...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 |
| 8177026 | Tree stand safety belt and method A Tree Stand Safety Belt device prevents a person (wearer/user) from falling out of a tree stand used for viewing or hunting wildlife. When properly positioned and securely attached, the device of this invention maintains substantially continuous contact of the wear... | 05/15/2012 |
| 7322443 | Device for attaching to a tree and stabilizing a bowman attached thereto who is hunting game A strap surrounding a trunk. A support is held a strap against the trunk. A mechanical linkage is attached to the support. A brake is furnished to the mechanical linkage. A frame is attached to the linkage for maintaining a person in position. A belt attached to the... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7216740 | Rappelling rig A rig for use in conjunction with a helicopter or other aircraft which allows the aircraft to be quickly converted to use as a platform for rappelling. The rig is preferably constructed of strapping materials into relatively planar main body portion with attached le... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7163081 | Elastic strap assembly for tree stand safety belts and harnesses An elastic strap assembly for tree stands, safety belts and harnesses. The strap assembly is adapted to be attached to a first strap which can be disposed around and secured to a tree and a second strap which is disposed around a person standing in a tree stand or t... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7140587 | Support device A support device may be used by a technician when performing elevated line work, for example. The support device may include a body portion having a ring portion extending from one end of the body portion. The support device also may include first and second hanger ... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7114196 | Vehicle safety belt weight stabilization device The present invention is to be utilized as a safety device for a passenger riding a vehicle in tandem with the vehicle's operator. The invention is a safety belt device that allows for the passenger to securely grasp one or two handgrips attached to a belt worn arou... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7100738 | Climbing device A safety device is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the safety device includes a frame having a main lever arm and a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion comprises a surface having a plurality of indentations and wherein the main lever arm ... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7073627 | Dorsal pad assembly for use with a safety harness A preferred embodiment safety harness includes two straps operatively connected to a D-ring, which is operatively connected to a biasing mechanism urging the D-ring to an upright position. The safety harness may also include an impact indicator for providing indicat... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7040588 | Anchor assembly An anchor assembly is described and which includes a plurality of individual article engaging portions, each having opposite first and second ends, and wherein the individual portions are pivotally mounted at the opposite ends thereof to the adjacent portion, and wh... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7036628 | Hunter's safety harness for tree stand An apparatus that secures a hunter to a tree while in a tree-mounted hunting stand that includes a safety harness assembly (200) having a belt retractor (24) and a body harness (16). The belt retractor is configured to be removably secured about... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7025171 | Safety harness A safety harness comprises a strap portion for extending over a portion a the person's body to retain the person within the safety harness. The strap portion is fabricated from a flexible material having an elastic extension in the range of approximately 3 to approx... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6981571 | Climber catcher An apparatus and methods of use for a climber catcher safety device having the ability to securely engage the pole so that the safety device can hold or otherwise support a body belt attached to the fallen technician. In various embodiments, the safety device includ... | 01/03/2006 |
| 6973995 | Integrated support device and method A support device secures a technician to a pole during elevated line work. The support device may be integrated with a safety strap to keep the technician from falling if the gaffs of the technician cut out from the pole. ... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6959784 | Torso harness A torso harness for reducing injury from a fall from a utility pole. The torso harness has a segment of elastic cordage having a first end and a second end. The torso harness also has means for securing the first end to a support device in the utility pole and means... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6907956 | Device for rescuing persons, objects and the like from buildings A device for rescuing persons and objects from buildings has at least one rescue element that is a rescue rope to be anchored to the ground. A retaining element of a rescue belt can be attached to the rescue rope. The rescue rope is wound onto a winding device in an... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6902032 | Technician catcher This invention provides apparatus and methods of use for a technician catcher safety device having the means to securely engage the pole so that the safety device can hold or otherwise support a safety strap attached to the fallen technician. In various embodiments,... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6874596 | Safety harness with front D ring A safety harness with a front D-ring includes an upper body portion and a lower body portion. A front D-ring is positioned at a front of the upper body portion where a first shoulder strap and a second shoulder strap cross. A single length of webbing is used to form... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6752242 | Wood pole fall protection device A wood pole fall protection device for line technicians and pole climbers that allows travel up and down a wooden pole without incurring a fall or injury. The wood pole fall protection device is also designed to provide the line technician with the ability to rotate... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6644438 | Pole climbing and safety device A pole climbing and safety device has a flexible strap which in use is passed around the pole on the opposite side thereof to a climber, and a pair of handles each adjacent a respective opposite end of the strap and grippable by the climber's hands, each ... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6471000 | Safety harness and ladder assembly In certain embodiments, the improved safety ladder and harness assembly described herein incorporates a harness coupling designed to slide freely within the vertical member of a safety ladder so long as the forces exerted on the coupling are small. Any si... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6357547 | Pole hitching device Safety lanyards and belts are commonly used by linesman for use in climbing utility pole and by timber men for climbing trees. Typically such an apparatus is designed to encircle the tree and attach at both ends to the belt of the climber. Such lanyards a... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6298629 | Safety line anchorage assemblies An anchorage kit 100 includes components which may be assembled in various ways to provide anchorages 101-107 suitable for connection in series between a safety line and any of various structural members. The kit 100 includes opposing brackets 120, 140 wh... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6298944 | Method of forming multi-purpose hunting apparel A method and apparatus for carrying, using and storing in the field various hunting supplies including a back pad and other material is disclosed. A vest with a padded back and sides containing pockets is worn by a hunter in to the woods. When the hunter ... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6241045 | Safety structures for pole climbing applications A novel fall protection apparatus is described wherein a worker can climb a pole, while maneuvering about the pole as he climbs. This structure enables the worker to both ascend and descend, but be protected upon an accidental fall from the pole. In parti... | 06/05/2001 |
| 6035966 | Harness tree seat with ascender Adjustable upper straps extend from the four corners of a collapsible seat assembly and terminate at a central O-ring. A groin strap extends from the central ring to a portion of the seat assembly. A tree ascender strap is also connected to the central ri... | 03/14/2000 |
| 6016889 | Fall protection device including tiltable bearing A fall protection device for protecting a user from falling while climbing a pole includes a housing dimensioned to fit over a top end of the pole. THe housing comprises a closed end and an opposite open end, through which the top end of the pole is recei... | 01/25/2000 |
| 5927431 | Guarded snap hook A keeper-equipped snap hook includes a guard member which can be readily positioned by a user in either a closed position or an open position. In the closed position the keeper is secured in a U-shaped channel provided by the guard member to protect the k... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5738046 | Safety jacket and harness system A safety jacket and harness system including a body harness formed by a pair of torso bands and a pair of shoulder straps. The torso bands form an upper torso band and a lower torso band. Each torso band has a fastening member that is attached to end port... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5454197 | Apparatus for mounting a tubular safety stanchion-vent element through a roof There is disclosed an apparatus, for mounting a combined roof plumbing vent, and a safety stanchion element, on a roof with its roof covering, the elements having a mounting bracket, in conjunction with the roof beam element, being formed by fixedly conne... | 10/03/1995 |
| 5293657 | Suspension device for hammocks and other objects The present invention relates to a suspension device for suspending objects such as a hammock, tarpaulin or any object requiring slip-free suspension from one or more load bearing members. The invention consists of a gripping belt of determinate length to... | 03/15/1994 |
| 5234074 | Lanyard with pole gripping means A fall arrest lanyard for use by a worker at an elevated position on a pole, e.g., a telephone pole. The lanyard comprises a flexible strap and a pair of gripping units. The strap is arranged to be releasably connected to the worker to form a loop encircl... | 08/10/1993 |
| 5222991 | Lanyard with pole gripping means A fall arrest lanyard for use by a worker at an elevated position on a pole, e.g., a telephone pole. The lanyard comprises a flexible strap and a pair of gripping units. The strap is arranged to be releasably connected to the worker to form a loop encircl... | 06/29/1993 |
| 5184696 | Fall arrest belt assembly A fall arrest belt assembly attaches to the body belt of a climber who climbs wooden utility poles or trees. The belt assembly has an outer strap to fit around the pole, an elastic cross strap to pull the outer belt against the pole, and a safety device o... | 02/09/1993 |
| 5165499 | Anchor system for use with fall prevention safety devices An anchor system for use with a lanyard secured to a worker located at an elevated position to prevent the worker from falling. The anchor system is arranged to be releasably secured to a fixed member, e.g., an I-beam, adjacent the elevated position and c... | 11/24/1992 |
| 5141074 | Lineman's pole strap assembly In a lineman's pole strap assembly for use on utility poles and the like, the assembly comprising an outer strap and a cross strap attached at its ends to the outer strap so as to define a closed loop encircling the pole, the cross strap is connected to t... | 08/25/1992 |
| 5137113 | Lineman's safety strap assembly A lineman's safety strap assembly for attachment to a body belt, comprises: a pole strap having two ends; a cross belt strap extending between the two ends of the pole strap in order to form therewith a loop; the loop being able to open and close in order... | 08/11/1992 |
| 5052514 | Safety harness for hunters A safety harness especially for hunters who use tree stands is disclosed. The harness comprises a web belt with a buckle for the hunter. Attached to the belt by a "D"-ring is a safety rope which is fastened around the tree and back onto the "D"-ring by a ... | 10/01/1991 |
| 5050704 | Harness for a safety line A harness for use with a safety line utilized in climbing a pole or the like. The harness includes two shoulder straps with each strap having located therealong a fastening device for the safety line. Each fastening device is movable along a guide associa... | 09/24/1991 |
| 4951778 | Safety restraint for hunters A safety restraint for hunters is disclosed. The safety restraint includes a user member for connection to the user, an anchor member for connection to a stationary object and means for connecting the user member and the anchor member such that the user m... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4923048 | Safety restraint device A safety restraint device, such as worn by a worker for preventing falls, employs a sliding D-shaped ring which is mounted to the safety lanyard. The releasable snap hook of the safety lanyard may be engaged in the sliding D-ring to secure the safety lany... | 05/08/1990 |