Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7996928 | Combination toilet and dehumidifier A toilet includes a dehumidifier operable to draw water vapor from the air and discharge water. A tank is configured to store the water discharged from the dehumidifier. A drain valve is movable from a closed position to an open position whereby the toilet is flushe... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7322053 | Pressurized toilet cistern A toilet-flushing (1) device comprises a container (2) divided by an elastic diaphragm (3) with a direct unrestricted connection to a water supply under pressure at the lower part of the container (2), with a flushing valve (15) al... | 01/29/2008 |
| 6907623 | Pressurized water closet flush system A pressurized water closet flushing system for flushing a toilet includes a water vessel having at least one opening for receiving water. A fill tube and a discharge tube extending into the vessel are secured to the vessel. A modular assembly cap including an intake... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6571400 | Toilet bowl water flow adjustment system A toilet bowl water flow adjustment system for controlling the water volume utilized to flush an existing toilet. The toilet bowl water flow adjustment system includes a divider structure for separating a reservoir into a main portion and an auxiliary por... | 06/03/2003 |
| 5873136 | Pop-up bowl valve for toilet with two flush modalities A two flush modality toilet composed of a bowl, a tank connected with the bowl wherein the tank is connected to a water supply, a conventional flush modality for flushing solid waste from the bowl, and a urinal flush modality for flushing liquid only wast... | 02/23/1999 |
| 5813047 | Toilet flushing system that allows use of gray water drained from a sink A toilet flushing system that allows use of gray water drained from a sink including a toilet having a bowl, a water tank having a lower drain hole and an inner wall defining an upper compartment and a lower compartment and with the inner wall further hav... | 09/29/1998 |
| 5761749 | Structure of toilet bowl A toilet structure having lower and upper water tanks, the latter being fixed on the former, a lower outlet on the bottom of the lower water tank for supplying water from the lower tank to a whirling water feed outlet in an associated nightstool, and an u... | 06/09/1998 |
| 5685026 | Structure of toilet bowl A toilet structure having lower and upper water tanks, the latter being fixed on the former, a lower outlet on the bottom of the lower water tank for supplying water from the lower tank to a whirling water feed outlet in an associated nightstool, an upper... | 11/11/1997 |
| 5111537 | Toilet apparatus A toilet apparatus for use in conserving water is provided. The toilet apparatus includes a toilet tank for water, a conventional fluid supply valve, a low volume discharge valve, and a high volume discharge valve. A first embodiment has a housing having ... | 05/12/1992 |
| 5038418 | Bathroom waste collection and disposal unit A bathroom waste collection and disposal unit for mounting on a floor of an enclosure includes a tank of unitary construction having a horizontal portion defining a refuse reservoir and a vertical portion open to the horizontal portion for refuse gases an... | 08/13/1991 |
| 4868933 | Flush control devices A flush control device for controlling the flush operation of a flush toilet having a cistern, a feed water control mechanism fluidly coupled to a water supply pipe and a flush water control mechanism fluidly coupled to one end of a flush pipe, the opposi... | 09/26/1989 |
| 4852191 | Toilet An improved toilet with a bowl and a flusher wherein the improvement includes a toilet water tank which contains an insert for creating a first compartmemt filled with a deodorant and a second compartment filled with a fluid, and an actuator which is pivo... | 08/01/1989 |
| 4800596 | Ventilated toilet A toilet has a toilet bowl and a flushing tank which accommodates a supply of flushing liquid for the bowl. The bowl, which discharges into a waste line, is connected to the flushing tank by a flushing pipe. A second pipe for evacuating odors from the bow... | 01/31/1989 |
| 4566140 | Selective flush cistern A sanitary pan flush cistern which includes structure to permit full-flush or partial flush as required. The cistern is a conventional lidded container housing usual outlet valve on a valve-rod, a press-button in the lid to open the valve and a float-cont... | 01/28/1986 |
| 4527296 | Selective-flush cistern A sanitary pan flush cistern which includes structure to permit full-flush or partial flush as required. The cistern is a conventional lidded container housing usual outlet valve on a valve-rod, a press-button in the lid to open the valve and a float-cont... | 07/09/1985 |
| 4462124 | Flush apparatus for water closet and method of operation A water closet (10) for conserving water which has a siphon jet (30) in the bowl (12) for initiating evacuation of the contents of the bowl through the trap (26), and a flush water storage tank (14) that includes chambers (68) and (72) through which water... | 07/31/1984 |
| 4419772 | Water saver A water saver for the water closet of a flush toilet, which allows the operator to vary the amount of water being used according to the requirements of the situation. A lever on the exterior of the water closet controls the egress of water from a separate... | 12/13/1983 |
| 4388737 | Toilet tank insert water saver A fluid discharge regulating device to be used for conserving water in the toilet tanks of bathroom toilets. The device includes partitions that divide the toilet tank into three consecutively arranged compartments, each compartment providing fluid commun... | 06/21/1983 |
| 4358864 | Combination wash basin and toilet conservation system A combination wash basin and toilet water conservation system having at least one wash basin and a toilet having a water tank. The water tank has a fresh water chamber and a gray water chamber. A first outlet connects the gray water chamber with the bowl ... | 11/16/1982 |
| 4304014 | Variable volume flushing cistern This invention relates to a variable volume flushing cistern and in particular it relates to a cistern of the type in which a selection can be made of the amount of water discharged during a flush.... | 12/08/1981 |
| 4250579 | Water saving panel device for water closets and method A pair of flexible or extensible panel members are adapted for vertical placement in the base of a conventional water closet flush tank in spaced relationship about the outlet valve such that edge portions of the panel members are in sealing contact with ... | 02/17/1981 |
| 4232409 | Pneumatic assisted flushing apparatus for toilets Presented is an apparatus for use in conjunction with a toilet of the flush-type which utilizes a charge of compressed air in conjunction with a low volume of water to discharge waste products from a toilet fixture.... | 11/11/1980 |
| 4225985 | Valved volume dividing means This invention relates to water conserving devices to be used in the water closets of bathroom toilets. The devices may also find applications in other liquid containing and discharging vessels. The invention consists of a partition wall or alternatively ... | 10/07/1980 |
| 4219895 | Variable volume flushing cistern A variable volume flushing cistern comprising a body with a division wall across it to form two compartments, the first containing a float and water inlet valve and communicating with a flushing valve on the base of the cistern, a second communicating thr... | 09/02/1980 |
| 4143430 | Valved volume dividing means This invention relates to water conserving devices to be used in the water closets of bathroom toilets. The devices may also find applications in other liquid containing and discharging vessels. The invention consists of a partition wall or alternatively ... | 03/13/1979 |
| 4044407 | Toilet water saver device A water saving device for a toilet tank comprising an open top container with partitions forming an inverted U, siphon duct opening adjacent the bottom of the container and extending over an end wall to discharge below the container bottom. A top wall sea... | 08/30/1977 |
