IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS, UTENSILS." COMMODES, SLOP PAILS, AND OTHER LIKE APPARATUS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Weare, of Northwood, Stoke-upon-Trent, in
the County of Stafford, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WATERCLOSETS,
UTENSILS."
COMMODES, SLOP PAILS, AND OTHER LIKE APPARATUS OR
Scaled the 7th January 1864, and dated the 20th July 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Weare at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th
July 1863.
I, ROBERT WEARE, of Northwood, Stoke-upon-Trent, in the County of
Stafford, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERCLOSETS. COMMODES, Stop PAILS, AND OTHER LIKE APPA-
RATUS OR UTENSILS," to be as follows (that is to say):-
I construct a cylindrical or other shaped vessel with a flange or rim turned
down inwards from the top edge, inside which I place a second vessel, leaving
a jacket or space for water between the two, inside this second vessel I sus-
pend a funnel, the orifice in which will be situate about two or three inches
from the bottom of the second vessel, this second vessel is filled with water
until the water rises about half way up the funnel; a dome, or other shaped
lid, flanged like a common saucepan lid, fits over both the funnel and the
second vessel, the flange entering the water in the jacket space, and thus
acting as a D trap in preventing the escape of effluvia. For bed pans and
similar utensils used in hospitals, and for sick persons, I attach to the appa-

page_text: ratus above described a slipper or wedge-shaped part, to admit of the utensil
being easily and gradually passed under the body of the patient,and to enable
me to make it more shallow. Slop pails may also be made upon the same
principle of the double vessel, and either with or without the funnel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Weare in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
WEARE, of Northwood, Stoke-upon-Trent, in the County of Stafford, Mer-
chant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Weare, Her special license, that I, the said Robert Weare, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said Robert
Weare, 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
WATERCLOSETS. COMMODES. SLOP PAILS, AND OTHER LIKE APPARATUS OR UTENSILS,"
upon the condition (amongst others that I, the said Robert Weare, by an
instrument in writing undermy 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 1, the said Robert Weare, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
I construct a cylindrical or other shaped vessel with a flange or rim turned
dowu inwards from the top edge, inside which I place a second vessel, leaving
a jacket or space for water between the two, inside this second vesse

page_text: pend a funnel, the orifice in which will be situate about two or three inches
from the bottom of the second vessel, this second vessel is filled with water
until the water rises about half way up the funnel, a dome or other shaped
lid, flanged like a common saucepan lid, fits over both the funnel and the
second vessel, the flange entering the water in the jacket space, and thus
acting as a D-trap in preventing the escape of effluvia. For bed pans and
similar utensils used in hospitals, and for sick persons, I attach to the appa-
ratus above described a slipper or wedge-shaped part to admit of the utensil
being easily and gradually passed under the body of the patient, and to enable
me to make it more shallow. Slop pails may also be made upon the same
principle of the double vessel, and either with or without the funnel.
I will now proceed to describe in detail, and by the aid of the accompanying
Drawings, the mode in which my Invention is to be carried out, in which
Drawings, Figures 1 and 2 represent a vertical section, and an elevation of one
of the forms of my improved utensil; Figures 3 and 4 represent in similar
views the adaptation of similar parts to the forin of a chair or watercloset
seat; Figure 5 represent a vertical section of the apparatus designed for the
purpose of a bed pan, and as it would appear when covered; Figure 6 shews
a section of the same contrivance uncovered, and ready for use.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 (a) represents an outer vessel, the top edge
of which is finished with the flange (b) to prevent any spilling in moving
the utensils. Inside this outer vessel is placed a second vessel (C), forming with
the outer casing a jacket space (d), around the utensil (E) is a funnel-shaped
vessel provided with a deep lip (f), and suspended within the second vessel (C),
the lower orifice (g) of the funnel extends to within a short distance of the
bottom of the vessel (a), or just within the line of the top of another vessel(h),
(7) is the cover of the apparatus, and (k) the handle by which it may be removed.
When required for use, water is placed in the jacket space (d) to a height about
halfway up the lip (f), and also in the vessel (/), which is completely filled.
As it is used, the introduction of water and other matter through the funnel
(E) into the vessel (A), will cause the water in that vessel to overflow into the
space (?), but no effluvium can escape, for it would be prevented by the water in
the jacket space (d), which acts as a complete stench trap. This is the form
of apparatus which I also design to be used as a slop pail or slop jar, as well
as a commode, and in smaller sizes as an expectorating pot, for by thearrange-
ment of its parts all unpleasant matters are kept out of sight. It may be
constructed in any suitable material, I prefer japanned metal or earthenware,
either separately or combined, and is susceptible of any amount of ornamen-

page_text: tation. To remove the contents a servant has merely to take out the funnel,
and empty all the vessels.
Figures 3 and 4, shew a section and front elevation of the same apparatus
applied to a night chair or portable watercloset, but with the addition of a
cistern (a) fixed at the back of the chair or seat, or in any other suitable
position. A tap is fixed to this cistern in a small box as at (b), to which tap
is attached a flexible tube, so that by opening the small door (c) in the casing
of the cistern and turning the tap, the flexible tube will convey a jet of water
into the funnel, by which the funnel will be cleansed, or the apparatus may be
supplied with water by the same means.
Figures 5 and 6, shew the adaptation of this form of utensil to a bed pan
for the use of invalids. In this instance the casing or other vessel (a) is
made of a slipper form, to admit of its being readily placed under the body of
the patient, and as being the form lest adapted to give ease to those parts of
the human frame that would rest upon it. An addition is made to the utensil
when used for this purpose by patients in a recumbent position in the flanged
ring (6), which is to be fitted on by the nurse or attendant when the utensil
is required, its use is to prevent the escape of any unpleasant matters into the
jacket space (d).
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I do not confine myself to the precise
details or forms of construction of the several utensils I have described, as
both the details and the forms may admit of considerable variation to suit
particular circumstances; but I claim the several improvements in the cou-
struction or manufacture of waterclosets, commodes, slop pails, and other
similar apparatus or utensils, substantially as herein more fully set forth and
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Weare, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
ROBERT WEARE. (L.S.)