Did You Know...
...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 |
| 7926510 | Risers for use with access openings in wastewater treatment tanks A riser system for use at the access opening of a wastewater treatment tank includes an adaptor ring affixed to the top of the tank, and a mating riser. The adaptor ring and riser have ends with mating circumferential L-shape sections. There are horizontally project... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7380566 | Dewatering system and method for a subsurface vault A system and method for dewatering a subsurface vault housing a portion of a pipeline is provided. The dewatering system includes a fluid inlet pipe adapted for fluidly communicating with the pipeline and redirecting fluid being transported by the pipeline to a flui... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7255124 | Quick coupler anchor The quick coupler anchor includes an anchor body having a pair of vertical plates extending generally at right angles one to the other and spaced from one another. Planes containing the plates, when extended, intersect along a vertical line offset from the center ax... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7243665 | Spray-type automotive wheel washer An automotive wheel washer comprising a circular conduit having a diameter of approximately 12 to 20 inches and further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced nozzles which direct cleaning fluid and chemicals laterally of the wheel washer and toward t... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7163428 | Outboard engine cowling A cowling for an outboard marine engine includes an upper motor cover and a lower motor cover that cover an engine, and a gear case that houses a drive mechanism. The upper motor cover detachably mates with the lower motor cover along corresponding edges. At least o... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7150290 | Unitary concrete pumping station for aqueous waste submersible pumping applications A unitary concrete structure pumping station useful in pumping waste fluids and the like during the passing of such materials from one part of a gravity flow waste system to another. This concrete structure is simple to install and use and many of the problems assoc... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7137790 | Sealing structure of pump A sealing structure for an underwater pump comprises an elbow pipe having a first flange formed at an inlet thereof with an inclined inner surface; an underwater pump having a second flange formed at an outlet thereof; a guide member attached to the second flange an... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7111636 | Leak container for fuel dispenser A leak collection chamber is provided inside the housing of a fuel dispenser. The leak collection chamber collects any leaked fuel from fuel handling components inside the fuel dispenser so that the fuel does not leak to the environment. The leak collection chamber ... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7104278 | Leak container for fuel dispenser A leak collection chamber is provided inside the housing of a fuel dispenser. The leak collection chamber collects any leaked fuel from fuel handling components inside the fuel dispenser so that the fuel does not leak to the environment. The leak collection chamber ... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7004190 | Outside drop for manhole A protective collar for protecting the outside drop of a manhole having a U shaped housing extending from the outside wall of the manhole around the outside drop pipes and back to the outside wall. The protective collar having flanges at each end of the U shaped col... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6997201 | Wastewater source control system A wastewater control system for use with a sewer service line conducting a flow of wastewater from a building to a sewer main. A flow control device is installed in the sewer service line; and an actuator, in electrical communication with the sensor, is connected to... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6986622 | Containment system A pipework containment system comprising: (i) an outer containment pipe extending between a chamber and a sump; (ii) a fluid-tight seal between the outer containment pipe and the chamber; (iii) a fluid-tight seal between the ou... | 01/17/2006 |
| 6968854 | Manhole base A manhole base or liner for directing the flow of liquid from a manhole inlet opening positioned in one of a plurality of possible locations in a manhole side wall to a manhole outlet opening in the manhole side wall, and a manhole having the base or liner. The base... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6962269 | Service station leak detection and recovery system A fueling environment that distributes fuel from a fuel supply to fuel dispensers in a daisy chain arrangement with a double walled piping system. Fuel leaks that occur within the double walled piping system are returned to the underground storage tank by the outer ... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6931715 | Pipe assembly table A device to facilitate assembly of plumbing pipes and fittings comprising a frame, a plurality of laterally extending crossbars, and at least one transversely extending pipe jig. The frame has at least a longitudinally elongated rail. The plurality of laterally exte... | 08/23/2005 |
| 6691727 | Device and method for protecting a subterranean pipe from damage during excavation A system and method is claimed for protecting sections of a buried utility pipe that will eventually be excavated and exposed for tapping purposes. The system includes a protective collar that is applied to the utility pipe before the utility pipe is buri... | 02/17/2004 |
| 6634374 | In ground hose well A corrosion resistant enclosure adapted to be recessed below the ground which allows a covering lid to be placed about an opening at the upper end of the housing substantially parallel to the surrounding terrain. The housing is preferably cylindrically sh... | 10/21/2003 |
| 6484748 | Water pedestal A water pedestal for supplying water to a recreational vehicle. The water pedestal includes a housing having a tubular wall, an open lower end and an open upper end. A flexible conduit is located substantially within the housing, the flexible conduit havi... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6311721 | Residential drain line stop valve A resilient, deformable sewage back flow stop plug is disclosed that may be comformably compressed within a junction between a structure sewage effluent line and a sewer main. The plug is sized such that, when compressed, it deforms and conformably seals ... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6305410 | Sewage ejector basin and assembly A sewage ejector system includes a basin and top cover. The basin body includes a generally cylindrical wall, a closed bottom, and an open top. Several features assist in installation, handling and/or performance of the basin. An annular collar projecting... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6263903 | Arrangement for underground stop valve An arrangement intended for a stop valve (1) comprises a tubular member (9). The stop valve (1) is located in the ground (2) and has a valve housing (11) and a valve bonnet (12) fixed thereto with the aid of a fixing means (14), said valve bonnet having a... | 07/24/2001 |
