Car Coupling. (open access)

Car Coupling.

Patent for a new and improved coupling for railroad cars. This design consists in "[t]he combination . . . of the laterally and vertically movable draw-head having the hook at its outer end, the keeper depending from the lower side of the car, and in which the draw-head is confined, the spring connected to one side of the draw-head and bearing thereon, and the arm pivoted in a slot in the draw-head, and having the head projecting in rear of the lip or shoulder of the hook, and the lever fulcrumed to the end of the car and connected to the car" (lines 87-97).
Date: July 20, 1886
Creator: Gorny, Jacob
System: The Portal to Texas History
Funnel Attachment. (open access)

Funnel Attachment.

Patent for a new and improved funnel attachment for pouring. This design consists in "[t]he combination of the supporting frame, a shaft journaled in the frame, a crank for rotating the shaft and carried by the frame, and a screw-conveyer carried by the shaft and having the smaller blades and the larger blade arranged above the [smaller] blades, and bearing against the funnel above the conducting tube thereof when the device is adjusted in the funnel" (lines 52-60).
Date: July 27, 1886
Creator: Charlton, James & Lynch, Hubbard Calhoon
System: The Portal to Texas History
Treasure Box. (open access)

Treasure Box.

Patent for a new and improved lock-box. This design "is provided with means for giving an alarm when an attempt is made to enter the same; and it also has a device for clamping it to the berth or other part of the apartment in which the traveler lodges, so that when the alarm sounds he [or she] is awakened, and thus notified at an attempt at robbery. The device is especially adapted to be clamped to the inner-face of a bed-rail, adjacent to the mattress thereof, so that it cannot be reached without awakening the traveler" (lines 21-31).
Date: July 13, 1886
Creator: Hayes, Elbert Newton & Sauer, Venant August
System: The Portal to Texas History