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 |
| 7736241 | Miniature golf hole system A miniature golf hole system includes an expanded polystyrene foam base having a downwardly facing surface which is received on a supporting surface, and an upwardly facing surface having a predetermined surface contour; a laminated layer disposed over said expanded... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7335254 | Alpha-type calcium sulfate hemihydrate compositions and methods of making same Disclosed is an improved alpha-type calcium sulfate hemihydrate. Methods of producing an improved powdered calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO4.½H2O) [alpha-type] compound are disclosed, at least one method including forming calcium sulfate dihy... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7318777 | Par one A golf system that includes a tee or other area for striking a golf ball; and a golf green having a concave surface with a ball receptacle located at the lowest point in the surface so that a ball landing and remaining on the green will roll into the ball receptacle... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7062962 | Portable apparatus and method for measuring hydraulic features in rivers and streams A portable apparatus for measuring characteristics of hydraulic features in rivers and streams that are unwadeable. The apparatus consists of a tripod base, a horizontal boom that articulates on the tripod, a carriage configured to travel on the boom, and a measurin... | 06/20/2006 |
| 6964704 | Calcium sulphate-based composition and methods of making same Disclosed is an improved alpha calcium sulfate hemihydrate. Methods of producing an improved powdered calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO4·½H2O) [alpha-type] compound are disclosed, at least one method including forming calcium sulfate dihydrat... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6837797 | Great putting game A method for playing a putting game on a golf green surface is disclosed. Each player is provided a like plurality of golf balls, each ball having a unique feature for association with one player. In each round, all balls are placed on the circumference of a circle ... | 01/04/2005 |
| 6623370 | Golf training facility A chipping and putting golf training facility for practice, education, competition, and recreational use. The golf training facility is comprises a plurality of strip greens and fringe grass aprons specifically designed and arranged in an order to provide... | 09/23/2003 |
| 6616542 | Artificial putting system A stable artificial putting green which includes a base, an intermediate layer, an artificial putting surface including a pile fabric supported by the intermediate layer, and an edging defining its outer limits. The pile fabric extends over the upper edge... | 09/09/2003 |
| 6338885 | Synthetic turf A synthetic grass surface comprising widely spaced rows of ribbons and the ribbons having a length about twice as long as the spacing between the rows of ribbons. A particulate material is laid on a matrix of the synthetic grass, and the thickness of the ... | 01/15/2002 |
| 6179721 | Golf putting apparatus with variable surface Golf putting apparatus having a putting surface on which a plurality of support springs and corresponding connecting members are provided proximate the periphery of the putting surface for enabling the user to quickly and easily create, or selectively alt... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6152830 | Putting practice system A putting practice system for aiding golfers in maintaining putting skill levels. The practice system includes a surface contour that is adaptable by a user by inflating one or more air bladders to offer putting challenges not provided by a smooth even pu... | 11/28/2000 |
| 6001033 | Putting training method A putting aid comprising two arms converging to an apex such that an acute angle is formed therebetween is herein described. The two arms have inner faces that include markings, such as a center stripe opposite the apex, that act to improve the visibility... | 12/14/1999 |
| 5971863 | Putting touch trainer A golf training device including flat, web material having a transverse dimension of about 1/2 to 3 feet, and a single internal target hole having a diameter of about 4 1/4 inches. The softness, flexibility and thinness of the web material is such that, w... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5954590 | Golf putting aid or game A golf putting aid for use on a playing surface including a plurality of polygon-shaped faces forming a hollow polyhedron with at least two of the polygon-shaped faces each having a plurality of openings therethrough for receipt therethrough of a putted g... | 09/21/1999 |
| 5916034 | Miniature golf hole system A miniature golf hole system includes an expanded polystyrene foam base having a porous rubberized material applied to an upper exposed side of the expanded polystyrene base, and a porous outdoor carpeting applied to the exposed surface of the rubber mate... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5738594 | Golf game A mat includes a top surface marked thereon dividing the top surface into a plurality of scoring areas. The scoring areas each have a scoring number marked therein. A boundary line is marked on the top surface of the mat dividing the top surface into two ... | 04/14/1998 |
| 5692963 | Golf game A golf game is disclosed which has disks for simulating holes which may be selectively positioned about the surface of a mat to alter the course layout. The mat may be marked with obstacles to simulate playing hazards. Additionally, a teeing disk may also... | 12/02/1997 |
| 5690557 | Putting practice device A golf putting mat provides a pair of parallel raised portions separated for defining a putting stoke path. Each of the raised portions are constructed as a tubular sleeve with a rigid insert. Each of the sleeves accept two inserts arranged colinearly. Th... | 11/25/1997 |
