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 |
| 8156625 | Method for optimizing joint press set for use with a plurality of ball joints A method and article for designing dual-mode adapters in a joint press kit. A plurality of ball joints for use with the adapters are selected. An adapter design is created by defining a first variable representative of a physical characteristic of the adapter design... | 04/17/2012 |
| 7895723 | Joint press set A joint press including a yoke including a first end and a second end. A first adapter attachment member is positioned on the first end. A second adapter attachment member is positioned on the second end. The first adapter attachment member and the second adapter at... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7669305 | Method for optimizing joint press set for use with a plurality of ball joints A method and article for designing dual-mode adapters in a joint press kit. A plurality of ball joints for use with the adapters are selected. An adapter design is created by defining a first variable representative of a physical characteristic of the adapter design... | 03/02/2010 |
| 7610664 | Joint press set A joint press including a yoke including a first end and a second end. A first adapter attachment member is positioned on the first end. A second adapter attachment member is positioned on the second end. The first adapter attachment member and the second adapter at... | 11/03/2009 |
| 7272886 | Bearing press support adaptor A support adaptor assembly for a bearing press comprising a rectangular shaped header plate (1), a pair of adjustable support rods (4) each with an adaptor (9) on one end for providing a means of supporting an object (50) to be worked on ... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7243418 | Apparatus and method for opening a sealed module containing a circuit board An apparatus and method is provided which permits effective removal of a circuit board from sealed housing while minimizing stress, bending and flexing of circuit board sufficiently to prevent damage to circuit board and its electronic components. The apparatus incl... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7191504 | Universal bushing tool and method of use A universal bushing tool for removing bushings of various diameters from machine assemblies is disclosed. The present tool comprises a handle, a plurality of interchangeable handle extensions, a plurality of sets of interchangeable wedge segments, and a plurality of... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7174614 | Device for facilitating connection of terminal ends of vehicle track to form closed loop A device for engaging first and second terminal ends of a vehicle track and drawing the terminal ends together in order to facilitate their connection to form a closed loop of track. The device comprises first and second coupling ends for engaging respective termina... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7082747 | Chain connecting pin extracting apparatus A chain connecting pin extracting apparatus comprises a main body; a pin extractor support supported by the main body; and a pin extractor supported by the pin extractor support for movement in a direction of a pin extractor axis defined by the pin extractor. The pi... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7055787 | Sheet material clamp A sheet material clamp having a rigid clamp base of a pre-selected length. The rigid clamp base has a clamping surface and at least two clamping apparatus attached to the clamping base for applying clamping pressure through a pressure foot toward the clamping surfac... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7047610 | Holding device A device for holding a rotary element stationary relative to a fixed body, the device comprising at least one element, adapted to engage with the rotary element to hold the device in a fixed position relative to the rotary element; and an engaging member, adapted to... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7003859 | Door hinge repair apparatus and method Apparatus for use in repairing, and methods of repairing, a door hinge of a vehicle includes use of a substitute hinge bracket and at least one pin configured to be received through at least one opening of a vehicle frame bracket. A locking portion of the at least o... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6971642 | Secured threading nut decking clamp and method for making same A decking clamp for use in an underhung roof system. A C-shape housing has opposed arms and a variable gap opening in a clamping cavity. A threaded retention nut is secured within two opposed slots in a front section of one of the opposed arms rearward of a partitio... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6957477 | Tool for installing nozzles in pop-up sprinkler heads A tool for displacing the spring-biased turret from the case of a pop-up sprinkler head is described. The tool has an elongated body with a base at one end and a means to hold the sprinkler head in the body at the other end. A push-up pin or pilot sits on the base a... | 10/25/2005 |
| 6907667 | Method for facilitating the assembly of a universal joint A method of assembling components of a universal joint, such as a cross and a yoke, positions and maintains the rotational center axes thereof in co-axial alignment during the assembly process. The universal joint includes a yoke including a body portion and first a... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6880323 | Width adjustable chain tool A chain tool used to disassemble or assemble a chain includes a set of spacers allowing micro adjustability to facilitate first and second anvil surface contact with chain plates when chain connection pins are being displaced or replaced to disassemble or reassemble... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6832423 | Golf device Various embodiments of a golf device for use on a putting surface are provided. In one aspect, a golf device for use on a putting surface is provided that includes a ball that has a center and a first outer diameter. First and second annular members are coupled to t... | 12/21/2004 |
| 6748637 | Tool for inserting and extracting pins of roller chains A tool for inserting and extracting pins of roller chains, comprising a body having a pair of teeth designed to engage two chain links to be connected or separated by insertion or extraction of a pin. The tool comprises a screw member which can be operated manually ... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6701594 | System for securing interface strips at road/rail crossings At a crossing, rubber interface strips are positioned between the rails and the asphalt or concrete. A U-shaped spring-clip fits underneath the rail, and has upstanding arms that carry tappets, which engage the strips. One of the arms is threaded, and car... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6665921 | Puller apparatus and method for pulling An improved puller apparatus for pulling various articles, including automotive pitman arms, includes a puller frame having a base and at least one upstanding arm extending therefrom, the arms having inwardly extending gripping projections for transmittin... | 12/23/2003 |
