Hame Tug. (open access)

Hame Tug.

Patent for a new and improved hame-tug. This design "relates to a hame and trace attachment, having for its object to provide a simple, strong, and durable device to connect the front end of the trace chain or strap to the hame, whereby the movement of the said chain or strap is prevented from wearing the parts, and thus necessitating frequent repair or replacement" (lines 9-16).
Date: September 18, 1888
Creator: Anderson, Charley N. & McPhaill, Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Top Prop. (open access)

Top Prop.

Patent for a new and improved top prop. This design consists in "the combination of a block, a supporting-arm mounted thereon, and a strap passing about the arm and bows and secured to the block. . . . [and a] plate provided with tubular hub and lug, [another] plate provided with an opening to fit the hub, an arm provided with a seat and with a circular opening to fit upon the hub, and a bolt or screw" (lines 82-87).
Date: December 18, 1888
Creator: Anderson, Lee
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wagon Break (open access)

Wagon Break

Patent for improvements in wagon-breaks, with the object of providing simple, effective, and durable means by which the breaks may be applied by either foot or hand power (lines 8-12). Additionally, provides "improved means for altering the power of the breaks" (lines 18-19).
Date: September 18, 1888
Creator: Baker, Owen T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ditching-Machine (open access)

Ditching-Machine

Patent for "a machine for digging ditches or trenches of any desired depth or width, for purposes of irrigation or drainage or pipe-laying, or for building earth fences on lands, or throwing up fortifications, or for making other excavations of like general nature" (lines 7-13).
Date: December 18, 1888
Creator: Edwards, Charles Clark
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lawn Mower. (open access)

Lawn Mower.

Patent for a new and improved lawn-mower. This design consists in "[t]he combination of a bifurcated frame, a driving-wheel supported therein, gears secured to opposite sides of said wheel, inclined pitmen-driving shafts carrying at their inner ends pinions to engage said gears, guide-plates supported by the lower and forward end of the frame, cutters provided with slots and supported between said guide-plates, pitmen connecting the cutters and shafts, and adjusting-screws applied to said plates and cutters" (lines 23-33).
Date: September 18, 1888
Creator: Grothaus, Frederick E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hoe. (open access)

Hoe.

Patent for a new and improved hoe. This design consists in "[a] hoe having two blades, the upper blade having a straight cutting-edge projecting from the top of the main blade at an obtuse angle to the inner face of the lower blade and entirely within the plane thereof, and the shank" (lines 79-84).
Date: December 18, 1888
Creator: Hefner, John M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Thermostatic Signal (open access)

Thermostatic Signal

Patent for Thermostatic Signal. "The object of my invention is to provide a device whereby an alarm will be automatically sounded when the temperature of the drier has reached too high a point." (lines 13-16). With Illustrations.
Date: September 18, 1888
Creator: Lutcher, Henry J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Burglar-Alarm (open access)

Burglar-Alarm

Patent for "a portable burglar-alarm, which may be secured in position adjacent to a window or door, so that upon the opening of the same the alarm will be tripped and the cartridge detonated" (lines 9-13).
Date: December 18, 1888
Creator: Mikich, Janko L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Suspension-Bridge (open access)

Suspension-Bridge

Patent for a suspension bridge which functions are to "transmit a given pressure equally in either direction therefrom to the piers or abutments; second, to balance a given pressure irrespective of its location; third, to provide an elastic yielding road-bed or flooring which will transmit the pressure of an incumbent weight or strain; fourth, to increase the length or span over an existing conditions; fifth, to dispense with piers, except on the shore margins; sixth, to facilitate the construction and increase the life of bridges, and, seventh, to accomplish these aims with structural simplicity and economy" (lines 16-28).
Date: December 18, 1888
Creator: Runyon, Edwin Elijah
System: The Portal to Texas History
Shoe Cabinet. (open access)

Shoe Cabinet.

Patent for a new and improved shoe cabinet. This design "is to provide for the convenient arrangement of the stock according to size, style, or make, and so as to enable the salesman or attendant to have ready access to different styles and sizes and to select those desired without the trouble of moving or handling other stock. It consists, essentially, of a case or cabinet furnished with drawers which are arranged in groups or sections and with a door for each group or section. It consists, further, in dividing each drawer into several compartments by movable or 'knockdown' partitions" (lines 12-24).
Date: September 18, 1888
Creator: Settle, Witcha S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump. (open access)

Pump.

Patent for an improvement in pumps.
Date: September 18, 1888
Creator: Vanmeter, James Wright
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lock Hopple. (open access)

Lock Hopple.

Patent for a new and improved lock-hopple. This design consists in "the combination of the semi-circular section provided at its free end with the latch-hook and concave edge, and the semi-circular section provided with the perforated projection for the attachment of the lap-ring, and with the lock" (lines 95-100). It further consists in "the partition, the cap-piece having the central key-opening, the journaled latch-hook having the end of its journal formed to fit in the recess in the end of the key, the curved double-arm spring, the lid, and the lid-stem having upon it a block provided with the shoulders" (lines 1-8).
Date: December 18, 1888
Creator: White, Elisha Lafayette
System: The Portal to Texas History