IMPROVEMENTS IN WASH BASINS OR BOWLS, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH and
Year: 1885

page_text: connected therewith.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASH BASINS OR BOWLS, AND APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH 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 improvements in bowls and especially in stationary or
set bowls, but some of the said improvements are applicable to, and are of prac-
ticable value in connection with, such portable wash stands as are only connected
with water supply pipes, or with waste pipes, or with neither of them, but are
provided with set bowls which discharge their contents into removable pails or
buckets or beneath a car, through openings in the bottoms of the bowls.
The chief object of the said invention is to provide a mounted or set wash bowl
having a uniform interior earthenware or enamelled finish, free from visible
metallic fittings, and in the developement of this feature I have devised various
novelties in the construction, arrangement, and combination of various devices or
parts of value in this connection, with a view to desirable sanitary conditions,
cleanliness, and durability, as well as convenience and effectiveness in operation.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a top view of a stand and bowl provided with improvements
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of the same on line w, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of Figure 2 on line x.
Figures 4 and 5 are similar horizontal sections respectively on lines y and z
Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a side view of the plug spindle detached.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of a bowl having a plug and spindle which is
depressed for discharging, instead of raised as illustrated in the previous figures.
[Pic 31

page_text: Figure 8 is a central section of a bowl having a plug whether of metal or
earthenware of the ordinary size as employed with certain portions of my
invention.
Figure 9 illustrates in section a portable stand embodying a bowl with my
improvements.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate in vertical and horizontal section a wash bowl
having a trap in the waste chamber.
The basin or bowl A is composed either wholly of glass or earthenware, or of
any suitable material covered with water-proof enamel as a substitute for such
ware This bowl has an opening at its bottom, forming a plug seat which is
integral with the bowl, instead of a metallic plug seat as always heretofore used.
The plug B is novel in that it has an enamelled or an earthenware surface a which
corresponds in finish with the interior surface of the bowl. It is of such large
diameter as to be in substance, the bottom of the bowl as distinguished from the
usual metallic bushing and small metallic or flexible plugs heretofore employed.
As an important result the improved bowl has the neat and attractive appearance
of the ordinary portable basin, and the objectionable corrosive metal fittings, as
well as the unsightly collection of filth usually visible at the plug hole are wholly
obviated.
The plug B may be largely varied in construction without departure from certain
portions of my invention, but I have here shown it to be composed of earthen-
ware a, and having a socket at its underside, within which a nut b is securely
housed or imbedded by the aid of soft molten metal or by other well known means.
The coincident edges of the plug and bowl are inclined, and the plug is provided
with an annular recess c for the reception of an annular packing ring d which can
be a ring of very soft metal, or it may be composed of fibrous matter, but it is
preferably an elastic ring of vulcanized india-rubber sprung into the recess.
Metallic plugs have heretofore been provided with packing, and the packing ring
performs the usual functions, but in this combination it also performs a novel and
important function, in that it cushions the earthenware plug and bowl, so that
neither is liable to breakage from the shock incident to sudden and forcible
contact.
The basin and plug Figure 2 is so constructed that the plug is lifted for dis-
charging, and it will be seen that a lift not much greater than the thickness of the
plug, will afford an annular waste opening of such extensive area as will enable an
unusually prompt discharge which is obviously a matter of special value in Hotel
lavatories and on sleeping cars.
The plug spindle C is provided with a threaded stem e at its upper end, which
occupies the plug nut b, and it also has a sleeve nut f fitted to said stem which
performs the function of a set nut for the plug nut, to be firmly set higher or
Tower on the spindle as may be required. The said sleeve nut also performs the
function of a cap for guarding the upper end of any tubular guide bearing in which
the plug spindle may be mounted.
Below the bowl I employ a waste chamber D of novel construction in that it is
annular in form and contains a central vertical tube g within which the plug stem
is located, and for which it serves as a guide. This chamber D may be variously
constructed without departure from certain portions of my invention, and it can
be variously attached to the bowl. The chief feature of novelty is the central
tube, open at its bottom, and extended upward to receive the plug spindle, and
permit its free reciprocation, and at the same time to render leakage adjacent to
the spindle practically impossible. The waste chamber and tube may be separately
constructed, or integral as here shown, but it should have an inclined bottom to
obviate undue deposits of filth, and a waste outlet at one or more points, although
one, as at h, will generally be sufficient. It is desirable that said outlet should
have a detachable strainer h¹ as shown. Said outlet in permanently set basius

