3M employee and church chorister Art Fry needed something to temporarily mark pages in his hymnal. He was in luck because his colleague, Spencer Silver, accidentally developed a glue that was too weak for other purposes. After initially discouraging consumer response, Post-it Notes became a hit in 1979.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8079386 | Variable pressure reducing device A variable pressure reducing device includes a hollow housing body formed with an inlet opening, an outlet opening spaced apart from the inlet opening, and an inner wall surface. The variable pressure reducing device further includes an intake tube that extends into... | 12/20/2011 |
| 7775242 | Solid state regulator for natural gas An annular elastomer is provided in a housing orifice that does not require a large force for deformation. This makes possible a solenoid-type actuator that provides a large displacement of the elastomer, thus allowing higher and lower rates of gas flow through a ga... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7565918 | Variable orifice rotary control valve A rotary control valve is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a first valve member with a first volute formed therein, wherein the first volute further includes a plurality of flow channels of varying diameter or a single flow channel having a generally... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7431224 | Fluid control device The present invention provides a device for reducing the amount of water or other fluid discharged at a tap (4), which device comprises a body member (1) having an inlet adapted to be connected to a supply of water or other fluid, dual outlets through ... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7422028 | Apparatus for controlling and metering fluid flow A device for metering and controlling fluid flow includes a variable orifice and is configured to use a pressure sensor. The device includes a fluid flow conduit having at least one planar inner wall that extends along a portion of the fluid flow conduit length, and... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7370813 | Multiple function dispenser A dispenser for mixing and dispensing a liquid chemical concentrate from a container with a dilutent. The dispenser includes a two piece slideable eductor assembly, one of which is also rotatable. Both a high and low flow rate can be obtained with simultaneous adjus... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7370675 | Flow conditioner for a fluid transport pipe The flow conditioner for a fluid transport pipe, comprises a support-forming substantially tubular main body, at least one flow rectifier disposed inside the main body essentially perpendicularly to the axis XX′ thereof, and a porous plate disposed inside the main... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7350597 | Drilling system and method A drilling system for drilling a bore hole into an earth formation, the bore hole having an inside wall. A drill string reaches into the bore hole from a surface, leaving a drilling fluid return passage between the drill string and the bore hole inside wall. A botto... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7341206 | Multiple function dispenser A dispenser for mixing and dispensing a liquid chemical concentrate with a dilutent from a container. The dispenser includes two slideable eductors one of which is also rotatable. Both a high and low flow rate can be obtained with simultaneous adjustment of concentr... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7325572 | Flow restrictor device for a medical apparatus A medical apparatus flow restrictor includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a fluid flow path defined through the housing between the inlet and outlet. At least one pair of opposed restriction surfaces are provided in contact with each other within the... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7322179 | Air intake and method for breathing air using an air intake An air intake includes a spike and a cylindrical cowl. The spike is composed of a plurality of plates which are arranged axial symmetrically around a central axis thereof, and the cowl includes an inner wall parallel to the central axis and is formed so as to enclos... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7314306 | Homogenization device and method of using same A homogenization device comprising a flow-through channel having at least two local constrictions of flow wherein the size of a first local constrictions is adjustable thereby permitting variable flow rate through one portion of the device and the size of a second l... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7285210 | Zero waste reverse osmosis water filtering A reverse osmosis water filtering system includes a reverse osmosis membrane having first output port for permeate water, second output port for concentrate water, and intake port for receiving filtered water, a filtering assembly providing filtered water to the mem... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7281844 | Variable static mixer A variable static mixer and system for accommodating variable and different flows in a pipeline so as to produce maximum mixing efficiency including a first mixer mounted in the pipeline and a second mixer mounted in the pipeline at a downstream location wherein the... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7270143 | Offset variable-orifice flow sensor An offset variable orifice gas flow sensor is provided. The variable orifice gas flow sensor comprises two port portions. The central axes of these port portions are offset such that an interior surface of the port portions slope away from a flapper that separates t... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7249613 | Energy attenuation device An energy attenuation device for a conduit that is adapted to convey a pressurized fluid therethrough, comprising a hose section disposed about a portion of the conduit, wherein such conduit portion is provided with at least one aperture, for example in a surface th... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7237573 | High pressure, low flow rate fluid flow control An adjustable high pressure, low flow metering valve provides a sleeve extending about a restrictor shaft, the sleeve having a narrow helical groove formed in the inside diameter. A restrictor shaft within the sleeve encloses the groove and forms a sealed helical fl... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7222643 | Internal post flow control A flow control including an annular flexible member and an internal post disposed downstream of the flexible member is described. The annular flexible member has a deflectable inner edge that defines a passage channel and the annular flexible member and internal pos... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7207712 | Device and method for creating hydrodynamic cavitation in fluids A device and method for creating hydrodynamic cavitation in fluid is provided. The device can include a flow-through chamber having a first portion and a second portion, and a plurality of baffles provided within the second portion of the flow-through chamber. One o... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7201331 | Shower device The present invention is a shower device which simplifies the showering process by allocating soap, moisturizers, fragrances, and other detergent-type fluids through a shower head using the venturi concept so as to integrate the substance with the regularly dispense... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7185719 | Dynamic annular pressure control apparatus and method A drilling system for drilling a bore hole into a subterranean earth formation, wherein at least a portion of the mud flow from the primary mud pump is diverted to the mud discharge outlet, thereby creating a backpressure system to readily increase annular pressure.... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7159602 | Flow-measuring valve device and method A flow measuring valve device (1) for fluid, the flow measuring valve (1) comprising a first restriction (48) and a second restriction (76) connected in series with the first restriction (48), the flow rates of said restrictions ( | 01/09/2007 |
