...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5448823 | Apparatus and method for securing sutures to surgical needles An apparatus for manufacturing suture-needle assemblies in which the suture thread is connected to the needle shank through the provision of heat shrinkable tubing. The apparatus for securing the heat shrink tubing to the shank of the needle essentially c... | 09/12/1995 |
| 5283945 | Cassette opening system Apparatus is provided for automatically opening and removing a web from a clamshell film cassette. During opening of the cassette a first actuatable means releases a cassette latch. A second means is provided to open one clamshell half upon release of the... | 02/08/1994 |
| 5279025 | Method of securing a cap assembly to a radiator A radiator cap assembly has a cap, a tether and a seal member. The seal member is adapted to float upon coolant within the radiator. Upon removal of the cap while the coolant is in an elevated temperature and pressure condition, the seal member will cover... | 01/18/1994 |
| 5277619 | Waterproof connector A waterproof connector specially designed for a waterproof structure of a wire lead portion using a small-diameter wire. The connector is constituted of a connector housing having a peripheral wall and a pair of openings formed in the peripheral wall on o... | 01/11/1994 |
| 5277452 | Album with audio tape player A photo and memorabilia album is disclosed which includes an audio tape player. The invention contemplates a holder mounted on a cover of the photo album which is configured to retain an audio tape player therein. In one embodiment, the holder is formed b... | 01/11/1994 |
| 5274914 | Method of producing surface package type semiconductor package In surface packaging of thin resin packages such as resin molded memory ICs or the like, cracks of the package occur frequently at a solder reflow step where thermal impact is applied to the package because the resin has absorbed moisture before packaging... | 01/04/1994 |
| 5272805 | System for the flexible assembly of assemblies A method and system for the flexible assembly of components into an assembly at an assembly station within an assembly area in an adaptive, programmable fashion. Several programmable locators mounted on a platform work cooperatively to receive and support... | 12/28/1993 |
| 5271142 | Method for producing a sound-dampened automotive enclosure A method for making a sound-dampened automotive enclosure, such as an oil pan, having a metal constraining layer, a metal housing layer, and a viscoelastic layer sandwiched therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the constraining layer and viscoelastic l... | 12/21/1993 |
| 5269056 | Laser welding of wire strands to an electrode pin Method and apparatus for butt welding a stranded wire to an electrode pin in close proximity to igniter material using laser beams. The wire and electrode pin are preferably part of an initiator assembly used in an airbag system. In a preferred embodiment... | 12/14/1993 |
| 5263236 | Drill quill bearing assembly A device for providing a lateral bearing for the lower end of a drill quill which is mounted for axial movement within a driver for a riveting machine, likewise mounted for axial movement, includes a cylindrical bearing support member having an axial bore... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5263250 | Method of manufacturing nozzle plate for ink jet printer A plurality of elongated beams are generated by dividing a laser beam, said plurality of beams being respectively applied to corresponding lens elements of a flyeye lens array. The structure is arranged in such a manner that the diameter of the plurality ... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5261702 | Daily medication management system The disclosure is directed to a chart listing medications, dosage times, and notes. Tactile and visual medication symbols and marking elements denote specific times for taking specific medications. Medication containers are similarly marked.... | 11/16/1993 |
| 5259104 | Rivet recovery method A method of recovering rivets from a rivet hole prior to the deformation of the rivets by the rivet dies includes the steps of positioning a suction cavity over the rivet in the rivet hole, pushing the rivet out of the hole with a rivet tail die and block... | 11/09/1993 |
| 5255420 | Plate replacing apparatus for a printing press In a plate replacing apparatus for a printing press, a plate lockup opening/closing unit opens/closes leading- and trailing-side plate lockup devices upon pivotal movement of a cam shaft. A loader drive unit drives a loader on the plate replacing apparatu... | 10/26/1993 |
| 5253943 | Plastic clipboard having elastic engaging pins A clipboard for holding worksheets is disclosed, which is a plastic rectangular board bent into a largely inverted U-shaped cross-section having a vertical front board, an also vertical backside board that is larger in length than the front board, and a h... | 10/19/1993 |
| 5253407 | Control rod drive endcap tool A tool is disclosed for assembling or disassembling an endcap into or out of a housing. The housing includes a distal end, an intermediate portion, and a receptacle disposed in the distal end. The tool includes a hook removably joinable to the endcap, and... | 10/19/1993 |
| 5249970 | Multiple position electrical swivel plug apparatus A multiple position electrical swivel plug apparatus wherein a housing is integrally connected to the end of an electrical cord the conductor of which terminates in a plurality of blades. A male or female plug assembly is detachably connected to the blade... | 10/05/1993 |
| 5247739 | Method of making a heat exchanger using an adjustable brazing fixture A brazing fixture apparatus for holding an article to be brazed comprises a frame and a mechanism connected to the frame for holding the article so that the weight of the article causes a force to be transmitted through the mechanism and applied to anothe... | 09/28/1993 |
| 5245743 | Method of installing a nut mounting grommet A circular opening (48) is formed in a structural wall (12). A tubular shank (28) of a nut mounting grommet (26) is inserted into the opening (48). The grommet (26) is moved endwise to place a shoulder surface (34) on the base of a nut mounting cup (30) a... | 09/21/1993 |
| 5243747 | Vibrating device for putting a U-section in place on a rim of a frame of a motor vehicle body The invention relates to a device for putting in place, on a projecting rim of a motor vehicle body element, a U-section profile (1) comprising a metal reinforcement sheathed with a resilient material, this reinforcement being substantially undeformable o... | 09/14/1993 |
