Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7310831 | Disposable protector for engaging a clogged toilet and containing splashes in the clogged toilet occurring during unclogging of the clogged toilet by a plunger A disposable protector containing splashes in a clogged toilet during plunging. A frame includes a non-continuous hoop allowing to the hoop to sealingly conform to just below the rim of the clogged and a handle having a pair of arms generally conforming to, and capt... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7234731 | Gas feed pipe connecting screw for continuous casting nozzle A gas feed pipe connecting screw for a continuous casting nozzle which is mounted to the continuous casting nozzle formed with an axially extending ring-shaped slit concentric with a nozzle bore. The screw connects the nozzle to a gas feed pipe for blowing a gas int... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7216377 | Siphon for sink or similar element A siphon for a sink or similar element includes an upper part, a lower pivoting part, and a connection device disposed between the parts and a gasket. The connection device includes: at least one hinge which is used to pivot and guide the lower part around the axis ... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7131150 | Device to assist P-trap drainage The device is a molded, chemically-resistant-plastic cylinder consisting of a top rail, a bottom rail, four equally spaced quadrant side bars and four tapered helicoidally twisted directional vanes. Vanes are tapered from top to bottom so as not to collect debris. | 11/07/2006 |
| 7120949 | Multi-purpose drain The purpose of this multi-purpose drain is to prevent foreign matter from intruding into the down stream drainage system while providing a means to maintain the flow of liquid through the system should the primary path of flow become clogged. This invention has a wi... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7107634 | Method and apparatus for cleaning a conduit A conduit cleaning or clearing apparatus and method has a housing assembly connectable to a pipeline. The housing has an inlet and outlet leg joined by a bight portion. A cleaning member is rotatably disposed within the housing and may be rotated from a first unobst... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7096516 | Alarming plumbing screen A plumbing screen is provided having an annular seal that is adapted to fittingly conform to the internal surface of a toilet drain. The annular seal circumscribes a central screen that provides free fluid communication down the toilet drain but provides physical im... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7094340 | Anti-spray aquarium airlift tube elbow An exit elbow for an aerated aquarium lift tube, designed so that by the combination of a top-most air release baffle and a submerged release jet, that the inevitable water spray from the implosion of aeration bubbles is contained within the exit elbow itself and no... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7065924 | Downpipe connector system A downpipe connector system is disclosed. The system having a downpipe connector for attachment to a channel in a canale. The connector has a first portion with an upstanding wall and a floor from which the floor extends. A tubular extension projects from the floor ... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7005077 | Shipboard human waste treatment for removing solids A method and system for separating human waste solids from liquid for a shipboard toilet system that allows for the separation of solid waste, compaction of the solid waste and storage of solid waste. Wastes are deposited into a shipboard toilet system that uses vac... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6880178 | Line guard with visible indicator The invention is drawn to a retractable guard for use in a sewerage or drainage line having a plurality of prongs with hooked ends are disposed within a sewage pipe downstream of a toilet. The opposite ends of the prongs are connected to a tubular member which, in t... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6787210 | Absorbent pad for use with urinal An inexpensive and disposable, highly absorbent pad for placement on a floor surface, directly in front of a urinal, for absorbing fluid not deposited within the confines of the urinal which would otherwise drip on the floor. Fluid absorbed by the pad is prevented f... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6721965 | Toilet bowl screen A toilet bowl screen is provided for use in connection with a typical toilet bowl. The toilet bowl screen comprises a razor wire screen, a circular plastic ring connected to the perimeter of the razor wire screen, and a plastic handle connected to the plastic ring, ... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6668389 | Vacuum toilet A vacuum toilet comprises a toilet bowl (1) and a vacuum pipeline (3) which opens out into said toilet bowl. In the region of the opening (2), the vacuum line (3) has a cross-sectional narrowing in the form of a foreign-body barrier (5) which projects rad... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6494325 | Toilet water-line filter A toilet water-line filter (10) that is designed to protect a toilet's fill valve (62) from the intrusion of potentially damaging debris such as rocks, vegetation, etc. The filter (10) is comprised of a housing (12) and an internal filter (34) which consi... | 12/17/2002 |
| 6385799 | Plumbing sink trap A plumbing sink trap having a rotatable actuating knob for rotating a sweeper bar through 360°. The sweeper bar forms a part of the U-shaped path for waste water. Rotation of the sweeper bar removes obstructions in the U-shaped path.... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6265084 | Absorbent pad for use with urinal An inexpensive and disposable, highly absorbent pad for placement on a floor surface, directly in front of a urinal, for absorbing fluid not deposited within the confines of the urinal which would otherwise drip on the floor. Fluid absorbed by the pad is ... | 07/24/2001 |
| 6212696 | Toilet bowl with improved access opening An improved toilet bowl construction for providing access to a siphon or trap therein comprises a toilet bowl which defines an opening positioned in communication with the siphon. The toilet bowl construction further includes an annular cover member coupl... | 04/10/2001 |
| 5546614 | Refuse collector drainpipe insert A refuse-collecting drainpipe insert is a generally helical coil formed by a strip of rectangular cross section and having a bulge located axially generally centrally of the coil, and frustoconical end portions tapered oppositely from the central bulge of... | 08/20/1996 |
