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!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8142140 | Fan unit, electronic apparatus with fan unit, method of opening/closing shutter of fan unit, and shutter There is provided a fan unit including a shutter capable of closing the shutter despite a change in installation direction of the fan unit, an electronic apparatus including such fan unit, a method of opening/closing the fan unit, and the shutter. In the fan unit wi... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8083473 | Interface for a stamped stator and a one-way clutch A stator, including: a one-way clutch with at least one slot opening radially outward from an outer circumferential portion of an outer race; and a blade assembly including first and second separately formed, stamped blade segments rotationally connected to the one-... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8007228 | Wind guiding cover A wind guiding cover, mounted on a fan, includes a rotating ring and a plurality of slats. The rotating ring is pivoted to the fan, and has an opening for an air flow generated by the fan to pass through. The rotating ring has a weight portion for offsetting the cen... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7850420 | Two-part stator blade The present invention broadly comprises a blade for a torque converter stator including a first blade segment connected to inner and outer circumferential sections of the stator and a second blade segment, separately formed from the first blade segment, and connecte... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7364414 | Fluid pump system A fluid pump system has a cover, a fluid pump and a conduit. An inside of the cover is divided into a main chamber and a sub chamber. The fluid pump is accommodated in the main chamber. The conduit extends from the fluid pump to an outside of the cover through the s... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7356999 | System and method for stability control in a centrifugal compressor A stability control algorithm is provided for a centrifugal compressor. The stability control algorithm is used to control a variable geometry diffuser and a hot gas bypass valve (when provided) in response to the detection of compressor instabilities. The stability... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7329089 | Centrifugal fan A centrifugal fan includes a scroll casing consisting of first and second flat base walls, a circumferential side wall. An air inlet is formed on the first base wall, an exhaust port is formed on the side wall. A backflow prevention mechanism is arranged in the airf... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7310961 | Heat exchange apparatus and hybrid vehicle including heat exchange apparatus A heat exchange portion is configured by arranging a condenser for air conditioning, an EV radiator, and a FC radiator in one plane substantially perpendicular to a direction in which a fuel cell vehicle moves, at a front portion of the fuel cell vehicle, in order o... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7309207 | Fan shroud structure reinforcement to reduce or eliminate warping and distortion A fan shroud structure (10) is constructed and arranged to carry a fan and motor. The fan shroud structure includes a base (12) and an annular rim (24) extending from the base. The rim defines a generally central opening (26) sized to acc... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7293435 | Hydraulic distributor for a washing machine A hydraulic distributor for a washing machine which comprises a rotating axle (7), water being directed from the mains to a plurality of compartments of the washing machine by means of the rotation of said rotating axle (7); a hydraulic body (2)... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7236361 | Fan assembly for installing and removing fans individually and collectively Described is a fan assembly constructed to enable fans to be installed and removed from a storage enclosure individually or collectively. The fan assembly has a plurality of fan packs and a support frame that includes a plurality of wells for holding fan packs. Each... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7220096 | Habitat friendly, multiple impellor, wind energy extraction A habitat friendly, wind energy system is disclosed for safely extracting usable energy from wind. Included are one or more concentrator wings that convert the dynamic pressure of wind into relatively lower static pressure and thereby induces a vacuum that draws win... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7210910 | Enhancements to high efficiency ceiling fan Twisted ceiling fan blades for low, medium and high speed operation of less than approximately 250 rpm. The novel blades twisted blades can be configured for 60″ and 64″ diameter fans, and have less blades (3 for example) than conventional flat type bladed fans ... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7156615 | Fan shroud structure for reducing resonance, improving stiffness and manufacturability A fan shroud structure 10 is constructed and arranged to carry a fan. The fan shroud structure includes a body 12 having a periphery, a main surface, and an annular rim 26 defining a generally central opening 28. The opening 28 is ... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7128526 | Anti-reverse flow mechanism for centrifugal blowers A set of cooling air blowers for machines which require cooling air during operation. The blowers each include an outlet having an anti-reverse flow feature for preventing the flow of air into the blower from externally of the machine should the blower fail, thereby... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7118333 | Electric cooling fan and case of electronic or electric device A case that is used for an electronic or electric device has an opening portion arranged at a vicinity of a fan motor that generates airflow inside and outside the case. The opening portion has a protection portion for preventing a finger or other matters from enter... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7100623 | Dishwasher having spray arms and a circulation pump A dishwasher includes a number of spray arms, a circulation pump with a pump housing, an impeller, a suction port, and a number of discharge ports on the pump housing. The discharge ports are associated with the spray arms. A water diverter is located on a delivery ... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7073334 | Variable exhaust gas turbocharger In a variable exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas turbine and a compressor with a variable vane structure wherein the exhaust gas turbocharger comprises a housing and a compressor wheel which is connected to an exhaust ga... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7018169 | Fluid flow control apparatus A device for controlling a fluid flow is disclosed. The device includes at least two fluid flow drivers, a plenum disposed to receive a fluid flow from the at least two drivers, and a baffle disposed within the plenum. The plenum has a first cross-sectional area pro... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7014421 | Compressor A compressor comprises a compressor wheel (8) mounted for rotation within a compressor housing (4,5), which an annular outlet passage (15) defined between opposing annular wall surfaces. A portion (20) of at least one of the wall surfaces... | 03/21/2006 |
| 6964553 | Port for a fan chamber A port is employed for a fan chamber which defines a volume formed by at least one generally continuous vertical wall connecting a horizontal base wall with an opposing horizontal exit wall. Within the volume is a fan rotatable in a plane generally parallel to a pla... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6953320 | Ventilation fan A ventilation fan assembly (10) having a fan (22) mounted in a housing (12) and a shutter assembly (60). The housing has a square inlet portion (12C), a circular center portion (12E) and a conical outlet portion (12D)... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6918526 | Muffler for staple guns A muffler is received in a passage of an end member connected to a handle of the staple gun and a fitting extends from the end member so as to be connected to a hose. The muffler includes a tubular body and a plurality of plates extend from an end of the tubular bod... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6899516 | Transverse type blowers A blower includes a base having a transverse passage for receiving a motor therein and a fan device driven by the motor extends from a hole in an end of the base. A casing including an outlet is connected to the base and mounted to the fan device. An anti-back devic... | 05/31/2005 |
| 6887031 | Habitat friendly, pressure conversion, wind energy extraction A habitat friendly, pressure conversion, wind energy extraction system is disclosed for safely extracting usable energy from wind. The system includes one or more shrouds or concentrator wings that convert the dynamic pressure of wind into relatively lower static pr... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6705833 | Airflow flapper valve A blower apparatus includes a blower housing having at least one airflow channel. A flexible sheet having at least one flap is coupled to the blower housing such that the flap overlaps the channel to form a one-way valve. A plurality of flaps may be positioned over ... | 03/16/2004 |
| 6659711 | Methods and apparatus for regulating turbine cooling airflow supply systems A check valve includes a valve housing and at least one control member. The valve housing includes a sidewall and an opening extending therethrough. The sidewall defines the opening and includes at least one recess formed therein. Each control member is r... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6511285 | Tandem guide vanes Two stages of relatively rotatable guide vanes (22,24) are arranged in tandem. Shroud portions (42,46) on the vanes overlap in loose engagement, until an associated gas turbine engine starts operating. Gas loads then act on the downstream vane stage (24) ... | 01/28/2003 |
| 6474936 | Blower impeller apparatus with one way valves Blower designs for vented enclosures include an impeller having a plurality of blades. A plurality of one way valves are interleaved between the blades to permit substantial airflow only in one direction. One valve design incorporates flaps coupled to eit... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6454528 | Intake and exhaust damper with movable motor fan assembly An intake and exhaust damper assembly has a motor and fan assembly pivotally mounted for movement toward and away from a louvered rotatable blade damper.... | 09/24/2002 |
| 6442936 | Single stage or multi-stage compressor for a turbocharger A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine has a compressor operable as a single stage or multi-stage compressor. A first compressor stage includes a first compressor wheel carried by a shaft, an axially extending first inlet and a radially extendin... | 09/03/2002 |
| 6190122 | Intake and exhaust air damper with movable motor fan assembly An intake and exhaust fan assembly is provided having a motor and fan assembly mounted for movement on rails toward and away from a rotatable blade damper mounted on an angle to the motor/fan assembly.... | 02/20/2001 |
| 6168375 | Spring-loaded vaned diffuser An annular vane diffuser is disposed within a compressor housing of a turbocharger and employs a wave-type compression spring interposed between the vane diffuser and a backplate to provide a desired pressure loading on the vane diffuser to urge the vanes... | 01/02/2001 |
| 6149384 | Centrifugal pump A centrifugal pump has a casing, an overhung-mounted rotor in the casing having a feed chamber, which centrifugally accelerates the liquid flowing centrally to it, and a discharge chamber positioned axially behind it and connected to the feed chamber in t... | 11/21/2000 |
| 6109863 | Submersible appartus for generating electricity and associated method A fully submersible apparatus for generating electricity from liquid flow as in an ocean or river current. A buoyant structure is fully submersible and has at least one pair of counter-rotating side-by-side motors with a plurality of angularly spaced radi... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6106228 | Fan shroud air door assembly An air door assembly for a fan shroud assembly includes a door having an upper portion, a lower portion and a hinge portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion, a frame defining an opening in the fan shroud assembly, and a hinge defini... | 08/22/2000 |
| 6039533 | Fan blade, structures and methods An aerodynamic-shaped fan blade for use in a fan apparatus. The blade has a cross-section which is essentially an inverted pan-shape with an intermediate section, a leading edge section, and a trailing edge section which form concave and convex surfaces. ... | 03/21/2000 |
| 6010307 | Propeller, structures and methods An aerodynamic-shaped propeller blade. The blade has a cross-section which is essentially an inverted pan-shape with an intermediate section, a leading edge section, and a trailing edge section which form concave and convex surfaces. The trailing edge has... | 01/04/2000 |
| 6004096 | Hydro-surge bowl valve A gravity-operated anti-surge valve for a turbine pump consists of a poppet adapted to be moveable under fluid pressure between a closed position and a valve seat for the poppet. The weight of the poppet biases the poppet in the closed position against th... | 12/21/1999 |
| 5993151 | Centrifugal pump device The invention relates to a centrifugal pump device, comprising a pump casing (1) having an inlet (2) and an outlet (3), an impeller device inside the casing (1) having one or more pump stages (5-7) with a common rotary shaft (4), and a non-return valve (8... | 11/30/1999 |