| 5655971 | Variable contour practice putting green A practice putting green which includes a generally planar slab of rigid light weight material; a foam rubber pad installed on the upper surface of said pad; a covering layer of artificial turf attached to an upper surface of said pad; at least one target hole... | 08/12/1997 |
| 5490671 | Target gold course and game A target golf course and game including long and short distance holes, a sand and pitch shot hole, a chip and putt hole, and a putting course to finish up a round of golf. A scoring system of play includes methodology wherein a higher score is indicative ... | 02/13/1996 |
| 5409230 | Booth for practicing golf indoors There are many constructions for permitting one to practice portions of the game of golf indoors. However golf requires a different types of strokes to be performed proficiently, and practicing all the types of strokes indoors, and in a sequence which sim... | 04/25/1995 |
| 5390926 | Practice putting green A practice putting green for simulating an actual golf green and for practicing golf putts. The practice putting green includes a putting mat, which defines a putting surface with a texture similar to that of an actual golf green and is of a sufficient si... | 02/21/1995 |
| 5390925 | Adjustable putting deck This invention deals with a new and novel adjustable putting deck for sport and recreation. The device is essentially a flat surface, equipped with putting holes and the capability of adjusting each of four corners of the device at random, to create a put... | 02/21/1995 |
| 5172914 | Apparatus for providing an adjustably contoured putting surface An apparatus for providing an adjustably contoured putting surface which includes a main platform defining an upper surface thereof which is somewhat flexibly resilient to vary the contour of the upper surface. The apparatus includes at least one intermed... | 12/22/1992 |
| 5147156 | Golf course construction and maintenance methods In a new method for the placement of sand, gravel or equivalent particulate material onto a sand trap, tee, putting green or other selected area of a golf course for construction or maintenance purposes, sand or other particulate material is pneumatically... | 09/15/1992 |
| 5094569 | Ground surface contour modifying apparatus and method A ground surface contour modifying apparatus and method which includes a plurality of independent, selectively actuable hydraulic elements positioned below the surface of a defined area of ground. Selective actuation of the hydraulic elements enables modi... | 03/10/1992 |
| 5076586 | 3-course miniature golf links A miniature layout of a 3-course miniature golf links can afford golf players as satisfactory a feeling of golf play as experienced at a formal 9-hole golf links without necessitating a large area for construction. In a limited narrow area, three courses ... | 12/31/1991 |
| 5031916 | Tee and green structures for a golf-type game A tee and green structure for a game to be played within the confines of an open-air or domed sports arena. The tee structure includes a hitting tee mounted on a rail system which enables the orientation of the tee surface to be altered. Included in the r... | 07/16/1991 |
| 4975770 | Method for the enhancement of contours for video broadcasts A method for enhancing golf green contours for television broadcasts comprises the steps of providing a grid pattern (32) of intersecting parallel lines (38, 39) over the surface of a golf green (10), recording the grid pattern, and broadcasting the grid ... | 12/04/1990 |
| 4846478 | Installation for the game and the practicing of golf An installation includes at least one starting head and at least one green provided with a hole, a device for recovering balls from the green and in the vicinity of the green, and an arrangement for returning the balls to the starting head. The installati... | 07/11/1989 |
| 4696474 | Golf course A compact golf course which employs a number of tee positions facing a series of targets at ranges up to 300 yards with distance indicators whereby a player at one of the tees can drive tee and fairway shots and record precisely the distance attained on e... | 09/29/1987 |
| 4664386 | Golf course A novel golf course is disclosed. The course includes a plurality of golf holes, each golf hole having a tee area, fairway and a putting surface or "green." The tee area is generally flat and suitable for teeing and striking a golf ball. In a preferred em... | 05/12/1987 |
| 4556213 | Reversible playing or performance area A reversible playing and/or performing area having at least one reversible tray which has separately utilizable opposing plane surfaces. The tray has a bottom and shallow sides. The outer surface of the bottom of the tray provides a first playing surface.... | 12/03/1985 |
| 4381622 | Lawn edge construction and method A lawn edge and/or trim construction comprising a carpet of synthetic turf secured to the ground employed around fences, flower beds, residential structures, and any other structure to edge such structure or to impede the growth of vegetation for a more a... | 05/03/1983 |
| 4067757 | Edging for synthetic turf material The edges of a synthetic turf material are secured by forming a slot in the base structure that supports the synthetic turf material and thereafter inserting the edge of the turf material to be secured into the slot with an elongated retainer strip being ... | 01/10/1978 |
| 4007307 | Artificial lawn An artificial lawn comprising a base textile fabric, woven or knit with an open weave to which the pile yarns are secured; the fabric back is formed with projections extending from the plane thereof. The base fabric is coated with an adhesive, holding mat... | 02/08/1977 |
