Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-18
INVENTIVE MINDS.
Peculiar 1nveati0as fra N ala Parts 81
the CO0mssy.


Peculiar Invsasieas arsa ala Parts -
the Country.
ADVOCATES or PERPETUAL MOTION srnL NJ Kxrsr-
KNcR-How 10 ESCAPE FROM rHI GRAvp-eunes
AND wINDhrIIs 10 FURNISH THEIR OWN noTrvE
fowKR-How 10 GET or KARIY IN rls MORNING..
'Yes, sir, +" said prominent patent attorney OF
this city to STAR reporter, "patent soliciting Is
An interesting as well as a lucrative business.
Some time ago received from a man az Grand
Rapids, Mich, box carefully packed with what
appeared to be dol-baby house, and which for
time puzzled me. In the course OF a week re-
ceived letter explaining the device and a supple
mental part OF the invention In the shape OF
miniature CONN The device was intended and
especially designed for those who were unfortu-
nate enough to be buried alive, and was what he
termed a grave escape The miniature house was
provided with uprights secured at It's four corners
and the comm, which was, as the inventor termed
~ only supplemental part OF the great inven-
uon, proved 10 De the principal part IL co assisted
OF an ordinary comm, provided each sides
with elongated air receptacles secured thereto,
ana having communication with tue interior OF
the comm BY means OF rubber tubes His idea"
continued the attorney, was that after the four
up lghts had been planted in the grave already
aug. until the floor OF the house came level tn
the su lace o. the ground, the cof1n cont ming the
body was lowered aud the door Of the hut locked
door. weii," continued the attorney, "when the
unfortunate inmate should discover he as alive,
he was to seize either OF the tuDes. consume a.
mucn air as he wished from the receptacles here
tofore described, lift the lid which was only held
In place by its own weight, and climb up ladder
Of aa n on
Them, open the door, and go home to give his
family surprise party.
"When wrote and told him that his device
didn't possess patentable novelty-in fact, wasn't
practical-he became indignant. and voted US
ANOTHER GRAVE ESCAPE
"But had another case" continued the at
torney, Sin which a man connected the head or
the CONN With the air, by means OF a metallic
tube. and had bell connected with the top OF the
tue t4se which i was operated by a rope passing
.Can you recall any inventions whose practi-
cability ana uniqueness are subjects Of comnen.9"
"Well should say So" said the attorney: "for
instance, there's the combined bedstead and
alarm Clock by which the dropping OF bolt as the
hour hand reaches the appointed hour lets loose a
set OF Dars nolding the mattress In place, which,
In turn, swlaRs on It's center pivots ana throws
Iae sleeper on the floor az the very moment he
wishes 70 be awakened. There again Is ine
SPRINKLER AwAxENER'
as the inventor termed It. lower-pot IL upset
on the sleeper by bolt worked by clock.
II suppose you've heard OF the Pioneer Plow,' y"
said the attorney, and upon beng Informed that
Ia I'M STAR man had not, he proceeded: "wei,, SIR,
this strange contrfvance was first thought out by
an ELstern man, and was adapted especially for
the Western iarmer. The beam OF the pillow was a
small I cannon. and when attacked by The Indians,
all he hau 70 DO was TO cut the uOrseS loose and
slaughter Tue Indians right and left
TO FURNISH MILK.
ibid you ever hear OF that man who had
scheme for supplying districts with milk? You
didnr9 Well, his Idea was TO build la, &c reser.
volr and have service pipes connected herewith
tlem with milk at their command. The Inventor
saiu ~ was grand Sc me, aud IL only nee1ed a
sort OF contrvLnce TO measure the milk drawn u
make IL complete Success Then again there
was the refrigerator nat, having q Waterproof
receptacle In tue top, which was hlled with Ice to
keep tue wearer's head COOL
now about experimentation devices?r asked
the re- porter, edo you receive manya"
NOT now, answers The attorney, 'but some
That sort were numerous. IIemember two 10 par.
ticular The Inventor VI the nrsl was Pennsyl-
vahlan py birth, and resided 10 a small Town not
far from Pittsburg.'
A WONDERFUL PUMP.
HIS device wasa pump, which, when once set 60
Ing, would continue 70 pump al fafaffunl, The
moiei Was simple In its construction, so be said,
but toe mechanism employed TO produce the re-
sult ne Wished was wonde. rul He provided the
spout OF the pump Win an Uverslot wheel, hav-
hg crank SECURED thereto which In turn con-
nected with numerous oIher arms employ ing
thl ty-six joints TO move Upon, un ii 1T reached
the sucker oJ, which 1t nfted and covered as tine
wheel operated by the water from the spout
turned Ihls man couldn't be convinced that his
with the examiner tn tue Palent ONCE having
In charge thaL class OF Inventions known as con-
veitins motion he Come to the conclusion as he
SAID, that the Patent ONE was no good ana
that ne intended TO destroy his model, and thus
deprive the world OF the greatest invention ever
heard Or Poor fe.ow, he died last year IN an In
sane asylum, among Inc Results Of his wasted
EFFORTS, with wh,cn his room Was strewn.
WIND FOR WINDMILL.
"The other cas-. was somewhat like the one tust
described excepting, perhaps. 1t was more inter.
esting as IL could readily be made to run for a few
mlnutes and made quite and IN .enious toy. Il
was windmill having suitable arms connected
10 The wheel AMI secur d 10 bellows placed 10 a
convenient position to operate the Wheel BY
starting the wheel the bellows would be operated
TO furnish more air to the wheel; but, Of course it
would stop soon on account OF the friction
"but The funniest patent ever issued" continue
The attorney, "was the one TO man by the name
OF Meyers. OF Philadelphia. 1t was a tape worm
trap, and consisted VI Two gold spring Tvs bav.
log serrated teeth and operated BY Trigger The
| patient was supposed 10 be starved for three or
four days until The tape-worm was very hungry
when the trap was inserted IN ais throat, bei ~
previously baited with a swe tmeaI The worm
would make strike for the candy and the law
would spring, Catching him byR head, when ne
could easily be Withdrawn.
~ can't think OF any more at present, said the
attorney, In conclusion; '0ut IL you Will call
around In few days may De able to give you
Some more exaini) pies"