Bath-Tub. (open access)

Bath-Tub.

Patent for "a super bath-tub of that class in which the small portable or foot tub is provided with a removable shield and seat capable of enlarging the size of the tub and of furnishing a rest for the person using the tub." (Lines 8-12) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 6, 1897
Creator: Lacy, John C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for a churn for separating butter. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 6, 1897
Creator: Franklin, Edward A.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for "pin-and-link car-couplings to enable the same to couple automatically and to be readily uncoupled without going between cars, and to provide means for holding the link in substantially a horizontal position for guiding it into the mouth of a draw-head to avoid going between cars and guiding the link by hand." (Lines 12-19) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 13, 1897
Creator: Allen, George F.; Allen, Charles D. & Martin, Richard W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Automatic Type-Writing Machine. (open access)

Automatic Type-Writing Machine.

Patent for improvements to the type writer which allow for automatic, proper spacing between letters and words; will automatically return the carriage to the beginning of the page; and will automatically feed the inking ribbon so that the entire surface is used. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 13, 1897
Creator: Templeton, Allison
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Gin. (open access)

Cotton-Gin.

Patent for a saw-cleaning attachment for cotton gins. Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 20, 1897
Creator: Griffin, Thomas J.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Back-Band Buckle. (open access)

Back-Band Buckle.

Patent for an improved back-band buckle and an improved hook that connects the buckle with the trace-chain. The lever-hook snaps "into position and is held secure in a pane substantially flush with the lower portion of the buckle-frame when the buckle is closed by the forcing down of the lever" (lines 15-19).
Date: April 20, 1897
Creator: Brown, John Staddart
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Churn. (open access)

Churn.

Patent for a mixing machine designed for churns, but can also be used in ice cream freezers. It works by producing a partial vacuum, forcing the liquid to go from the bottom to the top of the vessel. Blades force the liquid to go against "the centrifugal action" (line 21) and towards the center of the vessel.
Date: April 27, 1897
Creator: Norcross, George A.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Brake-Lever. (open access)

Brake-Lever.

Patent for a brake lever that is locked by an arc-shaped ratchet-bar. There is "a pawl loosely mounted on the rear side of said lever and bearing against said side when the brake is set, said pawl being spring-actuated to move parallel with said side and project beyond the same and contact radially with the ratchet-teeth between said yoke" (lines 25-30).
Date: April 7, 1896
Creator: Burkett, Joseph B.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press. (open access)

Baling-Press.

Patent for a simple and efficient baling-press that has an improved press-box and plunger-operating power. The connections between the power and the plunger will be lighter and the feed-opening of the press-box will be closed automatically. The machine has a continuously-rotating operating wheel that allows for an easier way to engage and disengage the pitman.
Date: April 7, 1896
Creator: Franks, Lewis W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Crate. (open access)

Crate.

Patent for "a crate for packing and transporting bottles of such material and such form of construction as will present a minimum liability to breakage of the contents." (Lines 9-13) Includes instructions and illustrations.
Date: April 7, 1896
Creator: Riviere, Richard Andrew
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for a car-coupling that has a "hollow draw-head provided with a horizontal chamber, a vertical pin-hole near the forward end of said chamber, and a slot in the lower part of said draw-head opening into said chamber, of a sliding latch mounted in said chamber and provided with a lip projecting beyond the outer end of said latch and curved downward as shown, and with a groove on the lower side of said latch, of a pivoted arm engaging in said groove, and a weight integral with said arm and wholly inclosed within said slot and adapted to move said sliding latch forward beneath the lower end of the pin when the latter is raised" (lines 5-18). A coupling pin is mounted in the pin-hole.
Date: April 7, 1896
Creator: Barry, Jefferson D.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Convertible Corn and Cotton Planter, Stalk-Cutter, and Roller. (open access)

Convertible Corn and Cotton Planter, Stalk-Cutter, and Roller.

Patent for a convertible corn and cotton planter, stalk-cutter, and roller. It has a main frame, a supplemental frame that has its front end hinged to the front of the main frame, a roller with circular journaled in the supplemental frame, transverse segment-plates with removable blades attached to the supplemental frame, spaces between the segment-plates, an axle, driving-wheels, a sprocket wheel and chain, feed-boxes, means for feeding the grain, and wheels for laying the ground and the coverers.
Date: April 28, 1896
Creator: Mauldin, Columbus Scott
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Coffee-Pot. (open access)

Coffee-Pot.

