...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8075218 | Prestressed shaft and hub connection having a perfect cone shape The invention relates to a shaft and hub connection (20) for transmitting torque, a common longitudinal axis (X-X) comprising the following components: a shaft (22) which rotates about the longitudinal axis (X-X) and comprises an entraining longitudina... | 12/13/2011 |
| 7927036 | Quick connect with male and female terminals A quick connect assembly having a female terminal exhibiting an interior passage communicating with a connecting end. The passage is defined by inwardly facing surfaces associated with a plurality of linearly extending and peripherally arrayed beams, the passage exh... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7753614 | Connection device for tire-building drum A connection device for a tire-building drum significantly improves work efficiency for connection and disconnection of a tire-building drum, with requirements for safety, cost, durability, occupied space, etc. sufficiently satisfied. The device connects a center sh... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7438496 | Auto locked mechanism A securing apparatus, including: a deformable body, wherein the body is configured to provide a secure interference fit with at least one article to which it is fitted, and an aperture within the body, wherein the aperture is configured to accept a noncircular secti... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7318687 | Connection between components An assembly comprises a male component and a female component which connect together to form a mechanical connection, the female component being adapted to at least partially receive an end portion of the male component. The female component has at least one bore wh... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7281335 | Carpenter's level A level assembly includes a main level with a base wall, end supports at opposite ends of the base wall and at least one intermediate support extending from the base wall at a location between the end supports. Bubble tubes may be mounted in the end supports and/or ... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7216878 | Steering column retainers for children's ride-on vehicles A children's ride-on vehicle and a method of connecting a steering column to the vehicle. The vehicle includes a body and a plurality of wheels. The vehicle also includes a steering assembly configured to steer at least one steerable wheel. The steering assembly inc... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7204064 | Structures which can be dismantled and folded, consisting of interconnecting tubular elements Composite structures obtained by joining two or more structures of the type which presents pairs of joined tubular elements, whose extremity is hinged in universal joints and in which the universal joints are substantially parallelepiped in form and present four sea... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7198424 | Connecting element, and mounting assembly using the same A connecting element with substantially U-shaped cross-section has a U-shape having two free ends and a connecting region connecting the free ends with one another and having at least one engaging element provided and formed to engage an associated edge of an underc... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7191711 | Shafting especially a cardan shaft and homokinetic bogie drive system for rail vehicles A shafting, particularly a cardan shaft for rail vehicles, has two cardan joints (4,5), each of which comprises two link forks (7–10) coupled to one another by a central part (6). The central part (6) comprises at least two partial elem... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7180302 | Method and system for determining cracks and broken components in armor A ceramic armor system with built-in conductive circuit attached to a ceramic component. The conductive circuit can be accessed by a user at contacts provided in the system. The circuit is arranged so that damage such as cracks that occurs within the ceramic compone... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7177811 | Method for sending multi-media messages using customizable background images A method is provided for customizing a multi-media message created by a sender for a recipient, in which the multi-media message includes an animated entity audibly presenting speech converted from text by the sender. At least one image is received from the sender. ... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7155764 | Rail coupling and lock for split-apart basket stretchers A split-apart basket stretcher and its corresponding rail coupling and lock, where the stretcher has first and second portions for mounting in opposed facing relation to one another, and the rail coupling and lock releasably locks the first and second portions toget... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7150106 | Method of using a level A water or spirit level is composed of an elongated body, preferably of metal, at least one bubble mounted in the elongated body, and end caps, preferably of plastics material, at the end faces of the elongated body, wherein at least one outer surface of the elongat... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7125024 | Quick-release axle assembly for in-line skate An axle assembly for an in-line skate for retaining a wheel and a pair of bearings in a chassis of the in-line skate. The axle assembly has an elongated spacer hub, for supporting a bearing at each end portion thereof; an elongated male coupler, for bearing on a fir... | 10/24/2006 |
| 7065875 | Bushing support ring for stabilizer bar A stabilizer bar assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a stabilizer bar, a bushing mounted to the stabilizer bar, and a support ring mounted onto the stabilizer bar adjacent the bushing to provide a stop to prevent the bushing from moving axially along the sta... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7059568 | Panel for a vehicle The invention relates to a device for fastening an in-fill panel element to a plane panel element of a covering for an aircraft, the in-fill panel element and the panel element being releasably interconnected at longitudinal sides facing each other, a transverse pin... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7035803 | Method for sending multi-media messages using customizable background images A system and method of providing sender customization of multi-media messages through the use of inserted images or video. The images or video may be sender-created or predefined and available to the sender via a web server. The method relates to customizing a multi... | 04/25/2006 |
| 7028442 | Deployable truss beam with orthogonally-hinged folding diagonals A deployable single truss with folding or removable chordal members and diagonals and orthogonal hinge joints for continuous and synchronous retraction and extension, in straight and curved configurations. One or more endframes may be used to close off or mount one ... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7004671 | Pipe connecting structure and cleaning tool A pipe connecting structure for connecting a pair of sleeve-like pipes integrally in an axial direction by inserting a male side end portion of one of the pair of sleeve-like pipes into an opening of a female side end portion of the other sleeve-like pipe so as to s... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6996946 | Structures which can be dismantled and folded, consisting of interconnecting tubular elements Composite structures obtained by joining two or more structures of the type which presents pairs of joined tubular elements, whose extremity is hinged in universal joints and in which the universal joints are substantially parallelepiped in form and present four sea... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6979151 | Timber pile connector A timber pile connector for splicing timber pilings together comprising a section of pipe having a continuous sidewall and a hollow bore, a pair of opposing slots through the sidewall, and a bar passing through the slots. A first end of the bar has a first cut there... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6912755 | Clamping device of a rotating tool A clamping device of a rotating tool includes a first clamping plate and a second clamping plate. The first clamping plate includes a snap groove disposed at the center of the first clamping plate and having a bored hole disposed at a center of the snap groove and a... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6896440 | Connector for joining multiple pane window spacers A connector key for joining spacer member ends in multi-pane window units. A connector key and methods for joining spacer member ends are provided. The connector key can include a top central depression, side walls having top gaps, side shoulders having channels and... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6886223 | Connecting device for cords The invention provides a cord tying-up connecting device including a first component (1) having a groove. One end of first component (1) includes an insertion end for insertion of a heald into the groove, while the other end includes a cam for connecti... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6877927 | Shaft coupler A shaft coupler to connect two coaxial segments of a drive shaft. Each segment includes a tongue, which tongues complement each other to transmit torque and resist axial separation. A bearing surface on each tongue lies within the locking angle of their material so ... | 04/12/2005 |
| 6863464 | Detachable assembly of two elements The invention relates to a detachable assembly of two elements between which at least one shaft is arranged and which is secured on at least one end thereof to a holding fixture that is mounted on one of the elements. The holding fixture can be rotated, in relation ... | 03/08/2005 |
| 6840700 | Mechanical connecting element The invention relates to connecting elements for mechanically connecting constructive elements (2, 3). It is proposed to use an elastically deformable tensioning element (10), comprising a spring material consisting of a superelastic shape memory alloy... | 01/11/2005 |
| 6752560 | Removable splined shaft end for submersible pumps A submersible pump assembly having first and second components that are coupled together has a removable externally splined sleeve. A key is located in the keyway between the shaft sleeve and the shaft for transmitting torque. A threaded fastener secures to a thread... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6709189 | Connector A connector for securing a handle to a utensil comprises a male part (14) having a threaded portion (16) adjacent the free end thereof which joins a shaft portion (18) of greater diameter than the threaded portion (16), a female socket pa... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6684592 | Interlocking floor panels The disclosed invention is a portable floor comprised of interlocking floor panels which may be used for dancing, theatrical productions, musical performances, trade shows, and other settings where it is desirable to have a firm wooden floor surface. The ... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6685381 | Retaining arrangement for a rod member A retaining arrangement for restricting an axial movement of a rod member such as an automotive stabilizer supported by a stay member, comprising a tubular retaining assembly fitted on the rod member adjacent to the stay member so that the axial movement ... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6648541 | Joining element for bridging the separating area of a divided seal in cable fittings The invention relates to a joining element (VE), consisting of a fixing component (FT) and a closing component (VT), for the ends (DE1, DE2) of a divided seal (D) in sealing systems in cable fittings.... | 11/18/2003 |
| 6644887 | Device for connecting a towed pipe to a towing apparatus A device for connecting a towed pipe to a towing apparatus, for example a percussion boring machine or a towing head, comprises an adapter sleeve adapted to the towing apparatus and a towed pipe of which the connecting end is, for example, provided with l... | 11/11/2003 |
| 6478502 | Structure for attaching link for opening-closing member In a structure for attaching a link for an opening-closing member of the present invention, an end portion of a tail gate open stay 4 disposed between an opening 2 and a tail gate 3 of a vehicle body is supported by a pivotally supporting bolt 5 which is ... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6424779 | Fiber trough coupling system Disclosed is a fiber trough coupling system for attaching a first fiber optic cable trough to a second fiber optic cable trough, including an apparatus and a process for the same. More particularly, embodiments of this invention provide such a system whic... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6345927 | Weld reinforcement The weld reinforcement includes a generally dogbone-shaped pocket having laterally enlarged end portions and a reduced intermediate portion spanning a weld seam. A complementary-shaped reinforcing element is received in the pocket. The pocket includes a p... | 02/12/2002 |
| 6312201 | Interference fit type cutting tool In an interference fit type cutting tool according to the present invention, a head section and a shank section are fitted together by shrinkage fitting. The shank section is provided with a shaft portion and a taper portion. The head section is provided ... | 11/06/2001 |
| 6217251 | Joining structure for joining adjacent members A joining structure for joining adjacent members includes a first member and a second member. One end portion of the first member is joined to one end portion of the second member such that protruded portions formed on the one end portion of the first and... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6158916 | Universal joint connector A connector for securing a constant velocity universal joint having a housing to a coupling member, the housing and coupling member each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The connector includes an annular member having a first end, a second en... | 12/12/2000 |