AN IMPROVEMENT IN EARTHEN- WARE PANS OR BASINS OF WATERCLOSETS AND CERTAIN OTHER EARTHENWARE VESSELS TO WHICH SUCH IMPROVEMENT IS APPLICABLE
Year: 1834

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I THOMAS
GAUNT, of Bridport Place, Hoxton, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, represent to His most Excellent Majesty
King William the Fourth that I had invented "AN IMPROVEMENT IN EARTHEN-
WARE PANS OR BASINS OF WATERCLOSETS AND CERTAIN OTHER EARTHENWARE
VESSELS TO WHICH SUCH IMPROVEMENT IS APPLICABLE," and His said Majesty being
willing to encourage all useful inventions, did issue His Letters Patent under
the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster, the Twelfth
day of August, in the fifth year of His reign, whereby His Majesty did, for
Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Gaunt, His especial licence that I, the said Thomas Gaunt, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Gaunt, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my said Invention;
in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso obliging me, the said
Thomas Gaunt, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, par-
ticularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in

page_text: and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Thomas Gaunt, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is described and ascertained
in manner following, that is to say:―
My said improvement in earthenware pans or basins of waterclosets is also
applicable to earthenware pans or basins of close stools or night chairs, and to
earthenware chamber pots or utensils, and to an earthenware vessel or slop
pail, which last I call a closetiere, and my said improvement consists in an
improved groove or channel formed externally around and near to the upper
edge of such earthenware pans, basins, or vessels respectively to contain water
or other liquid, and into which grove the rim of a moveable lid or cover is to
descend so as to be sealed by the water and prevent the escape of effluvia,
as also in the attaching a false rim to such vessels. And as to the mode of
carrying my said improvement into effect, I prefer to make all my said improved
pans or basins of waterclosets, pans or basins of close stools or night chairs,
and chamber pots or utensils, and the said vessel which I call a closetiere
respectively, of a circular form, but in other respects, except as to the groove
or channel aforesaid, of any form that such vessels respectively are now or may
be made.
J
Firstly, I make my said improved vessels with a broad border rim either of
earthenware or wood around their upper edges, very similar, if made of earthen-
ware, to the rim of an ordinary chamber pot or utensil, except that I make
the said border rim to slope a little more inwards to the said vessels respec-
tively, as is represented in Sections Nos. 1 and 2 in the Drawing hereunto
annexed, in order to form a more convenient seat than the rim of an ordinary
chamber pot or utensil. I make the said broad border rim of my said improved
vessels respectively an inch in breadth, or wider if thought desirable, and I
also make an additional rim or flange around the upper edge of my said
improved vessels projecting outwards and upwards in order to form a circular
groove or channel between the inside of the said flange and the outside of the
upper edge of the vessel, as is represented in Sections 1 and 2, which sections
are sufficient to shew such flange and groove in my said improved vessels
respectively (the flange and groove of each being similar to the other) except
as is herein-after mentioned. The said said groove or channel of my said
improved vessels respectively is intended to hold water or any other liquid
that may be found more convenient, and to receive the inverted or descending
rim of the lid or moveable cover of the vessel, in order that the said rim of

page_text: such lid dropping into water or other liquid in the groove may render my said
improved vessels respectively sufficiently air-tight to prevent effluvia escaping
therefrom. I make the groove or channel of all my said vessels respectively just
wide enough to receive easily the inverted or descending rim of the lid or move-
able cover which may be intended to be used with such vessels respectively, and
I make the groove or channel of my said vessels respectively with a projecting
lip or swell to form an enlargement of the said groove, as shewn in Figure A,
about five inches in length, and extending outwards gradually from each end
to the centre of such lip or swell, and in the centre extending outwards an
inch or from that to an inch and a half, for the purpose of more conveniently
pouring water or other liquid into such groove. And further, I make from
six to eight holes, from an eighth to a quarter of an inch in diameter, in the
inner side of the said groove, leading therefrom to the interior of the said
vessels respectively, the said holes being in a row all at the same height (and
about half an inch apart), that height being half or about half the height of
the outer side of the said groove or channel. The said holes form an overflow
for all excess of the water or other liquid which is to be poured into the said
groove or channel, which liquid when it stands in the groove or channel and
attains the height of such holes will run through the same into the interior
of my said improved vessels respectively, and will thereby be prevented over-
flowing or running over the outer edge of the said groove or channel. I
make the exterior edge of the said groove or channel around my said improved
vessels from half an inch to an inch (as may be thought desirable) lower than
the interior edge of the said groove or channel, which interior edge the usual
broad border rim of the vessel, and which is thus kept raised above the groove
in order that persons sitting on the broad border rim of my said improved
vessels respectively may not come in contact with or be hurt by the edge of
the projecting flange which forms the outer side of the said groove or channel,
and also for the more conveniently emptying such of my said improved vessels
as may be intended to be moveable. The external flange which forms the
outer side of the groove or channel of my said improved pans or basins of
fixed waterclosets, which are intended to be placed or fixed perfectly level,
need not be made more than three quarters of an inch in depth, for if the
bottom of the said groove or channel were perfectly covered with water, and
the lower even edge of the inverted or descending rim of the lid intended to be
used with such vessels respectively were to be dropped into and immersed in the
water or other liquid so contained in the said groove, my object of rendering
such vessels air-tight will be effected; and such groove or channel of pans or
basins of fixed waterclosets may be supplied with water from a small pipe to

