Did You Know...
...that the x-ray was discovered purely by accident? When German physicist Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen was experimenting with cathode rays in 1895, he put an activated Crookes tube in a book and went out to lunch. When he returned, he discovered that a key that had also been placed in the book showed up as an image on the developed film!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7836526 | Negative or vanishing edge for spas and/or hot tubs A hot tub or spa (100) has a vanishing or overflow edge (110) not readily visible to a user. Water from the main holding area (101) overflows the edge (110) into a catch basin (102). A reservoir (120) holds a constant head o... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7690054 | Water level control for vanishing edge pool An apparatus for automatically controlling the water level of a pool includes a first tank having a first water level, the first tank including a first float valve connected to a high pressure water source. A second tank has a second water level that is below the fi... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7395559 | Swimming pool water level controller A water level controller for a pool has a water level sensor immersed in the pool. A processor detects if the sensor senses low water. A transmitter sends a radio frequency signal to a receiver if the processor detects the low water. The receiver turns on a valve to... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7352073 | Ocean wave energy converter having an improved generator and ballast control The ocean wave energy converter uniquely includes a generator with a rotating inner rotor surrounded by a counter-rotating outer rotor for generating electricity. A reciprocating drive rod drives the inner rotor on the downstroke of the drive rod and the outer rotor... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7318344 | Wireless swimming pool water level system A wireless (e.g., radio) system and method for automatic water level maintenance of, e.g., a swimming pool utilizing capacitive liquid level sensing. A reference electrode allows water level sensing independent of the water chemistry or temperature. Capacitive elect... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7291260 | Skimmer guard for a swimming pool A skimmer for a pool includes a skimmer guard that is installed by friction only, and without the use of separate fasteners. The skimmer guard includes a perforated plate which acts as a strainer, preventing debris from the pool from entering the skimmer. The skimme... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7259384 | Fluid level optical detector with float having opaque and transmissive portions Systems and methods for fluid level detection are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sensor assembly includes at least one optical fiber adapted to at least one of transmit and receive an optical signal, and a moveable float member. The float member is adapted to move ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7222638 | Vortex minimizing fluid gathering and transferring apparatus A liquid gathering and transferring apparatus for gathering liquid from a liquid source containing a quantity of liquid having a liquid surface and containing debris and discharging the liquid into a liquid receiving location includes an intake chamber having a cham... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7213275 | Float operated hydraulic suction fuse for swimming pools A hydraulic suction fuse is mounted in a conventional debris collection trap of a swimming pool, spa or the like, to significantly reduce or eliminate any suction force on the bottom or side wall mounted drain of the swimming pool, spa or the like, as a result of th... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7146658 | Pool skimmer The invention relates to a pool skimmer including first and second tubular members that are telescopically displaceable with respect to one another, flotation means for suspending it substantially vertically in a body of water, and a tubular connector mounted on the... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7144501 | Skimmer construction A decorative pond which includes a pond area, a water feature for discharging water into the pond and a skimmer construction for receiving pond water, separating debris from the pond water and recirculating filtered water to the water feature. The skimmer constructi... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7117905 | System and method for automatically filling a liquid receptacle An automatic liquid filling system including a liquid supply, a liquid-retaining structure, and a filling apparatus in fluid communication with the liquid supply and the liquid-retaining structure. The filling apparatus is configured to automatically supply liquid t... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7096522 | Bath overflow alarm suitable for different installation arrangements Alarms adaptable to common American bathtub cover plate configurations. Two different embodiments are illustrated. In a first embodiment, the alarm unit is designed to allow use with the three different mounting styles of cover plates used in the United States. The ... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7096898 | System and method for automatically filling a liquid receptacle An automatic liquid filling system including a liquid supply, a liquid-retaining structure, and a filling apparatus in fluid communication with the liquid supply and the liquid-retaining structure. The filling apparatus is configured to automatically supply liquid t... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7089607 | Pool drain assembly with annular inlet The swimming pool floor or spa floor drain assembly of the present invention includes a drain body having a mouth positionable in proximity to the pool wall to serve as a fluid flow inlet, a spaced apart fluid flow outlet positionable below the mouth and a sidewall ... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7089606 | Manually resettable hydraulic suction fuse for swimming pools A hydraulic suction fuse is mounted in a conventional debris collection trap of a swimming pool, spa or the like, to significantly reduce or eliminate any suction force on the bottom or side wall mounted drain of the swimming pool, spa or the like, as a result of th... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7076813 | Pool skimmer A skimmer system is provided which includes a reservoir, an inlet, a reservoir pump and a weir. The skimmer system may be attached to a tank having fluid therein. The fluid in the tank defines a tank fluid surface, and the fluid in the reservoir defines a reservoir ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7076814 | High flow rate water supply assembly An assembly for rapidly filing bathtubs, whirlpools, spas, washing machine drums and the like includes a basin, water storage tank(s) (such as hot and cold water storage tanks), and a system for controlling the filling of the basin from the tank(s). When it is desir... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7067935 | Method for regulating the level of a dam installation and dam installation implementing the method Method of regulating a water level of a dam installation having a plurality of turbine generator units arranged to generate electrical power, wherein at least some of the plurality of turbine generator units are arranged at least one of one above another and one bes... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7055189 | Hydraulic suction fuse for swimming pools A hydraulic suction fuse is mounted in a conventional debris collection trap of a swimming pool, spa or the like, to significantly reduce or eliminate any suction force on the bottom or side wall mounted drain of the swimming pool, spa or the like, as a result of th... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7031927 | System, method, and computer program product for weather and terrestrial vegetation-based water renovation and management forecasting A system, method, and computer program product for weather and/or terrestrial vegetation-based water renovation and management forecasting are described herein. The system includes a water renovation and management forecast system that acts as an analysis engine, wh... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7003817 | Tank with automatic fill and overfill drain A device for obtaining a desired pool water level is provided. The device includes a tank in communication with a pool containing a automatic fill device and an overfill drain device in fixed relation to each other. The height of the automatic fill device and overfi... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6971588 | Pop-up cleaning head for swimming pool and method A cleaning head for installation in a swimming pool floor fitting (9) includes a pop-up cylinder (5) having a plurality of first camming elements (44) disposed on its outer wall, a compression spring (6) disposed around it, and an outer c... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6966079 | Pool skimmer A skimmer system is provided which includes a reservoir, an inlet, a reservoir pump and a weir. The skimmer system is attached to a tank having fluid therein. The fluid in the tank defines a tank fluid surface. The reservoir receives fluid from the tank. The fluid i... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6966078 | Skimmer seal A winterizing seal for a pool skimmer includes a cover plate dimensioned to overlap the margins of the skimmer opening and having a support portion on its rear surface which extends into the skimmer passageway. A resiliently deformable gasket is provided on the supp... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6964405 | System and method for improved installation and control of concealed plumbing flush valves The invention provides a radio frequency (RF) valve control system that replaces mechanical systems that physically links a button or a handle to a flush valve or hard wired electronic control systems that physically links a sensor/electronic switch to a valve actua... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6912739 | Safety inlet assembly for pool drains A safety inlet drain assembly for main and skimmer drains of a swimming pool includes a perforated cylinder in the drain cavity mounted at a lower end on the drain return line and having a domed cap on the upper end to which the drain gate cover is attached by faste... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6910498 | Liquid level controller A liquid level control system for detecting and responding to changes in the level of liquid in a container. The system includes a transmitter in radio communication with a receiver, which is in turn connected to a valve assembly. The transmitter unit is programmabl... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6895608 | Hydraulic suction fuse for swimming pools A hydraulic suction fuse is mounted in a conventional debris collection trap of a swimming pool, spa or the like, to significantly reduce or eliminate any suction force on the bottom or side wall mounted drain of the swimming pool, spa or the like, as a result of th... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6826787 | Controller A portable controller (110) for controlling the level of water in a swimming pool, including: a container (111) adapted to rest in a predetermined position adjacent the pool in which the water level is to be controlled, said container having a base ( | 12/07/2004 |
| 6779205 | Vacuum surge suppressor for pool safety valve A vacuum surge suppressor for swimming pool safety valves. These valves normally sense and then instantly relieve excessively high vacuum levels in the pool's drain line. Such high vacuum levels occur when an individual becomes trapped by the suction at the pool's d... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6754915 | Scupper with automatic shutoff valve An automatic shutoff valve that can be easily installed in a swimming pool skimmer, that will prevent the flow of air through the suction outlet when the water level drops below the minimum level required to maintain buoyancy of the automatic shutoff valve's float. ... | 06/29/2004 |
| 6747367 | Controller system for pool and/or spa A control system for a pool and spa. Main line voltage is provided through a single line voltage service and a single ground fault circuit interrupter circuit, facilitating a ground fault test and simplifying installation. The control system acts as a power distribu... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6718567 | Swimming pool water level controller A water level controller for a pool has a water level sensor immersed in the pool. A processor detects if the sensor senses low water. A transmitter sends a radio frequency signal to a receiver if the processor detects the low water. The receiver turns on a valve to... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6701542 | Floating weir skimmer for a flexible-walled above-ground pool A floating weir skimmer (1) with a pivoting flap (2) that can be fixed to a flexible wall (3) of an above-ground pool, comprising: a flexible pouch (4) with an open front face (7) that can be sealed to the exterior face of the flexible wall (3) to corresp... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6611968 | Water body (e.g., pool) water level replenishment system and method The preferred embodiments relate to a system for replenishing water (e.g., due to evaporation, leakage, etc.) in a body of water (e.g., a pool, pond, etc.) via a discharge unit displaced from the body of water. The discharge unit is preferably laterally d... | 09/02/2003 |
| 6546944 | Fluid siphon outlet sensor system In a system and method for sensing and controlling the level of a fluid in a tank, the system includes a fluid inlet, for enabling the flow of fluid into the tank, and a controller, for controlling the flow of fluid through the fluid inlet. The system fur... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6276200 | Liquid level controller A liquid level control system utilizes a sensor that is attached to a fixed support relative to a liquid container and transmits radio-frequency signals to a remotely located liquid supply system depending upon fluctuations in the liquid level. In the con... | 08/21/2001 |
| 6263906 | Overflow proof fluid level controller A mechanical fluid controller incorporates a float assembly which is disposed within an auxiliary reservoir. An outlet of the auxiliary reservoir is coupled to a U-shaped conduit, which is in turn coupled to an inlet of a primary reservoir. At least one o... | 07/24/2001 |
| 6223359 | Automatic water level system for swimming pools An automatic water level system having a pair of micro-switches nested within a substantially cylindrically shaped primary housing having a first and second end for electrical lead lines. The primary housing is disposed within a cavity of a substantially ... | 05/01/2001 |
