Automatic Gate Latch. (open access)

Automatic Gate Latch.

Patent for invention of a gate latch which is very simple, durable and is comparatively inexpensive. This has a swinging latch attached to the gate.
Date: August 1, 1916
Creator: Schultze, August J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bale Tie. (open access)

Bale Tie.

Patent for a new and improved tie for bales. This design calls for one long, flat piece of scrap metal to be folded over on itself twice so that there are four layers of metal as well as a loop (or "rib") on either end. Then, a hole should be cut through all four layers with a tapered opening through the edge; this design is cheaper and more durable than previous bale ties.
Date: August 24, 1880
Creator: Riesel, Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bale-tie (open access)

Bale-tie

Patent for improvement in the construction of hooks used to join the ends of ties "for packages or bales of cotton, hemp, rags, or other substances in which a divided metallic band or hoop encircling the package or bale is used, and the ends whereof are joined by a hook at one end of said band, arranged to interlock with any one of a series of mortises in the other end of the band" (para. 2).
Date: August 8, 1876
Creator: Davis, Waters S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bicycle-Gearing. (open access)

Bicycle-Gearing.

Patent for "gearing for bicycles, and has for its object to furnish a train of gearing for the connection of the treadles with the rear wheel of a bicycle, whereby the usual sprocket-and-chain gearing may be dispensed with." (lines 7-12).
Date: August 16, 1898
Creator: Brown, Wilson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bicycle-Tire. (open access)

Bicycle-Tire.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in tires for "use with bicycles" (line 10).
Date: August 22, 1899
Creator: Lewis, George Harris
System: The Portal to Texas History
Blacking Brush. (open access)

Blacking Brush.

Patent for a new and improved blacking brush. This design "relates to an improvement in boot-blacking brushes so disposed that fluid blacking may be used; and to this end [the design] provide[s] a reservoir at one end with a forwardly-projecting tube or nozzle therefrom, the said reservoir having a disk at one side, so that when pressed the liquid will be forced through the nozzle upon the boot" (lines 13-20).
Date: August 2, 1887
Creator: England, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Blind-Stop. (open access)

Blind-Stop.

Patent for improvements in blind-slat adjusters and locks by providing a plate to secure the cross-stile of the blind; in which the plate having a slotted right-angled portion. “A bar pivoted to the slat-rod and having its lower end bent at the right angle, a screw passed through the slat and provided with a handle. (Lines 96-99) “When the handle is turned to the left, the slats can be adjusted into any desired position, and when in their adjusted position all that it is necessary to do is to turn the handle to the right which binds the parts together and holds the slats against movement.” (Lines 82-87) Illustration is included.
Date: August 18, 1891
Creator: Roll, John F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Breakwater, &c. (open access)

Breakwater, &c.

Patent for an improved way of constructing piers, jetties, breakwaters, and similar structures. "It can be constructed from boats, barges, or from a trestle, or can be built continuously from a starting-point on shore to the objective point in the lake, bay, gulf, or other body of water" (lines 17-21). This invention is especially useful for places that don't have banks or ledges.
Date: August 9, 1892
Creator: Shannon, Alexander M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Canopy (open access)

Canopy

Patent for a portable canopy to be used over beds, cribs, or chairs. Illustrations included.
Date: August 8, 1905
Creator: Eichenberg, Carl
System: The Portal to Texas History
Coach and Car Step. (open access)

Coach and Car Step.

Patent for an attached coach and car step "to render it unnecessary to carry stools or stepping-boxes, as are now used to facilitate passengers to get on or off the car or coach from an extra height between the ground or depot-floor and the main bottom tread of the step, thus avoiding dangerous and fatal results from overturning of stools and boxes." (Lines 14-21) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 11, 1896
Creator: Taylor, Frederick A.; Farrell, Patrick W. & Quebe, Wesley S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Easel and Phonograph Horn Tripod. (open access)

Combined Easel and Phonograph Horn Tripod.

