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 |
| 8007708 | Apparatus and methods for automating movement of mold drawers An automated removal and insertion machine for mold drawers operable with a molding machine is described. The machine includes a frame, a plurality of actuators mounted within the frame, a plurality of encoders, a plurality of electromagnetic effectors, and a contro... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7927539 | Method for the construction of a laminated compound A method or procedure for the construction of a laminated compound or mould made up of a number of layers of particle material on top of each other, which are hardened and joined to each other in predetermined onsite areas, which can differ from each other depending... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7910045 | Arrangement and method for heating an electrical conductor The invention relates to an arrangement for inductively heating an electrical conductor after the extrusion head in a process of manufacturing electrical cables (8) having insulation layer on the electrical conductor. The arrangement comprises a first distinc... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7901609 | Process for producing metal oxide flakes A process for the preparation of a plane-parallel structure (a platelet-shaped body, or flake), comprising at least one dielectric layer consisting of oxides of one or more metal selected from groups 3 to 15 of the periodic table, which method comprises subjecting o... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7736578 | Method for the construction of a laminated compound A method or procedure for the construction of a laminated compound or mould made up of a number of layers of particle material on top of each other, which are hardened and joined to each other in predetermined onsite areas, which can differ from each other depending... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7435372 | Liquid bath annealing of polymers for orthopaedic implants A method is provided for annealing a polymer for an orthopaedic implant by immersing the polymer in a liquid bath. ... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7431970 | Method of polymer nanolithography An atomic force microscopy polymer nanolithography method is described. The method of the present invention enables rapid creation of raised or depressed features in a polymer film. The features are generated by mass transport of polymer within an initially uniform,... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7407338 | Taper-lock laser weld for an air induction component A transparent component portion includes a first weld surface and a first taper locking surface formed opposite from the first weld surface. An absorbing component portion includes a second weld surface and a second taper locking surface formed opposite from the sec... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7407614 | Method for forming at least one protective cap The present invention relates to a method for forming a protective cap for a device. Typically, the device would be formed on a silicon wafer and is, for example, a MEMS device. The method involves the steps of locating thermosplastic material between a first wafer ... | 08/05/2008 |
| 7399794 | Polymer/carbon nanotube composites, methods of use and methods of synthesis thereof Novel transparent composites composed of single wall carbon nanotubes incorporated into the matrix of a polymer are utilized in services wherein the composites are exposed to ionizing radiation, including galactic cosmic radiation. Accordingly, the composites are us... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7384589 | Nanoscale molecularly imprinted polymers and method thereof Nanoscale molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) having polymer features wherein the size, shape and position are predetermined can be fabricated using an xy piezo stage mounted on an inverted microscope and a laser. Using an AMF controller, a solution containing poly... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7361696 | 1,4-disubstituted diacetyline polymer and process for producing the same A 1,4-di-substituted diacetylene polymer that is soluble in organic solvent, is composed of a repeating unit represented by the general formula ═CR—C≡C—CR′═ (wherein, R and R′ represent identical or different monovalent organic substituents), and has a... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7335327 | Method of shrinking a film A method of shrinking a film comprises the steps of providing a shrink film and exposing the film to an amount of radiation energy effective to activate the shrink characteristic of the film. The film comprises one or more thermoplastic polymers and at least about 0... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7276203 | Process for producing hollow comprising fiber-reinforced ceramic materials A process for producing hollow bodies comprising fiber-reinforced ceramic materials, in which a green body comprising compressible cores and a mouldable composition comprising binders and fiber material which is pressed with compression of the core is produced, the ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7244386 | Method of compensating for a volumetric shrinkage of a material disposed upon a substrate to form a substantially planar structure therefrom The present invention provides a method of planarizing a substrate with a template spaced-apart from the substrate having a liquid disposed therebetween, the method including: contacting the liquid with the template forming a first shape therein; and impinging radia... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7229280 | Wick holder magnetic retention means The present invention relates to melting plate candles which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquefy the solid fuel, such ... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7213630 | Method and apparatus for producing an RF cured hose, and the hose so produced An apparatus for making a hose including a weaving machine and a liner feeder for forming the hose by weaving a jacket about a liner as the liner is being fed into the weaving machine, where the liner is provided with an adhesive layer on an outer surface, the adhes... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7212723 | Monolithic waveguide arrays A waveguide array is fabricated by providing a photoreactive material and generating an optical intensity pattern corresponding to a geometry of the waveguide array. A relative translation of the photoreactive material is effected through the optical intensity patte... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7168935 | Solid freeform fabrication apparatus and methods An apparatus for formation of a three dimensional object comprising a sealed container; an electron beam subsystem capable of directing energy within said container; a positioning subsystem contained within said container; a wire feed subsystem contained within said... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7169857 | Homogenous compositions of fluoropolymers and crystalline solids or cross-linking agents and methods of making the same Fluoroelastomers are combined with chemical agents in the presence of supercritical carbon dioxide by swelling the fluoroelastomer with the carbon dioxide, and impregnating the swollen fluorelastomer with the chemical agent. The process can be conducted at relativel... