Automatic Circuit Maker and Breaker (open access)

Automatic Circuit Maker and Breaker

Patent for an improved automatic circuit maker and breaker. This breaker specifically is meant to be used in conjunction with lighting systems.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Mulford, Benjamin R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Chimney-Protector. (open access)

Chimney-Protector.

Patent for a chimney protector that is "easy and cheap to manufacture which when applied to the chimney top of an oil cooking stove will prevent the drippings or over flow from utensils placed on top of the stove from running down the side" (lines 14-18), including illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Shiller, John J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Clock. (open access)

Clock.

Patent for an improved alarm clock with two different alarms that sound at desired time set and when the clock is unwound, including illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Buttigieg, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Shade and Curtain-Pole Bracket. (open access)

Combined Shade and Curtain-Pole Bracket.

Patent for combined shade and curtain pole brackets to "be attached to the upper sash of the window" (lines 14), removable, and adjustable, with illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Levingston, Thomas C. & Van Epps, Nettie M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Shock-Absorber and Brace. (open access)

Combined Shock-Absorber and Brace.

Patent for an improved connection between the shock absorber and brace to "reduce the strain on the front springs of a motor vehicle and to control the rebound incident to the front wheels [...] so that the machine may at all times be under proper control of the steering mechanism" (lines 34-41), including illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: More, David
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Cleaning Machine. (open access)

Cotton-Cleaning Machine.

Patent for an improvement for cotton-cleaning machines that removes harmful debris from cotton before passing the cotton into the cotton gin. The improvement uses brushes and air blowers to collect and divert debris.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Davison, Israel D.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cultivator Hobble. (open access)

Cultivator Hobble.

Patent for regarding setting devices for cultivator beams which are to provide simple devices for making the positioning easily and quickly accomplished and under the immediate control of the operator.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Fleischhauer, Kurt A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Drop-Pilot or Cow-Catcher. (open access)

Drop-Pilot or Cow-Catcher.

Patent for an improvement in drop-pilots or cow-catchers for street or steam-railways to allow the cow-catcher to stay higher above the track and be dropped in an emergency to catch large objects and prevent them from being trapped under the wheels. The improvement also contains a device for raising and lowering the cow-catcher, a mechanism for operating the brakes and whistle interdependently, and a single lever for the operator to use to control the various mechanisms.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Maxfield, Nelson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gearing (open access)

Gearing

Patent for improvements in gearing, "especially adapted for use in connection with wind mills and other devices" (lines 9-11) including illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Wiggins, Hundley
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lamp-Chimney Holder. (open access)

Lamp-Chimney Holder.

Patent for an "improved lamp chimney holder" (lines 12-13) designed to allow a hinged member to light the wick and extinguish the light "instead of raising or removing the chimney" (lines 19-20), including illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Emmert, George
System: The Portal to Texas History
Latch Device For The Doors of Steam-Shovels, Dredges, And The Like. (open access)

Latch Device For The Doors of Steam-Shovels, Dredges, And The Like.

Patent for an improved latch mechanism that is easier to construct, operate, and easier to replace on "steam shovels, dredge dippers, or the like, and...to the class of tripping latches" (lines 11-13). Instruction and illustrations included.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Watson, Joseph L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Clamping and Nailing Boards. (open access)

Machine for Clamping and Nailing Boards.

Patent for a "machine whereby boards for floors, ceiling or sheathing may be forced into place and into contact with previously nailed boards without damage and held clamped into position until nails can be driven into the boards and into the joints" (lines 29-34), with illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Binger, Nickolaus
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut-Lock. (open access)

Nut-Lock.

Patent for a nut lock that has a washer divided on predetermined lines bent in a V-shaped fold line that provides attaching support. Identical sector-like portions of the nut lock have a curved edge that permit embedding in material through which a bolt is passed.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Harding, William L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railroad-Tie. (open access)

Railroad-Tie.

Patent for "improvements in railroad ties [...] which will prevent the rail from spreading, sinking, or creeping" (lines 13-16). It also "is the provision of a tie in which the resilient qualities of the old type of wood tie are retained and combined with the advantages which are present in the use of a metallic tie" (lines 17-21), including illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Shearer, Frederick C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Riveting-Machine. (open access)

Riveting-Machine.

Patent for an improved riveting-machine meant to rivet "metal binding and protecting strips, or fastening clasps" (lines 12-13) in the production of item carriers and used to "secure one or more mental binding strips of any desired shape in place" (lines 18-20) upon certain materials, including illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Porter, Burr E. & Norris, Henry O.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Self-Signaling Device For Railroads. (open access)

Self-Signaling Device For Railroads.

Patent for a self-signalling device for railroads that is simple and efficient. Instructions and illustration included.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Littlepage, Rufus E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Suspender Clip (open access)

Suspender Clip

Patent for a clamp, used primarily for fastening the shoulder straps of overall garments but can also be used for suspenders for supporting trousers. Includes illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Murray, Richard H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Threshold. (open access)

Threshold.

Patent for an improvement for thresholds to consist of a single metal plate with an arched central portion and laterally-projected flanges that is cheaper and easier to make. The threshold will create a tight joint with the bottom of a door to prevent water and dust from entering through the bottom of the door.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Krause, Ernest
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wagon-Seat. (open access)

Wagon-Seat.

Patent for "a detachable spring or resilient support for wagon seats [...] which may be adjusted for positioning the seat at various elevations" (lines 14-22), including illustrations.
Date: April 11, 1916
Creator: Winslow, George J.
System: The Portal to Texas History