Improvements in or appertaining to Washstands.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
COMI DUTE DECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Washstands.
We, WILLIAM FONTAINE PHINNEY of Standish in the County of Cumberland
and State of Maine, Gentleman, and HENRY HARRISON WHITNEY of Centreville
in the County of Boisé and State of Idaho, Gentleman, both in the United States
of America, 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:―
Our invention relates to improvements in combination washstands or commodes,
and consists in a new and improved means for controlling the reservoir supporting
mechanism, and in a new and improved arrangement of mechanism for aiding
the raising of said reservoir supporting mechanism, and in other details of
construction which will be hereinafter more particularly described.
In the drawings herewith accompanying and making a part of this Application,
Figure 1 is a central section of our improved washstand with cover closed;
Figure 2 is a central section of our improved washstand showing the cover
raised and the reservoir in position for use.
Same letters refer to like parts.
In said drawings a represents a commode case, 6 a cover hinged thereto, and
c a door in the front thereof. Pivotally attached to each side of the case is a
lever d. Connecting the ends of said levers d with the cover bare links f
pivotally attached to said cover and levers in such manner that when the cover
is raised, said levers are also raised therewith.
Attached to each lever is a supporting arm g having a recess h in the top
thereof adapted to receive the trunnions on the ends of a water reservoir jas
seen in Figure 1, these several parts being so arranged that, when the cover b
is raised, the reservoir rises, describing the arc of a circle, and thus when
raised being brought forward over the bowl into the position shown by dotted
Lines in Figure 2.
Attached to the levers d are downwardly extending plates having therein
slots m through which project guiding lugs n which are rigidly fixed in the sides
of the case.
This arrangement, while permitting the upward and downward motion
of said levers, at the same time holds them firmly against lateral movement and
prevents them getting out of place or out of order. The slots in said case may be
circular to correspond with the circular motion of said plates, or they may be
straight, as seen in Figure 2. Connecting said levers or said plates is a cross bar
or yoke e. In the rear of the case below said cross bar and rigidly attached to the
bottom of the case is a hollow pipe o, and attached to said cross bar and adapted to
extend down into said pipe is a plunger p. Between said cross bar and the bottom
of the case is arranged a coil spring q, its tension acting to press said cross bar
upward. Without changing the principle involved herein, it will be evident
that the coil spring may be wound around the plunger inside of the pipe if
preferred.
In the front of the case may be placed a wash-bowlt of any desired form or
shape. It may be set loosely therein or it may be a regular set bowl, as seen in the
drawings.
Attached to the yoke e so as to extend underneath the reservoir j is a drip pan 2
adapted to catch such water as may fall from the reservoir. This drip pan has a
small spout 3 extending over any suitable receptacle as the jar 4.
To the under surface of the cover is attached a mirror u pivotally attached at its
under edge and capable of being drawn out and held in any desired position by
means of a spring and spring catch y, also in the under surface of the cover is a

page_text: recess over which is placed a series of rods 1, such space being adapted to receive
hold towels.
a
. The advantages of the present invention are that the levers and reservoir
:supporting frame are firmly and steadily held in whatever position they may be
placed, and the arrangement of the tension spring renders it much more effective,
and especially when accompanied by an adjusting nut.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. In a washstand having a suitable case and cover hinged to the top thereof, a
mirror pivotally attached at one edge to said cover, means for holding said mirror
at any desired angle to said cover, levers pivoted to said case and linked to said
cover, a reservoir supported on standards attached to said levers, guide plates
attached to said levers having slots therein and lugs attached to the case and
projecting through said slots, a yoke connecting said levers, a hollow tube attached
to the bottom of said case, a plunger attached to said yoke and adapted to enter said
tube, a coil spring interposed between the bottom of the case and said yoke, and a
drip pan attached to said yoke, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a washstand having a suitable case and a cover hinged to the top thereof,
levers pivoted to said case and linked to said cover, a reservoir supported on
standards attached to said levers, guide plates attached to said levers having slots
therein and lugs attached to the case and projecting through said slots, a yoke
connecting said levers, a hollow tube attached to the bottom of said case, a plunger
attached to said yoke and adapted to enter said tube, a coil spring interposed
between the bottom of the case and said yoke, and a drip pan attached to said yoke
as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1894
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.