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 |
| 7648307 | Underground structure cover An underground structure cover comprises a cover body (10) and a receiving frame (20) arranged so that the cover body is fitted in and supported by the receiving frame in the manner that an inclined surface (11) of the outer circumference of the... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7648308 | Frame and corresponding roadway device This frame (2) comprises a bottom plate (22) which has a base (26) which defines a frame support surface (28) which is directed towards an inner side (I) and a skirt (20) which is intended to receive a covering element (4) a... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7429022 | Manhole collar for supporting a davit A manhole collar for mounting in a manhole is defined by a tube with rigid strips shaped to form lobes welded around the upper edge with a bottom edge of each lobe for engaging the ground or other surface around the manhole. A support sleeve is mounted on the tube i... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7401998 | Construction of a foamed polymeric manhole chimney A stackable polymeric foam adjustment or grade ring is provided for the construction of the adjustment courses or manhole chimney portion of a sewer system. The adjustment ring is circular and may include concentric annular grooves on at least one surface and male p... | 07/22/2008 |
| 7357709 | Metal vent A metal vent having an aperture for the passage of a fluid, a porous membrane sealing the aperture, wherein the components of the vent are assembled by an interference fit. ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7354220 | Utility cover system A utility cover system and method of covering and sealing an access cover for a utility entrance within a road surface. The utility cover system includes an outer frame having an opening defined by an inner edge, and a wedge cover of resilient material having an out... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7350827 | Cam expansion ring assembly An expansion ring assembly and method for sealingly installing a gasket within an opening in a wall of a structure. The expansion ring assembly includes an expansion ring having first and second adjacent end portions, and first and second cam members are rotatably c... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7347644 | Multi-use adapter ring for stackable riser components for on-site waste systems A multi-use adapter ring for converting the compatibility of an access opening of an underground on-site waste or drainage facility tank surface or component so as to receive a lower end of a riser component, in a tongue-and-groove type connection, to help achieve a... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7313889 | Temporary ground-level road-edge member and method for positioning below-ground structures A template for temporary placement on the open upper end of a below-ground structure, including a rectangular body matching key dimensions of a permanent ground-level member to be installed, the body having an open bottom to engage the open upper end of the below-gr... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7303354 | Temporary manhole cover A temporary cover for manholes to provide a platform for maintenance workers when operating valves of underground utility systems. The cover comprising a circular outer rim dimensioned to fit into a manhole opening, a pair of parallel and spaced apart rods extending... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7266926 | Temporary ground-level member and method for positioning below-ground structures A template for temporary placement on the open upper end of a below-ground structure, including a body matching key dimensions of a permanent ground-level member to be installed, the body having an open bottom to engage the open upper end of the below-ground structu... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7263746 | Expansion ring assembly with removable drive mechanism An expansion ring assembly for sealing a gasket within an opening in the wall of a structure, the assembly including a drive mechanism having a pair of block members each having a threaded bore, and a bolt having oppositely threaded ends respectively threaded within... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7234706 | Sealing system for multiple fluids A seal (301) has a first surface capable of contacting a valve cover (101) over a first fluid while a second surface, opposed to the first surface, is capable of contacting a seal seat (303). The seal (301) also has a third surface capabl... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7229008 | Cash dispensing automated banking machine with leveling leg An automated banking machine (10) is provided. The automated banking machine may include a fascia (50) in operative connection with a frame (110). The machine may include a plurality of hardware devices which are accessible through the fascia. T... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7225587 | Cover system for septic tank A cover system for septic tanks adapted to be attached to the a septic tank and provide access for repair and maintenance. The assembly includes a base which is embedded into the concrete and provides a seal between the concrete and the base. A pipe member is joined... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7219610 | Grate plate arrangement for step plates A grate plate arrangement for step grates includes box-like grate plates (4) positioned on a grate carrier (2) with a front plate (24) placed on its end wall (18) and fastened to the end wall (18) using one or more studs (26... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7216459 | Access hatch cover assembly with lift-assist assembly and method therefor A hatch cover with spring assembly to assist in lifting open the hatch cover lid. The lid is hinged to a frame so it can be rotated about the hinge to an open position. A spring or a pair of springs are attached to the underside of the lid. Each spring is a torsion ... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7201534 | Apparatus and method to secure manhole accessways A manhole access way security apparatus and method for using the security apparatus are disclosed. The security apparatus includes an insert, at least one locking pin and a locking mechanism each interconnected to allow users to easily and quickly install a security... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7201532 | Method and device for adjusting height of manhole A method and a device for safely and efficiently adjusting the height of a manhole freely allowing the addition and removal of a height adjusting member at any position. The method and device may be used for the manhole formed by installing a tubular shaped frame in... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7165911 | Manhole cover riser assembly A riser assembly for supporting a manhole cover is placed within a manhole frame for raising the height of the manhole cover to pavement level. The riser assembly includes a circular frame formed of a metal bar and has a locking ring attached thereto which extends v... