Back Band Buckle. (open access)

Back Band Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved back band buckle. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the middle bar having an outwardly-projecting stud, the upper bar parallel to the middle bar and having an under offset recess, and a depending lug-hook and spring-snap" (lines 19-26).
Date: April 18, 1882
Creator: Lowe, Joseph Alfred
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automobile Wheel Rim. (open access)

Automobile Wheel Rim.

Patent for an automobile rim to make the mounting or demounting of a tire easier without any tools.
Date: July 18, 1922
Creator: Nichols, George Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lister-Sweep. (open access)

Lister-Sweep.

Patent for a lister sweep for cultivators with improved teeth.
Date: August 18, 1908
Creator: Burns, John P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wagon-Seat. (open access)

Wagon-Seat.

Patent for creating a seat "to provide a spring-mounted seat for wagons which shall be strong and durable, not liable to become deranged by rough usage, which shall be comfortable for the rider, and which can be manufactured at a comparatively small cost" (lines 13-18).
Date: February 18, 1902
Creator: Holland, William J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Trap (open access)

Trap

Patent for a trap for the catching of small animals that can also be applied towards large animals and marine life, with illustrations.
Date: February 18, 1902
Creator: Holland, William J.
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
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for improvements in car-couplings known as “automatic” by providing actuate means to “throw the pin downward and locks the link in a horizontal position.” (Lines 24-25) For uncoupling the cars from either the top or either side of the car; “a spring-actuated device is provided for keeping the link in a horizontal position with a yielding force.” (Lines 27-29) Illustration is included.
Date: August 18, 1891
Creator: Cole, Henry J.
System: The Portal to Texas History