page_text: the same leading from the main pipe from the cistern of such fixed water-
closets respectively to the pans or basins thereof, or in such other way as the
constructors of such waterclosets may think proper, or the said groove may
occasionally and as often as may be necessary, be supplied by hand with water
or any other liquid. For earthenware pans or basins of portable waterclosets,
and earthenware pans or basins of night chairs or close stools, and for earthen-
ware chamber pots or utensils, and the said earthenware vessel which I call a
closetiere, I prefer the groove or channel to be two inches deep, and the row
of overflow holes before mentioned through the inner side of the said groove or
vessels respectively to be at half the height of the outer side of the said groove
or channel, whereby when a sufficient quantity of water or other liquid is
poured into such groove or channel there will remain in the groove or channel
about or a little less than an inch of water in depth, and the outer edge of
such groove or channel will stand up about an inch or a little less above the
water, in order that if such portable or moveable vessels respectively should
be placed or stand upon an uneven floor or surface, the water or other liquid
in such groove or channel may not by a very minute inequality or unevenness
of such floor or surface be entirely abstracted from any part of the said groove
or channel, and also an inch or a little less of space above the water in such
groove or channel will render such moveable or portable vessels respectively
the more capable of being moved without spilling the water or other liquid
out of the said groove or channel; but nevertheless the grooves or channels
respectively of such moveable or portable vessels respectively may, if required,
be made of a less depth, as is herein-before mentioned in respect to pans or
basins of fixed waterclosets, but in such case care must be taken when in use
to place such moveable or portable vessels level.
Secondly, I also make my said improved vessels respectively with the broad
border rim in the inside of the said vessels respectively, as shewn in Section 3
in which case I make the groove or channel round such vessels respectively
narrower than the groove or channel herein-before mentioned, and not more
than than the eighth of an inch wider than the thickness of the inverted o
descending rim of the lid or cover intended to be used with such last-mentioned
vessels respectively. In other respects make such last-mentioned vesse!
respectively similar to the herein-before firstly-mentioned vessels.
Thirdly, I make all or any of my said improved vessels which may b
intended to be portable or moveable with two lips or swells in the said groove
or channels thereof respectively instead of one, as herein-before mentioned
and opposite to each other, and of the said lips or swells I form handles o
ears to the said portable or moveable vessels respectively, and I make throug

page_text: each of the said ears a hole about a quarter of an inch in diameter through
which respectively to pass (and fasten in any way found convenient) a cord,
line, or other pliable material fit for the purpose to form a pliable cross handle
for more conveniently carrying the said vessels respectively, as shewn in
Figure B.
Fourthly, I make all or any of my said improved vessels respectively with-
out a fixed broad border rim, as shewn in Section No. 4, but with the
additional rim or flange around the said last-mentioned vessels respectively
projecting outwards and upwards in order to form a circular groove or channel
between the inside of the said flange and the outer or external edge of the
moveable or shifting ring or rim, hereafter described, and intended to be used
with such last-mentioned vessels respectively, but in other respects similar to
the firstly herein-before mentioned vessels respectively. And I make and use
with such fourthly-described vessels respectively a circular moveable or shifting
ring or rim of wood or any other fit material (but I prefer wood), of an inch
or an inch and a half in breadth, and from an inch and three quarters to two
inches in thickness, as may be requisite, with the upper side or surface sloping
a little inwards to the said vessels respectively, as is herein-before mentioned
in respect to the fixed broad border rim of the herein-before mentioned vessels
respectively, so as to form a convenient seat, and I fit this shifting ring or rim
upon the edge of the said last or fourthly-mentioned vessels respectively by
means of a groove cut in and round the under side of the said ring, from a
quarter of an inch to an inch in depth, as may be preferred, and wide enough to fit
easily on the upper edge of the said last or fourthly-mentioned vessels respec-
tively. And in order more effectually to fit the said shifting ring or moveable
rim on the said fourthly-mentioned vessels respectively, I make the said last-
mentioned vessels with two studs on the outside of the inner sides of the
grooves thereof respectively opposite to each other, projecting respectively
about three eighths of an inch, and about a quarter of an inch in diameter,
and from half an inch to an inch below the top of such inner side of the said
grooves respectively, and on the under side of the said shifting ring or rim,
and just outside of the groove in the under side thereof, I fix two drop rings
opposite to each other, which drop rings respectively being easily passed over
such projecting studs respectively fasten down such moveable ring or rim.
Or else (which I prefer) on the under side of the said shifting ring or move-
able rim I fix opposite to each other two hooks, as shewn in Figure B, so that
when such moveable ring or rim is put on and moved round such fourthly-
mentioned vessels respectively, such fixed hooks will hook beneath or pass
under the said projecting studs respectively and keep down the said shifting

