Barber's Paper Clip. (open access)

Barber's Paper Clip.

Patent for a new and improved barber's paper clip. This design calls for "a clip formed by doubling upon itself a [flat] strip of metal," which will hold sheets of paper on which barbers can sharpen their razors. A hook exists on the opposite side, by which the paper clip can hang from the hot towel on the customer's face.
Date: January 17, 1882
Creator: Cohen, Moses
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bed Bottom Spring. (open access)

Bed Bottom Spring.

Patent for new and improved bed springs. Due to this design's construction, "in addition to the support furnished by the top spirals, the platform furnishes a broad level bearing for the mattress and prevents sagging between the springs or injury to the mattress itself. Also, the parallels, being springs in themselves, additional comfort and elasticity are added to the bed, and the springs themselves are more readily adapted to the varying width of the slats of different beds" (lines 25-34).
Date: January 17, 1882
Creator: Jarrett, Joshua V.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Indicator for Scales. (open access)

Indicator for Scales.

Patent for a new and improved indicator for scales. This design "consists in a weighted rocker and indicating-arm combined with a scale-beam for operation thereby . . . [it has] for [its] object to dispense with the slides heretofore used and provide for an automatic indication of weight" (lines 8-14).
Date: January 17, 1882
Creator: Fulcher, Valentine M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow. (open access)

Plow.

Patent for a new and improved plow. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the adjustable standard-iron and the handles, of the transverse bar, clamp or hook bolt, and the pivoted adjustable brace, connected to the furrow-bar of said iron" (lines 87-91).
Date: January 17, 1882
Creator: Nitschmann, Franz
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pistol and Carbine Holder. (open access)

Pistol and Carbine Holder.

Patent for a new and improved holster for pistols and carbines. This design includes a button to be attached to the desired firearm, and the button is designed to fit into a groove attached to a strap. The strap is secured around a person or horse, and a tug at the handle of the firearm causes springs in the groove to release the button, thus freeing the firearm quickly and easily.
Date: January 17, 1882
Creator: Flatau, Louis S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Frame House. (open access)

Frame House.

Patent for a new and improved frame house. This design consists of "[t]he combination, in a roof, of T-shaped caps or battens having in their depending tongues the transverse dovetail grooves, the roof-boards arranged above the grooves and below the horizontal and lateral arms of the said battens, and the purlins adapted to enter the grooves and grooved longitudinally to engage the said tongues" (lines 23-31).
Date: January 17, 1882
Creator: Boyd, John
System: The Portal to Texas History