Wichita eagle., 1889-02-21
QUEER INVENTIONS.
Odd COntrivances Seen in Uncle
Sans Patent Office.
Brains Constantly at Work All Over the
Country - A Spiral Spring for a Mules
Heels-Eow Trains M&y Avoid Col
Esions-Other Curiosities.

Application was made some time age
from Kentucky, says the New York World,
Tor patent for "tying weight of speci-
nc gravity TO cows tail to keep her from
switching it when you are milking"
The Ingenious rustic failed to define
specific gravity, and he was very much sur
prlsed to get an answer from the ex-
aminer: Patent refused. Idea old.
Seems to be virtually the same as that in
vented by tho squire of SPANS most
famous knight When the mule brayed
and disturbed his sleep Sancho Panza no.
tced that it always elevated it's tall stimuli
taneously, 50 he tied weight Of specific
gravity to the mules tail, and the sleep Of
Don Quixote was disturbed no more
An odd patent has been granted to shut
the moth miller out of bee-hives. A rural
observer noticed that, by some curious
provisions Of nature, the moth-nliller got
into bee-hives at the very time chickens
went TO roost. He acted accordingly, and
his device makes the weight OF the
chickens, when they fly to the roost, close a
gate at the mouth of the bee hives. which
effectually excludes the moth. The in
ventor thoughtfully says, in his applica-
ton: But l expect that, after a time, the
miller may get sense enough to keep watch
earlier''
An application for gas patent proposes
TO make gas by heating air red hOt.'
funny patent, for which there is not an
extensive sale, Is spiral spring for mules
feet, TO elevate the animals eight inches
from the ground. This is for use only in
war, and enables howitzer to be fred from
mules back without breaking his legs by
the recoil. 1t is said to fill mule with as
tonishment and TO make him seasick
Another patent, actually granted, some
what analogous 70 this, Is for stills for
horse. They are adjustable, and can be
fastened on two legs of horse on the same
side, . so as to plow with the animal on a
side hluP' The opinion Of the horse con-
corning the value of this invention is not on
file. In one of the cases OF the patent Office
Is tape worm trap" for which a patent
was granted 1t provides for batting a hook
III peculiar seductive manner and artfully
lowering 1t down the throat OF the afflicted
person. The depar tment did not insist on
seeing it in action.
The agricultural contrivances are very
numerous, and some Of them are 80 in
genious as TO suggest that the inventor
must have sat IN the warm corner Of the
fireplace and thought upon them all win
ter. One farmer has utilized horses step
by fastening corn-planter to each of his
fore feet so that, IN driving him across
the field, he will punch the seed into the
ground and cover 1t at every step all day,
for his boots are filed with corn.
Another presents a curious combination
OF war and peace in 1.-The cannon plow,"
the iron plow- beam being hollow and
charged with cannon ball, so that if Gin.
clnnatus rs attacked by the 1Eouian in the
open field he may merely touch OF the
plow- handles and scatter Gismay and de-
struct1on among the advancing enemy.
But In this valuable device, as IN so many
others. the brute creation are lost sight Of,
and there seems to be no arrangement for
suddenly wheeling the unsuspecting mule
around out of the way of the posterio-
grape-shot- This omission should be RENE
died before the remarkable com bination plow
Is brought INTO general USE
patent exists for mounting house on
wheels so thati may be turned around on
q circular track, the benefit being that ey-
cry part Of the residence is thus alternate
ly brought to the front gate, and the sun,
which Is VIGOROUSLY limited 10 semi-cir-
cult, is made 10 shine in every window, IN
spite OF the laws of the solar system. lam
sorry 10 report that this patent Is nearly
run out and that II people with cavernous
ana darksome rooms would take advan-
tage OF 1t they must do 80 without delay.
There IS patent for putting springs M
Ter house TO keep an earthquake from 4
1t dowu-by the inventor of the 4
howitzer-resisting mule
Worthy OF notice here IS the SC here for /
cities with milk The in ventor /
proposes to lay complete system Of pipes, i
hAi them with water TO keep them pure and I
cool. and let IN mix 81 the end This would |
seem 70 be the case OF acciden tai protection /
for the producer
An application WAS made for patent for
a device to enable a dog TO turn shor.
but is vet hung up IN the patent
affce on account OF doubts of its utility. /
The inventor said he had noticed that a dog
n turning corner rapidly always pro-
ected his tai in an opposite direction,
itrlyin3 thus 70 oreraoma hi. naarnAnt.ar.-