Water Saver Patents (Class 4/415)
  • Patent number: 4371992
    Abstract: A water tank located above a conventional toilet tank so as to flow water downward into the toilet tank; the water tank including a drain pipe downward into the toilet tank, a hinged cover on top, and a mechanism to flow the water outward therefrom into the toilet tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Inventor: Alfredo Rivera
  • Patent number: 4364129
    Abstract: A toilet flush system designed for manual control of the amount of water used for a toilet flush cycle uses a tank ball, flapper valve, or other type valves to control the closing of a reservoir outlet at selected times prior to or upon completion of the normal flush cycle. The tank ball or flapper valve is modified to overcome its buoyancy such that it rapidly closes the tank reservoir to thereby terminate the flush cycle when the handle of the toilet is released. By maintaining the handle in the operated position, the individual flush cycle can be controlled dependent on the waste to be disposed of, thus permitting a significant saving in fresh water. The buoyancy of the valve is overcome by utilizing a water absorbing material such as sponge material within the valve which, when primed, increases the weight of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Inventor: John S. Schonger
  • Patent number: 4358864
    Abstract: A combination wash basin and toilet water conservation system having at least one wash basin and a toilet having a water tank. The water tank has a fresh water chamber and a gray water chamber. A first outlet connects the gray water chamber with the bowl of the toilet and a flapper valve closes this outlet. A second outlet connects the fresh water chamber and the gray water chamber and a buoyant valve closes this outlet. Piping connects the drain of the wash basin to the gray water chamber. Piping also connects a source of fresh water to the fresh water chamber. A hand lever on the outside of the toilet operates a lever arm within the water tank which when it is raised upwardly actuates structure causing the buoyant valve to rise thereby letting fresh water into the gray water tank. Structure is also actuated in the gray water tank when the lever arm raises upwardly and this structure opens the flapper valve to release water from the gray water chamber into the toilet bowl for flushing thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Inventor: Juan M. Medrano
  • Patent number: 4356576
    Abstract: A flush control apparatus is adapted to be directly mounted on the front surface of a water storage tank of a commode directly beneath the flush handle of the commode. The apparatus comprises a bracket having a lever pivotally secured thereto, the end of the lever has a vertically adjustable rod which can move up or down to engage the end of the flush handle and to restrain the same from further movement in a first mode to cause a smaller selected amount of water to be flushed. In a second mode the lever is pivoted away from said bracket to unblock the path of the flush handle to cause the entire water content of the commode to flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1982
    Inventor: Jerry Gala
  • Patent number: 4351071
    Abstract: A water-saving device for use in the tank of a flush toilet has a movable latch member for supporting the inlet valve float in an elevated position upon initiation of a flush cycle. A secondary float within the tank controls the latch member and releases the main float to allow opening of the inlet valve only after the tank water level has dropped by a predetermined amount. The delay in opening the inlet valve reduces the amount of water used in the flush cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Inventor: Milton Clar
  • Patent number: 4328596
    Abstract: My invention relates to a fail-safe automatic valve mechanism for water closets.This system may be operated to drain the tank either partially or completely with particular emphasis on operation of either partial or complete flushing. Previous systems have been designed where the partial flush has no definite indent or feel for the partial flush mode, making it difficult or almost impossible to select the desired flush. The magnetic trigger assembly of my invention gives positive feel to the partial flush mode, as hereinafter described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Inventor: George H. Renz
  • Patent number: 4319368
    Abstract: A toddler-proof latch for a toilet flush lever having a housing adapted to be mounted to the wall of a water closet in a prearranged position in the vicinity of the flush lever. An actuating mechanism is carried at least partially within the housing and is manually actuable from a latching position to an unlatching position. A spring biasing arrangement is provided for the actuating mechanism to bias it towards the latching position. A latch arrangement is carried on either the housing or the actuator means and operates in response to the actuator means to prevent operation of the toilet flush lever when the actuator means is in the spring biased latching position and permits operation of the flush lever when the actuating mechanism is in the manually actuated unlatching position. Various embodiments adapted to mount over the toilet flush lever or adjacent to the flush lever are disclosed. A locking mechanism for the actuating means to selectively lock it into an unlatching position is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Inventor: Judith A. Peters
