Animal Power. (open access)

Animal Power.

Patent for a new and improved engine. This design has a "tread-wheel on which the animal is placed, and which is provided with a cog-wheel on its under side to mesh with a pinion placed on one end of the crank-shaft, a connecting-rod which is attached at one end to the crank and at the other to a pivoted lever . . . a second connecting-rod which is fastened to the upper end of the pivoted lever . . . a balance-wheel, and the main driving-shaft provided with a number of arms, each one of which carries a planet-wheel for the purpose of moving around a fixed wheel" (lines 15-29).
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Yarbrough, Ezekel James & Kyker, John Marshal
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bustle. (open access)

Bustle.

Patent for a new and improved bustle. This design consists in "[a] bustle consisting of a single piece of wire bent in spiral form, and bent at its ends to form loops to which are secured straps . . . having a buckle, and the elastic strap secured to the strap and engaging a buckle on the strap" (lines 85-90).
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Davis, Charles Robert
System: The Portal to Texas History
Drawers and Pantaloons. (open access)

Drawers and Pantaloons.

Patent for new and improved pants. This design consists in "[a] pair of pantaloons, each leg of which is composed of a single piece, having the two edges and extended from the crotch to the foot of the leg, said extended portions being lapped one upon the other and united by the double lines of stitching, one in front and the other in rear of the usual line of the inside seam, whereby the leg is given a double thickness on the inside, and a smooth unbroken surface, adapting them to be worn in the saddle with comfort" (lines 16-26).
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Blake, Samuel Diggs
System: The Portal to Texas History
Farm Gate. (open access)

Farm Gate.

Patent for a new and improved farm gate. This design consists "[i]n a swinging-gate, the combination of a plate provided with notches upon its upper outer end and connected to the upper end of the inner gate-post, a lever pivoted to the plate and connected with the upper pintle of the gate, a latch pivoted to the lever and extending down through a slot therein to engage with the notches in the plate, and suitable cords and pulleys for operating the latch and lever" (lines 17-26).
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Akin, Leonidas T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Manufacture of Hydralic Cement (open access)

Manufacture of Hydralic Cement

Patent for invention is to utilize in rejected hydraulic matter such as decomposed limestone.
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Dimelow, John
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mole Trap. (open access)

Mole Trap.

Patent for a new and improved mole trap. This design "relates to mole-traps, and to that class of the same which are placed above the mole-hill and communicate with the hole therein, so that the passage of the mole through the latter will actuate the trap to impale the mole in the usual manner" (lines 9-14).
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Payne, David, Hinsley
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rock Drilling and Well Boring Machine. (open access)

Rock Drilling and Well Boring Machine.

Patent for improved rock drilling and well boring machine.
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Embry, Leonard B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Washing Machine. (open access)

Washing Machine.

Patent for a new and improved washing machine. This design "relates to improvements in the class of washing-machines commonly known as 'cylinder washing-machines,' and has for its object the production of a machine which will operate thoroughly and expeditiously, and without injury to the fabric, while at the same time it is light and inexpensive in construction and simple in operation; and with these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts" (lines 10-20).
Date: July 7, 1885
Creator: Ekman, Axel F.
System: The Portal to Texas History