Patent for a new and improved easel and phonograph horn tripod. This design "is to construct a device which may be used for holding phonograph-horns of different sizes at any desired height, and which also may be employed for holding a painting, or for the use of an artist. [The] invention consists in the combination of a pair of cross-bars, a hinged brace for supporting the bars at any required angle, and an adjustable device for regulating the spread of the bars and of the brace" (lines 22-31).
Date: August 12, 1890
Creator: Minot, Kendall James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Record, Diary, and Ledger (open access)

Combined Record, Diary, and Ledger

Patent for improvements to books by combining "a general record, a diary, a ledger, and index leaves, including the months and days of the week and alphabetical and numerical indices" (lines 10-12).
Date: August 30, 1892
Creator: Meyer, Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Composition To Be Used As A Non-Conductor Of Heat And For Other Purposes. (open access)

Composition To Be Used As A Non-Conductor Of Heat And For Other Purposes.

Patent for a non-conducting material designed to prevent heat loss from radiation, prevent damage from frost, for fire-proofing, and for "the deafening of floors and partitions" (lines 21-22). Ingredients and proportions are listed.
Date: August 30, 1887
Creator: Clayton, Nicholas Joseph.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Compress (open access)

Cotton Compress

Patent for a cotton compress. Illustration included.
Date: August 30, 1904
Creator: Griffin, Thomas J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Device for Controlling Runaway Horses. (open access)

Device for Controlling Runaway Horses.

Patent for a new and improved device for controlling runaway horses. This design has for its object "to construct an apparatus whereby such a pressure may be applied by the rider or driver of the animal in connection with which the apparatus is employed, the invention consisting of pads that are supported by lever-arms pivotally connected to a bit, and of a means whereby said pads may be moved toward each other—that is, to a position so that they will bear upon the outer nostril-wall . . . [since horses] may be quickly subdued by bringing continued pressure to bear upon their noses" (lines 9-21).
Date: August 16, 1887
Creator: Grumbach, Isaïe
System: The Portal to Texas History
Direction Signal (open access)

Direction Signal

Patent for a "direction indicator" (lines 12-13) adapted for se in vehicles. Created for a simple method to inform other drivers of the intended direction of the car it is installed in.
Date: August 27, 1918
Creator: Hayhurst, Clark R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Electric Signaling Device. (open access)

Electric Signaling Device.

Patent for an electric signal device which has a shelf with a pad of paper, which when lowered signals a central location elsewhere. It is optimized for use by manufacturing companies watchmen and telegraph operators to send in reports of their location at various intervals.
Date: August 13, 1907
Creator: Baker, John A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fare-Box. (open access)

Fare-Box.

Patent for a simple, inexpensive, fraud preventing fare-box for street-railways.
Date: August 8, 1882
Creator: Alexander, Samuel & Boyle, Frank
System: The Portal to Texas History
Feeder for Printing-Presses. (open access)

Feeder for Printing-Presses.

Patent for a feeder for printing-presses that "takes one sheet of paper at a time from a pile on the feed-board and delivers it within reach of the nippers to the press, as straight and true as it laid on the feed-board" (lines 11-14). The feeder has an improved design with adjustable retaining plates, a feed-board, a guard bar with sleeves that slide on the bar, retaining plates, pins with thumb-screws, brushes, and gage-blocks.
Date: August 8, 1893
Creator: Orser, Levi
System: The Portal to Texas History
Figure Velocipede. (open access)

Figure Velocipede.

Patent for new figure velocipede which when propelled, resembles a galloping horse.
Date: August 8, 1916
Creator: Houghland, Howard J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Game Apparatus. (open access)

Game Apparatus.

Patent for a certain new and useful improvement in game apparatus, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 16, 1898
Creator: Hutches, Benjamin F. Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Apparatus for Distilling Turpentine. (open access)

Improvement in Apparatus for Distilling Turpentine.

Patent for the improvement of apparatuses for distilling turpentine.
Date: August 1, 1871
Creator: Lee, Archibald K.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement In Bale-Ties. (open access)

Improvement In Bale-Ties.

Patent for "certain new and useful Improvements in Bale-Ties" [lines 4-5] along with a description of construction and illustrations.
Date: August 5, 1879
Creator: Rand, Anders
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Bale-Ties. (open access)

Improvement in Bale-Ties.

Patent for improved bale-ties, including illustrations.
Date: August 10, 1875
Creator: Jones, Henry Bradley
System: The Portal to Texas History