Gate-Hinge. (open access)

Gate-Hinge.

Patent for a "gravity-hinge for causing a gate to automatically close, and which is susceptible of such adjustment that if the gate-post and the latch-post, either or both, become disarranged as regards their perpendicular position, or if they are not exactly coincident with relation to each other, the gate can be centered relatively to the latch-post, or rather the hinged end of the gate can be set precisely perpendicular or be shifted laterally to any required angle of inclination for the purpose of causing the gate to properly close and engage the latch on the latch-post." (Lines 11-24) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: July 27, 1897
Creator: Berry, John S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gate-Latch. (open access)

Gate-Latch.

Patent for a gate-latch. A latch-pin secured in a beam, another latch secured to the inside of another post, with two pivoting hangers, and plates come together to form this latch.
Date: January 5, 1897
Creator: Berry, John S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gate-Latch. (open access)

Gate-Latch.

Patent for a gate latch that works by having stop-pins secured to the gate, while a rod goes through the post, with a handle on one end and a latch on the other end. The latch is shaped so that it catches the pin.
Date: January 5, 1897
Creator: Berry, John S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railway Signal and Crossing-Gate. (open access)

Railway Signal and Crossing-Gate.

Patent for an improved railway signal meant to be used at crossings. It consists of a rotary signal post, operating mechanism, a lamp, an arm extension, the signal hanging from the arm, a bearing for the bottom of the rotary post, a box where the bearing sits, a sleeve that holds a cap plate for the box, a ladder from the post to the cap plate, and a brace.
Date: August 1, 1893
Creator: Berry, John S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Surface Cattle Guard. (open access)

Surface Cattle Guard.

Patent for a new and improved surface cattle-guard. This design "compris[es] a series of parallel triangular bars tapered at their ends and provided with lateral perforated horizontal flanges, the plates to which said flanges are secured, the cross-tie supports, and the solid plank flooring upon which said ties rest, said flooring being some distance below the guard-bars" (lines 55-62).
Date: September 20, 1892
Creator: Berry, John S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a back band buckle that consists of a plate with its ends turned up and two upper longitudinal slit, the lower slit having teeth, and a hook with nibs.
Date: August 29, 1893
Creator: Brown, John Anderson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle-Brake. (open access)

Vehicle-Brake.

Patent for improved vehicle brakes, and the "object is to arrange the brake shoes so that when applied they will bear on the wheels slightly below a point on a line drawn horizontally through the center of the wheel, whereby a greater brake power is obtained with less force exerted, and further, to so construct and arrange the brake shoes that during the backing of a team for any purpose the brakes will automatically release themselves and not bear upon the wheels to interfere with said backing." (Lines 21-31) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 7, 1895
Creator: Christian, John R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Design for Colter Brace (open access)

Design for Colter Brace

Design patent for colter-brace for plows.
Date: July 20, 1897
Creator: Darby, Robert J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sand-Band for Vehicles. (open access)

Sand-Band for Vehicles.

Patent for an inexpensive improved sand band for vehicle hubs that can be easily installed.
Date: December 12, 1893
Creator: Darby, Robert J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stovepipe Drying Rack. (open access)

Stovepipe Drying Rack.

Patent for a new and improved drying rack. This design consists, "with a stove or steam-pipe, of the band having the sockets, lips, and springs, said lips adapted to be secured by proper bolt, bent arms . . . having the hooks [and] the eyes, said arms adapted to fit around the said band and be gathered in a bundle, the hooks interlocking with the eyes of the arms" (lines 65-73).
Date: August 9, 1892
Creator: Dowler, Libbie Moore
System: The Portal to Texas History
Brace for Heel-Sweeps. (open access)

Brace for Heel-Sweeps.

Patent for a simple and durable brace for heel-sweeps. The wings of the sweep will not close, and "that portion of the sweep through which the heel-bolt passes will be materially strengthened" (lines 14-16). It also braces sweeps whatever their size, and all the brace's parts are adjustable.
Date: January 7, 1896
Creator: Ferrell, Augustus C. & Hamrick, Thomas J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Vehicle-Axle Point. (open access)

Vehicle-Axle Point.

