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
Apparatus for Barreling Soap-Stock. (open access)

Apparatus for Barreling Soap-Stock.

Patent for "an apparatus for filling barrels with soap-stock or other thick liquid of similar consistency, the object being to provide a machine whereby the barrels may be filled quickly through the bung-hole." (Lines 12-16) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: February 9, 1897
Creator: Ahrenbeck, William C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for an improved and simple churn that works easily and quickly. It "is adapted to permit of the simultaneous securing and retention of the cream vessel or receptacle in position in its journaling or carrying frame, as well as the cover upon said vessel, and to provide for the ready removal of said vessel or receptacle and its said cover preparatory to removing the contents of the vessel or the cleaning thereof" (lines 18-25).
Date: February 14, 1893
Creator: Alexander, Horace C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Door. (open access)

Car-Door.

Patent for "an improved freight car door so supported that it will not be shaken or jarred off and can be easily opened and closed at all times no matter how heavily loaded the car may be." (Lines 16-20) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: February 26, 1895
Creator: Allen, Thomas C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gas-Compressor. (open access)

Gas-Compressor.

Patent for gas compressors for ice and refrigeration machines, with instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 4, 1891
Creator: Ambrose, Joseph D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lumber-Kiln (open access)

Lumber-Kiln

Patent for a "kiln proper . . . constructed with special reference to combustion of cinders or sparks, and thereby preventing their escape into the chamber containing the lumber" (lines 7-10)
Date: February 25, 1890
Creator: Anderson, Andrew T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for improvements to churns, "and has special reference to what are known as 'vibrating-dasher' churns." (lines 11-12) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: February 3, 1891
Creator: Anderson, Henry C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mechanical Movement. (open access)

Mechanical Movement.

Patent for a mechanical movement using a crank to operate the lazy-tongs through the medium of a pitman, guided by a pair of parallel wires and, a reciprocating bar guided by a socket to produce the reciprocating motion. Illustration is included.
Date: February 10, 1891
Creator: Baker, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wagon-Brake. (open access)

Wagon-Brake.

Patent for an improvement in a wagon-brake using an operating-lever that is mounted in a bracket near the front axle, and consist of diverging arms; and a segmental rack-plate with teeth that is arranged to be engaged by a sliding pawl. When the operating-lever and the sliding pawl are connected; when the brake-bars are in motion, clamping the wheels of a vehicle thus making it stop.
Date: February 17, 1891
Creator: Baker, Owen T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bottle-Filling Machine. (open access)

Bottle-Filling Machine.

Patent for a bottle-filling machine in which "a number of bottles of equal capacity may be simultaneously filled from a common reservoir by the single movement of a lever" (lines 13-16), illustration is included.
Date: February 24, 1891
Creator: Baldinger, William H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Bending and Embossing Sheet Metal (open access)

Machine for Bending and Embossing Sheet Metal

Patent for "new and improved machine which is simple and durable in construction, very effective in operation, and especially designed for simultaneously curving and embossing sheet-metal plates for use as cornices, metal shingles, &c" (lines 8-13).
Date: February 25, 1890
Creator: Baldwin, Benjamin J., Jr.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Soldering-Tool. (open access)

Soldering-Tool.

Patent for an improved soldering-tool by having a reservoir for gasoline or other light hydrocarbon, a burner-tube, and a valve for regulating the combustion of the gasoline and heating the tool continuously and uniformly, without a furnace. Illustration is included.
Date: February 17, 1891
Creator: Barber, Edwin L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Tool-Handle. (open access)

Tool-Handle.

Patent for tool handles relating to "improvements in handles for hoes, rakes, and similar agricultural or mechanical implements; and it consists in the novel devices hereinafter described and claimed (lines 10-15).
Date: February 7, 1898
Creator: Barry, Jefferson D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pipe Wrench. (open access)

Pipe Wrench.

