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 |
| 7922224 | Curtain wall system and method A connector device is provided for a curtain wall system of the type having structural members secured to the building framing to define frames to support glazing panels. The glazing panels each have a sash by which they are secured to the frames of structural membe... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7810855 | Bidirectional slide lock and method of using same A bidirectional slide lock includes a first clip and a second clip that are slid and locked together. The first clip has a longitudinal axis, a pair of pawls, and a pair of flanges. The second clip has a longitudinal axis, a pair of pawl stops, and a pair of clip fl... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7452014 | Multi-point sash lock system for casement window A multi-point sash lock assembly being shiftable between a locked and an unlocked disposition includes a tie bar assembly including a tie bar guide, the tie bar guide having at least one guide end, the guide end being integrally, unitarily formed. A multi-point sash... | 11/18/2008 |
| 7425026 | Seismic-resistant equipment cabinets and door latches Described are seismic-resistant equipment cabinets and door latches for enabling a hinged door to remain attached to the cabinet during a seismic event of a particular intensity. The door has a latch disposed along one edge of the door. The latch includes a latch-ke... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7396054 | Sash locking device for casement window An adaptor for a window locking mechanism wherein the locking mechanism includes a keeper on a window sash and a cam roller on a window frame, the adaptor comprising a body portion having first and second sides with a recess being formed in the body portion, the rec... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7377559 | Locking system for a fuel door housing The tank flap of an automobile is locked via a wire spring with which an extension connected to the tank flap will cooperate. A spring-biased locking body keeps the wire spring in the releasing position when the tank flap initially is forced inwards. ... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7370890 | Storage cabinet with locking system having dual release members A storage cabinet comprises: a container having a floor, upright side walls and a rear wall attached to and extending upwardly from the floor, and a ceiling attached to the side walls and rear wall, the floor, side walls, rear wall, and ceiling defining a storage ca... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7364181 | Self locking coupling device A coupling device that requires no manual actuation to achieve coupling features a locking bolt movable along a hole extending into a mouth of a hook body to secure a coupling pin therein. A control lever pivotally connected to the locking bolt opposite the mouth en... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7354080 | Lock mechanism for electronic device A lock mechanism configured to be disposed in an electronic device is provided, including a first lock element, a recovering element, a balancing element, and a second lock element. The first lock element has a lock portion and is disposed in a first body of the ele... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7353637 | Multipoint lock assembly A locking system for a movable member supported by a support frame, the support frame having an engagement surface, the locking system comprising a lock member and an input device adapted to be mounted on the movable member the input device being operably connected ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7350838 | Catch or locking element The invention relates to a catch, in particular a catch for furniture. Said catch comprises at least one first catch element, which has at least one spring-loaded locking part and a second catch element that forms a counter-locking part. According to the invention, ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7347069 | Lock and keeper set A lock that includes a frame which is arranged to be secured on the outside against a first side of a tubular member of a hinged gate and at least one bolt which is arranged to extend through the tubular member, out of a second side thereof, into the keeper device. ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7325844 | Opening and closing latch device for furniture Latch device composed of a container (51) in which there is a slider (52), inserted in a guide (60), controlled in translation by a spring (53) and comprising a hook (68) to catch a hooking element (59) placed on a door. A t... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7322661 | Storage cabinet A storage cabinet provides for the secure storage of items against unauthorized access, with ready authorized access The cabinet has an opening extending laterally across the front of the cabinet, and a door having panels carrying latches, the panels being movable l... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7316309 | Tool container A tool container has a pair of housing members pivotally coupled with one another to provide an opened and closed position. At least one of the members defines a cavity to receive tools. The cavity is defined by a base and a wall extending from the base. A tool reta... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7275770 | Interlock system for enclosures An apparatus to interlock a multi-door enclosure includes an actuating member slidably mountable to the enclosure between a primary door and a secondary door. The actuating member includes a first end extendable through an opening in a door post between the primary ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7261342 | Automatically locking window latch An automatic locking window latch including a housing for holding a handle with a fully integrated bolt for securing a window, and a catch for engaging the window to release the bolt to secure the window, as well as to hold the bolt open to open the window. The catc... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7242576 | Quick release structures for a computer Quick release couplings for releasably coupling components of a computer to the computer are disclosed. The quick release coupling mechanisms are generally configured to allow tool-less placement of the components relative to the computer. That is, the quick release... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7237811 | Casement window latch assembly A rack and pinion are mounted on a casement window frame to operate a vertically disposed polymeric latch keeper. The moveable rack includes a plurality of teeth which are engageable with latch keepers spaced therealong. The pivotable window section includes latches... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7228937 | Scaffold safety railing device The present invention provides a support clamp device for a safety rail or similar device adapted for mounting on a pump jack pole comprising: a first pole clamp, circumscribing a generally rectangular perimeter, the first pole clamp comprising a generally U-shaped ... