An Improved Night Commode.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Night Commode.
I, OBADIAH SILCOCK, of Wanganui, in the Colony of New Zealand, Accountant,
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 :-
The objects of my invention are to provide a cheap, handy, and efficient night
commode, or pail, whereby the escape of noxious or infectious vapours shall be
prevented by completely enveloping a suitable container within a compartment or
receptacle closed by a water joint. Moreover by my invention the container
specially adapted is the ordinary chamber utensil, hereinafter called the "chamber,"
with which a bedroom is always provided, and which is at present in general use
with very inadequate expedients for confining hurtful emanations.
In order that my invention may be understood I will proceed to describe the
same, and for that purpose shall refer to the accompanying sheet of drawings on
which similar letters refer to like parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved night commode.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same with the cover removed.
Figure 4 is a plan of the same with the cover in position.
(a) is a pan or pail made of any suitable material, such as galvanized iron or
zinc, having a watertight division or diaphragm (a') to support the chamber (b)
and so situated that the rim of the said chamber shall project above the pan or pail
as shewn. The pan or pail (a) is fitted with a carrying handle (c) hung to its
sides as shewn at (c¹). It will be evident that the open portion of the pan or pail
below the diaphragm (a¹) is solely for the purpose of raising the chamber to a
convenient height and is modified or dispensed with, when the apparatus is raised,
by letting it into a seat of a chair or other mounting or when used for children.
(d) is the cover as shewn in section in Figure 1 of similar material to the pan or
pail; that cover I make slightly less in size than the inside dimensions of the pan
or pail, but following the same sectional shape, and in height slightly exceeding
the depth of the "chamber." On the top of this cover I place an ordinary folding
handle (d') for lifting the same.
The manner of using my invention is as follows,-
The cover (d) is taken off the pan or pail (a) and about a pint of water mixed
(by preference) with a disinfectant is poured upon the diaphragm (a) when the
chamber is placed on the same, resting in the water on the diaphragm as shewn in
Figure 1; the cover (d) is then lowered over the chamber (b) inside the pan or
pail and when the same is in position and the band released the water directly
under the cover (d) has been displaced by the air contained in the said cover and
has risen accordingly in the space between it and the pan or pail as shewn at (a²),
thereby sealing the contents of the chamber and preventing any escape of noisome
gases or any deleterious vapours.
The pan
or pail with its cover and the
chamber "inside is then taken away by means of the lifting handle (c) and
emptied or the "chamber" may be replaced by a clean one and the whole apparatus
at once brought back ready for use.

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:-
In a night commode consisting of a pan or pail (a) to receive a chamber or other
vessel (b) having a cover (d) enveloping the said "chamber" or vessel standing in
liquid in the said pan or pail thereby making a seal for preventing the escape of
noxious vapours as and for the purposes substantially as described herein and
illustrated.
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.