Did You Know...
...that two musicians were responsible for the invention of color print film? Fascinated by photography, Leopold Godowsky and Leopold Mannes worked together to produce an easy-to-use, practical color film. They worked full time as music teachers and gave concerts while experimenting during their off hours in Mannes' kitchen. Their success earned them full-time, well-paying jobs at Kodak and their efforts resulted in Kodachrome film, which was introduced in 1935.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8132272 | Toilet seat lifting system A toilet seat in a generally ring like configuration has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a peripheral edge. A slot has an input opening. The input opening is located adjacent to a peripheral edge of the toilet seat. A lift assembly has an interior section, an... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8117684 | Combined toilet and automated toilet seat lifting device and associated method A combined toilet and automated toilet seat lifting device may include a toilet that has a toilet seat pivotally attached thereto, and a mechanism for automatically articulating the toilet seat from a remote distance such that a user maintains their hands spaced fro... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8112826 | Apparatus and method for controlling opening and closing unit by using counter electromotive force of motor An apparatus for controlling a rotational movement of an opening and closing unit by using a counter electromotive force of a motor includes: a motor driving unit that drives an electric damper by driving a motor to operate the opening and closing unit; a position d... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8108952 | Controlling apparatus for automated toilet seat and lid lifting and closing device A controlling apparatus for automated toilet seat and lid lifting and closing device is provided, including a mat, at least a detection module, and a control module. The detection module is located inside the mat. The control module is electrically connected to the ... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8091155 | Seat lifting system A seat lifting system includes a toilet and a seat and a lid, which are hingedly coupled together by a hinge and secured to the toilet so that each of the seat and lid are positionable in lifted position or lowered position relative to the toilet. A pivot bar is rot... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8087104 | Manual toilet seat lifter apparatus A manual toilet seat lifter apparatus is provided for lifting and lowering a toilet seat and includes strap hinge members connected to the toilet seat. A hinge pin is received in the strap hinge members. A riser rod is connected to the hinge pin. A handle is connect... | 01/03/2012 |
| 7966674 | Toilet seat saver An apparatus for opening and closing a toilet seat and lid. The apparatus comprises a clamp and a handle which attaches to a toilet lid. A user may open and close a toilet seat and/or lid by grasping the handle, in lieu of directly touching the toilet seat or lid. I... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7917973 | Hands free system for lifting and lowering a toilet seat An apparatus configured to lift and lower a seat assembly of a toilet includes a case that is configured to be mounted to the toilet using mounting bolts of the seat assembly. The case includes a passive infrared sensor (PIR) that outputs a detection signal in respo... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7861328 | Toilet seat tilting device A toilet seat tilting device includes a base, a seat tilting device that lifts or lowers a seat and a seat cover tilting device that lifts or lowers the seat cover. First and second pedals are used to operate link mechanisms. When the first pedal is pressed, the par... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7788741 | Automatic toilet lid and seat A touch free, automatic seat and lid actuating system for toilets includes at least one of an advantageous drive mechanism for raising and lowering the seat and lid, a clutch mechanism enabling manual operation of the seat and the lid, and an attachment system for r... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7676857 | Toilet seat and lid lifter assembly A toilet seat and lid lifter assembly which is constructed of a first frame member of generally U-shape and a second frame member of generally S-shape for gripping both a toilet seat and a toilet lid together such that the seat and lid can be simultaneously lifted o... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7644451 | Pedal operated toilet seat lifter and return An apparatus for selectively moving a toilet seat between a first and second position comprising: a base, a first pedal having a first end for receiving a downward force thereon pivotally connected to the base, a first means connected between the toilet seat and an ... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7636956 | Hands free toilet seat system A toilet bowl has a front end, a rear end and sides. A toilet seat has a bore. The bore extends through the toilet seat from side to side. A base plate on the toilet bowl has a forward, rearward and a central bearing. An input shaft on the rearward bearing has a fir... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7552485 | Toilet seat gripping apparatus A toilet seat gripping apparatus includes a panel that has a top side, a bottom side, a forward edge and a rear edge. The rear edge is concavely arcuate between opposite ends of the rear edge. The rear edge is contoured to an outer edge of a toilet seat. A pair of g... | 06/30/2009 |
| 7398564 | Closure apparatus and method of installing same A closure apparatus and a method of installing the same are provided. The closure apparatus is adapted to mount to a toilet having a cover (5), a bowl ledge (4), and a flush mechanism (3, 30). The closure apparatus includes a mounting bolt (1... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7398563 | Toilet seat structure that can be lifted up through a pedal A toilet seat structure including a toilet seat, a link, a pedal and a fixing plate can be lifted up through the pedal. The toilet seat is connected to one end of the link. The other end of the link is pivoted on the pedal. A middle of a bottom surface of the pedal ... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7386895 | Opening/closing device for toilet seat or toilet lid, and transmission unit for the device A lifting and lowering device (31) for a toilet seat or a toilet cover has a swing shaft (17) provided on a swing center line (C) of a toilet seat (3) or a toilet cover (4) that swings around base end portions (3l, 4 | 06/17/2008 |
