IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF SINKS OR SIMILAR APPARATUS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Catanach Smith, of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF SINKS OR
SIMILAR APPARATUS."
Sealed the 14th July 1868, and dated the 1st February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Catanach Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st February 1868.
I, ROBERT CATANACH SMITH, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid.
Lothian, North Britain, do hereby declaro the nature of the said
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF
SINKS OR SIMILAR APPARATUS," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention which has for its object certain improvements in the
arrangement and construction of sinks consists in forming the trough
with a vertical ledge or projection on the back and two ends, whereas
the front side is formed with a lip or overhanging ledge, so that the
destruction of the fixings connected with such apparatus may not occur
by means of the water overflowing on all the four sides as at present;

page_text: the liquid in the vessel or trough when up to the level of the front lip
only then overflowing; the vertical edge on three sides of the trough
may be covered with timber or other material to give it a more finished
appearance. The exit pipe by which the contents are drawn off may
be provided with means for tapping the escape of foul gases from the
drain or sewer with which it is connected, for this purpose what is
known as a "bell trap" may be employed. An overflow is provided
at any convenient part of the vessel or trough, through which any
waste water may pass off into the exit pipe, and in the event of this
being choked by refuse matter the overflow lip in front, herein-before
referred to, has an advantageous effect, for the reason that any surplus
liquid would run over the lip on to the floor of the apartment wherein
it is placed, thereby attracting the attention of persons present, so that
before any injury can be effected by the overflow on all sides of the
trough, as under the method of construction hitherto adopted, the escape
valve may be lifted.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Catanach Smith in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 31st July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
CATANACH SMITH, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Robert Catanach Smith, Her special license
that I, the said Robert Catanach Smith, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Catanach Smith, my
executors, administrators, or 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
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SINKS OR SIMILAR APPARATUS," upon the condition

page_text: (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Catanach Smith, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Catanach Smith, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say:-
My said Invention which has for its object certain improvements in
the arrangement and construction of sinks consists in forming the trough
with a vertical ledge or projection on the back and two ends, whereas
the front side is formed with a lip or overhanging ledge, so that the
destruction of the fixings connected with such apparatus may not occur
by means of the water overflowing on all the four sides as at present,
the liquid in the vessel or trough when full up to the level of the front
lip only then overflowing; the vertical edge on three sides of the
trough may be covered with timber or other material to give it a more
finished appearance. The exit pipe by which the contents are drawn off
may be provided with means for trapping the escape of foul gases from
the drain or sewer with which it is connected, for this purpose what is
known as a "bell trap" may be employed. An overflow is provided
at any convenient part of the vessel or trough, through which any waste
water may pass off into the exit pipe, and in the event of this being
choked by refuse matter the overflow lip in front, herein-before referred
to, has an advantageous effect, for the reason that any surplus liquid
would run over the lip on to the floor of the apartment wherein it is
placed, thereby attracting the attention of persons present, so that
before any injury can be effected by the overflow on all sides of the
trough, as under the method of construction hitherto adopted, the escape
valve may be lifted.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood,
I shall now proceed to describe more particularly the system, mode,
or manner in or under which the same is or may be used, or practically

page_text: carried into effect, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 a
transverse section of a sink as constructed in accordance with this
Invention; on these Figures similar parts are indicated by corresponding
letters of reference.
The improvements consist in forming a vertical ledge or projection a
round the back and two ends of the mouth of the trough 6, while the
front side or part of one side is formed with a lip or overhanging ledge d,
so that if by any accident the watercock should be turned on or left
running in the absence of users or attendants, or in the case of the exit
pipe & being choked by refuse matter the water will overflow by the
lip c at the front or lowered side instead of running over all four sides
of the sink. By this means the fixings of the sink are preserved from
injury by water or other liquid, so that hard-wood finishing or lead
flashing is unnecessary.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in or under which the same is or may be used or practically
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to mo
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction
of sinks in which one side or part of one side is lowered for the
purposes and in the manner herein-before described and shown on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Catanach Smith, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-seventh day of
July, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
R. CATANACH SMITH. (L.S.)