| 5243749 | Transmission pump removal tool A tool for removing a transmission pump assembly from within an automatic transmission The tool includes an adjustable driver subassembly for applying torque to a central stator shaft of an automatic transmission, and a pump tool housing includes a plural... | 09/14/1993 |
| 5241746 | Threaded receptacle manufacturing method including mounting of electrical contact members within the receptacle A molded receptacle including an interior wall surface and screw threads formed on the interior wall surface by a mold core. The threads have a predetermined thread profile including root radii substantially corresponding to a desired thread standard and ... | 09/07/1993 |
| 5241743 | Neck booklet machine A neck booklet machine is described which places an elastic band having a booklet connected to the band around a neck of a container. The booklets are vertically stacked in a curved magazine and pulled by a vacuum cup from the curved magazine, which match... | 09/07/1993 |
| 5239739 | Method for the flexible assembly of assemblies A method and system for the flexible assembly of components into an assembly at an assembly station within an assembly area in an adaptive, programmable fashion. Several programmable locators mounted on a platform work cooperatively to receive and support... | 08/31/1993 |
| 5237734 | Method of interlocking hemmed together panels A method for interlocking the hemmed together flanges of the inner and outer panels comprises the steps of forming a plurality of raised beads at spaced intervals along the length of the edge of the inner panel; placing the inner panel inside the outer pa... | 08/24/1993 |
| 5235740 | Press with pin detection for interference connectors A method and apparatus is provided which allows simultaneous placement of electrical components on to a printed circuit board (PCB). Further, verification of the proper placement of these components on the PCB is provided such that an operator can immedia... | 08/17/1993 |
| 5233739 | Adhesive bonding expanded insert hose construction assembly A hose construction and methods of making the same are provided, the hose construction comprising a tubular hose and a coupling secured to one end of the tubular hose, the inner peripheral surface of the tubular hose comprising an inner corrugated hose ma... | 08/10/1993 |
| 5233744 | In site flywheel repair apparatus Method and apparatus are provided for repairing machine drive elements and particularly vehicle flywheels in situ. The apparatus includes a jig assembly mountable on a transmission housing and provided with a supporting surface including a slide mount ass... | 08/10/1993 |
| 5231754 | Rivet brake and staging tube A device for receiving rivets from a rivet delivery tube of a pneumatic supply system, slowing the rivet velocity, and holding the rivet in a staged position until it is ready to be fed into a hole in a workpiece, includes a perforated tube having a conne... | 08/03/1993 |
| 5232247 | Writing assistance assembly for disabled people A writing assistance assembly for use by disabled people comprising a planar base with a smooth writing surface. A smooth adhesive layer overlies the smooth writing surface for holding writing paper sheets against lateral sliding movement across the smoot... | 08/03/1993 |
| 5231747 | Drill/rivet device This invention relates to a machine and its constituent components for drilling a hole in a workpiece, inserting a rivet in the hole, and upsetting the rivet, all without moving the lateral position of the machine or the workpiece, and to an assembly for ... | 08/03/1993 |
| 5230141 | Device for feeding apertured parts A device for feeding apertured parts by inserting a guide rod for a feed rod into the aperture of a part in the temporarily secured state. This device is characterized in that the feed rod has a flat cross-section and the amount of removal of its material... | 07/27/1993 |
| 5228189 | Adapter arrangement for electrically connecting flat wire carriers A device for electrically connecting contact points of a test specimen (circuit board) to the electrical contact points of a testing device includes an adapter board having a plurality of contacts arranged on each side thereof. Cushion-like plugs made fro... | 07/20/1993 |
| 5220717 | Method of making capsules of dehydrated sludge and apparatus therefor Disclosed is a method of making capsules of dehydrated sludge which can omit conventionally required unit operations, reduce or eliminate the cost of the equipment and power, heat energy and consumables required for operation, and assures simple operation... | 06/22/1993 |
| 5218753 | Assembling apparatus using back up pins for supporting printed circuit board An assembling apparatus includes a mounting table on which a printed circuit board is supported by back-up pins held on a base plate. The mounting table is movable in an X direction and a mounting head for mounting electronic parts on the printed circuit ... | 06/15/1993 |
| 5216800 | Method and apparatus for attaching a lid member of automobile An apparatus for attaching a lid member of automobile comprising a lid member transferring device which transfers a lid member, in its closed posture, to an opening of car body, a lid member locating means which locates the specified one point part of a l... | 06/08/1993 |
| 5214836 | Method for making filing cabinet including adhesive bonding The present invention relates to a rugged and inexpensive filing cabinet constructed from thin, prefinished metal and the method for making the same. All component parts including the case envelope, case back, kickplate, drawers and drawer supports are de... | 06/01/1993 |
| 5213017 | Neutrally mounted same vibration frequency impact tool A battery powers the motor of an electrically powered impact gun. The body of the gun vibrates at some frequency and an aluminum brush holder therein is configured to vibrate at about the same frequency to minimize chatter and arcing of the brushes on the... | 05/25/1993 |
| 5212879 | Method for manufacturing a disposable-retractable finger stick device A finger stick device for making a skin incision includes a blade pivot arm having a first end pivotally coupled to a housing and a second end having an upper sloped surface and a lower surface. A blade is affixed to the second end such that its cutting e... | 05/25/1993 |
| 5212880 | Apparatus for packaging a semiconductor device This invention is directed to an apparatus for packaging a semiconductor flip chip on a substrate by face-down bonding in which coherent light is used to irradiate a bonding head and the substrate, and the light reflected by the bonding head and the subst... | 05/25/1993 |