AN IMPROVED SANATORY TOILET APPARATUS
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th November 1864.-A communication from abroad by Jules Leclerc,
of. 39, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11,
Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED SANATORY
TOILET APPARATUS," (a communication to me from abroad by Jules Leclerc,
of 89, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France,) to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in an improved sanatory toilet apparatus, the purpose
of which it is proposed to conceal by giving to its exterior the appearance of a
small chest of drawers, the height varying from 16 to 18 inches, being the
usual height of a seat or chair. Its first advantage is that persons using it
need no longer wet their hands, as with the ordinary bidet, it only being
necessary (the person being seated) to turn a small crank in order to fulfil this
office of cleanliness in a much more rational manner than hitherto.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing forming part of this Provisional
Specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section cutting vertically through the
centre of the chest; Figure 2, a top plan view of same, with cover raised and
seat removed to shew the porcelain pan and the shaft which carries the sponge ;
Figure 3 is a view of the exterior of this article of furniture, the lid being
raised.

page_text: C' is a hinged lid opening from the small side, stops being fixed on the hinges
in order that the lid forming back cannot open more than from 110 to 120
degrees; V is the section of a vase of porcelain or other enameled or suitable
material. This vase only occupies the space between the lines 1, 2, 3, 4, and
rests on a wooden framing, to which it is fixed by screws, the position of which
is seen Figure 2. A (Figure 2) is a small crank intended to turn a small
shaft, on which is fixed a sponge, the position of which is shewn in plan at
Figure 2, and in vertical section at E, Figure 1. The shaft which carries it is
furnished with two funnel-shaped compressors X, fixed by means of a small
spring, such as is used in umbrellas. The small brackets or bearings of the shaft
are fixed to the inner sides of the chest, and one has a moveable cap to permit
the withdrawal of the shaft when it is desired to change the sponge. It will
be understood that on turning the crank A (if the person is seated so that
the sponge touches the sexual parts) the result will be more perfect and con-
venient than by using the hand.
The shaft A is shewn, Figure 4, without a sponge; B¹ (Figure 5) is a
curved brush fixed on a small slight curved flat iron bar, and so placed as
to constantly clean the sponge which presents itself to it in turning with the
shaft; B¹ (Figure 1) is a basin which receives the water when the vase V is
emptied, which running off is effected by the aid of a tap, the position of
which is indicated by R (Figure 1); C is a moveable frame shewn separately,
Figure 6.
To this, first arrangement is added an almost indispensable accessary,
namely, an enema or clyster pump, placed as indicated C, D, Figure 1; a
small union pipe is placed at T, and on this union are fixed the necessary ends,
and the shaft being removed from above the vase V the person seated may
administer to himself or herself a clyster or injection with the greatest facility,
inasmuch, as the clyster pump being fixed, all that is requisite is to turn the
small crank.