Black                                                                                                                                                                                                                   United States
Inventors  (R – Z)                                Invention                                                                                          Date                                              Patent Number
Ransom, Victor L. Method and Apparatus for gathering peak load traffic data February 11, 1975 3,866,185
Ray, E. P. Chair Supporting Device February 21, 1899 620,078
Ray, Lloyd P. Dust Pan August 3, 1897 587,607
Reed, J. W. Dough Kneader and Roller September 23, 1884 305,474
Reynolds, H. H. Window Ventilation for Railway Cars April 3, 1883 275,271
Safety Gate for Bridges October 7, 1890 437,937
Reynolds, R. R. Non-Refillable Bottle May 2, 1899 624,092
Rhodes, J. B. Water Closets December 19, 1899 639,290
Richardson, A. C. Hame Fastener March 14, 1882 255,022
Churn February 17, 1891 446,470
Casket Lowering Device November 13, 1894 529,311
Insect Destroyer February 28, 1899 620,362
Bottle December 12, 1899 638,811
Richardson, William H. Cotton Chopper June 1, 1886 343,140

William H. Richardson receives a patents 405,599 and 405,600 on 18 June 1889 for a baby carriage whose body can be raised from its frame.
Richey, C. V. Car Coupling June 15, 1897 584,650
Railroad Switch August 3, 1897 587,657
Railroad Switch October 26, 1897 592,448
Fire Escape Bracket December 28, 1897 596,427
Combined Hammock and Stretcher December 13, 1898 615,907
Richman, A. L. Overshoe February 8, 1898 598,816
Ricks, J. Horseshoe March 30, 1886 338,781
Overshoes for Horses June 6, 1899 626,245
Rillieux, Norbett Sugar Refining System 1846  
Robinson, E. R. Electric Railway Trolley September 19, 1893 505,370
Casting Composite November 23, 1897 594,286
Robinson, J. H. Life Saving Guards for Locomotives March 14, 1899 621,143
Life Saving Guards for Street Cars April 25, 1899 623,929
Robinson, J. Dinner Pail February 1, 1887 356,852
Roman, A. Passenger Register April 23, 1889 402,035
Ross, A. L. Runner for Stops August 4, 1896 565,301
Bag Closure June 7, 1898 605,343
Trousers Support November 28, 1899 638,068
Ross, J. Bailing Press September 5, 1899 632,539
Roster, D. N. Feather Curler March 10, 1896 556,166
Ruffin, S. Vessels for Liquids and Manner of Sealing November 20, 1899 736,603
Russell, L. A. Guard Attachment for Beds August 13, 1895 544,381
Sammons, W. H. Hot Comb 1920  
Sampson, G. T. Sled Propeller February 17, 1885 312,388
Clothes Drier June 7, 1892 476,416

