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
Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for a new and improved churn. This design consists "[i]n combination with the standard and bracket, the hinged arm having [a] bearing, oscillating driving-wheel, belt, belt-tightening wheels, dasher-wheel, and socket" (lines 94-98). It facilitates churning.
Date: December 1, 1885
Creator: White, Frank Lewis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bent for Suspension-Bridges. (open access)

Bent for Suspension-Bridges.

Patent for improvements in bents for suspension-bridges by securing the columns with wire braces, cross-bar and anchor-pins. Illustration is included.
Date: September 3, 1889
Creator: Runyon, Edwin Elijah
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Torch and Gas Burner Key. (open access)

Combined Torch and Gas Burner Key.

Patent for a new and improved combined torch and gas-burner key. This design "relates to a device for lighting gas-burners and operating the cock of the gas-burner, and has for its object to provide a combined torch and key by means of which the gas may be lighted without the flame of the torch coming in contact with the globe surrounding the burner and the cock of the gas-burner readily taken hold of and operated" (lines 8-15).
Date: October 15, 1889
Creator: Lindsay, George Washington
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Railway-Rail Chair and Tie (open access)

Combined Railway-Rail Chair and Tie

Patent for an improved railway-rail chair and tie
Date: January 10, 1888
Creator: Marks, Nicholas Marie
System: The Portal to Texas History
Churning Device. (open access)

Churning Device.

Patent for a new and improved churn. This design consists "[i]n a churning device, the combination, with a base and a spring-bar held therein, of a cross-bar hinged to the said base and a churn-carrying bar secured to the said hinged and spring-bars" (lines 69-73).
Date: April 21, 1885
Creator: Wood, Sylvanus B.; Wood, Hervey & Wiley, Thomas Wilson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bottle Stopper. (open access)

Bottle Stopper.

Patent for a new and improved bottle stopper. This design "consists in the combination of the tubular body, having its lower end closed by means of a cork, and having its upper end formed into a measuring-chamber, which is adapted to be closed by means of a cork, so as to protect the measuring chamber from dust and dirt" (lines 13-19).
Date: July 15, 1884
Creator: Cotten, Jefferson Davis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling Box. (open access)

Baling Box.

Patent for a new and improved baling box. This design consists "[i]n a baling-box, the bottom board having cleats and end board and fixed standards that reach above the end board in combination with the hinged side boards and end board hinged to [another] board, [those] boards being provided with cleats that reach beyond the edges of the boards to receive the loops" (lines 87-94).
Date: September 23, 1884
Creator: Bulkeley, Oliver
System: The Portal to Texas History
Boot Scraper. (open access)

Boot Scraper.

Patent for a new and improved boot scraper. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the inclined bow-shaped upper plate, having a transverse bar connecting the branches of the plate, the inner edges of which are inclined outward and upward from the upper edge of the transverse bar, and in providing, in connection with the bow-shaped plate, an under or subsidiary plate of forked form, having a rounded recess between the forks adapted to conform to the shape of the heel" (lines 18-30).
Date: October 23, 1883
Creator: Collins, Morris A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Chopper. (open access)

Cotton Chopper.

Patent for a new and improved cotton chopper. This design "consists, principally, in a cotton-chopper provided with a rolling support that is swiveled to the front end of the frame and trails behind such swiveled connection immediately in front of the cutting-blades . . . it consists, further, in the construction and combination of the various parts of the machine, whereby the same is enabled to operate across the row of cotton-plants" (lines 16-28).
Date: August 30, 1881
Creator: Wilder, Bert S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Burglar Alarm. (open access)

Burglar Alarm.

Patent for a new and improved burglar alarm. This design "consists in the combination of the door provided with a rod for catching under the spring, a cylinder for receiving powder, a spring-actuated cover for the end of the cylinder, and a spring which explodes the cap . . . The object of [the] invention is to provide a burglar-alarm which will make a loud noise when the door is opened, and in which a spring-actuated cover is made to take the place of a wad or ball" (lines 13-24).
Date: August 10, 1886
Creator: Bray, Horace Bradford
System: The Portal to Texas History
Apparatus for Forcing Beer from Kegs. (open access)

Apparatus for Forcing Beer from Kegs.

Patent for a new and improved apparatus for forcing beer from kegs. This design "relates to an improved method of keeping atmospheric pressure upon beer or other aerated liquid contained in a keg or similar receptacle, so as to prevent the same from becoming stale or flat from the evaporating of its dissolved gas. It consists in improvements in the apparatus by means of which the above-stated result is accomplished; and it further consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts" (lines 16-25).
Date: September 14, 1886
Creator: Surratt, George & Heyman, Harry
System: The Portal to Texas History
Insect Trap. (open access)

Insect Trap.

