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 |
| 7985040 | Screw assembly A screw assembly includes hollow first screw and a second screw smaller than the first screw in size. A first thread is defined on an outer surface of the first screw. A receiving hole is defined in the first screw. The second screw is adapted to be received in the ... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7819613 | Self-tapping insert and method of utilizing the same to replace damaged bores and threads A self-tapping insert is installed in a pre-existing bore hole in a workpiece by rotating the insert, causing cutting threads on the exterior of the self-tapping insert to cut new threads. Engagement threads on the exterior of the self-tapping insert engage the new ... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7731464 | Insert nut There is provided an insert nut, having an outer hollow portion made of a resin material and an inner hollow portion made of a metal material. The outer hollow portion has a projection functioning as a male screw or wedge formed on an outer surface thereof. The inne... | 06/08/2010 |
| 7465136 | Insert nut and insert t-nut There is provided an insert nut, wherein a dies is pressed on one surface of a predetermined metal plate 7 to form a screw portion 8, so as to form a patterned portion 9 on the other surface of the metal plate by forming the screw portion, where... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7441998 | Fastening element for hard constructional components A fastening element for hard constructional components includes a cylindrical base body (22), a self-tapping thread (27) provided at least on a portion of an outer surface (26) of the base body (22) and having a runout (28) that is... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7396198 | Threaded insert for fasteners A threaded insert for providing stronger threads to a parent material. The threaded insert includes a bushing portion having male threads on the external surface and female threads within an internal bore. The threaded insert also includes keys which lock the thread... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7309231 | Implant The present invention is directed to a threaded implant intended to be screwed into bone, preferably into jawbone, and for tightly fitting a prosthesis, including a spacer portion, in the screwed-in position. The implant body has an internal connection arrangement f... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7293949 | Spiral drive fastener with friction engageable surface Interference surfaces are constructed on inner transition surfaces between wings of a fastener having a spiral recess. A portion of the transition surface is tapered to provide the interference. A standard driver for a spiral recess will engage the interference surf... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7266874 | Method of installing a self-drilling anchor A method of installing a self drilling anchor for use in a friable material mounted on a member comprising an elongated body having an axis, an axial bore adapted to receive an elongated fastener, a flared end having torque transmitting surfaces therein, a proximal ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7267309 | Furniture leg extension and leveling device and method for use A Furniture Leg Extension and Leveling Device and Method for Use is disclosed. The device enables the user to adjust the height of a piece of furniture, such as a bathroom vanity cabinet. The device and method involves adding an extension member to each of the legs ... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7264300 | Fastening element for a spoiler wing of a motor vehicle For the fastening of an adjustable spoiler wing of a motor vehicle, a fastening element is provided which is fastened to the outer tube of an adjusting cylinder and consists of a receiving element with a fit-on sleeve fastened thereto, the fit-on sleeve having a sle... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7261716 | Biodegradable interference screw and tool for attaching a transplant to a bone A biodegradable interference screw for directly affixing a transplant to a bone, the interference screw being provided with at least one longitudinal groove designed to co-act with a tool for insertion of and if necessary, removal of the interference screw from an o... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7235078 | Protective devices for use with angled interference screws A protective device for use with an interference screw used to attach a soft tissue graft within a bone tunnel reduces the tendency of the interference screw to undesirably snag a soft tissue graft and/or sutures when screwed into a bone tunnel. The protective devic... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7234906 | Threaded insert for fasteners A threaded insert for providing stronger threads to a parent material. The threaded insert includes a bushing portion having male threads on the external surface and female threads within an internal bore. The threaded insert also includes keys which lock the thread... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7227724 | Head actuator assembly for a tape drive A head actuator assembly includes a coarse positioner base assembly that is mounted on a guide shaft and an anti-rotation shaft and provides increased structural rigidity due to a four-point support and spring loading of the coarse positioner base against the anti-r... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7223106 | Connector and electronic apparatus having the same A connector includes: a first connector body having a plurality of first lead terminals soldered onto a first wiring board; a second connector body having a plurality of second lead terminals soldered onto a second wiring board; a screw member; and a fastening membe... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7207800 | Dental implant system and additional methods of attachment A dental implant assembly with an an abutment head integrally joined to an implant body. The top section of the abutment head a shape formed by a linear wall adjacent to an arcuate wall; a ledge is located beneath the top section of the abutment; and the abutment he... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7204667 | High strength bolted structure and method of securing nut and torque-shear type high strength bolt and joining method using same A join structure comprises a box section column and spit T-section joined by a high strength bolt and a method secures a nut to an inside of the box section column. A Torque-Shear type high strength bolt is tightly tightened by a controlled tension and a joining met... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7182562 | Gear bolt retention in an automatic transmission assembly subjected to thrust and bending loading A bolt lock locks a bolt against rotation on an output gear. The bolt lock includes a locking plate having a ring-shaped body encircling the head of the bolt and provided with locking tabs bendable into locking engagement with the flat sides of the bolt head to prev... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7160072 | Method of attaching a functional element; die; functional element; component assembly A method of attaching a functional element (10, 210), in particular a fastener element to a sheet metal part (12, 212), optionally in liquid and/or gas-tight manner, is characterized in that the functional element (10, 210, 410) is pressed again... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7144413 | Graft fixation system and method A graft fixation device, system and method are disclosed for reconstruction or replacement of a ligament or tendon preferably wherein a soft tissue graft or a bone-tendon-bone graft is received and implanted in a bone tunnel. The graft fixation system includes a fix... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7073996 | Two-piece crank hanger set for bicycles A two-piece crank hanger set including a left crank arm having a tubular crank spindle attached thereto and a right crank arm having at least one chain sprocket wheel attached thereto. The crank spindle extends through a bicycle crank tube. Bearing cups are removabl... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7070376 | Self-drilling, self-anchoring fastener for concrete A fastener adapted for anchoring into a masonry structure, such as a concrete block, employs an epoxy resin system so that the fastener is both mechanically engaged and bonded to the structure. In one preferred configuration, the bead is composed of a hardener, a re... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7056075 | Screw-type anchor A self-tapping masonry anchor includes an axial bore that is formed at one end and extends through a portion of the anchor. ... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7025552 | Assembly for automatically compensating variations in the spacing between two structural members An assembly for automatically compensating variations of the spacing between first and second structural members due to manufacturing and/or mounting tolerances. The assembly comprises a mounting bolt, a base element, and an adjustment sleeve. The adjustment sleeve ... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7014403 | Finish screw fastener A fastener including a head having a screw driver or wrench engagement feature. The fastener includes a threaded shank extending from the head. A plurality of voids or scores in the shank spaced from but near the head permit rotational torque on the head in one dire... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6974290 | Connecting assembly for joining two panels and mounting the joined panels on a support An assembly and method for mounting tow or more panels where a first member is mounted to, into or from a support, a second member is threaded to the mounted first member, and a third member is threaded to the second member when it is already threadingly engaged to ... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6969221 | Threaded insert for fasteners A threaded insert for providing stronger threads to a parent material. The threaded insert includes a bushing portion having male threads on the external surface and female threads within an internal bore. The threaded insert also includes keys which lock the thread... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6956181 | Method for making a fastener In accordance with one embodiment, the present technique provides a method for making a threaded fastener. The method includes that act of forming a die-making tool having surface features that correspond to the desired crest and flank profiles of a thread of the th... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6942667 | Bone anchor An apparatus and method for fastening a percutaneous medical device to bone is presented, comprising an anchor which comprises an outer threaded segment and an inner cavity comprising an inner threaded segment. ... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6905298 | Telescopic nut A nut assembly is disclosed that will ensure that the shank of a bolt that features a measurable grip length will pass through the contact plane of adjoining members. The nut assembly also allows the desired compressive force in the adjoining members to be attained ... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6884014 | Tolerance compensating mounting device The invention comprises a tolerance compensating mounting device comprising a bushing having an internal and external thread. The bushing is threaded into a part to be mounted to a surface. A bolt is then threaded into a bushing bore using the internal threads. The ... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6843629 | Blind fluid fitting/threaded insert The present invention includes a device for providing a blind hole for making a removable connection to an enclosure. The device has a cylindrical shaft with a proximal portion and a distal portion. A head is formed at the distal portion of the shaft. The proximal p... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6840728 | Cold head stamped fastener inserts including marking indicia The present invention provides for fastener inserts and methods of manufacturing the same. The fastener inserts include selectively removable tangs which can be broken away more cleanly than with other commercially available fastener inserts. Further, the methods of... | 01/11/2005 |
| 6736578 | Front mounted retaining mechanism A front mounted retaining mechanism including a retention device and a captivatable device. The retention device has a head and a hollow shank. The head or the shank may include inwardly directed threads. The shank may include outwardly directed threads to facilitat... | 05/18/2004 |
| 6726422 | Helically coiled titanium wire fastener inserts Described herein are fastener inserts formed from a titanium alloy which reduce corrosion in a fastener assembly. In addition to reduced corrosion, particularly galvanic corrosion, the fastener insert is lightweight and provides improved strength to weight ratios as... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6726421 | Tanged screw thread inserts with improved removability A helical thread insert having a removable tang attached to the front end of the insert, a retention device, and a removal notch located along the rear portion of the insert. The removable tang is oriented radially inward and includes a “V” shaped notch oriented... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6679661 | Fastener for fragile boards An improved fastener for boarding, particularly to a fastener adopted for use on fragile boards and panels such as gypsum boards mainly comprises a shank, a flange formed on one end of the shank, a drill bit formed on another end of the shank, a screw thr... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6676352 | Fasteners with improved retaining effect A fastener includes a main body having a number of spaced ridges formed on an outer periphery thereof. The ridges are arranged along a helix. At least one of the ridges has a retainer extending in a direction that is at an angle with an extending directio... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6672811 | Threaded insert for fasteners A threaded insert for providing stronger threads to a parent material. The threaded insert includes a bushing portion having male threads on the external surface and female threads within an internal bore. The threaded insert also includes keys which lock... | 01/06/2004 |
