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 |
| 7588221 | Suction cup device A suction cup device is disclosed comprising a panel 10 having a plurality of suction cups 20, each suction cup having a stem 22 and a release tab 24, said stem being attached to the bottom side of the panel, wherein said panel has two or... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7328876 | Cup holder insert for a console A cup holder, including a cover being formed of an elasticized piece of material and having an upper opening providing access to an interior pocket, the upper opening and interior pocket being defined by an interior side and bottom of the cover, and the cover having... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7275725 | Vacuum-suction tool stand When a vacuum-suction tool stand (1) is to be stuck to a table (2), a valve (16) is rotated to a position so that a knob (163) comes to the right side thereof viewed from the front to establish communication between an air suction hole ( | 10/02/2007 |
| 7246928 | Apparatus for projecting a light beam through a transparent structure An illumination tool for projecting a light beam through a transparent structure that has a portion of the tool detachably securable via a vacuum seal mechanism that engages the transparent structure. A lighting mechanism is electrically attached to the illumination... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7226026 | Suction device A suction device includes a suction cup having a peg extending therefrom and a transverse shaft extending in opposite directions from the peg, an inner cap positioned on the suction cup and retaining a spring that applies a restoring force to the suction cup, and an... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7181951 | Dent removal device and method In a system and method for removing a dent from an automotive vehicle body surface, first and second suction elements are each formed of a flexible disc, a support disc, and a pull stud attached to the support disc. A releasable lever engagement member is provided a... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7124987 | High vacuum disk A vacuum disk includes a hollow base having an open leading end adapted to engage a flat support surface. The hollow base and the support surface define a vacuum space when the hollow base abuts the support surface. A gasket formed of styrene block copolymers forms ... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7051885 | Cross-merchandising display shelf Shelf units adapted to be mounted on vertical walls for displaying merchandise are adapted to utilize removeable hooks which are used for cross-merchandising complimentary products. The shelf unit is also adapted to be mounted on the exterior face of a wall, door or... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7044622 | Apparatus for projecting a light beam through a transparent structure An illumination tool for projecting a light beam through a transparent structure that has a portion of the tool detachably securable via a vacuum seal mechanism that engages the transparent structure. A lighting mechanism is electrically attached to the illumination... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7028962 | Portable holder for gas cylinders A portable gas tank holder for securing cylindrical compressed gas tanks to a support surface, such as a boat hull. The holder includes a frame having at least one gas tank-receiving pocket. At least two suction cups are attached to the frame for securing the frame ... | 04/18/2006 |
| 6913412 | Multi-use flexible strap and base connector A flexible strap restraint assembly including a hollow tubular strap, a connector pin device for connecting the end of the strap to a suction cup base assembly. The connector pin includes an extent of reduced cross sectional area between the suction cup and the stra... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6907685 | Portable lighted display A portable display unit is provided that illuminates a symbol formed by the unit. The display unit has a body substantially forming the symbol, which has an outline surface for receiving a rope light. The outline surface defines an inner region of the symbol and at ... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6745868 | Safety device A safety device comprises vacuum anchors for attachment to a surface. The anchors are interconnected by a rigid track along which a carriage runs. The carriage includes means for connection to a safety line and harness. Such an arrangement provides enhanced freedom ... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6425565 | Method and apparatus for the use of suction cups on delicate surfaces A suction cup system facilitates the holding and manipulation of sensitive objects such as printing plates without scratching, marring or damaging surfaces of the objects. The system has a flexible thin sheet made of polyester or similar material. The fle... | 07/30/2002 |
| 5984401 | Panel attachment member and system A panel attachment member and system for shielding a vehicle in an off-road setting. The panel includes an exterior portion and an interior portion. A lip is disposed around the interior portion. A magnetic cut-out is attached to the lip for magnetically ... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5938083 | Integral nebulizer stand and carrier gas conduit An integral stand and fluid conduit for maintaining a housing of a fluid delivery device in a select orientation relative to a support surface. The fluid delivery device has a carrier fluid connector fixedly attached to its housing. The carrier fluid conn... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5772170 | Vacuum-suction attachment pad A suction chamber is provided in the rear portion of a pad body remote from an external pad supporting surface. The fore end portion of the pad body facing the pad supporting surface is divided into a plurality of sucking compartments for communication wi... | 06/30/1998 |
| 5715876 | Fuel spill containment device A fuel spillage containment device is disclosed which is user-friendly and may be mounted to the hull of a boat beneath the fuel vent of the boat for collecting fuel spillage during refueling in a single handed operation. The device may be released and re... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5711501 | Suction cup attachment assembly Releasable suction cup assemblies for use in supporting objects on smooth surfaces are formed by a cup body which has a neck with a bore passing therethrough and a valve for selectively opening and dosing the bore. The valve extends through the bore and h... | 01/27/1998 |
| 5685513 | Vacuum-suction attachment pad A suction chamber is provided in the rear portion of a pad body remote from an external pad supporting surface. The fore end portion of the pad body facing the pad supporting surface is divided into a plurality of sucking compartments for communication wi... | 11/11/1997 |
| 5681022 | Clamping device A clamping device (2) adapted to be used to grasp an article or to clamp a tool to a workpiece, comprising: (a) a substantially flat or curved vacuum chamber (21) having a lower surface contained or comprised in a vacuum body (14, 15); (b) a compressible ... | 10/28/1997 |
| 5651520 | Suction cup attachment assembly Releasable suction cup assemblies for use in supporting an object on a smooth surface are formed by a cup body which has a neck with a bore passing therethrough and a valve for selectively opening and closing the bore. The valve extends through the bore a... | 07/29/1997 |
| 5553908 | Sun shield assembly The present invention is a sun shield assembly that has a suction cup which can attach the shield to the windshield of an automobile. The shade has a flexible opaque sheet that is attached to a flexible frame. The frame is constructed to be folded and twi... | 09/10/1996 |
| 5511752 | Suction cup with valve A cap, mounted upon the stem of a suction cup, is axially repositionable by axial and/or tilting movement relative to the stem to selectively close or open fluid communication between the concave space defined by the cup element of the suction cup and the... | 04/30/1996 |
| 5429333 | Apparatus and method for temporary attachment of holding or fastening means to a surface A device for temporary attaching holding or fastening structure to a surface. The device includes a fixture traversed by vacuum passages, whose one side bears the holding or fastening structure and whose other side serves sealing purposes and is provided ... | 07/04/1995 |
| 5381990 | Releasable suction cup assembly Releasable suction cup assemblies for use in supporting an object on a smooth surface are formed by a cup body which has a duct passing therethrough and a valve element for selectively opening the duct whereby the vacuum of the suction cup can be released... | 01/17/1995 |
| 5263760 | Portable sun block A portable sun block releasably connectable onto a transparent non-porous panel such as a window of a vehicle. The device is particularly useful for being selectively positionable by a suction cup onto a vehicle window for blocking or reducing the intensi... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5014946 | Holding, retaining and adhering means A holding, retaining and adhering means comprises a holding member characterized by a flexible plate connected to the bottom surface of a comparatively rigid holding member at a fastening point located at an inner surface of the flexible plate. The flexib... | 05/14/1991 |
| 5014803 | Device capable of suction-adhering to a wall surface and moving therealong A device comprising a main body, a motor and drive wheels mounted on the main body, a partitioning member mounted on the main body and defining a pressure reduction space in cooperation with the main body and a wall surface, and a vacuum pump for reducing... | 05/14/1991 |
| 4957318 | Vacuum cup assembly A vacuum cup assembly is disclosed for holding a workpiece when a source of sub-atmospheric pressure is connected to an interior space of the cup. The assembly includes a vacuum cup having a base portion with a shaped fitting and a housing having a comple... | 09/18/1990 |
| 4941635 | Cup-holder stabilizer A cup-holder stabilizer comprises of an extensible and contractible cylinder unit. An inner space of an upper cylinder of the cylinder unit receives a cup or other item. The upper cylinder is provided with multi-layered skirt-shaped pieces which can be us... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4861232 | Vacuum generating device A vacuum generating device for an ejector pump is provided. The vacuum generating device according to the present invention comprises an ejector pump mechanism having on one of the side surfaces thereof with an air intake port, air inlet port and exhaust ... | 08/29/1989 |
| 4756497 | Non-turnover base device As a result of the torsional force, a cup, a bottle, or a jar is susceptible to turnover upon being rammed. Usually, an upward force has no torsional force, and therefore would not cause a vessel or the like to turn over. Therefore, a cupule may be used a... | 07/12/1988 |
| 4653416 | Sailboard Sailboard comprising a sail assembly and a floatboard (2) supporting the sail assembly. The sail assembly comprises two wings (4, 5) in relatively displaced relation to each other, the two wings having substantially parallel leading edges (6, 7), the two ... | 03/31/1987 |
| 4607875 | Detachable sunscreen for vehicle windows In order to provide a readily detachable sunscreen for any window, including the windshield, of a vehicle such as an airplane, car, or truck, a sheet of perforated mylar, preferably having a reflective coating on its outwardly facing surface, is integrate... | 08/26/1986 |
| 4356989 | Resilient suction cup with soft pliable sealing gasket A suction cup of resilient rubber-like material having affixed on the peripheral portion of its suction side a ring gasket of soft pliable putty-like material adapted to form a vacuum tight space therewithin when pressed against a non-porous supporting su... | 11/02/1982 |
| 4294424 | Suction gripping device The present invention concerns a suction type gripping device wherein the skirt of the suction-grip is constituted by a deformable pocket of overall annular shape containing particles, the said skirt being provided with means to reduce pressure within the... | 10/13/1981 |
| 4236693 | Portable winch apparatus This improvement in the field of portable winches or towing devices comprises a shell of heavy construction, which is easily movable on integrally mounted retractable wheels, and which when in its desired location and directional orientation can by its ow... | 12/02/1980 |
| 4196882 | Double suction cup holder with vacuum control valve A double suction cup holder in which the two suction cups are connected by a stem has a longitudinal air passageway through the stem connecting the two cups. A diametrical opening traverses the passageway and has a valve member rotatably mounted therein w... | 04/08/1980 |
| 4138080 | Hermetically self sealing gasket for high vacuum fasteners A vacuum-actuated holding device is provided for securing an article having a relatively flat surface against a support having a relatively flat surface and which is capable of maintaining adhesion between the flat surfaces of the article and support for ... | 02/06/1979 |
