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 |
| 7850484 | Connecting apparatus for connecting to an electronic apparatus There is provided a connecting apparatus for connecting to an electronic apparatus including a connector, the connecting apparatus including: a body that includes a base portion and a back portion substantially perpendicular to each other so as to define a holding s... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7439709 | Charger unit for an electronic device including a system for protective storage of an adapter plug A charger unit for an electronic device that includes a housing, a plurality of charging contacts provided on the housing, and a recess provided in the housing, preferably on a rear face thereof. A plug having a plurality of prongs may be selectively attached to and... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7416441 | Electronic apparatus According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus is provided with a case, a module contained in the case and including a first hole portion and a connector, a cable connected electrically to the connector, a fixture which is inserted in the first hole portion an... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7338328 | Cigarette lighter adapter device that interfaces with an external device via a port interface A CLA device comprises a CLA plug that is insertable into an external CLA socket, for example, a DC CLA socket inside a vehicle. The CLA device has a housing coupled to the CLA plug, for example, by integration or via a tethered wire, with the housing having a suppo... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7207813 | Connector for coupling a data communication socket with a computer's peripheral device A connector is provided for coupling a computer peripheral device with a RJ11 or RJ45 data communication socket. The computer peripheral device has a rectangular recess. The connector includes an elongated main body including a first terminal and a second terminal. ... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7198518 | Satellite signal receiver used with blue tooth transmission and electronic maps A satellite signal receiver used with blue tooth transmission and electronic maps comprises a box having one end extended with a shaft; two ends of the shaft having two connecting ends, respectively; a Blue tooth satellite receiver installed in the box; a lower cove... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7160148 | Ceiling fixture with easy installation features Various forms of ceiling fans with easy install features are disclosed. The fans include an electrical quick connect device. The quick connect device includes a plug/receptacle configuration in a rotatably mounted engagement enabling the fan to easily connect to an ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7143988 | Apparatus and method for mounting a fixture An apparatus and method for mounting a fixture to a ceiling according to which an adapter is provided that receives two downrods, one of which is connected to the ceiling and the other of which is connected to the fixture. ... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7052312 | Multiple-in-one retaining seat A multiple-in-one retaining seat comprises a retaining seat; two lateral front sides of the retaining seat being installed with two frames; a lower side of the center of the retaining seat being installed with a receptacle for receiving the personal digital assistan... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7047649 | Power cord for a hand-held electrical device A hand-held electrical device having a power cord that provides enhanced retainment of the power cord to a receptacle of the hand-held electrical device during operation of the hand-held electrical device. The power cord includes an enlarged tip portion that provide... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7008085 | Suspended light fixture servicing system A light servicing system for suspended lighting that may be lowered from operating height to a testing and servicing height while remaining connected to the fixture electrical service includes a mate and lock connector providing plug in connection to the fixture ele... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6997740 | Ceiling fixture with easy installation features Various forms of ceiling fan with easy install features are disclosed. The fans include an electrical quick connect device. The quick connect device includes a plug/receptacle configuration enabling the fan to easily connect to an electricity supply while providing ... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6994575 | Desktop charger with adjustable connector module A charger having an adjustable connector accommodates a plurality of electronic devices having different form factors. In one embodiment, the charger includes at least one pocket for receiving an electronic device, like a cellular telephone. Within the pocket, an el... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6951480 | Mobile device battery charger mounting unit Cellular telephone mounting unit for a vehicular battery charger that supports and retains a cellular telephone onto a vehicle battery charger while the cellular telephone battery is charging. One variation of the mounting unit includes a semi-circular member having... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6939158 | Electronic interconnect for PDA/cell phone A method and apparatus for improving the co-planarity between conductive structures exposed in an interface connector for a portable electronic device. The interface connector includes an elongate housing having a front surface and a bottom surface. The front surfac... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6938867 | Holder for a powered device A holder for a powered device with a power supply, where the holder includes a cradle for seating the powered device, and a seating member for seating the power supply. The seating member and the cradle are preferably removably attached to each other at a pivot poin... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6923686 | Rotatable onboard mobile phone charger A mobile phone charger includes a connector having a connection tip formed on a first distal end of the connector and adapted for electrical connection with an onboard cigarette lighter socket and multiple adjusting holes defined in a second distal end opposite to t... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6875039 | Connector scheme for use with mobile devices and their accessory devices A connector assembly is provided for use with a handheld computing system. The connector assembly includes a first connector including a plurality of contact elements. The first connector is adapted to reside on a handheld computer. A first coupling structure reside... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6869304 | Connector scheme for use with handheld computers and accessory devices A connector assembly is provided for use with a handheld computing system. The connector assembly includes a first connector including a plurality of contact elements. The first connector is adapted to reside on a handheld computer. A first coupling structure reside... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6793525 | Connector between lamp rod and lamp base The present invention relates to a connector between lamp rod and lamp base, comprising a lamp base coupled to one side of a wire connection box, and a lamp rod inserted into the lamp base; wherein the lamp base is fixed to the wire connection box and a through hole... | 09/21/2004 |
