...that the Slinky toy was the result of a failed attempt by engineer Richard James to produce an antivibration device for ship instruments? His goal was to develop a spring that would instantaneously counterbalance the wave motion that rocks a ship at sea. Instead, he developed the Slinky.
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8186544 | Dispensing device for edible goods and/or novelties A dispensing device may include a main body including a wall having a dispensing mouth defined in the wall; a storage portion, wherein the storage portion is retained by the main body; and a conveyance path providing communication between the storage portion and the... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8109411 | Electric soap dispenser An electric soap dispenser that includes sensors for detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can be configured to dispense an amount of liquid soap, for example, upon detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can include various features for enha... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8096445 | Electric soap dispenser An electric soap dispenser that includes sensors for detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can be configured to dispense an amount of liquid soap, for example, upon detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can include various features for enha... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8091734 | Compact spray device A power source is provided to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein. A sleep period interval between spray operations is selected and a motion sensor is activated to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor a... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8087543 | Electric soap dispenser An electric soap dispenser that includes sensors for detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can be configured to dispense an amount of liquid soap, for example, upon detecting the presence of an object. The dispenser can include various features for enha... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8061562 | Compact spray device An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel o... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8033426 | Apparatus, method and system for reconfiguring items Apparatuses, methods, and systems for reconfiguring some or all content from one or more first containers into a second container are provided. In an example of the apparatus, the apparatus has a dispensing system having a dispenser to dispense content from one cont... | 10/11/2011 |
| 7954667 | Compact spray device A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein and an actuator arm. Other steps include activating the dispensing unit in response to a m... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7900799 | Dispenser apparatus and a dispensing system for dispensing a liquid from a bottle A dispenser apparatus and a dispenser system for dispensing a liquid from a bottle having a neck portion consisting of a housing formed with a flow conduit therethrough in fluid communication with the liquid within the bottle, the flow conduit having an inlet condui... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7896196 | Fluid dispenser having infrared user sensor A dispensing system is disclosed which utilizes a controller in conjunction with a photodetector in order to provide automatic dispensing to a user when an object enters a target area. A controller is programmed to pulse a light source that is mounted proximate the ... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7878371 | Controllable door handle sanitizer A controllable door handle sanitizer includes a base and an outer housing coupled to the base and movable between an open and a closed position. The sanitizer also includes a holder that receives and holds a container that stores a germicide and includes a first val... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7837066 | Electronically keyed dispensing systems and related methods utilizing near field frequency response A refill container is disclosed which utilizes an enclosure with at least one orientational tab and a neck that carries a pump mechanism with a nozzle. The refill container provides a collar with a notch that receives the orientational tab and axially receives the n... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7837065 | Compact spray device An automatic discharge device comprises a housing adapted to receive a container therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. The actuator arm includes a dispensing bore therein. A drive unit is provided for aut... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7770754 | Universal hub for a fluid dispenser A removable and replaceable dispensing head for a fluid dispenser system adapted to deliver the fluid to a user includes a hollow shank extending on an axis. A shank hub is attached to the hollow shank, and an aperture aligned with the hollow portion of the shank ex... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7766189 | Universal hub for a fluid dispenser A removable and replaceable dispensing head for a fluid dispenser system adapted to deliver the fluid to a user includes a hollow shank extending on an axis. A shank hub is attached to the hollow shank, and an aperture aligned with the hollow portion of the shank ex... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7748565 | Automatic dispensing apparatus Described is an automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing toothpaste. The dispensing apparatus comprises a housing having a front portion with a hole therethrough. The housing is capable of holding a tube of toothpaste. A sensor is attached with the housing. A s... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7740150 | Holster for hot melt dispensing handgun A holster is provided for use with a hot melt dispensing handgun having a nozzle, with the holster including a body defining a cavity and further including a nozzle garage. The body is operable for receiving at least a portion of a handgun within the cavity and for ... | 06/22/2010 |
| 7637391 | Cover release mechanism for a dispenser A dispenser includes a cover pivotally secured to a backplate to move between an open position, at which the dispenser can be refilled, and a closed position, at which the dispenser may be actuated. The cover includes a latch that engages a catch held on the backpla... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7544289 | Dosing engine and cartridge apparatus for liquid dispensing and method A liquid dispensing system is provided for automated dispensing of a plurality of liquid reagents into a recreational body of water. The liquid dispensing system includes a cartridge apparatus housing a plurality of liquid reagent containers, each containing a respe... | 06/09/2009 |
| 7469801 | Automatic machine for dosing water and dental alginate An automatic machine for dosing water and dental alginate is disclosed. The machine comprises a pressurized water container and a dental alginate container. In the automatic machine, a predetermined amount of each of those substances is transported from its respecti... | 12/30/2008 |