| 6618920 | Wheel stud installation tool The stud replacement kit of the present invention operates by supplying force to the inside portion of a damaged stud and pushing that stud forward and out of the wheel. The kit of the present invention comprises a pressure tool that supplies force to a s... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6546610 | Device for loosening a screw seated tightly in a mounting hole of a bearing eye or the like A device for removing a screw (63) or pin tightly seated in a mounting hole of a bearing eye (45) or the like, especially a pivot pin (49, 50) or axle components (45, 25, 26, 27) of a motor vehicle axle is provided. To attach the device to the bearing eye... | 04/15/2003 |
| 6505390 | Method for replacing wheel studs The stud replacement kit of the present invention operates by supplying force to the inside portion of a damaged stud and pushing that stud forward and out of the wheel. The kit of the present invention comprises a pressure tool that supplies force to a s... | 01/14/2003 |
| 6418600 | Universal bearing puller and installer A universal bearing puller and installer for removing and installing bearings. The inventive device includes an extractor tool. The extractor tool is comprised of a cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing is split longitudinally into a pair of sectio... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6363595 | Cue tip installation apparatus A cue tip installation apparatus is provided comprising a clamp frame having a top portion that includes a threaded screw ram reception channel, and another portion that includes a pair of clamp wings. A cue reception channel is located between the clamp ... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6324740 | Universal joint disassembly tool A simple, compact and lightweight tool for the disassembly of the universal joints used in automobiles, trucks, recreational vehicles, buses, boats, farm machinery, and other machinery. The tool directs pressure specifically to the point where it is neede... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6233803 | Angled C-squeezer attachment In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a riveting device. The riveting device is provided with a body defined by a body longitudinal axis and having a pressure port formed therein. The riveting device is further provided with a jaw de... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6085399 | Socket separating device A socket separating device including a frame member having a generally U-shaped configuration. The frame member is further defined by a horizontal segment and a pair of opposed vertical segments. One of the vertical segments has an enlarged upper end. The... | 07/11/2000 |
| 6058588 | Tool and method for use with a removable railroad car vibrator A tool 10 and method for its use with a vibratory car shaker mounting bracket 40 that includes a cross bar member 12, a pair of first bar members 14, an engaging means 22, a pin member 24, a retaining means 26 and at least two threaded jacking means 34. e... | 05/09/2000 |
| 5984711 | Methods and apparatus for increasing wire diameter to improve connectability Methods and apparatus for connecting relatively small wires to standard size electrical connectors. An enlarged conductive region is formed on an end of the wire, the conductive region having an outer dimension adapted to be securely received in the conne... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5906034 | Pressing-out device for an axle support joint and/or a tie rod end A pressing-out device (1) for pressing a joint pin out of a bearing eye, comprising a pressing lever (3) and a support lever (2), which are pivotably connected to one another. The distance between the pressing lever (3) and the support lever (2) is preset... | 05/25/1999 |
| 5898985 | Bushing removal tool A bushing removal tool includes a pressing mechanism and a threaded rod threaded through the pressing mechanism. The bushing removal tool also includes a bushing press adaptor fitting onto an end of the threaded rod. The bushing removal tool further inclu... | 05/04/1999 |
| 5893553 | Portable C-clamp with non-rotatable clamping pad means A C-clamp device has a blocking bar detachably secured to the upper pad to prevent rotation of the pad and has a swivel pad on the lower anvil means for engagement with the clamped article.... | 04/13/1999 |
| 5860203 | Handle repair device A handle repair device for removing a broken, damaged, and/or worn handle from the working head of a handle mounted tool such as a sledge-hammer, spike maul, or pick axe. The handle repair device includes a frame for holding the working head of the handle... | 01/19/1999 |
| 5857252 | Press for installing universal joint bearing cups A press for inserting bearing cups into a U-joint has an arch member bearing an anvil. A pusher member has a plunger slidably mounted to its inner end. When the pusher member is retracted bias means bias the plunger inwardly. The bias means are capable of... | 01/12/1999 |
| 5850680 | Disk brake assembly tool A new disc brake assembly tool for providing an easy means for positioning a piston into the piston cylinder of a caliper to provided proper clearance so that a disc brake pad may be installed. The inventive device includes a base having an elongate cente... | 12/22/1998 |
| 5794321 | Spring compression tool and method A spring compression tool and method for using the spring compression tool in assembling a brake shoe adjustment mechanism on a WAGNER front brake. The tool includes a C-shaped body member and an adjustable portion. The body member includes a first end ha... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5781978 | Device and method for disassembling and re-assembling a steering column A device for disassembling and re-assembling a steering column has a reinforced arcuate housing with adjustable flanges at end of the housing. A central aperture in the housing provides for attaching to device to the steering column. The housing is reinfo... | 07/21/1998 |
| 5713117 | Bushing pusher The present invention relates to a bearing insertion device which is specifically adapted for use in conjunction with an archery bow. In its broadest context, the present invention includes a C-shaped frame with an upper arm and a lower plate. A threaded ... | 02/03/1998 |
| 5586378 | Ball joint extractor A ball joint extractor comprising a C-shaped clamp having an elongated vertical component at its central extent and having two horizontal parallel legs, an upper leg and a lower leg, extending from the opposite ends thereof; a fixed jaw in a U-shaped conf... | 12/24/1996 |