| 6726509 | Stackable power supply system A modular stackable hub system that includes at least one stackable hub for communicating any combination of a multiplicity of electrical signals, for example, ISDN modems, port replication, USB to Ethernet, Ethernet switching, direct current, alternating current, r... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6558189 | Connector system for use with handheld computers and accessory devices A connector assembly is provided for use with a handheld computing system. The connector assembly includes a first connector including a plurality of contact elements. A second connector resides on a cradle and includes a plurality of contact elements tha... | 05/06/2003 |
| 6480378 | Multi-angle placement rack of personal digital assistant for use in an automobile The present invention relates to a multi-angle placement rack of a personal digital assistant for use in an automobile and, more particularly, to a multi-angle placement rack capable of matching a personal digital assistant with various brands and kinds o... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6312284 | Structure for a connector of a cigarette lighting device of cars In an improved structure for a connector of a cigarette lighting device of cars, a lateral end of an electrically conductive elastic plate projecting slightly from an outer peripheral side of a jack is provided with a vertically depressed slide groove, wh... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6231205 | Illuminated shelving A display case is provided having vertical members with internal conductors. The conductors are coupled to a source of low voltage electrical power such that adjacent vertical members are of differing electrical polarity. Shelf supports are designed to ma... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6157163 | Automobile charging unit for a pager An automobile charging unit for a pager including an adapter portion dimensioned for being received within a standard cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle. The adapter portion has contacts thereon for mating with charging contacts within the cigarette li... | 12/05/2000 |
| 6135814 | Ceiling socket for ceiling lights A ceiling socket for ceiling lights includes a socket 25 and of a support piece 5, which is accommodated therein and has electrical clamping contacts. The support piece 5 is assigned a pivotably articulated suspension hook 6 which, in its use position, is... | 10/24/2000 |
| 5908325 | Support for direct connect disk drives The present invention includes an apparatus for supporting a device in a computer comprising a base, preferably juxtaposed to a connector, and a ledge extending from the base section. The base preferably defines a channel to fit the apparatus to the conne... | 06/01/1999 |
| 5839919 | In-car used mobile phone fixing seat assembly to which other electrical appliances are addible An in-car used mobile phone fixing seat assembly to which other electrical appliances are addible, including an electrically conductive flexible supporting member and a mobile phone fixing seat. One end of the supporting member is connected with a cigaret... | 11/24/1998 |
| 5308247 | Electrical connector assembly for automobile rearview mirror and light assembly and method of assembling the same There is provided an improved electrical connector assembly and method for directly mounting electrical components, such as a rearview mirror and light assembly on a glass surface in a manner which provides electrical power to the rearview mirror and ligh... | 05/03/1994 |
| 5110300 | Electric current distribution apparatus Apparatus for distributing electic current, especially in a low voltage track lighting system includes: (i) a cable in the form of a rigid rod having coaxial conductors and male and female couplings at its opposite ends allowing the cable rod to be connec... | 05/05/1992 |
| 5008931 | Multi-purpose modular jack connection block A substantially rectangular modular jack connecting block suitable for use in the connection or mounting of terminal equipment using modular plugs, i.e., wall phones and the like, and including frame portions, cover portions and add-on portions which tran... | 04/16/1991 |
| 4968267 | Programmable microcontroller microbus connector arrangement A connector arrangement for an electronic controller includes a plurality of insulation displacement terminals. The connector has a body portion and cover portion. The cover portion includes tabs which will force a wire onto the insulation displacement te... | 11/06/1990 |
| 4810207 | Combined electrical and mechanical coupling for ceiling mounted device Apparatus is disclosed for releaseably and mechanically attaching an electric-motor-driven device (22), such as a ceiling fan, to an overhead support, such as a ceiling (10). The apparatus comprises a generally vertically disposed downrod (24) having an u... | 03/07/1989 |
| 4806440 | Lantern battery substitute A lantern battery substitute, comprises an upper assembly including an approximately square upper plate with rounded corners and four edges and having a resilient snap latch situated at approximately the center of the upper plate projecting downward norma... | 02/21/1989 |
| 4726781 | Connective mechanism for adjacent fluorescent fixtures A connector mechanism for linking the ends of successive fluorescent fixtures includes a pair of plates defining the ends of the fixtures, one said plate including a projecting hook portion which extends through the other said plate. The hook poriton incl... | 02/23/1988 |
| 4661892 | Electrical plug and receptacle for lighting fixture power hook A power hook for suspending a lighting fixture from an overhead support and for supplying power to the lighting fixture is disclosed. The power hook includes a support housing which is securable from the overhead support, with the housing having an eye an... | 04/28/1987 |
| 4462065 | Apparatus for decoratively lighting an outdoor tree An apparatus and method for decoratively lighting an outdoor tree, the apparatus comprising an elongate tubular member adjustably mounted on the trunk portion of a tree by tree mounting brackets, the elongate tubular member having a light branch receiving... | 07/24/1984 |
| 4346957 | Electric connector An electric connector for connecting wires and having a clamping function for clamping a rod-shaped stationary member such as BUS wire, suitable for use in electric wiring for automobile engine or the like. The connector has a generally cylindrical connec... | 08/31/1982 |
