Improvements in Lavatories or Washhand Basins.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lavatories or Washhand Basins.
I JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the form and construction of
lavatories or washhand basins.
In carrying out my invention I have the basin made or combined with a table-
like top which is of a rectangular form in plan. The contour of the top edge of
the basin comprises a straight or nearly straight front part connected by curves
at the sides to straight or nearly straight parts extending from the side curves in
inclined directions to the middle of the back where they are joined by a short
curve. The contour thus resembles a triangle with the angles replaced by curves
and with the longest side at the front. The discharge outlet is at the middle of
the back where the two inclined parts join, being thus in a kind of recess and away
from the front of the basin, which latter part shaped so that the hand washing
operation can be conveniently effected without having to stretch the hands far over
the basin. The improved contour of basin leaves corner parts of the table top
which are very convenient for soap recesses and for hot and cold water supply taps.
Various discharge-valve arrangements may be adopted, such as a common chain
plug at the bottom of the back recess; or that recess may be enclosed by a
diaphragm or shield and a combined valve and overflow tube be arranged inside of
it. For the overflow instead of the common arrangement of vertical slits at the
back of the basin 1, in one modification, form horizontal slits in a part made a little
lower than the top edge of the basin; such slits being if desired, covered and kept
out of view by an overhanging ornament. Or I may make the overflow passage
open at 'the top, its top being a little lower than the top edge of the basin, and
in that case apply a cover which may be hinged and have the chain of the
discharge plug attached to it, the cover being thus capable of being turned over to
give access to the overflow passage and other parts. The overflow passage may be
made in the same piece with the basin; or it may be arranged in any other suitable
known manner.
Dated this Twenty-second day of January 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lavatories or Washhand Basins.
1, JOHN SHANKS, of Tubal Works, Barrhead, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Sanitary 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the form and construction of
lavatories or washhand basins.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may
be properly understood I hereunto append two sheets of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and showing examples of lavatories as made with my
improvements.

page_text: Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, of the accompanying drawings is a plan, Figure, 2,
a transverse vertical section and Figure, 3, a partial horizontal section of one
example of my improved lavatory.
Figure, 4, on Sheet, 2, of the drawings is a plan and Figure, 5, a transverse
vertical section of a second example.
Figure, 6, is a partial transverse section showing a modification of a detail.
In these drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
In carrying out my invention I have the basin, B, made (or it might be com-
bined) with a table-like top, T, which is of a rectangular form in plan. The
contour of the top edge of the basin, B, comprises a straight or nearly straight
front part connected by curves at the sides to straight or nearly straight parts
extending from the side curves in inclined directions towards the middle of the back
where they are joined by a short curve. The contour thus resembles a triangle
with the angles replaced by curves, and with the longest side at the front. The
discharge outlet is at the middle of the back where the two inclined parts join,
being thus in a kind of recess and away from the front of the basin, B, which latter
part is shaped so that the hand washing operation can be conveniently effected
without having to stretch the hands far over the basin, B. The improved contour
of basin, B, leaves corner parts of the table top, T, which are very convenient for
soap recesses, S, and for hot and cold water supply taps, W.
Various discharge-valve arrangements may be adopted, such as a common chain
plug, P, at the bottom of the back recess; as shown in Figures, 4, and, 5; or
that recess may be enclosed by a diaphragm, D, made in a piece with the
basin, B. (or it might be by a separate shield inserted in the basin, B) and a
combined valve and overflow tube, V, be arranged inside of the diaphragm, D, as
shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3. For the overflow, Q, instead of the common
arrangement of vertical slits at the back of the basin I may form horizontal slits
made a little lower than the top edge of the basin, B; such slits being, if desired,
covered and kept out of view by an overhanging ornament.
Or as shown in
Figures, and 5, make the overflow passage, Q, open at the top, its top being
a little lower than the top edge of the basin, B. Or as shown in Figure, 6, I may
apply a cover, C, which is hinged at the back and has the chain, A, of the discharge
plug, P, attached to it, the cover, C, being thus capable of being turned over into
the position indicated by dotted lines to give access to the overflow passage, Q, and
other parts. The overflow passage, Q, may be made in the same piece with the
basin, A, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, or it may be arranged in any other
suitable known manner.
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. The improved configuration or form of a lavatory or washhand basin
substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinbetore described.
2. The improved configuration or form of a combined lavatory or washhand basin
and top, substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore
described.
3. The arrangement of the overflow passage and cover as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figure, 6, of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty-first day of October 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent: