IMPROVEMENTS IN SANITARY RECEPTACLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abner Parkinson and David Sweancy, Sanitary Engineers,
of the City of Manchester, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN SANITARY
RECEPTACLES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abner Parkinson and David
Sweaney at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October
1879.
ABNER PARKINSON and DAVID SWEANEY, Sanitary Engineers, of the City of
Manchester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SANITARY RECEPTACLES.'
"
The improvements relate to sanitary pails or receptacles, and have for their
object the removal of offensive matter in such manner that the gases arising there-
from are prevented from escaping during transit. And our Invention consists in
the first place in forming the top edge or portion next the lid of the receptacle with
a projecting ring or ridge of metal, which may be constructed by attaching thereto
a ring of angle iron, as is preferred, either to the inside or the outside of the body
of the receptacle, or by attaching a plain ring to the outside thereof. We next
form the lid with two guides or slots fitted thereon in such manner as to form a
stop on either side at or about the diameter thereof, by preference a little beyond.
Passing through these guides or slots, and capable of sliding backwards and
forwards therein, is a thin bar of steel or other spring metal forming the fastener or
catch by being bent downwards and inwards at each end so as to be capable of
engaging with the projecting ring of angle iron or other metal upon the body of
the receptacle. The plan of the receptacle being either circular, elliptical, or oval,
it will be seen that by sliding this spring bar away from the diameter or widest
part the same will be disengaged. To facilitate this, and to allow of the required
spring, we attach to the top of the lid, and underneath this spring bar, and at
right angles, or thereabouts, thereto, a rod or bar of metal, upon which the aforesaid
sliding action takes place, or it may be a projecting ridge embossed upon the lid.
In case the receptacle is required to be more air or gas tight than the foregoing

page_text: arrangement will admit of we form the lid with four radiating spring bars attached
thereto in lieu of the sliding bar aforesaid. At the end of each of these radiating
spring bars is affixed, by means of a hinge joint, a bent catch projecting a little
over the periphery of the receptacle, so that when the spring bars are pressed down
the catches are capable of taking underneath or gripping hold of the projecting
ring or ridge of metal on the body of the receptacle before mentioned. We attach
around and underneath the outer rim of the lid of the receptacle the usual india-
rubber ring or tube, whereby the receptacle is made tight when closed, in the
following manner :-We make in the inner surface of this ring or tube of india
rubber a number of perforations according to the size. We then pass longitudinally
through the ring or tube a metal wire, by preference of copper or brass, extending
from each perforation to the next. The ends of these wires are passed through
corresponding perforations in the rim of the lid, and are secured by soldering or
other suitable means on the inside.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Abner Parkinson and David Sweaney in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 10th April 1880.
ABNER PARKINSON and DAVID SWEANEY, Sanitary Engineers, of the City of
Manchester. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SANITARY RECEPTACLES."
The improvements relate to sanitary pails or receptacles, and have for their
object the removal of offensive matter in such manner that the gases arising there-
from are prevented from escaping during transit. And our Invention consists in
the first place in forming the top edge or portion next the lid of the receptacle with
a projecting ring or ridge of metal, which may be constructed by attaching thereto
a ring of angle iron (as is preferred) either to the inside or the outside of the body
of the receptacle, or by attaching a plain ring to the outside thereof. We next
form the lid with two guides or slots fitted thereon in such manner as to form a
stop on either side at or about the diameter thereof, by preference a little beyond.
Passing through these guides or slots, and capable of sliding backwards and forwards
therein, is a thin bar of steel or other spring metal forming the fastener or catch
by being bent downwards and inwards at each end so as to be capable of engaging
with the projecting ring of angle iron or other metal upon the budy of the recep-
tacle. The plan of the receptacle being either circular, elliptical, or oval, it will be
seen that by sliding this spring bar away from the diameter or widest part the
same will be disengaged. To facilitate this, and to allow of the required spring, we
attach to the top of the lid and underneath this spring bar, and at right angles, or
thereabouts, thereto, a rod or bar of metal, or more than one may be used, upon
which the aforesaid sliding action takes place, or it may be a projecting ridge or
ridges embossed upon the lid. In case the receptacle is required to be more air or
gas tight than the foregoing arrangement will admit of we form the lid with four
radiating spring bars attached thereto in lieu of the sliding bar aforesaid. At the
end of each of these radiating spring bars is affixed, by means of a hinge joint, a
bent catch projecting a little over the periphery of the receptacle, so that when the
spring bars are pressed down the catches are capable of taking underneath or
gripping hold of the projecting ring or ridge of metal on the body of the receptacle
before mentioned. This may be accomplished by constructing the spring bars in
four separate parts, or by using two long ones crossing each other at the centre and
extending to the sides, or a modification may be adopted by using two spring bars
and catches instead of four. Two sliding bars also may be used, placed at different
angles, instead of one.
But that the improvements may be better understood, we will, by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, proceed more fully to describe means employed by us.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 show elevations of portions of our Invention; and
Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 show plans of the same.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a is the body of the receptacle; b, the lid; c is the sliding spring bar, passing
through the slots d, d; e, e, are the stationary spring bars with hinged catches
attached, which like the spring sliding bar c are capable of taking underneath or
gripping the projecting ring of metal f, but in this case without the sliding motion;
g, g, is the india rubber ring which is fastened to the lid or ring of metal attached
thereto by means of wire passing in and out of the same through perforations in

page_text: Having now described our improvements, and means we adopt in carrying the
same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to
the exact details shewn and described, as variations may be made without departing
from the peculiar character of our Invention, but what we do claim is,—
(1st.) The forming of the lids of sanitary receptacles with one or more sliding
bars in such manner that their ends bent downwards and inwards are capable of
taking underneath a ring of angle or plain metal forming a continuous projection
from the top of the receptacle, substantially as shewn and described.
(2nd.) The forming of such lids with two or more stationary spring bars formed
at their ends with hinged catches for a like purpose, substantially as shewn and
described.
(3rd.) The fastening of india rubber rings to the lids or bodies of such like
receptacles by means of wire passing in and out of the tube through perforations
therein, and the ends or other portions of such wire attached by soldering or
otherwise, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Sweaney, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
WILLIAM GADD,
Consulting Engineer,
64, Barton Arcade,
Manchester.
DAVID SWEANEY. (L.S.)