Did You Know...
...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 |
| 7044820 | Balls with gripping handles A ball comprises a body having an outer surface of sufficient extent to define a volume sufficient to accommodate at least a portion of each of four fingers of a person's hand. The ball has at least one indentation in the surface, the indentation having a depth suff... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7018258 | Flotation device A flotation device for use with objects includes a bladder forming part of an inflatable assembly having an inflatable volume defined by a first wall and a second wall sealed about a periphery. An inflation valve is in fluid communication with the inflatable volume ... | 03/28/2006 |
| 5746633 | Personal flotation device An inflatable personal flotation device for positioning at the shoulders of a user has front and rear float portions, automatic inflating apparatus for operation upon immersion in water, a harness comprising a belt disposed about the user, at least one sh... | 05/05/1998 |
| 4687451 | Automatic actuation device for inflatable life-saving equipment An improved automatic actuation device for inflatable life-saving equipment which comprises a housing, a compressed gas cylinder, a piercing pin for piercing the seal cap of the gas cylinder to open it, a L-shaped lever for driving the piercing pin and an... | 08/18/1987 |
| 4582494 | Protected liquid-sensitive actuator for displacement responsive devices A liquid-sensitive actuator for actuating a displacement responsive device, such as an inflator for a flotation device. The actuator comprises a sensing member within a housing which expands upon contact with a liquid entering the housing through an inlet... | 04/15/1986 |
