IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMODES OR CLOSETS FOR SANITARY PURPOSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Naylor, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMMODES OR
CLOSETS FOR SANITARY PURPOSES."
Sealed the 8th March 1872, and dated the 16th September 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said. Charles Naylor at the
.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
16th September 1871.
I, CHARLES NAYLOR, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do
5 hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMMODES OR CLOSETS FOR SANITARY PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This my Invention for improvements in commodes or closets for
sanitary purposes has for its object certain improvements applicable to
the class of portable commodes or closets for use in bedrooms, sick wards,

page_text: on board ship, and other similar places, and consists in rendering such
commodes or closets air-tight by the use of a hermetical cover.
A commode or closet constructed according to this Invention may be
formed of a square, round, or other shaped case or night chair. This
case or night chair is fitted with a cover and a lid with a suitable round
hole in it. This lid is hinged at the back. In the case or night chair is
suspended by preference by an universal joint a vase, or in some cases a
ring, which has two grooves on its upper surface. These grooves are
concave on the bottom, and are fitted with an india-rubber or other
suitable packing ring. This vase is formed by preference of sheet iron,
but may be of wood, earthenware, or other suitable material. In the
centre of this vase is suspended a commode pot, which may be of enamelled
iron, carthenware, or other suitable material. The vase is covered over
by a removable lid having two projections or rims, which take into the
before-mentioned grooves and bear upon the packing rings before-
mentioned. The lid is held in position and pressed on the packing rings
by three or more springs on the edge of the vase, thus rendering the
vase perfectly air-tight. The vase is fitted with a handle so that it can
be lifted or removed with case from the case or night chair. The
commode pot or utensil is also fitted with a handle for the purpose of
removal from the vase for emptying. In some cases the vase may be
dispensed with, and in lieu thereof a ring is used, suspended in a similar
manner to the vase and having similar packing rings and cover.
The application of the commode is thus:-The cover of the night
chair or case being lifted the user raises the lid and removes the
hermetical cover or lid of the vase. The lid of the chair or case is then
put down and the apparatus is ready for use. After using, the lid of the
chair or case is again raised and the hermetical cover or lid of the vase
replaced. The vase can be removed from the chair or case by the
handle and carried away, so that the commode pot can be emptied of its
contents or otherwise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Naylor in the Great Scal Patcut Office
on the 15th March 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
NAYLOR, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of September, 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 Charles Naylor, Her special licence
that I, the said Charles Naylor, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Naylor, 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 IN COMMODES.
OR CLOSETS FOR SANITARY PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Naylor, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and scals, 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 Scal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Naylor, 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 my Invention for improvements in commodes or closets for
sanitary purposes has for its object certain improvements applicable to
the class of portable commodes or closets for use in bedrooms, sick
wards, on board ship, and other similar places, and consists in rendering
such commodes or closets air-tight by the use of a hermetical cover.
A commode or closet constructed according to my Invention may be
formed of a square, round, or other shaped case, or,
66 'night chair."

page_text: "
This case or
night chair" is fitted with a cover and a lid with a
suitable round hole in it. This lid is hinged at the back. In the case
or "night chair" is suspended by preference by a universal joint a vase,
or in some cases a ring grooved on its upper surface. These grooves
are concave on the bottom, and may be fitted with an india-rubber or
other suitable packing ring. This vase is formed by preference of sheet
iron, but may be of wood, earthenware, or other suitable material. In
the centre of this vase is suspended a commode pot, which may be of
enamelled iron, carthenware, or other suitable material. The vase is
covered over by a removable lid having projections or rims, which take
into the before-mentioned grooves and bear upon the packing rings before-
mentioned. This lid is held in position and pressed on the packing rings
by three or more springs on the edge of the vase, thus rendering the
vase perfectly air-tight. In lieu of placing the packing rings in the
grooves of the vase they may be placed in the grooves formed by the
projections of the lid. The vase is fitted with a handle so that it can be
The
lifted or removed with ease from the case or "night chair.”
commode pot or utensil is also fitted with a handle for the purpose of
removal from the vase for emptying. In some cases the vase may be
dispensed with, and in lieu thereof a ring is used, suspended in a similar
manner to the vase and having similar packing rings and cover.
The cover of the case or "night chair" is hinged to the chair, and is
fitted with a quadrant so arranged that when the cover is closed the
quadrant goes straight down the side of the case instead of describing an
arc. This is done through the quadrant being struck with a large
It is made with a slot,
radius and being hinged or jointed to the cover.
The lid over the
which takes on to a guide pin in the case or cover.
vase and utensil is fitted with a knob handle, fastened from the under
side, and so fitted as to be flush with the surface of the lid..
The before-going being the nature and object of my Invention, I will.
now proceed to describe more in detail how the same may be carried out
into practical effect, and for that purpose I have hereunto annexed a
Sheet of Drawings illustrative of my Invention, and showing several
modifications thereof; like letters and figures being used to denote
similar parts throughout the various views.
night chair" fitted
Figure 1.is a sectional side clevation of a case or
with a vase and commode pot shown with covers removed.