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7219469 | Window or door lock system A window or door includes a frame mounted to a building. The frame has first and second side jambs, a frame closure in the form of a window or door has a first side edge pivotally mounted to the first side jamb of the frame for opening and closing the closure member... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7204527 | Lock comprising two locking rods, in particular for vehicles A lock having a locking rod that is displaced in a longitudinal direction. The rod is driven by an actuator via a rotor. The internal section of the locking rod is flexible so as to have the properties of a flexural section. The locking rod, together with the flexur... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7201407 | Sliding panel latch A latch includes a cup adapted for mounting to a first member, snap legs for securing the cup to a first member, and a lever supported by the cup. The lever pivots about a pivot axis that is linearly movable relative to the cup. The lever includes a crossbar that is... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7198305 | Load floor latch A load floor latch that can be installed in a vehicle floor for storage having a biasing means for actuation but allows slam action closure. The latch comprises an actuation assembly that is attached to a housing or lid and is designed to accommodate a pawl member f... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7198149 | Locking apparatus for a container A locking container has a tray with sidewalls, a shelf and a bottom with an elongated opening. A sliding lock and a spring are formed in the bottom opening. A lock flap is hinged to the shelf. A cover has a base glued to the tray bottom, a spine end and a top panel.... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7181814 | Burial casket with wedge bar lock A burial casket has a base portion with a plurality of locking element openings and a top having a plurality of locking elements depending downwardly. A hanger-supporting member is affixed to a lower surface of the top rim of said base, and has a plurality of lockin... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7181238 | Structure for turning on/off wireless communications of notebook computer by latch member The present invention discloses a structure for turning on/off the wireless communications of a notebook computer by a latch member, which comprises a latch groove disposed at a free end of a screen display of the notebook computer and a latch member disposed on a m... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7175094 | Mobile terminal with handle that houses a stylus The disclosure relates to systems and methods for housing a stylus as part of a handle of a mobile terminal to increase utility. By designing a cavity within the handle of a mobile terminal, a compartment is obtained which in turn can be exploited for housing a styl... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7168745 | Device for latching a cabinet door A vending machine cabinet is retained in a closed position by a hook that is engaged by a vertically moveable latch bar that can be latched closed without requiring a solenoid. The latch bar is moved by means of a cam attached to one of the hooks. Prior to engaging ... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7165790 | Distortion resistant silent push-push latch A push-push latch assembly includes opposed gripper arms moved between opened and closed positions upon axial activation of a slide in a housing. The gripper arms have pin disposed in channels of the housing, the channels being angularly oriented to urge the gripper... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7159910 | Apparatus for opening/closing door of dryer An apparatus for opening and/or closing a dryer door wherein the door is opened and/or closed more simply and swiftly. The present invention includes a hook provided at one side of the dryer door wherein a hanging portion is formed at both sides of one end of the ho... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7142431 | Computer enclosure A computer enclosure includes a computer chassis (10), a locking member (30) and a side panel (40). The computer chassis includes a front panel (12), a rear panel (14), a top panel (16) and a bottom panel (18). Two of... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7118142 | Latching apparatus for sliding closure members A latching apparatus for sliding windows or doors, comprising a striker and a latch assembly. The latch assembly comprises a support, a spring biased latch member slideably retained on the support and movable between a latching position in which it engages the strik... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7102627 | Stylus fixing structure for a portable computer A fixing structure is employed to secure a stylus in a portable computer. The fixing structure has a storage slot, an attachment means, a latch and an elastic apparatus. An attachment means mounted on a stylus has an engraved notch. The latch embedded in the storage... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7090263 | Door latching device and method An apparatus for latching a door against a frame has a door pin extending from the door and a handle lever rotatably mounted to the door and having an extending handle pin. A latch bar is mounted for reciprocating travel relative to the frame, the latch bar having a... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7050295 | Bidirectional latch assembly and electronic apparatuses using the same Embodiments of a bidirectional latch assembly, methods for using same and an electronic apparatus using the same can provide a bidirectional latch assembly whereby both faces of one of two bodies constituting an electronic apparatus can be selectively latched to the... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7044509 | Closure latch assembly An elongated latch bar is slidably carried in a passageway through a bolt housing and is extendable into an aligned passageway of a keeper. The extended end of the latch bar carries a transverse cavity for receiving a cross-latch. The keeper carries the cross-latch ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7036851 | Latching system for sliding window A latch system for securing a sliding window to a fixed member, the latch assembly including a latch housing, a catch housing, and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes first and second latch arms and an actuator. The latch arms are pivotally secured to the ... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7035086 | Removable storage of speakers within cavities of electronic device housing An electronic device of an embodiment of the invention is disclosed that includes a housing and an electronic mechanism. The housing has one or more cavities for removably storing speakers, which are intended for non-use when stored in the cavities. The electronic m... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7029078 | Latch mechanism for locker A storage unit providing a storage space is disclosed. The storage unit comprises a base and a panel moveable relative to the base to expose and conceal a storage space a handle configured for at least vertical movement, at least one connector configured for at leas... | 04/18/2006 |
