Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-31
ONE CENTURY OF PATENTS.
Something About the Celebration to BE
Held Here I'm April Next.

ONE CENTURY OF PATENTS.
Something About the Celebration to BE
Held Here In April Next.
TNHE GREATEST INTEREST Is FELT By
l. inventors all over the country in the APP
preaching celebration Of q patent centennial
here in Washington. Its most important feat
ure viii be the formation Of national asso-
citation, expected to include not less than 10,o00
members, which will hold in view as its chief
object the improvement Of tie opportunities
OF the creator of new ideas. As things are
now. the inventor seems to be accorded no
recognition worth mentioning, although he
may fairly be said to represent the element Of
progress in this enlightened age.
And yet though the genius Of this country is
distinctively inventive, it is claimed that in
ventors are neglected. Congress refuses to
pay any attention to them. The national legis-
lature will not appropriate the money needed
for building a proper patent Office, and the
patent laws remain in condition that urgently
demands reform.
To begin with, TIE STAR has learned the
association Of inventors will act as q body in
trying to secure the erection in this city of a
large building in which accommodation will
be given for working models of all sorts. with
power. At present the government actually
does not provide any place in which such a
model can be shown in operation TO the patent
examiners and the inventor is obliged to hire a
room somewhere about town for the purpose.
Among other purposes to which the contem-
plated building would be put is a model show
OF an historical character, illustrating the pro-
gress of invention. Also proper quarters would
be provided for the force Of the patent Office,
which Is Mt present cooped mp in little over
crowded dens.
An interesting feature Of the display in the
building referred to would be a museum of
patented curiosities-an assemblage OF such
extraordinary freaks Of human ingenuity as
have been collected in the shape Of models at
the patent Office. All sorts of ideas for flying
and perpetual motion machines might be there
represented. Air tricycles with paddles to
neutralize gravity, kites with revolving sails
and artificial wings could be shown. as well as
curious devices for navigation. such as boats
propelled by windmills in breeze and tread
mills in a calm, worked by swinging pendulums
or urged forward by the motion Of the waves.
Exhibition might be made of the new pro-
cess for manufacturing hens eggs. the white
being inflated with a mixture Of sulphur,
carbon and beef fat, while the yolk is made
OF beef blood, magnesia, muriate Of ammonia
and other ingredients. colored with chrome
yellow, the shells to be filed being shaped by
blowpipe from moist composition of lime
and gypsum. There are several novel sorts Of
umbrellas recently patented. One Of them is
so constructed that the owner can remove the
handle and leave it in the hallway, thus being
assured against loss since nobody cares to bor-
row an umbrella without stick. Another has
little heating apparatus in the handle and is
intended for the use of people who suffer from
cold fingers.
There is a device for preventing the robber
bee moth from entering beehives, as it ia accus-
toned to do, after nigh.fal. The bee hives are
placed on shelf which surrounds the fowl
house, their doors being connected by mechan-
ISM with the chicken roost in such a manner
that when the hens and cock-a-doodles 60 to
bed their weight on the perch closes the en-
trance to each beehive at just the time when
daybreak. the fowls leave the perch and the
doors of the beehives fly open.
A mechanical sheetiron ca, worked bv clock
work, is intended to be placed on the roof at
night, where it emits exaggerated feline noises
and tears other cats that come TO fight it all to
pieces with its steel claws and teeth. The in
vention of Wisconsin woman is a crimping
pin that can be used also a skirt supporter. a
file FOR papers. bouquet holder, paper cut
ter or a shawl fastener. A strange fishing con-
trivance is designed to catch tape worms, being
swallowed by the patient for that purpose.
Another womans invention is q lock. She
got the idea in a dream and. springing out Of
bed, struck q light, and with a paper cutter
carved a rude model out Of piece of soap from
her washstand. From this she had the lock
it in consideration of profitable royafty. An
ingenious device, that ought to fill long-felt
want. ia the nose improver, SO called, which is
metal apparatus in two parts, connected by a
hinge. Its interior shape is that of perfectly
formed nose Of the style and type desired.
Every night it is clasped and worn upon the
nasal organ until after while the result is
achieved.
It is NOT intended in this letter to give even a
partial list of the curiosities of the patent Office
though among them may perhaps be mentioned
the automatic fire Lighter. which iglites the
kitchen fire at the proper time in the morning
by a clocswork arrangement; system OF an
chors for houses in the cyclone belt to keep
them from being blown away: a ticEless clock
without pendulum or spring; rubber earth
worms for bait: nose protector for blizzard
weather; a unicycle without spokes; device
to dump the servant out Of bed at am; box
for fares that gives change correctly and auto
matically; cloth woven out of spun glass; a
continuance to keep the child from kicking off
the bed clothes. and a Refrigerator hat" with
a compartment in the top to hold ice in SUM-
mer, TO keep the head cool.