  • Patent number: 4297751
    Abstract: A sewer system in which partial vacuum is used for transporting sewage through a sewer pipe to a collecting chamber or the like. The system comprises only a few sewage producing units, preferably only one at a time usable unit. The length of the sewer pipe from a sewage producing unit to the collecting chamber is comparatively small and the operating devices of the system are arranged to generate vacuum in the sewer pipe principally only for the time required for transporting each separate sewage discharge emitted into the sewer pipe. Preferably, the operating devices are arranged to stop generating the vacuum before the actual transport of the sewage takes part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: Oy Wartsila AB
    Inventors: Henry Olin, Nils Tallberg, Martti Varis
  • Patent number: 4296505
    Abstract: The amount of water discharged from the tank of a flush toilet is controlled in a stepless manner by means of a rotary volume control lever concentric with the usual flushing handle. The volume control lever is connected with a slider on the arm of a float which floats at the surface of the water in the tank. The slider is connected by a lost-motion connection with a closure for the discharge opening of the tank. When the water level in the tank falls to a level determined by the position of the slider on the float arm, the closure, which has been opened by operation of the flushing handle, is closed to prevent further discharge, thereby conserving water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Inventor: Chiang Chien-Sheng
  • Patent number: 4277854
    Abstract: The provision of a flush guiding means at a position with respect to main flush inlet to thereby constitute a very strong and swift correlated flushing action to readily remove the waste out of the bowl with a minimum amount of water and silent flushing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Inventor: Kuo L. Tsai
  • Patent number: 4268924
    Abstract: A syphon-operated closet bowl flush tank of the kind comprising an inverted bell (10) containing a liftable plunger disc (12) to initiate syphon action has a flush control valve (14) comprising a tubular body part (16) mounted vertically in the top (18) of the bell and extending above the bell. The valve further has a stem (20) movable in and guided by the body part, is shaped to define a flow path (22) through the body part, and has lower (24) and upper (26) portions extending respectively below and above the top of the bell. The body part has a downwardly facing valve seat (25) inside the bell and the stem has an upwardly facing valve seat (31) co-operating with the downwardly facing seat to make a valve closure. An inverted bell float (38) is provided on the top of the stem. The body part includes a spring ring (30) carried in a flange (23) of the tubular body part so that the valve can be fitted to an existing bell by access from only the top of the bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1981
    Inventors: William Price, Howard W. Ellison
  • Patent number: 4266304
    Abstract: A water-saving device for use in flush toilets including a water tank in which the water level is held at a predetermined level by a float valve controlled by a ball float, said water-saving device comprising a bouyant unitary member comprised of a tapered portion and a side portion integral with projecting laterally from one side of said tapered portion, said taper portion and side portion jointly forming a concave section for receipt of said ball float, the length of said concave section being over half but less than the entire length of said ball float, means for attaching said device to said ball float and means extending peripherally around said side portion for receipt of said attaching means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Inventors: Edward L. Kohrn, Seymour Globus
  • Patent number: 4250579
    Abstract: A pair of flexible or extensible panel members are adapted for vertical placement in the base of a conventional water closet flush tank in spaced relationship about the outlet valve such that edge portions of the panel members are in sealing contact with corresponding portions of the bottom and side walls of the tank, thereby forming an open-ended vertical column. During toilet bowl evacuation, savings of water normally consumed are realized as water stored in the tank and peripheral to the column is prevented from exiting the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1981
    Assignee: Moon Water Saver, Inc.