| 7367066 | Pivotally adjustable toilet lid A pivotally adjustable toilet lid lifting apparatus, comprising a base with spring resisted pedal, the pedal operating a substantially semicircular adjustably positioned pivot arm, the pivot arm connected to an adjustably removable and reversible actuation arm, the ... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7343633 | Transmission mechanism A transmission mechanism comprises a rotating shaft, a main column, a rotating column, a stick, a spring and a fixed column. The main column has a first axle hole receiving the rotating shaft. End of the main column has an O-shaped trench having a stop within. The r... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7340782 | Toilet assembly The toilet assembly includes a toilet seat lid, a toilet seat, a toilet tank, a toilet bowl and a hinge assembly. The toilet seat lid is situated on top of the toilet seat. The toilet seat lid has a front peripheral lid portion and an end portion extended off of the... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7334271 | Hands-free toilet seat control An improved toilet seat lifter is provided by a hands-free toilet seat control for controlling the positions of the toilet seat comprising a safety ratchet pedal connected to a gear/wheel unit which transmits the transitional or rotational ratchet movements of the p... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7331067 | Toilet seat lifting and lowering device A toilet seat lifting and lowering device for pivoting the seat to its raised position and for pivoting it back to its horizontal position without having to touch the seat. A first lever arm is rigidly attached at one end to a first part of a torque transfer mechani... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7316037 | Seat lifter The seat lifter is for lifting a toilet seat. The seat lifter includes a foot pedal, cables, pulleys, a base, spring hinge, lifting arm, cable blocks, and a counter weight. The hinge holds the base down on to the toilet with its mounting hardware. The whole mechanis... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7293297 | Automatic toilet seat or toilet cover lifting and lowering device An automatic lifting and lowering device for a toilet seat or a toilet cover usable for a toilet seat provided with a function of washing a body with hot water, which requires reduced size and weight, includes a rotating shaft (40) rotated together with the t... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7281277 | Foot operated toilet seat lifter A pedal actuated seat lifter has a mounting plate fastened between a toilet bowl and its seat using existing bolts holding the seat in place. A floor pedal transmits lifting force through a chain or the like to a lever and lifting arm hinged to the mounting plate. T... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7272863 | Handled toilet seat A toilet seat and handle combination comprising a toilet seat and at least one handle. The toilet seat has an upper side and a bottom side, right and left sides, and at least one groove located in the bottom side. The handle comprises at least one section that fits ... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7185929 | Door knob with light-emitting location indicator and door A door knob with a light-emitting location indicator comprises a knob designed for placement on a door, for being grasped by the hand of a user for opening the door. The knob comprises translucent material. One or more objects comprising light-emitting material that... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7178845 | Article grasping device A compact, readily portable handheld article grasping apparatus for grasping articles such as door handles, gate handles, mailbox handles and the like. The apparatus includes a retractable gripping arm having a hook-like extremity for grasping objects. The gripping ... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7168106 | Cam-actuated toilet seat lifting device A toilet seat lifter means is described, using a minimally simple lever and cam means with a counterweight balanced action arm. The device is adaptable to all standard toilets available today, an improved version of these inventor's prior invention. The new lifter o... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7161118 | Toilet seat heating device A device for warming a toilet seat includes a heatable section removably attachable to a toilet lid via an adhesive layer. The present invention further includes flexible heating elements formed from heat-absorbing material and a cover that protects a user from such... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7150049 | Automatic toilet seat closer An apparatus for closing a member against a substantially horizontal surface of an object, wherein the member comprises a first end and a second end thereby defining a longitudinal axis of the member, and wherein the first end of the member is hingably attached by a... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7140071 | Electric motorized hinge apparatus In an electric motorized hinge apparatus, a biasing means maintains a concavo-convex engagement state between a third rotating member and a second engagement portion in a second rotating member, and thus the second rotating member rotates to follow the third rotatin... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7137154 | Apparatus for lifting and lowering toilet seats Apparatus for facilitating the selective lifting of the lid or the seat/lid combination of a two-piece toilet seat assembly comprises (a) a stem member that is adapted to pass through a pre-formed opening in the lid portion of the seat assembly so as to be movably s... | 11/21/2006 |
| 7134150 | Foot-operated toilet seat A mechanism for raising a toilet seat includes two geared shafts that are cooperatively engaged while mounted on a toilet. A foot-operated lever attached to a first of the geared shafts provides torque thereto, causing a rotation of the first geared shaft upon depre... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7111773 | Damped, mechanically driven lid for a handheld device A lid and lid drive mechanism for a portable, hand held device pivots a flat cover on the device in a predetermined controlled manner between a first position covering at least portion of the front of the device and a second position in which the cover extends towar... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7101209 | Test socket A test device for testing integrated circuits includes a lid and a base joined at a hinge and secured together with a latch. Within the base is some form of socket body that electrically connects the integrated circuit under test to the item the socket is mounted to... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7101442 | Reaction apparatus A reaction apparatus including: a main body having a reaction chamber with an upper opening thereof, a lid hinge, and a lid combined to the lid hinge, rotationally opening and closing the upper opening; a lifting member having a first end part separated from a rotat... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7068179 | Hands-free door opener and method An apparatus for automatically opening a swinging restroom door is provided. The apparatus comprises an actuator, a control unit, and a power assisted drive mechanism that can be connected to an existing door closing mechanism. The actuator comprises a proximity sen... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7051383 | Powered lift toilet seat A powered lift toilet seat including a toilet seat for sitting on, a back support for supporting a back of a person sitting on the toilet seat, and an actuator connected to the toilet seat and the back support by a linkage device for raising and tilting the toilet s... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7051381 | Sanitary cleansing device The present invention provides a sanitary cleansing device includes a casing to be attached onto a rear portion of a toilet bowl, a toilet seat rotatably connected to the casing, a toilet lid rotatably connected to the casing for selectively covering the toilet seat... | 05/30/2006 |