Patent for a new and improved ant trap. This design calls for a box to be placed over the mouth of an anthill, whereupon one expects the ants to enter a hole, climb an incline, and slip down a pair of glass pieces that lower the ants into an inescapable chamber. This design is cheaper and easier to make than previous ant traps.
Date: May 24, 1881
Creator: Blackwood, Curtis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Varnish (open access)

Varnish

Patent for invention a new and used varnished to be used is on wood, metal etc.
Date: July 14, 1885
Creator: Smith, Henry Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire Stretcher. (open access)

Wire Stretcher.

Patent for a new and improved wire stretcher. This design "facilitate[s] the building of wire fences; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the transporting bed or wagon, its spindles for the spools of wire, and its transverse windlass-rollers and their ratchets and pawls" (lines 16-21).
Date: August 2, 1881
Creator: Morter, John Letcher
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wheel. (open access)

Wheel.

Patent for a new and improved wheel. This design "is to obviate the . . . great difficulty . . . experienced in the construction of wheels in putting the axle-box in the hub and getting it true. . . . and [to] improve and strengthen the construction of wheels, and especially the manner of securing the spokes in the hubs" (lines 9-17).
Date: October 15, 1889
Creator: Holland, William Johnson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Store Counter. (open access)

Store Counter.

Patent for a new and improved store counter. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the horizontal slideways in the lower portion of the counter extending from front to rear, the rectangular slide-frames working therein, and the angular boxes pivoted by their lower and middle portions to the slide-frames and reversible therein by a rocking movement" (lines 17-24).
Date: February 21, 1882
Creator: Conrad, William Jenkens
System: The Portal to Texas History
Store Shelving. (open access)

Store Shelving.

Patent for new and improved store shelving. This design utilizes a hinge whereby the shelving can collapse onto a flat surface, which is otherwise available as storage itself. This design also utilizes wheeled legs for easy transportation and zinc plating so as to partially fire-proof the shelving.
Date: February 27, 1883
Creator: Harris, Thomas A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk Cutter. (open access)

Stalk Cutter.

Patent for a new and improved stalk cutter. This design consists "[i]n a stalk-cutter, the combination of the frame, having the central longitudinal parallel bars, slotted laterally and having the space between them, the sliding block, pivoted slotted knives, pivoted arms, and recessed side sills, and the pivoted lever and rack" (lines 77-83).
Date: July 17, 1883
Creator: Duncan, Garnett & Evens, John Richard
System: The Portal to Texas History
Steam Boiler Cleaner. (open access)

Steam Boiler Cleaner.

Patent for a new and improved steam-boiler cleaner. This design "has relation to means for cleaning the mud or foam, or both, from steam-boilers; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of devices" (lines 16-19).
Date: February 12, 1884
Creator: Foster, James Harvey.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stalk-Cutter. (open access)

Stalk-Cutter.

Patent for "a new and valuable Improvement in Corn and Cotton Stalk Cutters" (lines 5-7). It includes a description and an illustration. The construction of this stalk cutter is "adapted to be driven across the field in the direction of the rows of corn, and the knives may be adjusted to operate on rows of different widths or at different depths, so as to leave only a small stubble in passing over the field" (lines 73-78).
Date: May 20, 1884
Creator: Brown, Azariah R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Thill Coupling. (open access)

Thill Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved thill-coupling. This design is "compris[ed of] perforated checks . . . a coupling-bolt, a locking-lever hinged to said bolt, said lever being provided with knob and notch, a cover -plate having groove and catch, and a spring-pin adapted to hold the lever and cover in engagement" (lines 81-87).
Date: July 19, 1887
Creator: Owens, Israel P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Motor. (open access)

Motor.

Patent for a new and improved motor. This design "relates to improvements in motors in which a weight supported on a lever operates in conjunction with a train of gearing; and the object of my improvement is the production of a power for operating sewing-machines, churns, and other machinery" (lines 7-12).
Date: February 17, 1885
Creator: Viean, John A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sun-Shade Holder. (open access)

Sun-Shade Holder.

Patent for a sun shade holder that can be clamped or attached to vehicles or other items.
Date: December 7, 1880
Creator: Smith, Amroy B.
System: The Portal to Texas History