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 |
| 8122776 | Handheld vacuum test fixture and method of monitoring vacuum cup differential pressure An apparatus for checking or monitoring a vacuum drawn by a suction cup used in connection with a material handling system. The apparatus includes a faceplate and a handle connected to the faceplate. The handle includes a vacuum gauge wherein a passageway extends fr... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8082807 | Sensor assembly and method Described herein is the sensor assembly and method for rapidly obtaining accurate readings of a variable. The sensor assembly comprises a plurality of sensors which are connected to a microcontroller that processes the signals of the individual transducers to the mi... | 12/27/2011 |
| 7437957 | Porous medium tensiometer A porous medium tensiometer has a filling mechanism which allows to fill a fluid chamber and simultaneously withdraw gas contained in the fluid chamber. A self-priming tensiometer includes a porous material tip having a first section surrounded by a fluid-impermeabl... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7347110 | Tactile sensing device and an apparatus using the same The present invention provides a tactile sensing device comprising a tactile sensing layer, a pressure adjusting unit, at least one pressure sensing unit and a control unit. The tactile sensing layer includes a plurality of elastic elements, each of which has an inn... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7347099 | Pressure transducer with external heater An improved pressure transducer is disclosed. The transducer includes a connector, an enclosure, a sensor portion, and an external heater disposed to heat the sensor portion. In some aspects, the sensor portion includes a sensor constructed from a brittle material a... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7325870 | Child restraint system with in-motion belt status monitoring A child restraint system includes a belt assembly for restraining a child occupant and a control unit for monitoring proper adjustment of the belt assembly. The belt assembly may include a belt harness affixed to the child restraint system or a vehicle belt seat. Th... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7313975 | Apparatus and method for measuring tension in guy wires An apparatus for measuring tension in guy wire systems wherein the lower end of the guy wire has a thimble adjoined by a connection pin to a yoke or clevis of a turnbuckle shackle bolt connected to an earth anchor. A block assembly is removably received beneath the ... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7288009 | Apparatus and method for interconnecting a child seat and monitoring system A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising: a base portion; a carrier portion configured to be removably secured to the base portion; a restraint system component; a sensor for providing a signal indicative of a state of the restraint syste... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7263895 | Strain detector and method of manufacturing the same A fluid pressure sensor (1) for measuring the pressure of a fluid comprises a diaphragm portion (12) which is a strain generating body, a silicon oxide film (21) as an insulating film, and a strain gauge (20) made of crystalline silicon, ... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7224270 | Child seat and monitoring system A child seat adapted for use in a vehicle, the child seat comprising: a shell portion; a harness for securing a child to the child seat, the harness comprising adjustable harness tether(s) secured to the shell portion at one end and having a latch plate at the other... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7193530 | Aircraft landing gear automated inspection and life limitation escalation system and method A system for use in monitoring, measuring, computing and displaying the landing loads experienced while aircraft are executing either normal, overweight or hard landing events. Pressure sensors and motion sensors are mounted in relation to each of the landing gear s... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7188898 | Child restraint system comprising control unit for evaluating harness adjustment The child restraint system comprises a harness that extends through one of a plurality of slots in the shell for restraining a child occupant within the child restraint system, and a control unit for determining whether the harness is properly adjusted based upon th... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7181324 | Occupant recognition system for vehicles An occupant recognition system for vehicles comprises at least one pressure sensor arranged beneath the foam of a vehicle seat, at least one temperature sensor and an electronic control and/or evaluation unit to which the sensors are connected. Means are provided to... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7172244 | Vehicle seat assembly having a vehicle occupant sensing system and a seat cushion insert positioned therein A vehicle seat assembly that includes a seat cushion having at least one recess disposed thereon. The vehicle seat assembly also has a plurality of sensor assemblies, each including a base and an upper slide member. The upper slide member is supported for movement t... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7133752 | Method of characterizing an adult occupant of a vehicle seat based on a measure of seated weight A weight-based occupant characterization method reliably distinguishes between large and small adult occupants by dynamically adjusting a threshold used to distinguish between large and small adult occupants. The threshold adjustments effectively increase the separa... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7073400 | Sensor for measuring pressure in a sealed volume A sensor for measuring a force is provided, which sensor includes a first sealed volume, a second sealed volume, a pressure diaphragm and a force diaphragm. The pressure diaphragm has a first side and a second side, with a pressure of the first sealed volume acting ... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7059446 | Frame-based bladder apparatus for seat occupant weight estimation A frame-based occupant weight estimation apparatus for a vehicle seat that is supported by two or more floor brackets secured to the vehicle floor spans an open space between the floor brackets to prevent shunting of the occupant weight through a foreign object lyin... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7047827 | Folding digital scale A portable digital scale is foldable for ease of storage and transport. The scale includes a fluid-filled elastomeric bladder and electronic module disposed in a hard-sided case that is opened in use and folded to encase the bladder and electronic module during tran... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7004039 | Ambient pressure compensated tactile sensor A tactile sensor comprises a sensing bladder in pneumatic communication with a first diaphragm side of a pneumatic diaphragm via a first fluid; the pneumatic diaphragm being actuatable by a displacement of the first fluid within the sensing bladder; the pneumatic di... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6997278 | Torque-based occupant weight estimation apparatus for a vehicle seat A torque-based occupant weight estimation apparatus for a vehicle seat includes front and rear torsion bars through which the seat frame is coupled to a set of floor brackets. The torsion bars are rotatably mounted on the floor brackets, and linkage arms rigidly cou... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6993954 | Sensor equilibration and calibration system and method A system and method for equilibrating and calibrating a pressure or force sensor is provided. The system includes a flexible bag arranged to receive the sensor, and a vacuum source, connectable with the flexible bag, adapted to reduce the pressure within the flexibl... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6996456 | Robot with tactile sensor device Methods and apparatuses for calibrating and teaching a robot to accurately work within a work environment. The present invention preferably provides one or more tactile sensor devices that may be operatively coupled with a robot or positioned at one or more desired ... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6966233 | Dual interdigitated chamber seat bladder for occupant position and weight estimation An occupant position and weight estimation apparatus includes an elastomeric seat bladder having physically isolated central and peripheral fluid-filled chambers corresponding to central and peripheral areas of the seat. The fluid pressure in the peripheral chamber ... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6886417 | Non-uniform rigidity interface panel for a fluid-filled seat bladder A seat bladder weight estimation apparatus includes an interface panel having multiple regions of substantial rigidity separated by regions of insubstantial rigidity. The regions of substantial rigidity limit sensitivity to seat foam variations, and the regions of i... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6820896 | Seat occupant weight sensing system A seat occupant weight sensing system includes load cells that receive the weight of a seat occupant. A microprocessor receives indication of force applied to the load cells and may also receive output from a seat belt tension sensor and/or an atmospheric pressure s... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6504113 | Pneumatic weighing device The scales include a tray (1) placed on a base (3) and lifted by an air cushion, with no mechanical connection with the base (3). The weight of an object (21) laid on the tray (1) varies the air cushion pressure, and the measurement of this pressure by an... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6490936 | Bladder and support structure for occupant weight estimation An improved weight estimation apparatus in which an elastomeric bladder is supported on a semi-rigid backer board which is installed in a vehicle seat between the seat cushion and an underlying spring suspension. The bladder is secured onto the backer boa... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6364352 | Seat occupant weight sensing system A system for determining the weight of the occupant of a vehicle seat includes a hinge near the forward edge of the seat and a force sensor responsive to downward force at a point well to the rear of the hinge thereby indicating torque about the hinge. Th... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6295868 | Real-time snow load measuring system A real-time snow load measuring system, for determining when an unsafe condition exists upon a roof top surface of a dwelling, having a sensor unit and a control unit. The sensor unit is mounted on the roof top surface, and includes a frame having a base ... | 10/02/2001 |
| 5915281 | Silicon force and displacement sensor A silicon sensing cell (12) capable of sensing force and/or displacement, and particular embodiments of the sensing cell (12) for particular force and/or displacement-sensing applications. The sensing cell (12) generally includes a diaphragm (18), a silic... | 06/22/1999 |
| 5886268 | Pressure measuring device A method for measurement of axial forces acting on a shaft, being supplied with gas under overpressure such that gas pressure is built up between two opposing faces of said portion projecting radially from the shaft and at least one gas-permeable body pro... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5831165 | Acceleration sensor An acceleration sensor (1) includes a parallelepiped case (2). A circuit board (3) is secured in the case (2). A sensor chip (5), on which a diffusion strain gauge (5b) is formed, is mounted on the circuit board (3). A cylindrical acceleration selecting e... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5661245 | Force sensor assembly with integrated rigid, movable interface for transferring force to a responsive medium A force sensor assembly incorporates an integrated plunger to provide an economical assembly which can be calibrated and mounted as a single unit. The force sensor assembly utilizes a retainer to movably capture a solid interface within an opening in the ... | 08/26/1997 |
| 5661240 | Sampled-data interface circuit for capacitive sensors In one embodiment of the present invention, a sensing system utilizing a capacitive sensor includes an integrator which is connected to the sensor and has an operational amplifier and an integrator capacitor, a reference voltage source, a clock generator ... | 08/26/1997 |
| 5650575 | Method for determining the spring force of a closing spring upon the opening of a valve of a fuel injection valve and an apparatus for carrying out the method A method and apparatus for determining the spring force of a closing spring upon the opening of a valve, the valve is connected by means of a connection to a pressurized-gas line in which a pressure measuring device and, upstream of the latter, a variable... | 07/22/1997 |
| 5557526 | Load monitoring system for booms A system for and method of monitoring the operation of a boom are disclosed. A first parameter is sensed, the first parameter being indicative of a load on a first boom component. It is determined from the sensed first parameter when a load supported by t... | 09/17/1996 |
| 5373747 | Robot hand and robot A robot hand and a robot using it are provided. The robot hand has a finger-tip tactile sensor device, a palm tactile sensor device, and a tip contact force detecting device. Among them, the finger-tip tactile sensor device 10 has an elastic cap 14, in wh... | 12/20/1994 |
| 5373445 | Method and apparatus for determining dynamic force within an air spring suspension An apparatus and method for determining the force produced by an air spring assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes mechanisms for determining the position, velocity, and direction of movement of the chassis relative to the wheel and tire assembly a... | 12/13/1994 |
| 5359516 | Load monitoring system for booms A system for monitoring the operation of a boom is disclosed. The boom has at least one boom section, with each boom section being supported by an actuator assembly such that a load supported by a particular actuator assembly is representative of operatio... | 10/25/1994 |
| 5333510 | Roller load measuring device A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the load measuring rolling element deformity of rolling element bearings as a result of applied loads by providing a load measuring rolling element in a bore of a rolling element bearing, defining a fluid ... | 08/02/1994 |
