IMPROVEMENTS IN URINALS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Symes, of Norfolk Street, Strand, in tho
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN URINALS."
Sealed the 20th October 1864, and dated the 25th April 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Symes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th April 1864..
I, JAMES SYMES, of Norfolk Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
URINALS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
urinals, whereby the offensive odour given off by ordinary conveniences
of this nature will be obviated, and a clean and inodorous urinal substituted.
I propose in lieu of the ordinary slate, iron, or enamel cells or partitions, or
basins applied in the construction of urinals to construct a series of parallel
divisions within the walls of the urinal, such divisions resting on a floor on
which persons may stand, and being also held in position by an iron bar or
bars passing through them and the walls, and by a cross piece at the top of
the urinal. Beyond or in front of these divisions and beneath the level of

page_text: the floor is a reservoir of water, into which the urine falls direct, without
coming in contact with any fixed portion of the urinal. Water is supplied
from a pipe above the reservoir, and removed by a waste pipe. The water
may be continually kept in a flowing state, or it may be periodically let off
and supplied according as the urinal is more of less frequented. Where
water is scarce, I propose to give a slope to the bottom of the reservoir, so
that no deposit could remain; in such case lime or other purifying matter may
be applied to the reservoir, which should be occasionally flushed with a
bucket of water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Symes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SYMES, of Norfolk Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Symes, Her special licence that I, the said James Symes, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Symes, 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
URINALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Symes,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under. my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 James Symes, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of
urinals, whereby the offensive odour given off by ordinary conveniences of this
I
nature will be obviated, and a clean and inodorous urinal substituted.
propose in lieu of the ordinary slate, iron; or enamel cells or partitions or
basins, applied in the construction of urinals, to construct a series of parallel
divisions within the walls of the urinal, such divisions resting on a floor on
whicli persons may stand, and being also held in position by an iron bar or
bars passing through them and the walls, and by a cross piece at the top of
the urinal. Beyond or in front of these divisions and beneath the level of
the floor is a reservoir of water, into which the urine falls direct, without
Water is supplied
coming in, contact with any fixed portion of the urinal.
from a pipe above the reservoir, and removed by a waste pipe. The water
may be continually kept in a flowing state, or it may be periodically let off
and supplied according as the urinal is greater or less frequented.. Where
water is scarce, I propose to give a slope to the bottom of the reservoir, so
that no deposit could remain; in such case lime or other purifying matter
may be applied to the reservoir, which should be occasionally flushed with a
bucket of water.
In order to render my said Invention more completely understood, I annex
a Sheet of Drawings in. which Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the urinal,
aud Fig. 2 a longitudinal vertical section. Similar letters denote corre-
sponding parts in each Figure.
a, a, represent the walls or sides of the urinal, and b, b, the parallel
divisions resting on the floor c. The divisions are secured by a bar d or bars
of iron passing through them, and into the walls or sides, and also by the top
cross piece e; f is a reservoir of water into which the urine falls direct. The
base or bottom g of the reservoir should by preference be sloping, as shewn;
h is the position or level of the water supply pipe; i, of the overflow pipe; and
k, of the cleansing pipe to let off the contents, and for flushing or scouring out
the reservoir; l is the entrance to the urinal.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I do
not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts expressed
and shewn, as the same may obviously be varied or modified without in any
way departing from the principles on which my Invention is based, but what
I claim and desire to be secured to me by the berein in part recited Letters

page_text: Patent, are, the general combination and arrangement of parts substantially
as specified and illustrated, constituting "Improvements in Urinals," as and
for the purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Symes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
D. P. O'MEARA;
Solicitor,
30, Leinster Road,
Dublin.
JAMES SYMES. (L.S.)