    Inventor: Jacob R. Moon
  • Patent number: 4242765
    Abstract: A waste disposal system including a toilet receptacle in controlled fluid communication with a holding tank. Just enough fluid is released into the toilet to flush wastes into the holding tank. The holding tank accumulates wastes, flush fluid and waste fluid from other sources until sufficient wastes accumulate to actuate a valve between the holding tank and a sewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1981
    Inventor: Joyce A. Russell
  • Patent number: 4232410
    Abstract: A water closet including a body portion with an upper level and a lower level, and integral with the body portion, a closet bowl and an outlet conduit forming an odor seal at the bottom of the bowl. The odor seal has an outlet crest determining its highest water level. There is a flush water container adjacent to the body portion and means for flushing the closet bowl with water passing by gravity from the flush water container through the bowl and the outlet conduit. Further, the odor seal outlet crest is at a height level of at least 50 percent of the height of the upper level of the body portion measured from the lower level thereof, and close to the upper level there is an annular flush duct of substantially bottomless configuration opening into the bowl at a level above the odor seal outlet crest, and, in addition, the outlet conduit has a constriction at its outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: Oy Wartsila Ab
    Inventors: Torbjorn Forsback, Arvo Forbom
  • Patent number: 4225985
    Abstract: This invention relates to water conserving devices to be used in the water closets of bathroom toilets. The devices may also find applications in other liquid containing and discharging vessels. The invention consists of a partition wall or alternatively a minitank installable in the water closet of a toilet so as to divide the water closet into two separate liquid holding compartments. A flapper valve with a magnetic closure, fitted into the partition wall or into the minitank, opens and closes a port which communicates between the compartments. The actuating means of the flapper valve is operably connected to the existing trip lever of the water closet in such a way that the valve will be actuated only after the existing discharge valve has been actuated first. This arrangement permits the user to discharge water from one or both compartments of the water closet according to his needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Inventors: Devendra C. Joshi, Virendra N. Sharma
  • Patent number: 4218786
    Abstract: A primer is disclosed for installation in a floor drain water trap located in a lower position relative to a sink drain and sink water trap. A first fitting is disposed upstream of the floor drain water trap. A second fitting is disposed in the sink drain upstream of the sink water trap. A conduit interconnects the first and second fittings to direct waste water from the sink drain to the floor drain water trap thereby maintaining the water level therein to insure a proper seal in the floor drain water trap. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Inventor: Joseph Taglarino
  • Patent number: 4216555
    Abstract: A dual flush system tank adapted to provide either a full flush or a partial flush at the option of the user. The control handle is actuated normally to produce a full flush. If a partial flush is desired, the control handle is held in its depressed condition for two or three seconds after which it is released. This produces a partial flush. A partial flush is produced by a buoyant reseating weight which will float down with the falling level of liquid in the tank to depress the flush ball and prematurely reseat it in its outlet seat when only part of the liquid has been discharged from the tank. The reseating weight is provided with a latch actuated by the flush handle. For a full flush, the latch is released but is immediately re-engaged before the reseating weight moves downwardly in the tank and is hence latched against premature seating of the flush bal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1980
    Inventor: Edgar W. Detjen
  • Patent number: 4197598
    Abstract: A siphoning water closet incorporating a toilet bowl having a first flushable reservoir for liquid wastes and a second flushable reservoir for solid wastes, the reservoirs being separately flushable so as to expend less flushing water and to expel less disposable sewage than conventional single flush siphoning water closets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Inventor: Newton R. Lemmon
  • Patent number: 4197599
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a water-saving toilet bowl wherein the main flush inlet and secondary flush inlets are improved whereby the secondary flush enters into the upper reservoir later than the main flush; and in addition, the guiding plate between the upper reservoir and lower reservoir is prolonged to increase the acceleration of gravity; having the features that no more than six liters of water is required to flush away the defecation or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Inventor: Kuo L. Tsai
  • Patent number: 4190910
    Abstract: A sanitation appliance such as a water-closet or the like equipped with a generally vertically extending outlet pipe is provided with a resilient diaphragm mounted within said pipe and extending thereacross to stem the flow of flushing water passing through said pipe until a sufficient quantity of the water has accumulated whereupon the diaphragm operates to pass the water through the pipe thereby to cause the accumulated water to act as a water plug creating a suction effect within the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Assignee: AB Gustavsberg
    Inventors: Lars Teglund, Melchiorre Oldani
  • Patent number: 4183108
    Abstract: A water reservoir tank storing a primary body of water for release to a toilet bowl for flushing is associated with a pressure tank that stores a minor amount of water at a pressure considerably higher than that of the primary body and is discharged during flushing to join the water released from the reservoir tank and impart increased overall energy to the water in the bowl. A predetermined time delay is introduced between start of the flushing action and discharge of water from the pressure tank. The pressure tank is automatically discharged and recharged during each flushing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Inventor: William H. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 4183107