| 6247490 | Booster station A booster station having an integral foundation preinstalled prior to shipment to an installation site. An above ground pump enclosure houses at least one pump. Each pump has a pump inlet for receiving water and a pump outlet for discharging water at a pr... | 06/19/2001 |
| 6206609 | Extension for a canal bed liner An extension collar suitable for engagement with an upper ledge of an invert liner positioned within the canal bed of the base of a manhole or catch basin structure. The extension collar is replaceable and is suitable for use in either new construction or... | 03/27/2001 |
| 6202675 | Lift station flood control system A sewage lift station comprises a lawn trim ring set having a top cap and a reducer ring. The top cap is removably fastened to the reducer ring, and the reducer ring is fastened to a flange on the tank of the sewage lift station. The top cap has a recess ... | 03/20/2001 |
| 6135141 | Low profile high capacity inside drop for a manhole A system for joining an expansion line to a main line of a sanitary sewage or storm sewage system. The system of the present invention joins an expansion line to a main line while reducing the amount of required excavation and minimizing the obstruction o... | 10/24/2000 |
| 6131604 | Lockout device for subsurface valves A lockout device is designed for preventing unauthorized use of a valve located below ground level, the valve having a rotatable valve actuator. The device includes an elongated tubular housing of a length to have a lower end at the valve actuator and an ... | 10/17/2000 |
| 6089254 | Sewer construction A sewage structure in the form of a drain, inspection shaft or the like, consists particularly of one or several hollow concrete with at least one connection for a sewage pipe. The inventive sewage structure is provided at its inner wall with a contacting... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6047724 | Risers for a waste water treatment facility A riser for use with an access opening in a waste water treatment tank is mounted in a top opening in the waste water treatment tank. The riser includes a top portion and an integral bottom portion wherein the top portion is provided with a downwardly ext... | 04/11/2000 |
| 5983916 | Upgrade of below grade fill to at grade fill A method of upgrading a below grade fill to prevent accidental release harmful materials from contaminating the soil below grade.... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5983925 | Dirt free valve A dirt free valve with a valve (12) of assorted sizes inside of a molded casing (16) with inlet (24) and outlet (26) to accomodate various sized pipe for the flow of different materials, with drainage holes in the bottom (20) and a cover (10) that can be ... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5955657 | Pipe layout with opposing incline A pipe layout system for secondary containment includes alternating deep and shallow penetration holes in containment boxes installed below gasoline dispensers, and a double-walled pipeline inclined downward from each shallow box to an adjacent deep box. ... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5934315 | Waste water access chamber assemblage A molded, polyethylene wastewater chamber assemblage to be assembled and placed below ground level to receive, collect, and transfer wastewater to a treatment plant. The chamber has pipe spigots extending horizontally from its opposing bottom ends that re... | 08/10/1999 |
| 5769112 | Support system for fire hydrant installation A support system for use in construction or repair of a fire hydrant installation includes a lower bracket and an upper bracket. The upper bracket has an adjustable hydrant riser clamp which is connected to an adjustable hydrant valve casing clamp by an a... | 06/23/1998 |
| 5738131 | Valve coupling method and apparatus An improved valve coupling method and apparatus is provided that resists the many forces associated with constant insertion and removal of access keys. The coupler apparatus is made of a non-corrosive metal alloy and includes a pair of specially formed in... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5655564 | Septic system plastic distribution box with integrally fastened seal A plastic fluid distribution box for installation in a subterranean system for waste water transport includes a first wall having an opening in the wall, and an elastomeric seal mounted in the opening and including a second wall. The second wall is perman... | 08/12/1997 |
| 5584317 | Lined manhole and method of making same A manhole base comprising a benching portion, an annular wall portion surrounding the benching portion and extending axially therefrom, the annular wall portion having inside and outside surfaces and at least two angularly spaced apart passages extending ... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5538035 | Plastic fluid distribution box with integrally fastened seal A plastic fluid subterranean distribution box with integral seal for a pipe, permanently and sealingly mounted in an opening in a wall of the box, including a substantially continuous annular bond between the seal and the wall on one side of the wall.... | 07/23/1996 |
| 5511574 | Thrust block and coupling for an irrigation system A thrust block for an irrigation system enables a high pressure valve or other component connected to the thrust block to be easily replaced without digging out a concrete block and surrounding portion of the ground and sectioning the adjacent pipe sectio... | 04/30/1996 |
| 5490419 | Secondary containment system using flexible piping A sump-riser performing as a collection sump, as a riser for the corresponding tank and as a means for secondary containment for the tank's submersible pump, manway, and fittings. The sump-riser comprises a generally cylindrical sump base with an upright ... | 02/13/1996 |
| 5361799 | Waste water access fitting A watertight waste water access fitting that is placed below ground level to mate with a pipe from a waste water source and a pipe from a sewer system and with access to its inside from ground level. The fitting is a preformed, polyethylene, one piece hol... | 11/08/1994 |
