On August 3, 1840, U.S. Patent No, 1711 issued to William Howe on a Truss Bridge.

This design was an improvement over his previous design, patented a month earlier on July 10, 1840, as U.S. Patent No. 1685:

Howe’s design was widely used through the middle and end of the 19th century, and was often used in the construction of covered bridges because the cover would protect the timbers in the truss, extending the life of the bridge. Howe patented (U.S. Patent No. 4726) a further improvement in 1846.

The Howe’s were a particular inventive family, with several members making inventions and getting, patents, the most notable is William’s nephew Elias, knows as the inventor of the sewing machine. Elias’ U.S. Patent No. 4750 was not the first patent on a sewing machine, but its lockstitch method was a substantial improvement. Meeting with limited commercial success, however, Elias turned to enforcement, and after many years of litigation, in 1856 formed the first American patent pool with Wheeler &Wilson, Grover & Baker, and another familiar name in sewing machines, I.M. Singer.