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 |
| 7794476 | Implants formed of shape memory polymeric material for spinal fixation This invention relates to a orthopedic implant that comprises a shape memory polymeric material. The orthopedic implant can be fabricated or molded in a desired configuration selected to provide support or tension to bony structures. Examples of implantable devices ... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7396182 | Non-explosive device for releasably securing components An arrangement for releasably securing or connecting together at least two components includes a securing element that interconnects the components and that can be melted, thermally decomposed or otherwise separated by applying heat thereto. The securing element is ... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7338050 | Expansion joint gasket An expansion gasket 10 positionable between similar or dissimilar materials having an exterior exposure to the elements. In the preferred embodiment, the expansion gasket of the present invention 10 provides means to seal a space occurring between mate... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7305824 | Power-off hold element A power-off hold element for operating in cooperation with an actuator is disclosed. The power-off hold element comprises a material having selectively adjustable rigidity wherein a position or shape of said material is adjustable when energy is applied to increase ... | 12/11/2007 |
| 7281521 | Sealing element for placing between an injector casing and a cylinder head and an injector casing and a cylinder head provided with a sealing element of this type The sealing element has a ring consisting of an elastic material. The ring consists of a continuous support section, a first sealing lip, formed thereon for sealing the injector casing and a second sealing lip for sealing the cylinder head. The sealing lips project ... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7278668 | Modular gripping assistive device A gripping assistive device which can be used by an individual to utilize various utensils. The device generally includes a handle with a bore passing through the interior. An appendage attaches to the handle and extends outwardly from the handle transversely from t... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7261489 | Fastener assembly for attaching a non-metal component to a metal component A fastener assembly for attaching components of dissimilar materials includes a fastener having a base portion and a protruding portion, and a mechanism for tightening the assembly. The base portion is shaped to be complementary for mating with an attachment feature... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7258541 | Thermal expansion compensation support An improved thermal expansion compensation manifold support is disclosed. The support includes a spring having a barrel and a skirt extending from the barrel, the skirt forming a recess. The spring has a first shoulder extending into the recess, and an end opposite ... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7251918 | Fixing bracket for joining wooden building components A fixing bracket is described for joining wooden building components to each other and to a substrate, particularly of the kind used for joining boards used to cover balconies and decks outdoors. It is essential that the fixing bracket is a double angle consisting o... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7210884 | Fastening component and appliance There is provided a fastening component and an appliance having a fastening structure, in which the appliance can be readily disassembled without detaching the fastening component from a structural body. The fastening component is constituted of a head disposed at a... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7198465 | Fastening arrangement for a split casing A casing of a hydraulic machine such as a gas turbine is formed as a horizontally split type flangeless casing. The flangeless casing consists of an upper casing and a lower casing joined together at joint faces and fastened by fastening bolts. The fastening bolt ha... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7153054 | Fastener assembly for attaching a non-metal component to a metal component A fastener assembly for attaching components of dissimilar material includes a fastener, a spacer, and a mechanism for tightening the assembly. The spacer compensates for differences in thermal expansion rates between the non-metal component and the metal component ... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7124545 | Tilt-up panel and method A method for using tilt-up panels with chamfered sides, extensions below the panels ad receptacles for removable eyelets approximately ⅔ of the way up the panel. Inserts may be used between the panels to hold epoxy or other materials. The inserts may include a T-s... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7121780 | Multiple load path fastener systems Dual load path fastener systems, and methods for their use, are described herein. In one embodiment, a dual load path fastener system includes first and second fasteners. The first fastener has a first end portion, a second end portion spaced apart from the first en... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7093574 | Rocker arm shaft for an automobile engine Disclosed is a rocker arm shaft for an automobile engine, which is effectively capable of offsetting the length change of the rocker arm shaft, which caused by heat. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a rocker arm shaft can be divided into at least... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7090423 | Connecting structures Joint formations that, in joining together joining members employed in a variety of electrical and electronic components, yield sufficiently high joint strength in the direction perpendicular to the plane in which two joining members join, and meanwhile in the direc... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7073332 | Stop device with shape memory actuator A stop device with a shape memory actuator includes two stop elements sliding within a fixed support structure and usually hold in their mutual distant position by cam means pushed through spring means. A shape memory actuator is started through an electric current ... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7056027 | Bearing for a rotatable shaft subject to thermal expansion A bearing for rotatably supporting a cylindrical shaft within a frame cylindrical support surface in which the shaft is subject to thermal expansion, the bearing being formed of a tubular member having opposed ends and having an axial passageway therethrough, the ou... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7032287 | Edge grip chuck An actuated edge grip chuck includes tabs with raised portions that press against the side of a substrate as opposed clamping on the top or bottom surfaces. The edge grip chuck includes a solid-state actuator to move a moveable tab into an open position. The solid-s... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7013538 | Electroactive polymer releasable fastening system and method of use A releasable fastening system for retaining two surfaces at each other or disengaging the two surfaces from each other comprises a first electrode disposed at a first surface, a second electrode disposed at a second surface, and a polymer film disposed between the f... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6949410 | Flip chip in leaded molded package and method of manufacture thereof A chip device that includes a leadframe, a die and a mold compound. The backside of the die is metallized and exposed through a window defined within a mold compound that encapsulates the die when it is coupled to the leadframe. Leads on the leadframe are coupled to... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6948291 | Plastic slab bolster upper A slab bolster upper for supporting rebar in a reinforced concrete structure while the concrete is poured and thereafter cures, is of molded plastic construction and is formed with horizontal and vertical voids that facilitate concrete placement and break up potenti... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6938815 | Heat-resistant electronic systems and circuit boards Methods of making improved electronic systems and circuits boards, and more specifically to methods of making improved electronic systems and circuits boards using heat-resistant composite materials having superior mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties.... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6931709 | Method of joining non-metallic and metallic components A method of attaching a first member of one of quartz and a ceramic to a metal member. The method includes creating a hole in the metal member, the hole being smaller in size than the size of the first member over a temperature range, heating the metal member to a t... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6910692 | Composite elastomeric seal for sealing fluid lines A composite elastomeric seal for sealing fluid line members is provided. The composite seal comprises an outer U-shaped seal body and an inner elastomeric portion. The U-shaped seal body comprises inner and outer extending arms, each arm having a shaped contour and ... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6896483 | Blade track assembly The clearances between an array of turbine blades and its surrounding blade track may be controlled by an expansion control material system supporting the blade tracks. The blade track support hoop is placed in tension by the expansion control material placed therei... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6880657 | Adjustable reinforced structural assembly and method of use therefor There is disclosed a reinforced structural assembly and a method of using the assembly for reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a first member and a second member with a reinforcement material intermediate the first and se... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6747541 | Spool assembly with integrated link-wire and electrical terminals for non-explosive actuators used in electro-mechanical structural separation devices An improved spool assembly for non-explosive actuators used in electro-mechanical structural separation devices. The spool assembly includes two spool halves each having external surfaces and a generally flat internal surface, a unitary and integral internal member ... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6729425 | Adjustable reinforced structural assembly and method of use therefor A reinforced structural assembly and a method of using the assembly for reinforcing components of an automotive vehicle. The assembly generally includes a first member and a second member with a reinforcement material intermediate the first and second member. Accord... | 05/04/2004 |
| 6726391 | Fastening and fixing device A device for fastening and fixing components to a cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall may be both the convex-cylindrical outer contour of a cylinder and the concave-cylindrical inner contour of a hollow cylinder, in which the component is fixed in the radial, axi... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6712542 | Apparatus and method for altering the tension of a clampband A releasable clampband apparatus and an associated method gently alter clampband tension, such that clampband tension may be reduced after the need for high clampband tension is no longer present, but before clampband separation. Thus, equipment or electronics conta... | 03/30/2004 |
| 6595528 | Chuck for the clamping of tools by shrink fit A chuck for the clamping of tools by shrink fit includes a chuck member which has a longitudinal section having a central receptacle with clamping surface for the insertion and holding of the tool to be clamped with its shank. The longitudinal section inc... | 07/22/2003 |
| 6578335 | Metal wall framework and clip A wall framework includes top and bottom tracks, a horizontal channel and vertical studs. A first vertical stud is secured to the top track and the bottom track and has a first opening sized and shaped to permit the horizontal channel to extend therethrou... | 06/17/2003 |
| 6523857 | Reinforcing member for interfitting channels A reinforcing assembly for use with roll bars adapted to be mounted to motor vehicles such as an automobile. The reinforcing assembly includes a heat-expandable synthetic resin reinforcing member and a retainer configured to attach the member to the inter... | 02/25/2003 |
| 6479800 | Remote activation mechanism for equipment regulated deployment or release Remote activation mechanism for equipment regulated deployment or release, that includes a cylindrical housing (1), connected by means of a rod (10) with the external equipment to be deployed including the acting mechanism, and has adhered a fusible mater... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6450725 | Holding and releasing mechanism with a shape memory actuator A retention and triggering mechanism with a shape memory actuator which ensures safe triggering and is of simple design and requires little energy. An end (7, 8) of a stressed wire is held by a free end of a wire made of shape memory material (9, 10) whic... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6401563 | Actuating mechanism for a slidable nozzle ring A linkage mechanism for linking for example actuator rods to the nozzle ring of a variable geometry turbine. First and second components of the mechanism are interconnected by at least two links which are displaceable in a predetermined direction relative... | 06/11/2002 |
| 6398450 | Fastener arrangements A fastening arrangement (14) comprises a shank (16) with a head (18) retained in a first component (10). The other end (25) of the shank is tapered or of other non-constant cross section and terminates in a domed portion (26). A second part of the fasteni... | 06/04/2002 |
| 6381819 | Double-walled blow-molded article with insertable handle and method for making same A method of constructing a double-walled blow-molded article with a hinged handle is performed on an article comprising a receiving member and a pinned member. The receiving member is a double-walled blow-molded thermoplastic component having an outer wal... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6369368 | Tension-adjustable expanding device The invention concerns an expanding device (1) comprising two parts (heating elements 3,4) which can be moved relative to one another against the action of a spring element (11), wherein the spring element (11) is disposed between the two parts (heating e... | 04/09/2002 |
