The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16

them to be turned out for use in ascent and
folded out of sight when used for descent.
In order to ascertain. without the neces-
sity Of opening it. whether any mail has
rcd is attached TO the side Of the box. with
a projection on the lid which swings the
signal into a. vertical position as soon as the
lid is opened.
To prevent piano pupils from dropping
their wrists down too low a Washington
man has designed a support. which has cufs
to be attached TO the wrists, with an ad-
Unstable strap 10 pass over the shoulders
and be frightened until IL lifts the wrists TO
the proper height.
An Englishman has patented a bicycle
tire with sectional air pockets. formed of
hollow rings. with grooves cut in the face
of the rim and a bolt set across the rim
10 suspend each ring and allow II TO rotate
individually, a punctured ring being easily
replaced by another.
violins can be held in position without
firing the player by the use OF a new rest.
which is formed of an infatable pocket.
with a button or hook attached 10 one
corner, by which IL can be fastened 10 a
| piece of cloth tucked in the collar. the pad
lying under the coat.
The tines Of table forks are easily cleaned
by a new German invention. comprising a
standard set at each end of a base to sup
port a horizontal coil of spring wire. a cloth
being laid on the coil to cover the spirals
and force Ii between the tines as the fork
is pressed on the cloth.
A simple joint for electrical conductors
has been patented by an Englishman, COM
prising a sleeve into which the two wires
TO be Joined are thrust from opposite ends.
the ends of the wires being bent at an angle
TO hold them in place, with solder filling up
the interstices of the sleeve.
Tin fruit and vegetable cans can be quick
ly and easily opened by a new invention,
comprising a cup to hold the can, a vertical
support for a rack bar and a lever which
lowers the bar, with a series of blades ar
ranged in a circle at the bottom, to be
forced into the top of the can.
In a new adjustable hat fastener a two
pronged pin is adapted to be placed in the
hair. with a buckle formed between the
prongs, which holds the loose end of a short
the strap being adjusted in the buckle to
draw the hat tight 10 the head.
A handy and rapid device for opening
envelopes has a fiat rest on which the en-
velope is placed, with a horizontal blade
pressed by a knob and cut a thin strip
from the envelope, the whole device being
formed of a single sheet Of metal.
In an improved method of propulsion for
ice velodpedes a sprocket wheel is attached
to the crank shaft to rotate a second shaft.
from which depend arms long enough to
allow spiked shoes at the ends to engage
the ice and push che vehicle along.
A newly designed cushion support for BIZ
cycle seat posts and handle bars Is formed
of a disk resting on the frame of the wheel
disk carried by the post to rest on top OF
the ring and support the rider. with a slot
in the post to prevent 1t turning around.
In case of shipwreck many persons could
be saved by one lifeboat of a new design.
an ovaI-shaped pneumatic tube supporting
q vynxrap haSkaf around itS a6goC In which
the weaker persons are placed, with q large
number of ropes around the sides having
wooden floats to hold them on the surface.
A Swedish inventor has patented a new
method of bicycle propulsion. in which
pedal levers are attached to the frame.
with cords wound on drums on the rear
axle and extending over pulleys TO the outer
ends of the levers, the pulleys being NOV
able to adjust the leverage to suit the rider.
To indicate the number of miles travelled
by each passenger on a railroad train a
| new register is connected by a system Of
| gears with the car axle, with a hand on the
dial which is put in motion by the action
of the person sitting down. showing the
conductor where the passenger started
from.
For holding hats in place In a trunk a
German has patented a fastener which can
be placed in an ordinary trunk. the device
consisting Of a curved piece of spring metal
| fastened, leaving the free end to press on
the brim of the nat against the side of the
trunk.
| Buttonhole bouquets are securely held in
| place and prevented from whiting by a new
| holder, a short piece of D-shaped tubing
being closed at the bottom to hold water.
with a hook at the rear for attachment to
the coat and an elastic cord running
through eyelets to engage the stems Of the
flowers.
Invalids viii appreciate a new support de-
| signed for their comfort. which will enable
| them to sit up in bed, a cushion being pro-
| vided with a rigid back for attachment to
the short end Of an L-shaped rod, the long
end having a hook to engage the foot of
the bed and support the cushion at the de-
sired angle.
An Illinois man has patented a means for
| temporarily restoring the pressure In a
punctured bicycle tire, permitting the rider
to travel some distance without pumping up,
an auxiliary tube being set at the rear OF
the tire to contain air under pressure, which
is forced into the tire by an automatic valve
as the tire softens.