Carriage Curtain Fastener. (open access)

Carriage Curtain Fastener.

Patent for a new and improved curtain fastener for carriages. This design is "an improvement upon that particular form of curtain-fasteners . . . in which a sleeve or barrel having a rotary and sliding movement on a spring-encircled shank or post is provided with a wing or projection for effecting the connection of said sleeve or barrel with the eyelet or grommet of the curtain . . . which will effectually prevent the accidental disengagement of the curtain" (lines 18-29).
Date: July 12, 1881
Creator: Paschal, Thomas M.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Gin Attachment. (open access)

Cotton Gin Attachment.

Patent for a new attachment for cotton gins. This design consists in "[t]he combination, in a cotton-gin, of the carrier, feed-roller, having teeth or projections, and the adjustable sliding rake . . . [and] the combination of the carriers, the latter having covering, receiver, toothed feed-roller, adjustable rake, gin-saws, and brush" (lines 68-75).
Date: July 12, 1881
Creator: Compton, Willis W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Car Coupler. (open access)

Car Coupler.

Patent for a new and improver coupler for railroad cars. This design "consists, first, in a transversely-arranged bar supported by suitable hangers secured to the end of the car a suitable distance above the draw-bar, each end of said transverse bar being provided with hand-wheels having a notch on their outer periphery, with which engage weighed pawls suitably pivoted to the side of the car; secondly, in an arm extending from said transverse bar for supporting the link" (lines 22-31).
Date: July 12, 1881
Creator: Farnam, Stephen
System: The Portal to Texas History
Composition for Preserving Wood. (open access)

Composition for Preserving Wood.

Patent for a new and improved compound for “preserving all kinds of wood, in or above ground, but is especially adapted for preserving wood in salt water from the ravages of worms, barnacles and etc…” (Line 24-27) Ingredients, proportions of ingredients and mixing instructions are included. No illustration.
Date: July 12, 1881
Creator: Smith, Bat
System: The Portal to Texas History
Combined Fire Screen and Fender. (open access)

Combined Fire Screen and Fender.

Patent for a combined fire screen and fender. This design "works in the mantle-piece by means of weights, and is secured in position by by means of a spring-latch that catches in notches in the jamb. This screen thus arranged can be made to answer for three purposes: By letting it down nearly to the hearth it acts as a blower; by letting it entirely down accidents from fire are prevented, and when let down in the summer time it makes a handsome summer screen" (lines 21-30).
Date: July 19, 1881
Creator: Matthews, James Charles
System: The Portal to Texas History
Bale Tie. (open access)

Bale Tie.

Patent for a new and improved bale tie. This design is of a metal band with several slots, so that the accompanying metal button can pass through any two overlapping slots, securing the bale within the band.
Date: July 19, 1881
Creator: Griffin, James Lee
System: The Portal to Texas History
Locking Latch. (open access)

Locking Latch.

Patent for a new and improved latch. This design consists "[i]n a latch, the combination, with the sliding-bolt, tumblers having their forward ends provided with hooks or right-angled projections adapted to engage studs upon the bolt, and the lever operated by the bolt and having its forward end adapted to engage with the tumbler of the supplementary lock having its operating mechanism connected to the lever" (lines 68-76).
Date: July 12, 1881
Creator: Rand, Anders
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pressing and Drying Garments. (open access)

Pressing and Drying Garments.

Patent for pressing and drying pantaloons and garments which includes a hollow form made of sheet metal that is closed steam-tight and uses a steam pipe inside to dry the garments.
Date: October 8, 1881
Creator: Wolf, Louis
System: The Portal to Texas History
Pump. (open access)

Pump.

Patent for a new and improved pump. This design "has been specially devised for use in pumping gas, air, or vapor — as in ice-machines, for instance — and mainly with reference to attaining circulation with low pressure; but when operated at high speed considerable pressure may be attained therewith, whether operating upon vapors or liquids, as . . . [the] pump involves a novel mode of operation, in that it possesses characteristics partially common to pumps of the rotary system, as well as to those having a reciprocating piston" (lines 10-21).
Date: July 19, 1881
Creator: Rose, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Mold for Earth and Stone Fences. (open access)

Mold for Earth and Stone Fences.

Patent for a new and improved mold for earth and stone fences. This design "consist[s] of the inclined adjustable sides, having inclined standards, removable boards, and boards, tables, and locking-bolts . . . [and] the sides having lower boards or metallic pieces, upper removable boards or metallic pieces, and inclined standards of the tables, locking-bolts, handles, and stakes" (lines 21-30).
Date: July 26, 1881
Creator: Budd, Lewis R.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Method of Working Volatile Hydrates for Artificial Refrigeration. (open access)

Method of Working Volatile Hydrates for Artificial Refrigeration.

Patent for a new and improved method of working volatile hydrates for refrigeration. This invention "consists in the continuous circulation through a chamber to be refrigerated of aqueous solution of volatile matter previously cooled by the expansive elimination therefrom of a portion of said volatile matter" (lines 64-68).
Date: July 26, 1881
Creator: Rose, Thomas
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sun Shade Hat. (open access)

Sun Shade Hat.

Patent for a new and improved sun shade hat. The hat is designed to shield the wearer's head from the sun to prevent heatstroke and keep the wearer's hands free to work. This design utilizes a clamp and washers to enable the hat to remain in the desired opened/closed state while off of the wearer's head, which represents an improvement over previous designs.
Date: July 12, 1881
Creator: Ross, George W.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Gopher Trap. (open access)

Gopher Trap.

Patent for a new and improved trap for gophers and other subterranean animals. This design utilizes for the first time the combination of spring, jaw, treadle, trigger, and baseboard to ensnare gophers and other varmints.
Date: July 5, 1881
Creator: Norris, Abram
System: The Portal to Texas History
Rotary Steam Engine. (open access)

Rotary Steam Engine.

Patent for a new and improved rotary steam engine. This design "first, provide[s] a novel form of valve for regulating the induction and eduction of steam to and from the cylinder; second, [it] provide[s] novel devices for reversing the movements of the rotating pistons; and, third, [it] provide[s] novel combinations of the parts of which the engine is composed"
Date: July 19, 1881
Creator: Cross, David L.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sewing Machine. (open access)

Sewing Machine.

Patent for a new and improved sewing machine. This design calls for a clamp and a needle with a bend toward the eye so that the needle may easily be adjusted and changed out, depending on the task at hand.
Date: July 26, 1881
Creator: Fuqua, Marcellus B.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Sewing Machine Table. (open access)

Sewing Machine Table.

Patent for a new and improved table for sewing machines. This design "consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the divided opening in the top, the bearing-bar extending across the same below its level, the hinged sewing machine plate or support, the hinged filling-section and its under-folding hinged extension, whereby the top may be entirely closed over the machine" (lines 20-27).
Date: July 26, 1881
Creator: Williamson, Weldon Jones
System: The Portal to Texas History
Plow. (open access)

Plow.

Patent for a new and improved plow. This design "consists in combing with the plow a furrow-cutter for the purpose of cutting or dividing the furrow-slice and pulverizing it to a greater or less extent, like a harrow" (lines 13-16).
Date: July 12, 1881
Creator: Pinter, Francis T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Cotton Packer. (open access)

Cotton Packer.

Patent for a new and improved cotton packer. This design is "to provide means for taking the cotton from the gin and packing the same in the bale box, ready for the action of the press-follower, without manual labor" (lines 22-26).
Date: July 26, 1881
Creator: Moore, Ralleigh Cabert
System: The Portal to Texas History