Bustle. (open access)

Bustle.

Patent for a new and improved bustle. This design "consist[s] of a single piece of wire bent in spiral form, said bustle being larger in diameter at its center than at its ends, and eyes or loops formed in said ends, in combination with a spiral spring located within said bustle, the ends of said spring being formed with eyes or loops, and cords or tapes secured to the eyes of the bustle and spring" (lines 52-59).
Date: March 31, 1885
Creator: Davis, Charles Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Weather Strip. (open access)

Weather Strip.

Patent for a new and improved weather strip. This design "is to provide a new and improved weather-strip, which is raised into a groove in the bottom of the door when the door is open, but is pressed down upon the sill when the door is closed. The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts" (lines 7-13).
Date: July 31, 1883
Creator: McCurdy, Thomas B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut Lock. (open access)

Nut Lock.

Patent for a new and improved nut-lock. This design "consists of a slide or continuous collar or ring, made of lead or other soft or compressible metal or material, having a hole so that it will fit or pass over the end of an ordinary bolt, and adapted to be pressed into the threads of the bolt and against the face of an ordinary nut by a suitable die" (lines 16-23).
Date: August 31, 1886
Creator: Shellenberger, Samuel L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Running Gear for Vehicles. (open access)

Running Gear for Vehicles.

Patent for a new and improved running gear for vehicles. This design "has for its object . . . to dispense with the reach or pole, and while doing this to provide for or avoid interference with the normal action of the springs, and to render it applicable to vehicles already in use. To these ends [the] invention consists in the employment of braces adapted to be connected to and permit the springs to have the required movement, and also of additional braces arranged between the body support or frame and axles, having the one a slotted plate and the other a slotted bridge" (lines 15-27).
Date: October 31, 1882
Creator: Roberts, John William
System: The Portal to Texas History