| 7451894 | Dispenser with thumbprint reader A fingerprint reader for a thumb disposed above an outlet for fluid and adapted to be engaged by an inside surface of a user's thumb extending upwardly relative to the palm of a user's hand while the user's hand extends generally horizontally forwardly from the thum... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7448515 | Automatic machine for dosing water and dental alginate An automatic machine for dosing water and dental alginate is disclosed. The machine comprises a water container and a dental alginate container. In the automatic machine, a predetermined amount of each of those substances is transported from its respective container... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7416900 | Sample introduction system A sample introduction system includes at least two, and preferably three, syringe pumps. The flow rates of two of the syringe pumps are varied, while keeping the overall flow rate constant. The sample introduction system is preferably utilised in an analytical instr... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7407065 | Method of discharging an aerosolized fluid A method of discharging a plurality of aerosolized fluids from a plurality of aerosol cans to an ambient environment, including the steps of: fluidly coupling a first solenoid valve of an aerosol delivery system with a first aerosol can; fluidly coupling a second so... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7396510 | Device and method for dosing small amounts of liquid A microdosage device comprises a media reservoir used for accommodating a liquid to be dosed, a nozzle connected via a connecting channel to the media reservoir and adapted to be filled via said connecting channel with the liquid to be dosed, and a drive unit for ap... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7390119 | Method and apparatus for storing and delivering liquid color materials A container of liquid color material has a diaphragm liquid color pump located therewithin for providing liquid color from the container and non-drip apparatus for releaseably connecting the container with a blender for supply of liquid color thereto and methods for... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7374066 | Dispenser for a flowable product A dispenser for a flowable product such as liquid soap is arranged to receive a can containing the liquid soap as well as two different propellants. Gaseous nitrogen under pressure acts as a primary propellant, while propane and/or butane in a liquid phase acts to f... | 05/20/2008 |
| RE40310 | Water purification system and method including dispensed volume sensing and control A water purification system for purifying water flowing through a water flow path. The system includes a water purification device having an inlet and an outlet in the water flow path and at least one interior volume communicating with the inlet and outlet. A purifi... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7364053 | Sink side touchless foam dispenser A soap dispenser, preferably a sink side counter mounted dispenser, to dispense foamed liquid soap by mixing in an outlet of a soap spout liquid, soap and air preferably provided from a liquid soap pump and a air pump located remote from the faucet. ... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7360674 | Controllable door handle sanitizer system and method Controlled sanitizing by dispensing a germicide, such as a disinfectant, antibacterial solution or cleansing agent at intervals. A method of replacing an aerosol canister from a sanitizer mounted proximate to a door handle on a door is disclosed. The method includes... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7356381 | Refrigerator operable to display an image and output a carbonated beverage A refrigerator having a housing supporting a display device. The housing is configured to support at least one drink supply container which can contain a drink syrup associated with a carbonated beverage. The refrigerator has an input device coupled to the drink sup... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7341167 | Illuminating pouring spout The Illuminating Pouring Spout is a new and improved pouring spout for use and attachment on an open end of a liquid container. The pouring spout bears elastically against the inner wall of the liquid container to hold it in place. The pouring spout contains a power... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7334706 | Method and apparatus for cleansing a mixing device during a dispense A reconstituting device including a control system reconstitutes product concentrates. The reconstituting device is further able to pre-wet a mixing device of the dispense circuit, dispense the reconstituted product, and rinse the mixing device during a dispense int... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7331483 | Beverage dispenser Apparatus for dispensing a post-mix beverage is characterized by a beverage concentrate metering system comprising a reservoir of beverage concentrate, a disposable pump unit containing a pair of piston pumps and inlet and outlet valves from each piston pump. The in... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7328815 | Liquid beverage conductivity detecting system The present disclosure relates to a system, method and apparatus for controlling the flavor of a beverage produced from a concentrate, based on the conductivity of the beverage being produced. The apparatus includes a conductivity sensor which provides a controller ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7325781 | Automatic bathroom flushers with modular design A bathroom flusher includes a flusher body, a valve assembly, an electronic control system, and a flusher cover. The flusher body includes an inlet and an outlet, and is designed to accommodate the valve assembly that controls water flow between the inlet and the ou... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7320418 | Controllable door handle sanitizer system and method Controlled sanitizing by dispensing a germicide, such as a disinfectant, antibacterial solution or cleansing agent at intervals. A system can include a housing sized to seat an aerosol can and a control circuit that operates to momentarily open a valve on the aeroso... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7318537 | Method and apparatus for controlling the speed and/or direction of movement of a screw discharger This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling the speed and/or direction of movement (A, B) of a screw discharger (1, 11, 101, 201). According to the invention, the bending load on the screw (2, 12, 102, 202) of the screw discharg... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7311879 | Syringe pump The invention is directed to a syringe pump for the controlled addition of reagents to a chemical reaction. The pump has a reduced size for use as a cordless, hand-held laboratory device, and includes a driving mechanism for moving the plunger of a syringe along the... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7309055 | Apparatus for flushing fluids from a tube A tube flushing device has a shell having a first housing and a second housing connected on a side thereof so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position. A first pair of wheels are rotatably mounted in the first housing. A second pair of wheels ... | 12/18/2007 |