| 7150507 | Self cleaning orifice A self-cleaning orifice includes a housing having a bore defined therein. The bore includes a first diameter inlet portion and a second diameter outlet portion, with a seating surface defined between the inlet and outlet portions. A movable body having a seating sur... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7147203 | Fluid control Fluid control apparatus and method of controlling fluid flow. The fluid control apparatus comprises an elongate tube having a first flow opening at an end of the tube and at least one second flow opening along the length of the tube, and a sleeve arranged to slide a... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7114638 | Bin partitions to improve material flow An insert in the form of a bin partition improves flow of powder or particulate material once installed into an existing bin. The insert has a triangular shape with a baffle on top of it covering a portion of the partition. The partition changes the shape of the exi... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7097120 | Hose nozzle apparatus and method A device and method are provided for regulating two types of flow from a nozzle. The first flow is a deluge stream and the second flow is a fog spray. The deluge stream is controlled by the nozzle operator using a first flow control valve, such as a ball valve. The ... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7044165 | Outflow regulator for a gravity-fed liquid outlet An outflow regulator for a gravity-fed liquid outlet of a liquid reservoir comprising a restriction plate mountable within the liquid outlet for limiting a flow rate of an effluent. The restriction plate allows a lower passage for the effluent when a first level of ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7036530 | Energy attenuation device for a fluid-conveying line and method of attenuating energy in such a line An energy attenuation device for a fluid-conveying line, and a method for attenuating energy in such a line, are provided. The device includes one or more hose sections disposed in the fluid-conveying line, and at least one spring disposed in at least a portion of e... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7025289 | Multiple function dispenser A dispenser for mixing and dispensing a liquid chemical concentrate with a dilutent from a container. The dispenser includes two slideable eductors one of which is also rotatable. Both a high and low flow rate can be obtained with simultaneous adjustment of concentr... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7017611 | One-piece manifold for a reverse osmosis system A one-piece manifold for a reverse osmosis system includes a filter configured to receive water from a water port and a membrane configured to receive filtered water via a first conduit. The membrane is also configured to send permeate water to a reverse osmosis tan... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7004200 | Constant flow valve for a water softener control assembly A flow control valve controls a flow of water through a passage to a brine tank of a water treatment apparatus. A valve seat is between first and second sections of the passage. The valve seat has a first end with a concave surface facing the first section and an ap... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6923203 | Variable orifice valve for airstream containing particulate coal A variable orifice valve for balancing the flow of particulate coal in an airstream relative to other parallel conduits. The valve comprises a section of conduit which changes in area along its flow axis and a variable position valve element mounted within the condu... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6918526 | Muffler for staple guns A muffler is received in a passage of an end member connected to a handle of the staple gun and a fitting extends from the end member so as to be connected to a hose. The muffler includes a tubular body and a plurality of plates extend from an end of the tubular bod... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6834672 | Air pressure and flow regulating valve and pneumatic tool An air pressure and flow regulating valve for pneumatic tool mainly includes a valve body, a pressure regulator and a flow regulator connected to one side and a top, respectively, of the valve body, and an air inlet connector provided at a bottom of the valve body. ... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6830062 | Spigot freeze dripper A dripper apparatus for a water spigot includes a coupler having a threaded female member for connecting to a water spigot. A generally cylindrical elongate member has a longitudinal portion in fluid communication with the female member. The longitudinal portion has... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6823892 | Automatic valve for the stabilization of a thermostatic mixing device A valve installed at the inlet of a thermostatic mixing device for automatically stabilizing the operation of the thermostatic device by maintaining the pressure within the thermostatic mixing device close to the water supply pressure, thereby making the thermostati... | 11/30/2004 |
| 6696116 | Device and method for flowing pellets Pellets which may, for example, simulate snow are brought to a position such as the top of a tree from where they are dispensed. After falling to the bottom. the pellets are collected and re dispensed. The pellets are blown through a venturi tube and from... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6695011 | Flow regulator A flow regulator (1) having a regulator housing (2) in which, in a flow channel, an annular flow restrictor (5) made of elastic material is provided that is pushed onto a fastening post (4) and encircles this post. The post (4) has at least two fastening ... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6684907 | Loose-fill insulation conditioning duct A method and apparatus for conditioning loose-fill insulation including an elongated tubular cylinder having a plurality of internal blades positioned in a helical configuration. Large nodules of glass fibrous material pass through the conditioning cylind... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6681807 | Asymmetric bidirectional flow device A method and apparatus for receiving a flow of fluid and restricting the flow through a device are described. The apparatus includes an insert having a shaped surface including at least one through-hole located off-center. The shaped surface may be a bell... | 01/27/2004 |