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 |
| 7364488 | Methods and apparatus for enhancing inflatable devices Methods and apparatus for enhancing an inflatable device. In one example, a first component adapted to generate at least one of light and sound is coupled to a second component that is adapted to facilitate insertion into an inflatable device. The first component ma... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7268329 | Lighting system A lighting system for providing a selection of different colors of light and a desired duration that the light remains on includes a light housing and a hook portion being attached together. The hook portion is configured to engage the support surface and suspend th... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7152998 | Assemblable string tree An assemblable string tree wherein, when completely assembled, a pole vertically supports a hanger above a base with light strings extending generally downwardly and outwardly between hanger engagements and base engagements such that the light strings cumulatively p... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7108391 | Artificial miniature, landscape model with three dimensionally variable colored LEDS An artificial miniature landscape model includes a plurality of multi-colored LEDS, metallic conductor branches, electrically insulated conductors, heat shrink bushings, or insulation tubular plugs, or internally or externally threaded tubular connectors, a low volt... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7088895 | Optical fiber twig tree The present invention discloses an optical fiber twig tree, which comprises a plurality of plastic optical fiber bundles and a stand structure; wherein the plastic optical fiber bundles are designed in a shape corresponding to the branches of the optical fiber twig ... | 08/08/2006 |
| 7080931 | Multiple pattern light source The present invention provides an apparatus to light an object. One end of each optical fiber in a group is bound into a bundle and the other is distributed to provide light as desired. There are more than one group of fibers and more than one bundle. A base structu... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7073932 | Optical fiber decorative assembly A decorative assembly for use within a floral arrangement includes a plurality of optical fibers, a plurality of light emitting diodes, a base portion, and a power source. The optical fibers each have first and second ends. The light emitting diodes are coupled to t... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7014348 | Decorative lighting device An improved decorative lighting device comprising a central column containing at least one light source, a rigid member lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of said column, and a plurality of optical fibers extending from a point adjacent the top... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6978030 | Light emitting loudspeaker cover An apparatus comprising a loudspeaker located inside a housing and a loudspeaker cover is disclosed. An audio signal source supplies an audio signal to the loudspeaker within the housing. The loudspeaker cover includes one or more light sources and is porous to allo... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6950599 | Optically marked surface Turf comprising artificial or natural turf fibers and fiber optic filaments extending between the turf fibers. The present invention also provides a method of marking a surface comprising the steps of providing a light source, providing a surface to be marked, provi... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6918692 | Decorative optical fiber artificial plant A decorative optical fiber artificial plant has a base and an artificial foliage arrangement. The base has a housing and a colored light generator mounted in the housing. The artificial foliage arrangement is composed of multiple optical fibers and is connected to a... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6908215 | Dynamically sensitized decorative lighting equipment Disclosed is a dynamically sensitized decorative lighting equipment wherein a plurality of lighting elements such as miniature decorative lamps or LEDs is divided in several individual groups which are hung on a structural framework and configurated into special pat... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6883951 | Combinative decorative light equipment Disclosed is a combinative decorative light equipment wherein a plurality of lighting elements are mutually connected into several individual lamp groups by wires in series or series-parallel manner, so as to be hung on a structural framework. The upper connectors o... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6830365 | Outdoor artificial tree The present invention provides an artificial tree for use outdoors that includes a tree with trunk, branches and twigs protected from moisture penetration and a plurality of optical fibers also protected from the outside element. A housing encloses a light source as... | 12/14/2004 |
| 6739746 | Water resistant device for base of fiber-optic Christmas tree A water-resistant base device for optical-fiber Christmas trees, consisting of a main base unit, a upper base cover, a rotating unit, a fixing unit, a water-resistant hood, a top cover and a tree unit. The rotating unit is installed on the fixing unit structure on t... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6733167 | Coaxial light emitter for optical fibre tree A coaxial light emitter a fibre optic lighted artificial tree of the present invention serves as a trunk for the tree and includes two spaced apart light sources that individually provide light to fibre optic bundles for a portion of the tree so that the tree can be... | 05/11/2004 |
| 6679622 | Fibre optic lighted artificial tree A fibre optic lighted artificial tree that includes a base member, a trunk member and a plurality of branch members that are individually provided light from a separate fibre optic bundle and light source for each branch member. The tree also includes a t... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6672750 | Multiple pattern illumination system The present invention is an apparatus for lighting a decorative tree which includes optical fibers with their first ends distributed in branches and ornaments of the tree, a color sleeve loop, a roller and track system attached to a motor which rotates th... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6652132 | Potting loudspeaker box A potting loudspeaker box includes a box body having a plurality of through-holes surrounding the periphery of the box body. A loudspeaker is disposed in the box body. A cover plate is provided with a plurality of through-holes. The cover plate covers the... | 11/25/2003 |
| 6386746 | Optical fibre artificial tree or foliage article An artificial tree or foliage article is provided with at least one bundle of optical fibers (11) having a proximal end at which, in use, a light source is directed, and a distal end, wherein adjacent the distal end the fibers are bent sharply to induce f... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6318876 | Illuminated artificial plant An artificial flower arrangement that includes a number of lights and also includes a scent generating mechanism for dispensing a scent into the room. The scent generating mechanism is a plug in air freshener. Each of the light bulbs is positioned in the ... | 11/20/2001 |
| 6299339 | Light generating base for a tree A light generating base includes a motor having a motor shaft with upper and lower portions that project upwardly and downwardly from a motor body. The lower portion of the motor shaft is secured to a stand such that the motor body is rotatable relative t... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6039453 | Lighted water globe A lighted water globe comprises a base having a hollowed interior and a water filled glass dome arrangement supported on the base. The glass dome arrangement has a lower portion accessible within the base interior and the lower portion has a window throug... | 03/21/2000 |
| 6017142 | Decorative fiber optic tree A decorative fiber optic tree formed of a plurality of light conducting optical fibers, each having a first end and a second end. The fiber optic tree includes a base unit having an interior chamber to house a light source. The light source is arranged to... | 01/25/2000 |
| 5639157 | Decorative string lighting system A decorative light string includes a multiplicity of illuminators; a multiplicity of light output transducers, each of the illuminators receiving light from at least one corresponding light output transducer; a wire harness connected to the illuminators, ... | 06/17/1997 |
| 4998186 | Decorative hair ornament A decorative hair ornament is provided utilizing optic fibers attached to the means of fastening the ornament to the hair. A plurality of optic fibers are extended outwardly controlled by a light source including a battery and diode. Decorations such as g... | 03/05/1991 |
| 4415953 | Tree-like decorative device A tree-simulating illuminated decorative device, which includes an upper frame member, a plurality of light-conducting rod shaped elements having first axial extremities carried on an upper frame member, a lamp mounted proximate to the upper frame member ... | 11/15/1983 |
