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 |
| 8251183 | Electricity generating device by applying vehicle weight In an electricity generating device by applying vehicle weight, a rolling vehicle wheel is weighting down on a pressure receiver to actuate a driving mechanism having a restoring function. It is then able to provide a unidirectional rotating torque to drive a genera... | 08/28/2012 |
| 8132651 | Mechanical motor for toy planes An inexpensive apparatus for powering a toy plane including a rubber band motor which is connectable to the plane's propeller and to a winding mechanism, including a gear mechanism which is activated by a handle. As the handle is repeatedly squeezed and released by ... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8083032 | Power source device There is provided a power source device capable of obtaining power not only when springs or the like return but also when a handle for winding up the springs or the like are operated. The power source device comprises a main shaft connected to both the handle and a ... | 12/27/2011 |
| 7371030 | Flexible road surfaces A construct from which a flexing road surface may be produced. A flexing road surface provided in accordance with the invention enables a vehicle to pass over the road surface relatively smoothly, while simultaneously imparting a reciprocating motion to the road sur... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7310844 | Toothbrush with manual powered movable brush head This application includes a number of embodiments of a spring powered toothbrush for cleaning teeth. A wind-up spring is located in the base of the toothbrush which spring provides power for a gear train including a drive shaft assembly that is designed to bring abo... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7276805 | Manual-powered generator and assemblies therewith The invention provides a manually-powered electrical assembly. In one aspect, the manually-powered electrical assembly can be a light assembly that comprises a light source, an electrical generator, and a manual actuator assembly. The electrical generator is electri... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7234710 | Spring powered vehicle The present invention provides a manually powered drive assembly for a vehicle. A foot crank winds a helical torsion spring through a system of shafts and sprockets in a first direction. By releasing a brake applied to a wheel, or wheels, of the vehicle, the wound s... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7207087 | Device for damping the movement of movable furniture parts in their closing region A device for damping the movement of movable furniture parts to their closed position provides for a housing which can be fastened to a fixed wall part or carcass part, in which housing a lever is pivotably held or a plunger is slidably guided, with said lever or pl... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7171911 | Mobile folding table having a lifting assist center torsion bar and lift off casters There is provided an apparatus for a folding table assembly comprising a lifting assist center torsion bar assembly, a lift off caster assembly and a stability locking mechanism. A folding table assembly with a lifting assist mechanism provides a lifting assist forc... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7152718 | Damper A damper includes a frame, a main gear mounted to the frame for rotation about an axis of rotation, and a spring operably connecting the main gear and the frame such that rotation of the main gear tensions the spring. The main gear has a circumferential recess forme... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7150671 | Toy vehicle The invention relates to a toy vehicle, particularly for track-guided car racing circuits, that comprises a drive motor (10), which has a drive shaft (12), and comprises a driven axle (14), which is provided with wheels. A transmission (16 | 12/19/2006 |
| 7140341 | Energy storing starter assembly Energy storing starter assembles include a hub, a pulley, and a torsion spring adapted to resiliently link the hub to the pulley. The torsion spring includes a first end portion adapted to be linked to the hub and a second end portion adapted to be linked to the pul... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7097127 | Mass trim mechanism The invention discloses an apparatus and method for adjusting the position of the center of mass of a mechanical structure. A typical apparatus includes a storage spool, an output spool and a flexible material having a first end coupled to the storage spool and a se... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7073406 | Screw and nut transmission and cable attached to the screw A cable or another longilinear transmission component is set into the center of an axial cavity of a screw belonging to a screw and nut movement conversion unit. By means of this arrangement, bending moments exerted on the screw between the point of attachment of th... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7066301 | Linear actuator having manual override and locking mechanism A manual override mechanism is presented for a motor-driven linear actuator that allows the output rack and pinion of the actuator to be manually positioned. Once positioned, the output may be locked by a locking mechanism to prevent this output from translating to ... | 06/27/2006 |
| 6968929 | Damper A gear damper has a fixed first part and a second part rotatable relative thereto, with a gear formed on the second part. A continuous annular seal is provided between the first and second parts, and a substantially continuous layer of damping fluid is provided betw... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6969213 | Roadway for decelerating and/or accelerating a vehicle including an aircraft A roadway upon which a vehicle travels is provided in which the vehicle is decelerated. The roadway includes: a movable surface extending in a direction of the vehicle's travel; and a potential energy storage mechanism operatively connected to the movable surface fo... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6948997 | Elastic drive motor with force isolation Disclosed is a method and system for providing an elastic drive mechanism in which the compressive force and torque created by the twisting of an elastic member used to power an aircraft are isolated from the fuselage, and specifically isolated from the flight contr... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6935987 | Control methodology for inertial energy storage devices A wheeled vehicle incorporating a control methodology for regulating the power input and output of an inertial energy storage device, specifically a flywheel. The control methodology utilizes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and comprises control of the CV... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6896104 | Flat spool elastic motor having time-averaged constant torque output An improved elastic motor is disclosed having a constant torque characteristic. The motor utilizes a reel with elastic stretched to its maximum tension. Each unit length of the elastic is allowed to relax back to its normal state while generating work in a process t... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6880677 | Elastic energy storage device An elastic energy storage device has an energy storage unit which has an axial rod penetrating through a plurality of rotary disks and spiral springs. One side of each rotary disk is protruded with an outer edge buckling post and another side thereof is installed wi... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6869384 | Exercising bicycle An exercising bicycle is proposed, having a rear hub thereof being mounted with a spring seat, a coupling member, a spiral spring, a turning mechanism and a braking system. The spring seat is formed with a shaft for being sleeved with the coupling member. The spiral... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6820880 | Spring powered wheelbarrow The present invention provides a spring powered wheelbarrow with a manually powered drive assembly. A foot crank winds a spring through a system of shafts and sprockets in a first direction. By releasing a brake upon a front wheel of a wheelbarrow, the wound spring ... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6782863 | Spring release starter A starter mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a spring that is wound during the starting operation of the internal combustion engine. As the operator pulls the starter rope of the engine the starter spring begins to wind creating a force within the sp... | 08/31/2004 |
| 6725976 | Manual override and locking mechanism and actuator including same A manual override mechanism is presented for a motor driven rotary actuator that allows the output of the actuator to be manually positioned. Once positioned, the output of the actuator may be locked by a locking mechanism to prevent this output from rotating to its... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6638132 | Rubber band driving device for two-propeller model plane A rubber band driving device for two-propeller model plane, mainly comprising a power rubber band 1, a wooden skeletal bar 2, a rubber band winder 3, a rubber band locator 4, a power distributor 5, transmission bars 6, support bars 7, a left propeller gea... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6612402 | Elastic motor with constant torque output An improved elastic motor is disclosed having a constant torque characteristic. In contrast to earlier motors which use springs wound on spools, the present invention utilizes a reel with elastic stretched to its maximum tension. Each unit length of the e... | 09/02/2003 |
| 6488122 | Apparatus for generating rotative force using spring An apparatus for generating rotative force using spring according to the present invention permits rotative force of an input shaft to be intermitted to an acceleration gear by an intermitting gear, an available time for the rotation of an output shaft to... | 12/03/2002 |
| 6422348 | Transmission wheel, method for manufacturing transmission wheel and self-winding wheel train structure having transmission wheel A transmission wheel comprises a gear having a hole and a pinion having a plurality of teeth and being removably mounted in the hole of the gear. The hole of the gear has at least one chord-shaped stop portion engaging two adjacent teeth of the pinion to ... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6354649 | Monitor installed in dash panel of automobile and its usage A monitor installed in automobile's dash panel (110), includes: a reception member (120) inserted in the upper portion of the dash panel (110), the member having a predetermined space and opened top; a lid (130) hinged on one side of the reception member ... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6293329 | Coil spring drive system and window cover A coil spring drive unit for window covers is disclosed, which comprises a coil spring drive and the combination whose elements are selected from (1) a band shift transmission which provides varying ratio power transfer as the cover is opened and closed; ... | 09/25/2001 |
| 6283192 | Flat spring drive system and window cover A spring drive system for window covers is disclosed, which includes a so-called flat spring drive and the combination whose elements are selected from a group which includes (1) a band transmission which provides varying ratio power transfer as the cover... | 09/04/2001 |
| 6230582 | Crank for adjusting awning roller spring force An awning is attached to and wound on a spring loaded roller. The roller rotates on shafts secured to shaft mounts at each end. The shaft mount is secured on the end of a support arm. A crank has a two prong engagement member that fits in a slot of the sh... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6199664 | Spring motor for generating constant torque A spring motor for driving an electric power generator with constant power includes a crank-up spool, a take-up spool, and a relatively wide, flat tape spring which winds in a relaxed condition on the take-up spool. In one form, the spring has a width whi... | 03/13/2001 |
| 6199439 | Simple device producing both action effect and electronic effect A simple device producing both action effect and electronic effect includes a housing, an elastic driving mechanism and an electronic control circuit with a vibration sensor. The elastic driving mechanism has an elastic member, a transmitting shaft, a pow... | 03/13/2001 |
| 6149094 | Spring motor A motor for controlling the elevating and lowering of a load comprises a storage drum, an output drum and a spring member operatively connected therebetween to provide a spring motor therewith, and a pair of cord drums aligned with and respectively adjace... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6120411 | Control methodology for inertial energy storage devices A control methodology for regulating the power input and output of an inertial energy storage device, such as a flywheel. The control methodology utilizes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and comprises control of the CVT speed ratio based on fee... | 09/19/2000 |
| 6035970 | Lever-actuated bicycle energy storage assembly An energy storage drive assembly is provided for a bicycle and includes a coil spring mounted on the bicycle with at least one roller in abutment with a wheel of the bicycle. The energy storage drive assembly is adapted for storing energy on the spring in... | 03/14/2000 |
| 5909784 | Spring motor The present invention is a spring motor providing an efficient storage of mechanical energy, translating the potential energy of wound springs to mechanical rotation. The invention includes a frame supporting two gears having peripheral teeth. A first coi... | 06/08/1999 |
| 5809697 | Door closer A door closer includes a casing fixedly fastened to a door leaf, a shaft turned in axle holes in the casing, a spiral spring mounted around the shaft within the casing and having one end fixed to the shaft and an opposite end fixed to the casing and adapt... | 09/22/1998 |
