Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-12
Some Things You Want to Know

The patent office In washington is re-
Ceiying more applications Tor patents now
than ever before. Electricity. aeronautics
and other forms OF transportation seem
now TO be the principal themes OF the in
ventors OF today. Many Of the patents
now being issued are full of interest to
the layman. The automobile and It's fix
lures come in for large share of attention
on the part of the inventors. The recent
announcement OF George Westinghouse
that he had invented a substitute for the
pneumatic automobile tire in the form OF
air springs which carry the body of the
automobile follows in the wake Of the an
nouncement Of new puncture proof tire
which surrenders nothing Of its resiiency
for resistance. 1t consists Of a heavy band
Of solid rubber surrounding series OF
springs, which give all the advantages of
the air cushion, while possessing none of
it's disadvantages. 1t is said that 70 per
cent OF the cost of operating automobiles
comes from the upkeep of tires The new
tires are said to be as durable as the auto
mobile itself, while they cost only SIS each
to manufacture.
The automobile is being used for many
purposes today. one OF It's most recent
uses is as the motive power for vacuum
cleaners. The auto owner now may buy a
vacuum cleaner to be operated by his ma
chine. and thus may have at a minimum
cost a thoroughly equipped cleaning plant
for his residence. one Of the newest Ideas
in the utilization Of the automobile Is the
automobile bank. The banking corpora
ton which operates 1t places a trustworthy
employe In charge Of the machine and he
makes a hnuse-to-house canvass among the
customers Of the bank for deposits. The
automobile bank is being used in some of
the best residential districts of London, to
the great satisfaction OF the banking cor
poration and with no small degree of con-
venience to the depositors.
One Of the recent inventions is believed
by some to herald the time when matches
will be needed no more. A scientist has
discovered that one of the very cheap al
Toys of iron sparks very readily when
rubbed with file. He uses this idea to
make new sparker. 1t is built along the
IS Of the old-fashioned coal tongs used
our fathers when matches were not so
. ,mmon as today. and gives off spark
sufficient to light a gas stove or an mean
descent mantel flame. This little imple-
ment can be produced very cheaply.
A we'll known writer of music has per-
fected q typewriter which will write
musical scores. A working model has been
tried out, and 1t is claimed that sheet
music no more will need to be prepared
by the laborious methods OF the past One
would think that as many typewriters as
there are on the market today, there would
be but little Incentive to inventors to. bring
out new ones. Yet as a matter of fact,
almost every week witnesses the grant
ideas in typewriting machines.
The students of geometry and allied
sciences will welcome an invention lately
perfected by school boy Of Oakland, Cal.
1t is black board compass for ,geometrical
operations, One leg of the compass has a
small pneumatic suction cup which clings
1t is a blackboard compass for geometricai
piece of chalk. which may be adjusted by
the use Of a set screw, terminates the
other leg OF the compass.
The baggage smasher has forced the in
ventor to the necessity of evolving trunk
which is proof against the damages Incl
dent to travel One Of the methods used
to ciroumvent the baggage smasher is an
indestructible trunk whose life is insured
by the manufacturer Another trunk Is
made round like drum, so that 1t can
be rolled instead of thrown around. An
other trunk inventor has placed extension
legs upon his bid for popular favor, so
that the trunk may serve as a wardrobe
while not in transit.
Another invention OF interest to women
is brace for drying the hair. This brace
is attached to the shoulders and keeps
the hair well scattered while drying. An
automatic alarm to prevent the burning
OF the contents Of the housewives pots
and kettles is another idea upon which q
patent has been Issued. II Is so arranged
that whenever the water In the kettle runs
low bell is rung. A lock for the milk
bottle has been patented lately 1t holds
the empty bottle securely and is released
by the milkman who places the morning 8
delivery OF milk In its stead.
AS the summer approaches, the country
will appreciate more and more the genius
OF an American citizen who has attached
an automatic breeze maker to a rocking
chair, This invention consists OF fan In
large tube, the upper end OF which ter
inmates in flaring mouth like an auto
mobile horn When the occupant OF the
rocker to which It is attached rocks back
and forth. the fan in the tube is made to
revolve rapidly and summer breezes may
be made to order thereby.
A patent has been issued for a swimming
machine which ought to commend Itself
TO the bathers at out seaside resorts lsle
machine consists Of y large breastplate to
which Ii attached a pair Of cranks 70 be
turned by the swimmer. These give mo
ton to a propeller. and in this way the
swimmer may navigate at will. AS there
is an aiF chamber in the machine, there IA
not tho slightest danger Of drowning while
using t.
Many thoughtful people believe that tn,
power OF the future will come from the
wave engine ana the solar engine. A new
wave motor has just been invented. Il
consists Of push truck running on an in
clined track down the beach into the sea
There Is 4 very large tailboard attached 4
the truck and as the oncoming wav,
rushes upon the beach, II drives the trucl
up before It with great force. As the trucl
speeds forward, It strikes piston which
forces air into a compressed tank on tn,
shore. When the energy OF Cthe wave Il
spent, the truck runs down its incline int,
deep water again, there TO await the on
coming OF the next breaker.
The British navy now has a fishing tacld
which surpasses anything yet seen in tina