Fire-Escape. (open access)

Fire-Escape.

Patent for a simple and reliable folding ladder that is meant to assist someone in escaping a fire. It folds compactly and conveniently, and is adjustable. It sits away from the wall and another ladder can be attached to it when it is in use.
Date: June 13, 1893
Creator: Dobbs, Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Brake. (open access)

Car-Brake.

Patent for an improvement "in the application of power to car brakes, whereby the slack is quickly and automatically absorbed, and a powerful leverage is secured, and a perfect equalization of the leverage at each end of the car is obtained, and the convenient and safe adjustment of the brakes in regard to the wheels is effected, and any particular alignment of the brake cylinder in regard to the car body is avoided as the cylinder in regard to the car body is avoided as the cylinder may be placed across the car body or at any angle desired to secure convenience of application" (lines 8-20).
Date: June 20, 1893
Creator: Ferguson, George J.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car-Coupling. (open access)

Car-Coupling.

Patent for a car coupling that consists of a pin, a lever, a catchbar, a drawhead that sits under the catchbar and guides it, a rack slide, and a curved lifter. It improves on a patent previously granted to the inventor (No. 437,734).
Date: June 27, 1893
Creator: Testard, Adrian
System: The Portal to Texas History
Funnel. (open access)

Funnel.

Patent for an improved funnel that is meant to transfer liquids into receptacles with small openings, "the object being to provide a novel construction whereby a valve is automatically closed when the receptacle is full or the liquid has reached the proper level, so as to cut off the supply and prevent overflow which frequently occurs in using the ordinary funnels, resulting in loss and waste" (lines 16-23).
Date: June 27, 1893
Creator: Wright, George H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Harness Attachment. (open access)

Harness Attachment.

Patent for a simple, strong, and durable back-band and chain trace attachment that connects the two. This holds "the chain trace and back-band in their proper places and thus prevent[s] chafing of the horse, &c., by the trace chain when it slackens" (lines 12-15).
Date: June 27, 1893
Creator: Camp, John Cecil
System: The Portal to Texas History
Window-Sash. (open access)

Window-Sash.

Patent for an improved window sash that is meant to "provide means for securing a sash in its frame whereby it is capable of free movement, and at the same time is dust-proof, wind-proof, rain-proof, and snow-proof" (lines 9-13). The sash does not rattle and cannot be displaced from the outside.
Date: June 6, 1893
Creator: Roach, George W. & Ralph, Sidney L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wire-Stretcher. (open access)

Wire-Stretcher.

Patent for a simple and efficient wire stretcher that aids in fence-building, tightening loose wires, cutting wires, and tying broken wires. The stretcher is similar in appearance to a wrench that can be taken apart in order to properly utilize the tool.
Date: June 13, 1893
Creator: McKinney, John Wilson
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing-Machine. (open access)

Washing-Machine.

Patent for an improved washing machine that is meant to "provide a machine which will be exceedingly simple, durable and economic in construction, and wherein clothes may be washed expeditiously and conveniently and without injury thereto" (lines 9-13).
Date: June 6, 1893
Creator: Jones, James H.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Truck for Railway-Carriages. (open access)

Truck for Railway-Carriages.

Patent for an improved truck for railway carriages that is meant "to construct surface-rollers which have their center of bearing above the center of the traction of surface roller, and which have traction rollers bearing upon the upper portion of the main surface-roller, and upon which the load is supported equally upon two points of the surface or traction roller" (lines 17-23).
Date: June 27, 1893
Creator: Turner, Ephraim M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Well-Drilling Machinery. (open access)

Well-Drilling Machinery.

Patent for a mechanism that drills and bores; it attaches to a vehicle so the engine can be used to power the mechanism.
Date: June 27, 1893
Creator: Lee, Joseph G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Machine for Driving Horses. (open access)

Machine for Driving Horses.

Patent for an improved, simple, and efficient horse-whipping or driving machine that is meant to whip horses that are connected to machines that are powered by horses, such as thrashers, fans, and bark-mills. "The invention comprises a whip-carrying lever pivotally mounted on one end of the sweep-lever of a draft horse power, and means for moving said lever so that the whip will be caused to strike the draft horses" (lines 18-22).
Date: June 27, 1893
Creator: Williams, Samuel
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hydraulic Dredging-Machine. (open access)

Hydraulic Dredging-Machine.

Patent for "an improved device for the excavation of material from the bottoms and sides of channels or other water ways; and has for its object to provide a novel machine of the type indicated, which will afford means to rapidly loosen earth or gravel below the surface of a water course, mix it with water, and subsequently transfer and discharge the débris upon the shore of the stream or within a floating receptacle, as may be desired" (lines 8-18).
Date: June 6, 1893
Creator: Robbins, John M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Nut-Lock. (open access)

Nut-Lock.

Patent for an improved, simple, and inexpensive nut lock that can be easily used and removed. It lengthens the life of the bolt. The invention is "a bolt with a longitudinal groove or slot in which fits a tongue or lug on a washer which is provided with a notch or notches into which may be forced a portion or portions of a washer made of bendable material, opposite portions of which are designed to be forced into notches in the faces of the nut and thus the nut and both washers are bound or held firmly together" (lines 14-23).
Date: June 6, 1893
Creator: Woods, John B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sulky-Plow. (open access)

Sulky-Plow.

Patent for an improved, simple, and durable sulky-plow that "may be shifted laterally by the driver during the act of plowing whenever such action is deemed advisable, thereby changing the cut whenever occasion may demand" (lines 10-14). The plow can attach to any type of wheeled plow.
Date: June 20, 1893
Creator: Willmann, Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History
Grain-Drill. (open access)

Grain-Drill.

Patent for an improved grain drill that is simpler and more efficient than other grain drills. It consists of a disk with a central hub, an annular recess around the hub, segmented washers, radial slots, radial seed apertures, gravity slides, and stems on the slides.
Date: June 6, 1893
Creator: Lawrence, William G.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hame-Hook. (open access)

Hame-Hook.

Patent for a strong, simple, and durable hame and trace attachment that can be easily detached and reattached without tools.
Date: June 6, 1893
Creator: Rosson, Alpine B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Railway-Switch. (open access)

Railway-Switch.

Patent for an improved railway switch that "may be operated by a passing car or train, and one which will be most effectual and certain in its operation and which will at the same time automatically adjust a signal at one side of the track which will indicate to the next approaching train the position of the switch" (lines 18-24).
Date: June 27, 1893
Creator: Johnson, Samuel Joseph
System: The Portal to Texas History