An Improvement in Swimming Baths.
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improvement in Swimming Baths.
I, JOHN EDWARD STILL, of 82, Queen Street, Cheapside, in the City of London,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the tanks of swimming baths and consists in the con-
struction of a combined footway margin, overflow or scum trough, spittoon, and
handrail, all moulded or cast in one piece so as to thereby reduce the number of
joints the section of the blocks being such as to greatly enhance the structural
appearance of the bath tank.
The blocks would be made of any suitable material, such as enamelled cast iron
or (preferably) earthenware glazed or unglazed or partly glazed, and of any con-
venient lengths practicable with the material used, the sectional form being
substantially such as shewn in the accompanying drawing forming part of this
specification wherein a is the margin or footway around the bath tank, the
continuous overflow or scum trough and spittoon, the whole forming a coping
for the wall of the tank, c is the handrail for the support of bathers, and d is a
drip member of the moulding beneath the nosing of the margin a and directly
over the scum trough so that dirty water accumulating on the footway will fall
directly into the trough and neither foul the bath water nor disfigure the appearance
of the bath by trickling down the surface below the nosing. The margin a slopes
slightly towards the nosing and to ensure a good foothold may be corrugated as
shewn or be otherwise roughened. Or slabs of other material may be let in the
sunk top of the block, as indicated by the dotted lines at e.
The blocks would be jointed by any suitable means and outlets would be provided
at intervals from the scum trough which would be made with the necessary falls to
the outlets. For tanks with square or round corners or semi-circular ends,
specially moulded blocks would be provided of the same cross-section made to the
radius required.
It will be observed that a further advantage of this improved construction is
that the trough can be easily got at from above for cleaning purposes, the trough
and handrail being continuous and without any obstruction whatever.
1 1
& Documber 1807
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.

page_text: I, JOHN EDWARD STILL, of 82, Queen Street, Cheapside, in the City of London,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My invention relates to the tanks of swimming baths and consists in an improved
arrangement of footway margin, scum trough and overflow, (serving also as a
spittoon), and handrail, these parts being so combined that the front face of the
trough and the nosing of the footway margin are both flush, or nearly flush, with the
front face of the tank wall, the footway margin being supported above the trough with-
out the aid of pillars, brackets, or other structural features calculated to obstruct
the swabbing out of the trough. The combined construction forming the subject
of my invention may be made in any suitable material, such as enamelled iron
or (preferably) earthenware glazed or unglazed or partly glazed, the sectional
form being such as to greatly enhance the structural appearance of the bath tank.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification, wherein Figure 1 shews, in cross section and perspective, a short
length of my improved construction. Figure 2 illustrates a modification.
In these figures, a is the overflow or scum trough (serving also as a spittoon)
of approximately semicircular section; b the handrail for the support of bathers
formed by the outer side and edge of the trough and set substantially flush with
the face of the tank wall e; d the back of the trough extended upwards and out-
wards in the form of moulded corbelling so as to overhang the trough and form a
support for the footway margine whose nosing f projects so far as to be almost
vertically over the handrail b and consequently flush, more or less, with the face
of the tank wall c; and g is a drip member of the moulding beneath the nosing f
of the margin e, in position directly over the scum trough so that dirty water
accumulating on the footway will be intercepted by the said "drip" and will foll
directly into the trough and neither foul the bath water nor disfigure the appearance
of the bath by trickling down the surface below the nosing of the margin. The
margin e may slope slightly towards the nosing, and to ensure a good foothold
may be corrugated as shewn or be otherwise roughened. Or slabs of other material
may be let into the sunk top of the block, as indicated by the dotted lines at h.
The various parts together constituting my improved construction would be formed
preferably in one so as to avoid a multiplicity of joints but it will be obvious
that the footway margin might conveniently form a separate slab of the same or
a different material, and be laid upon and cemented or otherwise secured to the
other portion, the joint between the two portions being arranged as indicated, for
example, in Figure 2.
My improved construction, although primarily intended to be continuous around
the bath tank, is equally well adapted to be used in shorter independent lengths
in any position about the circuit of the tank. The component blocks would be
jointed by any suitable means as will be well understood, and outlets from the
scum trough would he provided where required, the trough being made with the
necessary falls to said outlets. For square or round corners, or semi-circular ends,
of tanks, specially moulded blocks would be provided of the same cross-section,
such blocks being made to a radius when so required to suit the configuration of
the tank.
It will be observed that a special advantage of my improved construction is that
although the trough a may be said to be sunk in the face of the tank wall, it can
nevertheless be got at with perfect case from above, for inspection and cleansing;

page_text: and, further, that no obstruction whatever (such as would, for example, be caused
by pillars supporting the footway margin) is presented to the swabbing out and
thorough purification of the trough and every other part of the structure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The combined footway margin, scum trough and overflow, and handrail, for
swimming baths, constructed substantially as herein described and shewn in the
drawings
2. In a combined construction of footway margin, scum trough, and handrail,
for swimming baths, supporting the footway margin by means of an upward and
outward extension of the back of the trough, constituting a moulded corbelling,
as and for the purposes specified.
Dated this one day of September 15.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agenta, 53, Chancery Lane, London.