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7165959 | Apparatus and method for producing two-sided patterned webs in registration An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of a web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll; a second pattered roll; and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of th... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7141296 | Cast polymer and method of making the same A composite material that includes from about 18 wt % to about 22 wt % of a thermosetting polymeric resin; and from about 82 wt % to about to about 78 wt % of an inorganic filler, wherein the inorganic filler comprises a mixture of particles wherein about 20 parts b... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7090478 | Apparatus and method for manufacturing an anisotropic formed body An apparatus for manufacturing an anisotropic formed body in which functional, magnetic fine particles are oriented in a specific direction within a matrix and in which anisotropy is given to properties attributable to the functional fine particles. The apparatus al... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7077991 | Nanocomposites of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and boron nitride Densified composites of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and boron nitride that exhibit high creep resistance are obtained by sintering a mixture of amorphous powders of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, and boron nitride in the presence of an electric field under ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7056466 | Method of manufacture medical devices employing microwave energy An apparatus and method for molding balloon catheters is disclosed. The balloon may be molded by providing a polymeric tube within a mold having an interior cavity in the shape of the desired balloon. Microwave energy, which may be generated by a gyrotron, may then ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7017370 | Method and device for the homogenous heating of glass and/or glass-ceramic articles using infrared radiation A method for the homogeneous heating of semitransparent and/or transparent glass and/or glass-ceramic articles using infrared radiation so that the glass and/or glass-ceramic articles undergo heat treatment at between 20 and 3000° C., notably at between 20 and 1705... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7011689 | Melted alumina-zirconia ceramic grains, abrasive tools and refractory parts produced from said grains A process for producing fused alumina-zirconia grits includes mixing raw materials suitable to produce grits with the following chemical composition, in % by weight: ZrO2+HfO2: 10–60%, Al2O3: 38–90%, SiO2: | 03/14/2006 |
| 7011785 | Process for producing hollow bodies comprising fiber-reinforced ceramic materials Process for producing hollow bodies comprising fiber-reinforced ceramic materials, where mold cores whose shape corresponds to that of the hollow spaces are produced in a first step, at least one mold core together with a press moulding composition or formable fiber... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7011786 | Process for producing shaped bodies comprising fiber-reinforced ceramic materials Process for producing shaped bodies comprising fiber-reinforced ceramic materials, where a green body is produced in a first step by introducing a press moulding composition into a mold, where the press moulding composition comprises carbon fibers and/or carbon fila... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7000430 | Method of forming glass-ceramic parts and/or glass parts The invention relates to a method of producing glass-ceramic parts and/or glass parts by deformation of a glass-ceramic blank and/or glass blank. The invention is characterized in that forming is carried out using infrared radiation. ... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6969483 | Autoclavable, non-adherent, heat sealable polymer blends for fabricating monolayer and multiple layered films The present invention provides a polymer blend for fabricating monolayer films or a layer within a multilayer film. The blend has a first component and a second component. The first component is selected from the group of: (1) an ethylene and α-olefin copolymer hav... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6960633 | Fluoropolymer-carbon dioxide compositions and methods of processing fluoropolymers Fluoropolymer materials containing tetrafluoroethylene monomers, such as PTFE, are significantly swollen by supercritical carbon dioxide at high temperatures and pressures. The swollen fluoropolymer is processable by molding, extrusion, and other techniques. In addi... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6913824 | Method of making an agglomerate particle A method for making agglomerate particles from a composition comprising at least a radiation curable binder and solid particulates. The method comprises the steps of forcing the composition through a perforated substrate to form agglomerate precursor particles which... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6911162 | Conductive silicon nitride composite sintered body and a process for the production thereof A conductive silicon nitride composite sintered body having an average grain size of 200 nm or less and whose relative roughness (Ra) after electric discharge machining is 0.6 μm or less can be obtained by grinding/mixing a silicon nitride powder and a metal powder... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6863758 | Method of assembling plastic filter element with plastic casing A method of assembling a filter element includes the initial step of forming a plastic filter casing with openings from a flat blank with opposite ends thereof bent towards one another and joining these opposite ends together by a sealing seam. Also, a resilient mat... | 03/08/2005 |
| 6843951 | Method and apparatus for making a dental device or the like The method of making a dental device or the like which involves starting with a pattern of the device to be made, closely surrounding that pattern with a settable material to form a unit with the pattern, separating the unit and removing the pattern therefrom, filli... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6793992 | Molded product for cushioning material, and production process and recovery thereof A cushioning molded product is provided which is produced by binding a vegetable fiber with a copolymer of a saccharide and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid to conduct molding. Further a process is provided for producing a cushioning molded product from a copolymer of... | 09/21/2004 |
| 6780368 | Layer manufacturing of a multi-material or multi-color 3-D object using electrostatic imaging and lamination A freeform fabrication method for fabricating a 3-D multi-material or multi-color object from successive layers of a primary body-building powder, at least a modifier material and a binder powder in accordance with a computer-aided design of the object. The method i... | 08/24/2004 |
| 6749779 | Precision integral articles This disclosure describes a processing approach for the rapid and efficient in-situ polymerization of specially prepared precursor mixtures to achieve near-net-shape production of objects/articles with exact dimensions. The process relies on the use of polymerizable... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6719812 | Infusion of dye using a plasticizer A method of infusing a dye into the surface of an article formed of a plastic material comprises contacting the surface with a solution including one or more solvents each aggressive to the plastic material, one or more dyes and one or more substances each capable o... | 04/13/2004 |