    Abstract: A simplified low-cost water conservation valving device comprising a novel improved combination of three easily assembled components which provides an effective means for flushing a toilet. Selectively operative to release, as desired, a predetermined minimum amount of water, a gradually increasing amount, or the full volume of water from a ball-valve type of storage tank to flush the toilet. Easily installed as a water saving replacement for the original ball-valve and stem without use of tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1980
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Hare, Miles J. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4178644
    Abstract: The quantity of fluid utilized in flushing a conventional closet-type toilet bowl is reduced by a water saving device. The water saving device is adapted to be positioned within the trap of the toilet, and includes a supporting frame with a movable gate operatively connected therewith to open and close the fluid flow passage through the trap to the sewer access opening. After the toilet flushing operation is effected, the gate remains in a closed position until the level of fluid in the toilet bowl reaches a predetermined level, at which time the gate opens to allow the fluid to flow into the sewer access opening by a natural siphoning action. After the flow of fluid through the trap diminishes, the gate returns to a closed position. As a result, the needless flow of fluid from the toilet bowl prior to the time the natural siphoning occurs is eliminated and a water savings is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Inventor: Dominic A. Zarlengo
  • Patent number: 4175295
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a water saving toilet characterized in that a single handle actuates either of two water sealing valves horizontally offset one from the other and when actuated makes it possible to vary the amount of water introduced into the bowl so that a lesser amount of water can be used to evacuate urine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Inventor: Robert L. Cameron
  • Patent number: 4173044
    Abstract: A drain valve operating device for a cistern of flush toilet whereby the amount of water for flushing a toilet pot can be available either in "large" amount or in "small" amount by turning a lever either to the right or to the left.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1979
    Inventor: Etsuji Ota
  • Patent number: 4167951
    Abstract: A water saving float attachment for use with a water closet or toilet tank having float operated control valve means for regulating the liquid level in the tank, a hollow ball float, and rod means operatively conecting the float with the control valve means; said float attachment being adapted to be applied to the external surface of the hollow ball float, and having a density less than that of the liquid in the tank. Said attachment, when applied to the hollow float, has an effective diameter substantially greater than that of the uncovered float, whereby, when the attachment is applied to the float, the liquid in the tank will be maintained substantially lower level than the liquid level when the hollow float alone is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Inventor: Floyd D. Hume
  • Patent number: 4152793
    Abstract: An inner tank or reservoir is mounted in the conventional flush tank of a sanitary toilet or commode. The tank may be rectangular and have an open top and a closed bottom. An outlet in a vertical wall is closable by a buoyant sphere. The sphere may be free-floating and guided to the outlet by a cage. Alternatively the sphere may be lever-mounted and pivotable in and out of sealing contact with the outlet. A bellows operated from an air pump displaces the sphere from closed relationship to the outlet. Preferably the pump is exterior of the toilet flush tank and connected to the bellows by a flexible plastic conduit.The conventional tank is flushable in conventional manner from its outside handle and the capacity of the inner tank may be added to the water flow by the operation of the air pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Inventor: Daniel J. Mills
  • Patent number: 4145774
    Abstract: A dual flush apparatus for selecting one flushing mode in which all the water in the toilet tank is drained or another mode wherein only a portion of the water is drained. A toilet valve actuating handle is bistable so that it is yieldably biased to two positions. It is linked to a toilet flushing valve so that it can open the valve and in one of its bistable positions apply a force on the valve and in the other not apply such a force. Depending upon the particular valve structure to which the handle is linked, the force which the handle applies, when applied either prevents or enables the premature closure of the valve at an intermediate water tank level. One flushing mode occurs when the handle force is applied and the other mode occurs when the force is not applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Inventor: Donald E. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 4145775
    Abstract: A water saving device is provided in the form of a flow control valve, which may be installed in the refill tube for the toilet bowl of a water closet, and which may be adjusted to establish the proper amount of refill water to flow into the toilet bowl after each flush, so as to avoid wastage. The device, in one of its embodiments, may be installed in the refill tube of an existing water closet. The device can also be mounted directly on the main toilet valve unit as a built-in item for newly manufactured toilets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Assignee: American Water Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: James L. Butler
  • Patent number: 4143430
