Patents Assigned to Twentieth Century Companies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4926518
    Abstract: A plastic drain auger made from plastic, such as polypropylene or polybutylene, extruded to provide an elongated member having an outward appearance similar to a helical coil. Extrusion of the plastic produces a structure having improved torsional and tensile strength which is essential so the auger can withstand fairly severe forces created as it is pushed and pulled through a drain pipe. The use of a helical coil form for the auger provides the flexibility necessary for the auger to be rotated, twisted and contorted within a drain pipe system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Twentieth Century Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Erwin F. Mikol
  • Patent number: 4846510
    Abstract: A flexible, adjustable tube which comprises a tubular body of pleated asymmetrical accordion fold configuration wherein each pleat is defined by a thrust cone wall segment and a Belleville washer-like wall segment. The narrower ends of the two wall segments are integrally connected to form an annular articulation about a central axis and the wider ends of the individual Belleville washer wall segments of each pleat are integrally connected to the wider ends of the thrust cones of the next succeeding pleat, to form an annular articulation about the central axis. The Belleville washer-like wall segments of each pleat are proportioned to be snap shifted through the articulation of same to the thrust cone of the next adjacent pleat, for shortening or lengthening the tube. Similar partial snap shifting of the individual Belleville washer wall segments may be effected, for angulating the tubular body, by canting the thrust cone wall segment of a selected pleat sidewise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Twentieth Century Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Erwin F. Mikol
  • Patent number: D311948
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Twentieth Century Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Erwin F. Mikol
  • Patent number: D315191
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Twentieth Century Companies, Inc.
    Inventor: Erwin F. Mikol