Patent for a coffee pot that has "a movable handle whereby the same may be placed on the opposite side of the pot from the spout or to one side thereof as may be preferred" (lines 18-21). It also has an acting slide or valve that keeps the spout closed when liquids are not being poured out of it.
Date: April 18, 1893
Creator: Cummings, James K.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for an improved, durable, and efficient car couple that can be operated from one side of the car for the safety of the operator. The draw-head is newly designed.
Date: April 18, 1893
Creator: Bishop, James C.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Plow and Harrow. (open access)

Combined Plow and Harrow.

Patent for a simple, inexpensive, and effective combined plow and harrow that can be used as a plow and harrow at the same time, or the operator can detach one and only use the other. The machine can be adjusted to better suit different types of soil.
Date: April 18, 1893
Creator: Lee, George W.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Buckle. (open access)

Buckle.

Patent for a buckle "wherein a closed frame or box is employed that is formed with a smooth exterior surface to avoid contact with and injury to the animals on which it is used, and prevent the reins from contacting therewith, and dispensing with the use of a guard thereover; and at the same time producing a secure fastening that is applied to straps without the necessity of the employment of stitches or other modes of fastening" (lines 9-18).
Date: April 18, 1893
Creator: Monday, Robert
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Animal-Trap. (open access)

Animal-Trap.

Patent for an animal trap meant to trap animals that burrow in the ground, such as prairie dogs. The trap catches the animal when it leaves its den and the animal cannot escape the trap.
Date: April 25, 1893
Creator: Manning, James
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Adjustable Mosquito-Canopy. (open access)

Adjustable Mosquito-Canopy.

Patent for an adjustable, simple, and easily used mosquito-canopy for beds that fits over any style and size of bed, and is easily removed.
Date: April 25, 1893
Creator: Eva, Addison H.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for a car coupling that "couples automatically and by which a brakeman on a single car can uncouple one or more cars and to provide pipe connections between the cars for this and other purposes" (lines 9-13). It has a pivoted drawhead with lever connections to a piston head and uses steam connections with the cylinder in the piston head to couple.
Date: April 25, 1893
Creator: Gebhardt, William Charles
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Feeder and Cleaner. (open access)

Cotton Feeder and Cleaner.

Patent for feeders and cleaners for cotton gins: "provide a combined feeder and cleaner for cotton gins which is not only thoroughly and effectually cleans cotton before it passes to the gin, but at the same time it regularly and positively feeds the cotton to the gin in such cleaned condition" (lines 10-15).
Date: April 25, 1893
Creator: Oliphint, Alfred
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bit for Well-Drilling Apparatus. (open access)

Bit for Well-Drilling Apparatus.

Patent for an expansion bit for a well-drilling apparatus that can be "adjusted and removed without without withdrawing the well tubing, and to provide means whereby a bit capable of drilling a hole sufficiently larger than the well tubing to accommodate a casing may be introduced through the tubing" (lines 11-16).
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Horton, Stephen A.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bicycle. (open access)

Bicycle.

Patent for a bicycle that can be operated by the operator's hands or feet or both, and the motion used to operate the bicycle is that of rowing. "the rider must assume a position upon the machine corresponding to that assumed by an oarsman in a boat, and as the rider can work with both hands and feet all the energy and strength he is capable of exerting can be brought to bear upon the propelling mechanism in a most effective manner, and the seat can be rendered much more comfortable than at present and in no wise interfere with the rider's movements" (lines 18-27).
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Hyde, Thomas B.
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Stalk-Cutter and Rake. (open access)

Combined Stalk-Cutter and Rake.

Patent for an improved combined stalk cutter and rake that has a main frame, a rake frame, a hanger attached to the axle-bar under the frame, arms at the back of the frame, a transverse rod in the hanger and slots in the arms, a rock-lever, connections for operating the frame, a rake at the end of the frame, and an operating lever.
Date: April 3, 1894
Creator: Priestley, Joseph
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press. (open access)

Baling-Press.

Patent for improvements in baling presses: "This invention relates to baling presses provided with runners, (instead of the usual wheels,) to be removed about the field; and my objects are, to construct such a press in such a manner that it can be readily started down with but few stakes, second; to provide a rigid but removable side brace to prevent the press from canting, and third; to prevent the operating lever from canting or swinging upward or downward when in operation; and to promote simplicity" (lines 17-27).
Date: April 10, 1894
Creator: Schubert, George
Object Type: Patent
System: The Portal to Texas History