Folding Minnow-Net. (open access)

Folding Minnow-Net.

Patent for "improvements in fishing-nets, and particularly to frames for nets which can be set up in the water in various places where other nets cannot be used and which can be folded up into a small package for convenient carrying." (Lines 8-13) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 8, 1896
Creator: Breeding, Enoch
System: The Portal to Texas History
Folding Cot. (open access)

Folding Cot.

Patent for certain new and useful improvement in folding cots, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: September 19, 1899
Creator: Martindale, James Henry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Folding Bed. (open access)

Folding Bed.

Patent for a bed that is collapsible and portable but still safe and sturdy. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 6, 1897
Creator: Dodge, Israel A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Flushing Apparatus. (open access)

Flushing Apparatus.

Patent for a flushing apparatus to be used to flush tanks that are normally kept empty. It is also "an improved siphon for emptying the tank, and also an improved mechanism for starting the siphon" (lines 22-24).
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Ackley, George D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seat - Action Flushing Apparatus. (open access)

Seat - Action Flushing Apparatus.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in seat-action flushing apparatus. This design is to "provide a cistern into which the water is admitted only when the seat is occupied" (line 14-17).
Date: February 8, 1898
Creator: Ackley, George D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Valve for Steam Engines. (open access)

Rotary Valve for Steam Engines.

Patent for improvements in rotary valves, including illustrations.
Date: January 6, 1891
Creator: Grant, Samuel, Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Running-Gear for Vehicles. (open access)

Running-Gear for Vehicles.

Patent for a simple and inexpensive running gear for vehicles that allows the vehicles to turn in a small space. An ordinary running gear can be easily modified into this invention.
Date: May 14, 1895
Creator: Keith, George A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Saddle-Pad. (open access)

Saddle-Pad.

Patent for inflatable saddle pads designed "to do away with the use of one or more blankets which have been placed between the saddle and the back of the animal, and substitute therefor inflatable pads, which not only prevent the back of the animal from being chafed, but to do away with the jar and concussion from the animal to the rider and from the rider to the animal." (Lines 18-26) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 14, 1895
Creator: Wall, Frederic Watson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Running Gear. (open access)

Running Gear.

Patent for a new and improved running-gear. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the front and rear axles, of the tubular connection, the connection between the tubular coupling and the head-block, formed with ears, the swiveled fifth-wheel carrying ears, the connecting-pin held in said ears, and the guard attached to the ends of the head-block, to the under side of the tubular coupling, and to the connection between the coupling and the head-block at the forward end thereof" (lines 89-98).
Date: September 2, 1890
Creator: Mayfield, William Dudley
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sash Balance. (open access)

Sash Balance.

Patent for a new and improved sash balance. This design consists "of the strap provided with a series of holes and designed to have one end secured to the upper sash of a window, the hanger secured to the top of the window-frame and provided with the roller, the clasp or fastener secured to the lower sash and consisting of the plate having the ears and provided with a roller journaled in the ears and having the pin or stud arranged to engage the hole of the strap" (lines 85-95).
Date: June 10, 1890
Creator: Estill, Charles C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seed-Planter and Fertilizer-Distributer. (open access)

Seed-Planter and Fertilizer-Distributer.

Patent for improvements in seed planter and fertilizer distributers: "can be readily and easily adapted to planting seed in drills or check rows, or to distributing fertilizer and in which the operator can always tell where the last hill was planted so that he will know where to commence his next row" (lines 18-23).
Date: April 25, 1893
Creator: Kemp, Amos John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Seeding Attachment For Disk Harrows. (open access)

Seeding Attachment For Disk Harrows.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in seeding attachments for disk harrows, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 17, 1899
Creator: Rogers, Jonathan Judson & Kennedy, Oliver Sylvester
System: The Portal to Texas History
Revolving Book-Holder. (open access)

Revolving Book-Holder.