    Abstract: This invention relates to water conserving devices to be used in the water closets of bathroom toilets. The devices may also find applications in other liquid containing and discharging vessels. The invention consists of a partition wall or alternatively a minitank installable in the water closet of a toilet so as to divide the water closet into two separate liquid holding compartments. A flapper valve with a magnetic closure, fitted into the partition wall or into the minitank, opens and closes a port which communicates between the compartments. The actuating means of the flapper valve is operably connected to the existing trip lever of the water closet in such a way that the valve will be actuated only after the existing discharge valve has been actuated first. This arrangement permits the user to discharge water from one or both compartments of the water closet according to his needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1979
    Inventors: Devendra C. Joshi, Virendra Sharma
  • Patent number: 4138749
    Abstract: A two-stage hydraulic flush device for use in regulating the amount of water released when flushing a conventional water closet. The flush handle of a conventional water closet is actuated so as to unseat a drain plug in the water tank, and the piston of a hydraulic cylinder which is submersibly disposed within the water tank is then displaced to one of two distinct positions. As the piston is displaced, water is admitted into the cylinder below the piston. When the flush handle is released, water is expelled from the cylinder at a controlled rate as the piston is forcibly returned by a spring mechanism to its initial position. As the piston returns, the lifting arm is actuated so as to reseat the drain plug. The water outlet flow rate determines the duration of the flushing action, and two distinct piston positions define the two flush stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Inventor: Merlin W. Clark
  • Patent number: 4122564
    Abstract: An improved dual discharge valve unit is provided for easy installation in an existing water closet flush tank. The unit provides flap valves disposed at two different levels in the tank for controlling the discharge of water therefrom. The structural arrangement is such that depending on the direction in which the actuating handle on the tank is pivoted either a full flush or a partial flush may be had as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Inventors: Lyle F. Addicks, Bennie Gift, William R. DiCicco, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4121308
    Abstract: There is disclosed a water closet water saving device comprising a container consisting of flexible material and having one or more accordion-like pleats formed in the wall of the container. The pleats enable recoverable compression of the container along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the pleats. The container is shaped so that it may be positioned within any conventional water closet in a manner such that it does not interfere with the operation of the tank equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: Displacement Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Clifford Raab
  • Patent number: 4115881
    Abstract: An improved toilet flushing assembly is provided of the type which includes a water tank, a water discharge pipe disposed at least partially within the tank, and which has an opening at the upper end thereof, defining a primary flush valve seat, a flush valve ball communicative with the flush valve seat, means for moving the flush valve ball between an open and closed position relative to the primary flush valve seat, and a generally upstanding overflow pipe disposed within the tank and having a lower open end which communicates with the discharge pipe. The improved assembly provides an overflow pipe having an opening therein disposed at a level above the primary valve seat, which opening defines a secondary flush valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Inventor: Andrew Joseph Stone
  • Patent number: 4110849
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for conserving water during the flush cycle of a tank-type toilet. The apparatus includes a pivotally mounted lever arm having a water-fillable weight on one end and a toilet tank float engagement means on the other end. The water-fillable weight serves as a counter balance to maintain the toilet tank float in an elevated position to thereby hold the water inlet valve closed during the initial stages of the flush cycle. The apparatus also includes means for mounting the pivot mechanism in the toilet tank. The method involves slowly draining water from the water-fillable weight during the flush cycle so as to allow the toilet tank float to be lowered toward the end of the flush cycle and thereby open the inlet valve to refill the toilet tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Inventor: Edward B. LaFaver
  • Patent number: 4106136
    Abstract: A device usable in a toilet flush tank having a bottom wall opening comprises:(a) a tubular body adjustably located in drain communication with said opening and having an inlet spaced above the level of said opening so that only tank water above the level of said inlet will flow downward through said body during the toilet flush cycle,(b) the body containing a venturi to accelerate said flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Inventor: Richard L. Lippincott, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4080667
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for installation in the water tank of a toilet to reduce the quantity of water discharged from the tank during flushing while maintaining a satisfactory flushing action. The apparatus comprises a pair of flat, flexible partition elements which extend in a bowed manner between the front and rear walls of the tank on opposite sides of the tank-drain. A bead of deformable gasket material extends along the side and bottom edges of each partition, and the bead is urged into frictional engagement with the walls by the tendency of the partition to straighten from its bowed position. The partition elements form pockets on each side of the drain for containing water near the bottom of the tank while permitting water above the drain and the pockets to flow down the drain when the toilet is flushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1972
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Assignee: AQM Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Walsh, John V. Droughton
  • Patent number: D252403
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Inventor: Richard E. Baron