Door Check. (open access)

Door Check.

Patent for a new and improved door check. This design "is to provide a means for preventing the jarring and noise incident to the sudden stoppage of a door or window-blind in closing . . . and to this end it consists of a hinge having one leaf provided with a case or box extending laterally from the back thereof, the said case or box inclosing a spring-actuated bolt which normally projects beyond the point of the leaf, and is arranged to engage with the other leaf of the hinge when the door is closed" (lines 7-19).
Date: August 2, 1887
Creator: Byrne, Matthew Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Saw-Filing Machine (open access)

Saw-Filing Machine

Patent for improvements to machines that file saw teeth, including illustrations.
Date: February 1, 1887
Creator: Nolen, Robert; Bishop, Rudolph W. & Waltemeyer, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wheel Hub. (open access)

Wheel Hub.

Patent for a new and improved wheel-hub. This design "relates to wheel-hubs, and its objects are, first, to permit removal or renewal of the spokes without displacing the tire; second, to insure synchronous motion of the axle-box and the hub; and, third, to attain these ends with simplicity of structure" (lines 8-13).
Date: July 20, 1886
Creator: Miller, William J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fire Escape. (open access)

Fire Escape.

Patent for a new and improved fire-escape. This design "is to provide means whereby lowering the car may be made more safe and easy to the operators, whereby the occupants of the car may be shielded from smoke and flames bursting from lower windows while the car descends, whereby the shield may be housed when not in use, and in means whereby the use of this fire-escape by burglars may be prevented" (lines 12-20).
Date: October 27, 1885
Creator: McKinzie, Thomas Duncan
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fire Place Heater. (open access)

Fire Place Heater.

Patent for a new and improved fire-place heater. This design "is to provide an inexpensive fire-place heater, constructed so that it may heat two or more rooms on the same floor of a building, and with a single fire, so as to economize fuel and labor of attendance" (lines 7-11).
Date: June 2, 1885
Creator: Bartlett, Thomas J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fire Escape. (open access)

Fire Escape.

Patent for a new and improved fire escape. This design "relates to that class of fire escapes designed to save life from burning houses or ships; and its object is to provide means whereby a boat or car may be lowered from the side of a vessel, or a car may be raised or lowered to and from the windows of a house" (lines 8-13).
Date: October 21, 1884
Creator: McKinzie, Thomas Duncan
System: The Portal to Texas History