Locking Device for Steering-Wheels. (open access)

Locking Device for Steering-Wheels.

Patent for a device which is completely detachable from the steering column, can be quickly applied and removed from the steering wheel, and securely holds the steering wheel from turning on the steering column. The purpose of this device is to prevent unauthorized use or theft of a vehicle.
Date: May 21, 1918
Creator: Grimm, Max F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bearing for Crank-Shafts. (open access)

Bearing for Crank-Shafts.

Patent for an improvement for Bearings for Cranks Shafts. This invention provides a means for "tightening the bushings of the bearings easily and quickly when necessary" (lines 9-13).
Date: October 22, 1918
Creator: Blumberg, Hamilton G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Advertising-Sign (open access)

Advertising-Sign

Patent for large outdoor advertising sign that is inexpensive to illuminate but still catches attention by providing the illusion of movement.
Date: August 20, 1918
Creator: Craig, Richard M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Insect-Trap. (open access)

Insect-Trap.

Patent for a new and improved insect trap with a flanged pan, the mouth of which has an inclined surface. The insect trap is designed to be arranged directly over a burrow of ants, so that ants are directed to a bait pan.
Date: May 7, 1918
Creator: Mosby, William A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Valve-Grinding Machine (open access)

Valve-Grinding Machine

Patent for a simple valve grinding machine designed to be efficient and easy to use, as well as more secure (within a valve casing) than previous models.
Date: November 6, 1918
Creator: Branning, Willie F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Liquid Measure and Strainer (open access)

Liquid Measure and Strainer

This patent relates to devices for measuring and straining liquids and discharging them into a receptacle or tank without exposing the liquids after being strained to the atmosphere or rendering the liquid liable to be deteriorated by dust or other foreign matter.
Date: April 2, 1918
Creator: Doolin, Charles B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle-Tire. (open access)

Vehicle-Tire.

Patent for "tires such as are used for automobiles and other like vehicles in which it is desirable to absorb the shocks incident to rapid travel over road by means of an inherent resiliency in the tire" (lines 12-16) including illustration.
Date: May 21, 1918
Creator: Pepple, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lens Mounting. (open access)

Lens Mounting.

Patent for an improvement to spectacles to prevent lens breakage. The change to the design of the spectacles are mounts on the nose piece that attaches to the lenses, as well as mounts that attach to the temples of the spectacles and the lenses.
Date: May 18, 1918
Creator: Rees, Charles S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Valve Construction (open access)

Valve Construction

Patent for improved valve construction which permits unobstructed passage from valves to intake and exhaust pipe in motor vehicles.
Date: February 5, 1918
Creator: Smith, Thomas Noah
System: The Portal to Texas History
Locking and Operating System for Jail-Doors. (open access)

Locking and Operating System for Jail-Doors.

Patent for a new way to operate and lock jail doors "whereby each and every door in the system can be locked, unlocked and operated altogether, or any one, two or more doors can be locked, unlocked and operated without disturbing the other doors of the system" (lines 11-16), including illustrations.
Date: June 11, 1918
Creator: Youngblood, David Franklin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ventilator (open access)

Ventilator

Patent for low cost, improved ventilators for Pullman and passenger cars and buildings.
Date: March 26, 1918
Creator: Hedges, Robert S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Speed-Regulating Means. (open access)

Speed-Regulating Means.

Patent for an improvement in regulating the speed of sound recording and reproducing machines, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 9, 1918
Creator: Fletcher, Theodore
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mixer (open access)

Mixer

Patent for an improved mixer for "use in connection with internal combustion engines" (lines 9-10). The invention is designed to simplify and increase the engine's efficiency while also making construction more affordable.
Date: March 26, 1918
Creator: Warren, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mechanical Rectifier. (open access)

Mechanical Rectifier.

Patent for a mechanical rectifier for automobiles. This mechanical rectifier connects with the magneto or generator to turn alternating currents into to direct currents for charging a storage battery while operating the engine.
Date: January 29, 1918
Creator: Winterborne, Arthur William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Moving-Picture Machine. (open access)

Moving-Picture Machine.

Patent for an improved machine to play films (moving-pictures), synchronizing both sound and picture in a single machine. Division of another patent by the same inventor (Serial No. 765,959) for a sound record film, and is intended to be used in conjunction with said patent.
Date: March 26, 1918
Creator: Craig, Richard M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pressed-Metal Wheel (open access)

Pressed-Metal Wheel

Patent for an improved pressed-metal wheel by inventor Oliver G. Simmons.
Date: October 22, 1918
Creator: Simmons, Oliver G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gasolene and Oil Filter (open access)

Gasolene and Oil Filter

Patent for a gasoline and oil filter capable of filtering material in a way that makes in suitable for reuse, including illustrations and instructions.
Date: June 4, 1918
Creator: Caen, George, Sr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hair-Drying Apparatus. (open access)

Hair-Drying Apparatus.

Patent for an improved method of drying hair after washing that separates and parts the hair in numerous places to quickly and thoroughly dry the hair. The apparatus, that sits on the shoulders, also has an "improved fastener for holding the frame on the head" (lines 40-41), and the frame is collapsible.
Date: June 18, 1918
Creator: Moffitt, Mansfield M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Electric Water-Heater. (open access)

Electric Water-Heater.

Patent for a new electric water heater that forces water to travel around heated wires in tubes, including illustrations.
Date: May 7, 1918
Creator: Valdes, Salvador M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Driving Mechanism For Automobiles And The Like. (open access)

Driving Mechanism For Automobiles And The Like.

Patent for improvements in the automobile driving mechanism thorough changes in the transmission and transmission gearing.
Date: February 26, 1918
Creator: Allan, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Tooth-Brush (open access)

Rotary Tooth-Brush

Patent for a crank powered rotary toothbrush. Designed with the purpose of easily cleaning teeth with a simple automatic mechanism, with added projection via a shield around the brush for protecting gums and cheeks from being scraped by the brush.
Date: October 8, 1918
Creator: Abel, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sanitary Cooking Table (open access)

Sanitary Cooking Table

Patent for a sanitary cooking table, which has for its primary object the provision of a sanitary cooking table specially adapted for use in cooking schools.
Date: April 23, 1918
Creator: Laursen, Laust K.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Filter. (open access)

Filter.

Patent for Improvements in Filters specifically used to remove "impurities from gasoline and oil, to fit the gasolene or oil for reuse" (lines 11-13).
Date: November 12, 1918
Creator: Caen, George, Sr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Film-Mask for Cameras (open access)

Film-Mask for Cameras

Patent for adjustable (improved) mask plate for different film widths (sizes) for cameras.
Date: October 8, 1918
Creator: Burdette, Richard S.
System: The Portal to Texas History