...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 |
| 6966534 | Wire system for hanging picture frames A wire system for use with picture frames and other items to be hung from or mounted to a vertical support. The wire system includes a base that includes a plurality of openings and rotatable levers that include respective internal passageways. Wire is installed thr... | 11/22/2005 |
| 4838239 | Lockable mounting for retaining a removable item to a base A mounting for retaining item (12) to a base (17) comprising a male and female element (11 and 15) to be located on the moveable item (12) or base (17) respectively or vice versa. Said male portion (11) having a disc like configuration and having at least... | 06/13/1989 |
| 4770377 | Cord holding device A cord holding device for retaining an electrical cord in strategic position on a hospital bed in a convenient location relative to a patient lying on the bed has a base member which in use may be secured by adhesive or a belt to a mattress cover or a mat... | 09/13/1988 |
| 4702443 | Cord holding device A cord holding device for retaining an electrical cord in strategic position on a hospital bed or convenient location relative to a patient lying on the bed has a base member which in use may be secured by adhesive or a belt to a mattress cover or mattres... | 10/27/1987 |
| 4357063 | Washer anchoring construction A construction for protecting against damage to or unplugging of an electrical cord or plug connected to a portable musical instrument supported on the performer's shoulder by means of a strap attached to studs or the like projecting from the instrument b... | 11/02/1982 |
| 4308643 | Fish stringer holder A device for holding a fish stringer, comprising an L-shaped frame made up of a base plate and a shoulder plate perpendicular to the base plate, and including jaw means pivotally mounted on the base plate for engagement with a flexible line such as a fish... | 01/05/1982 |
| 4291698 | Button for surgical applications A button for surgical applications comprising a disk having a slot which extends to a passage for guiding a thread therethrough within the circumference of the disk, said passage being sealed by a clamping device for clamping the thread firmly in the pass... | 09/29/1981 |
| 4179148 | Snap hook An improved snap hook of the type having a hook and rigidly fixed eye extending from the hook and a swingable keeper arm connected on the hook, and having a foot portion normally spring-urged into blocking relation of the passage through the eye of the ho... | 12/18/1979 |
| 4147121 | Self-releasing traveler and cam cleat A traveler for a sailboat having a track way and a traveler car moving to and fro along the track way and attachments on the traveler for attaching control ropes on either side thereof for controlling the position thereof from either side of the sailboat,... | 04/03/1979 |
| 4134183 | Gripping collar A gripping collar for electric cables and the like comprises coaxial pieces held axially together but rotatable relative to one another, the pieces having eccentric holes which define a passage through the collar. A cable or other member to be gripped can... | 01/16/1979 |
| 4014078 | Clamping device with adjusting ring An improved rotary jaw clamping device is disclosed for use with cables, wires and the like which includes means disposed between the rotating jaws of the clamp to adjust the cable-receiving and cable-clamping capability of the clamp to enable its use wit... | 03/29/1977 |
| 3958784 | Retaining device for an electric cable A cable-retaining device attached by hooking to a support mounted on a pole comprises a suspension body and a guiding member rotatably mounted within the body and associated with a suspension hook. A passageway formed in the guiding member is located in t... | 05/25/1976 |