...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 |
| 7185563 | Impact driver and fastener removal device A fastener impact driver device includes a fastener engagement member having a plurality of projections disposed about a lower portion that engages a corresponding peripheral portion of a fastener. The device further includes a positioning member having an upper por... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7007573 | Impact driver and fastener removal device A fastener impact driver device 10 includes a fastener engagement member 12 having a plurality of projections 14 disposed about a lower portion 16 that engages a corresponding peripheral portion 18 of a fastener 20. The devi... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6910685 | Method of manufacturing an elevated non-slip cutting board An elevated, portable non-slip cutting board for use in cutting and supporting foodstuffs, household and miscellaneous items comprising a rigid, planar base board to which is fixed numerous non-skid projections downwardly directed, spaced apart projections of such a... | 06/28/2005 |
| 5363532 | Apparatus for clamping eyeglasses A method and apparatus for cleaning eyeglasses is disclosed in which a holding device is provided with a clamp mechanism for mounting eyeglasses in the holding device in a manner which provides clear access to the lens surfaces of the eyeglasses. A cleani... | 11/15/1994 |
| 5305934 | Tool and eyeglass holder A device for hanging a pair of eyeglasses about a neck of a user which includes an elongated flexible member for being positioned about the neck of the user. The elongated member has first and second terminal ends. A container having a generally hollow. i... | 04/26/1994 |
| 5286951 | Acetate spectacle frame bridge adjuster A device for supporting a plastic spectacle frame in a plastic spectacle frame warmer of the type that, in use, retains a primary amount of a solid granular material such as glass beads, in a heating pan and that uses the glass beads as a heat transfer me... | 02/15/1994 |
| 5150261 | Combined screwdriver and magnifying glass A combined screwdriver and magnifying glass includes a screwdriver having a handle and a shank connected to the handle; a block member made of elastic material detachably and frictionally sleeved around the shank; and a magnifying glass having a central h... | 09/22/1992 |
| 4189630 | Method of heating deformable articles on a support of verticle fibers A soft non-marring carpet type support for articles while being heated into a softened condition consisting of either an intermittent or a continuous line of fine fiberglass fibers to accommodate either a flat or uneven surface in contact with the flexibl... | 02/19/1980 |
| 4121091 | Apparatus for heating eyeglass frames A method and apparatus for heating articles, such as eyeglass frames, includes a bed of heat retentive beads supported above a plenum chamber by a mesh or screen. Heated air is delivered to the plenum chamber at low velocity and high volume for flowing up... | 10/17/1978 |
| 4054376 | Method and apparatus for heating eyeglass frames A method and apparatus for heating articles, such as eyeglass frames, includes a bed of heat retentive beads supported above a plenum chamber by a mesh or screen. Heated air is delivered to the plenum chamber at low velocity and high volume for flowing up... | 10/18/1977 |
| 4052593 | Electric heating apparatus for heating thermoplastic articles A device for electrically heating thermoplastic articles includes a housing having means for receiving the article in position to be heated. An infrared generator in the form of a tungsten halogen lamp is located in the housing and a split, out-of-phase p... | 10/04/1977 |
| 4052592 | Device for heating thermoplastic eyeglass frames A device for heating a thermoplastic eyeglass frame having a rim and bridge portion and a temple portion, includes a housing having a pair of spaced infrared heat radiating surfaces mounted therein. The surfaces form an open-ended channel therebetween for... | 10/04/1977 |
| 4007370 | Device for heating thermoplastic eyeglass frames A device for heating a thermoplastic eyeglass frame having a rim and bridge portion and a temple portion, includes a housing having a pair of spaced infrared heat radiating surfaces mounted therein. The surfaces form an open-ended channel therebetween for... | 02/08/1977 |