IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO WATERCLOSETS FOR DEODORIZING AND COUNTER- ACTING THE NOXIOUS EFFLUVIA EMITTED THEREFROM
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Baker, of Saint Mary's Road, South-
ampton, in the County of Hampshire, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO WATERCLOSETS FOR DEODORIZING AND
Sealed the 5th January 1872, and dated the 5th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Baker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th July 1871.
I, JOHN BAKER, of Saint Mary's Road, Southampton, in the County
of Hampshire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO WATERCLOSETS FOR DEODORIZING AND COUNTER-
ACTING THE NOXIOUS EFFLUVIA EMITTED THEREFROM," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing waterclosets with self-closing
air-tight lids or covers made hollow or with a perforated receptacle to
contain animal charcoal or other deodorizing and disinfecting substance.
I propose to make the front part of the seat of the closet moveable on
hinges or otherwise, and to connect such part with the aforesaid lid or

page_text: cover by rods, levers, and springs suitably arranged for retaining the
said lid or cover open when raised and allowing it to descend gradually
upon the pressure being removed from the moveable front part of the
seat.
By thus constructing waterclosets the necessity for using water for
flushing the pan each time the closet is used, as commonly practised, is
not necessary, as by this Invention the top of the pan is scaled air-tight
by self-acting means each time the closet is used, after which the
cnclosed gases and vapours coming into contact with the disinfecting
agent contained in the hollow perforated lid or wire gauze chamber or
holder affixed thereto become neutralized and deodorized as before
stated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Baker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BAKER, of Saint Mary's Road, Southampton, in the County of Hampshire,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John Baker, Her special licence that I, the
said John Baker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Baker, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO WATERCLOSETS FOR
DEODERIZING AND COUNTERACTING THE NOXIOUS EFFLUVIA EMITTED THEREFROM,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Baker, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal

page_text: Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Baker, do hereby declare the
nature of my said 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 consists in constructing waterclosets with self-closing
air-tight lids or covers made hollow or with a perforated receptacle to
contain animal charcoal or other deoderizing and disinfecting substance.
I propose to make the front part of the seat of the closet movable on
hinges or otherwise, and to connect such part with the aforesaid lid or
cover by rods, levers, and springs suitably arranged for retaining the
said lid or cover open when raised and allowing it to descend gradually
upon the pressure being removed from the movable front part of the
seat.
By thus constructing waterclosets the necessity for using water for
flushing the pan each time the closet is used, as commonly practised, is
not necessary, as by this Invention the top of the pan is sealed air-tight
by self-acting means each time the closet is used, after which the
enclosed gases and vapours coming into contact with the disinfecting
agent contained in the hollow perforated lid or wire gauze chamber
or holder affixed thereto become neutralized and deoderized as before
stated.
And in order to explain my said Invention more clearly I now
proceed to describe the means by which it may be carried into practical
effect, reference being had to the illustrative Sheet of Drawings
accompanying these Presents, and to the numeral figures and letters of
reference marked thereon, as follows:-
:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents the front elevation of a closet shewing my
improvements adapted thereto; Figure 2 is a transverse and vertical
section through the line A, B, at Figure 1. At each of the above
Figures similar letters of reference are employed to denote corresponding
parts.
A marks the seat, and B the front of the closet, to which are adapted
the following parts:-C is the lid, which for the purposes of this
Invention I form circular as a hox in which I place any deodorizing

page_text: ingredient. I form the top of the said lid solid, and the bottom or
opposite side perforated. I also fix to the said perforated side a ring a
of vulcanized india-rubber or other suitable elastic material for the
purpose of making an air-tight joint between the lid and the seat when
the lid is shut down, which operation may be effected by the following
self-acting mechanical arrangement:-I form the front part of the
closet movable upon springs c, and the lid C I hinge to the seat A. at d.
e marks the perforated side of the lid C. D is a spring carrying a
roller f, which presses against the C to rotard the too sudden descent
of the said lid. E is a rod connected by its upper end to the movable
rail b, and by its lower end to another rod whose opposite end is
connected to a short vibrating lever G mounted on a pin at 1 in the
standard H. is another rod connected by one end to the lever G,
and by its opposite end to a pin i fixed in bent lever I, the fulcrum
of which is a pin at k. I is a notch formed in the lever I, which takes
hold of the edge of the piece m fixed on to the lid, thereby holding the
lid up or open. K is a spring fixed by one end to the seat of the
closet, the said spring being employed to assist in closing the lid C. L
is a counterbalance weight to assist in returning the rail band parts
connected therewith into their normal position.
The operations of the above arrangements are as follows:-Suppose
the lid C of the closet to be closed the effect of raising the lid to its full
extent will be to hold it up by the notch in the lever G, and when the
closet is in use the pressure of a person's thighs on the rail b will depress
the said rail and place the rods y and in position for releasing the
lid from the catch that previously held it open, which will take place
upon the person rising from the seat and removing the pressure from
the rail b. The spring K will then exert its elastic force on the lid C to
close it, and the spring D will check the too rapid descent of the said
lid, as above stated.
Whilst the lid is closed the contents of the pan will be sealed and
deoderized by the fumes and gases coming into contact with the
deoderizing ingredient placed in the lid C, as before stated.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my
said Invention for " Improvements applicable to Waterclosets for
Deoderizing and Counteracting the Noxious Effluvia emitted therefrom,"
together with the means by which it may be effected, I would remark in
conclusion that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in, and I claim,

page_text: constructing waterclosets with self-closing air-tight lids or covers made
hollow or with a perforated receptacle in which is placed animal charcoal
or other deoderizing and disinfecting substance or material as above
described with reference to the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Baker, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of January, in, the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
JOHN BAKER. (L.S.)