Clothes-Pounder. (open access)

Clothes-Pounder.

Patent for improvements in atmospheric clothes pounders: "Dividing the outer section into compartments so that air in escaping is distributed evenly from all sides of the pounder instead of escaping in a body from one side, whenever the pounder strikes a wad or knot of cloths and is tipped sidewise; it also makes the suction better" (lines 49-55).
Date: May 2, 1893
Creator: Allgaier, George E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sheep-Shears (open access)

Sheep-Shears

Patent for sheep shears. Illustrations included.
Date: May 17, 1910
Creator: Ascue, Elbert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bridle Bit. (open access)

Bridle Bit.

Patent for a new and improved bridle-bit. This design consists "[i]n a bridle-bit, the combination, with the bit-bar, provided with the loops of the angle-levers mounted on the said bar and having their corresponding arms respectively connected by the curb-chain and provided with rein loops or rings and the studs or pins on the levers engaging the loops" (lines 70-76).
Date: May 21, 1889
Creator: Bowles, Zachary Taylor
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gate. (open access)

Gate.

Patent for a new and improved gate. This design "relates to improvements in that class of gates in which the gate is suspended from and adapted to transverse a supporting-beam adapted to oscillate and cause the gate to travel back and forth by gravity, according to the position the beam occupies, and has for its object to provide a gate and its operating mechanism which shall be simple and durable in construction, and capable of being readily and easily operated by a horse[back rider] or driver of a team approaching the same from either direction" (lines 9-20).
Date: May 19, 1885
Creator: Connelly, William E.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cultivator Attachment. (open access)

Cultivator Attachment.

Patent for a separator for a cultivator, which allows for bringing together or forcing apart the beams of a cultivator.
Date: May 21, 1907
Creator: Evans, James S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Chopper. (open access)

Cotton Chopper.

Patent for a new and improved cotton chopper. This design "relates to improvements in cotton-chopping machines in which revolving hoes are attached to plows; and the object of [the] improvement is to afford facilities for chopping out cotton by means of horse-power instead of by hand" (lines 8-13).
Date: May 13, 1890
Creator: Green, Frank
System: The Portal to Texas History
Baling-Press. (open access)

Baling-Press.

Patent for improvements of patent no. 685838, dated November 5, 1901 by the same inventor George Daniel Hayes. The improvements included “the mounting of the plunger-operating lever, so as to insure a quick and positive disengagement thereof from the plunger-rod at the completion of the stroke and also to arrange for applying the power to the lever in such a manner as to obviate twisting thereof.” (Lines 14-19) Other improvements such as improved tension device for the plunger-operating lever, to provide the press with means whereby all of the bales may be formed of equal lengths and, means for preventing backward movement of the bales. Illustration is included.
Date: May 17, 1904
Creator: Hayes, George Daniel
System: The Portal to Texas History
Clothes-Pin (open access)

Clothes-Pin

Patent for "a clothes pin or clasp which will have a clamping-spring action and which can be conveniently manipulated to apply or remove it to and from a holding position and one wherein the clamping members mainly he within the same plane" (lines 7-13).
Date: May 21, 1901
Creator: Horsley, Robert L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Heating-Drum (open access)

Heating-Drum

Patent for "a simple and efficient construction which may be readily set up and taken down, which will be durable, and in which, moreover, by operation of a single damper the smoke-pipe above the drum may be brought into direct communication with the smoke-pipe below the drum and the several compartments of the apparatus will be opened to permit ready cleaning" (lines 14-22).
Date: May 14, 1901
Creator: Horsley, Robert L. & Rountree, James H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton-Chopper (open access)

Cotton-Chopper

Patent for improvements to the cotton-chopper. This invention outfits the cotton-chopper with a blade that can be moved, either mechanically or with electric power. Previously, the blade was fixed and stationary.
Date: May 13, 1919
Creator: Janes, Henry T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Engine. (open access)

Rotary Engine.

Patent for certain new and useful improvements in rotary engines, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 9, 1898
Creator: Mason, William R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bicycle-Frame. (open access)

Bicycle-Frame.

Patent for a new and useful bicycle frame, including instructions and illustrations.
Date: May 23, 1899
Creator: Mills, Virgel H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Lamp. (open access)

Lamp.

Patent for improvements to headlight lamps used in locomotives, with illustrations.
Date: May 25, 1897
Creator: Pitts, William Wirt
System: The Portal to Texas History
Type-Writer Cover (open access)

Type-Writer Cover

Patent for a collapsible typewriter cover that is more cheaply constructed, has a base for the typewriter, a supporting frame for the hood that limits the swinging movements, and a felt strip for protecting the furniture the typewriter is on.
Date: May 18, 1915
Creator: Rochelle, Raymond C.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fastener for Bedsteads. (open access)

Fastener for Bedsteads.

Patent for a new and improved fastener for bedsteads. This design consists in "[t]he combination, in a bedstead, of the head and foot board provided with inclined bores or holes, and slots extending from the bores or holes to the face of the boards, the side rails being provided with vertical bores or holes, and slots communicating with said bores or holes, and the locking plate adapted to connect the rails and head and foot boards and comprising the oppositely-disposed converging cylindrical beads and the integral web connecting the beads" (lines 78-88).
Date: May 13, 1890
Creator: Watson, Thomas H.
System: The Portal to Texas History