Closet-Seat. (open access)

Closet-Seat.

Patent for a toilet seat that helps support users with rectal diseases.
Date: July 18, 1911
Creator: Ellis, Joseph G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Can (open access)

Can

Patent for a can. Illustration included.
Date: July 4, 1905
Creator: Hanna, Richard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Compressed-Air and Steam Apparatus for Sinking Wells (open access)

Compressed-Air and Steam Apparatus for Sinking Wells

Patent for "a simple and inexpensive apparatus for drilling the rock and earth until sufficient loose material has accumulated in the shaft, and then remove such material by the pressure of an aeriform fluid - such as steam or compressed air" (lines 23-29).
Date: July 16, 1889
Creator: Goodrich, Hervey K.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Handle and Toilet Case. (open access)

Combined Handle and Toilet Case.

Patent for a new and improved toiletry case. This design consists in "[a] combined hollow parasol or umbrella handle and toilet-case, consisting of an ornamental hollow case having an end opening for the reception of a parasol or umbrella stick, its opposite end provided with a rigid extension-ring, a hinged cover provided with a mirror on its inner face and working against the tension of a coiled spring, and an end lip to said cover to contact with end spring secured to said case, the internal portion of said case divided to receive visiting-cards, face-powder, pads, a curved spring, and cloth-lining" (lines 20-31).
Date: July 26, 1887
Creator: Myers, Ida Louise
System: The Portal to Texas History
Blade. (open access)

Blade.

Patent for a new blade similar to "weed blades" (line 10) that can be "attached to a cultivator" (line 11) and includes an illustration.
Date: July 15, 1913
Creator: Kelly, John H. & Mershon, John H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Attachment for Vehicle-Seats. (open access)

Attachment for Vehicle-Seats.

Patent for "a vehicle seat and more particularly to a device securable to the under portion of a seat and engaging the side walls of the wagon body so that the seat will be prevented from shifting transversely of the vehicle" (lines 9-14).
Date: July 14, 1914
Creator: Jackson, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ratchet Die-Stock (open access)

Ratchet Die-Stock

Patent for improvement on the usage of die-stocks which are used to cut and thread metal objects such as pipes.
Date: July 22, 1919
Creator: Hestand, Rue S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire-Stretching and Staple-Pulling Device. (open access)

Wire-Stretching and Staple-Pulling Device.

Patent for a tool "which is adapted for stretching wire for fencing purposed and which may also be used for drawing the staples from the posts and splicing between posts when such action is necessary." (Lines 9-13) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 20, 1897
Creator: McElroy, Jesse Roberts
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wrench (open access)

Wrench

Patent for a wrench. Illustrations included.
Date: July 25, 1911
Creator: Hunter, Arthur G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wrench. (open access)

Wrench.

Patent for a wrench whose jaws can be adjusted quickly by pressing a handle on the wrench with the thumb.
Date: July 27, 1909
Creator: Ferguson, Rufus Andrew
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vulcanizing Apparatus (open access)

Vulcanizing Apparatus

Patent for an apparatus used during the process of retreading tires that updates the manufacture of rubber tire patches.
Date: July 12, 1918
Creator: Rasor, James, E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Windmill (open access)

Windmill

Patent for a windmill that changes directions with the wind automatically and provides more power to the pump.
Date: July 23, 1912
Creator: Romans, John W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Steam-Engines. (open access)

Improvement in Steam-Engines.

Patent related to "improvements in steam-engines. The object...is to devise means whereby the valves may be actuated automatically without the employment of exterior mechanisms by the use of exhaust-steam" (lines 17-22). Includes instructions and illustration.
Date: July 1, 1879
Creator: Garlock, William H. & Cooke, Richard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Masks for Horses and Cattle. (open access)

Improvement in Masks for Horses and Cattle.

Patent for a slitted leather mask for animals to be used for horses, cattle, etc. to deter the jumping of fences. Patent for "mask, covering the eyes of the animal, leaves him with a sufficiently free vision, and being thoroughly ventilated, will not injure his eyes".
Date: July 10, 1877
Creator: Trueblood, Albert H
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Machines for Cutting Shingles. (open access)

Improvement in Machines for Cutting Shingles.

Patent relating to "that class of shingle-machines which form the shingles by means of a knife working sidewise with the grain" (lines 10-13). Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 8, 1879
Creator: Davis, Henry T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk - Chopper. (open access)

Stalk - Chopper.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in stalk choppers, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 26, 1898
Creator: Upshaw, Foy
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lamp. (open access)

Lamp.

Patent for a new and improved oil lamp. This design "relates to improvements in lamps in which the reservoir is beveled, adapting it for use in conjunction with a conical corrugated reflector; and the object of [the] improvement is to produce a lamp that will afford more and better light with a given amount of oil" (lines 7-13).
Date: July 24, 1883
Creator: Newman, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing-Machine (open access)

Washing-Machine

Patent for a washing machine. Illustrations included.
Date: July 11, 1911
Creator: Denton. John L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tie-Plate (open access)

Tie-Plate

Patent for a tie plate that sticks firmly to the ties, keeps out moisture, and is lighter than other tie plates.
Date: July 16, 1912
Creator: Walton, Jay W. & Dayton, William H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Swab Holder (open access)

Swab Holder

Patent for improvements in swab-holders consisting of a sectional box or cup containing fibrous material to apply a lubricating oil for the piston-rod to reduce friction and wear on the rod.
Date: July 10, 1906
Creator: Bruce. J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gate (open access)

Gate

Patent for "a gate which can be built at a comparatively low price, which will be durable and practical, and which can be opened from either side with ease" (lines 13-17).
Date: July 30, 1901
Creator: Baker, Cicero McRee
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sweeping Machine. (open access)

Sweeping Machine.

Patent for a new and improved sweeping machine. This design consists, "with the frame mounted upon supporting-wheels at its front and rear ends and having the rotating rear axle, of the vertically-adjustable revolving brush receiving motion from the said axle, and a dust pan or receptacle having laterally extending pins or plugs, whereby it is supported detachably upon the frame of the machine in front of the revolving brush" (lines 13-21).
Date: July 1, 1890
Creator: Le Tellier, John H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hopper-Door. (open access)

Hopper-Door.

Patent for a hopper door especially designed to be used "with a vertically movable weighing hopper adapted to receive and weigh cotton seed" (lines 10-12). The specifics of how the door is hinged and operates is especially important to the design.
Date: July 16, 1918
Creator: Peck, James F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Recording Device (open access)

Recording Device

Patent for an improved device that records flow of grain in a mill.
Date: July 22, 1911
Creator: Hoover, Guy F.
System: The Portal to Texas History