Patent for a vehicle-axle point that does not require repair. The "invention consists of a thimble that is to be shrunk, pressed, or fastened onto the axle by clips, bolts, or set-screws" (lines 20-22), so that the point does not need to be taken off.
Date: July 16, 1895
Creator: Ford, William Gardner
System: The Portal to Texas History
Spring-Seat Attachment For Vehicles (open access)

Spring-Seat Attachment For Vehicles

Patent for a spring-seat attachment for vehicles.
Date: January 26, 1892
Creator: Haney, John W. & Owens, William A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Vegetable Slicer and Grater. (open access)

Combined Vegetable Slicer and Grater.

Patent for a combined vegetable slicer and grater that consists of a main frame with vertical arms and bearings, a screw that attaches the arms to the frame, a shaft journaled with an annular flange into the bearings, a cylinder made of sheet metal that serves as knives, and spring tongues that regulate the thickness of the cut vegetables.
Date: July 10, 1894
Creator: Harpst, Edgar S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Locomotive-Pilot Coupling. (open access)

Locomotive-Pilot Coupling.

Patent for a locomotive-pilot coupling that can lift or elevate locomotive pilot or draw-bars, a cylinder that can turn in all directions depending on how the bars moves and is collecting to the motor fluid supply, a piston in the cylinder that connects the bar to the cylinder, a swinging jaw, and various other parts.
Date: January 21, 1896
Creator: Heidelberg, Samuel R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Air-Hose Coupling and Stop-Valve. (open access)

Combined Air-Hose Coupling and Stop-Valve.

Patent for a combined air-hose coupling and stop-valve. One must shut off the cut-off valve before the coupling can be disconnected. When the valve is closed, air pressure is balanced so the couplings can be safely disconnected, and prevents dirt from getting into the train-pipe.
Date: August 18, 1896
Creator: Heidelburg, Samuel R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Grease-Trap. (open access)

Grease-Trap.

Patent for a grease trap "in which the grease is designed to be removed from the trap automatically and the object of my invention is to cause the water passing through the trap to carry the grease out with it" (lines 8-12).
Date: March 19, 1895
Creator: Henderson, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Acetylene-Gas Generator. (open access)

Acetylene-Gas Generator.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in acetylene gas machines, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: August 1, 1899
Creator: Henderson, Thomas & Stapp, William A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gas-Generator. (open access)

Gas-Generator.

Patent for a gas generator "which will be entirely automatic in its action so long as the supply of oil is kept up and thereby render the use of weights and winding apparatus unnecessary." (Lines 21-24) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: December 17, 1895
Creator: Henderson, Thomas & Stapp, William A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Shirt-Starching Machine. (open access)

Shirt-Starching Machine.

Patent for improvements in shirt-starching machines by using a combination of a shirt holding device having an oscillatory motion for one-fourth of a full revolution, and a semi-cylindrical starch-holding receptacle with longitudinal rubber bottom; when the shirt-holder is turned, shirts are crowded into the compartments, with the bosoms and wristbands hanging outside. When the door is closed, shirt-bosoms and wristbands are thoroughly starched. Illustration is included.
Date: March 24, 1891
Creator: Herndon, William S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Band-Brake for Railway-Cars (open access)

Automatic Band-Brake for Railway-Cars

Patent for "a brake of simple and inexpensive construction, that may be readily attached to steam or tramway cars, that is automatic in its working, and to do away with the brake-beams now employed, which through their breaking down are two-thirds of the causes of car derailments" (lines 19-26).
Date: January 27, 1891
Creator: Inglis, Thomas & Schiermann, William
System: The Portal to Texas History
Shoe-Plate. (open access)

Shoe-Plate.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in shoe plates, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: November 22, 1898
Creator: Long, Francis F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Stirrup. (open access)

Stirrup.

Patent for a saddle-stirrup with springs on the bottom and a spring-catch on the top.
Date: August 11, 1896
Creator: Long, Francis F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Portable Dental Chair. (open access)

Portable Dental Chair.

Patent for a simple portable dental chair meant for traveling dentists. It adjusts easily and folds compactly.
Date: January 15, 1895
Creator: Lovejoy, Edward Harrison
System: The Portal to Texas History