Combined Satchel and Pillow. (open access)

Combined Satchel and Pillow.

Patent for a new and improved combined satchel and pillow. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with a valise or satchel, of an airbag permanently incorporated in the same to form one of the sides thereof, and having a mouthpiece upon the exterior of the valise, whereby the bag may be inflated without opening the valise" (lines 62-67).
Date: August 19, 1884
Creator: Kiam, Benjamin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wheel Scraper. (open access)

Wheel Scraper.

Patent for a new and improved wheel scraper. This design "is to provide a . . . device for scraping mud and adhesive soil from the outer edges and sides of the fellies of vehicle wheels to prevent an accumulation of mud or adhesive soil on the wheel rim or felly and between the spokes" (lines 7-13).
Date: August 12, 1884
Creator: Whipp, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stamp and Envelope Moistener. (open access)

Stamp and Envelope Moistener.

Patent for a new and improved moistener for stamps and envelopes. This design "is to provide apparatus for moistening stamps and adhesive envelopes; and it consists in certain improvements in that class of stamp-moisteners in which a roller carrying an endless belt of cloth is journaled on a box or a cup containing water, into which the endless band projects" (lines 8-14).
Date: August 5, 1884
Creator: Beaumont, David Greenleaf
System: The Portal to Texas History
Eraser for Blackboards. (open access)

Eraser for Blackboards.

Patent for a new and improved blackboard eraser. This design "is composed of a block fashioned out of any suitable material—wood preferred— with a suitable handle, and provided with a base having a bed rounding in shape, provided with a rabbet following its edge, one side of which is beveled and the other plain, the two sides of said rabbet forming an obtuse angle about the entire perimeter of the said block" (lines 15-23).
Date: August 12, 1884
Creator: Kempen, Adolph H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fork for Handling Cotton and Other Substances. (open access)

Fork for Handling Cotton and Other Substances.

Patent for a new and improved pitchfork. This design "relates to a hand-fork for handling cotton in the seed and cotton-seed at the gins, as well as for other useful purposes; and it consists in the novel construction of the teeth and tines or head, together with the means for fastening the teeth to the head" (lines 9-15).
Date: August 19, 1884
Creator: Shannon, Joel J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Shawl Strap. (open access)

Shawl Strap.

Patent for a new and improved shawl strap. This design "relates to shawl, book, and other straps, and has for its object to provide a cheap, simple, and efficient article, which can be used with packages of any size, and fastened thereto easily and quickly without applying buckles to the ends of the straps" (lines 8-13).
Date: August 19, 1884
Creator: Tharp, William B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Quilting-Machine. (open access)

Quilting-Machine.

Patent for a sewing machine that stitches in rows or patterns, using select techniques to stitch through layers of fabric and batting, in the manner of old-style hand quilting. Included are instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 5, 1884
Creator: Woods, Evans
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bridle. (open access)

Bridle.

Patent for a new and improved bridle. This design "consists in a novel manner of constructing driving-bridles, whereby a leverage upon the bit and curb proportionate to the needs of any particular occasion may be drawn up so that it will be impossible to hold the bit out of control of the driver" (lines 7-14).
Date: August 19, 1884
Creator: Roeber, Alexander
System: The Portal to Texas History