page_text: knob for removing cover of vase; M, knob for lifting lid of case or
night chair; N, screw attaching knob of case of night chair; O,
Figure 4, quadrant hinged or jointed to cover B at P; R, quadrant
guide pin; S, slot inside of case for quadrant; T, handle fitted to cach
side of the case or night chair.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 show the vase, vase cover, and
commode pot more in detail. a, vase; b, grooved projections in same;
c, ledge or rest for commode pot; d, cover; e, grooved projections in
same; f, knob for raising cover; g, handle for lifting vasc; h, packing
ring in grooves; k, springs; 1, commode pot.
It will be seen upon reference that Figure 5 shows a double grooved
projection in vase with packing rings and springs, the cover fits on to
the vase, pressing on the packing rings, and is held there by the springs
k. It will be seen on reference to Figures 6, 12, and 13 that.the vase is
shown with a single grooved projection, the vase cover being fitted with
a packing ring in its groove, the springs / holding the cover down when
on. It will be seen on reference to Figures 7 and 11 that thec vasc is
fitted with a single projection m, and a projecting bead n. The
projection m takes into the groove of the cover and presses on the
packing ring h. The cover is held down and in position by the springs
k pressing on the bead n, the springs in this case being fitted to the
cover, or in some cases the cover may be weighted and the springs k
dispensed with.
.
The application of the commode constructed according to my
Invention is thus:-The cover B of the case or night chair A being
lifted the user raises the lid C and removes the hermetical cover I of
the vase E. The lid C is then put down; the commode is then ready
for usc.
After using the lid C is again raised and the cover I replaced
on the vase, the vase being thus hermetically covered. The vase can be
removed from the chair or casc A. and carried away, so that the
commode can be emptied of its contents and not be offensive cither to
the sight or smell, inasmuch as the vase is hermetically sealed by the
packing rings in the grooves of the cover or vase, and the springs
holding the cover or vase tight against the packing rings.
Having now described the nature and object of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same may be carried out into practical effect, I
wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the use of the

page_text: vase fitted with commode pot, as the vase itself may be used as the
commode pot, thereby dispensing with the latter, or the vase may be
used distinct from the night chair and commode pot as a hermetically
covered slop pail particularly applicable to use on board ship, nor to the
several proportions, relative dimensions, size and style of the various
parts as shown, as it will be readily seen that the same may be
considerably varied without departing from my Invention, but what I
claim is,―
Firstly. A commode or closet for sanitary purposes, constructed as
herein-before described, with a hermetical cover to the vase or commode
as herein-before described, and the quadrant for supporting cover of case
or night chair as herein-before described, all substantially in the manner
and for the purposes set forth.
"
Secondly. The vase and cover distinct from night chair, forming a
hermetically covered slop. pail as herein-before described, substantially
in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
. Lastly. The quadrant struck with a large radius and jointed or hinged
at one end, substantially in the manner herein-before described and
set forth:
In witness whereof I, the said Charles Naylor, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord 1872.
Witness,
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH,
of 15, Water Street,
Liverpool.
CHARLES (L.S.) NAYLOR.