page_text: communicates in the usual manner with a waste pipe h having a trap and also, if
possible, there should be a connection with a ventilating shaft as at h³. The usual
overflow pipe * may be variably connected, although as here shown it enters the
waste chamber.
As shown in Figure 2 the basin plug is lifted by means of a treadle lever E,
which projects slightly outside the front of the usual casing, and which at its
inner end is coupled to the plug spindle by a link i. The lower end of said spindle
has a square head k, secured thereto by a lateral screw, as seen in Figure 6, or it
may be made integral therewith. This head serves as a seat for the lower end of
the expansive spiral spring which encircles the stem, and has an abutment for its
upper end, at an annular surface, within the tube g. The interior of mid tube
at its upper end is cylindrical, and snugly but freely receives the round plug stem,
but at and below the shoulder it is cylindrical, and larger in diameter affording
a housing for the spring, and from that point downward as at kit is square in
cross section for properly receiving and guiding the square head of the stem, and
preventing it from rotation, as when it is desired to unscrew the plug from its
stem either for adjustment, or for access to the waste chamber. The outside of the
tube g at the upper end is cylindrical for a distance a little greater than the lifting
movement of the spindle, so that said tube is well housed within the sleeve nut f
before described, thus having its upper end well guarded against leakage. To still
further guard this point, and also for cushioning the sleeve nut when the plug is
lowered, an india-rubber packing disc f' is interposed between the top of said
tube and the coincident interior surface of the sleeve nut. Although I prefer the
use of the well known treadle lever as shown, and make claim thereto in a certain
combination, a pull or a push rod can be employed in lieu thereof, as indicated in
dotted lines in Figure 2 without departure from my invention.
It will be obvious that the adjustability of the spring, due to the lengthwise
adjustability of the spindle, or equivalent means, enables a degree of pressure as
between the plug and basin, to be obtained which will secure the proper tight joint
and also the cushioning effect desired, without liability of undue shocks and strains ;
and it is further obvious that the expansive force of the spring when at rest, serves
to tightly bind and hold the waste chamber to the bowl, and whenever the spindle
is forced upward it will be seen that the waste chamber is all the more firmly held
against the bowl, so that under all circumstances no destructive strains can affect
the joint between the waste basin and the bowl either from the normal action of
the spring, or from operating the treadle.
In Figure 7 certain features of my invention are illustrated in connection with a
plug which is lowered for discharging the contents of the bowl, and therefore the
inclination of the contact surfaces is reversed from that shown in Figure 2, and the
several parts of the apparatus are correspondingly modified. In this case the
tube g is of uniform internal diameter, and the spring is applied beneath the outer
end of the treadle.
The sleeve nut f is somewhat longer than as shown in Figure 2, and the top of
the tube g is somewhat lower.
It will be seen that if a small plug is desired, it can be employed in connection
with certain features of my invention, as for instance as shown in Figure 8. As
here shown, the annular waste chamber D has a central hole at its bottom into
which the lower end of the tube g is inserted, and wherein it is secured in a vertical
position, and with a tight joint by a shoulder on the tube, a thread below the
shoulder, and a nut, these parts being put together in red lead in a manner
well known. The sleeve nut f is of greater length than is shown in the previous
figures, and the brass spiral spring 1 is interposed between an india-rubber disc mon
top of said tube, and the inner upper surface of the sleeve nut f, so that said spring
forces the plug upward into its seat and the disc serves as a water tight packing at
the annular space between the spindle and sleeve. The top of the tube g is higher

page_text: than the level to which the water could possibly rise in the waste chamber, because
the outlet from the waste chamber has a greater area of opening than the area of
the waste hole in the bowl. When the tube g is constructed as shown it can be
made of non corrosive metal, as a practically water tight joint between it and the
sleeve nut can be readily obtained without the use of special packing.
For relieving the upward shock of the plug against its seat, the lower end of the
spindle is threaded and provided with a nut n, which also admits of a variable
adjustment of of the pressure of the plug packing.
The value of my improvements in connection with portable wash stands will be
obvious from an inspection of Figure 9, wherein the annular waste chamber D is of
considerable capacity and is provided with a waste cock by which the contents
of the said chamber can be retained, as in a practically air tight vessel, until
convenient for withdrawal; or said cock being open the waste water can flow
directly into a bucket, as is common with portable wash stands of this general
class. For use in this connection I prefer that the annular chamber be either
composed of earthenware or glazed cast iron, so that its interior surface may be
In their best form
readily kept free from offensive deposits of solid matter.
I prefer to provide such stands with a water tank n¹ pump o and conducting
pipe p for delivering water into the bowl, but that arrangement forms no part of
my invention.
The annular waste chamber can be so constructed as to embody within it, a
water seal trap, and thus obviate actual necessity for the usual outside goose neck
trap illustrated in Figure 2. As for instance it will be seen on referring to
Figures 10 and 11 that a vertical diaphragm q is located as a wall between the
The wall
interior of the waste chamber, and the mouth of the exit pipe r.
at its
bottom is laterally perforated as at q¹ to provide for the passage of fluids at points
below the level of the neck of said exit pipe. This diaphragm q may be integrally
formed with the waste chamber as is preferable, or it may be separately constructed
and secured thereto by any obvious means, and be readily detachable if desired.
g
All of these organizations contain that feature of my invention by which for the
first time the valve plug spindle is practically insulated from contact with the
waste water, and the liability of leakage reduced to a minimum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated
to me by my foreign Correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. The combination of an earthenware bowl or basin, having an integral plug
seat at a large central opening therein; a waste chamber below said opening; and
a large earthenware plug; serving as a removal bottom to said bowl, and detach-
ably mounted upon a vertically sliding spindle, substantially as described, whereby
the bowl may be promptly emptied, the necessity for a metal bushing or plug seat
obviated at the bottom of the bowl, a uniform interior finish is afforded, and the
waste chamber is rendered easily accessible, as set forth.
Second. The combination with a wash bowl or basin, of an annular waste
chamber, containing a central tube, extending upward from the bottom thereof;
and a waste plug mounted upon a vertically sliding spindle, within and guided by
said tube, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the bowl, the annular waste chamber, the central
tube, the waste plug mounted on a sliding spindle within said tube, and the sleeve
mounted on said spindle, and enclosing said tube, substantially as described.
Fourth. The bowl having the integral inclined plug seat, the earthenware plug,
and the recess in the edge of said plug containing ring packing, in combination
with the annular waste chamber; containing the central tube, the plug spindle
within said tube, and a spring for forcing the plug to its seat, substantially as
described.

page_text: Fifth. The combination of the bowl, the waste chamber, the central tube within
said chamber, the waste plug, its spindle within said tube, the treadle for moving
the plug from its seat, and the spring for forcing said plug to its seat, substantially
as described.
Sixth. The combination of the earthenware plug, its central nut embedded in its
underside, the plug spindle, the tube for said spindle, and the sleeve nut on said
spindle which encloses the upper end of the tube, and also serves as a set nut for
the plug, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.