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7160050 | Lockable manhole cover A manhole system including a cover, a frame receiving the cover and at least one security device securing the cover to the frame. ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7150580 | Tapered manhole sealing band and method for use The invention relates to a device and method for sealing a manhole structure. An elastomeric band with at least two different peripheries is sealingly engaged to at least two corresponding peripheries of the manhole structure. Adhesives and supplemental retaining ba... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7146689 | Expansion ring assembly An expansion ring assembly for sealing a gasket with respect to an annular wall of a rigid structure. The expansion ring assembly includes a drive mechanism for engaging and driving apart the opposing ends of an expansion ring to thereby radially expand the ring. Th... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7080954 | Ready-to-install road building apparatus and corresponding installation method An apparatus for covering a ditch includes a cover and girders having rabbets with projecting edges and flat-lying edges, the cover being placed on the rabbets. The apparatus has, before it is set up, a configuration for installation including one or several bars pa... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7074124 | Ventilation system The present invention relates to a ventilation system that allows air to circulate in a building but excludes pests such as birds, insects, moths and flies to enter the building. The ventilation system includes at least one vent comprising an aperture in the roof of... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7040838 | High capacity catch basin filtration system with adjustable deflector ring A catch basin filtration system having a filter body dimension to fit within a drain inlet forming a trough or reservoir obstructing at least a portion of the inlet. The filter body is supported by a filter body support dimensioned to cooperatively engage with the i... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7025529 | Self-leveling system Existing street sewers consist of an immobile concrete structure supporting a frame. The present invention, the self-leveling street sewer, comprises a frame that floats on the foundation of the street and a tubular section that is connected to the connecting condui... | 04/11/2006 |
| 6997639 | Method and apparatus for adjusting the height and inclination of roadway and greenway appurtenances An apparatus for adjusting the height and inclination of roadway and greenway appurtenances includes a rigid annular support ring mountable onto a rigid annular spacer ring sized so as to be mountable onto a manhole and a manhole frame mountable onto the support rin... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6994489 | Utility cover system A utility cover system for preventing water and silt leakage into a utility entrance within a road surface. The utility cover system includes an outer frame having an opening defined by an inner tapered edge, and a wedge cover having an outer tapered edge that fits ... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6979145 | Driveway gutter having flexible filler mat An improved driveway gutter having a flexible gutter mat bridging the trough in the gutter for improving driving over driveway gutters. The mat is made of flexible material such as heavy rubber. The mat is placed with its flat bottom bridging the gutter, and fastene... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6955499 | Adjustable utility access A utility access device and method includes telescoping, elongated upper and lower sleeves with an inclined upper edge. An angled ring is rotatably disposed on the inclined upper edge and has upper and lower opposite edges forming an inclined angle. The angled ring ... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6955498 | Circular conduit opening closure device The closure device for a circular conduit opening may be used to inhibit entry of debris and other matter into a conduit. The closure device may have an outer band, an inner band and a cover wherein a perimeter edge of the cover may be fastened between the outer ban... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6953302 | Adjustment riser for a manhole frame An adjustment riser is disposed between a manhole and a frame embedded in the paved surface of a roadway. The adjustment riser includes an annular concrete base which includes substantially flat top and bottom surfaces. A ridge and a groove are formed on the top and... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6953194 | Expandable band and locking mechanism The expandable band is used to secure a sealing element within a generally cylindrical structure, such as a pipe or manhole, or other round hole. The expandable band includes a band body having a first band end portion and a second band end portion. The first band e... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6869249 | Adjusting device for installing a manhole ring onto a manhole An adjusting device for installing a manhole ring onto a manhole is provided. The manhole has an annular inner shoulder. The adjusting device comprises a center plate and at least one supporting arm. Each supporting arm has a first end and a second end with the firs... | 03/22/2005 |
| 6851225 | Device for equalizing changes in level between a ground area surface and a frame for a manhole cover, and a method for mounting the device A device for equalizing changes in level between a ground area surface extending over a ground structure and a frame for closure of an installation projecting into a ground structure therebelow, comprises a plate-shaped dragging body connected to the closure frame a... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6811350 | Method and apparatus for adjusting the height and inclination of roadway and greenway appurtenances An apparatus for adjusting the height and inclination of roadway and greenway appurtenances includes a rigid annular spacer ring sized so as to be mountable onto a manhole, and a manhole riser mountable onto the spacer ring. The riser substantially frusto-conically ... | 11/02/2004 |
| 6799920 | Angle adjustable utility access and method An adjustable utility access device and method includes a pair of angled rings disposed between a utility and a cover. The angled rings can include a frame and a rotatable ring. A angular scale can be disposed on one of the rings to indicate the angle formed by the ... | 10/05/2004 |
| 6769834 | Methods and apparatus for covering openings in roadways A mat is disposed on top of an access cover to compensate for a vertical offset between the top of the cover and the top of the roadway surrounding the cover. Fasteners are inserted through aligned holes in the mat and the cover and anchored in place in such a manne... | 08/03/2004 |
| 6698973 | Adjustable manhole cover assembly An adjustable manhole cover frame assembly suitable for mounting on a manhole basin upper section has an outer ring, capable of resting on the top surface of the upper section, and an inner ring engaging the outer ring by screw threads and having support ... | 03/02/2004 |