Improvements in or relating to Chamber Pots.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 19th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Chamber Pots.
I THOMAS HAWKINS of Buckingham House, Cleveland Street, Soho, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to chamber pots such as are generally used in bedrooms,
and consists of improvements which will eliminate some of the objectionable
features which are now inseparable from the use of such articles, the objects of my
invention being more especially the prevention of noise due to the falling liquid,
and the hiding of the contents of the receptacle from the sight of anyone who may
chance to be in the room or in the vicinity of the receptacle. My invention
possesses the further advantage that it can be applied to chamber pots already
existing without any alteration being necessary.
For the purpose of carrying out the above mentioned objects in accordance with
my present invention, I take a block or piece of clay, earthenware or like plastic
substance, and shape it into the form of a funnel, that is to say, the upper part
being hollowed out to the shape of an inverted shallow cone, and the apex being
left unclosed so as to communicate with a downwardly projecting portion, either
tubular throughout or closed at the top or solid. I bend down the upper outer
edge of the cone portion horizontally or curved to form a projecting flange intended
to rest upon or over the rim of the chamber pot to which the moulded article
aforesaid is applied. The vertical dependent portion, which must not be made to
come so low down as to touch or rest upon the bottom of the receptacle, may be
If it be tubular
either tubular or partially or wholly solid, as already mentioned.
throughout, it will be seen that any liquid falling into the cone will pass down
through the said tube into the receptacle. If solid, or partially cored out for the
sake of lightness, holes must be provided near to the apex of the cone through
which the liquid may pass and trickle down the outside of the dependent tube or
rod, and it is desirable to cause the closed or solid top of said tube or rod to
project slightly into the cone and be tapered or rounded off, to prevent liquid from
settling there.
I do not wish to bind myself to any particular angle of inclination or depth of
the cone, but I believe that an angle of 30° with the horizontal or thereabouts is
best adapted for the prevention of noise; and the lower end of the tube or rod
should, if possible, be about an inch or less from the bottom of the vessel when in
position.
My improved device, being symmetrical and concentric with a common axis, may
be moulded upon a potter's wheel, but, if preferred, I may vary the shape of the
cone, by making the slope steeper at one point than another, or even vertical at
one point, and thus bring the tube or rod nearer to the side of the chamber pot;
and, further, I may, if desired, make the article in metal or other substance.
However, prefer to employ earthenware or the like, which is afterwards glazed,
and may be coloured or marked in any appropriate manner to form part of a set of
toilet service.
It may be necessary to manufacture my improved article in three sizes; but if
one size were too big for a particular chamber pot, the rim being unable to take
the rim of the cone by reason of the depth of the rod or tube, I could employ rings
of rubber or any other suitable material to raise it up, or the flange of my

page_text: improved device can be made of varied thickness to adapt the article to the
different depths of chamber utensils. A small portion of the flange of my device
may be cut or left out in the moulding in order to leave room for the handle of the
chamber pot.
In some cases, in order to completely hide the contents, especially if they should
commence to rise within the cone, I may provide a small convex plate covering the
extremity of said cone, and joined to the same at points leaving intervening spaces
through which the liquid may pass. The mouth or rim of the cone may be lipped
internally if found necessary.
My device may, as a modification, be made trumpet-shaped, by merging the cone
gradually into a tapered tube. A further modification may be employed in which
the dependent portion or stem rests upon the bottom of the pot, and the lip or
flange is dispensed with.
My improved device will thus be found extremely useful for the prevention of
noise and for the hiding of the contents of the vessel.
Dated this 18th day of November 1895.
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
7 & 8 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Applicant's Agents.
improvements in or relating to Chamber Pots.
I, THOMAS HAWKINS, late of Cleveland Street, Soho, in the County of
Middlesex, and now of 12 Willesden Lane, in the same county, Engineer, 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 chamber pots such as are generally used in bedrooms,
and consists of improvements whereby certain objectionable features, at present
associated with such articles are removed.
Hitherto great annoyance has been caused by the noise due to falling liquid, the
latter being especially troublesome and disturbing to other people occupying the
same room. Now my present invention is intended to eliminate such an objection-
able feature and it provides, at the same time, a cover for hiding the contents of
the vessel from sight.
In describing my said invention, I will refer to the accompanying sheet of
drawings, from which it will be seen that it can be applied to existing chamber
pots without any alteration of the same being necessary.
The figures in the drawings show various forms or modifications of my invention
as hereafter described, whilst similar letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts.
For the purpose of carrying out the before mentioned objects, I construct a
funnel shaped cover of convenient size (Figure 9) to fit into a chamber pot or
utensil; the upper portion of said cover (A) is hollowed out in the shape of an
inverted shallow cone, the apex being left unclosed so as to communicate with a
cone shaped tube (B): this formation is shown in all the figures of the drawings.
The outer rim (C) of the aforesaid cover is preferably bent horizontally or curved
to form a projecting flange intended to rest upon or over the rim (D) of the
chamber pot.
Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. .show various modifications of my invention, and
Figure 9. illustrates the main features of the same as described in my Provisional
Specification; in this form of my appliance, the cone shaped tube B is rigidly
attached to the main portion of the cover A, the rim of said cover being curved