1896 – C.B. Scott receives a patent for the street sweeper.
Sampson, Henry Cellular Phone July 6, 1971  
Scottron, S. R. Adjustable Window Cornice February 17, 1880 224,732
Cornice January 16, 1883 270,851
Pole Tip September 21, 1886 349,525
Curtain Rod August 30, 1892 481,720
Supporting Bracket September 12, 1893 505,008
Shanks, S. C. Sleeping Car Berth Register July 21, 1897 587,165
Shewcraft, Frank Letter Box Detroit, Michigan  
Shorter, D. W. Feed Rack May 17, 1887 363,089
Single, Henry Patented an improved the fish hook which he later sold for $625 1854  
Smith, J. W. Improvement in Games April 17, 1900 647,887
Lawn Sprinkler May 4, 1897 581,785
Lawn Sprinkler March 22, 1898 601,065
Smith, P. D. Potato Digger January 21, 1891 445,206
Grain Binder February 23, 1892 469,279
Snow & Johns Liniment October 7, 1890 437,728
Spears, H. Portable Shield for Infantry December 27, 1870 110,599
Spikes, Richard Automatic Gear Shift    
Standard, John Oil Stove October 29, 1889 413,689
Refrigerator July 14, 1891 455,891
Stewart & Johnson Metal Bending Machine December 27, 1887 375,512
Stewart, E. W. Punching Machine May 3, 1887 362,190
Machine for Forming Vehicle Seat Bars March 22, 1887 373,698
Stewart, T. W. Mop June 13, 1893 499,402
Station Indicator June 20, 1893 499,895
Stokes, Rufus Exhaust Purifier April 16, 1968 3,378,241
Sutton, E. H. Cotton Cultivator April 7, 1874 149,543
Sweeting, J. A. Device for Rolling Cigarettes November 30, 1897 594,501
Combined Knife and Scoop June 7, 1898 605,209
Taylor, B. H. Rotary Engine April 23, 1878 202,888
Slide Valve July 6, 1897 585,798
Temple, Lewis Toggle Harpoon which revolutionized the Whaling Industry 1848  
Thomas, Darryl Cattle Roping Apparatus    
Thomas, S. E. Waste Trap October 16, 1883 286,746
Waste Trap for Basins, Closets, etc October 4, 1887 371,107
Casting July 31, 1888 386,941
Pipe Connection October 9, 1888 390,821
Toliver, George Propeller for Vessels (Ships) April 28, 1891 451,086
Tregoning & Latimer Globe Supporter for Electric Lamps March 21, 1882 255,212
Turner, Madeline M. The Fruit Press 1916  
Madam C. J. Walker Hair Care Products 1905  
Walker, Peter Machine for Cleaning Seed Cotton February 16, 1897 577,153
Bail Holder March 8, 1898 600,241
Waller, J. N. Shoemaker’s Cabinet or Bench February 3, 1880  224,253
Washington, Wade Corn Husking Machine August 14, 1883 283,173
Watkins, Isaac Scrubbing Frame October 7, 1890 437,849
Watts, J. R. Bracket for Miners’ Lamp March 7, 1893 493,137
West, E. H. Weather Shield September 5, 1899 632,385
West, J. W. Wagon October 18, 1870 108,419
West, Manley Discovered compound in cannabis to cure glaucoma 1980-1987  
White, D. L. Extension Steps for Cars January 12, 1897 574,969
White, J. H. Convertible Sette (Large Sofa) 1892  
Lemon Squeezer December 8, 1896 572,849

1794 – Eli Whitney patents the cotton gin.   Most people believe that he was the sole inventor since 1792.  Whitney was from New England and went south to study law and to teach on a cotton plantation.  On a trip to Georgia once he noticed a crude comb-like instrument that loosened the seeds from cotton.  It was used and made by a slave.  The story goes the slave was named “Sam.”  Supposely, Eli Whitney improved upon the slave’s invention (Hayden, Eight Black American Inventors, 1972).  The invention made it possible to clean 50 pounds of cotton a day, compared to a pound a day before the invention.  This will make cotton king and increase the demand for slave labor.
Williams, Carter Canopy Frame February 2, 1892 468,280
Williams, Dr. Daniel Hale Performed First Open Heart Surgery 1893  
Williams, J. P. Pillow Sham Holder October 10, 1899 634,784
Williams, Paul E. Helicopter    
Winn, Frank  Direct Acting Steam Engine December 4, 1888 394,047
Winters, J. R. Fire Escape Ladder May 7, 1878 203,517
Fire Escape Ladder April 8, 1879 214,224
Wood, Granville T. Steam Boiler Furnace June 3, 1884 299,894
Telephone Transmitter December 2, 1884 308,817
Apparatus for Transmission of Messages by Electricity April 7, 1885 315,368
Relay Instrument June 7, 1887 364,619
Polarized Relay July 5, 1887 366,192
Electro Mechanical Brake August 16, 1887 368,265
Telephone System and Apparatus October 11, 1887 371,241
Electro-Magnetic Brake Apparatus October 18, 1887 371,655
Multiplex Telegraph System (Allowed Messages to be sent and received from moving trains) November 13, 1887 373,383
Induction Telegraph System November 29, 1887 373,915
Overhead Conducting System for Electric Railway May 29, 1888 383,844
Electro-Motive Railway System June 26, 1888 385,034
Tunnel Construction for Electric Railway July 17, 1888 386,282
Galvanic Battery August 14, 1888 387,839
Trolley Car 1888  
Railway Telegraphy August 28, 1888 388,803
Automatic Safety Cut-out for Electric Circuits January 1, 1889 395,533
Automatic Safety Cut-out for Electric Circuits October 14, 1889 438,590
Electric Railway System November 10, 1891 463,020
Electric Railway Supply System October 31, 1893 507,606
System Railway Conduct November 21, 1893 509,065
System of Electrical Distribution October 13, 1896 569,443
Amusement Apparatus December 19, 1899 639,692
Railway Air Brakes (The first safe method of stopping trains) 1903  
Wormley, James Life Saving Apparatus May 24, 1881 242,091

A  MIND  “REALLY”  IS  A  TERRIBLE  THING  TO  WASTE
Black Inventors A-F
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