IMPROVEMENTS IN TOILET OR WASHI-HAND STAND SERVICES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Vernon, of the Firm of James Vernon and Brother,
of Newton Stewart, Scotland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOILET
OR WASHI-HAND STAND SERVICES."
Sealed the 23rd September 1876, and dated the 1st June 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Vernon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1876.
JAMES VERNON, of the Firm of James Vernon and Brother, of Newton Stewart,
Scotland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOILET OR WASH-HAND STAND SERVICES."
This Invention has for its object, 1st, to dispense with the numerous separate pieces
comprising a toilet service for a double wash-hand stand, and which pieces not only
take up much room on the wash-hand stand but are very liable to be broken, thus
spoiling the toilet set, it being very difficult and often impossible to match the pieces;
2ndly, to prevent the bottoms of the ewers, basins, and heavy pieces from scratching
the marble top, and to obviate the shocks consequent upon carelessly setting down
the various pieces of the toilet service on the wash-hand stand, an object which is
very desirable, particularly in sick rooms.
In carrying out the first part of the Invention I combine the smaller articles of
the toilet service in one piece, comprising, say two soap dishes, a brush tray, a
sponge dish, and water bottle stand.
The arrangement which I prefer is one in which the two soap dishes placed side
by side would be in the front, with the brush tray placed transversely behind them.
The sponge dish I propose to place behind the brush tray, with the water bottle
stand above it. The sponge dish may be enclosed, leaving an opening in the front
for the purpose of placing the sponge in its place, the water bottle stand forming
the top of the enclosed space, or the space may be left open or divided into two
compartments, the bottle tray being supported by pillars, or in any other convenient
manner. The service may be made of any suitable material or design. The lids
and drainers of the soap and brush dishes are of course made separate, so as to be
capable of removal when required.
In carrying out the second part of my Invention I form in the under side or
bottom of the heavy pieces of the service radial or other grooves, into which I
fasten with cement, or otherwise secure, wedges of india-rubbor or other suitable

page_text: elastic substance, which will project from the under side of the piece, and form
clastic feet, on which the piece will stand; or in the case of the ewer and basin a
circular groove may, if preferred, be formed in the bottom, into which a ring of
india-rubber is to be inserted.
The ewer and basin I propose to make with two handles, to facilitate the lifting
and replacing of the same. In the case of the ewer one handle will be at the back
part of the body of the vessel and the other at the upper part; the handles for the
basin will be conveniently situated immediately below the rim.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Vernon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st December
1876.
JAMES VERNON, of Newton Stewart, Scotland.
WASH-HAND STAND SERVICES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TOILET OR
The chief object of the first head of this Invention is to construct for wash-hand
stands a piece of earthenware which will combine within it receptacles for soap, for
brushes, for tooth or other powders, and for a sponge, and also a stand for a water
bottle or for a water bottle and ewers, and the second head has for its object to
protect such fittings and other earthenware articles of the wash-hand stand from
injury.
The first head of any Invention applics chiefly to double wash-hand stands, but
may be also adapted to single wash-hand stands, the parts in the former case being
duplicated, and therefore of somewhat different arrangement from that for the single
stand.
In the accompanying Drawings I have illustrated this part of my Invention in
detail with reference to double wash-hand stands, that being the most usual form in
which the Invention will be applied, but the diagram, Fig. 1, Sheet I., will show a
good arrangement, suitable for a single wash-hand stand, the cover being removed to
show the receptacles below it. In this Figure the moulded piece of earthenware A
has a receptacle a for brushes; b, for soap; and c, for a box or jar for tooth or other
powder. These are intended to be shut in by n cover extending over the three
compartments and pierced to allow of ventilation and the evaporation of moisture.
d is a cavity for a sponge; e, a stand for a water bottle; and f, a stand for a drinking
glass.
Fig. 2 shews in plan view the fittings for a double wash-hand stand, combined
according to my Invention; Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section of the same;
and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 2.
In these Figures A, A, is a framing of earthenware pierced to receive the trays or
boxes for containing the soap, brushes, and tooth or other powder. This framing is
moulded with a central dish-shaped recess as at B, which forms the basin for the
reception of the two soap dishes C, C, which drain into the same; D, D, are two
jars for tooth or other powder, and on either side of this hollow B are the trays E
for containing tooth and nail brushes. These several receptacles are each provided
with lids; but, if desired, one lid may cover them all, as described with reference to
the single arrangement, Fig. 1. F is a shelf carried by vertical side and back
supports, which leave a chamber G open in front to receive a sponge. On either
side of this shelf, and at a somewhat lower level, is a circular stand H with a lip to
receive an ewer or water jug I, while on the shelf F room is provided for the placing
of a water bottle K.
These ewers may be made of any desired form, but I prefer to provide them with
two handles i, i¹, as shewn in Fig. 3, the handle i being at the top of the ewer and
the handle ¹ at the back and near the bottom of the vessel.
Fig. 5, Sheet II., shews in plan view another arrangement of fittings complete

page_text: for a double wash-hand stand, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same.
In this
piece are combined the receptacles for the various articles before mentioned and two
stands for water bottles. The letters of reference in these Figures are similar to
those in Sheet I., and indicate corresponding parts in that Sheet.
In the two examples of a double set of fittings it will be understood that the
part A is moulded in one piece and that the trays and boxes C, D, and E, are by
preference loose pieces fitting therein, the lids of the several receptacles being also
necessarily loose.
I will now describe the second head of the Invention, which relates to a means
of providing against the breaking or chipping of the several pioces, and also the
breaking or chipping of the ewers and basins forming parts of the toilet set.
To prevent the bottonis of the ewers, basins, and heavy pieces, from scratching
the marble top of the wash-hand stand, and to obviate the shocks consequent upon
setting down the various pieces of the toilet service (an object which is very desirable,
especially in sick rooms), I form in the under side or bottom of the pieces of the
service, grooves or recesses into which I fasten with cement, or otherwise secure
studs, wedges, or rings of vulcanized india-rubber, or equivalent elastic material,
which will project from the under side of the piece and form clastic pads or feet,
on which the piece will stand.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Sheet II., where Fig. 7 is an inverted
partial plan view of an ewer fitted with an elastic pad of india-rubber, and Fig. 8
is a partial cross section of the same. The bottom of the ewer is moulded with
two concentric lips or flanges x, x, which form together a recess for the reception of a
ring y of prepared india-rubber. The india-rubber which I perfer to employ is that
which is combined with sulphuret of antimony, as I find it will best resist the
action of cleansing liquids.
In applying this part of the Invention to the piece A, or to the cover or covers in
connection therewith, I form recesses in the under side thereof and near the outer
angles, making these recesses preferably cylindrical, as shewn at Fig. 9, and I insert
therein a stud of india-rubber, shewn also at z, z, Fig. 6; by this means an
enectual protection will be provided for the pieces against breaking or chipping
when hastily putting them down on any hard slab, or replacing them.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Toilet or
Wash-hand Stand Services," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
I claim,
First. Combining in one piece or frame of earthenware the receptacles for soap,
brushes, powders, and sponge, which piece also serves to carry a water bottle and
ewer, one or more, as described.
Secondly. The application to articles of earthenware forming part of the toilet or
wash-hand stand service of elastic pads or feet, as and for the purpose above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Vernon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the 30th day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
JAMES VERNON. (L.S.)