Patent for a new and improved pipe wrench. This design consists, "with the stationary jaw provided with a shank and an inclined portion on the shank, of a movable jaw, also provided with a shank, having an inclined portion on it and pivotally connected to the stationary jaw, and a loop pivoted to the stationary jaw and engaging with the shank of the movable jaw, whereby the said two inclined portions are retained in working position" (lines 85-94).
Date: February 11, 1890
Creator: Bartlett, William George & McCoy, John William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Water-Cooler. (open access)

Water-Cooler.

Patent for an improved water-cooler by wrapping the outer surface of a water container with two layers of fabric; an imperforate projection–tube from a supplemental water reservoir arranged above the water container would moist the inner layer fabric and maintain its moisture; where the outer layer fabric prevents the water forcing through, thus keeping the water cool, illustration is included.
Date: February 3, 1891
Creator: Beacham, Alexander Thacher
System: The Portal to Texas History
Animal Shears. (open access)

Animal Shears.

Patent for new and improved animal shears. This design consists in "mechanism for imparting a combined reciprocating and edgewise play to the cutting knife or knives in order to cause the teeth of said knife or knives to follow or describe a curved or oval path, and thus insure greater efficiency of operation; to provide for the proper lateral contact of the knives in order to insure their proper action and to regulate the pressure or force with which one knife bears on the other; [and] to provide a peculiar form of cutter-teeth which shall be automatic or self-cleaning" (lines 19-30).
Date: February 11, 1890
Creator: Bechtol, William S. & Bessonette, William T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fountain Attachment for Inkstands. (open access)

Fountain Attachment for Inkstands.

Patent for a new and improved fountain attachment for inkstands by using a hollow float, having a central vertical aperture on the bottom, the float is placed in a vessel filled with ink. After ink is being drawn from the hollow opening of the float, the float is forced into an uppermost position thus closing the vessel to prevent the air from passing the ink contained in the vessel. The ink is confined in an air and dust proof stand, which can be easily cleaned. Illustration is included.
Date: February 10, 1891
Creator: Bergen, James V.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Press. (open access)

Cotton-Press.

Patent for a simple and inexpensive cotton press that gets cotton from a gin, forms it into a soft bat, and compresses it into a bale. The operator can tie a band around the bale. It consists of a frame, rollers, and gears.
Date: February 21, 1893
Creator: Bessonette, William T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Two-Wheeled Delivery-Vehicle. (open access)

Two-Wheeled Delivery-Vehicle.

Patent for "a light and convenient vehicle for the use of mail-collectors in cities, and for the transportation and delivery of parcels, milk, or other articles," (lines 8-12) with instructions and illustrations.
Date: June 12, 1891
Creator: Boone, Manly Breaker
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wheel For Bicycles. (open access)

Wheel For Bicycles.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in wheels for bicycles. This design is to "provide an improved tire for this purpose which is adapted to take the place of a pneumatic tire and to operate in a similar manner" (line 13 - 17).
Date: February 8, 1898
Creator: Bowley, James Deamess
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cattle-Guard. (open access)

Cattle-Guard.

Patent for a simple cattle-guard that provides an unstable footing for the cattle without injuring them, and thus preventing the cattle from going onto train tracks. The cattle do not get injured when stepping on this device.
Date: February 20, 1894
Creator: Brady, Peter L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railroad Stock-Guard. (open access)

Railroad Stock-Guard.

Patent for "a guard which will effectually prevent cattle from entering adjoining fields to which ingress is afforded by means of a railroad traversing them and to provide means for preventing the guards being injured by trains passing over the road," (lines 11-16) with instructions and illustrations.
Date: October 6, 1891
Creator: Bridges, William J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Boring Artesian Wells. (open access)

Apparatus for Boring Artesian Wells.

Patent for an improved and simple apparatus for boring wells that is easily adjustable. The drill head will stay intact in most drilling situations with this apparatus.
Date: February 28, 1893
Creator: Brown, Frank O.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Handle for Pans, Tubs, &c. (open access)

Handle for Pans, Tubs, &c.

Patent for a wire handle for pans, tubs, &c that consists of two handles on either side of the tub, which are connected via a wire that fits in the lip of the rim of the receptacle. The handles, when taken out of the receptacle, consist of one single frame.
Date: February 6, 1894
Creator: Brown, John Stoddart
System: The Portal to Texas History