page_text: ring or moveable rim. I make my said improved vessels respectively strong
enough as they may respectively be designed for the use of adult or younger
persons to bear the weight of such persons respectively sitting on the said
broad border rims or shifting rings or rims thereof respectively, the earthen-
ware being from three sixteenths to five sixteenths of an inch thick, or more
if deemed necessary. And I make all my said improved vessels respectively
from eight to twelve inches in diameter, or more if deemed necessary, exclusive
of the broad border rims and grooves and projecting flanges thereof as may
be required to suit adult or young persons. And I make the inverted or
descending rim of the lids or moveable covers of my said improved vessels
respectively from the thickness of ordinary tin plates to a quarter of an inch
thick; and I make the said lids respectively of earthenware, of tin, or copper,
or zinc, or other metal suitable for the purpose, and japanned or painted (or
not) to preserve them from rusting.
It will be evident from my foregoing description of my said improved
vessels respectively that it is intended that the persons who use the same
shall sit on the broad border rim or shifting rim or ring of my said improved
vessels respectively. And in the cases or fittings of waterclosets and
night chairs the top board or ordinary seat of waterclosets and night chairs
or close stools should be made flush with the upper side of the said broad
border rim or shifting ring or rim of my said improved vessels respec-
tively, and that a vacant space should be left between such top board or
ordinary seat and the said broad border rim or shifting ring or rim of my
said improved vessels respectively, in order to permit the inverted or de-
scending rim of the lid of my said improved vessels respectively to drop
or pass through the said vacant space into the grooves of my said im-
proved vessels respectively, as shewn in Figure C. And for the convenience
of fitting or dropping them into cases I make the shoulder under the grooves
respectively of pans or basins of portable waterclosets and night stools or chairs
respectively square, as shewn in Section No. 3. The object of my said im-
provement in the earthenware pans or basins of waterclosets and night chairs
or close stools is to render them respectively more conveniently calculated to
prevent the escape of effluvia than heretofore has been done, and to render
chamber pots or utensils and the said vessel which I call a closetiere, shewn in
Section No. 1 and Figure B, more conveniently calculated to prevent the
escape of effluvia than has heretofore been done, and more useful in the room
or stead of or as substitutes for waterclosets or close stools or night chairs
than they have been heretofore. Persons conversant with the manufacture of
earthenware vessels will not find any further description or direction necessary

page_text: for the making of my said improved vessels respectively, nor can any further
directions be requisite for fixing or fitting my improved pans or basins of
waterclosets or close stools, as in the fixing or fitting of my said last-mentioned
improved vessels respectively any slight deviations which, on account of my
improvement therein, may be necessary, will readily be seen and be made.
I do not claim as my Invention the groove or channel, and I claim and
only claim as my Invention. Now whereas I claim as my Invention the
situation and form of the external groove or water channel herein-before
described to be below the external rim or upper external edge of such vessels,
as aforesaid, together with the overflow holes from and lips or swells to the
said grooves or channels, and the attaching of a wooden or other false rim
or seat ring to the upper edge of the said vessels, as herein-before described.
And such my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief, entirely
new, and never before used within that part of His Majesty's said United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, His said Dominion of
Wales, or Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be my
Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this my said Specifica-
tion doth comply in all respects fully, and without reserve or disguise, with the
proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent contained;
wherefore I do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and privilege to my
said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Gaunt, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.