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 |
| 7412791 | Adjustable menu panel A menu panel for supporting elongated menu strips of varying heights is disclosed having adjustable guide rails supported by a frame. The frame includes vertical side frame members incorporating guide rail locating elements disposed along the length of the vertical ... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7377061 | Light box display A light box display for use in a retail environment including a light box, a graphic, and a graphic cover. The light box includes a base, a plurality of light sources secured within the base, and a light box cover. The light box cover includes an end wall, and the l... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7360915 | Illuminated modular display A plurality of separate display modules are interchangeably installed on a shelf of a cooperating cabinet structure and arranged to provide concavely curved display panels mounting selected arrangements of illuminated sample chips, an interactive video display, and ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7325346 | Method and apparatus for quick change display graphics on a merchandiser A merchandiser includes a front door or wall portion which forms a barrier between an exterior side and an interior side of the merchandiser. The front door or wall portion holds a first display panel in a relatively fixed manner so that an exterior side of the firs... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7310901 | Exterior address porch light An exterior address porch light, lantern, device, apparatus, and method of making the light, lantern. The light, lantern can be made from plastics, such as PVC and the like, and have a generally cylindrical configuration, that can be mounted alongside exterior doorw... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7275339 | Pan face sign construction and method of making pan face signs A new pan face sign construction comprises an opaque frame of extruded structural plastic and a pan face of clear plastic, such as acrylic or polycarbonate. Corners of the frame are simply mitered with a common miter saw and the frame pieces and pan face assembled w... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7263792 | Illuminated identification panel A long-range house number identification panel has its number indicia mounted on an illuminated viewing screen, being individually readable with the naked eye from up to 200 feet distance. An electrically energizable phosphorescent screen behind the indicia serves t... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7231734 | Display device with rail support Disclosed is a display device, elongate mount, and display module for displaying alphanumeric information to passengers of a mass transit vehicle. The display modules are mounted along a single edge to a elongate mount. The elongate mount includes at least one end c... | 06/19/2007 |
| 7225935 | Support system for rack elements A support system for rack elements has a support element and a hanging element. The support element has an upwardly projecting suspension rail and the hanging element is provided with a slot, by which the hanging element can be plugged onto the suspension rail. The ... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7194832 | Sign A sign includes a housing, and at least one symbol plate that provides a visual representation of at least one symbol. A symbol plate attaches to the housing in at least two orientations relative to the housing. Optionally, a symbol plate has at least one cutout tha... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7194831 | Menu system A menu system comprises a frame that receives interchangeable menu sections with different heights such that sections of various heights are combined to fill the frame space. The menu sections have a central web with upper and lower front channels that receive a pre... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7181876 | LED sign visibility enhancing device A lighting system for a sign consists of a bracket to be attached to the top of a flat sign, the bracket including a surface supporting a battery, a solar battery charging cell and a circuit connecting the battery to an LED lamp directed to illuminate the message on... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7181875 | Stock material for trim caps A trim cap for a sign cabinet such as a channel letter includes an elongated formable band along with a pressure activated adhesive layer that is connected to the band. The adhesive layer is conformable to facilitate adherence of the trim cap to the edge of a sign f... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7175324 | Illuminated exterior decorative device An illuminated exterior decorative device for vehicles includes a decorative part and an illuminating part. The illuminating part illuminates the decorative part from behind and includes a light source and a light diffusion portion. The light source of the illuminat... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7174663 | Outdoor menu display device An improved outdoor illuminated display device. The device generally comprises a modular housing, a base member and a plurality of lights positioned in the housing—either horizontally or vertically. A plurality of display modules are positioned on the housing and ... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7144138 | High light density fluorescent luminaire An extra high light density fluorescent luminaire having an upper portion and a lower portion one of, said portions having at least one advertising sign thereon. ... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7136030 | Integrated window display A display system (12) for attachment to a sill (14) of a window structure (26) has been provided. The display system (12) includes a mounting device (28) for attaching the display system (12) to the sill (14) of the w... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7102296 | Screw-in transformer An apparatus for providing convenient transforming of electrical energy from a first voltage level to a second voltage level, includes a housing having an end wherein the end includes a conductive threading and a contact for making an electrical connection with a li... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7080475 | Method and apparatus for quick change display graphics on a merchandiser A merchandiser includes a front door or wall portion which forms a barrier between an exterior side and an interior side of the merchandiser. The front door or wall portion holds a first display panel in a relatively fixed manner so that an exterior side of the firs... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7068332 | Direct-type backlight unit with diffusion film for flat panel liquid crystal display A direct-type backlight unit for flat panel liquid crystal display is provided. The direct-type backlight unit includes a plurality of lamps installed within a housing. A reflection plate is installed under the plurality of lamps in the housing. A diffusion film wit... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7066633 | Illuminated displays for alphanumeric and special characters An illuminated display is disclosed which allows characters to be displayed with near type-set like appearance. This is accomplished by using an appropriately formed and placed rib to connect the optically opaque inner member with the optically opaque base. ... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7012544 | Address and/or alarm indicator sign Sign 1 has frame 13 attaching to base 9 and supporting character plates 4. Casing 11 attaches to frame 13 and holds character plates 4 against frame 13. Light assembly 15 and base 9 backlight char... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7007417 | Audio-visual display device for pictorial artwork An audio-visual display device for pictorial artwork is disclosed. The preferred embodiment has a universal backbox which contains a lightboard capable of lighting up any and/or all sections of a pictorial artwork placed above it, a hidden electric eye for detecting... | 03/07/2006 |
| 7000344 | Up-and-down display sign A sign display apparatus. The apparatus includes a moveable display face for displaying information; a stationary display body having a source of illumination for the display face when the display face is in a position over the display body; and a drive mechanism co... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6994448 | Solar powered illuminated devices A solar powered illuminated device is provided with a power module electrically connected to an illuminated module, the power module having a solar cell array electrically connected to a battery array having at least one rechargeable battery, the battery array being... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6976330 | Hinge assembly for sign box face A hinged sign face assembly is provided for use on a standard sign box. The assembly may be retrofitted on an existing sign box to facilitate access to fluorescent light tubes and other components inside the sign box. The assembly pivots the face of a sign box to an... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6959507 | Injection molded, recessed insert for use in a container and method of using same An injection molded, recessed insert is disclosed which is adapted to receive and hold a label or label holder. The insert may be snap-locked in an opening in a container such as a tote box. The insert provides a recessed area for the label or label holder so the la... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6843011 | Menu display device An improved outdoor illuminated display device. The device generally comprises a modular housing, a base member and a plurality of lights positioned in the housing—either horizontally or vertically. A plurality of display modules are positioned on the housing and ... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6827472 | Illuminated HVAC duct/advertising card holder for vehicles Combination light fixture/HVAC duct/ad card holder for transit vehicle has roof mounted light fixture having a housing extending inboard to receive roof fasteners readily accessible through a cover strip. A single panel provides ad display serves as air duct with ai... | 12/07/2004 |
| 6817738 | Medical film illuminator A medical film illuminator includes a frame having a translucent panel. A film gripper is attached directly to the translucent panel and the translucent panel is attached to the frame using magnets that engage the frame. Thus, the translucent panel can be easily rem... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6814467 | Light box with expanding rods and fire retardant cover A light box having a first frame and a second frame. The first and second frames each have many attaching rods. At least one removable fire retardant cover is connected to edges of the first and second frames. Many expanding rods are slidably connected to the expand... | 11/09/2004 |
| 6758002 | Flexible face sign A flexible face material sign framing system allows the interior portion of the sign casing to be accessed without removing the face material from the framing. The system includes a device for grasping the flexible face material and exerting tension to its edges in ... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6736530 | Image display device An image display device may take the form of an illuminating picture lamp providing means by which images may be illuminated by a light source on a selectable and removably attachable basis. Using a base layer of translucent material preferably circumscribed by a tr... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6722065 | Illuminated indicia enclosures An illuminated indicia enclosure apparatus includes a rear panel fixedly attached to an upstanding surface, the rear panel having apertures disposed therein for receiving and mounting one or more lighting elements on an inner surface thereof, an indicia-defining fas... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6681509 | Artistic display An artistic display (10) provides backlighting to display graphics that may include one or more paintings, each with paint on one or both sides. The display graphics (100) comprise an outer canvas element (110), and optionally, an inner canvas element (12... | 01/27/2004 |
| 6658774 | Illuminated identification system An illuminated identification system for providing efficient identification of a building structure in various light conditions. The illuminated identification system includes a housing unit, one or more light bulbs positioned within the housing unit, an ... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6631576 | Outdoor menu display device An improved outdoor illuminated display device. The device generally comprises a modular housing, a base member and a plurality of lights positioned in the housing--either horizontally or vertically. A plurality of display modules are positioned on the ho... | 10/14/2003 |
| 6557284 | Backlit display apparatus A backlit display apparatus mounts to an exterior surface, including an automobile, wherein plain paper designs, digital photographs on plain paper or transparencies may be displayed between a white translucent dispersing panel and a clear front panel, wi... | 05/06/2003 |
| 6298589 | Outdoor menu display device An improved outdoor illuminated display device. The device generally comprises a modular housing, a base member and a plurality of lights positioned in the housing--either horizontally or vertically. A plurality of display modules are positioned on the ho... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6282825 | Adjustable display panel An adjustable display panel having one or more individual sign elements slidably mounted between partitioning elements attached laterally to the frame. In one embodiment, a plurality of partitioning elements are magnetically attached to the frame using a ... | 09/04/2001 |
