powered projection device is provided to alert other skiers of a downed skier who is incapacitated in the snow including a projection cartridge containing liquid to disperse into droplets as the cartridge is projected through the air. The... | 04/16/1991 |
| 5001456 | Time and distance measurement apparatus An apparatus is provided to facilitate the accurate measurement of changes in velocity of a vehicle. The apparatus (10) comprises a firing box (14) and a remote control box (16) for controlling a sequence of operations. A plurality of individually actuate... | 03/19/1991 |
| 4991531 | System for identifying unauthorized bilge water discharges from marine vessels A system for marking unauthorized discharge of bilge waste, including a supply for containing a dye tracer product within the confines of a vessel, an interface line for adding the dye product via a flow line to the overboard discharge line of a marine ve... | 02/12/1991 |
| 4935260 | Covering such as a suit, glove, condum or sheath forming a chemical barrier against harmful agents and methods of making the same A covering such as a suit, glove, condom or sheath forming a chemical barrier against harmful agents. The covering is flexible, stretchable, and relatively thin, and includes at least one relatively thin chemical barrier that will neutralize the harmful c... | 06/19/1990 |
| 4850128 | Aerial fish probe Two half sections of bamboo defining three chambers contain a pre-inflated helium gas balloon with a radio beacon, two bags of surface dye, and bait fish. The sections are secured together by multiple wrappings of line ending in hooks or lures. When the a... | 07/25/1989 |
| 4777901 | Security marking fluid device A security device for preventing or indicating the tampering with a joint in a supply pipe, e.g. to a gas meter, comprises two or more members which fit together around the joint. The members have mutually interdigitating parts through which a blind bore ... | 10/18/1988 |
| 4699838 | Reinforced metallic and polymer tape A reinforced metallic and polymer tape which has a light reflecting metallic layer and can have a color coating. The reinforcing material is usually a nonwoven clear resin through which the color is clearly visible. The combination of the metallic layer a... | 10/13/1987 |
| 4698620 | Fluid-containing security device The present invention involves a multiple protection security device which is used to prevent and/or detect burglary of articles, particularly of consumer goods and the like. In one embodiment, the present invention is a remote signal-actuating device for... | 10/06/1987 |
| 4649397 | Theft deterrent tag There is disclosed a tag adapted to be attached to merchandise and the like to deter theft of the merchandise. The tag includes an electronically-detectable device and a frangible container to provide a telltale stain on the merchandise to show attempted ... | 03/10/1987 |
| 4604604 | Vapor emitting wear indicator A material wear indicator for a disc brake lining or clutch pad or any other erodible part comprises a vapor substance. Erosion of the part to a predetermined level exposes the substance to an ambient environment or other chemical means. The substance beg... | 08/05/1986 |
| 4527504 | Safety device to quickly locate a drowning victim Safety device for quickly locating a drowning victim underwater which essentially includes a hollow cap member open at one end, a threaded spool inside the cap member and containing a water-soluble marking dye, a solid, water-soluble closure member which ... | 07/09/1985 |
| 4376421 | Downed aircraft position indicator Apparatus for visually indicating the position of a downed aircraft to rescue personnel. A bright yellow or lime-like in color substance is stored in at least one pressurized tank during flight, and means are provided whereby said substance is expelled fr... | 03/15/1983 |
| 4080677 | Portable diver distress signalling device A diver distress signalling device that has two separable dye containing elements. The device is strapped to a diver and includes an actuating mechanism. Upon actuation, the dye from one of the elements is released in the vicinity of the diver, while a fl... | 03/28/1978 |
