Ant Trap. (open access)

Ant Trap.

Patent for a new and improved ant trap. This design consists "[i]n a device for catching ants, the combination, with an open frame, of the end piece or trough, having a concave bottom and overturned edges" (lines 84-87).
Date: March 29, 1887
Creator: Haines, Samuel Alfred
System: The Portal to Texas History
Animal-Trap. (open access)

Animal-Trap.

Patent for an improved animal trap for “catching small animals in a trap which will be ever set and in operative position for catching an animal and which will be automatically reset” (lines 10-13), illustration is included.
Date: March 17, 1891
Creator: Bassinger, Stephen
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spark Plug Protector. (open access)

Spark Plug Protector.

Patent for a spark plug protector that will shield the spark plug from moisture.
Date: March 28, 1922
Creator: Sharp, Morrison M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well Drilling Bit. (open access)

Well Drilling Bit.

Patent for new and improved well-drilling bit. Illustration included.
Date: March 7, 1916
Creator: Marney, Robert A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Juice-Extractor (open access)

Juice-Extractor

Patent for an improved juice extractor including a way to remove the strainer for easy cleaning or replacement, a swivel for the handle, and an overall more efficient device.
Date: March 4, 1913
Creator: Williams, Winfield B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvment in Cotton-Presses. (open access)

Improvment in Cotton-Presses.

Patent for the improvement in pressing cotton, hay, and tobacco with moveable bale-boxes and a more rapid-working press, including illustration.
Date: March 13, 1860
Creator: McCray, Thomas H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wheel Plow (open access)

Wheel Plow

Patent for wheel plow. This invention is a combination of a 'buster' and a covering plow. Illustration included.
Date: March 10, 1908
Creator: McMullan, Jasper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Metal Railway Tie (open access)

Metal Railway Tie

Patent for metal railway tie. Illustration included.
Date: March 2, 1909
Creator: Robinson, James R. & Sugrue, John F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Motor for Operating Churns. (open access)

Motor for Operating Churns.

Patent for a new and improved churn motor. This design "compris[es] the clock-work-like mechanism, the right angle brake-lever engaging the spring-shaft wheel of said mechanism, and itself engaged by a pivoted hook on the supporting closure, the wheel on the driving-shaft having eccentrically connected thereto a stud engaged by a wrist-pin, the pitman loosely connected at one end to said wrist-pin and carrying at its opposite end a split socket provided with jaws having a binding-screw, and the dasher-staff having connection with said pitman-socket" (lines 90-101).
Date: March 18, 1890
Creator: Peggs, Jack
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut Lock. (open access)

Nut Lock.

Patent for a new and improved nut lock. This design calls for a grooved nut and bolt to hold a pin between the two while the bolt is screwed onto the nut. Depending on whether or not the pin is in said grooves, the nut may or may not be removed from the bolt, which increases the worker's control over the nut and bolt and prevents unintended loosening.
Date: March 1, 1881
Creator: Bunker, John Williamson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing-Machine. (open access)

Washing-Machine.

Patent for washing machines with "roller-supporting frame for supporting the same either upon a horizontal surface or upon the top of a tub or receptacle in connection with which the machine is used" (lines 10-14) including illustrations.
Date: March 15, 1898
Creator: Smith, Henry E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gate-Latch. (open access)

Gate-Latch.

Patent for a gate latch, which is held closed by the weight of the gate.
Date: March 8, 1910
Creator: Fuston, Walter J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Harvester-Reel. (open access)

Harvester-Reel.

Patent for the placement of a "covering of canvas, cloth, or other suitable material" (lines 16-17) around a harvester-reel for various improvements, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: March 23, 1880
Creator: Moore, Joseph Martial
System: The Portal to Texas History
Strain-Relieving Attachment for Telegraph-Keys. (open access)

Strain-Relieving Attachment for Telegraph-Keys.

Patent for a strain relieving attachment for telegraph keys, which allows Morse code letters made up of dots and dashes to be typed with one key stroke rather than multiple ones, reducing strain on the key and operator and getting rid of extra spaces in the message.
Date: March 24, 1908
Creator: Teachworth, William H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sanitary Telephone-Mouthpiece. (open access)

Sanitary Telephone-Mouthpiece.

Patent for new and necessary improvements in sanitary telephone mouthpieces, such as improving overall construction of the telephone mouthpiece so that the mouthpiece is more sanitary, compact, and practical. Illustration and instruction included.
Date: March 28, 1916
Creator: Jenkins, Ed Monroe
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railroad-Crossing. (open access)

Railroad-Crossing.

Patent for improvements in Railroad-crossings. Noiseless and a more durable crossing, allowing for a more maintainable foundation and less repairing compared to other crossings that vibrate and cause severe shock and damage to the foundation.
Date: March 18, 1919
Creator: O'Connor, Thomas J. & Culbertson, Warren W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Improvement in Cotton-Hoes. (open access)

Improvement in Cotton-Hoes.

Patent for a cotton-hoe with interchangeable blades (one smaller and the other larger), for "chopping cotton" (line 15) and garden use, including a detailed explanation and description of the illustration.
Date: March 5, 1878
Creator: Moore, Joseph M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow. (open access)

Plow.

Patent for improvements in the plow with a heated mold-board to prevent sticking, including illustrations.
Date: March 11, 1879
Creator: Tucker, Argyle W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cultivator. (open access)

Cultivator.

Patent for the Cultivator that helps in expanding and contracting the beams and to adjust the length as required.
Date: March 6, 1906
Creator: Martin, William Alexander
System: The Portal to Texas History