Year: 1888

page_text: I, HAROLD BERRY, of Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Insurance Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in dry earth and other closets and it consists
mainly in providing an automatically removable cover which may, if desired, take
the form of a false pan; and its principal object is to avoid the offensive appearance
arising from the exposed excreta &c. and secondarily to provide against the effluvium
escaping from the pan into the apartment or chamber containing the closet.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of a closet constructed according to
my invention.
Figure
2 is a plan of same but with a part of the cover broken away.
Figure 3 is a transverse section taken through the closet cover and framework
but showing the cesspan together with my improvements in elevation.
Figures 4 and 5 are respectively an elevation partly in section, and a transverse
section, illustrating a modification of my invention.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a plan, and longitudinal section of the upper
portion of a closet constructed according to a further modification of my invention.
Figure 8 is a view partly in section illustrating another modification of my
invention.
Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal section, and
Figure 10 is a plan illustrating a modification of my invention whereby the same
be
readily applied to a closet of ordinary construction.
Figure 11 is a transverse section on line x, x, Figure 10.
may
Figure 12 is a plan illustrating the application of an air-check to my invention in
order to prevent the too sudden closing of the removable cover.
Figure 13 is a vertical section on line y, y, Figure 12.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3,-
a represents the movable false pan or cover which in this instance is formed of two.

page_text: parts as shown, each part being secured to a rod a¹ provided with a counterweight a²
pivoted in suitable bearings a³ in the frame b of the closet.
To each rod a¹ is attached a short arm or lever at. a' a³ are pins or projections on
the movable lid of the closet arranged to bear upon one end of the short arms a*a*
to open the two parts of the movable false pan or cover when weight is applied to
the lid 6 of the closet, as by a person sitting upon it.
The lid is hinged to the frame of the closet at its rear and is provided with a
fillet & along the front thereof fitting into a recess in the frame of the cesspan
chamber to make a tight joint and so tend to prevent the escape of any offensive
effluvium when the seat is in its normal position.
It is obvious that when the closet is not in use the two parts of the false pan or
cover will be closed by the action of the counterweights a² a², thus tending to prevent
the escape of any offensive effluvium from the cesspan into the chamber containing
the closet; but if a weight be applied to the lid b¹ (as when using the closet) the
projections a a' on the said lid will act upon the short arms a' a' of the rods a¹ and
will open the same against the resistance of the counterbalance weights a' thus
allowing any excreta to drop into the cesspan.
In the modification illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, I employ, instead of the false
pan shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a plate or disk a formed of any suitable material
and arranged to slide in guides a¹ and to be operated by a bell-crank lever a*, the
short arm of which is connected by a link a with a treadle barranged to be operated
by the foot of the person using the closet, who by depressing the said treadle draws
the cover a from under the hole in the lid of the closet thus allowing the excreta to
drop into the cesspan.
In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, I provide a false pan or cover a
formed in two parts as in Figures 1 to 3, but I arrange the said parts to slide
to and fro on guides a¹ in a similar manner to the arrangement shown in Figures 4
and 5.
In order to operate the said parts and to cause them to open when a weight is
applied to the lid 6' I provide two bell-cranks at a pivoted to the frame of the closet
in such a manner that one arm of each of the said cranks will bear against the under-
side of the lid b' of the closet and I connect the other arm of each of the said cranks
(through links a) with the short arm of another lever a pivoted at a² and connected
at a to one part of the movable false pan or cover a in such a manner that when
a weight is applied to the lid 6 of the closet it will depress the same and operate
the bell-cranks at a so as to draw back the two parts of the false pan or cover
through the medium of the connecting link a and lever a thus allowing the excreta
to fall through into the cesspan.
The modification illustrated in Figure 8 is similar to that herein described with
reference to Figures 4 and 5, the only difference being that I employ a removable
cover a in the form of a pan instead of employing a plate or disk.
a
In applying my invention to a closet of ordinary construction, I prefer to arrange
the various parts as illustrated in Figures 9 to 11, that is to say, I provide
suitable plate or platform e secured to the frame of the closet and carrying
brackets a on its underside for supporting the rods a¹ provided with counter-
weights a², and short arms or levers a as in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3.
To the underside of the lid I fix two pins or projections a bearing on the
levers a so as to operate the false pan or cover a as described with reference to
Figures 1 to 3. It will be obvious that the great advantage of this modification is
that it may be readily applied to a closet of ordinary construction without entailing
extensive alterations of existing parts.
D, Figures 11 and 12, represents an air-check of any suitable construction,
connected by rod d with one of the rods a¹ in such a manner that it retards the closing
movement of the removable cover.
D Figures 12 and 13 represents an air check of any suitable construction
connected by rod d with one of the rods a¹ in such a manner that it retards the closing
movement of the removable cover.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The construction of dry-earth or other closets with an automatically
removable false pan or cover as and for the purposes above specified.
Second. In a dry earth or other closet, the combination of a false pan constructed
in two parts and arranged to be operated automatically when the closet is used
with counterpoise weights, as a², arranged and operating substantially as herein
specified.
Third. The combination of parts, comprising the rods a¹, counterweights a³,
short arms or levers a', projections a and movable lid 6', shewn in Figures 1, 2
and 3, whereby I am enabled to automatically open and close the false pan or
cover a.
Fourth. In a dry earth or other closet the combination of a false pan or cover a,
with a bell-crank lever a', a treadle b¹, and a connecting link a, all arranged and
operating substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4, 5, and 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In a dry earth or other closet, the combination of a false pan or cover a,
constructed in two parts and sliding longitudinally in guides a', with the means for
automatically operating the same, comprising the bell-crank a', the connecting-link a³,
the lever a, and the movable lid 6', all arranged and operating substantially as herein
described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In a dry earth or other closet, the combination of a false pan a, rods a³, a¹,
short arms or levers at and counterbalance weights a³, the whole arranged upon a
plate or platform c, as illustrated in Figures 9 to 11 of the accompanying drawings,
with a dry earth or other closet, as set forth and described.
Seventh. In a dry earth or other closet, the combination of an air-check, such
as D, with a removable cover, such as a, substantially as and for the purpose
specified with reference to Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty fourth day of August One thousand eight hundred and
eighty eight