Trestle – Patent No. 390,753
Inventor: Obadian B. Clare, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Patent Number: 390,753
Date of Patent: October 9, 1888
Description: Obadian B. Clare’s patent for a “Trestle” was an innovation designed to create a more convenient and portable support structure. The invention’s primary use was for beating dust out of large carpets. It could be folded compactly for transportation and storage, making it easy to carry from place to place. The patent specifically details a unique hinge system that allowed the legs to fold together alongside the rail, and a locking mechanism to hold them in the open position. Clare’s design also enabled one end of the trestle to lie on the ground while a carpet was easily drawn over the rail, before the trestle was fully erected. This solved the problem of having to lift a heavy carpet to the full height of the structure.
Societal Impact
Obadian B. Clare’s invention, while seemingly simple, was a practical response to a common problem in the late 19th century: keeping homes clean. Before the widespread use of vacuum cleaners, carpets were cleaned by taking them outside and beating the dust out of them with a stick or a specialized carpet beater. This was a strenuous and physically demanding task.
- Abolition of Drudgery: Clare’s portable trestle made this arduous chore much easier for households and professional carpet cleaners. It provided a dedicated, sturdy support that could be easily set up and taken down, allowing for a more efficient and less back-breaking process. This type of innovation helped to mechanize or at least simplify daily household labor, contributing to the rise of what we now consider modern domestic life.
- Significance of the Inventor: Obadian B. Clare was an African American inventor, born in New York in 1851 and later residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. His patent is a testament to the ingenuity and contributions of black innovators during a period when they faced significant systemic barriers. While his life story is not widely documented, the existence of this patent, along with others from African American inventors of the era, underscores their role in the technological and industrial progress of the United States.