Patent for a "combined desk and cabinet especially designed for students' use to obviate the scattering about of books when writing, studying, or making reference thereto" (lines 8-12). The are two rotating sections: a many-faced book-rest, and a cabinet above it where books can be stored. There is also a sliding writing-board underneath the desk.
Date: November 17, 1896
Creator: Ballart, Calvert L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Method of and Apparatus for Treating Mineral Pitch. (open access)

Method of and Apparatus for Treating Mineral Pitch.

Patent for an "improved method of and apparatus for treating mineral pitch and similar material to readily separate the asphalt and asphalt-oils from sand, bituminous rock, and other impurities contained in the mined material and removing the sand and impurities" (lines 12-17). The method circulates the material in hot water to separate the asphalt and asphalt-oils from the sand and impurities. The asphalt and oil rise to the top of the water and the impurities sink.
Date: November 5, 1895
Creator: Sellers, Harvey Lee; Conyngton, Hugh Ronald & Conyngton, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Head-Rest. (open access)

Head-Rest.

Patent for "an improved head rest which can be easily attached to a car seat without injuring or marring the wood work or upholstering thereof, and which will be compact in structure, light in weight and cheap and durable in general construction, and readily adjustable in height, and angle of inclination" (lines 14-21).
Date: May 16, 1893
Creator: Wesson, Miley B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Piano-Action. (open access)

Piano-Action.

Patent for a new and useful piano-action in which the so-called hammers is "pivotally connecting the hammers to the rail by a specific means." (Lines 11-12) Illustration is included.
Date: June 30, 1891
Creator: Norcross, Levi W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pipe or Cigar Holder. (open access)

Pipe or Cigar Holder.

Patent for a new and useful holder that has a removable nicotine-cup and, it is capable of being used as a cigar or cigarette holder or used as a pipe. Illustration is included.
Date: August 4, 1891
Creator: Delimage, Edgar C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary And Folding Chair. (open access)

Rotary And Folding Chair.

Patent for a new and improved rotary and folding chair, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 7, 1899
Creator: Hosmer, Arthur
System: The Portal to Texas History
Penholder. (open access)

Penholder.

Patent for a penholder that is worn on the finger and is an "open-ended hollow thimble with a detachable and reversible cap-piece" (lines 20-22). The pen-point can be unscrewed and screwed back in the opposite way so that the pen-point is inside the thimble, so the pen-point doesn't break in one's pocket.
Date: January 26, 1897
Creator: Ward, George C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Jewel-Setting. (open access)

Jewel-Setting.

Patent for a new and useful jewel setting, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 31, 1899
Creator: Wandry, Albert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Elevated Railway, &c (open access)

Elevated Railway, &c

Patent for improvements "to provide an improved track having provisions for readily tightening the track, each span or section being tightened by means of a single tightening device arranged, preferably. . . second, to provide an improved truck with guiding rollers or pulleys, the weight of the truck being carried upon yielding supports; third, a simple and improved swivel or turning device or connection between the car and track, whereby the turning of curves is more easily accomplished with a minimum of friction; fourth, to so mount the truck upon the track that displacement or removal thereof sidewise is impossible fifth, to provide an improved switch; sixth, to provide for a road-bed upon a span in crossing a stream or other analogous obstruction" (lines 14-31).
Date: April 1, 1890
Creator: Turner, Ephraim M. & Taylor, James P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Elevated Railway. (open access)

Elevated Railway.

Patent for a new elevated railway, consisting of the arrangement and parts described. Patent for "a new and improved elevated railway structure for moving cars or vehicles." (line 14) including perspective views, description and illustrations. Patent for a new elevated railway design including illustrations.
Date: December 13, 1892
Creator: Turner, Ephraim, M. & Maddox, R. E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Elevated Railway. (open access)

Elevated Railway.

Patent for improvements to elevated railways via the new and different way parts are combined and arranged.
Date: December 13, 1892
Creator: Turner, Ephraim M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Document File-Case. (open access)

Document File-Case.

Patent for "an envelop for holding papers of various kinds and which is convenient and durable and can be manufactured at small cost" (lines 9-11). the side flaps are adjustable and are connected using elastic straps so they don't accidentally disconnect under tension.
Date: September 29, 1896
Creator: Ward, George C.
System: The Portal to Texas History