IMPROVEMENTS IN SINK TRAPS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Wilson, of Hills Place, Oxford Street,
in the County of Middlesex, Wine Merchant, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN SINK TRAPS."
Sealed the 29th December 1871, and dated the 5th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Wilson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th July 1871.
I, MATTHEW WILSON, of Hills Place, Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Wine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SINK TRAPS," to be as follows:-
:-
My Invention consists of improvements in Patent No. 3198, dated
November 4, 1869, granted to me, to which I beg to refer, for making
the trap therein described self-acting by the following means, namely,
inverting the flange R and the valve or cover P, referred to in said
Patent No. 3198, and placing it beneath the flange R. Beneath the
valve is affixed in any convenient manner a perforated basin. Beneath

page_text: the basin a spring, spiral or otherwise, sufficiently strong to uphold the
basin and valve and force the soft surface, as before described in Patent
No. 3198, against the flange R. The spring rests upon a circular plate
with four or more arms resting upon a ledge round. the trap. Beneath
the plate is affixed the bell as in an ordinary trap. The top or receiver
of the trap is to be made of sufficient dimensions to contain a sufficient
weight of water to force open the valve P, the water then runs rapidly
through into the perforated basin, and as it runs but slowly out of this
will keep the valve open sufficiently long to enable the whole of the
water in the top-of-the trap to escape.
In place of the valve as herein-before described I purpose, if con-
venient, to use a ball of india-rubber or any other suitable material
attached in any convenient manner to the end of a lever or otherwise
beneath the flange R, the lever sufficiently weighted at the end furthest
from the ball to close the valve effectually until a sufficient weight
of water is in the trap above to force the ball down and allow the
water to escape. Also with the lever or otherwise I may use a ball, half
sphere, or any other shape of rubber or other suitable material filled
inside with sponge, rubber, or any other suitable material that will keep
the said sphere or spheres or other shape expanded to its proper shape;
this is supported in its position by a spring as herein-before described
and acted upon in like manner by weight of water from above.
Instead of the above sometimes I may use a hollow washer made of
non-porous rubber or a washer made of sponge rubber covered or partially
covered with non-porous rubber to be used instead of the ball or washer
before described.
The object of the trap before described is to make it self-acting and to
prevent any stink or smell coming up from the drain below in connection
with which the trap is laid on.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 3
filed by the said Matthew Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
WILSON, of Hills Place, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Wine Merchant, send greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto mc, the said Matthew Wilson, Her special licence that I,
the said Matthew Wilson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Matthew Wilson, 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 SINK TRAPS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Matthew Wilson,
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 Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Matthew Wilson, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My Invention consists of improvements in Patent No. 3198, dated
November 4th, 1869, granted to me, which I beg to refer to, for making
the trap therein described self-acting by the following means, namely,
inverting the flange R and the valve or cover P, referred to in said
Patent No. 3198, and placing it beneath the flange R. Beneath the
valve is affixed in any convenient manner a perforated basin.. Beneath
the basin or sometimes above it is a spring, spiral or otherwise, sufficiently
strong to act upon the basin an valve and force the soft surface, as
before described in Patent No. 3198, against the flange R. The spring
rests upon a circular plate with four or more arms resting upon a ledge
round the trap. Beneath the plate is affixed the bell as in an ordinary
trap. The top or receiver of the trap is to be made of sufficient dimen-
sions to contain a sufficient weight of water to force open the valve P,
the water then run as rapidly through into the perforated basin, and aș

page_text: it runs but slowly out of this will keep the valve open sufficiently long
to enable the whole of the water in the top of the trap to escape.
In place of the valve as herein-before described I purpose if con-
venient to use a ball of india-rubber, metal, wood, charcoal, or any other
suitable material attached in any convenient manner to the end of a
lever or otherwise beneath the flange R, the lever sufficiently weighted
at the end furthest from the ball to close the valve effectually until a
sufficient weight of water is in the trap above to force the ball down
and allow the water to escape; also with the lever or otherwise I may
use a ball, half sphere, or any other shape of rubber or other suitable
material filled inside with sponge, rubber, or any other suitable
material that will keep the said sphere or spheres or other shape
expanded to its proper shape; this is supported in its position by a spring
as herein-before described and acted upon in like manner by weight of
water from above.
Instead of the springs or levers before mentioned I have a receptacle
in the hollow part of the trap for water; in this I place a float which is
acted on by the water beneath. On the admission of the water the valve
or ball is compressed.
Or sometimes I may use a hollow washer made of non-porous rubber
or a washer made of sponge rubber covered or partially covered with
non-porous rubber to be used instead of the ball or washer before
described.
Sometimes I use a self-inflating rubber spring on the bellows principle
to raise the valve, and by the pressure of water from above it is com-
pressed and allows the water to pass; it may be fixed on the rod in
connection with the bell.
In Patent No. 3198 reference is made to a float used to raise the valve,
now in the present Patent I use the same to compress the valve instead
of raising it.
The object of the trap before described is to make it self-acting and
to prevent any stink or smell coming up from the drain below in
connection with which the trap is laid on.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode
of carrying the same into effect, what I claim and desire to be secured
to me by Letters Patent is, the said Invention for improvements in sink

page_text: traps, substantially as herein described, and referred to, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Wilson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
MATTHEW WILSON. (L.S.)