Bedstead (open access)

Bedstead

Patent for a bedstead. Illustration included.
Date: October 31, 1905
Creator: Davis, Augustus H.; Hummel, George F. & Gray, J. W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Horse-Detacher and Brake. (open access)

Combined Horse-Detacher and Brake.

Patent for a simple and durable combined horse-detacher and brake that stops the car after releasing the animal. This patent simplifies a previous patent application (Serial No. 565,581). Both the horse-detacher and brake are activated at the same time by pulling one lever. The brake sits under the car and can hardly be seen.
Date: March 31, 1896
Creator: Friedlander, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automobile Driving Mechanism. (open access)

Automobile Driving Mechanism.

Patent for a driving mechanism for an automobile to dispense with the usual form of transmission gearing and differential, to substitute mechanisms power devices through the medium of a suitable liquid [preferably oil], maintained at a predetermined volume, and to provide a noiseless operating mechanism.
Date: October 31, 1916
Creator: Allan, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pneumatic Tire. (open access)

Pneumatic Tire.

Patent for improved pneumatic tires for motor vehicles that will prevent deflation when punctured.
Date: May 31, 1921
Creator: Williams, Harry S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fuse carrier. (open access)

Fuse carrier.

Patent for a fuse "holder which carries a number of fuses, capable of being brought into proper position to provide a fresh fuse in the event of the burning or blowing out of one of the fuses" (lines 9-13). The carrier inside the holder is removable (line 15); as carried in this holder, the fuses are "held under strong tension," with a mechanism allowing easy retrieval of a "fresh fuse" if necessary (line 18).
Date: January 31, 1922
Creator: Burton, Frank M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wireless Break-Key (open access)

Wireless Break-Key

Patent for a wireless break key that allows a station to just have one aerial line and prevents burn out of the machinery and injury to operators while transmitting messages faster than other wireless devices.
Date: December 31, 1912
Creator: Mobley, Grier P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Locking-Bolt for Guards to Openings. (open access)

Locking-Bolt for Guards to Openings.

Patent for a locking mechanism for windows, which cannot be unlocked from the outside.
Date: March 31, 1908
Creator: McNeil, Clarence W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Line-Holder and Cylindrical Type-Chase (open access)

Line-Holder and Cylindrical Type-Chase

Patent for a "combined line holder and cylindrical type chase" (p. 1, lines 10-11) to allow typesetting by unskilled workers.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Weeks, Frank W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Line Holder and Type Chase (open access)

Line Holder and Type Chase

Patent for a line-holder and type-chase, intended to make possible rapid and easy setting of type by unskilled people.
Date: July 31, 1906
Creator: Weeks, Frank W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle Wheel (open access)

Vehicle Wheel

Patent for improved wheel that utilizes spring components in order to disperse the weight of the vehicle evenly.
Date: October 31, 1916
Creator: Allan, William N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut-Lock. (open access)

Nut-Lock.

Patent for nut locks that "as for its object to provide simple means for locking the nut against accidental displacement, at the same time allowing it to be removed by the proper application of force, and, furthermore, to permit the permanent locking of the nut at a pre-determined point." (Lines 9-15) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 31, 1897
Creator: Millen, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Flash-Light System. (open access)

Flash-Light System.

Patent for new and useful flash light system where the "plurality of lights or series of lights are alternately cut into and then out of the lighting-circuit, so there are a series of flashes " (lines 10-13), including illustrations.
Date: July 31, 1900
Creator: Wright, Martin
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ice Machine. (open access)

Ice Machine.

Patent for a new and improved ice machine. This design consists in "[a]n oil-trap for compression ice-machines, consisting of cylinders provided with inclined diaphragms, and having extensions provided with water-chambers and pipes extending down through the same" (lines 96-100). Said pipes are "to communicate with the cylinders, one of said pipes communicating with the extension of one of the cylinders and the other pipe leading from the ammonia-pump, said cylinders having a suitable arrangement of pipes and valves" (lines 1-6).
Date: August 31, 1886
Creator: Diener, Frederic
System: The Portal to Texas History
Saw. (open access)

Saw.

Patent for a saw with a blade that can efficiently cut through wood and metal materials. Illustration included.
Date: July 31, 1900
Creator: Caruthers, John I.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Semaphore (open access)

Semaphore

Patent for a semaphore in the form of a rotatable tubular post for the purpose of signaling traffic conditions at an intersection. The semaphore communicates signals in the form of red or green plates, red or green colored lamplight, and pneumatic whistles, which are triggered by vehicles passing over platforms installed on the road surface near the intersection by means of underground tubes containing chains and pulleys. The actuation of the semaphore is detailed in "parent" application, serial no. 314065.
Date: October 31, 1922
Creator: Durán, Arturo
System: The Portal to Texas History
Roller Press (open access)

Roller Press

Patent for a roller press. This invention is designed to form round lap cotton bales. Illustrations included.
Date: January 31, 1911
Creator: Reagan, Edgar U. G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Flexible Hoe and Cotton-Chopper (open access)

Flexible Hoe and Cotton-Chopper

Patent for "provide a means by which the swinging blades are made to cut a uniform depth, and do as shallow hoeing as may be required even in rough ground, and also work very close to small plants; second, to provide such gearing and such connection between the driving-wheel and the oscillating blades that the blades maybe readily shifted from right to left to keep them over the row without having to move or change the course of the driving-wheel at the same time" (lines 14-24).
Date: December 31, 1889
Creator: Hurd, Judson B. & McLane, Hiram H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Safety-Valve Mechanism for Pneumatic Tires. (open access)

Safety-Valve Mechanism for Pneumatic Tires.

Patent for useful improvements on safety valve mechanism for Pneumatic Tires. This invention constructs a mechanism to control air pressure within the tire in order to prevent bursting from over charging, heating, sudden compression is avoided.
Date: January 31, 1917
Creator: Gebhardt, William C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sectional Rim (open access)

Sectional Rim

Patent for a sectional rim, which provides a sectional demountable tire rim with interlocking means to easily actuate and separate so that the tire can be removed from or applied to the rim.
Date: May 31, 1921
Creator: Williams, Harry S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing-Machine. (open access)

Washing-Machine.

Patent for a washing machine that launders articles of clothing. The machine has a plunger that causes rotary movement allowing cleaning fluid to reach all articles, including illustrations.
Date: May 31, 1921
Creator: Carroll, Houston M., Sr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Molding Apparatus. (open access)

Molding Apparatus.

Patent for a molding apparatus for forming precast concrete units used for constructing monolithic straight and curved walls, floors, ceilings, and other building structures.
Date: October 31, 1922
Creator: Nelson, William E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Motor (open access)

Motor

Patent for a motor for a sewing machine that is simple and less expensive.
Date: August 31, 1900
Creator: Daniels, James R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Piano-Action. (open access)

Piano-Action.

Patent for a simplified part that controls the rebound of the hammer on a piano.
Date: March 31, 1914
Creator: Mayor, Enoch A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Photographic-Printing Frame. (open access)

Photographic-Printing Frame.

Patent for a new Photographic-printing frame. The "invention relates to certain improvements in photographic-printing frames, and has for its object to construct a frame of such character as to readily permit of the raising of the glass negative from its printing position for the inspection of the sensitized paper and to return the same accurately to printing position." (Lines 8-15) Illustration is included.
Date: December 31, 1901
Creator: Callaway, Alonzo N.
System: The Portal to Texas History