| 5267361 | Drain trap A drain trap includes an L-shaped inlet tube, a cap, a vertical discharge tube and a garbage blocking member. The inlet tube includes a vertical portion, a horizontal portion having an end integral with the lower end of the vertical portion, an open upper... | 12/07/1993 |
| 5144699 | Plumbing drainage system A plumbing drainage system has a plumbing stack with a clean-out hole formed therein. A drainage device for controlled drainage of the plumbing stack includes a device for connecting the drainage device to a plumbing stack at the clean-out hole formed in ... | 09/08/1992 |
| 5075905 | Drain trap assembly An improved drain trap assembly which is designed to allow for disposal of sediment with reduced mess and uncleanliness. The improvement comprises a valve which is attached to a drain trap and a compressible container attached subjacent to the valve which... | 12/31/1991 |
| 5027447 | Retractable guard for sewage pipes A retractable guard for use in combination with a sewage pipe leading from a flush toilet is provided having a plurality of prongs with hooked ends positioned within a cross section of the pipe. The prongs are connected to a piston which is slidable withi... | 07/02/1991 |
| 4996725 | Retractable guard for sewage pipes A retractable guard for use in combination with a sewage pipe leading from a flush toilet is provided having a plurality of prongs with hooked ends positioned within a cross section of the pipe. The prongs are connected to a piston which is slidable withi... | 03/05/1991 |
| 4949406 | Sink trap filter assembly A filter trap assembly of the type to be used in a sink or other similar plumbing facility and including an elongated vertical pipe section connected at an open end to the drain of a sink and including a closed end defining a liquid reservoir. A filter ho... | 08/21/1990 |
| 4932080 | Retractable guard for sewage pipes A retractable guard for use in combination with a sewage pipe leading from a flush toilet is provided having a plurality of prongs with hooked ends positioned within a cross section of the pipe. The prongs are connected to a piston which is slidable withi... | 06/12/1990 |
| 4879771 | Floor clean-out assembly A floor clean-out assembly for a drain pipe comprises a tubular adapter having a top shaped to serve as the ball of a ball and socket and a bottom for connection to a drain pipe; and a tubular extension member for extending from the top of the adapter to ... | 11/14/1989 |
| 4823416 | Method and apparatus to prevent clogging of sewer lines Apparatus and method for isolating and blocking articles flushed down toilets before they can get into and jam a main sewer line utilizes a threaded rod having a head for rotation thereof disposed on one end, a nut threaded onto the rod, a flat washer dis... | 04/25/1989 |
| 4823411 | Cleanout extension adaptor A cleanout extension adaptor for insertion into a cleanout extension construction in a plumbing arrangement. The cleanout extension adaptor includes a cylindrical body with a small, thin lip on the top for seating on the top of a cleanout extension. The c... | 04/25/1989 |
| 4555818 | Waste line trap A waste line trap is provided to prevent foreign objects and debris from being flushed through commodes into waste line systems. The waste line trap has a solid cylinder with continuous outer and inner walls. A plurality of angled fins are spaced equidist... | 12/03/1985 |
| 4546789 | Valved access fitting A valved fitting for a sewer or drain line access is described which permits easy sewer line entry. The fitting includes a large-straight-bore valve body and a housing which is adapted for connection to a sewer line. Embodiments include removable and perm... | 10/15/1985 |
| 4539718 | Drainpipe strainer A drainpipe straining device can be attached either through an existing cleanout hole within the drainpipe or can be releasably secured to the drainpipe through a radial hole formed in the pipe. The device includes a plug member having substantially axial... | 09/10/1985 |
| 4376313 | Access port for a commode The invention is an improvement in the structure of commodes or toilets to facilitate maintenance when the commode or toilet bowl becomes clogged with an obstruction of some type. The invention provides an easily accessible, removable, sealable, and repla... | 03/15/1983 |
| 4307476 | Device for preventing clogging of main sewer lines A device is disclosed for preventing clogging of main sewer lines by containing a potential back-up at the source, namely, the toilet. The device comprises an expansible annular member or ring which is adapted for placement adjacent the discharge tube at ... | 12/29/1981 |
| 4301554 | Drain trap A drain trap includes a J-shaped pipe section having an opening at one end of the horizontal portion. A removable tray is inserted through the opening and covers the bottom of the horizontal portion on the inside thereof. The tray has sides extending part... | 11/24/1981 |
| 4203473 | Closure plug assembly The closure plug assembly is used for pressure testing of fluid drain and vent systems. The assembly comprises an inflatable body portion or bulb connected to a rigid holder portion. The rigid holder portion includes a stem section and a plug section. The... | 05/20/1980 |
| 4179762 | Trap and solids removal assembly for drains A U-shaped drain trap is described having a modified cylindrical base portion to provide for visual inspection and cleaning. The base portion is adapted for use with a unitary filtering and sealing device which is inserted within, and closes, one end of t... | 12/25/1979 |
| 4051042 | Fluid flow filtering arrangement An arrangement for filtering fluid flow includes a T connection having a hollow body connected with two aligned hollow lateral extensions. A plate is secured within and intersects the lateral extensions and has an opening therein to accommodate flow throu... | 09/27/1977 |
| 4032455 | Traps for sinks, laundry tubs and the like A trap for use with waste water lines for sinks, laundry tubs and the like has a dip portion for retaining liquids to prevent the reverse flow of noxious gases. The lower wall of the dip portion has an opening which is smaller than the interior diameter o... | 06/28/1977 |
| 4010497 | Toilet splash guard A coated paper product which is shaped so as to conform with the shape of the exposed surface area of the water in a commode, which paper is biodegradable and contains coated or impregnated thereon a biocidal and/or germicidal material, and which paper ef... | 03/08/1977 |
