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 |
| 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 |
| 7255648 | Putting cup for practicing speed and direction A practice putting cup which teaches a golfer correct putting speed as well as correct putting direction. To overcome imperfections on actual putting greens it is recognized that a putt must be struck with enough speed to not just reach the hole, but be capable of r... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7207893 | Golf chip shot practice device A golf chipping practice device for a golfer comprising, a base, a net enclosure comprising a rear panel and side panels attached to the base, the net being open facing the player, the base having a floor area which is angled downward, a hole in the floor area of th... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7094158 | Golf putting practice device A compact, low profile golf putting practice apparatus includes a two-part flipper including a longitudinal flipping member and a coaxially mounted base section supporting the flipper member. A torsion spring pivots the flipper from its retracted position into an ex... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7056221 | Ball collection arrangement A golf driving range target (112) comprises pockets (150, 183) suspended for cables (146, 176), the pockets feeding received golf balls to a common receptacle. Between the exits (166) of the pockets and the common receptacle, the balls, w... | 06/06/2006 |
| 6974391 | Method and apparatus for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target An apparatus for uniquely identifying a golf ball at a target includes a simulated golfing green having one or multiple target area apertures therein. A ball collector is mounted under each aperture. A ball identification means cooperates with the ball collector for... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6905418 | Golf short game training, practice and contest game kit A Golf Short Game Training, Practice and Contest Game assemblage, which is easy to assemble, disassemble and transport from location to location (in, for example, the provided carrying bag) and which includes a main frame which is assembled from various steel pipes ... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6623371 | Golf putting and ball return system A golf putting training controls golf ball momentum into a delivery site by first absorbing momentum of indeterminate magnitude and thereafter allowing the ball to move along a controlled or sloped path under influence of gravity. As a result, the ball en... | 09/23/2003 |
| 6569028 | Golf driving range A system for facilitating the practicing or playing of golf may include, alone or in combination, a golf target subsystem, a detection subsystem, and a golf ball dispensing subsystem. The golf ball dispensing subsystem comprises a free standing device pla... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6508720 | Putting practice device A golf putting practice device (10) having a ball tray (16) that can be pivoted from the normally flat position for ball retrieval to fold substantially upright against the body of the main housing (12) for compact storage or transport. A spring-powered f... | 01/21/2003 |
| 6497625 | Apparatus and method for returning a golf ball to a desired location A golf putting green and associated ball return system are disclosed. The ball return system returns a ball generally to the original point of the putt. As a ball is hit and rolls into a target hole or gutter, it falls by gravity through an air gate and e... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6227989 | Sports field line marking system A line marking system for installing permanent field lines in natural grass fields is disclosed. The system comprises a line fixed to a backing sheet which is installed under the grass sod. The backing sheet is preferably a mesh which allows the grass to ... | 05/08/2001 |
| 5445374 | Golf driving range, system and method for retrieving balls from target cup A tee area is provided from which contestants may hit golf balls toward flag cups located on a plurality of greens. If a contestant hits a golf ball into a flag cup, a ball sensor detects the presence of the golf ball and a remote indicator announces the ... | 08/29/1995 |
| 5342053 | Golf putting apparatus Golf putting apparatus useful for practice and amusement. Golf balls are putted along a path toward a target zone. The width of the path is resolved into segments which define the target zone, bogey zones on opposite sides of the target zone, and multiple... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5306013 | Projectile accuracy signalling apparatus A new and improved apparatus for signalling accuracy of a path of a projectile moving on a floor or ground surface includes an audible signal assembly located above and near floor or ground level. The audible signal assembly provides an audible signal whe... | 04/26/1994 |
| 5219161 | Golf driving range An apparatus adapted for use as a green on a golf driving range wherein golf balls which land on the apparatus are prevented from remaining thereon. The apparatus includes a golf green surface having a perimeter in the shape of a golf green and an interio... | 06/15/1993 |
| 5108102 | Golf ball drive practice device A golf practicing device comprises a support base adapted to provide a mounting platform for a golf ball and a ball receptacle elevated above the support base positioned to catch the golf ball driven by a large golf club, such as a driver. The ball recept... | 04/28/1992 |
| 5029867 | Golf game An improved golf game device is proivded and consists of a funnel shaped trough including a soft liner carried in an open topped housing to receive a golf ball hit by a golf player. A return chute having an exit port is connected to the bottom of the trou... | 07/09/1991 |
