Disinfecting and Deodorizing Device.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
Disinfecting and Deodorizing Device.
I, CARLOSTINE ERASTUS BLAKE, of 912, Second Avenue, South, Minneapolis, State
of Minnesota, U.S.A., Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to disinfecting and deodorizing devices for use in toilet
rooms, sick rooms and other places.
The object of the invention is to provide a deodorizing, disinfecting and germi-
cidal agent, in a dry, portable and convenient form and without the usual glass
or metal vessel to contain the same.
The invention consists generally in a shell or cover composed of disinfecting
or deodorizing material, preferably of crystalline formation, said shell or cover
being hollow and containing a suitable disinfectant which is preferably contained
in a porous vessel arranged within the shell or cover. The disinfecting material
within the inner porous vessel gradually evaporates through the wall of said
vessel and through the shell or cover of disinfecting or deodorizing material.
The inner vessel instead of being formed of porous material may be of any non-
porous material with suitable wicks passing through its walls whereby the disin-
fecting material will pass from the inner vessel by capillary action through the
wicks. In some instances the inner vessel may be entirely omitted and a ball.
of cotton thoroughly saturated with the disinfecting material may be used instead
of the inner vessel containing the disinfecting material. In each instance the
shell or cover prevents the too rapid evaporation of the contained disinfecting
material while the cover or shell itself also throws off a germicidal disinfecting or
deodorizing vapor.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is an elevation of disinfecting ball, or device embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of the inner porous vessel,
the disinfecting liquid within said vessel and the outer shall or cover.
Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the inner vessel provided with a filling of
cotton or other absorbent material.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the device with a covering interposed
between the inner porous vessel and the outer shell or cover.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the inner vessel made of a substantially non-
porous material and provided with wicks for permitting the passage of the disin-
fecting liquid from the inner vessel.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view with the inner vessel omitted, its place being supplied
by a ball of cotton or absorbent material that is saturated with the disinfecting
liquid.
Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of the porous ball or inner vessel.
As shown in the drawings, 2, represents a hollow ball or vessel, the walls of

page_text: which are porous. This ball is preferably made of clay mixed with fine sawdust
or like material, which latter is burned in baking the ball so as to make the
walls of the ball porous. This porous vessel is filled with a composition of disin-
fecting and germicidal materials, which composition preferably comprises four
parts of formalin, and three parts each of carbolic acid, menthol, thymol and
eucalyptol. The ball may be filled by the process of absorption but I prefer to
provide the same with a hole which is closed by a cork or block of clay 4, after
the ball is filled with the liquid. The porous nature of the ball or vessel causes
the slow conduction of the liquid to the surface thereof, from which the liquid
slowly evaporates and passes off in the form of a vapor that is useful in the
destruction of germ life and disagreeable odors.
To prevent a too rapid evaporation of the germicidal agent, I enclose the porous
vessel in a thick outer shell 6 of a crystalline volatile substance. This is molded
upon the ball or vessel and assumes a crystalline formation when cooled. This
substance is in itself a disinfecting and deodorizing agent, the vapor
thereof combining with the vapor of the
porous vessel. The com-
position of the shell 6 is preferably thirteen parts of napthaline, two parts of
gum camphor, and one part of oil of peppermint or paraffine. Both the oil and
the paraffine may be used if desired, and either one will protect the surface of
the ball against rapid destruction by moisture. I prefer to use oil of peppermint
as it protects the ball from moisture, as above stated, and also scents the same.
As the oil or the paraffine of the shell composition would be apt to close or seal
the pores of the vessel 2 when being molded thereon, I prefer to roll or dip the
porous ball in a powder or paste composed of plaster or chalk 5 (see Figs. 2 and 3)
which prevents the entrance of the oil or camphor wax to the surface of the ball
and does not interfere with the process of evaporation when the ball is finished.
As it is often desired to suspend the balls, I wrap a wire 7 about the porous
vessel before the shell is molded thereon and form a loop 8 in the wire as a
means to suspend the ball in desired places. The wire loop is also useful as a
means to suspend the ball in the mold whereon the shell is formed upon the
porous inner vessel. In Fig. 4 I have shown a thick layer of a germicidal agent,
such as chloride of lime, arranged upon the porous vessel and within the shell 6.
For convenience I prefer to apply this layer by means of a cloth or felt cover-
ing 3, both sides of which are covered with a paste of the disinfecting material.
The cloth also acts as a wick to distribute the liquid from the ball to all parts
of the inner layer and evenly to the inner surface of the outer shell or cover 6.
In Fig. 5 I have shown the inner vessel 2 formed of material that is practically
nonporous and in this instance a suitable wick 9 is arranged to pass through open-
ings in the wall of the vessel, the portion of the wick within the vessel being in
the form of a loop adapted to drop to the bottom of the vessel in whatever posi-
tion the ball may be placed. The ends of the wick outside of the vessel prefer-
ably extends around the surface of the vessel and a layer 10 of cotton or other
absorbent material is placed between the surface of the inner vessel and the inner
surface of the covering or shell 6. When preferred, the ball may be provided
with a tube 11 extending into the inner vessel and provided with a closing
plug 12, as shown in Fig. 5. When this device is employed, the inner vessel
may be renewed at any time. In Fig. 6 I have shown a construction in which
the inner vessel is omitted and its place is supplied by a ball of cotton or other
absorbent material 13. This cotton is thoroughly saturated with the disinfecting
liquid before the outer covering or shell 6 is applied thereto.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: —
1. A disinfecting device, comprising a ball, bulb or shell of volatile substance,
such as napthaline, enclosing a chamber or inner space containing a suitable dis-
infecting substance that evaporates through and with the said volatile substance.

page_text: 2. The ball or vessel containing a disinfecting liquid and an outer shell or
cover of volatile material molded upon said ball or vessel.
3. The combination, with the porous ball or vessel containing a suitable disin-
fecting liquid, of an enclosing volatile shell or cover also of a porous nature.
Dated this 29th day of August 1899.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 33, Cannon Street, London, E.C.