Adding-Machine. (open access)

Adding-Machine.

Patent for a new and improvement in adding-machines in which a mechanical wheel has teeth. " The object of the invention is to provide the means for adding columns of figures by machinery"(lines 13-15), with instruction and illustration
Date: February 12, 1884
Creator: Barmore, Albert King
System: The Portal to Texas History
Advertising Device. (open access)

Advertising Device.

Patent for a new and improved advertising sign. This design "consist[s] in the fixed staff or upright having pulley, bent rotary vane having the opening, and adapted for the display of advertisements, inside [the] bent rotary vane, and the governor adapted to regulate automatically the speed at which the vanes are to revolve" (lines 68-80).
Date: February 19, 1884
Creator: Carly, John Wesly
System: The Portal to Texas History
Animal Shears. (open access)

Animal Shears.

Patent for new and improved animal shears. This design calls for a spring with eyes at the ends so that the handles of individual blades may be inserted through them. Then, nuts fasten the individual blades to the spring, which makes sharpening easier and breakage less likely.
Date: February 22, 1881
Creator: Benavides, Cristobal & Arthur, Joshua P.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ant Trap. (open access)

Ant Trap.

Patent for a new and improved ant trap. This design consists in "[a]n ant-trap, comprising the body and the inward-projecting tubes having the protecting-caps on their inner ends, the outer faces of the caps being convex and provided with apertures of greater diameter than the bore of the inner end of the tube" (lines 90-95).
Date: February 22, 1887
Creator: McCallum, Walter Randolph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Ant Trap. (open access)

Ant Trap.

Patent for a new and improved ant trap. This design consists in "the combination of a tube having a longitudinal slot in its top at one end and a transverse slot in the bottom near the other end, the top of the tube on each side of the longitudinal slot bent downward, a pen secured to the end of the tube having the longitudinal slot, a portion of one side piece of the pen forming an end for the tube and the other side piece being cut away and secured to the tube, and a receptacle under the end of the tube having the transverse slot, the upper edges of the pen and of the receptacle being bent" (lines 65-77).
Date: February 28, 1888
Creator: Miller, Marshall Crittenden
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bag Holder and Filler. (open access)

Bag Holder and Filler.

Patent for a new and improved bag holder and filler. This design "consists of an expansible bag holding and filling funnel composed of a metallic strip having overlapping edges and provided with attached spring-wires, such funnel being capable of contraction to enter a bag, and of expanding therein for the purpose of holding and filling the bag" (lines 13-19).
Date: February 6, 1883
Creator: Adkisson, Duncan Rudolph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Balanced Piston Engine. (open access)

Balanced Piston Engine.

Patent for a new and improved balanced-piston engine. This design "relates to that class of steam or other engines which are constructed with two pistons receiving the pressure in opposite directions, each connected with cranks set at opposite positions, whereby the strain occurs simultaneously in opposite directions upon the crank-shaft and balances the same within its bearings, and thus obviates great friction on the journals and thereby economizes power" (lines 7-15).
Date: February 15, 1881
Creator: Peebles, William D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press (open access)

Baling-Press

Patent for a "press as simple in construction and operation as possible, of sufficient power to do the work effectively, and arranged to be readily moved from place to place at pleasure" (lines 12-16).
Date: February 19, 1889
Creator: Hillman, William & Ripple, Joseph F.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press. (open access)

Baling-Press.

Patent for "new and useful Improvements in Baling-Presses" (lines 5-6) including instructions and illustrations.
Date: February 19, 1889
Creator: Bywaters, Joseph K.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling Press. (open access)

Baling Press.

Patent for a new and improved baling press. This design consists in "the combination of sill having uprights or fulcrums, levers mounted upon the latter, a follow-block connected to the inner ends of said levers by loose joints, a vertically-sliding follower, rods connecting the outer ends of said follower with the outer ends of the levers, and mechanism for operating the follower . . . the follower moving vertically above the sill, levers pivoted to uprights or fulcrums upon the sill, and having inner beveled ends, a follow-block loosely jointed between the inner ends of said levers" (lines 64-77).
Date: February 5, 1884
Creator: Robburts, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Band-Cutter and Feeder (open access)

Band-Cutter and Feeder

Patent for "new and useful improvements in band-cutters and feeders" (lines 6-7).
Date: February 26, 1889
Creator: King, Charlie C. & Trimble, Alonzo D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Band Stretcher. (open access)

Band Stretcher.

Patent for a new and improved band stretcher. This design "relates to improvements in band-stretchers in which a windlass, crank, and ratchets operate in conjunction with a sliding clamp; and the object of [the] improvement is to provide a device with which the ends of a band may be drawn together and held for the purpose of lacing" (lines 15-21).
Date: February 23, 1886
Creator: Lawrence, Joseph A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Barrel (open access)

Barrel

Patent for ventilated barrels for shipment of fruits, vegetables, meat, and other articles in order to remain fresh
Date: February 28, 1882
Creator: McCormick, Willis B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bedstead Tie. (open access)

Bedstead Tie.

Patent for a new and improved bedstead-tie. This design "is to obviate the spreading of the side bars of a bed, which allows the bottom slats to fall, especially those near the center of the bed; and [the design] accomplish[es] this object by providing one of the slats, preferably at or near the center, with adjustable keepers" (lines 21-27).
Date: February 12, 1889
Creator: Fernau, Magnus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bee Feeder. (open access)

Bee Feeder.

Patent for a new and improved bee feeder. This design consists in "the vertically oblong box or case having an opening in one side of its lower end, a trough or basin projecting in front of said lower opening, and lateral attaching flanges or wings" (lines 68-72).
Date: February 8, 1887
Creator: McWilliams, Wright H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bird-Cage. (open access)

Bird-Cage.

Patent for improvements in bird cages by "having a woven-wire casing the meshes of which cannot be penetrated by ordinary insects, such as flies,&c., will be lured into the cage to be devoured by the bird" (lines 16-21).
Date: February 3, 1880
Creator: Flato, Fridrich W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Blind Stop. (open access)

Blind Stop.

Patent for a new and improved blind-stop. This design consists "of a corrugated flange or plate connected with the frame thereof, a spring-retaining strip, a corrugated bar arranged between the retaining strip and the corrugated flange, a socket formed upon the corrugated bar and adapted to receive the slat-bar, and a set-screw carried by the retaining strip" (lines 77-84).
Date: February 8, 1887
Creator: Gulick, Lizzie Talley
System: The Portal to Texas History
Book Adjuster. (open access)

Book Adjuster.

Patent for a new and improved book-adjuster. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the holder having the horizontal longitudinal recess and the vertical screw-threaded aperture, of the base-piece, the adjusting-screw swiveled at its lower end in the said base-piece, and the spring-catch" (lines 3-8).
Date: February 8, 1887
Creator: Adair, Irvine James
System: The Portal to Texas History
Box for Washing Gravel, &c. (open access)

Box for Washing Gravel, &c.

Patent for washing gravel and other material for making concrete.
Date: February 28, 1888
Creator: Carrico, Thomas W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Brace for Bedsteads. (open access)

Brace for Bedsteads.

Patent for a new and improved brace for bed frames. This design consists in "[t]he combination, with the bedstead having bolts at the corners, the hooks at the centers of the end rails, and the hooks at the centers of the side rails, of the two wires on each side having their ends secured to the bolts, engaging the hooks and passing to the side of the bed and engaging the hooks, the rings strung on and embracing the adjoining wires between the hooks . . . so as to cause the wires to be brought together, and the cord or strap connecting the said rings so as to slide the rings upon the wires" (lines 20-31).
Date: February 14, 1888
Creator: Warfield, Dunbar Griffith
System: The Portal to Texas History
Broom-Rack. (open access)

Broom-Rack.

Patent for a new suspended broom rack design with increased capacity for holding brooms, including illustrations.
Date: February 12, 1889
Creator: Jones, Wesley C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design utilizes a bifurcated end and crossbars, a flat crossbar, a swinging crossbar, a tongue, and a stud to cover the underside of the strap, which would otherwise be exposed. This eliminates the need for stitching the strap, as well as being stronger than previous buckles.
Date: February 1, 1881
Creator: Owen, Abram
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design utilizes two frames rather than one, and each has a stud. The studs fasten the strap(s) to the frame; thus the studs eliminate the need for a tongue and for the stitching of the strap to itself around the frame. Additionally, the larger frames allow for easier use in the cold or the dark.
Date: February 1, 1881
Creator: Owen, Abram
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a new and improved buckle. This design utilizes a knob in addition to the tongue to hold the strap more securely, preventing slippage.
Date: February 22, 1881
Creator: Owen, Abram
System: The Portal to Texas History