...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 |
| 7938375 | Pen retaining sleeve A collapsible pen holder installed within a surface of an object, including an automobile dashboard or briefcase, secures and retains a pen within a cylindrical sleeve slidably engaged within a cylindrical mounting frame member, exposing a pen cap of the pen. The pe... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7559521 | Bracket for anti-lock braking system sensor A bracket for securely positioning an anti-lock braking system sensor on a heavy-duty vehicle axle adjacent to wheel hub tone ring teeth is formed from a single piece of robust material such as sheet steel. A steel blank of a certain size and shape preferably is sta... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7422184 | Universally positionable platform for beverage holder A positionable platform for use with a conventional beverage holder, the universally positionable platform including a first cup-shaped portion sized to fit within a conventional beverage holder; and a second substantially rigid cup-shaped portion coupled to the fir... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7413154 | Vehicle cup holder with improved support member A holder for receiving and supporting an article includes a sidewall defining a cavity for receiving the article. At least one resiliently deformable support member is attached to the sidewall. The support member has a surface inwardly extending into said cavity. Th... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7360336 | Plant base The invention provides a plant base comprising a base section with a seat for a plant pot, in which a tail section extends in a horizontal direction from the rear of the base section. A groove/protuberance combination is provided at the front of the base section and... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7357541 | Enclosure for socket cup for snap-in electrical quick connectors An enclosure with socket cup for use with a line voltage recessed lighting kit, having an enclosure for a splice connection between a lamp holder and a junction box, the enclosure having an open portion. The invention further comprises a socket cup having at least o... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7331552 | Hollow pivot Apparatuses, a system, and a method for rotatable coupling of components are disclosed herein. The apparatus may include a base having a mounting feature to couple the appparatus to a product housing and a through-hole to provide access to an interior cavity of the ... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7325775 | Automotive gauge mounting bracket with frictional fit apertures An automotive gauge mounting bracket is provided that is engagable to an automotive vehicle interior. The bracket comprises at least one gauge receiving aperture formed in the bracket. The aperture is provided with a perimeter defining a plurality of displaceable ga... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7317613 | Electronic device quick connect system A quick connect system for an electronic device, comprising a docking station configured to engage the electronic device, the docking station having a locking mechanism actuatable to an unlocked position, the locking mechanism configured to independently remain in t... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7290746 | Beverage container holder supported tray assembly The multi-purpose beverage container holder supported tray assembly: includes a beverage container holder component and a tray component hingedly coupled to the beverage container holder component and provides one or more utilitarian support surfaces that may be use... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7287539 | Bumper for an umbrella A bumper for an umbrella is made of resilient material and is an undulating tube composed of a securing end (32), a serpentine middle portion (34), an abutting end (36) and a straight through hole (not numbered) defined through securing end (... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7287644 | Suspension device for a tool socket A suspension device for a tool socket has a hanging panel (10), an end cap (20) and a fastening strip (30). The hanging panel (10) has a strip latch (12), and the end cap (20) has a through hole (22). The fastening st... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7287474 | Consumer pyrotechnics support apparatus A reusable pyrotechnics support device for securely holding consumer ground-based fireworks (for example, fountains, mortars, multiple aerials, and the like) in a vertical and upright position, using a sufficiently wide base that is resistant to tipping over. In cer... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284734 | Hanger A hanger comprising a base having a supported surface adapted to be positioned along a generally vertical surface, and an elongate peg having one end mounted on the base with a portion of the peg projecting from an outer surface of the base opposite its supported su... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7285722 | Mounting bracket The present invention relates to a mounting bracket having a plurality of apertures on both sides of a main body of the mounting bracket and a turning surface disposed at an angle of 90 degrees from a rear end of the main body. The invention is characterized in that... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7264209 | Hair dryer stand A hair dryer stand for setting an operating blow-dryer on a countertop without burning the countertop or material on the countertop. The hair dryer stand comprises at least one base, at least one side wall having a top and a bottom where the bottom is attached to th... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7264212 | Monitor-holding device A monitor-holding device is attached to a table, holds a monitor and has a vertical support, a shoulder joint, an inner arm, an elbow joint (40), an outer arm, a universal joint and a monitor bracket. The shoulder joint is attached to the vertical support. Th... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7264213 | Hanging device for tool There is disclosed a hanging device including a hanger, a stationary connector, a rotational connector, and a tool-connecting element. The rotational connector is connected to a first portion of the tool-connecting element. A tool can be connected to an opposite sec... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7258633 | Apparatus and method for basketball practice A portable basketball practice system or apparatus and method are shown having a plurality of pads situated on a plurality of adjustable arms that provide a toggle assembly, respectively. A position of the pads can be adjusted relative to a box-out area and can be e... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7255313 | Bracket assembly to suspend objects A bracket assembly to suspend objects, having a bracket and a suspending tab assembly for organizing objects in a suspended manner. The bracket comprises a rear and front wall joined at a top edge and a bottom edge. An interior seam defines the interior area where t... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7243889 | Flush valve mounted holder A holder adapted for mounting on a flush valve housing, said holder including a body having a lower portion and an upper portion; a connector having a side wall forming at least part of the lower portion of said body, said connector dimensioned to engage the flush v... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7229051 | Support device for guidewires and catheters and method of use thereof A support device for supporting at least one medical wire adjacent a supporting surface. The support device comprises a plate-shaped holder portion defining a peripheral edge, the holder portion comprising a support slot defining a loading opening made in the periph... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7225471 | Removable optical assembly for a helmet There is provided a removable optical assembly for a helmet. The removable optical assembly includes an optical device retention system and an optical device attachment assembly. The optical device retention system is adapted to couple to the helmet and has an optic... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7210663 | Tool securing mechanism for hangtag assembly An apparatus for securing a tool to a hangtag is provided. A method for securing the tool is also provided. In one embodiment, the invention pertains to a hangtag assembly that includes a fastening mechanism for securing a tool having a shank portion, such as a sock... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7207450 | Beverage holder device A drink holder device having a ground support, a leg extending from the ground support, and a plurality of arms extending from the leg. The arms are movable between a raised and a lowered position. At the end of each arm is one or more beverage holders. A lock holds... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7200968 | Portable securing rod or pole holder A holder, a method of using the holder and a method of making the holder, for securely retaining a tool, pole or fishing rod without damaging the support, such holder comprises a main body and a clip. The main body has a hollow cylinder section (10); an ell-s... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7195119 | Portable tool carrier for step ladders A tool carrier for a step ladder includes a top panel adapted to rest on the top step of the ladder, a skirt depending downwardly from the top panel and around the upper portion of the ladder, tool-receiving pockets provided on the skirt, and a handle connected to e... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7175152 | Display mounting device A flat panel display mounting apparatus that enables quick and easy mounting and dismounting of the flat panel display. The system includes a first bracket having a periphery defining a plurality of spaced apart notches and a second bracket selectively removably rec... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7172165 | Tilting holder for related items A holder for related items used in an activity where such items are likely to be used, includes a substantially planar base to be placed on a surface and an open top receptacle hinged to the base so that the receptacle can be tipped about the hinge with respect to t... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7172164 | Modular accessory holder A receiver and plate for removably mounting devices to a surface on a boat or other vehicle. The receiver's top surface opens into a vertical slot with tapering side walls. The separate plate slides into this slot. The separate plate has corresponding side walls tha... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7162881 | Thermophoretic wand to protect front and back surfaces of an object Methods and apparatus for enabling a clean, fragile object to be transported while protecting both front and back surfaces of the object are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a thermophoretic wand that is arranged to carry an object having... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7159829 | Height adjustable support for food service equipment A support (10) is disclosed for use with food service equipment. The support has a tubular upper portion (11) and a tubular lower portion (12) telescopically mounted within the upper portion for adjustable vertical movement. The upper portion ha... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7147193 | Multi-purpose support plate A multi-purpose support plate for use with a boating accessory assembly is disclosed including a first mounting end portion having a first strengthening rib, a center portion having a top layer and a bottom layer, and a second mounting end portion having a second st... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7131618 | Gas cylinder base The invention comprises a ring-shaped support base comprising a first outer skirt portion supporting a second inner ring portion extending upwardly from the first outer skirt portion. The second inner ring portion is adapted to slidably engage a base ring attached t... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7124900 | Hanger for tool A hanger is disclosed for a tool in the form of a socket and that includes a recess. The hanger includes a board, two locking elements extending from the board and a key located between the locking elements. The board includes an aperture so that it can be hung on a... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7121031 | Hangtag with tool securing mechanism A hangtag is provided that is capable of hanging and securing a tool, such as socket. The invention pertains to a hangtag mechanism that includes a locking mechanism for securing a socket style tool. The hangtag has a body portion having a front surface and a back s... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7111728 | Holding device for a solar-powered thermometer A holding device for an electronic thermometer, which has a solar cell and an electronic display formed an outer surface of the thermometer, comprises an elongated receiving body configured to allow exposure of the solar cell to receive solar energy therethrough whe... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7100624 | Umbrella with lamps mounted detachably within holes in cover support ribs An umbrella includes a pole with an axially extending wire hole, a cover, and a plurality of cover support ribs, each of which is formed with a plurality of lamp holes, within each of which a lamp is mounted detachably. A main wire member extends through the wire ho... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7096560 | Method of making a configurable mount A method of assembling a bracket from a plurality of components adapted for mounting a device for a supporting surface. A plurality of components are provided which can be assembled into a plurality of brackets each of a different configuration. At least one of the ... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7096824 | Rake for self-cleaning pet litter apparatus A rake for a cat litter box for collecting clumped litter waste material from within the cat litter box includes a support member. A plurality of tines are connected to the support member. Each of the plurality of tines includes a first section connected to and exte... | 08/29/2006 |