page_text: outwardly to form the flange C which rests upon the rim of the chamber pot D.
The convex plate or dome F being fixed above the orifice of the tube B, leaving
spaces F between supports F³.
In Figure 1, the formation is very similar with the exception that the upper
portion of the cover A rises perpendicularly as E, and the flange C is formed at an
angle to the same, and rests upon the rim of the chamber pot D (Figure 2).
Figure 2. shows the appliance as Figure 1. applied to an ordinary chamber pot.
In Figure 3, the cone shaped tube B is separate from the main portion of the
cover A, and is supplied with a dome roof F, having spaces or perforations F¹
beneath the dome to allow of the passage of the liquid.
In Figure 4, the modification is shown where the dome shaped portion F takes
the place of the aforesaid tube B. In this case the liquid, passing down the sides
of the cover A, falls on to the dome shaped piece F, and down the sides of the
latter into the chamber pot, and a rim, or downwardly projecting flange, G is added
to prevent lateral movement.
In Figure 5, the funnel shaped cover A is without a projecting flange, and the
cone shaped tube B (attached rigidly to the cover) stands upon the bottom of the
chamber pot, while serrations H, (or perforations) are provided for the liquid to
pass through into the pot D. Rings A may be attached to the cover A to facilitate
removal from the chamber pot.
In Figure 6, the formation resembles that shown in Figure 4, with the exception
that the cover A has no projecting flange, so that the dome shaped portion Frests
upon the bottom of the chamber pot.
Figure 7, is a plan of Figure 4.
Figure 8. shows the cover A and tube B in one piece, with a shoulder J formed
at the top of the tube B, and having the dome F loose and provided with feet
resting upon said shoulder.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the minute details
above described, with reference to the drawings, I prefer to make the device of
cast iron or other metal, afterwards enamelling the whole so as to render it more
sightly and durable in use. Other materials, however, such as glazed earthenware,
may be employed in its manufacture. It may be found necessary for some patterns
of chamber pots to cut a portion out of the circumference of the flange to allow
room for the handle of the pot.
The appliance may be, if desired, formed of the shape of a trumpet mouth,
merging gradually into a conically tapered tube.
My improved device will be found to be nearly or quite noiseless when in use,
while the contents of the chamber pot are effectually hidden from sight by the
shallow cone shaped cover, above described. These features will be especially
appreciated in large buildings, such as hospitals, hotels, and schools, and also on
board ship, as well as in ordinary private houses.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An appliance to be used in connection with so called chamber pots or chamber
utensils for the purpose of preventing objectionable noise while such utensils are
being used such appliance consisting of a funnel shaped cover provided with a
flange to fit over the rim of the chamber pot or utensil the tube of the cover being
cone shaped or tapering and covered by a dome having spaces beneath through
which the liquid escapes so that said liquid shall cling to the sides of the tube and
be conveyed without noise to the bottom or lower part of the chamber pot or
utensil substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by Figure 9 of the
accompanying drawings.
2. The various modifications of the appliance as shown by Figures 1. 2. 3. 4.
5. 6. 7. 8. of the accompanying drawings and substantially as described in the
foregoing specification.

page_text: 3. The appliance for use with chamber pots or utensils and the modifications
thereof arranged and constructed substantially in accordance with the foregoing
specification and accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 17th day of August 1896.
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.